Synergistic Diformylurea Nutrient Formula for Higher Crop Yield

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Solution Overview

Problem

Agricultural practices often rely on fertilizer recommendations based on economics rather than agronomy, leading to nutrient deficiencies that limit yield and quality, and existing formulations fail to synergistically enhance plant growth and productivity.

Innovation Solution

A synergistic agricultural formula comprising 30-0.5 wt.% diformylurea and 0.1-20 wt.% nutrients, including water-soluble nitrogen, P2O5, K2O, and boron, applied at physiologically sensitive times to enhance plant growth and yield.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If fertilizer recommendations are based on economics rather than agronomy, then cost is reduced, but nutrient deficiencies occur that limit yield and quality

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecrop yieldVSAvoidnutrient concentration
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, boron) with diformylurea into a single synergistic fertilizer formulation. This merging allows the product to address multiple nutrient deficiencies simultaneously, ensuring adequate nutrient concentration while maintaining economic efficiency through reduced application frequency and improved uptake efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates a composite fertilizer material that integrates diformylurea (an ethylene inhibitor) with essential macronutrients and micronutrients. This composite formulation enhances overall plant health and nutrient utilization efficiency, thereby improving crop yield without requiring excessive nutrient quantities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Productivity

If existing fertilizer formulations are used without synergistic enhancement, then formulation complexity is low, but plant growth and productivity enhancement is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveplant growth rateVSAvoidformulation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent develops a composite fertilizer formulation that integrates diformylurea (an ethylene inhibitor) with essential macronutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) and micronutrients (boron). This composite structure creates synergistic effects that enhance plant growth rate and productivity beyond what individual components could achieve alone, justifying the increased formulation complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The invention optimizes the concentration parameters of each component within specific ranges: diformylurea (30-0.5 wt%), nitrogen (10-20 wt%), phosphorus as P2O5 (10-20 wt%), potassium as K2O (10-20 wt%), and boron (0.1-5 wt%). These parameter changes ensure synergistic interaction while maintaining practical formulation complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If conventional fertilizers are applied without ethylene inhibition, then application simplicity is high, but yield and quality improvement is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecrop qualityVSAvoidformula composition
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a composite fertilizer that incorporates diformylurea, an ethylene inhibition agent, alongside essential nutrients. Ethylene is a plant hormone that promotes senescence and reduces crop quality; its inhibition through diformylurea extends fruit development time and improves quality parameters. The composite formulation delivers both nutritional support and hormonal regulation in a single application.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The fertilizer formulation achieves multiple functions simultaneously: it supplies essential macronutrients (N, P, K) for growth, provides micronutrients (boron) for metabolic functions, and inhibits ethylene to improve fruit quality and extend maturity. This multi-functionality justifies the enhanced formula composition while delivering superior crop quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Quantity of substance

If more nutrients are applied to overcome deficiencies, then nutrient availability increases, but chemical use and environmental risks increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenutrient availabilityVSAvoidenvironmental risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent formulates a balanced composite fertilizer with optimized nutrient ratios and the addition of diformylurea. This composite structure improves nutrient use efficiency by combining essential nutrients with an ethylene inhibitor that enhances overall plant health and nutrient uptake. The formulation provides adequate nutrient availability while reducing the total quantity of chemicals needed compared to conventional high-rate fertilizer applications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The invention optimizes nutrient concentration parameters within specific ranges and incorporates diformylurea at 30-0.5 wt% to enhance nutrient utilization efficiency. By changing the formulation parameters to include synergistic components, the system achieves adequate nutrient availability with reduced overall chemical application rates, thereby lowering environmental risks.

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 formula increases crop yield and quality by promoting root and shoot architecture, growth rate, fruit/grain set, and photosynthesis, while reducing chemical use and environmental risks.

Implementation Method 1

It functions by quenching the reactive oxygen species signal that causes the conversion of ACC to ethylene

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReactive oxygen species quenching: Oxidation

Implementation Method 2

The synergistic agricultural formula is absorbed by a plant

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAbsorption: Absorption (physical)

Data Source

PatentEP3576535B1A synergistic agricultural formula comprising diacyl or diaryl urea and at least one mixture of nutrients
Publication Date: 2026.01.21 CORTEVA AGRISCIENCE LLC
  • EP3576535B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3576535B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3576535B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

A synergistic agricultural formula including at least one diacyl or diaryl urea, such as a Ν,Ν'-diformylurea, and at least one mixture of nutrients, such as a mixture of micronutrients and/or macronutrients. This synergistic agricultural formula gives those skilled in the art the ability to regulate important phenotypical parameters that lead to a variety of important agronomic and horticulture traits which improve crop yield parameters leading beyond that of its individual components.