Agronomic composition and its uses
The present invention relates to an agronomic composition comprising zinc, manganese and microorganism(s) capable of promoting nutrient uptake by a plant from the soil. Furthermore, the present invention provides a seed coated by an agronomic composition according to the invention and a method for improving the yield of a plant, in particular for increasing nutrient uptake and/or cold tolerance in early stages of development by applying the agronomic composition according to the invention to a seed or to soil, in which a seed is planted. Finally, the present invention also relates to the use of an agronomic composition of the present invention to improve the yield of a plant. In particular, the composition of the present invention is used to improve recovery of a plant and/or to prevent tissue damage when the plant is exposed to low temperatures at the seed or seedling stage.
1 . An agronomic composition comprising
(a) 20 to 40 wt.-% of zinc oxide;
(b) 30 to 78 wt.-% of manganese carbonate;
(c) 0.5 to 6 wt.-% of dry mass of Bacillus megaterium , wherein the dry mass comprises between 10 4 and 10 10 colony forming units per gram; and
(d) 1 to 20 wt.-% humics,
in each case with respect to the total weight of the composition,
wherein the agronomic composition does not contain any phosphate except for unavoidable impurities.
2 . The agronomic composition according to claim 1 , wherein the agronomic composition further comprises one or more substances selected from fungicides, rodenticides, bird repellents and insecticides.
3 . The agronomic composition according to claim 1 , wherein the agronomic composition comprises at least one antagonistic microorganism and is free of ecologically harmful substances selected from the group consisting of carbamate pesticides and phosphonate herbicides.
4 . A seed coated by an agronomic composition according to claim 1 .
5 . The seed of claim 4 , wherein the seed is derived from Zea mays.
6 . A method for improving the yield of a plant the method comprising:
(i) applying an agronomic composition according to claim 1 to a seed and planting the seed into soil; or
(ii) applying an agronomic composition according to claim 1 to soil and planting a seed into the soil; or
(iii) planting a coated seed coated with an agronomic composition according to claim 1 into soil.
7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein no phosphate is supplied to the soil before and while cultivating the plant.
8 . A method of using an agronomic composition according to claim 1 to improve the yield of a Zea mays plant, the method comprising:
(i) applying the agronomic composition to a Zea mays seed and planting the seed into the soil; or
(ii) planting a Zea mays seed coated with the agronomic composition into the soil.
9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the agronomic composition is used to improve recovery of the Zea mays plant and/or to reduce tissue damage when the Zea mays plant is exposed to temperatures of 4 to 8° C. for a period of 12 hours to 3 days, at the seed or seedling stage.