Boron Sulfur Fertilizer Composition Particle Size Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current boron-based fertilizers are inefficient in providing boron to plants due to large particle sizes, poor solubility, and uneven distribution, leading to reduced availability and uptake, while sulfur-based compositions face challenges in achieving stable forms and uniform release, making them unsuitable for modern irrigation methods.
Innovation Solution
A crop nutrition and fortification composition comprising effective amounts of boron salts, elemental sulfur, and agrochemically acceptable excipients, formulated as water dispersible granules or liquid suspensions with particle sizes between 0.1 micron and 20 microns, enhancing dispersibility and suspensibility, and including dispersing agents and structuring agents to improve distribution and uptake.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional boron-based fertilizers are used with large particle sizes, then manufacturing and application are simpler, but dispersibility and availability to plants are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the fertilizer into fine particles with controlled size distribution (D10: 0.1-1.0 mm, D50: 1.0-2.0 mm, D90: 2.0-5.0 mm). This segmentation into smaller, uniform particles dramatically improves dispersibility and availability to plants while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through standard granulation processes.
2Ease of operation
If conventional boron fertilizers with large particles are used, then application is easier, but solubility and uptake by plants are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the physical parameters of the fertilizer particles to achieve optimal balance. By controlling particle size distribution and incorporating water-soluble excipients, the formulation achieves both ease of application and reliable solubility. The fine particle size (0.1-5.0 mm range) and soluble excipient content enable rapid dissolution while maintaining operational simplicity.
3Stability of the object's composition
If sulfur-based compositions are used to achieve stable forms, then storage stability improves, but uniform release and suspensibility are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges sulfur-based stabilizing agents with boron fertilizer particles in a unified granulation process. This combination achieves both storage stability (from sulfur) and uniform release (from integrated formulation). The synergistic mix ensures stable storage while maintaining uniform particle size distribution for consistent dissolution and plant uptake.
4Ease of manufacture
If conventional fertilizer formulations are used, then production costs are lower, but nutrient use efficiency and field efficacy are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention creates a composite fertilizer material combining boron salts, sulfur-based stabilizers, water-soluble excipients, and adjuvants in specific proportions. This composite formulation achieves superior nutrient use efficiency through enhanced solubility and uniform distribution, while production costs remain manageable by using cost-effective ingredients and standard manufacturing processes.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The composition ensures higher boron and sulfur availability, improving plant health, yield, and nutrient use efficiency, with superior physical characteristics and field efficacy at reduced dosages, suitable for various irrigation methods.
Implementation Method 1
water dispersible granules... exhibits improved dispersibility and suspensibility
Implementation Method 2
liquid suspension... has a particle size in the range of about 0.1-20 microns
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
AI summary
The invention relates to a water dispersible granular composition comprising of 0.1% to 70% by weight of boron salts, complexes, derivatives or mixtures thereof, 1% to 90% by weight of elemental sulphur and 1% to 30% by weight of dispersing agent, with granules in a size range of 0.1-2.5 mm and particles in the range of 0.1-20 microns. The invention further relates to liquid suspension composition comprising 0.1% to 55% by weight of boron salts, complexes, derivatives or mixtures thereof, 1% to 65% by weight of elemental sulphur, at least one structuring agent and at least one surfactant, where the composition has particle size range of 0.1-20 microns. The invention further relates to a process of preparing the crop nutrition and fortification composition and to a method of treating the plants, seeds, crops, plant propagation material, locus, parts thereof or the soil with the composition.