Enhanced nitrification inhibitor composition
View Patent ↗The present invention relates to an improved nitrification inhibitor composition and its use in agricultural applications.
1. A microcapsule suspension formulation comprising:
(a) a suspended phase of a plurality of microcapsules having a volume median particle size of from about 1 to about 10 microns, wherein a microcapsule comprises:
(1) a microcapsule wall produced by an interfacial polycondensation reaction between a polymeric isocyanate and a polyamine to form a polyurea shell having a wall thickness of from about 10 to about 125 nanometers; and
(2) a 2-chloro-6-(trichloromethyl)pyridine compound encapsulated within the polyurea shell; and
(b) an aqueous phase.
2. The microcapsule suspension formulation of claim 1 wherein the microcapsules have a volume median particle size of from about 1 to about 5 microns.
3. The microcapsule suspension formulation of claim 1 wherein the ratio of the suspended phase a) to the aqueous phase b) is from about 1:0.75 to about 1:20.
4. The microcapsule suspension formulation of claim 1 wherein the ratio of the suspended phase a) to the aqueous phase b) is from about 1:1 to about 1:7.
5. The microcapsule suspension formulation of claim 1 wherein the ratio of the suspended phase a) to the aqueous phase b) is from about 1:1 to about 1:4.
6. The microcapsule suspension formulation of claim 1 wherein the polymeric isocyanate is polymethylene polyphenylisocyanate.
7. The microcapsule suspension formulation of claim 1 wherein the polyamine is selected from ethylenediamine and diethylenetriamine.
8. A fertilizer composition comprising: a nitrogen fertilizer and the microcapsule suspension formulation of claim 1 .
9. The fertilizer composition of claim 8 wherein the nitrogen fertilizer is urea ammonium nitrate.
10. A method of suppressing the nitrification of ammonium nitrogen in growth medium comprising applying the microcapsule suspension formulation of claim 1 to said growth medium.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein the formulation is incorporated into the growth medium.
12. The method of claim 10 wherein the formulation is applied to a growth medium surface.
13. The method of claim 10 wherein the formulation is applied in combination with a pesticide or sequentially with a pesticide.
14. The method of claim 10 wherein the formulation is applied with a nitrogen fertilizer.
15. The method of claim 14 wherein the nitrogen fertilizer is urea ammonium nitrate.