Micronutrient Organic Acid Complexes for Crop Protectant Compatibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current foliar solutions for delivering micronutrients to plants face compatibility issues with crop protectants and suffer from inefficient plant uptake, particularly with metals like zinc and manganese, limiting their effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
A nutrient formulation comprising a micronutrient complexed with first and second organic acids, specifically citric and malic acids, is used, forming a non-chelated complex that enhances water solubility and compatibility with crop protectants, improving micronutrient uptake and delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If iron sulfate solutions are used to deliver iron to plants, then iron uptake is improved, but compatibility with crop protectants deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses organic acid complexes as intermediary compounds that facilitate iron delivery to plants without causing incompatibility with crop protectants. The organic acids act as mediators between the iron sulfate and the plant system, preventing direct harmful interactions while maintaining effective iron delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of iron delivery by converting iron sulfate into organic acid complexes. This parameter change (from simple sulfate form to complexed form) maintains iron availability for plant uptake while eliminating the compatibility issues with crop protectants that plague conventional iron sulfate applications.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple treatment steps are used to avoid compatibility issues, then compatibility with crop protectants is improved, but treatment time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the micronutrient delivery function with compatibility assurance into a single integrated formulation. The organic acid complexed micronutrient can be applied simultaneously with or adjacent to crop protectants without requiring separate treatment steps, thereby combining multiple functions into one application event.
Solution Approach 2:
The organic acid complexed micronutrient formulation achieves universal compatibility with multiple types of crop protectants (fungicides, herbicides, insecticides) while maintaining effective micronutrient delivery. This multi-functional capability allows the same formulation to work with various crop protection products without requiring different application protocols.
3Ease of operation
If conventional micronutrient formulations are used, then application is simple, but plant uptake efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of micronutrient delivery by using organic acid complexes instead of conventional sulfate or chelated forms. This parameter change enhances plant uptake efficiency through improved solubility and bioavailability while maintaining the simplicity of foliar application methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates composite micronutrient formulations where organic acids are complexed with micronutrients like iron, zinc, and manganese. These composite materials combine the benefits of simple application with enhanced uptake efficiency, as the organic acid-micronutrient complexes exhibit superior solubility and plant absorption characteristics compared to conventional formulations.
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 formulation significantly increases micronutrient uptake and chlorophyll synthesis in plants, offering improved compatibility with crop protectants and enhanced plant growth without negative effects on root and shoot mass, thus providing a more effective micronutrient delivery system.
Implementation Method 1
a micronutrient complexed with first and second organic acids
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides novel compositions and methods of forming those compositions by complexing a micronutrient with at least two organic acids, preferably in the presence of a base to form an aqueous formulation. Compositions comprising the complexed micronutrient are tank mix compatible and can be used to deliver a water-soluble source of the particular micronutrient to plants (e.g., corn plants), with foliar application being particularly preferred.