Slow-release fertilizer and method of making and using same

Abstract

There is disclosed a fertilizer composition comprising a water-insoluble slow-release reacted nitrogen fertilizer and an effective amount of a water-soluble, non-aromatic poly(amino acid) of the group poly(aspartic acid), poly(glutamic acid), poly(glycine), poly(lysine) a copolymer of cystein and glutamic acid and a terpolymer of cystein and glutamic acid and aspartic acid, wherein the poly(amino acid) has a molecular size larger than that which can be absorbed by a plant. A method of making and using the fertilizer composition is also disclosed.

1 . A composition comprising: 
 a water-insoluble slow-release nitrogen fertilizer; and    an effective amount of a water-soluble, non-aromatic polymer having a weight average molecular weight (M w ) larger than 1,000 and cannot be absorbed by a plant and having the structure:                          wherein, X=H + , Na + , NH 4   + , K + , Ca +2 , Mg + , Zn + , Co +2 , Li + , Ba +2 , Fe +2  and Fe +3 , n=0-100 mole % of aspartic acid mer units linked by α-peptide bonds or α form units; m=0-100 mole % of aspartic acid mer units linked by β-peptide bonds or β form units; and p=10-1,000.    
   
   
       2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said water-insoluble slow-release nitrogen fertilizer is a water-insoluble reacted nitrogen fertilizer.  
   
   
       3 . The composition of  claim 2 , wherein said water-insoluble reacted nitrogen fertilizer is methylene urea or isobutylidene diurea.  
   
   
       4 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said water-insoluble slow-release nitrogen fertilizer is methylene urea.  
   
   
       5 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said water-insoluble slow-release nitrogen fertilizer is isobutylidene diurea.  
   
   
       6 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said water-soluble, non-aromatic polymer has a weight average molecular weight of greater than 1,000 to approximately 20,000.  
   
   
       7 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said water-soluble, non-aromatic polymer has a weight average molecular weight of approximately 1,500 to approximately 10,000.  
   
   
       8 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said water-soluble, non-aromatic polymer has a weight average molecular weight of approximately 8,000.  
   
   
       9 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said composition comprises approximately 0.5% to 10% by weight water-soluble, non-aromatic polymer based on the water-insoluble slow-release nitrogen fertilizer.  
   
   
       10 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said composition comprises approximately 1% to 5% by weight water-soluble, non-aromatic polymer based on the water-insoluble slow-release nitrogen fertilizer.  
   
   
       11 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said composition comprises approximately 3% by weight water-soluble, non-aromatic polymer based on the water-insoluble slow-release nitrogen fertilizer.  
   
   
       12 . The composition of  claim 2 , wherein said water-insoluble reacted nitrogen fertilizer comprises approximately 1% to 50% by weight nitrogen.  
   
   
       13 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said water-soluble, non-aromatic polymer is thermal polyaspartate.  
   
   
       14 . The composition of  claim 2 , wherein said water-insoluble reacted nitrogen fertilizer is a liquid.  
   
   
       15 . The composition of  claim 14 , wherein said water-insoluble reacted nitrogen fertilizer comprises approximately 1% to 36% by weight nitrogen.  
   
   
       16 . The composition of  claim 2 , wherein said water-insoluble reacted nitrogen fertilizer is a solid.  
   
   
       17 . The composition of  claim 16 , wherein said water-insoluble reacted nitrogen fertilizer comprises approximately 5% to 50% by weight nitrogen.  
   
   
       18 . The composition of  claim 1  further comprising a material selected from amino acids or fluvic acids.  
   
   
       19 . The composition of  claim 1  further comprising a pesticide.  
   
   
       20 . The composition of  claim 19 , wherein said pesticide is an insecticide, a herbicide, a fungicide or a plant growth regulator.  
   
   
       21 . A seed comprising a coating of the composition of  claim 1  on at least a portion of the surface of said seed.  
   
   
       22 . A plant having a root system comprising the composition of  claim 1  on at least a portion of said roots of said plant.  
   
   
       23 . A method of treating plants growing in soil comprising applying the composition of  claim 1  to at least a portion of said soil.  
   
   
       24 . A method of treating plants comprising: 
 providing to said plants a composition comprising:    a water-insoluble slow-release nitrogen fertilizer; and    a water-soluble, non-aromatic polymer having a weight average molecular weight (M w ) larger than 1,500 and having the structure:                          wherein, X=H + , Na + , NH 4   + , K + , Ca +2 , Mg + , Zn + , Co +2 , Li + , Ba +2 , Fe +2  and Fe +3 , n=0-100 mole % of aspartic acid mer units linked by α-peptide bonds or α form units; m=0-100 mole % of aspartic acid mer units linked by β-peptide bonds or β form units; and p=10-1,000.    
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein said slow-release nitrogen fertilizer is methylene urea or isobutylidene diurea.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein said water-insoluble slow-release nitrogen fertilizer is applied to said soil at the rate of approximately 10 to 400 pounds per acre.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein said water-soluble, non-aromatic polymer is applied to said soil at a rate of approximately 2.7 to 128 ounces per acre.  
   
   
       28 . A method of treating plants growing in soil comprising: 
 applying to at least a portion of said soil approximately 10 to 400 pounds per acre of urea-formaldehyde; and    applying to said same portion of said soil approximately 2.7 to 128 ounces per acre polyaspartate.    
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein said polyaspartate has a weight average molecular weight of approximately 1,000 to 20,000.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein said urea-formaldehyde has a nitrogen content of approximately 1% to 50% by weight.  
   
   
       31 . A method of applying fertilizer to soil comprising: 
 applying to said soil a fertilizing amount of urea formaldehyde; and    applying to said soil approximately 0.5% to 10% by weight polyaspartate based on said urea formaldehyde.    
   
   
       32 . A seed at least a portion of which is coated with a composition comprising: 
 urea formaldehyde; and    approximately 0.5% to 10% by weight polyaspartate based on said urea formaldehyde.    
   
   
       33 . A method comprising applying to at least a portion of a seed a composition comprising: 
 urea formaldehyde; and    approximately 0.5% to 10% by weight polyaspartate based on said urea formaldehyde.    
   
   
       34 . A plant at least a portion of which is coated with a composition comprising: 
 urea formaldehyde; and    approximately 0.5% to 10% by weight polyaspartate based on said urea formaldehyde.    
   
   
       35 . The plant of  claim 34 , wherein the portion of the plant coated with the composition is at least a portion of the roots of the plant.  
   
   
       36 . A method comprising applying to at least a portion of a plant a composition comprising: 
 urea formaldehyde; and    approximately 0.5% to 10% by weight polyaspartate based on said urea formaldehyde.    
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the composition is applied to the plant by dipping or spraying.  
   
   
       38 . A method of increasing the yield of crops comprising: 
 providing to said crops a crop-increasing amount of a composition comprising:    urea formaldehyde; and    approximately 0.5% to 10% by weight polyaspartate based on said urea formaldehyde.