Water Disintegrable Granular Composition for Agricultural Nutrient Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing agricultural granular compositions face challenges such as rapid leaching, poor attrition resistance, and inefficient nutrient delivery, leading to groundwater contamination and inadequate crop nutrition, particularly due to their physical characteristics and rapid dispersibility in water.
Innovation Solution
A water disintegrable granular composition with a particle size of 0.1 microns to 50 microns, bulk density less than 1.5 g/ml, and hardness of at least 1 Newton, containing water insoluble nutrients or algae, designed to provide sustained release and improved mechanical strength for uniform application and prolonged nutrient availability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If water dispersible granules are used to provide instant nutrient release, then nutrient availability is improved, but attrition resistance and mechanical strength deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite granule structure combining water dispersible material (for instant nutrient release) with water insoluble carrier material (for structural strength). The water dispersible material forms a coating on the carrier, creating a composite that simultaneously provides instant nutrient availability and mechanical strength to withstand handling and storage.
Solution Approach 2:
The water dispersible material is applied as a coating layer on the surface of the water insoluble carrier. This local application ensures that the nutrient release function is concentrated at the surface where water contact occurs, while the inner carrier material maintains structural integrity and attrition resistance.
2Ease of operation
If granules are made with low bulk density for uniform distribution, then application uniformity is improved, but mechanical strength and hardness deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The composite structure combines low-density water dispersible material with higher-density water insoluble carrier material. This allows the overall granule to achieve appropriate bulk density for uniform application while the carrier material provides the mechanical strength and hardness needed to maintain granule integrity during handling and storage.
3Speed
If rapid dispersibility is used for quick nutrient delivery, then immediate plant nutrition is improved, but leaching and groundwater contamination increase
Solution Approach 1:
The water dispersible material is localized as a surface coating rather than being uniformly distributed throughout the granule. This ensures rapid nutrient delivery upon water contact at the surface, while the water insoluble carrier material in the interior prevents excessive leaching by controlling the release rate and preventing direct contact between bulk nutrient material and groundwater.
4Strength
If granules are made with high hardness for durability, then attrition resistance is improved, but water disintegrability and nutrient release control deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The water dispersible material forming the coating layer provides the necessary hardness and attrition resistance at the surface, while the water insoluble carrier material in the interior maintains structural integrity. The coating layer's properties are optimized for water interaction to control nutrient release, while the core material provides the bulk hardness and durability.
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 ensures immediate and continuous release of nutrients, enhancing plant yield, nutrient uptake, and pest control, while reducing leaching and application costs, with improved physical properties for mechanical application and prolonged suspension in water.
Implementation Method 1
water disintegrable granular composition... designed to provide sustained release
Implementation Method 2
prolonged suspension in water
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5A~5C
AI summary
The invention relates to an agricultural water disintegrable granular composition. More particularly, the invention relates to a water disintegrable granular composition, where the granules include at least one water insoluble crop nutrient or algae or pesticidal active ingredient, and one or more agrochemically acceptable excipient, whereby the granules have a bulk density of less than 1.5 gm/ml and hardness of at least 1 Newton. The present invention also provides a process of preparing the water disintegrable granular composition and a method of fortification of the plants or the soil or the plant propagation material or locus thereof with the water disintegrable granular composition.