METHOD FOR IMPROVING THE COBALT UPTAKE IN FORAGE
A method for increasing the cobalt uptake in forage is disclosed by spreading a micronutrient fertilizer in a level corresponding to of from 10 to 200 g cobalt/ha. The fertilizer is prepared, in sequence, by preparing a phosphono-cobalt chelate in a liquid form, followed by granulating that liquid with a solid carrier other than a water-soluble phosphate and thereafter admixing the micronutrient granulate formed with a fertilizer and/or a soil conditioner.
1 . A method for increasing the cobalt uptake in forage by spreading a granular cobalt containing composition in a level of from 10 to 200 g cobalt/ha, said composition being prepared by:
(a) forming a chelated micronutrient solution by reacting, in an aqueous medium, a water-soluble cobalt salt and a phosphonate chelant selected from the group of an aminoalkylene polyphosphonic acid, having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms in the alkylene moiety, and a hydroxyalkylene polyphosphonic acid, having from 2 to 12 carbon atoms in the alkylene moiety, and mixtures thereof, in a molar ratio of cobalt to phosphonate of from 1 to 0.4 to 1 to 3:
(b) granulating the micronutrient solution so obtained by combining:
(i) from 2% to 30% by weight of the micronutrient solution; with from
(ii) 98% to 70% by weight of a solid carrier other than a water-soluble phosphate; followed by
(c) admixing from 2% to 30% by weight of the granulated micronutrient with from 98% to 70% by weight of a fertilizer carrier selected from the group of N—P—K complex fertilizers and soil conditioners.
2 . The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the aminoalkylene polyphosphonic acid has from 1 to 6 carbon atoms in the alkylene moiety and the hydroxyalkylene polyphosphonic acid has from 2 to 6 carbon atoms in the alkylene moiety.
3 . The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the N—P—K fertilizer and the soil conditioner have a pH equal to or greater than 4.5, measured at 10% by weight in water at 20° C., and a water content below 1% by weight, expressed on the basis of the N—P—K fertilizer and/or soil conditioner (100%).
4 . The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the phosphonate chelant is selected from the group of aminotrimethylene phosphonic acid, diethylenetriamino pentamethylene phosphonic acid, hexamethylenediamino tetramethylene phosphonic acid, ethylenediamino tetramethylene phosphonic acid and hydroxyethylene diphosphonic acid.
5 . The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the molar ratio of cobalt to phosphonate chelant is in the range of from 1:0.8 to 1:1.5.
6 . The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the micronutrient solution represents of from 4 to 14% by weight and solid carrier other than the water-soluble phosphate represent from 96 to 80% by weight, expressed in relation to the sum (100%) of these components.
7 . The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the molar ratio of cobalt to phosphonate chelant is in the range of from 1:1 to 1:1.2.