Carbon-Based Selenium Fertilizer Reduces Soil Fixation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current selenium-enriched rice fertilizers have low organic selenium content, poor bioavailability, and high toxicity, leading to inadequate selenium absorption by rice crops, which results in widespread selenium deficiency and associated health issues.

Innovation Solution

A carbon-based selenium-enriched fertilizer is prepared by enriching selenium in plants, compounding it with biomass charcoal through microbial fermentation, and granulating it to enhance absorption and utilization efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If inorganic selenium fertilizer is sprayed onto leaves, then selenium content is rapidly increased, but inorganic selenium is large in residual quantity and non-uniform in distribution

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveselenium contentVSAvoiduniformity of distribution
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses organic matter (humic acid, amino acids) as intermediaries to chelate with selenium, forming organic selenium compounds that serve as mediators between inorganic selenium sources and plant absorption systems. This chelation process creates stable complexes that dissolve uniformly in water and distribute evenly through irrigation, solving the non-uniform distribution problem while maintaining rapid selenium enrichment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transforms selenium from inorganic forms (selenite, selenate) to organic forms (selenium amino acid complexes, selenium humate) by changing its chemical state. This parameter change from inorganic to organic selenium fundamentally alters its solubility, stability, and distribution characteristics in soil and water, enabling uniform application through irrigation systems while maintaining high bioavailability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Quantity of substance

If inorganic selenium fertilizer is applied, then selenium content increases, but fixation and loss of selenium in soil occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveselenium contentVSAvoidfixation and loss of selenium
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

Organic chelating agents (humic acid, amino acids) act as intermediaries that bind selenium in stable complexes, preventing direct interaction between selenium and soil particles that would cause fixation. These intermediary complexes keep selenium in solution and bioavailable forms, reducing both soil fixation and leaching losses while maintaining effective selenium delivery to crops.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates composite selenium fertilizers combining inorganic selenium sources with organic matter (humus, amino acids, plant extracts). This composite structure provides dual functionality: the inorganic selenium provides the nutrient source while the organic components provide solubility, stability, and anti-fixation properties, significantly reducing selenium loss through fixation and leaching.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Quantity of substance

If autolysate of selenium-enriched rice is used, then organic selenium content is low, but biological activity is low and toxic side effects are large

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveorganic selenium contentVSAvoidtoxic side effects
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical parameters of selenium by synthesizing specific organic selenium compounds (selenium amino acid complexes, selenium humate) with controlled molecular structures. This parameter control ensures selenium remains in non-toxic organic forms while maintaining high biological activity and plant absorbability, eliminating the toxicity problems associated with autolysate-based products.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 method increases selenium bioavailability in rice, reduces soil fixation, and achieves a selenium content in rice that meets health standards, improving crop yield and soil properties.

Implementation Method 1

Active organic selenium is produced by plant enrichment

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBiological enrichment: Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 2

adding 1-2% of microbial agent per kg of the rank vegetation; performing fermentation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFermentation: Fermentation

Implementation Method 3

The thoroughly decomposed fermented material after one month of fermentation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMicrobial decomposition: Decomposition (biological)

Implementation Method 4

directly and continuously aerating by an aerating pump at a frequency of 10 min each time interval for 2 min

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAeration: Aeration

Implementation Method 5

compounded with biomass charcoal, thereby decreasing fixation and loss of the active selenium in soil

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Data Source

PatentUS11827577B2Preparation method of carbon-based selenium-enriched fertilizer for rice
Publication Date: 2023.11.28 CHINA NAT RICE RES INST

AI summary

A preparation method of a carbon-based selenium-enriched fertilizer for rice is disclosed. The preparation method of the carbon-based selenium-enriched fertilizer for rice includes planting a selenium-enriched plant material; collecting and concentrating a selenium-enriched extracting solution; preparing modified selenium-enriched biomass charcoal from the tertiary residues; and preparing the carbon-based selenium-enriched fertilizer. In the present disclosure, active organic selenium enriched and generated by plant is compounded with the biomass charcoal, so that the fixation and loss of the active selenium in soil are reduced, and the utilization efficiency of the selenium fertilizer is improved.