Foliar Nutritional Composition and Method for Using Same

Abstract

A foliar nutritional composition and method for using same for providing nutrients and/or for treating disease in plants. The foliar nutritional composition comprises a metal salt complexed with amino acids from hydrolyzed yeast extract. The metal salt is selected for high solubility using a salt of a metal selected from the group consisting of copper, nickel, zinc, iron, manganese, and combinations thereof. Preferred metal salt are nitrates, chlorides, and combinations thereof. In the method, an aqueous solution of this composition is sprayed on the plant foliage and absorbed by the plant.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of providing nutrients and reducing the incidence of disease in disease in a plant species comprising applying to the foliage of said plant species a water soluble foliar nutritional composition comprising yeast hydrolysate from Brewer's yeast and a metal salt, dissolved in an aqueous solution, such that metal is absorbed into the plant,
 wherein the metal salt is selected from the salts of a metal selected from the group consisting of copper, nickel, zinc, iron, manganese, and combinations thereof, and wherein the metal salt has a relatively higher solubility for that metal.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the metal salt is selected from the group consisting of nitrates, chlorides and combinations thereof of the metal selected from the group consisting of copper, nickel, zinc, iron, manganese, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the solubility of metal salt is greater than or equal to 70 g/100 g water at 32° F. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the metal salt is comprised of a majority of zinc nitrate. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the metal salt is comprised of a majority of copper nitrate. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the metal salt is comprised of a majority of zinc chloride. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the yeast hydrolysate comprises amino acids capable of neutralizing a charge of the metal. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the yeast hydrolysate comprises amino acids selected from the group consisting of arginine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, cysteine, phenylalanine, tyrosine, threonine, tryptophan, and valine. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the yeast hydrolysate comprises glutamic acid and aspartic acid. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the composition is applied to the leaves on the plant species. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein essentially no metal is deposited in or remains in the soil. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the pH of the soil is not rendered acidic or changed. 
     
     
         13 . A foliar nutritional composition for foliar application on plants comprising yeast hydrolysate from Brewer's yeast and a metal salt dissolved in an aqueous solution, wherein the metal is plant absorbable, and wherein the metal salt is selected from the salts of a metal selected from the group consisting of copper, nickel, zinc, iron, manganese, and combinations thereof, and wherein the metal salt has a relatively higher solubility for that metal. 
     
     
         14 . The foliar nutritional composition of  claim 13  wherein the metal salt is selected from the group consisting of nitrates, chlorides and combinations thereof of the metal selected from the group consisting of copper, nickel, zinc, iron, manganese, and combinations thereof 
     
     
         15 . The foliar nutritional composition of  claim 13  wherein the solubility of metal salt is greater than or equal to 70 g/100 g water at 32° F. 
     
     
         16 . The foliar nutritional composition of  claim 15  wherein the metal salt is comprised of a majority of zinc nitrate. 
     
     
         17 . The foliar nutritional composition of  claim 15  wherein the metal salt is comprised of a majority of copper nitrate. 
     
     
         18 . The foliar nutritional composition of  claim 15  wherein the metal salt is comprised of a majority of zinc chloride. 
     
     
         19 . The foliar nutritional composition of  claim 13  wherein the yeast hydrolysate comprises amino acids capable of neutralizing a charge of the metal. 
     
     
         20 . The foliar nutritional composition of  claim 13  wherein the metal complexes with one or more of the amino acids. 
     
     
         21 . The foliar nutritional composition of  claim 13  wherein the yeast hydrolysate comprises amino acids selected from the group consisting of arginine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, cysteine, phenylalanine, tyrosine, threonine, tryptophan, and valine. 
     
     
         22 . The foliar nutritional composition of  claim 13  wherein the yeast hydrolysate comprises glutamic acid and aspartic acid.