Urea phosphite fertilizer

Abstract

A new fertilizer comprising Urea Phosphite, which is made by reacting phosphorous acid with urea. Urea Phosphite is characterized by being a liquid produced in an unprocessed reaction, and by having phosphite as a phosphorus source and urea as a nitrogen source. The reaction product may be blended with an admix and spray dried, or dissolved in water.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A method for making a fertilizer comprising urea phosphite, comprising reacting together a urea compound and a phosphorous acid compound without the addition of water, such that the fertilizer comprises urea phosphate having the effect of enhancing plant growth when applied to plant seed, plants, and/or soil in which plant seeds or plants are planted. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said reaction is conducted at a temperature ranging from about 15° C. and about 140° C. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the urea compound and the phosphorous acid compound are solids. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the reaction product is a non-hydrous liquid. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising blending or reacting the reaction product with an admix for agricultural use. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising spray drying the blended product. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the admix is solid such that the fertilizer is dry and soluble. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the reaction is at room temperature. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the urea compound is selected from the group consisting of ureas, thioureas, phenylureas and other substituted ureas. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the urea and phosphorous acid compounds are reacted in a molar ratio of urea to phosphorous acid ranging from about 2:1 to about 1:2. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the urea phosphite is a pH buffer. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the urea phosphite is a solution pH modifier to enable solubility of mineral salts in the presence of phosphorus compounds.