Potassium-based starter fertilizer
The coatings of the invention provide potassium in a readily available form in combination with other nutrients that promote early plant growth and health. The potassium-based fertilizer product which comprises: potassium, zinc, manganese and iron. Calcium may also be added. The mixture is applied in a 325 MESH or finer powder to suitable agronomic carriers.
1. A powder fertilizer coating comprising:
about 30 to about 40% source of potassium (w/w);
about 17 to about 20% source of zinc (w/w);
about 4 to about 5% source of manganese (w/w);
about 0.1 to about 0.9% (w/w) source of iron; and
0 to 3% (w/w) source of calcium.
2. The coating according to claim 1 further comprising an organic acid.
3. The coating according to claim 2 wherein the organic acid is selected from the group consisting of: citrate; ascorbic acid; fulvic acid; and humic acid.
4. The coating according to claim 1 further comprising a formulating agent.
5. The coating according to claim 4 wherein the formulating agent is an alkylnaphthalene sulfonate surfactant.
6. The coating according to claim 1 wherein the source of potassium is sulphate of potash (SOP) or potassium chloride (KCl).
7. The coating according to claim 1 wherein the source of zinc is zinc sulfate (ZnSO 4 ) or Zinc oxide (ZnO).
8. The coating according to claim 1 wherein the source of manganese is manganese chloride (MnCl 2 ) or manganese sulfate (MnSO 4 ).
9. The coating according to claim 1 wherein the source of iron is iron sulfate (FeSO 4 ) or iron oxide (FeO).
10. The coating according to claim 1 wherein the source of calcium is calcium sulfate (CaSO 4 ) or calcium oxide (CaO).
11. An agronomic carrier coated with the powder fertilizer coating according to claim 1 .
12. The agronomic carrier according to claim 11 wherein the agronomic carrier is selected from the group consisting of: seeds; fertilizer products; urea prills; granular fertilizer products; inert pellets; and biodegradable pellets.
13. The coating according to claim 1 , wherein the powder fertilizer coating is a 325 mesh size or finer.
14. The coating according to claim 1 , wherein the source of potassium is potassium chloride (KCl).
15. A method of promoting early plant growth comprising:
providing a planted seed or seedling with a coated agronomic carrier, the coating comprising:
about 30 to about 40% source of potassium (w/w);
about 17 to about 20% source of zinc (w/w);
about 4 to about 5% source of manganese (w/w);
about 0.1 to about 0.9% source of iron; and
0 to about 3% source of calcium; and
allowing the seed or seedling to grow under suitable growth conditions.
16. The method according to claim 15 wherein the seed or seedling shows improved early growth compared to more to a similar seed or seedling supplied an uncoated agronomic carrier.
17. The method according to claim 15 wherein the coating further comprises an organic acid.
18. The method according to claim 17 wherein the organic acid is selected from the group consisting of: citrate; ascorbic acid; fulvic acid; and humic acid.
19. The method according to claim 15 wherein the coating further comprises a formulating agent.
20. The method according to claim 19 wherein the formulating agent is an alkylnaphthalene sulfonate surfactant.
21. The method according to claim 15 wherein the source of potassium is sulphate of potash (SOP) or potassium chloride (KCl).
22. The method according to claim 15 wherein the source of zinc is zinc sulfate (ZnSO 4 ) or Zinc oxide (ZnO).
23. The method according to claim 15 wherein the source of manganese is manganese chloride (MnCl 2 ) or manganese sulfate (MnSO 4 ).
24. The method according to claim 15 wherein the source of iron is iron sulfate (FeSO 4 ) or iron oxide (FeO).
25. The method according to claim 15 wherein the source of calcium is calcium sulfate (CaSO 4 ) or calcium oxide (CaO).
26. The method according to claim 15 wherein the agronomic carrier is selected from the group consisting of: seeds; fertilizer products; urea prills; granular fertilizer products; inert pellets; and biodegradable pellets.
27. A method of promoting early plant growth comprising:
providing a seed coated with a coating comprising:
about 30 to about 40% source of potassium (w/w);
about 17 to about 20% source of zinc (w/w);
about 4 to about 5% source of manganese (w/w);
about 0.1 to about 0.9% source of iron; and
0 to about 3% source of calcium; and
allowing the seed to grow under suitable growth conditions.
28. The method according to claim 27 wherein the seed or seedling shows improved early growth compared to more to a similar seed or seedling supplied an uncoated agronomic carrier.
29. The method according to claim 27 wherein the coating further comprises an organic acid.
30. The method according to claim 29 wherein the organic acid is selected from the group consisting of: citrate; ascorbic acid; fulvic acid; and humic acid.
31. The method according to claim 27 wherein the coating further comprises a formulating agent.
32. The method according to claim 31 wherein the formulating agent is an alkylnaphthalene sulfonate surfactant.
33. The method according to claim 27 wherein the source of potassium is sulphate of potash (SOP) or potassium chloride (KCl).
34. The method according to claim 27 wherein the source of zinc is zinc sulfate (ZnSO 4 ) or Zinc oxide (ZnO).
35. The method according to claim 27 wherein the source of manganese is manganese chloride (MnCl 2 ) or manganese sulfate (MnSO 4 ).
36. The method according to claim 27 wherein the source of iron is iron sulfate (FeSO 4 ) or iron oxide (FeO).
37. The method according to claim 27 wherein the source of calcium is calcium sulfate (CaSO 4 ) or calcium oxide (CaO).
38. A powder fertilizer coating comprising:
at least about 36% source of potassium (w/w);
about 17 to about 20% source of zinc (w/w);
about 4 to about 5% source of manganese (w/w);
about 0.1 to about 0.9% (w/w) source of iron; and
0 to 3% (w/w) source of calcium.
39. The coating according to claim 38 further comprising an organic acid.
40. The coating according to claim 39 wherein the organic acid is selected from the group consisting of: citrate; ascorbic acid; fulvic acid; and humic acid.
41. The coating according to claim 38 further comprising a formulating agent.
42. The coating according to claim 41 wherein the foiiuulating agent is an alkylnaphthalene sulfonate surfactant.
43. The coating according to claim 38 wherein the source of potassium is sulphate of potash (SOP) or potassium chloride (KCl).
44. The coating according to claim 38 wherein the source of zinc is zinc sulfate (ZnSO 4 ) or Zinc oxide (ZnO).
45. The coating according to claim 38 wherein the source of manganese is manganese chloride (MnCl 2 ) or manganese sulfate (MnSO 4 ).
46. The coating according to claim 38 wherein the source of iron is iron sulfate (FeSO 4 ) or iron oxide (FeO).
47. The coating according to claim 38 wherein the source of calcium is calcium sulfate (CaSO 4 ) or calcium oxide (CaO).
48. An agronomic carrier coated with the powder fertilizer coating according to claim 38 .
49. The agronomic carrier according to claim 48 wherein the agronomic carrier is selected from the group consisting of: seeds; fertilizer products; urea prills; granular fertilizer products; inert pellets; and biodegradable pellets.
50. The coating according to claim 38 , wherein the powder fertilizer coating is a 325 mesh size or finer.
51. The coating according to claim 38 , wherein the source of potassium is potassium chloride (KCl).