Method for providing a plant composition

Abstract

A method of providing a plant nutrient composition, the method comprising: (a) contacting a cellulosic material with a composition comprising an amino compound; (b) contacting the cellulosic material with a composition comprising carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide and mixtures thereof; (c) optionally, contacting the cellulosic material with a composition comprising a source of one or more elements selected from nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sulphur, boron, cobalt, chlorine, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum, zinc and sodium; (d) optionally, contacting the resultant material with a plant and/or a base growing medium.

1 . A method of providing a plant nutrient composition, the method comprising:
 (a) contacting a cellulosic material with a composition comprising an amino compound; and   (b) contacting the cellulosic material with a composition comprising carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide and mixtures thereof.   
     
     
         2 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the cellulosic material is a fibrous material. 
     
     
         3 . A method as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the cellulosic material comprises natural fibres. 
     
     
         4 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the cellulosic material comprises natural cellulosic fibres selected from cotton, hemp, flax, silk, jute, kenaf, ramie, sisal, kapok, agave, rattan, soy bean, vine, banana, coir, stalk fibres and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         5 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the amino compound used in step (a) is selected from ammonia or an amine. 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . A method as claimed in  claim 14 , in which step (c) comprises contacting the cellulosic material with a composition comprising a source of phosphorous, nitrogen or potassium. 
     
     
         9 . A method as claimed in  claims 14  in which compounds included in the composition contacted with the material in step (c) are selected from a group consisting of: urea, ammonia, sodium nitrate, ammonium sulphate, ammonium nitrate, ammonium phosphate, single superphosphate, superphosphate of lime, monopotassium phosphate, dipotassium phosphate, tripotassium phosphate, phosphoric acid, potassium chloride, potassium oxide, potassium sulphate, potassium magnesium sulphate, calcium carbonate, calcium sulphite, calcium magnesium carbonate, calcium oxide, magnesium sulphate, magnesium oxide, sulphur, borax, boric acid, boron superphosphate, calcium borate, magnesium borate, copper sulphate, ferrous sulphate, manganese superphosphate, manganese oxide, molybdenum oxide, and cobalt sulphate. 
     
     
         10 . A method as claimed in  claim 14  in which the composition used in step (c) comprises dissolved potassium and phosphate ions. 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . A plant nutrient composition comprising a cellulosic material which has been treated with an amino compound and carbon dioxide and/or sulfur dioxide. 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 (c) contacting the cellulosic material with a composition comprising a source of at least one element selected from a group consisting of: nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sulphur, boron, cobalt, chlorine, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum, zinc, and sodium.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 (d) contacting the resultant material with at least one of the following: a plant or a base growing medium.