Foam Formulations for Ultra-Low-Volume In-Furrow Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Agricultural active ingredients like insecticides, herbicides, and fertilizers are typically applied in large volumes, requiring multiple trips by tractors, which is inefficient and costly, and current methods lack precision, leading to waste and environmental impact.
Innovation Solution
A liquid agricultural formulation containing an active ingredient, foaming agent, and foam stabilizer, applied as a foam with an expansion factor of 10-100, allowing precise in-furrow application directly to seeds during planting, reducing the volume of liquid needed and improving precision.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional liquid formulations are applied to large fields, then the active ingredient can be distributed across the field, but large volumes of water (1500-12,500 gallons for 500 acres) are required, exceeding tractor tank capacity and requiring multiple refilling trips
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the physical state of the agricultural formulation from liquid to foam, changing its expansion characteristics. The foamable formulation expands 10-100 times its original volume when applied, delivering the same active ingredient quantity in a much smaller initial volume, thereby resolving the contradiction between formulation volume and application productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a new dimension of volume expansion through foaming. By incorporating foaming agents that trap gas bubbles within the formulation, the system achieves volumetric multiplication from the application point, allowing precise delivery of concentrated formulations without requiring large tank capacities
2Measurement precision
If conventional spray application methods are used, then active ingredients can be applied to crops or soil, but the application lacks precision and is vulnerable to spray drift, causing waste and environmental harm
Solution Approach 1:
The foamable formulation enables localized application directly to the seed furrow or specific target areas. The foam structure allows the active ingredient to be delivered precisely where needed (in-furrow placement) rather than broadcast spraying, reducing drift and ensuring concentrated dosing at the application point while minimizing loss to surrounding areas
Solution Approach 2:
The formulation is divided into discrete foam bubbles that can be targeted to specific locations. This segmentation allows precise placement of individual foam units containing the active ingredient, enabling accurate dosing at specific seed locations and reducing unnecessary application to non-target areas
3Productivity
If multiple trips are made to refill tractor tanks for fertilizer application, then the field can be fully treated, but valuable planting time is lost and additional fuel and equipment costs are incurred
Solution Approach 1:
By changing the formulation from liquid to foamable concentrate, the system achieves ultra-low-volume application (reducing water carrier from gallons per acre to ounces per acre). This parameter change allows the entire field to be treated in a single pass without refilling, as the expanded foam delivers sufficient active ingredient concentration across the full field area
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 foamable formulations enable ultra-low-volume, high-precision application, reducing the amount of active ingredient used, minimizing waste, and preventing resistant strains by accurate dosing, while enhancing resource efficiency and environmental sustainability.
Implementation Method 1
The formulation contains an agriculturally active ingredient, at least one foaming agent, and at least one foam stabilizer. The liquid agricultural formulation is capable of being applied in a furrow in the form of a foam.
Data Source
AI summary
Foamable formulations of agriculturally active ingredients are provided, as well as methods for using them. The formulations allow improved delivery active ingredients by the ability to deliver high amounts of active ingredient with a low volume of formulation used.