Solvent Compositions Promoting Plant Growth

Abstract

Plant growth compositions include a solvent composition and an active component composition. The solvent composition includes 1-methoxy-2-propanol, glyceryl triacetate, methyl isobutyl ketone, 2-bytoxy ethanol, ethyl acetate, butyl lactate, lactic acid and/or n-butyl pyrrolidone. The active component combination is formulated to increase the growth of a plant, and includes an auxin, a gibberellin, a cytokinin, or a combination thereof. The solvent composition excludes butanol and/or citric acid. The boiling point of the solvent composition is at least about 100° C. and less than about 180° C. The solvent composition is compatible with Rhizobia. A method of improving plant growth involves applying the plant growth composition to plant seeds, which may include soybean seeds, corn seeds, wheat seeds, barley seeds, alfalfa seeds, or combinations thereof, and growing the nascent plants to maturity.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A plant growth composition comprising:
 a solvent composition, wherein the solvent composition is selected from the group consisting of: 1-methoxy-2-propanol, glyceryl triacetate, methyl isobutyl ketone, 2-bytoxy ethanol, ethyl acetate, butyl lactate, lactic acid, and n-butyl pyrrolidone; and   an active component combination, wherein the active component combination is formulated to increase growth of a plant.   
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the active component combination comprises an amount of auxin, an amount of gibberellin, an amount of cytokinin, or a combination thereof 
     
     
         3 . The plant growth composition of  claim 1 , wherein the solvent composition excludes butanol. 
     
     
         4 . The plant growth composition of  claim 1 , wherein the solvent composition excludes citric acid. 
     
     
         5 . The plant growth composition of  claim 1 , wherein the solvent composition excludes lactic acid. 
     
     
         6 . The plant growth composition of  claim 1 , wherein the solvent composition excludes propylene glycol. 
     
     
         7 . The plant growth composition of  claim 1 , wherein the solvent composition excludes biodegradable polymers and/or polyhydric alcohols. 
     
     
         8 . The plant growth composition of  claim 1 , wherein the solvent composition comprises between about 95 wt % and about 99 wt % of the plant growth composition. 
     
     
         9 . The plant growth composition of  claim 1 , wherein the solvent composition is compatible with a plant growth-promoting microbe. 
     
     
         10 . The plant growth composition of  claim 9 , wherein the plant growth-promoting microbe comprises  Rhizobia.    
     
     
         11 . The plant growth composition of  claim 1 , wherein the active component combination is completely soluble within the solvent composition. 
     
     
         12 . The plant growth composition of  claim 1 , wherein the active component combination does not degrade within the solvent composition for at least 2 weeks at 54° C. 
     
     
         13 . The plant growth composition of  claim 1 , wherein a boiling point of the solvent composition is at least about 100° C. and less than about 180° C. 
     
     
         14 . The plant growth composition of  claim 1 , wherein the plant growth composition is configured for direct application to plant seeds. 
     
     
         15 . A method of improving plant growth, the method comprising:
 applying a growth composition to plant seeds, the growth composition comprising:
 a solvent composition, wherein the solvent composition is selected from the group consisting of: 1-methoxy-2-propanol, glyceryl triacetate, methyl isobutyl ketone, 2-bytoxy ethanol, ethyl acetate, butyl lactate, lactic acid, and n-butyl pyrrolidone; and 
 an active component combination; and 
   growing the plant seeds into mature plants.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the plants comprise soybean plants, corn plants, wheat plants, barley plants, alfalfa plants, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the active component combination comprises an amount of auxin, an amount of gibberellin, an amount of cytokinin, or a combination thereof 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the solvent composition excludes butanol, citric acid, lactic acid and propylene glycol. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein a boiling point of the solvent composition is at least about 100° C. and less than about 180° C. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the solvent composition is compatible with  Rhizobia.