Patent Description:
It is a growing trend for state regulations to require fertilizer compositions to include a slow-release nitrogen-containing fertilizer. The inclusion of such slow-release nitrogen-containing fertilizers can cause a number of drawbacks, however, when formulating fertilizer compositions for specific plant species such as turfgrass. For example, fertilizers including slow-release nitrogen-containing fertilizers can be difficult to formulate for plant species which further require iron. It would be desirable to provide a composition which can include both a slow-release nitrogen-containing fertilizer and iron.

<CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT> provide examples of fertilizer compositions suitable for treating turfgrass.

According to the invention, a liquid fertilizer composition includes a slow-release nitrogen-containing fertilizer and iron chelated to an aminopolycarboxylic acid or a polycarboxylic acid as defined in claim <NUM>.

According to another embodiment, a method of greening turfgrass includes supplying the liquid fertilizer composition and applying the liquid fertilizer composition to turfgrass to cause greening in about <NUM> days or less. The liquid fertilizer composition includes a slow-release nitrogen-containing fertilizer and iron chelated to an aminopolycarboxylic acid or a polycarboxylic acid. Greening is an increase in the dark green color index (DGCI) value of the turfgrass as compared to turfgrass not treated with the liquid fertilizer composition.

The present disclosure generally describes liquid fertilizer compositions which can be useful as fertilizer for plants, such as monocots (e.g., turfgrass). Generally, the liquid fertilizer compositions can include slow-release nitrogen-containing fertilizer that provides nitrogen to plants as well as a chelated iron source. The compositions include a slow-release nitrogen-containing fertilizer and a chelated iron (III) (i.e., iron in its ferric form) compound. For example, the iron (III) can be chelated to an aminopolycarboxylic acid or a polycarboxylic acid in certain embodiments.

As used herein, the term "slow-release nitrogen-containing fertilizer" means a fertilizer that provides a slower and/or longer duration release of nitrogen to plants after application than a "fast-release nitrogen-containing fertilizer. " Examples of slow-release fertilizers are known in the art. See, e.g., <NPL>.

As can be appreciated, the extended release of nitrogen, or the delay of its initial availability, can occur through a variety of mechanisms. For example, slow-release nitrogen-containing fertilizers can have controlled water solubility through the inclusion of semipermeable coatings, occlusion, or through the formation of the fertilizer from water insoluble polymers, natural nitrogenous organics, protein materials, or other chemicals. Alternatively, slow-release nitrogen-containing fertilizers can be materials which are slow to hydrolyze in water such as certain low-molecular weight compounds. As can be appreciated however, any mechanism which provides for the slow release of nitrogen can also be suitable for the liquid fertilizer compositions described herein. Generally, a slow-release nitrogen-containing fertilizer can make nitrogen available to plants over a period of weeks to months.

Various types of slow-release nitrogen-containing fertilizers can be suitable for use in the liquid fertilizer compositions described herein. For example, suitable slow-release nitrogen-containing fertilizers can include triazones, urea-triazones (such as tetrahydro-s-triazone or <NUM>-methyleneuriedo-<NUM>-oxohexahydro-s-triazine), urea containing fertilizer compositions (e.g., urea fertilizers or urea formaldehyde reaction product fertilizers such as urea-formaldehyde fertilizer or methylene urea fertilizers), and isobutylidene-diurea (IBDU). As can be appreciated, the liquid fertilizer compositions described herein can include one or more slow-release nitrogen-containing fertilizers, provided that one or more of urea-triazone or triazone are present. The use of multiple slow-release nitrogen-containing fertilizers, for example, can allow for the controlled release of nitrogen over predetermined amounts of time.

In certain embodiments, the slow-release nitrogen-containing fertilizer can be water-soluble. In certain embodiments, the slow-release nitrogen-containing fertilizer can be urea-triazone.

The release nitrogen-containing fertilizer comprises from about <NUM>% to about <NUM>%, by weight, nitrogen including, for example, from about <NUM>% to about <NUM>%, by weight, nitrogen. In various embodiments, the amount, by weight, nitrogen in a slow-release nitrogen-containing fertilizer can be about <NUM>%, about <NUM>%, about <NUM>%, about <NUM>%, about <NUM>%, about <NUM>%, about <NUM>%, about <NUM>%, about <NUM>%, about <NUM>%, about <NUM>%.

In addition to nitrogen, the liquid fertilizer compositions described herein also include iron. The addition of iron to the liquid fertilizer compositions can promote rapid greening of turfgrass. As can be appreciated however, slow-release nitrogen-containing fertilizers such as urea-triazone are generally alkaline in nature while iron compounds such as iron (II) and iron (III) are generally insoluble under high, or alkaline, pH conditions. The differing pH requirements of the slow-release nitrogen-containing fertilizers and iron can increase the difficulty of formulating a liquid fertilizer composition which includes both components. In particular, urea-triazones can produce alkaline solutions which can cause iron (III) to precipitate out of solution. Applicant has discovered that a liquid fertilizer composition including both a slow-release nitrogen-containing fertilizer and iron can be formulated by including iron chelated to a suitable polymeric species.

The liquid fertilizer compositions include iron (III) (i.e., iron in its ferric form) that is chelated to an aminopolycarboxylic acid or a polycarboxylic acid. Specific examples of aminopolycarboxylic acids that iron can be chelated to and included in the liquid fertilizer compositions described herein can include ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA); diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA); N-(<NUM>-hydroxyethyl)ethylenediamine triacetic acid (HEDTA); cyclohexane-<NUM>,<NUM>-diamine tetraacetic acid (CDTA); ethylenediamine-N,N'-bis(o-hydroxyphenylacetic) acid (EDDHA); ethylenediamine-N-(o-hydroxyphenylacetic)-N'-(p-hydroxyphenylacetic) acid (o,p-EDDHA); ethylenediamine-N,N'-bis(<NUM>-hydroxy-<NUM>-methylphenylacetic) acid (EDDHMA); ethylenediamine-N,N'-bis(<NUM>-carboxy-<NUM>-hydroxyphenylacetic) acid (EDDCHA); ethylenediamine-N,N'-bis (<NUM>-hydroxy-<NUM>-sulfophenylacetic) acid (EDDHSA); N,N'-bis (<NUM>-hydroxyphenyl)ethylendiamine-N,N'-diacetic acid (HBED); and ethylenediamine-N,N'-disuccinic acid (EDDS). Specific examples of polycarboxylic acids that iron can be chelated to and included in the liquid fertilizer compositions described herein can include citric acid, oxalic acid, succinic acid, malonic acid, and tartaric acid. As can be appreciated, the liquid fertilizer compositions can include one or more iron chelated aminopolycarboxylic acids, iron chelated polycarboxylic acids, or a combination thereof.

The amount of elemental iron in the compositions ranges from about <NUM>% to about <NUM>% by weight. For example, the amount of iron in the described liquid fertilizer compositions can be about <NUM>%, about <NUM>%, about <NUM>%, about <NUM>%, about <NUM>%, about <NUM>%, about <NUM>%, about <NUM>%, about <NUM>%, about <NUM>%, about <NUM>%, about <NUM>%, about <NUM>%, about <NUM>%, about <NUM>%, about <NUM>%, about <NUM>%, about <NUM>%, about <NUM>%, about <NUM>%, about <NUM>%, about <NUM>%, about <NUM>%, about <NUM>%, about <NUM>%, about <NUM>%, about <NUM>%, or about <NUM>% by weight.

In certain embodiments, the amount of an iron-chelated compound included in the liquid fertilizer compositions can range from about <NUM>% to about <NUM>% by weight of the composition. For example, the amount of iron-chelated compounds in a liquid fertilizer composition described herein can be, by weight, about <NUM>%, about <NUM>%, about <NUM>%, about <NUM>%, about <NUM>%, about <NUM>%, about <NUM>%, about <NUM>%, about <NUM>%, about <NUM>%, about <NUM>%, about <NUM>%, about <NUM>%, about <NUM>%, about <NUM>%, or about <NUM>% of the composition. In certain embodiments, the amount of iron-chelated compounds in a liquid fertilizer composition can be, by weight, less than about <NUM>%, less than about <NUM>%, less than about <NUM>%, less than about <NUM>%, less than about <NUM>%, less than about <NUM>%, less than about <NUM>%, less than about <NUM>%, less than about <NUM>%, less than about <NUM>%, less than about <NUM>%, less than about <NUM>%, less than about <NUM>%, less than about <NUM>%, less than about <NUM>%, or less than about <NUM>% of the composition.

In certain embodiments, the pH of the liquid fertilizer compositions can be selected to provide compatibility between the slow-release nitrogen-containing fertilizer and the iron-chelated compound. For example, in certain embodiments, the pH of the liquid fertilizer composition can be in the range of about <NUM> to about <NUM>; and in certain embodiments, in the range of about <NUM> to about <NUM>. In certain embodiments, the pH of the composition can be about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, about <NUM>, or about <NUM>.

The described liquid fertilizer compositions further include a fast-release nitrogen-containing fertilizer. As used herein, the term "fast-release nitrogen-containing fertilizer" means a fertilizer that provides rapid availability of nitrogen to plants after application due to the nitrogen's solubility in water (i.e., the fertilizer provides "water-soluble nitrogen"). A fast-release nitrogen-containing fertilizer differs from the slow-release nitrogen-containing fertilizer in one or more characteristics, such as the hydrophobicity of the nitrogen compound, the molecular weight of the nitrogen compound, the water solubility of the nitrogen compound, the presence of additive materials in the fertilizer, and/or the particle size of the fertilizer.

Various types of fast-release nitrogen-containing fertilizers can be suitable for use in the described liquid fertilizer compositions including urea, urea ammonium nitrate (UAN), ammonium, nitrate, or a combination thereof, provided that urea ammonium nitrate is present. As can be appreciated, a liquid fertilizer composition can also include more than one fast-release nitrogen-containing fertilizers.

A fast-release nitrogen-containing fertilizer can include any suitable amount of nitrogen. In certain embodiments, a fast-release nitrogen-containing fertilizer can include from about <NUM>% to about <NUM>%, by weight, nitrogen. In certain embodiments, a fast-release nitrogen-containing fertilizer can include from about <NUM>% to about <NUM>%, by weight, nitrogen. For example, the amount, by weight, of nitrogen in a fast-release nitrogen-containing fertilizer can be about <NUM>%, about <NUM>%, about <NUM>%, about <NUM>%, about <NUM>%, about <NUM>%, about <NUM>%, about <NUM>%, about <NUM>%, about <NUM>%, about <NUM>%, about <NUM>%, about <NUM>%, about <NUM>%, about <NUM>%, about <NUM>%, about <NUM>%, about <NUM>%, about <NUM>%, about <NUM>%, about <NUM>%, or about <NUM>%.

In certain embodiments, a fast-release nitrogen-containing fertilizer can include, by weight, at least about <NUM>%, at least about <NUM>%, at least about <NUM>%, at least about <NUM>%, at least about <NUM>%, at least about <NUM>%, at least about <NUM>%, at least about <NUM>%, at least about <NUM>%, at least about <NUM>%, at least about <NUM>%, at least about <NUM>%, at least about <NUM>%, at least about <NUM>%, at least about <NUM>%, at least about <NUM>%, at least about <NUM>%, at least about <NUM>%, at least about <NUM>%, at least about <NUM>%, at least about <NUM>%, at least about <NUM>%, at least about <NUM>%, or at least about <NUM>% nitrogen.

The liquid fertilizer compositions described herein can further include or more additional components, such as phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, sulfur, and/or zinc.

In certain embodiments, the liquid fertilizer compositions can exhibit unexpected results. For example, liquid fertilizer compositions including iron (III) chelated to an aminopolycarboxylic acid with six or more coordination bonds (e.g., ferric-DTPA), a slow release fertilizer (e.g., urea-triazone), and a fast-release fertilizer (e.g., urea ammonium nitrate) were found to be much more stable and robust as compared to the compositions comprising iron (III) chelated to an aminopolycarboxylic acid with six or less coordination bonds (e.g., ferric-ETPA), a slow release fertilizer (e.g., urea-triazone), and a fast-release fertilizer (e.g., urea ammonium nitrate) under the same testing conditions (e.g., at elevated temperatures of <NUM> (<NUM> °F)) As can be appreciated, elevated temperature testing demonstrates long-term storage stability as liquid fertilizer products will likely be stored in an outdoor environment, or other environment that is not temperature regulated.

In certain embodiments, the liquid fertilizer compositions described herein can be applied to a seed, seedling, plant, or lawn. In certain embodiments, the seed, seedling, plant, or lawn can include turfgrass. Examples of treatable turfgrasses can include Annual Bluegrass, Hybrid Bermudagrass, Rough Bluegrass, Seashore Paspalum, Goosegrass, Orchardgrass, Poa annua, Sandbur, Povertygrass, Crabgrass, Chess, Downy Chess, Timothy, Green Foxtail, Stinkgrass, Witchgrass, Yellow Foxtail, Barnyard grass, Canada Bluegrass, Fowl Bluegrass, Kentucky Bluegass, Poa trivialis, Fine Fescue, Perennial Ryegrass, Annual Ryegrass, Colonial Bentgrass, Creeping Bentgrass, Quackgrass, Redtop, Reed Canarygrass, Smooth Brome, Smooth Crabgrass, Tall Fescue, Wild Barley, Bahiagrass, Broomsedge, Centipedegrass, Carpetgrass, Signalgrass, St. Augustinegrass, Bull Paspalum, Dallisgrass, Field Paspalum, Egyptian Crabgrass, Johnsongrass, Knotgrass, Rescuegrass, Sudangrass, Bermudagrass, Purpletop, Smutgrass, Zoysiagrass, Sweet Vernalgrass, Nimblewill, Velvetgrass, Fall Panicum, Lovegrass, Foxtail Barley, Windmillgrass, Blue Grama, Kikuyugrass, Saltgrass, Wild Oats, and/or Buffalograss.

The application of any of the liquid fertilizer compositions described herein on a seed, seedling, plant, or lawn can have a rapid greening effect on the seed, seedling, plant, or lawn. In certain embodiments, application of the liquid fertilizer composition to a plant or lawn can result in increasing the green color of the plant or lawn, as measured by visual assessment using DIA (Digital Image Analysis) and/or NTEP (National Turfgrass Evaluation Program), within one day, within two days, within three days, within four days, within five days, within six days, within seven days, within eight days, or within nine days. Examples of suitable methods to perform DIA are disclosed in <NPL>).

In certain embodiments, the liquid fertilizer compositions can be sprayed onto a soil, seed, seedling, plant, or lawn using sprayers known to one of ordinary skill in the art, such as trigger sprayers (e.g., hand-held trigger sprayers), wand sprayers, bottle sprayers, compression sprayers, tank sprayers, pump sprayers, hose-end sprayers, and backpack sprayers.

In certain embodiments, a liquid fertilizer composition described herein can be applied in amounts of from about <NUM> (<NUM> lb) of nitrogen per <NUM><NUM> (<NUM> ft<NUM>) to about <NUM> (<NUM> lb) of nitrogen per <NUM><NUM> (<NUM> ft<NUM>). In certain embodiments, the liquid fertilizer compositions can be formulated as a ready-to-use or ready-to-spray formulation.

In certain embodiments, the liquid fertilizer compositions can be applied in amounts of from about <NUM> of iron per <NUM><NUM> (<NUM> ft<NUM>) to about <NUM> of iron per <NUM><NUM> (<NUM> ft<NUM>). In certain embodiments, the composition can be formulated as a ready-to-use or ready-to-spray formulation.

In embodiments in which the liquid fertilizer composition is granular, the granular compositions can be applied to a soil, seed, seedling, plant or lawn by sprinkling, or spreading, the composition onto the soil, seed, seedling, plant or lawn.

In certain embodiments, the liquid fertilizer compositions, when applied, can be resistant to precipitation of the iron compound.

The following examples are included to illustrate certain aspects and embodiments of the present disclosure, and are not intended to limit the disclosure to the disclosed embodiments.

Two different liquid fertilizer compositions, Formulation <NUM> and Formulation <NUM>, were tested for their greening effect on turfgrass. Both Formulations contained <NUM>%, by weight, urea ammonium nitrate as a fast-release nitrogen-containing fertilizer, <NUM>%, by weight, urea-triazone as a slow-release nitrogen-containing fertilizer, and <NUM>%, by weight, iron. In Formulation <NUM>, the iron was chelated to DPTA. In Formulation <NUM>, the iron was chelated to EDTA.

Formulations <NUM> and <NUM> were compared with several Comparative Formulations. Comparative Formulation <NUM> included <NUM>% total nitrogen with <NUM>% being slow-release nitrogen. Comparative Formulation <NUM> was a commercially available turfgrass product including <NUM>% total nitrogen with <NUM>% slow-release nitrogen. An unfed control was also evaluated.

Several evaluations were performed. For the first evaluation, the Formulations were applied to Poaceae sp. , Lolium sp. , and Festuca sp turfgrasses. The color quality of each turfgrass was assessed in two different ways. In the first assessment method, the color of the grass was assessed visually and scored on a <NUM> - <NUM> scale using the standard protocols set by the National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (U. of Agriculture, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Beltsville, MD). On this scale, <NUM> represents yellow, or brown, turf and <NUM> represents optimal, dark green turf.

The mean color assessment scores of the visual assessment are depicted in Table <NUM> (n = <NUM> for each group). Grouping information was observed using Fisher's least significant difference method for pairwise comparisons. Means separated by different letters are significantly different from one another with p < <NUM>.

For the second assessment method, the color of the turfgrass was measured according to the dark green color index (DGCI) as calculated by digital image analysis of color photos. The mean DGCI values are depicted in Table <NUM> (n = <NUM> for each group). Grouping information was observed using Fisher's least significant difference method for pairwise comparisons. Means separated by different letters are significantly different from one another with p < <NUM>.

Based on the results of Example <NUM>, Formulation <NUM> was further evaluated to determine how quickly visible improvements would become apparent. In Example <NUM>, Formulation <NUM> and Formulation <NUM> were applied to Poaceae sp. , Lolium sp. , Festuca sp. , and Eremochloa sp. at a rate of <NUM> N/ <NUM><NUM> (<NUM> lb N/1000ft<NUM> ; <NUM> lb N/M). to determine the amount of greening after <NUM> days. An unfed control was also evaluated. The results of Example <NUM> are depicted in Table <NUM> in the form of DGCI (mean) values. Grouping information was observed using Fisher's least significant difference method for pairwise comparisons. Means separated by different letters are significantly different from one another with p < <NUM>.

As depicted by Table <NUM>, Formulation <NUM> significantly improved the turf color of all evaluated species.

The impact of application method on the turfgrass responses to applications of Formulation <NUM> were also investigated on Poaceae sp in Example <NUM>. In Example <NUM>, two commercial hose-end applicators designed to deliver an <NUM>:<NUM> water-to-product ratio were used to evaluate the importance of hose-end application design including one with a 'fan' application pattern and one with a 'shower' application pattern. An unfed control was also evaluated. The results are depicted in Table <NUM>. Grouping information was observed using Fisher's least significant difference method for pairwise comparisons. Means separated by different letters are significantly different from one another with p < <NUM>.

As illustrated by Table <NUM>, no differences between application devices were observed during this experiment.

Turfgrass safety was evaluated when excess fertilizer composition was applied. The safety of excess fertilizer compositions on Poaceae sp. , Lolium sp. , Festuca sp. , Eremochloa sp. , and Cynodon sp was evaluated using Formulation <NUM> at rates of up to <NUM> times the contemplated values of approximately <NUM> N/ <NUM><NUM> (<NUM> lb N/1000ft<NUM> ; <NUM> lb N/M). Injury was assessed as a percentage of leaf tissue with an undesirable appearance within the plot area. The results of Example <NUM> are depicted in Table <NUM>. The following conversion factors are used to convert the values of Table <NUM> to the corresponding values in SI units:.

As illustrated by Table <NUM>, the use of up to <NUM> times <NUM> N / <NUM><NUM> (<NUM> lb N/M) of Formulation <NUM> did not injure any of the tested turfgrasses.

Two additional liquid fertilizer compositions, Formulations <NUM> and <NUM>, were tested for their spray efficiency after aging in outdoor-like conditions. Both Formulations <NUM> and <NUM> contained <NUM>%, by weight, urea ammonium nitrate as a fast-release nitrogen-containing fertilizer, <NUM>%, by weight, urea-triazone as a slow-release nitrogen-containing fertilizer, and <NUM>%, by weight, iron. In Formulation <NUM>, the iron was chelated to EDTA. In Formulation <NUM>, the iron was chelated to DTPA. For each trial, four <NUM> (<NUM> oz. ) spray bottles (ready-to-spray type) of each Formulation <NUM> and <NUM> were prepared. The bottles were kept at high temperature storage at <NUM> (<NUM> °F) and removed from the chambers at <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> weeks to check for heat tolerance/compatibility. As can be appreciated, it is known that urea triazone can exhibit precipitation and gelling when returned to ambient temperature after exposure to elevated temperatures for prolonged periods of time. If the time to empty the bottle remains constant both before and after aging, the formulation is robust and stable at the tested temperature for the evaluated period of time.

After these storage periods were complete, the bottles were tested for their spray efficiency, as measured by the time needed to empty the <NUM> (<NUM> ounce) bottle. The removed bottles were stored at room temperature and sprayed all at once with a garden hose at <NUM> weeks to check for any potential of clogging of dip tube inside the bottles that resulting in longer spray-out time (longer time to empty the bottles). The results are depicted in Table <NUM> (* means that the trial terminated because the bottle was fully clogged). The results of Table <NUM> demonstrate that Formulation <NUM> (iron chelated to DTPA) provided better spray efficiency and was robust even after <NUM> weeks exposure to high temperature conditions and a further <NUM> weeks of storage at room temperature. As can be appreciated, this robustness at elevated temperatures can be particularly beneficial in situations where the commercial product is displayed outdoors.

The results of Table <NUM> demonstrate that Formulation <NUM> (iron chelated to DTPA) provided better spray efficiency and was robust even after <NUM> weeks exposure to high temperature conditions and a further <NUM> weeks of storage at room temperature. As can be appreciated, this robustness at elevated temperatures can be particularly beneficial in situations where the commercial product is stored outdoors.

As used herein, all percentages (%) are percent by weight of the total composition, also expressed as weight/weight %, % (w/w), w/w, w/w % or simply %, unless otherwise indicated. Also, as used herein, the terms "wet" refers to relative percentages of the coating composition in a dispersion medium (e.g. water); and "dry" refers to the relative percentages of the dry coating composition prior to the addition of the dispersion medium. In other words, the dry percentages are those present without taking the dispersion medium into account. Wet admixture refers to the coating composition with the dispersion medium added. "Wet weight percentage", or the like, is the weight in a wet mixture; and "dry weight percentage", or the like, is the weight percentage in a dry composition without the dispersion medium. Unless otherwise indicated, percentages (%) used herein are dry weight percentages based on the weight of the total composition.

Claim 1:
A liquid fertilizer composition comprising:
(a) a slow-release nitrogen-containing fertilizer, wherein the slow-release nitrogen-containing fertilizer comprises from about <NUM>% to about <NUM>% nitrogen by weight; and wherein the slow-release nitrogen-containing fertilizer comprises one or more of triazone or urea-triazone;
(b) a fast-release nitrogen-containing fertilizer, wherein the fast-release nitrogen-containing fertilizer comprises urea ammonium nitrate; and
(c) iron chelated to an aminopolycarboxylic acid or a polycarboxylic acid; wherein the liquid fertilizer composition comprises from about <NUM>% to about <NUM>% elemental iron by weight