Patent Application
20120010078
The present invention relates to a formulation with the ability to increase significantly the absorption and metabolization of mineral nutrients by plants. The main component of these formulations is 2-hydroxy-4-methyl thiobutanoic (HMTB) acid and its derivatives.
One of the factors with the greatest influence in the development of cultures and consequently in the production/quality ratio is the appropriate assimilation of mineral nutrients by the plant and subsequent metabolization. No doubt a product which allows for a greater assimilation of the mineral elements and their better metabolization that is expressed in a greater development of the plant has an unquestionable interest.
Various patents or patent applications can be found in the state of the art (U.S. Pat. No. 4,579,962; U.S. Pat. No. 4,524,077; US2003144547; U.S. Pat. No. 5,972,300), that describe different methods for the preparation of HMTB and analogues of this acid. Its use is also protected in animals, mainly in ruminants, as an agent enhancing milk production (U.S. Pat. No. 6,183,786; US2005059739). However, there is no published information or filed patent on its use in plants as metabolic and nutritional activator.
The methods currently employed to enhance plant development use mechanisms of hormonal nature, as described in the publication by Marschner, H., 1995. Mineral Nutrition of Higher Plants. Academic Press. London. 889 pp; however, to date no formulations have been described to date which increase the assimilation of nutrients by plants and improve their metabolization, that use the properties of 2-hydroxy-4-methyl thiobutanoic acid (HMTB) (isomers D and L), its salts, esters, amides or ethers in position 2.
The inventors have discovered that, surprisingly, using 2-hydroxy-4-methyl-thiobutanoic acid (HMTB) (isomers D and L), its salts, esters, amides or ethers in position 2 in compositions such as those described in the present invention goods results are obtained in the activation of absorption and metabolization of nutrients by plants without requiring the use of compositions stimulating hormonal mechanisms.
This invention describes new formulations comprising the compound 2-hydroxy-4-methyl thiobutanoic acid (HMTB) (isomers D and L), its salts, esters, amides or ethers in position 2, according to formula 1,
CH3—S—CH2—CH2—CH(OR1)—COR2 1
where R1 is selected from the group comprising hydrogen, alkyl rests, ionic groups or radicals (preferably methyl or thyl) and aryl radicals; while R2 is selected from the group comprising hydroxyl, amides and esters of alkyl (preferably methyl or ethyl) or aryl rests, ionic groups or radicals. When the radical is hydroxyl, acid salts are also considered with monovalent (preferably N+ and K+) and polyvalent cations (preferably Cu++ and Fe+++) and with electropositive organic compounds, such as amines (for instance, ethanolamine).
It has been discovered that these products have the ability to increase significantly the assimilation of mineral nutrients, particularly nitrogen, magnesium and iron, and the metabolic processes associated with these elements, such as protein synthesis, chlorophyll synthesis and photosynthesis. As a result of this, it has been discovered that these compounds can increase plant development and culture quality. Formula 1 compounds can be included in the metabolic activator at any percentage, though the optimum contents ranges between 1 and 20%.
The metabolic activators described in this invention can contain, in addition to the compounds described in formula 1, one or several compounds with auxin activity or precursors of auxin activity, such as indol acetic acid or tryptophan, or compounds with plant growth regulating activity, including cytokinins, ethylene, brassinosteroids, polyamines, salicylic acid, jasmonic acid, cyclic nucleotides, sucrose, nitric oxide and nitric oxide and abscisic acid precursors or givers. These components of either type can be included in the formulation at any percentage, though the optimum percentage ranges between 1 and 5% in weight.
In addition, the metabolic activator of this invention can contain one or several compounds with the ability to induce hormonal activity in plants such as indol, adenine, adenosine or isopentanol alcohol. The optimum content of these components in the new activator described herein ranges between 1 and 5% in weight, though this content can be increased.
In addition, the activator can include one or several compounds with plant growth stimulating activity such as humic substances, amino acids, seaweed extracts, lignosulfonates, compost plant residue extracts and vinasse or molasses of beetroot and cane. Although these compounds can be included in the formulation at any percentage, the optimum range is between 1 and 5% in weight.
Finally, one or several mineral nutrients can also be included as components of the activator. Therefore, nitrogen can be added, for instance by the addition of ammonia, ammonium nitrate, urea, ammonium sulfate or any salt containing nitrogen: phosphorus, for instance, using any salt of phosphoric, phosphorous, polyphosphoric or pyrophosphoric acid; potassium, for instance using potassium hydroxide, potassium sulfate, potassium chloride, potassium nitrate or potassium carbonate, or any salt containing potassium; magnesium, for instance using magnesium nitrate, magnesium sulfate or any salt containing magnesium; calcium, for instance using calcium nitrate, calcium chloride, and any salt containing calcium; sulfur, for instance using ammonium sulfate, magnesium sulfate or any salt or compound containing sulfur and trace elements, for instance using inorganic salts or organic compounds—chelates—of iron, copper, manganese, zinc, bore, molybdenum, titanium, nickel, silicon and cobalt. The optimum range of these mineral nutrients in the new activator described herein ranges between 5 and 10% in weight, though this content can be higher.
The formulations with activating properties referred to in this invention can be formulated in solid, dissolution or solid-adsorbed liquid state. In solid formulations, the solid is preferably of clay type, such as sepiolite, atapulgite, zeolite, or bentonite; though organic matters can be also used, such as peat; or organic polymers, such as polyacrylamide gels. In the case of liquid formulations, the preferential solvent is water. In both cases, the solid inert or the solvent are added to complete 100% in weight.
For the case of liquid formulations, the mixture of the components at the above described percentages is made in a reactor that can be made up of plastic or stainless steel, with helix stirring. The mixture can be obtained at any temperature, though it is preferably obtained in a range within 20-35° C. The mixture can be also made at any pressure, though the preferred pressure is atmospheric pressure.
In solid formulations, the components are mixed in a blender (any blender could be used, for instance a paddle blender or Lodige) The mixture can be made at any temperature though it is preferably obtained within a range between 20 and 35° C. The mixture can also be performed at any pressure though the preferred pressure is atmospheric pressure. If any component is liquid, it would be applied during the mixing by crushing it over the solid components. The clays play the role of absorbing compound.
The metabolic activator object of this invention can be applied at any concentration range, with an optimum dose between 1 and 100 mg 1−1 (or kg−1). The product can be applied foliarly over the aerial part of the plants or via the root either in solid formulations or in fertirrigation.
To clarify the content of this invention, the following examples are provided that in no case should be considered as invention limiting. Examples 1 to 4 show various metabolic activators according to the present invention. All of them are obtained by directly mixing the components indicated in each case at room temperature and under continuous stirring. Example 5 shows the ability of the composition in example 1.
10% of HMTB acid in liquid formulation
90% water
15% of HMTB acid in liquid formulation
3% potassium hydroxide
82% in water
25% of methyl ester of HMTB acid
75% sepiolite powder
25% of HMTB acid in 88% liquid formulation
5% hydrated iron sulfate (II)
70% water
20% HMTB of 88% liquid formulation
1% indol
5% fulvic acids
74% water
5% HMTB 88% liquid formulation
0.5% indol
10% urea
84.5% sepiolite powder
The test performed consisted of the treatment of pepper plants—normally nourished using an appropriate nutrient solution—, with a solution containing HMTB according to the formulation described in example 1. The final dose of HMTB was 50 (D1) and 100 (D2) mg l−1.
The plants were harvested at 4 weeks of starting the test.
The following results were found:
Effect on the assimilation of magnesium-nitrogen-iron (Mg—N—Fe)
As shown in
Significant increases were also seen in the assimilation of P, Ca, and K as shown in
Metabolic activation effect
As a result of these nutritional increases, significant increases were seen in the development of plants, as shown in
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 200600178 | Jan 2006 | ES | national |
This is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/698,600, filed Jan. 26, 2007 which is incorporated by reference herein.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 11698600 | Jan 2007 | US |
| Child | 13135236 | US |
