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 nitrogen containing ingredient bioavailable to a targeted desirable organism present in an amount ranging from 5% to 99.9% by weight of the total dry weight of the particle being at least one member selected from the group consisting of: isobutylidene diurea, methylene urea, and oligomers of methylene urea;
an active ingredient of a fertilizer in an amount of from 0.05 to 50% by weight of the total dry weight of the particle and said active ingredient comprising: potassium sulphate; and
a 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;
the nitrogen containing ingredient, the fertilizer, and the binder component present in a form such that contact with water causes particle dispersion into more than 100 pieces in a time period of up to 1 hour.
2. The particle of claim 1 wherein the time period is 1 second to 1 hour.
3. The particle of claim 1 wherein the time period is less than 15 minutes.
4. The particle of claim 1 wherein the active ingredient further comprises a soil nutrient is selected from the group consisting of: calcium, magnesium, sulfur, iron, manganese, copper, zinc; oxides thereof; salts thereof, and a combination thereof.
5. The particle of claim 1 wherein the active ingredient further comprises a natural organic product selected from the group consisting of: humic acid, blood meal, bone meal, seed meal, feather meal, soy meal, meat meal, animal waste, activated sludge, hydrolyzed animal hair, a fish byproduct, chitin, composts and combinations thereof.
6. The particle of claim 1 wherein water causes particle dispersion into between 1,000 and 10,000 pieces.
7. The particle of claim 1 wherein the mean particle domain size ranges from 0.1 millimeter to 30 millimeters.
8. A water-dispersible particle comprising:
a nitrogen containing ingredient bioavailable to a targeted desirable organism present in an amount ranging from 5% to 99.9% by weight of the total dry weight of the particle being urea;
an active ingredient of a fertilizer in an amount of from 0.05 to 50% by weight of the total dry weight of the particle and said active ingredient comprising: potassium sulphate; and
a 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;
the nitrogen containing ingredient, the fertilizer, and the binder component present in a form such that contact with water causes particle dispersion into more than 100 pieces in a time period of up to 1 hour; and
wherein urea is present as the nitrogen containing ingredient.
9. The particle of claim 8 wherein the active ingredient further comprises a soil nutrient; and
wherein said soil nutrient is selected from the group consisting of calcium, magnesium, sulfur, iron, manganese, copper, zinc; oxides thereof; salts thereof, and a combination thereof.
10. The particle of claim 8 wherein the active ingredient further comprises a natural organic product selected from the group consisting of: humic acid, blood meal, bone meal, seed meal, feather meal, soy meal, meat meal; animal waste, activated sludge, hydrolyzed animal hair, a fish byproduct, chitin, composts and combinations thereof.
11. A water-dispersible particle comprising:
a nitrogen containing ingredient bioavailable to a targeted desirable organism present in an amount ranging from 5% to 99.9% by weight of the total dry weight of the particle being urea and isobutylidene diurea;
an active ingredient of a fertilizer in an amount of from 0.05° to 50% by weight of the total dry weight of the particle and said active ingredient comprising: potassium sulphate; and
a 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;
the nitrogen containing ingredient, the fertilizer, and the binder component present in a form such that contact with water causes particle dispersion into more than 100 pieces in a time period of up to 1 hour.
12. The particle of claim 11 wherein the active ingredient further comprises a soil nutrient is selected from the group consisting of calcium, magnesium, sulfur, iron, manganese, copper, zinc; oxides thereof; salts thereof, and a combination thereof.
13. The particle of claim 11 wherein the active ingredient further comprises a natural organic product selected from the group consisting of: humic acid, blood meal, bone meal, seed meal, feather meal, soy meal, meat meal, animal waste, activated sludge, hydrolyzed animal hair, a fish byproduct, chitin, composts and combinations thereof.
14. A water-dispersible particle comprising:
a nitrogen containing ingredient bioavailable to a targeted desirable organism present in an amount ranging from 5% to 99.9% by weight of the total dry weight of the particle being urea and methylene urea;
an active ingredient of a fertilizer in an amount of from 0.05 to 50% by weight of the total dry weight of the particle and said active ingredient comprising: potassium sulphate; and
a 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;
the nitrogen containing ingredient, the fertilizer, and the binder component present in a form such that contact with water causes particle dispersion into more than 100 pieces in a time period of up to 1 hour.
15. The particle of claim 14 wherein the active ingredient further comprises a soil nutrient is selected from the group consisting of: calcium, magnesium, sulfur, iron, manganese, copper, zinc; oxides thereof; salts thereof, and a combination thereof.
16. The particle of claim 14 wherein the active ingredient further comprises a natural organic product selected from the group consisting of: humic acid, blood meal, bone meal, seed meal, feather meal, soy meal, meat meal, animal waste; activated sludge, hydrolyzed animal hair, a fish byproduct, chitin, composts and combinations thereof.