Potassium Fertigation Feedstock for Micro-Irrigation Plugging Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Micro-irrigation systems are prone to plugging due to the addition of conventional fertilizers, which increase inorganic salt loading and cause particulate formation, leading to uneven water and nutrient distribution and system shutdown, especially when using water from sources with dissolved minerals.

Innovation Solution

A method of discontinuous emitter-irrigation potassium fertigation using a potassium-nutrient feedstock comprised of potassium formate and water, which has a high organic carbon content, minimal water content, and no yield-extraneous or adverse constituents, reducing plugging potential and minimizing shipping, storage, and handling costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If conventional fertilizers are added to irrigation water, then potassium nutrients are delivered to crops, but inorganic salt loading increases and particulate formation occurs causing plugging

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepotassium nutrient deliveryVSAvoidplugging of micro-irrigation components

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical form of potassium fertilizer from conventional inorganic salts (sulfate, chloride, phosphate) to organic potassium compounds (potassium amino acid chelates, potassium humate, potassium fulvate). This parameter change in chemical composition eliminates the formation of insoluble particulates while maintaining potassium nutrient delivery, thereby preventing plugging of micro-irrigation components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Quantity of substance

If conventional potassium fertilizers are used, then potassium nutrients are provided to crops, but yield-extraneous constituents increase shipping, storage and handling costs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepotassium nutrient contentVSAvoidshipping, storage and handling costs

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates yield-extraneous constituents (such as excessive water, fillers, and non-nutritive additives) from conventional potassium fertilizer formulations. By using concentrated organic potassium compounds, the fertilizer contains primarily active nutrients, reducing bulk weight and volume for shipping, storage, and handling while maintaining effective potassium delivery to crops.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Quantity of substance

If irrigation water contains dissolved minerals, then water is available for irrigation, but particulate formation increases when conventional fertilizers are added

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveirrigation water availabilityVSAvoidparticulate formation and deposits

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts potentially harmful interactions between conventional inorganic fertilizers and dissolved minerals in irrigation water into beneficial effects by using organic potassium compounds. These organic compounds remain soluble and stable even in the presence of various dissolved minerals, preventing particulate formation and actually improving overall water quality and nutrient availability to crops.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Data Source

PatentUS9161489B1Method and composition for agricultural potassium fertigation

Publication Date: 2015.10.20 DEERPOINT GROUP LLC

AI summary

An agricultural potassium-fertigation method for emitter-irrigation potassium fertigation feeds a potassium-nutrient feedstock comprised of potassium formate and water to an active emitter-irrigation system discontinuously, at levels of 0.15 to 50 gal./min, during one to six nonconsecutive irrigation days during a crop cycle.