Mineral Chelated Compounds for Crop Yield and Drought Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
The agricultural industry faces challenges in providing ideal trace mineral supplies to plants due to varying soil geography, high sensitivity of seeds to chemical and physical treatments, and the negative impact of glyphosate on micronutrient availability, which can decrease plant health and increase herbicide costs.
Innovation Solution
Development of seed, soil, or plant treatment compositions comprising mineral chelated compounds, such as cobalt, scandium, and other essential minerals, optionally combined with fungicides, herbicides, or fertilizers, to enhance plant growth, health, and drought resistance, applied through methods like pre-treatment, in-furrow application, or foliar treatment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If glyphosate herbicide is used to control weeds, then weed control effectiveness is improved, but micronutrient availability to plants deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces mineral chelated compounds as intermediary substances that mediate between glyphosate herbicide application and plant nutrient uptake. These chelated compounds act as carriers that deliver essential micronutrients (iron, manganese, zinc, copper, boron, molybdenum) to plants even when glyphosate is present in the soil, preventing the harmful chelation effect of glyphosate on micronutrients while maintaining weed control effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful effect of glyphosate (which strongly chelates micronutrients and makes them unavailable to plants) into a beneficial situation by applying mineral chelated compounds that provide the same micronutrients in a form that is not affected by glyphosate chelation. This transforms the harmful interaction into a beneficial nutrient delivery mechanism
2Quantity of substance
If pre-treatment of seeds with agricultural compositions is performed, then plant nutrient supply is improved, but seed sensitivity to chemical and physical treatment causes low coating efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the mineral compounds by forming chelated compounds with specific ligands (carboxylic acids, hydroxycarboxylic acids, or their salts). This chemical transformation improves the solubility and bioavailability of the minerals while reducing their sensitivity to physical damage during seed coating processes, enabling effective pre-treatment without compromising seed integrity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates composite materials by combining mineral compounds with chelating agents to form chelated compounds. These composite structures provide both the nutritional benefit of the minerals and the chemical stability needed for effective seed coating, resolving the conflict between nutrient supply and coating efficiency
3Reliability
If trace mineral supplements are applied to soil, then plant growth health is improved, but farming costs and time requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functions into a single application: the mineral chelated compounds simultaneously provide essential micronutrients, improve plant health, enhance nutrient uptake efficiency, and maintain stability in the soil environment. This consolidation reduces the need for multiple separate applications and minimizes farming time and cost while maximizing plant growth health benefits
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 compositions improve plant nutrient uptake, increase crop yield, and enhance resistance to disease and drought, while reducing farming costs and time by providing essential micronutrients in a readily available form, even in soils affected by glyphosate use.
Implementation Method 1
The compositions can include one or more mineral chelated compounds. The mineral of the mineral chelated compound can be, for example, cobalt, scandium, selenium, titanium, vanadium, chromium, manganese, iron, nickel, copper, zinc, or a combination thereof.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments provide inorganic mineral chelated compositions, cobalt compounds and compositions, and treatment compositions, and methods of making and using them. Mineral chelated compositions and cobalt compounds have been shown to improve plant health, plant emergence, crop yield, and plant resistance to disease and drought. The compositions described herein can be applied directly to seeds, soil, or plants, or they can be incorporated with existing agricultural treatments and processes, reducing cost and time for farmers to implement the methods described herein. Accordingly, the compositions can be used as a seed treatment, or they can be broadcast on soil, tilled in soil, placed in-furrow, mixed with other fertilizers or chemicals, side-dressed in the field, used as foliar treatments, or combinations thereof. Such methods provide valuable micronutrients in a highly bioavailable form to plants and soil.