Bioavailable minerals for plant health

Abstract

A method employing a composition of bioavailable minerals directed at supplementing nutritional intake of a living plant. The composition includes the ionic mineral(s) copper and zinc in a ligand complex and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier including water, H 2 SO 4 and (NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 . The composition for use in the method may also include other supporting plant nutrients such as botanical extracts, urea, plant hormones, vitamins and mineral supplements necessary for plant health.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A composition in a formulation for plant intake, the composition comprising ammonium hydrogen sulfate and a balanced amount of zinc sulfate, copper sulfate, and optionally a compound selected from the group consisting of manganese, magnesium, cobalt, chromium, molybdenum, and vanadium where zinc and copper are present in the composition at a ratio of about 7:2. 
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1  having a pH less than 1.0. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1  where the ammonium hydrogen sulfate is in the amount of 14 ounces and a total mineral amount is 16 ounces and further comprising 98 ounces of water to make one gallon. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1  further comprising at least one substance selected from the group consisting of a botanical extract, urea, an auxin(s), a plant hormone(s), a vitamin(s), a mineral supplement(s), a nutrient(s), and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1  where the formulation is selected from the group consisting of a liquid, a gel, an agar, or a film. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1  further comprising at least one delivery agent selected from the group consisting of a surfactant, dimethyl sulfoxide, a urea based compound, a detergent, a hygroscopic compound, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 1  where the ammonium hydrogen sulfate is generated by combining sulfuric acid and ammonia in the presence of water. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 1  where the ammonium hydrogen sulfate is generated by combining one mole of sulfuric acid with one mole of ammonium sulfate. 
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 1  where the ammonium hydrogen sulfate is generated by combining 98 grams of sulfuric acid with 34 grams of ammonia in 36 grams of water. 
     
     
         10 . A composition in a formulation for plant intake, the composition comprising
 98 ounces of water;   14 ounces of ammonium hydrogen sulfate; and   16 ounces in total of at least zinc and copper salts, and optionally a mineral salt of manganese, magnesium, cobalt, chromium, molybdenum, or vanadium,   the composition having pH less than 1.0.   
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 10  having 16 ounces of zinc sulfate. 
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 10  having 8 ounces of copper sulfate and 8 ounces of zinc sulfate. 
     
     
         13 . The composition of  claim 10  having 8 ounces of zinc sulfate, 4 ounces of copper sulfate, and 4 ounces of magnesium sulfate. 
     
     
         14 . A composition in a formulation for plant intake, the composition comprising an ionic mineral complex, the ionic mineral complex consisting of a copper ionic metal bonded to a first plurality of ammonia ligands to form a copper metal-ligand complex, a zinc ionic metal bonded to a second plurality of ammonia ligands to form a zinc metal-ligand complex, and an optional third ionic metal selected from the group consisting of manganese, magnesium, cobalt, chromium, molybdenum, and vanadium. 
     
     
         15 . The composition of  claim 14  where the zinc and the copper are present in the composition at ratio of about 7:2. 
     
     
         16 . The composition of  claim 14  where the composition has a pH of less than 1.0. 
     
     
         17 . The composition of  claim 14  further comprising a third ionic metal bonded to a third plurality of ammonia ligands to form a third metal-ligand complex. 
     
     
         18 . The composition of  claim 14  further comprising at least one substance selected from the group consisting of a botanical extract, urea, an auxin(s), a plant hormone(s), a vitamin(s), a mineral supplement(s), a nutrient(s), and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The composition of  claim 14  where the formulation is selected from the group consisting of a liquid, a gel, an agar, or a film. 
     
     
         20 . The composition of  claim 14  further comprising at least one delivery agent selected from the group consisting of a surfactant, dimethyl sulfoxide, a urea based compound, a detergent, a hygroscopic compound, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         21 . A composition in a formulation for plant intake, the composition comprising an ionic mineral complex, the ionic mineral complex consisting of a copper ionic metal bonded to a first plurality of ammonia ligands to form a copper metal-ligand complex, a zinc ionic metal bonded to a second plurality of ammonia ligands to form a zinc metal-ligand complex, and an optional third ionic metal selected from the group consisting of manganese, magnesium, cobalt, chromium, molybdenum, and vanadium,
 the composition having a ratio of zinc to copper of about 7:2 and a pH less than 1.