Superabsorbent polymer product and use in agriculture
View Patent ↗A superabsorbent starch graft copolymer product having particle sizes useful in granule applicators for application to agricultural fields. Starch graft copolymers applied to field crops provide excellent anti-crusting properties, increased seed germination and stand, increased crop growth, increased yields, and reduced water requirements.
1. A method for increasing crop production, comprising:
applying a plant seed in a furrow;
applying granular starch graft superabsorbent polymer particles in the furrow adjacent to the plant seed, the starch graft superabsorbent polymer particles granularized in a manner such that at least 61 percent of the starch graft superabsorbent polymer particles have a mesh size between 8 mesh to 25 mesh;
applying water to the seed and starch graft superabsorbent polymer particles; and
allowing a plant to grow from the plant seed;
wherein increased crop production is measured from at least one of the following characteristics: plant height, plant weight after cutting the stem at soil level, or plant root weight compared to a control.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the control is planted under similar conditions absent the application of granular starch graft superabsorbent polymer particles.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein increased crop production is measured from plant height relative to the control.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein increased crop production is measured from plant weight after cutting the stem at soil level relative to the control.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein increased crop production is measured from plant root weight relative to the control.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein applying granular starch graft superabsorbent polymer particles in the furrow comprises applying granular starch graft superabsorbent polymer particles via a granule applicator.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein applying granular starch graft superabsorbent polymer particles in the furrow comprises applying granular starch graft superabsorbent polymer particles at a rate of at least 7 pounds per acre.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein applying granular starch graft superabsorbent polymer particles comprises applying superabsorbent polymer particles formed from graft polymerizing a monomer onto a starch in the presence of an initiator to form a starch graft copolymer.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein applying granular starch graft superabsorbent polymer particles comprises applying granular starch graft superabsorbent polymer particles having an absorbency ranging between 200 to 600 grams of water per gram of superabsorbent polymer.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein applying granular starch graft superabsorbent polymer particles comprises applying granular starch graft superabsorbent polymer particles having an absorbency ranging between 400 to 600 grams of water per gram of superabsorbent polymer.
11. A method for increasing crop production, comprising:
applying a plant seed to soil;
applying granular starch graft superabsorbent polymer particles to the soil in proximity to the plant seed, the starch graft superabsorbent polymer particles granularized in a manner such that at least 61 percent of the starch graft superabsorbent polymer particles have a mesh size between 8 mesh to 25 mesh;
applying water to the seed and starch graft superabsorbent polymer particles; and
allowing a plant to grow from the plant seed;
wherein crop production is increased as compared to a control planted under similar conditions absent the application of granular starch graft superabsorbent polymer particles, and wherein increased crop production is measured from at least one of the following characteristics: plant height, plant weight after cutting the stem at soil level, or plant root weight.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein applying granular starch graft superabsorbent polymer particles to the soil in proximity to the plant seed comprises applying the superabsorbent polymer particles into the soil below the seed.
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein applying granular starch graft superabsorbent polymer particles to the soil in proximity to the plant seed comprises applying the superabsorbent polymer particles over the top of the seed adjacent to the soil surface.
14. The method of claim 11 , wherein applying granular starch graft superabsorbent polymer particles comprises applying superabsorbent polymer particles formed from a process comprising:
providing grafting reactants and a starch;
graft polymerizing the grafting reactants onto the starch to form a starch graft copolymer;
saponifying the starch graft copolymer to form a saponificate;
precipitating the saponified starch graft copolymer; and
granularizing the precipitated starch graft copolymer.
15. The method of claim 11 , wherein applying granular starch graft superabsorbent polymer particles comprises applying superabsorbent polymer particles formed from a process comprising:
providing grafting reactants and a starch;
graft polymerizing the grafting reactants onto the starch to form a starch graft copolymer;
saponifying the starch graft copolymer to form a saponificate;
precipitating the saponified starch graft copolymer; and
granularizing the precipitated starch graft copolymer such that at least 84 percent of the starch graft copolymer granules have a particle size between 8 mesh and 25 mesh.
16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the plant seed is chosen from: alfalfa, asparagus, barley, bean, bell pepper, broccoli, canola, cantaloupe, carrot, cauliflower, celery, coriander, coreopsis, cotton, cucumber, dill, elymus glaucus, field corn, fine fescue, garlic, honeydew, Kentucky bluegrass, lentil, lettuce leaf, lima bean, oat, onion, parsley, pea, pumpkin, radish, rye grass, sorghum, soybean, spinach, squash, sugar beet, sunflower, sweet corn, Swiss chard, tall fescue, tomato, turnip, watermelon, wheat, white clover, wild rye, and zinnia.