COMPOSITIONS FOR ENHANCING NITROGEN FERTILIZERS BY INCORPORATING ANTI-OXIDANT MOIETIES AND METHODS FOR USE THEREOF
The present invention relates to urease inhibitor compositions containing tert-butylhydroquinone and optionally an additive component to enhance the inhibitory properties of tert-butylhydroquinone. Further described are uses of these compositions in agriculture to increase nutrient uptake and inhibit urease enzyme activity.
1 . A method of inhibiting urease enzyme activity and/or fertilizing soil, the method comprising applying a urease inhibitor composition to the soil, wherein the urease inhibitor composition comprises:
tert-butylhydroquinone in an amount of from about 0.1% to about 65% by weight based on the total weight of the composition; and
an organic solvent selected from the group consisting of a sulfoxide, an aromatic solvent, a green solvent, a safe solvent, and a combination thereof.
2 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the organic solvent comprises dimethyl sulfoxide, xylene, or a combination thereof.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein dimethyl sulfoxide and xylene are present at a weight ratio of from about 1:2 to about 2:1.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the urease inhibitor composition further comprises an additive component selected from the group consisting of an α,β-unsaturated carbonyl system-containing additive, an acid-containing additive, an ester-containing additive, an aromatic additive, a glycol-containing additive, and a combination thereof.
5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the additive component is an α,β-unsaturated carbonyl system-containing additive selected from citral, mesityl oxide, α-amylcinnamaldehyde, coumarin, and a combination thereof.
6 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the additive component is an aromatic additive selected from butylated hydroxyanisole, eugenol, salicylaldehyde, acetophenone, methyl salicylate, and a combination thereof.
7 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the additive component is an acid-containing additive selected from itacoic acid, adipic acid, maleic acid, octanoic acid, ethyl maltol, ascorbic acid, levulinic acid, and a combination thereof.
8 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the additive component is an ester-containing additive selected from triethyl citrate, isobornyl acetate, propylene carbonate, ethyl lactate, and a combination thereof.
9 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the additive component is a glycol-containing additive selected from diethylene glycol monoethyl ether, ethylene glycol, monobutyl ether, and a combination thereof.
10 . The method of claim 4 , wherein tert-butylhydroquinone and the additive component are present in a weight ratio of from about 1:10 to about 10:1.
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13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein at least about 50% of urease enzyme activity is being inhibited.
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15 . An agricultural composition comprising:
a urease inhibitor composition; and
a solid urea-containing fertilizer,
wherein the urease inhibitor composition comprises
tert-butylhydroquinone; and
an organic solvent selected from the group consisting of a sulfone, an aromatic solvent, a green solvent, a safe solvent, and a combination thereof,
wherein the urease inhibitor composition is present in an amount of from about 0.001% to about 10% by weight based on the total weight of the agricultural composition and
wherein the surface of the solid urea-containing fertilizer is coated with the urease inhibitor composition.
16 . The agricultural composition of claim 15 , wherein the solid urea-containing fertilizer is in the form of granules or prills.
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19 . The agricultural composition of claim 15 , wherein the organic solvent comprises dimethyl sulfoxide, xylene, or a combination thereof.
20 . The agricultural composition of claim 19 , wherein dimethyl sulfoxide and xylene are present at a weight ratio of from about 1:2 to about 2:1.
21 . The agricultural composition of claim 15 , wherein the urease inhibitor composition further comprises an additive component selected from the group consisting of an α,β-unsaturated carbonyl system-containing additive, an acid-containing additive, an ester-containing additive, an aromatic additive, a glycol-containing additive.
22 . The agricultural composition of claim 21 , wherein the additive component is an α,β-unsaturated carbonyl system-containing additive selected from citral, mesityl oxide, α-amylcinnamaldehyde, coumarin, and a combination thereof, and/or an aromatic additive selected from butylated hydroxyanisole, eugenol, salicylaldehyde, acetophenone, methyl salicylate, and a combination thereof.
23 . (canceled)
24 . The agricultural composition of claim 21 , wherein the additive component is an acid-containing additive selected from itacoic acid, adipic acid, maleic acid, octanoic acid, ethyl maltol, ascorbic acid, levulinic acid, and a combination thereof; and/or an ester-containing additive selected from triethyl citrate, isobornyl acetate, propylene carbonate, ethyl lactate, and a combination thereof; and/or a glycol-containing additive selected from diethylene glycol monoethyl ether, ethylene glycol, monobutyl ether, and a combination thereof.
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27 . The agricultural composition of claim 21 , wherein tert-butylhydroquinone and the additive component are present in a weight ratio of from about 1:10 to about 10:1.
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30 . A method for preparing an agricultural composition of claim 15 , the method comprising applying to the surface of the solid urea-containing fertilizer the urease inhibitor composition in the form of a liquid or dispersion, thereby coating the solid urea-containing fertilizer.
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