Foliar Fertilizer Composition for Lithium and Selenium Enrichment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current agricultural practices fail to effectively increase the lithium and selenium content in fruits, vegetables, and their processed products to desired nutritional levels, which are essential for human health, as these micro-elements are often present in low concentrations and unevenly distributed in food sources.
Innovation Solution
A composition containing lithium compounds and selenium salts, along with natural origin adjuvants like alkaline soap, chitosan hydrolysate, lecithin, and tannic acid, is applied as a foliar fertilizer to enhance the absorption and concentration of these micro-elements in plants, improving their nutritional quality and absorption rates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional fertilization practices are used, then basic plant growth needs are met, but lithium and selenium content in plants remains low and unevenly distributed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses chelating agents (EDTA, EDDA, HEDTA) as intermediaries to bind lithium and selenium, forming stable complexes that are more uniformly absorbed and distributed throughout the plant tissue. These chelating agents act as mediators between the fertilizer salts and plant uptake mechanisms, solving both the low quantity and uneven distribution problems simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the fertilizer application by using foliar spray delivery method and adjusting pH levels (maintaining between 5.5-7.5), which optimizes the absorption and distribution of lithium and selenium. This parameter change from soil application to foliar application fundamentally improves both quantity and uniformity of micro-element distribution in the plant.
2Quantity of substance
If higher concentrations of lithium and selenium are applied to increase content in plants, then nutritional quality improves, but the amount of salts used increases
Solution Approach 1:
Chelating agents serve as intermediaries that increase the bioavailability and absorption efficiency of lithium and selenium by plants. This allows achieving higher micro-element content in plants with lower overall salt application, as the chelated forms are more effectively taken up and retained by plant tissues.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state and chemical form of lithium and selenium delivery through foliar spray application of chelated complexes, which are more efficiently absorbed than conventional soil-applied salts. This parameter change in delivery method and chemical form reduces salt waste and improves uptake efficiency.
3Productivity
If natural origin adjuvants are used to enhance absorption, then absorption rate increases, but the complexity of the composition increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite fertilizer composition that integrates multiple natural adjuvants (humic acids, fulvic acids, amino acids) with lithium and selenium chelates. This composite formulation enhances absorption rates through synergistic effects of different adjuvants while maintaining a structured, manageable composition that can be applied as a single foliar spray solution.
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 composition significantly increases lithium and selenium content in edible plant portions, leading to healthier produce and processed products, with enhanced absorption rates and protective effects against mold, while reducing the amount of salts used, thus addressing nutritional deficiencies and promoting better health outcomes.
Implementation Method 1
by means of a composition containing adjuvants defined components, of natural origin and not produced by organic chemistry synthesis... to enhance the absorption and concentration of these micro-elements in plants
Data Source
AI summary
A composition is assigned to increase lithium and selenium content in vegetables and in their bio-technologically and/or technologically processed products. This composition comprises an aqueous solution of lithium compounds and selenium salts having a lithium content ranging from 0,0001 to 15,0g/l and selenium ranging from 0,0001 to 12,0g/l and at least an adjuvant selected among at least alkaline soap, chitosan hydrolysate, chitosan hydrolysate added with lecithin, and tannic acid and/or mixtures thereof where at least an adjuvant is assigned to increase the lithium and selenium ions absorption.