阅读说明：本技术 提高植物产量的肥料和植物生长促进剂以及提高植物产量的方法 (Fertilizer and plant growth promoter for increasing plant yield and method for increasing plant yield ) 是由 小亚瑟·R·雪莉 梅利莎·C·海耶斯 蒂莫西·G·奥尔特 于 2018-12-13 设计创作，主要内容包括：一种缓释碳水化合物/碳酸氢盐/氮肥,包括：选自尿素化合物、碳酸氢铵、硫酸铵和硝酸铵的氮组分；选自碳酸氢铵、碳酸氢钾和碳酸氢钠的碳酸氢盐组分；选自淀粉和糖的可溶性碳水化合物组分,其中施用肥料旨在提高作物产量以及增加植物产品中的蛋白质水平,方法是将上述肥料施用于种植栽培植物的土壤表面之下。(A slow release carbohydrate/bicarbonate/nitrogen fertilizer comprising: a nitrogen component selected from the group consisting of urea compounds, ammonium bicarbonate, ammonium sulfate, and ammonium nitrate; a bicarbonate component selected from the group consisting of ammonium bicarbonate, potassium bicarbonate, and sodium bicarbonate; a soluble carbohydrate component selected from the group consisting of starch and sugar, wherein the application of the fertilizer is intended to increase crop yield and to increase the protein level in the plant product by applying the fertilizer beneath the surface of the soil in which the cultivated plants are grown.)

1. A slow release fertilizer comprising:

a nitrogen source;

a bicarbonate component selected from the group consisting of ammonium bicarbonate, potassium bicarbonate, and sodium bicarbonate;

and a carbohydrate component.

2. The fertilizer of claim 1, wherein the nitrogen source comprises at least one of a urea compound, ammonium bicarbonate, ammonium sulfate, and ammonium nitrate.

3. The fertilizer of claim 1, wherein the nitrogen source comprises at least one of Urea Ammonium Nitrate (UAN), monoammonium phosphate (MAP), and diammonium phosphate (DAP).

4. The fertilizer according to claim 1, characterized in that said nitrogen source is selected from urea, urea form, urea formaldehyde, methylene urea, methylene diurea and dimethylthiourea.

5. The fertilizer material of claim 1, wherein said bicarbonate component is an alkali metal bicarbonate selected from the group consisting of potassium bicarbonate and sodium bicarbonate.

6. The fertilizer material of claim 1, wherein said carbohydrate comprises at least one of starch or sugar.

7. Fertilizer according to claim 6, wherein said starch is selected from the group consisting of corn starch, rice starch, wheat starch, tapioca starch, cassava starch, and potato starch.

8. Fertilizer according to claim 6, wherein said sugar is selected from the group consisting of glucose, sucrose, fructose, maltose, galactose and lactose.

9. The fertilizer material of claim 6, wherein said sugar is corn syrup.

10. The fertilizer material of claim 1, wherein the nitrogen component is ammonium bicarbonate, the bicarbonate component is one or more of potassium bicarbonate and sodium bicarbonate, and the carbohydrate component is one or more of corn starch, rice starch, and sucrose.

11. A fertilizer according to claim 10 wherein the amount of ammonium bicarbonate is from 10 to 65 wt% and the total amount of bicarbonate component is from 10 to 80 wt%.

12. Fertilizer according to claim 10, characterized in that the amount of ammonium bicarbonate is 10-65 wt%, the total amount of bicarbonate component is 10-80 wt% and the amount of carbohydrate is 0.1-35 wt%.

13. Fertilizer according to claim 1, characterized in that the nitrogen source comprises preferably not more than 90% urea, more preferably not more than 75% urea, more preferably 2-55% urea, most preferably 5-45% urea with preferably not more than 90% ammonium bicarbonate, more preferably not more than 85% ammonium bicarbonate, more preferably 10-65% ammonium bicarbonate, most preferably 15-55% ammonium bicarbonate; the bicarbonate component comprises one or more basic bicarbonate salts selected from no more than 80% and preferably from 10 to 80% potassium bicarbonate, and no more than 80% and preferably from 10 to 80% sodium bicarbonate, or a combination of two basic bicarbonate salts, totaling no more than 80%, preferably from 10 to 80%; the carbohydrate component comprises 0.1% to 35%, more preferably 0.1% to 25%, and most preferably 0.1% to 15%.

14. The fertilizer material of claim 1, wherein said fertilizer material is in the form of tablets or granules having a diameter of 0.15-5.10 cm.

15. The fertilizer material of claim 1, wherein said fertilizer material is in the form of a package having a diameter of 0.15-5.10 cm.

16. The package of claim 15, wherein the package is biodegradable.

17. The fertilizer material of claim 1, wherein the fertilizer material is a mixture of granules or tablets.

18. The fertilizer according to claim 1, further comprising a biodegradable binder, a lubricant, a glidant, and an anti-adhesive.

19. A method of increasing crop yield and protein levels in a plant product comprising the steps of: applying a bicarbonate salt selected from the group consisting of ammonium bicarbonate, potassium bicarbonate and sodium bicarbonate to the soil; and applying the carbohydrate in the soil.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising applying a nitrogen source to the soil.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the bicarbonate and carbohydrate are in the form of granules or tablets.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the nitrogen, bicarbonate, and carbohydrate comprise a fertilizer in the form of granules or tablets.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein the fertilizer is placed 1.3-25.4cm below the soil surface.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein the surface of the soil is beneath a water blanket having a depth of less than 30.5 cm.

25. The method of claim 19, wherein the plant is selected from the group consisting of rice, wild rice (genus: Zizania latifolia), sugarcane, water chestnut, lotus, taro, water spinach, watercress, cress, arrowroot, sago palm, neem palm, swamp grass, larch, eucalyptus.

26. The method of claim 19, wherein the plant is selected from the group consisting of corn, wheat, tapioca, sugar beet, sweet potato, cotton, and energy grasses (such as miscanthus, pennisetum, switchgrass, and other grassy grasses).

27. The method of claim 20, wherein the nitrogen source comprises at least one of a urea compound, ammonium bicarbonate, ammonium sulfate, and ammonium nitrate, and wherein the carbohydrate comprises a starch or a sugar.

28. The method of claim 19, wherein the bicarbonate and carbohydrate are in the form of a package or mixture.

29. The method of claim 20, wherein the nitrogen, bicarbonate, and carbohydrate comprise a fertilizer in the form of a package or mixture.

30. The method of claim 20, wherein the nitrogen source comprises at least one of monoammonium phosphate, diammonium phosphate, and urea ammonium nitrate, and wherein the carbohydrate comprises starch or sugar.

31. The method of claim 19, further comprising testing the soil in which the plant is grown to check the amount of nutrients, secondary nutrients and micronutrients; and applying a first fertilizer to the soil or water surface of the flooded soil in which the cultivated plants are growing.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the first fertilizer comprises a nitrogen compound selected from the group consisting of urea, ammonia, ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulfate, calcium nitrate, diammonium phosphate, monoammonium phosphate, potassium nitrate, Urea Ammonium Nitrate (UAN), ammonium bicarbonate, and sodium nitrate; a phosphorus compound selected from the group consisting of diammonium phosphate, monoammonium phosphate, monopotassium phosphate, dipotassium phosphate, tetrapotassium pyrophosphate, triple superphosphate, and potassium metaphosphate; a potassium compound selected from the group consisting of potassium chloride, potassium nitrate, potassium sulfate, potassium dihydrogen phosphate, dipotassium hydrogen phosphate, tetrapotassium pyrophosphate, and potassium metaphosphate.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein the first fertilizer further comprises secondary nutrients and micronutrients selected from the group consisting of iron sulfate, iron oxide, chelated iron, zinc sulfate, iron nitrate, zinc oxide, chelated zinc, copper oxide, copper sulfate, copper nitrate, magnesium sulfate, magnesium oxide, sodium borate, boric acid, manganese sulfate, manganese oxide, chelated manganese EDTA, calcium sulfate, selenium sulfate, and selenium oxide.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein the fertilizer is in the form of tablets or granules having a diameter of 0.15-5.10 cm.

35. The method of claim 31, wherein the fertilizer is in a package having a diameter of 0.15-5.10 cm.

36. A plant growth promoter comprising:

a bicarbonate component selected from the group consisting of ammonium bicarbonate, potassium bicarbonate, and sodium bicarbonate;

and a carbohydrate component.

37. A method of increasing rice yield comprising applying a bicarbonate compound and a carbohydrate to soil to increase rice yield by at least 50% over rice without the application of the bicarbonate compound and the carbohydrate.

38. The method of claim 37, further comprising increasing rice yield by at least 100% over rice without application of bicarbonate and carbohydrate.

39. The method of claim 37, further comprising increasing the protein content in the rice by at least 2% over the protein content of rice without the application of bicarbonate and carbohydrate.

40. The method of claim 37, further comprising applying a nitrogen source to the soil.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a fertilizer comprising a carbohydrate, a bicarbonate and a nitrogen fertilizer, and a method of growing plants using the fertilizer. The present invention also relates to a plant growth promoter comprising a carbohydrate and a bicarbonate, and a method of growing plants using the plant growth promoter.

Background

Due to the growing population around the world and the limited arable area available for growing food, there is considerable interest in finding ways to increase food production. It is well known that plants require nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, micronutrients, water and carbon dioxide for growth. Among the three major nutrients: nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium; the highest level of nitrogen is required to promote optimal growth. For example, according to the study of Subya et al, it is recommended that the ratio of N: P20s: K20 for growing rice be 4:2:1{ Subya, S.V. et al, "study of maximizing yield by feeding a low-lying rice through a nutrient ratio". International rice commission communication (FAO), 50 (2001): 59-65}. However, plants (e.g., rice plants and their grain) require far higher carbon than their nitrogen, phosphorus or potassium requirements. The nitrogen requirement is usually higher than phosphorus, potassium and other nutrients. It is common that the carbon content of rice (whole grain with husk) is 46 w/w% or more, while the nitrogen content is only 1.3 w/w%. These carbon and nitrogen values result in a carbon to nitrogen ratio (C: N) of 35:1 for rice. This high C to N ratio indicates that the amount of carbon required to promote plant growth and yield far exceeds all other nutrients.

It is generally believed that plants capture carbon dioxide from the surrounding air through stomata in the leaves. However, the carbon dioxide content in air is very low (currently about 355 ppm). Carbon is a limiting nutrient in plant growth, and research to find other ways to supply carbon dioxide to plants has been conducted for many years. It is well known to supply gaseous CO to plant foliage₂The yield can be increased, which is a common practice in horticulture under greenhouse.

When plant seeds germinate for the first time, the only nutrients and energy available for growth are stored in the seeds. Initially, roots are formed, followed by leaves. The leaf surface area of small seedlings is extremely small and photosynthesis is limited by the energy that the leaves can accept and the carbon available to build new plant cells. If the plant is stimulated to produce roots early in development, this leads the plant to grow one step ahead, making the plant more efficient at absorbing nutrients, including carbon in the roots. The present invention uses bicarbonate to stimulate the growth of plant roots in their early stages of development by supplying carbon. The present invention also provides additional carbon-absorbable and energy-rich carbohydrates to the plant roots to promote rapid growth, which helps to overcome the low surface area of early leaves, thus further promoting plant growth.

It is well known that algae and cyanobacteria grow in an aqueous environment, commonly known as blue-green algae, when in gaseous CO₂Or bicarbonate form, can significantly accelerate the growth of algae when they are supplied with carbon dioxide. In addition, algae also grow in a dark environment, utilizing sugars or starches as energy and carbon sources. Now, by the present invention, a new fertilizer can be developed for providing energy and nutrients, including carbon dioxide, to plant roots. It is noted in particular that the highest efficiency up to now can be achieved when plants grown in a water-saturated state are applied with this fertilizer. The fertilizer of the present invention is very effective in planting hydrophilic plants including rice, wild rice (genus): cane sugar, water chestnut, lotus, taro, water spinach, watercress, cress, arrowroot, sago palm, niba palm, wetland-type or swamp-type grasses (such as sugar cane hybrids), and other biomass crops (such as larch and eucalyptus). The invented fertilizer is effective for all types of plant cultivation. These plants can be cultivated in earth or water. Crops, including corn, wheat and cotton, are preferred.

Without being bound by any theory, the inventors believe that the inventive fertilizer promotes plant root growth.

In the past, the results of studies on the supply of carbon dioxide to plant roots have varied. Some of these studies have shown that this can promote root growth and increase nutrient uptake. US patent 5044117 (US' 117) discloses a method of fertilizing by supplying gaseous carbon dioxide and oxygen to hydroponic plant roots to promote growth. The present invention provides carbon dioxide and oxygen to plant roots in an aqueous environment via bicarbonate, but in contrast to US' 117, the novel fertilizer of the present invention comprises organic compounds rich in energy as well as nitrogen, bicarbonate and other carbon compounds.

It is known that rice planted in a submerged state is preferably an ammonium-based fertilizer. Anoxic soil microorganisms tend to steal oxygen from nitrate fertilizers due to anaerobic conditions in the submerged state, resulting in plant available nitrogen (e.g., N)₂) And (4) loss. Thus, some of the fertilizers currently used to grow rice include urea, ammonium bicarbonate and ammonium sulfate.

Urea is a good quality fertilizer for many crops due to its low cost and high nitrogen content. In the presence of water and a urease catalyst (naturally present in the soil), urea undergoes hydrolysis, producing ammonia and carbamate, which further decomposes to ammonia and carbon dioxide, as shown in the following formula:

(1)(NH₂)₂CO+H₂O→NH₃+H₂NCOOH→2NH₃+CO₂

in the presence of water, ammonia reacts to form ammonium salts, the reaction formula is shown below:

(2)NH₃+H₂O->NH₄ ⁺+OH^-

as can be seen from equations (1) and (2), the use of urea as a fertilizer also produces carbon dioxide. Figure 1 shows a graph of the relationship between dissolved carbon dioxide form and solution pH. The figure shows that most of the carbon dioxide in the solution is bicarbonate when the solution pH is between 6.5 and 10. Thus, urea used to grow plants under flooded or high moisture conditions slowly produces carbon dioxide, which is utilized by the plants as carbon dioxide or bicarbonate, depending on the soil solution or flooded pH.

Ammonium bicarbonate (NH)₄HCO₃) Is a common fertilizer for rice planted in China. By studying the formulation of ammonium bicarbonate, it can be readily seen that the moles of carbon available per mole of nitrogen in ammonium bicarbonate is twice the moles of carbon available in a nitrogen equivalent of urea. This makes ammonium bicarbonate an excellent source of carbon and nitrogen (as a plant growth promoter).

It is well known that fertilizers experience nitrogen loss and thus reduce the efficiency of fertilizer uptake by plants and the potential yield of crops. For this reason, various special fertilizers and special applications have been developed to improve nitrogen absorption efficiency of plants. Including the development of sulfur-coated urea, polymer-coated urea, urea-formaldehyde fertilizers, fertilizers containing urease inhibitors, and deep-application super granules. For many years, the international center for fertilizer development (IFDC) has been investigating the benefits of deep fertilizer super granule application, which, due to its slow release properties, can reduce nitrogen loss in rice cultivation (international center for fertilizer development et al, proceedings of the urea deep technical symposium, indonesia, 9.1984. IFDC, massless shore, alabama, 1985.).

Chinese patents CN1240777A, CN1400196 and CN1408680A recognize the benefits of supplying gaseous carbon dioxide produced by application of solid fertilizers in soil to plant yield. The ingredients in these solid fertilizers can react with each other to release carbon dioxide gas to the leaves of plants growing in a covered or protected environment, for example in a greenhouse, rather than supplying carbon to the plant roots as bicarbonate in solution as in the case of the inventive fertilizers. CN1240777A combines ammonium bicarbonate with solid acid, the solid acid is formed by the reaction of sulfuric acid, nitric acid, lignite and powdered phosphate rock; CN1400196 used calcium carbonate (limestone) as the carbon dioxide source and combined it with sulphur and ammonium phosphate; CN1408680A used ammonium bicarbonate as the carbon dioxide source and combined with bisulfate or bisulfite. The carbon in these chinese patent fertilizers is very inefficient unless used in an enclosed environment (e.g., a greenhouse) by the reaction of the fertilizer ingredients to produce gaseous carbon dioxide. The fertilizer of the invention retains carbon in solution as bicarbonate at the roots of the plants and can therefore be used to obtain carbon from plants in open fields. In addition, the present invention includes urea and alkaline bicarbonate in the fertilizer as well as other carbon sources such as starch, magnesium stearate, stearic acid and paraffin, which provide additional carbon and energy to the plant. These additional carbon sources have not been used in any chinese patent. Finally, the fertilizer of the present invention provides a measurable synergistic effect between the fertilizer components to increase crop yield, increase nitrogen uptake efficiency in plants, increase nitrogen (protein) levels in plant products, and increase carbon dioxide uptake by plants, rather than an additive effect.

Thus, when used to grow crops, reducing fertilizer nitrogen loss can reduce NOx emissions when these crops are grown with nitrogen fertilizers, thereby reducing the contribution to greenhouse gases. The invented fertilizer can reduce nitrogen loss, thereby reducing unwanted greenhouse gases.

Summary of The Invention

It is an object to provide a novel fertilizer for increasing plant yield. It is another object to provide a novel plant growth promoter for increasing plant yield.

The present invention comprises a slow release carbohydrate/bicarbonate/nitrogen fertilizer for increasing crop yield, increasing nitrogen uptake efficiency in plants, increasing nitrogen levels in plant products, and increasing carbon uptake by crops. The present invention provides energy and carbon to plant roots in the form of carbohydrates (e.g., starch and/or sugar) available to the plant early in its growth, provides carbon dioxide to plant roots in the form of bicarbonate, and utilizes the ability of fertilizers to provide other carbon sources to plants. The inventive fertilizer may take solid, semi-solid or liquid form, depending on the particular application and/or the needs of the plant. The plants can be cultivated in soil or water.

The fertilizer of the invention comprises a nitrogen source, bicarbonate and an organic energy source. The nitrogen source can be any conventional fertilizer nitrogen source used for growing plants. Preferred nitrogen sources include urea, ammonium bicarbonate, ammonium sulfate, ammonium nitrate, Urea Ammonium Nitrate (UAN), monoammonium phosphate (MAP), and diammonium phosphate (DAP), or combinations thereof. The bicarbonate is preferably a basic bicarbonate, such as potassium bicarbonate or sodium bicarbonate. The organic energy source may be a carbohydrate, such as starch or sugar. The fertilizer of the invention may optionally comprise additional carbon sources such as waxes, magnesium stearate and stearic acid. The combination of these ingredients, including nitrogen, bicarbonate and organic energy sources, provides a measurable synergistic effect, manifested by an unexpected increase in crop yield, an increase in the nitrogen uptake efficiency of the plant, an increase in the nitrogen level in the plant product, and an increase in the carbon dioxide uptake of the plant.

The invention also encompasses a plant growth promoter comprising a bicarbonate component and an organic energy source. The bicarbonate is preferably a basic bicarbonate, such as potassium bicarbonate or sodium bicarbonate. The organic energy source may be a carbohydrate, such as starch or sugar. The plant growth promoting agent of the present invention may optionally comprise additional carbon sources such as wax, magnesium stearate and stearic acid. The combination of these ingredients, including bicarbonate and organic energy sources, provides a measurable synergistic effect, manifested by an unexpected increase in crop yield, an increase in the nitrogen uptake efficiency of the plant, an increase in the nitrogen level in the plant product, and an increase in the carbon dioxide uptake of the plant.

The present invention does not contain components unsuitable for growing plants. Thus, the fertilizer and/or the plant growth promoter does not contain components harmful to humans or animals, such as lithium and heavy metals. For the purposes of this invention, unconstrained means that the level meets government set limits for land use and is below an acceptable level that can cause harm to humans or animals consuming the crop.

If the soil test shows that the soil is deficient in one or more nutrients, a starting fertilizer may be applied which typically contains small amounts of nitrogen as well as other primary, secondary and micronutrients at levels indicated by the soil test. The starting fertilizer can be applied at, before or after planting and before application of the fertilizer of the invention. Alternatively, the starting fertilizer may also be applied together with or as part of the inventive fertilizer. Depending on the results of the soil tests, the starting fertilizer also includes other nutrients or micronutrients required by the crop.

The carbohydrate/bicarbonate/nitrogen fertilizer and/or plant growth promoting agent of the present invention is preferably applied under the soil surface before or after germination of the plant in the form of granules, tablets or super granules (very large granules made in the same manner as the block feed for grassland using a rotary granulator). The fertilizer is ideally suited for crops such as rice, wild rice (genus: Zizania), sugar cane, water chestnut, lotus, taro, water spinach, watercress, cress, arrowroot, sago palm, neem palm, swamp-type or swamp grasses such as hybrid sugar cane, and other biomass crops such as cypress and eucalyptus grown under flooded or high moisture conditions; and applying the inventive fertilizer and/or plant growth promoting agent before, during or after irrigating the soil with water.

The fertilizer and/or plant growth promoting agent of the invention also promotes increased yield when used to plant crops that do not grow in an aqueous environment, such as corn, cotton, wheat, cassava, sugar beet, cotton, energy grasses such as miscanthus, elephant grass, switchgrass and other grassy grasses, and other crops.

Thus, the present invention includes methods of applying the inventive fertilizer and/or plant growth promoting agent, including dual application of the fertilizer, i.e., application of the starting fertilizer followed by application of the inventive fertilizer and/or plant growth promoting agent, or simultaneous application of the starting fertilizer and the inventive fertilizer and/or plant growth promoting agent. The fertiliser and/or plant growth promoter can be applied above or below the soil surface in any desired form, for example liquid, solid, semi-solid and dispersion, in admixture with each other and/or with other common components conventionally mixed with fertilisers.