Water-dispersible pellets
A water-dispersible particle for delivery of fertilizer to a plant is disclosed. After delivery wetting of the particles causes particle dispersion so as to prevent secondary pick up to the particles. Methods for making and using the water-dispersible particle are described.
1. A water-dispersible particle comprising:
a fertilizer bioavailable to a targeted organism present in an amount ranging from 5% to 99.0% by weight of the total dry weight of the particle, the fertilizer comprising humic acid;
a lignin derivative or carbohydrate binder component, present in an amount ranging from 1% to 95% by weight of the total dry weight of the particle; the particle having a mean particle domain size; and
the fertilizer and the lignin derivative or carbohydrate binder component present in a form such that contact with water causes particle dispersion into more than 100 pieces within a period of time of 1 hour.
2. The particle of claim 1 wherein the lignin derivative or carbohydrate binder component is present in an amount ranging from 1% to 25% by weight of the total dry weight of the particle.
3. The particle of claim 1 wherein the lignin derivative binder component is a lignosulfonate salt.
4. The particle of claim 1 wherein the lignin derivative binder component is selected from the group consisting of: a monosaccharide, a disaccharide, an oligosaccharide, a polysaccharide and combinations thereof.
5. The particle of claim 1 further comprising an adhesive.
6. The particle of claim 5 wherein the adhesive is a mineral oil.
7. The particle of claim 5 wherein the adhesive is a synthetic liquid polymer.
8. The particle of claim 1 wherein the fertilizer is present in an amount ranging from 0.1% to 30% by weight of the total dry weight of the particle.
9. The particle of claim 1 wherein water causes particle dispersion into between 1,000 and 10,000 pieces.
10. The particle of claim 1 wherein particle dispersion occurs within 24 hours of water contact.
11. The particle of claim 1 wherein the mean particle domain size ranges from 0.1 millimeter to 30 millimeters.
12. A water-dispersible particle comprising:
a fertilizer comprising humic acid; and
a lignosulfonate derivative binder component, present in an amount ranging from 1% to 95% by weight of the total dry weight of the particle; the particle having a mean particle domain size;
wherein the fertilizer and the lignin derivative binder component are present in a form such that contact with water causes particle dispersion into more than 100 pieces within a period of time of 1 hour.
13. The particle of claim 12 wherein the lignin derivative binder component is present in an amount ranging from 1% to 25% by weight of the total dry weight of the particle and is a lignosulfonate salt.
14. The particle of claim 13 further comprising a soil nutrient selected from the group consisting of: calcium, magnesium, sulfur, iron, manganese, copper, zinc; oxides thereof; salts thereof, and a combination thereof.
15. The particle of claim 14 wherein the soil nutrient is a combination of at least the magnesium, the sulfur, and the iron, present as oxides thereof or salts thereof.