Foliar Feed Formulation for Complete Nutrient Supply
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional hydroponic systems require complex infrastructure, monitoring, and maintenance, limiting their accessibility and affordability, especially for nutrient-depleted or economically constrained areas, and foliar nutrient application has been inconsistent in supplying all essential mineral nutrients to plants.
Innovation Solution
A foliar feed formulation providing a full complement of nutritionally required mineral nutrients, applied through the foliage, allowing roots to be in contact with an incomplete water solution, reducing the need for root-fed nutrient supply and infrastructure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional hydroponic systems use complete mineral nutrient solutions fed through roots, then plants receive all essential nutrients, but infrastructure complexity and maintenance requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the nutrient supply function from the root zone and relocates it to the foliar application system. By applying complete mineral nutrient solutions directly to leaves through spray irrigation, the system eliminates the need for complex reservoirs, pumps, and circulation infrastructure while maintaining complete nutrient supply to plants
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces foliar application as an intermediary mechanism between the nutrient source and plant uptake. Instead of direct root absorption requiring complex hydroponic infrastructure, the nutrient solution is applied to leaves which then transfer nutrients to the plant, simplifying the overall system
2Loss of substance
If traditional hydroponic systems implement closed-loop nutrient recycling, then water and nutrient usage efficiency improves, but monitoring and maintenance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the system to self-regulate nutrient application through foliar spray irrigation. The complete nutrient solution applied to leaves is absorbed by the plant, and excess solution naturally drains without requiring active monitoring, pumping, or recycling infrastructure, achieving both nutrient efficiency and operational simplicity
3Device complexity
If foliar nutrient application is used to supply minerals, then infrastructure requirements are reduced, but consistency of complete nutrient supply has been unreliable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the nutrient solution by formulating complete mineral nutrient solutions optimized for foliar application. This includes adjusting concentration, pH, and composition to ensure complete nutrient supply through leaves, making the simplified infrastructure reliable for delivering all essential plant nutrients
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 system achieves consistent nutrient supply with reduced infrastructure and maintenance, enabling affordable and efficient hydroponic growth of leafy vegetables in various environments, comparable to traditional root-fed systems.
Implementation Method 1
The foliar feed formulation comprises a substantially full complement of the plant's nutritionally required mineral nutrients, and an effective amount of a penetrant
Data Source
AI summary
Described is a hydroponic system wherein a feed formulation comprising a plant's nutritionally required mineral nutrients is applied to the foliage of the plant and the roots of the plant are in contact with an incomplete water solution that may comprise only hydrogen and oxygen. The feed formulation, methods of feeding a plant or plant seed, and plants produced thereby are also described.