IP Library Granted Patent US 12,623,979
Granted Patent B2
US 12,623,979 · App. 18/659,393 · Granted May 12, 2026

Nitrification inhibitors to improve fertilizer efficiency

Inventors: Gary David McKnight (High Point, NC); Randall Linwood Rayborn (Burlington, NC)
Assignee: Soilgenic Technologies, LLC
C05F11/08C05C1/00C05C3/00C05C9/00C05C9/02C05C11/00C05F3/00C05F17/00C05G3/90C05G5/23C05G5/27C05G5/30C09D7/20
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,623,979
App. No.
18/659,393
Granted
May 12, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A fertilizer composition including a) one or more solid nitrogen sources, and b) a liquid fertilizer additive composition.

Claims (116)

1 . An inhibited aqueous fertilizer composition comprising,

a) one or more aqueous nitrogen sources, and

b) a liquid nitrification inhibitor solution, wherein the liquid nitrification inhibitor solution comprises: i) a nitrification inhibiting reaction composition, and ii) a Non-aqueous Organic Solvent Delivery System (NOSDS), wherein the nitrification inhibiting reaction composition comprises (1) one or more biodegradable polymers and/or oligomers, and (2) a non-aqueous reaction medium,

wherein the one or more biodegradable polymers and/or oligomers comprise a one or more dicyandiamide-formaldehyde reaction products,

wherein the one or more dicyandiamide-formaldehyde reaction products are formed in the non-aqueous reaction medium,

wherein the non-aqueous reaction medium comprises a non-aqueous polar, aprotic solvent (NAPAOL),

wherein the reaction parameters are set to maintain a non aqueous state to prevent the degradation of the dicyandiamide's cyano-functionality,

wherein the loss of cyano functionality negatively impact the one or more biodegradable polymers and/or oligomers’ nitrification inhibition,

wherein the NOSDS comprises the (1) NAPAOL and optionally, (2) one or more non-aqueous members selected from the group consisting of a) one or more additional polar, aprotic solvents, b) one or more aprotic solvents, c) one or more protic solvent, and d) combinations thereof, wherein the NOSDS's properties are:

a) environmentally safe,

b) flashpoint above 145° F.,

c) safe for contact with humans and animals,

d) able to maintain the one or more dicyandiamide-formaldehyde reaction products at levels of 1-50% in down to at least 10° C., and

e) able to provide solubility of the one or more dicyandiamide-formaldehyde reaction products in the one or more aqueous nitrogen sources,

wherein the inhibited aqueous fertilizer composition is made by dissolving the liquid nitrification inhibitor solution-into the one or more aqueous nitrogen sources, and wherein said liquid nitrification inhibitor solution comprises 0.05-10% of the inhibited aqueous fertilizer composition.

2 . The inhibited aqueous fertilizer composition of claim 1 , wherein the one or more aprotic solvents are selected from the group consisting of:

a one or more polyols capped with acetate or formate wherein a polyol portion is selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol, 1,3 propylene glycol, 1,2 propylene glycol, butylene glycol, trimethylol propane, trimethylol ethane, pentaerythritol, sorbitol, sorbitan, glucose, fructose, galactose and glycerin,

b) one or more alkylene glycol alkyl ether acetates selected from the group consisting of dipropylene glycol methyl ether acetate, tripropylene glycol methyl ether acetate, and tripropylene glycol butyl ether acetate,

c) isophorone,

d) one or more diesters selected from the group consisting of dimethylsuccinate, dimethyl adipate, diethyl glutarate, and dimethyl glutarate,

e) dimethylacetamide,

f) dimethylformamide,

g) dimethyl-2-imidazolidinone, and

h) limonene.

3 . The inhibited aqueous fertilizer composition of claim 2 , wherein the one or more urease inhibitor comprises one or more phosphoramides.

4 . The inhibited aqueous fertilizer composition of claim 3 , wherein the one or more phosphoramides comprises one or more members selected from the group consisting of a) one or more aliphatic phosphoric triamide, b) one or more N-alkyl thiophosphoric triamides and c) combination thereof.

5 . The inhibited aqueous fertilizer composition of claim 4 , wherein one or more N-alkyl thiophosphoric triamides comprises N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide.

6 . The inhibited aqueous fertilizer composition of claim 1 , wherein the fertilizer composition further comprises one or more members selected from the group consisting of:

a) surfactants, buffers, fragrance/odor masking agents, colorants, flow modifiers, silicas, and hydrophobized silicas, and

b) one or more non-aqueous organic liquids selected from the group consisting of one or more polar aprotic solvents, one or more aprotic solvents, and one or more protic solvents,

c) one or more biologics selected from the group consisting of:

i) Bacillus biologics, ii) Azospirillum biologics, iii) Azobacter biologics iv) Gluconacetobacter biologics, v) Phosphobacteria, vi) Cyanobacteria, vii) Herbaspirillum , viii) Burkholderia , ix) Pseudomonas, x ) Gluconacetobacter , xi) Enterobacter , xii) Klebsiella , xiii) Burkholderia , xiv) Bradyrhiwbium species, xv) Bradyrhiwbium japonicum , xvi) Rhizobium meliloti , xvii) Laccaria bicolor , xviii) Glomus imraradices timanita, xix) Actinomyces , xx) Penicillium , xxi) Mesorhizobiwn cicero , xxii) one or more insecticidal or insect repellent microbial species and strains are selected from the group consisting of:

Telenomus podisi, Baculovirus anticarsia; Trichogramma pretiosum, Trichogramma gallai, Chromobacterium subtsugae, Trichoderma fertile, Beauveria bassiana, Beauveria bassiana, Beauveria bassiana, Paecilomyces jknwsoroseu, Trichoderma harzianum, Verticillium lecanii, Isarfofumosarosea Lecanicillium muscarium, Streptomyces microflavus , and Muscodor albus,

xxiii) one or more nematodal microbial species and strains are selected from the group consisting of:

Myrothecium verrucaria, Pasteuria species, Pasteuria Metarhizium species, and Flavobacteriwn species

xxiv) Reynoutria sachalinensis and

xxv) one or more antifungal, antimicrobial and/or plant growth promoting microbial species and strains are selected from the group consisting of: Gliocladium species, and one or more Pseudomonas species are selected from the group consisting of:

Pseudomonas fluorescens, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Putida and P. chlororaphis , Pseudomonasfluorescens VP5, Pseudomonas diazotrophicus, Enterobacter cloacae, Trichodema species, Trichoderma virens, Trichoderma atroviride strains, Coniothyrium minitans, Gliocladium species, Gliacladium virens, Gliacladium roseum , and Trichodemw harzianum species,

d) and one or more biologically active agents selected from the group consisting of:

i) one or more additional nitrification inhibitors,

ii) one or more members selected from the group consisting of (1) one or more pesticides, (2) one or more herbicides, (3) one or more fungicides, (4) one or more insecticides and (5) combinations thereof, and

iii) one or more urease inhibitors.

7 . The inhibited aqueous fertilizer composition of claim 6 , wherein the one or more additional nitrification inhibitors are selected from the group consisting of: 2-chloro-6-trichloromethyl) pyridine, 4-amino-1,2,4,6-triazole-HCl, 2,4-diamino-6-trichloromethyltriazine CL-1580, dicyandiamide (DCD), thiourea, 1-mercapto-1,2,4-triazole, ammonium thiosulfate, dimethylpyrazole organic and inorganic salts, and 2-amino-4-chloro-6-methylpyrimidine.

8 . The inhibited aqueous fertilizer composition of claim 7 , wherein the one or more additional nitrification inhibitors comprise dicyandiamide.

9 . The inhibited aqueous fertilizer composition of claim 6 , wherein the one or more urease inhibitor comprises one or more phosphoramides.

10 . The inhibited aqueous fertilizer composition of claim 6 , wherein the one or more phosphoramides comprises one or more members selected from the group consisting of a) one or more aliphatic phosphoric triamide, b) one or more N-alkyl thiophosphoric triamides and c) combination thereof.

11 . The inhibited aqueous fertilizer composition of claim 6 , wherein one or more N-alkyl thiophosphoric triamides comprises N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide.

12 . The inhibited aqueous fertilizer composition of claim 1 , wherein the liquid nitrification inhibitor solution further comprises one or more members selected from the group consisting of:

a) one or more members selected from the group consisting of surfactants, buffers, fragrance/odor masking agents, and colorant,

b) one or more biologics selected from the group consisting of:

i) Bacillus biologics, ii) Azospirillum biologics, iii) Azobacter biologics iv) Gluconacetobacter biologics, v) Phosphobacteria, vi) Cyanobacteria, vii) Herbaspirillum , viii) Burkholderia , ix) Pseudomonas, x ) Gluconacetobacter , xi) Enterobacter , xii) Klebsiella , xiii) Burkholderia , xiv) Bradyrhiwbium species, xv) Bradyrhiwbium japonicum , xvi) Rhizobium meliloti , xvii) Laccaria bicolor , xviii) Glomus imraradices timanita, xix) Actinomyces , xx) Penicillium , xxi) Mesorhizobiwn cicero , xxii) one or more insecticidal or insect repellent microbial species and strains are selected from the group consisting of:

Telenomus podisi, Baculovirus anticarsia; Trichogramma pretiosum, Trichogramma gallai, Chromobacterium subtsugae, Trichoderma fertile, Beauveria bassiana, Beauveria bassiana, Beauveria bassiana, Paecilomyces jknwsoroseu, Trichoderma harzianum, Verticillium lecanii, Isarfofumosarosea Lecanicillium muscarium, Streptomyces microflavus , and Muscodor albus,

xxiii) one or more nematodal microbial species and strains are selected from the group consisting of:

Myrothecium verrucaria, Pasteuria species, Pasteuria Metarhizium species, and Flavobacteriwn species

xxiv) Reynoutria sachalinensis and

xxv) one or more antifungal, antimicrobial and/or plant growth promoting microbial species and strains are selected from the group consisting of:

Gliocladium species, and one or more Pseudomonas species selected from the group consisting of:

Pseudomonas fluorescens, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Putida and P. chlororaphis , Pseudomonasfluorescens VP5, Pseudomonas diazotrophicus, Enterobacter cloacae, Trichodema species, Trichoderma virens, Trichoderma atroviride strains, Coniothyrium minitans, Gliocladium species, Gliacladium virens, Gliacladium roseum , and Trichodemw harzianum species, and

c) and one or more biologically active agents selected from the group consisting of:

i) one or more additional nitrification inhibitors,

ii) one or more members selected from the group consisting of (1) one or more pesticides, (2) one or more herbicides, (3) one or more fungicides, (4) one or more insecticides and (5) combinations thereof, and

iii) one or more urease inhibitors.

13 . The inhibited aqueous fertilizer composition of claim 12 , wherein the one or more additional nitrification inhibitors comprise one or more nitrification inhibitors selected from the group consisting of 2-chloro-6-(trichloromethyl) pyridine, 4-amino-1,2,4,6-triazole-HCl, 2,4-diamino-6-trichloromethyltriazine CL-1580, dicyandiamide (DCD), thiourea, 1-mercapto-1,2,4-triazole, ammonium thiosulfate, dimethylpyrazole organic and inorganic salts, and 2-amino-4-chloro-6-methylpyrimidine.

14 . The inhibited aqueous fertilizer composition of claim 13 , wherein the one or more additional nitrification inhibitors comprises dicyandiamide.

15 . The inhibited aqueous fertilizer composition of claim 1 , wherein the one or more aqueous nitrogen sources comprise one or more members selected from the group consisting of a) urea, b) urea formaldehyde reaction products, c) ammonia, d) urea formaldehyde and ammonia reaction products, e) ammonium nitrate, f) ammonium sulfate, e) manure, f) compost liquid and g) combinations thereof.

16 . The inhibited aqueous fertilizer composition of claim 15 , wherein the one or more aqueous nitrogen sources comprise one or more members selected from the group consisting of a) urea, b) ammonium nitrate, and c) combinations thereof.

17 . The inhibited aqueous fertilizer composition of claim 1 , wherein the nitrification inhibiting reaction composition comprises the following one or more structures:

a)

wherein R 43 , R 44 , R 45 and R 46 are one or more members independently selected from the group consisting of: H and —CH 2 OH wherein at least one of R 43 , R 44 , R 45 and R 46 is —CH 2 OH,

b)

wherein R 47 , R 48 , R 49 , R 50 , R 51 and R 52 are one or more members independently selected from the group consisting of: H, and —CH 2 OH,

c)

wherein R 53 , R 54 , R 55 , R 56 , R 57 , R 58 , R 59 and R 60 are one or more members independently selected from the group consisting of: H and —CH 2 OH, and

d)

wherein R 61 , R 62 , R 63 , R 64 , R 65 , R 66 , R 67 and R 68 are one or more members independently selected from the group consisting of: H and —CH 2 OH, wherein x is 2-20, and

wherein said one or more dicyandiamide-formaldehyde reaction products are made by using non-aqueous reaction conditions, and wherein said nonaqueous liquid nitrification inhibiting reaction composition comprises more than 10% by weight of said one or more structures.

18 . The inhibited aqueous fertilizer composition of claim 1 , wherein the NAPAOL comprises one or more polar, aprotic solvents selected from the group consisting of:

(1) dimethyl sulfoxide,

(2) a one or more sulfoxides selected from the group consisting of (a) dialkylsulfoxide, (b) diarylsulfoxide, and (c) alkylarylsulfoxide having the formula:

R 9 S(O) x R 10

wherein R 9 and R 10 are each independently a C 1-6 alkylene group, an aryl group, or C 1-3 alkylenearyl group or R 9 and R 10 together with the sulfur to which they are attached form a 4 to 8 membered ring wherein R 9 and R 10 together are a C 1-6 alkylene group which optionally contains one or more atoms selected from the group consisting of O, S, Se, Te, N, and P in the ring and x is 1 or 2,

(3) one or more alkylene carbonates selected from the group consisting of ethylene carbonate, propylene carbonate and butylene carbonate,

(4) 1-Methyl-2-pyrrolidone,

(5) one or more organo phosphorous liquids selected from the group consisting of hexamethylphosphoramide and one or more trialkylphosphates selected from the group represented by the formula:

wherein:

R 22 is alkyl radical —C 1 H 3 to —C 6 H 13

R 23 is alkyl radical —C 1 H 3 to —C 6 H 13

R 24 is alkyl radical —C 1 H 3 to —C 6 H 13

(6) 1,2-dimethyloxyethane,

(7) 2-methoxyethyl ether, and

(8) cyclohexylpyrrolidone.

19 . The inhibited aqueous fertilizer composition of claim 1 , wherein the one or more protic solvents are selected from the group consisting of:

a) an alcohol from the family of C1-10 alkanols,

b) one or more polyols selected from the group consisting of trimethylol propane, trimethylol ethane, pentaerythritol, sorbitol, sorbitan, glucose, fructose, galactose, and glycerin,

c) one or more poly(C1-10 alkylene) glycols represented by the structure: H(CtHu)vOH,

wherein

t is an integer: 1-10

u is an integer: 2-20

and v is an integer: 1-20,

d) one or more alkylene glycols selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol, 1,3 propylene glycol, 1,2 propylene glycol, and butylene glycol,

e) isopropylidene glycerol,

f) one or more alkylene glycol alkyl ethers selected from the group represented by the structure:

wherein R 1 is: CH 3 , C 2 H 5 , C 3 H 7 or C 4 H 9

wherein R 2 is: H or the structure

wherein R 3 is: H or CH 3

wherein R 4 is H or CH 3

and f is an integer between 1 and 15,

g) one or more alkyl lactates selected from the group consisting of ethyl lactate, propyl lactate and butyl lactate,

h) one or more alkanolamines selected from the group represented by the structure:

wherein R 5 is: C 2 H 4 OR 8 or C 3 H 6 OH

wherein R6 is: H, C2H4OR8 or C3H6OH

wherein R 7 is: H, C 2 H 4 OR 8 or C 3 H 6 OH

wherein R 8 is: (C 2 H 4 O) g H

and g is an integer between 1-10, and

i) glycerol carbonate.

20 . The inhibited aqueous fertilizer composition of claim 1 , wherein the NAPAOL comprises dimethyl sulfoxide.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 9, 2024
From: MCKNIGHT, GARY DAVID, MR.; RAYBORN, RANDALL LINWOOD, MR.
To: WORLD SOURCE ENTERPRISES, LLC
Reel/Frame 067361/0858 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 9, 2024
From: WORLD SOURCE ENTERPRISES, LLC
To: SOILGENIC TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 067362/0040 →
Continuity (8)
Continuation 17892963 · Aug 22, 2022
Continuation 16154640 · Oct 8, 2018
Continuation In Part 15985656 · May 21, 2018
Continuation In Part 15967575 · Apr 30, 2018
Continuation In Part 15854319 · Dec 26, 2017
Continuation In Part 15641264 · Jul 4, 2017
Provisional Application 62358116 · Jul 4, 2016
Related Publication 20240308930A1 · Sep 19, 2024
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