Method for improving plant growth by application of a mixture of sulfur and complexing agent
Method for improving plant growth by application of a mixture M comprising a component a) of a1) 20 to 96% by weight of sulfur, a2) 4 to 80% by weight of a complexing agent and, if appropriate, one or more crop protectants b) and/or additives c).
1. A flowable mixture M for improving plant growth, wherein said mixture
a) is in the form of water-dispersible granules;
b) has a mean particle size of 50 μm to 4 mm;
c) comprises 20-96% by weight of sulfur and 4 to 8% by weight of at least one complexing agent,
and wherein said mixture M is dispersed in aqueous medium.
2. The mixture of claim 1 , further containing at least one crop protection agent.
3. An irrigation system comprising
A) a storage container containing a mixture M dispersed in aqueous medium, wherein said mixture M
a) is in the form of water-dispersible granules;
b) has a mean particle size of 50 μm to 4 mm; and
c) comprises 20-96% by weight of sulfur and 4 to 8% by weight of at least one complexing agent,
B) a pipeline system having an inlet and an outlet, the storage container connected to the inlet, and
C) at least one trickle system and/or sprinkler connected to the outlet.
4. The irrigation system of claim 3 , further including D) a pump operatively connected to the pipeline system.
5. A method for improving plant growth which comprises dispersing a flowable mixture M in aqueous medium and applying said dispersed mixture M by trickle irrigation to said plant or to soil or substrate in which the plant is located, wherein said mixture M
a) is in the form of water-dispersible granules;
b) has a mean particle size of 50 μm to 4 mm; and
c) comprises 20-96% by weight of sulfur and 4 to 8% by weight of at least one complexing agent.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the complexing agent is a polymeric complex-forming agent.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the complexing agent is a lignosulfonate, a naphthalenesulfonic acid/formaldehyde condensate or a mixture thereof.
8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the polymeric complex-forming agent is an alkali metal lignosulfonate and/or an alkaline earth metal lignosulfonate.
9. The method of claim 5 , wherein the said or substrate is neutral to basic, and the mixture M is applied to the soil or substrate.
10. The method of claim 5 , wherein the soil or substrate has a pH of 6.2 to 9.0.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the pH is 7.0 to 8.2.
12. The method of claim 5 , wherein the mixture M is dispersed in aqueous medium and the concentration of mixture M in the aqueous medium is 0.001 to 6% by weight, based on the total weight of the aqueous medium and the mixture M.
13. The method of claim 5 , wherein the mixture M contains at least one crop protection agent.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the crop protection agent is a herbicide, a pesticide, a fungicide or a mixture thereof.
15. The method of claim 5 , wherein the mixture M contains at least one additive selected from the group consisting of water, a filler, a water softener, a plant nutrient, an anticaking agent, a soluble salt, a surfactant, an antiform agent and mixtures thereof.
16. The method of claim 5 , wherein mixture M comprises 75 to 85% by weight of sulfur and 15 to 25% by weight of at least one lignosulfonate.
17. The method of claim 5 , wherein the mixture M is applied at a total application rate of 50 to 5000 kg/ha per crop per season.