Abstract:
A granular fertilizer composition superior in plant growth regulating effects is provided which comprises a coating of a mixture of triethylene glycol and a plant growth regulator on a granular fertilizer.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a granular fertilizer composition which comprises a coating of a mixture of triethylene glycol and a plant growth regulator on a granular fertilizer and to a process for preparing it. 
     In order to exhibit efficiently effects of plant growth regulators, it has been known to use the regulators as mixtures with fertilizers. For preparation of the mixtures, there have been known a method of incorporating the regulators into granular fertilizer and another method of coating the granular fertilizer with the regulators. 
     However, according to the method of incorporation, for example, in the case of complex fertilizer, since plant growth regulator is incorporated into the fertilizer during the preparation of the fertilizer, the plant growth regulator is susceptible to decomposition due to its contact with acids or/and alkalis which are raw materials for the fertilizer. Furthermore, when off-specification products which have been sifted out are to be reused, the plant growth regulator must be removed therefrom and this requires much troubles. Thus, this method is not practical. 
     On the other hand, the coating method also has problems caused by organic solvents used in preparation. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     As a result of the inventors&#39; intensive researches in an attempt to solve these problems, it has been found that desired plant growth regulator-containing granular fertilizer compositions free from the above problems can be obtained by coating a mixture of triethylene glycol and a plant growth regulator on granular fertilizers. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The granular fertilizers used in this invention include nitrogeneous fertilizers such as urea, ammonium sulfate, ammonium nitrate, ammonium chloride, urea-form, etc., phosphatic fertilizers such as ammonium phosphate, superphosphate, triple superphosphate, etc. and potassic fertilizers such as potassium chloride, potassium sulfate, etc., two component fertilizers such as nitrogeneous-phosphatic, nitrogeneous-potassic and phosphatic-potassic, three-component fertilizers such as nitrogeneous-phosphatic-potassic and these granular fertilizers which additionally contain elements necessary for growth of plants such as magnesium, boron, manganese, etc. and besides, above-mentioned fertilizers which additionally contain materials for adjustment of components such as gypsum, etc., water insoluble clay minerals such as diatomite, talc, bentonite, etc. used for preventing flotation of fertilizers in application to paddy field and which are granulated by conventional methods. 
     As the plant growth regulators used in this invention, mention may be made of, for example, (E)-1-(4-chlorophenyl)-4,4-dimethyl-2-(1,2,4-triazol-1-penten-3-ol (referred to as &#34;compound A&#34; hereinafter) or a salt thereof, (E)-1-cyclohexyl-4,4-dimethyl-2-(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-1-yl)-1-penten-3-ol (referred to as &#34;compound B&#34; hereinafter) or a salt thereof, 1-(4-chlorophenyl)-4,4-dimethyl-2-(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl) .[.penten.]. .Iadd.pentan.Iaddend.-3-ol (referred to as &#34;compound C&#34; hereinafter) or a salt thereof, etc. These compounds A, B and C are known compounds disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication (Laid-Open) Nos. 25105/81, 111477/80 and 28170/78, respectively. 
     Content of the plant growth regulator in granular fertilizer composition is usually 0.001-0.02% by weight of the fertilizer and that of fertilizer as active ingredient is usually 8-80% by weight. Application amount of active ingredient (plant growth regulator and fertilizer) is usually 500-1000 g/a. 
     Triethylene glycol used may be one which is sold for industrial purpose. When addition amount of triethylene glycol is too small, uniform coating on the surface of fertilizer cannot be performed and when too large, this is not only economically disadvantageous, but also causes deterioration of fertilizer components. Thus, it is usually 0.01-5% by weight, preferably 0.3-2% by weight of the granular fertilizer. 
     Preparation of the granular composition of this invention may be effected typically by dissolving the plant growth regulator in triethylene glycol and, for example, spraying the solution onto granular fertilizer to coat the fertilizer with the solution. Most commonly, there may be employed such method which comprises spraying triethylene glycol containing the plant growth regulator onto granular fertilizer which is being tumbled using apparatuses such as a rotating cylinder, a rotating pan, etc., followed by addition of solidification inhibitors such as talc, diatomite, etc. with continuation of the tumbling. 
    
    
     The following nonlimiting examples and test examples illustrate the invention; all part and % are given by weight, unless otherwise notified. 
     EXAMPLE 1 
     A solution of compound A in a solvent was sprayed at the ratio as shown in Table 1 onto 1 Kg of ammonium sulfate-ammonium phosphate fertilizer (N: 13%, P 2  O 5  : 13% and K 2  O: 13% and blending ratio; ammonium secondary phosphate: 29.3%, ammonium sulfate: 39.6%, potassium chloride: 22.0% and gypsum: 9.1%) of 1-4 mm in particle diameter which was under rolling action at 80° C. on a pan type granulator and then, 0.5% of talc was added to the fertilizer under tumbling to obtain ammonium sulfate-ammonium phosphate fertilizer compositions. States of the compositions as prepared are shown in Table 1. 
     
                       TABLE 1______________________________________Solvent        Compound A   Addition   Addition   amount     amount   (% based on              (% based on       Odor ofKind    fertilizer)              fertilizer)                         Solubility                                product______________________________________Triethylene   0.3        0.007      Soluble                                Odorlessglycol   0.5        0.007        &#34;      &#34;Ethylene   0.3        0.007      Insoluble                                Odorlessglycol(Compar-   0.5        0.007        &#34;      &#34;ative)n-Nonyl 0.3        0.007      Soluble                                Unpleasantalcohol                              odor(Compar-   0.5        0.007        &#34;    Unpleasantative)                               odorMachine 0.3        0.007      Insoluble                                Oil odoroil(Compar-   0.5        0.007        &#34;      &#34;ative)______________________________________ Note: &#34;Solubility&#34; is of compound A in solvent 
    
     A solution prepared by dissolving 0.04% (based on the weight of fertilizer) of compound A in 0.3% (based on the weight of fertilizer) of triethylene glycol was sprayed onto 1 Kg of ammonium nitrate-ammonium phosphate fertilizer (N: 5%, P 2  O 5  : 4% and K 2  O: 5% and blending ratio; ammonium primary phosphate: 9.0%, ammonium nitrate: 7.0%, ammonium sulfate: 15.2%, potassium sulfate: 10.9% and gypsum: 57.5%) of 1-4 mm in particle diameter which was under tumbling at 70° C. on a pan type granulator and then, 0.5% of talc was added thereto still under tumbling to obtain an ammonium nitrate-ammonium phosphate fertilizer composition. 
     EXAMPLE 3 
     A solution prepared by dissolving 0.01% (based on the weight of fertilizer) of compound A in 1% (based on the weight of fertilizer) of triethylene glycol was sprayed onto 1 Kg of urea fertilizer (N: 18%, P 2  O 5  : 18% and K 2  O: 18% and blending ratio: ammonium secondary phosphate: 40.2%, urea: 24.5%, potassium chloride: 30.1% and gypsum: 5.2%) of 1-4 mm in particle diameter which was under tumbling at 60° C. on a pan type granulator and then, 0.5% of talc was added thereto still under tumbling to obtain an urea fertilizer composition. 
     TEST EXAMPLE 1 
     Rice (Oryza sativa L. cv: Koshihikari) was cultivated in a paddy field and the granular fertilizer composition of this invention according to Example 1(triethylene glycol: 0.5% and compound A: 0.007%), a wettable powder containing compound A as an active ingredient and a control granular fertilizer were respectively applied to the surface of the paddy field on the 18th day before heading. Thereafter, cultivation was continued, and culm length and panicle length of the rice plants, degree of lodging of the plants and yield of rice were measured. 
     The tests were repeated three times for one test plot of 10 m 2  and the results are shown in average values in Table 2. 
     In the case of the control granular fertilizer, culm length was long end degree of lodging was high, therefore the yield was small. When compound A was used along, culm length was shortened and lodging of the plants did not occur, but panicle growth was also inhibited, and hence the yield increasing effect was small. 
     On the other hand, in the test plot of the granular fertilizer composition of this invention, culm growth was inhibited and thus lodging of the plants was prevented and furthermore, the inhibitory effect on the panicle growth was a little, resulting in increase of yield. 
     
                       TABLE 2______________________________________    Applica-                      Weight of    tion     Culm    Panicle                           Degree hulled    amount   length  length                           of     riceTest plot    (g/a)    (cm)    (cm)  lodging.sup.a                                  (Kg/a)______________________________________Granular 3000     78.6    19.0  0.3    50.6fertilizer ofthis inventionCompound A    0.21     74.3    17.9  0      48.5    (a.i.)Control gran-    3000     90.3    19.8  3.3    42.1ular fertilizer(N 13%,P.sub.2 O.sub.5 13%,K.sub.2 O 13%)Non-     --       87.4    18.8  2.3    43.3treatment______________________________________ .sup.a O: no lodging up to 5: complete lodging