Fertilizer composition containing micronutrients and methods of making same

Abstract

A fertilizer composition including a base fertilizer granule with a barrier coating and one or more micronutrients. The base fertilizer material is coated with a barrier coating, and then a coating of one or more micronutrients. Alternatively, the base fertilizer material is coated with a barrier coating having discrete particles of micronutrients dispersed throughout. The barrier coating acts to physically and chemically isolate the micronutrient particles from the underlying fertilizer composition such that more of the micronutrient is available to the soil solution, and ultimately to the root zone of the plant.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fertilizer composition comprising:
 a base fertilizer granule;   a barrier coating covering at least a portion of an outer surface of the base fertilizer granule; and   one or more micronutrients covering at least portion of the barrier coating such that the one or more micronutrients are isolated from the base fertilizer granule.   
     
     
         2 . The fertilizer composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the base fertilizer is a phosphate. 
     
     
         3 . The fertilizer composition according to  claim 2 , wherein the base fertilizer is selected from monoammonium phosphate, diammonium phosphate, single superphosphate, triple superphosphate, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The fertilizer composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the barrier coating is a material that is non-reactive with the base fertilizer and the one or more micronutrients. 
     
     
         5 . The fertilizer composition according to  claim 4 , wherein the barrier coating comprises a material including urea, langbeinite, ammonium sulfate, potassium sulfate, magnesium sulfate, calcium sulfate, elemental sulfur, silicates, respective hydrates, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The fertilizer composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more micronutrients is selected from boron, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum, zinc, chlorine, cobalt, sodium, nickel, selenium, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The fertilizer composition according to  claim 1 , further comprising a polymer coating covering at least a portion of the barrier coating, wherein the one or more micronutrients are adhered to an outer surface of the polymer coating. 
     
     
         8 . The fertilizer composition according to  claim 7 , wherein the polymer coating comprises a polymer from a polyethyleneimine (PEI) family of polymers. 
     
     
         9 . A fertilizer composition comprising:
 a base fertilizer granule;   a barrier coating covering at least a portion of an outer surface of the base fertilizer granule; and   one or more micronutrients dispersed within the barrier coating such that the one or more micronutrients are isolated from the base fertilizer granule.   
     
     
         10 . The fertilizer composition according to  claim 9 , wherein the base fertilizer is a phosphate. 
     
     
         11 . The fertilizer composition according to  claim 10 , wherein the base fertilizer is selected from monoammonium phosphate, diammonium phosphate, single superphosphate, triple superphosphate, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The fertilizer composition according to  claim 9 , wherein the barrier coating is a material that is non-reactive with the base fertilizer and the one or more micronutrients. 
     
     
         13 . The fertilizer composition according to  claim 12 , wherein the barrier coating comprises a material including urea, langbeinite, ammonium sulfate, potassium sulfate, magnesium sulfate, calcium sulfate, elemental sulfur, silicates, respective hydrates, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The fertilizer composition according to  claim 9 , wherein the one or more micronutrients is selected from boron, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum, zinc, chlorine, cobalt, sodium, nickel, selenium, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The fertilizer composition according to  claim 10 , further comprising a polymer coating covering at least a portion of the barrier coating, and one or more additional micronutrients covering at least a portion of the outer surface of the polymer coating. 
     
     
         16 . The fertilizer composition according to  claim 15 , wherein the polymer coating comprises a polymer from a polyethyleneimine (PEI) family of polymers.