Granular Biostimulant with Lignin Fraction for Stable Nutrient Delivery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional fertilizers face challenges such as environmental contamination, labor-intensive application, and instability, while biostimulants struggle with formulation and compatibility with other agricultural products, necessitating a solution that promotes plant growth without foliage damage and ensures long-term storage stability.

Innovation Solution

A granular biostimulant comprising a mixture of Trichoderma fungus spores and a lignin fraction, with specific particle size distribution and binding agents, which are separately granulated and combined to maintain activity and efficacy during storage and application.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If conventional fertilizers are applied through soil feeding, then plant nutrition is provided, but environmental contamination and groundwater leaching occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenutrient deliveryVSAvoidenvironmental contamination

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical state of the biostimulant from liquid/suspension to granular solid form, and modifies the chemical composition by using lignin fraction instead of conventional nutrient salts. This allows the product to be applied through soil feeding while preventing nutrient leaching and environmental contamination, as the granular form releases substances more slowly and the lignin fraction provides biostimulant effects without the harmful leaching associated with conventional nitrogen-based fertilizers

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite granular biostimulant combining Trichoderma fungus spores with lignin fraction and binding agents. This composite structure provides both the biostimulant effects of the fungus and the beneficial properties of lignin, while the granular composite form prevents environmental contamination and groundwater leaching that plague conventional fertilizer applications

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Productivity

If foliar fertilizer with high nutrient concentration is applied, then plant growth is enhanced, but foliage damage and necrotic areas occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplant growth enhancementVSAvoidfoliage damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the concentration parameter by providing a diluted biostimulant composition (0.1-10% w/v) that can be safely applied to foliage without causing damage. The granular form controls the release rate of active ingredients, preventing the high local concentrations that cause necrotic areas while still providing sufficient biostimulant effects for plant growth enhancement

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Object-affected harmful factors

If foliar fertilizer with low nutrient concentration is applied to prevent foliage damage, then foliage damage is reduced, but labor-intensive operation is required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefoliage damage preventionVSAvoidapplication time

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the concentration parameter to an optimized range (0.1-10% w/v) that simultaneously prevents foliage damage and maintains application efficiency. This intermediate concentration eliminates the need for extensive labor while avoiding the phytotoxicity of higher concentrations, as the controlled-release granular formulation ensures safe local concentrations are maintained during application

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Ease of operation

If water solution or suspension fertilizer is used, then application to crops is suitable, but storage and transportation costs increase and long-term instability occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveapplication suitabilityVSAvoidstorage stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes phase transition by converting the biostimulant from liquid/suspension phase to solid granular phase. This phase change enables long-term storage stability and reduced transportation costs while maintaining ease of application to crops, as the granular form can be easily dissolved or dispersed in water at the time of application to restore the suitable liquid form for foliar or soil application

Inventive Principle:

Principle #36Phase transitions

5Stability of the object's composition

If granular form biostimulant is used, then storage and transportation are improved, but formulation complexity and compatibility issues with other agricultural products arise

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage stabilityVSAvoidformulation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent develops a composite granular formulation combining Trichoderma spores, lignin fraction, and specific binding agents (starch, cellulose, or gum arabic). This composite structure provides storage stability and simplified handling while the carefully selected compatible components ensure good mixing properties with other agricultural products, reducing formulation complexity compared to alternative granular systems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentUS20250011253A1A granular biostimulant as plant growth promoter, processes for preparing the same and uses thereof

Publication Date: 2025.01.09 UPM KYMMENE OYJ

AI summary

A biostimulant is disclosed including a solid mixture of a) granules including a fungus of Trichoderma genus and at least one binding agent, and b) granules including a lignin fraction and optionally at least one carrier, as well as processes for preparing the same and uses as a plant growth and fruit production promoter in agriculture. In an additional aspect, an agro-chemical product is also disclosed including the biostimulant and agro-chemical additives.