Composite Fertilizer Composition Reducing Nitrogen Leaching

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional fertilizers, both organic and inorganic, face issues such as nitrogen leaching, phytotoxicity, and high costs, leading to inefficient nutrient delivery and environmental concerns, while organic fertilizers provide slower nutrient release and higher costs.

Innovation Solution

A fertilizer composition comprising organic compounds with high nitrogen content, such as lysine products, fermentation cell broths, and ammonium salts, which are applied to soil to promote plant growth and microbial activity, offering a balanced and cost-effective nitrogen delivery.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If inorganic fertilizers are used to provide nitrogen, then the unit cost is low and nitrogen is immediately available to plants, but nitrogen leaching occurs and causes environmental contamination

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveunit costVSAvoidnitrogen leaching

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines inorganic nitrogen sources (ammonium nitrate, urea, ammonium sulfate) with organic materials (compost, manure, plant residues) to create a composite fertilizer. This composite structure allows the inorganic component to provide immediate nitrogen availability while the organic component acts as a binding matrix that reduces leaching through slower decomposition and improved soil structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The organic material serves as an intermediary between the inorganic nitrogen and the soil environment. It moderates the release of nitrogen, preventing rapid leaching while still making nutrients available to plants. The organic matter acts as a buffer that controls the interaction between fertilizer and soil water.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If inorganic fertilizers are applied to replace depleted nutrients, then plant growth is promoted, but phytotoxicity and salt buildup occur in the soil

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplant growthVSAvoidphytotoxicity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the concentration and form of nitrogen by combining high-concentration inorganic nitrogen with bulk organic material. This dilution effect reduces the immediate salt concentration in the soil solution, preventing phytotoxicity while maintaining adequate nitrogen availability for plant growth through controlled decomposition.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The composite fertilizer creates different local environments within the soil application area. The organic component provides zones with lower salt concentration and improved soil structure, while the inorganic component provides localized high-nitrogen zones. This spatial variation in quality allows plant growth promotion without uniform salt buildup.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Object-affected harmful factors

If organic fertilizers are used to fertilize crops, then nutrient release is slower and salt index is low, but the unit cost of nutrients is higher

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesalt indexVSAvoidunit cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the low-cost inorganic nitrogen sources with the environmentally-benign organic materials to create a hybrid fertilizer system. This combination captures the economic advantage of inorganic fertilizers while incorporating the environmental benefits of organic fertilizers, achieving both cost-effectiveness and reduced salt index through the buffering effect of organic matter.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 fertilizer composition effectively increases soil nitrogen content, promotes crop production, and reduces environmental impact by minimizing leaching and phytotoxicity, while providing a cost-effective alternative to traditional fertilizers.

Implementation Method 1

Organic fertilizers are made from materials derived from living things... require soil microorganisms to break the fertilizer components down into simpler structures prior to use by the plants

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMicrobial decomposition: Decomposition (biological)

Implementation Method 2

A fertilizer composition comprising organic compounds with high nitrogen content... effectively increases soil nitrogen content

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectNutrient accumulation:

Data Source

PatentUS7811352B2Fertilizer compositions and methods of using

Publication Date: 2010.10.12 ARCHER DANIELS MIDLAND CO

AI summary

Provided are various embodiments of a fertilizer composition. The fertilizer compositions include one or more compounds having a high nitrogen content, which may be measured by a carbon to nitrogen atom ratio. Also provided are methods for increasing nitrogen content in soil, promoting crop production and fertilizing.