Method and composition for enhanced hydroponic plant productivity with polyamino acids

Abstract

This invention relates to enhancing plant productivity employing a method and improved compositions containing water-soluble amino acid co-polymers having a molecular size larger than about 1,500 Daltons.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a method and composition for enhancing the productivity of plants. More particularly, this invention relates to absorption phenomena that facilitate the utilization of nutrients by plants through either seed, root or foliar pathways.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Organic acids and oligomers thereof have been shown to promote plant growth. Typical promoters of plant growth are described by Kinnersley et al., Plant Growth Regulation, 9, pp. 137-146 (1990) (lactic acid and relatively low molecular weight oligomers of lactic acid); in U.S. Pat. No. 4,813,997 to Kinnersley et al. (oligomers of glycolic and/or L-lactic acid) and in U.S. Pat. No. 4,799,953 to Danzig et al. (oligomers of thiolactic and thioglycolic acids). All of the forgoing approaches to plant growth promotion appear to focus on coordination as a means for increasing plant uptake of compounds vital to the growth of the plant, e.g., micronutrients such as calcium, magnesium, sulfur, manganese, zinc, copper, iron, boron, and the like.

A common approach to promoting plant growth has been, and continues to be, the use of nutrients (fertilizers), natural as well as synthetic. Synthetic nutrients usually provide nitrogen in a plant-usable form, such as urea for example, and/or inorganic nitrates, phosphates, or the like compounds. While such nutrients may be applied, more or less, at the convenience of the farmer, and may be applied as often as deemed desirable, the overuse of synthetic nutrients and the inefficient use of synthetic nutrients are major factors responsible for environmental problems such as eutrophication of groundwater, nitrate pollution, phosphate pollution, and the like. An overview of the undesirable effects of nitrogen fertilizer is presented by Byrnes, Fertilizer Research, 26, pp. 209-215 (1990).

To alleviate the problems attendant to inefficient nutrient use and nutrient overuse, there is an ongoing desire and need for environmental and production reasons to increase fertilizer efficiency and to enhance plant productivity.

The present invention addresses and ameliorates these problems by methods and compositions which provide a more favorable environment for enhancing the utilization of nutrients by germinating or growing plants resulting in enhanced plant productivity.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A method and improved compositions for enhancing plant productivity by achieving more efficient utilization of nutrients are provided.

The present method comprises supplying to a plant a composition containing a productivity enhancing amount of a substantially water-soluble co-polymer of a non-acidic amino acid and an acidic amino acid having an acidic alkyl group, --RCOOH, in which R is 1 to about 22 carbon atoms, the co-polymer having a molecular size larger than about 1,500 Daltons such that it is not absorbed by the plant. The acidic amino acid residue content of the co-polymer is at least about 20 mole percent. The co-polymers can also be constituted by derivatives of the aforesaid amino acids.

Particularly preferred for the present purposes are co-polymers of an acidic amino acid, such as aspartic acid, and a non-acidic amino acid such as asparagine. The co-polymers can be random co-polymers or block co-polymers, as desired.

The aforesaid co-polymer compositions of this invention, when applied to plants, beneficially provide stress protection and promote nutrient uptake in environments containing salts present in concentrations that are normally toxic to plants. Further, a more favorable environment is provided to the plant, which environment supplies the requisite nutrients at levels that are lower than those usually required with conventional fertilizers alone.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings, there are shown photographic reproductions of corn plants treated in a particular manner alongside a control corn plant. In each case a yardstick (36 inches) is shown positioned between the photographed plants to indicate scale. In particular,

FIG. 1 shows corn plants 40 days after planting, and treated with one-third of the recommended fertilizer dosage alongside a corn plant treated with the recommended dosage for the same fertilizer;

FIG. 2 shows a corn plant 40 days after planting, one treated with one third of the recommended fertilizer dosage alongside a corn plant similarly treated with the same fertilizer but also with 10 parts per million by weight of polyaspartic acid;

FIG. 3 shows corn plants 40 days after planting, both treated with the recommended fertilizer dosage and one plant also with 10 parts per million by weight of polyaspartic acid;

FIG. 4 shows corn plants 40 days after planting, one treated with the recommended fertilizer dosage and the other with one-third of the recommended fertilizer dosage but also with 10 parts per million by weight of polyaspartic acid; and

FIG. 5 is a graphical representation of growth enhancement with polyaspartic acid.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is predicated on the discovery that polymeric acids, and co-polymers of a non-acidic amino acid and an acidic amino acid in particular, of a molecular size too large to enter a plant nevertheless provide a favorable environment for enhanced plant productivity. More efficient utilization of nutrients can be realized in the presence of the co-polymer inasmuch as relatively lower nutrient dosages can be relied upon to provide the requisite nutrients to the plant.

Enhanced plant productivity is achieved by making nutrients more readily available to the plant through its seed, root feeding zone, foliar absorption and translocation mechanisms, growth medium, or combinations of the foregoing.

The term "enhanced plant productivity" as used herein means that one or more of the following factors is achieved: increased growth rate, increased biomass, higher yields and quality (i.e., increased protein content), accelerated rate of root formation, increased tillering, increased chlorophyll concentration and the like indicia. As described herein, the term "amino acid co-polymer" refers to random or block repeating units of a non-acidic amino acid and an acidic amino acid, i.e., an amino acid having an acidic alkyl group, --ROOCH, in which R is 1 to about 22 carbon atoms.

The amino acid co-polymer can be supplied to the plant as an aqueous liquid or in substantially solid form in any convenient manner of application.

Preferably, aqueous nutrient solutions supplied to the plant contain at least about 10 parts per billion (ppb) by weight, preferably about 0.1 to about 1,000 parts per million (ppm) by weight, more preferably about 1 to about 500 ppm by weight, of the amino acid co-polymer. Such solutions can be applied to the soil surrounding the plant so as to contact the plant's root system, can be applied to the plant's foliage, seeds, or reproductive parts, can be introduced into hydroponic gardening or farming systems, or made available to the plant in any other convenient manner, in an amount as is discussed in greater detail below.

Aqueous solutions containing the amino acid co-polymer also enhance plant productivity under stressful growth limiting conditions, e.g., in a growth medium that contains salts or metal ions in concentrations normally toxic to plants or in growth medium depleted in certain nutrients.

The amino acid co-polymer can also be applied to soil in substantially solid form, alone or in combination with nutrients. For example, granular, pelletized, dust or powdered forms of the amino acid co-polymer can be applied by gravity or air blast equipment into the furrow, row or site at seeding or planting time. Dry granular or pelleted forms of the amino acid co-polymer can be impregnated or pre-formed as carriers of nutrients and can then be used for surface application by ground rig or aircraft.

The amino acid co-polymer, to be suitable for the practice of the present invention, must be substantially water-soluble, and have a molecular size sufficiently large to preclude absorption into the plant. To that end, the amino acid co-polymers suitable for the present purposes, while hydrophilic, have a number average molecular weight (Mw) larger than about 1,500 Daltons.

Amino acid co-polymers having a molecular size in excess of about 100,000 Daltons usually do not exhibit adequate solubility in water for the present purposes. Thus an amino acid co-polymer of a molecular size not larger than about 100,000 Daltons is presently preferred. A particularly suitable molecular size is in the range of about 2,000 to about 100,000 Daltons.

The content of acidic amino acid residues of the amino acid co-polymer is at least about 20 mole percent. The most preferred acidic amino acids are aspartic acid in either .alpha. form (I) or .beta. form (II), or optionally containing a cyclic imide (succinimide, III) as shown in Formula A, ##STR1## as well as glutamic acid in its .alpha. or .gamma. form.

Random co-polymers as described above are within the purview of the present invention as are block co-polymers composed of several repetitive non-acidic poly(amino acid) units and acidic poly(amino acid) units.

A non-acidic amino acid can be a rare, neutral, or basic amino acid. A rare non-acidic amino is illustrated by a member of the group consisting of 4-hydroxy-proline, 5-hydroxylysine, D-serine,.gamma.-amino-butyric acid, .beta.-alanine, and a derivative thereof.

The non-acidic amino acid also can be a neutral amino acid which is a member of the group consisting of glycine, alanine, valine, leucine, isoleucine, phenylalanine, proline, asparagine, glutamine, tryptophan, serine, threonine, tyrosine, methionine, cysteine, and a derivative thereof.

A preferred basic amino acid, for the present purposes, can be a member of the group consisting of lysine, arginine, histidine, and a derivative thereof.

Plant productivity can also be enhanced by supplying to a plant a productivity enhancing amount of a co-polymer of an amino acid derivative with at least one component derived from one of the acidic amino acids aspartic acid or glutamic acid, wherein the acidic component constitutes at least about 20 mole percent of the co-polymer and the molecular size of the co-polymer is at least about 1,500 Daltons. A preferred co-polymer can be represented by the formula: ##STR2## in which the molar ratio of x to y is about 49:1 and n is an integer having a value of about 17, the co-polymer having a molecular size of about 9,319 Daltons.

Another preferred co-polymer can be represented by the formula: ##STR3## in which the molar ratio of x to y is about 49:1 and n is an integer having a value of about 34, the co-polymer having a molecular size of about 7,347 Daltons.

Yet another preferred co-polymer can be represented by the formula: ##STR4## in which the molar ratio of x to y is about 4:1, the co-polymer having a molecular size of about 11,172 Daltons.

Still another preferred co-polymer can be represented by the formula: ##STR5## in which the molar ratio of x to y to z is about 3:12.6:1, the co-polymer having a molecular size of about 16,000 Daltons.

A further preferred co-polymer can be represented by the formula: ##STR6## in which the molar ratio of x to y is about 1:3, the co-polymer having a molecular size of about 30,000 Daltons.

Polymeric amino acids suitable for use in the present invention can be made, inter alia, by thermal condensation methods. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,057,597 to Koskan; U.S. Pat. No. 5,221,733 to Koskan et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,219,952 to Koskan et al.; Little et al., American Chemical Society, 97, 263-279 (1991) and U.S. Pat. No. 4,696,981 to Harada et al. The preparation of amino acid co-polymers has been described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,590,260 to Harada et al.

The starting materials for the polymerization, i.e., the respective amino acid monomers, can exist as optical isomers and can be polymerized either as a racemic mixture or as isolated optical isomers.

Counterions for the amino acid salts, i.e., for the polyaspartates and polyglutamates include, but are not limited to, the alkali metal cations, preferably Na.sup.+, K.sup.+, and Li.sup.+ ; alkali earth metal cations, preferably Mg.sup.++, Ca.sup.++ and Ba.sup.++ ; transitional metal cations, preferably Zn.sup.++, Co.sup.++, Fe.sup.++ and Fe.sup.+++ ; and NH.sub.4.sup.+.

Particularly well-suited for the practice of the present invention are an equimolar co-polymer of aspartic acid and asparagine in which the molecular size of the co-polymer is about 3,000 Daltons; a co-polymer of aspartic acid and asparagine in which the molar ratio of aspartic acid to asparagine is about 1.2:1, the co-polymer having a molecular size of about 5,000 Daltons, and the like.

The aforesaid amino acid co-polymers increase the efficiency of fertilizers and the utilization of nutrients, both natural and synthetic. The nutrients can be those found naturally in the soil and plant growth medium or can be those which are added to the medium or can be those that are residual nutrients from previous nutrient treatments. More efficient utilization by the growing plants of both macronutrients, such as but not limited to, nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K) and micronutrients, such as but not limited to, calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), sulfur (S), zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), boron (B), cobalt (Co), molybdenum (Mo), copper (Cu) and nickel (Ni) is accomplished by employing the amino acid co-polymers of this invention.

There are many uses and applications for the present invention in its various aspects. Illustrative are uses in agriculture, gardening, horticulture, hydroponics, forestry, land reclamation (e.g., land-fills, soils with relatively high salt concentrations, etc.), and the like.

Suitable dosage rates of amino acid co-polymers of the present invention, so as to provide a sufficient productivity enhancing amount of the amino acid co-polymers to the plant to enhance nutrient utilization by the plant can be about 2 to about 500 ounces per acre. Crops with an abundance of foliage, such as wood crops, grain crops, cotton, etc., usually are treated at dosage rates in an intermediate range, i.e., about 25 to about 250 ounces per acre. Relatively lower dosage rates within the foregoing overall range, i.e., about 2 to about 25 ounces per acre, usually are sufficient for agricultural row crops, flowering nursery crops, and the like.

The amino acid co-polymer can be made available to the plant as a separate treatment, or the co-polymer can be supplied to the plant together with a plant nutrient or a combination of plant nutrients. Solid as well as liquid dosage forms can be utilized for this purpose, e.g., aqueous solutions as well as solid forms containing conditioning substances such as particulate clays, depending upon the desired mode of application.

The present invention is further illustrated by the following examples which demonstrate more efficient utilization of plant growth nutrients by employing polyaspartic acid (PA) and amino acid co-polymers thereof.

EXAMPLE 1

More Efficient Usage of Nutrients in Corn Plants

White corn (Early Sunglow; George W. Park Seed Co., Greenwood, S.C.) was grown in a greenhouse in one gallon pots filled with Fafard 3B potting soil. To each pot was added Peters.TM. 20--20--20 fertilizer in an amount representing a full dose of nutrients or a 1/3 dose of nutrients. A portion of the pots so treated also received an aqueous solution of polyaspartic acid (PA) (50 ml; 10 ppm by weight of PA having a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of about 3,000-5,000. The growth rates of the white corn plants in these pots were monitored, and representative plants were photographed 40 days after planting. These photographs are depicted in FIGS. 1 through 4.

These Figures show that the availability of PA to the plant enhanced plant growth at a reduced nutrient level, i.e., corn plants treated at one-third of the nutrient level but with 10 ppm of PA added (FIG. 4) show greater growth than corn plants will the full amount of nutrient. Corn plants grown using the full nutrient level also undergo enhanced growth when 10 ppm of polyaspartic acid is used along with the nutrient (FIG. 3). Both tests demonstrate a more efficient utilization of nutrients for plant growth.

EXAMPLE 2

Effects of Polyaspartic Acid on Growth Patterns of Corn Plants With No Added Fertilizer

White corn (Early Sunglow; George W. Park Seed Co., Greenwood, S.C.) was grown in a greenhouse in one gallon pots filled with Fafard 3B potting soil. No fertilizer was added to any pot. A portion of the pots so treated received aqueous solutions of polyaspartic acid (PA) of varying dosage levels (50 ml of solution; 1 ppm, 10 ppm, 100 ppm, and 1,000 ppm of PA having a Mw of about 3,000-5,000. The growth rates of the white corn plants in these pots were monitored on a weekly basis and the data is shown in Table I, below.

TABLE I______________________________________GROWTH PATTERNS OF EARLY SUNGLOW CORN;NO ADDED FERTILIZER; SINGLE TREATMENT Height Change (inches)Dosages of PA Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4______________________________________Control (No PA) 13.0 9.0 6.4 5.21 ppm 12.5 9.4 5.4 5.710 ppm 11.6 11.0 5.0 7.0100 ppm 11.4 10.4 6.4 7.21000 ppm 10.4 10.4 5.6 7.8______________________________________

The data shown in Table I indicates that after one week of growth, corn plants with no added fertilizers but with PA added in dosages of 1 to 1,000 ppm received no benefit from PA treatment. After week 2 of corn plant growth, a beneficial effect was shown at all four dosage levels of PA. After three weeks of growth, only the 100 ppm dosage level of PA showed a benefit over no PA treatment. Finally after four weeks of corn plant growth, a low level of plant growth was occurring but increased growth rate was observed with all four dosage levels of PA. In summary, during the initial stage (first week) of corn plant growth PA did not increase growth rate without added fertilizer. However, after the next three weeks of growth of the plant, PA treatment was beneficial to plant productivity, based on growth, even without added fertilizer. These results indicate that more efficient utilization of existing nutrients in the soil has occurred.

EXAMPLE 3

Effects of Polyaspartic Acid on Potassium Uptake in Early Sunglow Corn With No Added Fertilizer

White corn (Early Sunglow; George W. Park Seed Co., Greenwood, S.C.) was grown in a greenhouse in one gallon pots filled with Fafard 3B potting soil. No fertilizer or potassium source were added to the pots. The pots were treated with varying dosages of polyaspartic acid (PA) of about 3,000-5,000 Mw, as in Example 2. After a 40 day growing period, the plants were harvested and potassium content of the plants was determined.

TABLE II______________________________________EFFECT OF POLYASPARTIC ACID ON POTASSIUMUPTAKE; EARLY SUNGLOW CORN; NO ADDEDFERTILIZER; SINGLE TREATMENT/SOILDosage of % Increase ofPolyaspartic % Potassium In Potassium InAcid Used Corn Plants Corn Plants______________________________________0 ppm 2.6 --1 ppm 2.7 3.810 ppm 3.0 15.4100 ppm 2.8 7.71000 ppm 3.2 23.1______________________________________

The data reported in Table II shows that a more efficient uptake of potassium by the corn plants resulted when PA was used without added fertilizer. At the 1,000 ppm dosage level, a 23.1% increase in potassium content was found in the corn plants.

EXAMPLE 4

Effect of Polyaspartic Acid on Phosphorous Uptake in Early Sunglow Corn With No Added Fertilizer

White corn (Early Sunglow; George W. Park Seed Co., Greenwood, S.C.) was grown in a greenhouse in one gallon pots filled with Fafard 3B potting soil as in Examples 2 and 3. No fertilizer or phosphorus-containing compounds were added to the pots. The pots were treated with varying dosages of polyaspartic acid (PA) (Mw 3,000-5,000) as in Examples 2 and 3. After a 40-day growing period, the plants were harvested and phosphorus content of the plants was determined. Results from this study are shown in Table III, below.

TABLE III______________________________________EFFECT OF POLYASPARTIC ACID ON PHOSPHORUSUPTAKE; EARLY SUNGLOW CORN; NO ADDEDFERTILIZER; SINGLE TREATMENT/SOILDosage of % Increase ofPolyaspartic % Phosphorus In Phosphorus InAcid Used Corn Plants Corn Plants______________________________________0 ppm 0.3 --1 ppm 0.36 20.010 ppm 0.34 13.3100 ppm 0.38 26.71000 ppm 0.44 46.7______________________________________

The results listed in Table III show that use of PA at indicated dosage levels increased phosphorus uptake by corn plants when no fertilizer was added. This shows that a more efficient utilization of phosphorus sources existing in the soil has occurred. At the highest dosage level of PA, a 46.7% increase in phosphorus uptake by the corn plants was observed.

EXAMPLE 5

Effect of Polyaspartic Acid on Zinc Uptake in Early Sunglow Corn With No Added Fertilizer

White corn (Early Sunglow) as was used in Examples 2, 3 and 4 was grown as before without added fertilizer. Again the same dosages of polyaspartic acid (PA) treatment for the corn plants was used as in Examples 2, 3 and 4. After a 40-day growing period, the plants were harvested and zinc content of the plants was determined. Results from this study are listed in Table IV, below.

TABLE IV______________________________________EFFECT OF POLYASPARTIC ACID ON ZINCUPTAKE; EARLY SUNGLOW CORN; NO ADDEDFERTILIZER; SINGLE TREATMENT/SOILDosage ofPolyaspartic Zinc In Corn % Increase of ZincAcid Used Plants, ppm In Corn Plants______________________________________0 ppm 29 --1 ppm 48 65.510 ppm 45 55.2100 ppm 54 86.21000 ppm 79 172______________________________________

The above results from Table IV indicate that PA effectively increased the uptake of zinc in corn plants with no use of additional fertilizer. Even at a low dosage level of 1 ppm PA, a 65% increase in zinc uptake was observed. At a dosage of 1000 ppm of PA, a 172% increase in zinc uptake was found, further demonstrating the ability of PA to efficiently increase utilization of zinc in plant soil.

EXAMPLE 6

Effect of Polyaspartic Acid to Increase Plant Utilization of Limited Amounts of Nutrients

Duckweed (Lemna Minor L.) was grown in tap water containing as nutrient media a solution of Peters.TM. 20--20--20 fertilizer.sup.1 (3 g/1.2 L) and a 1/4-strenght solution (750 mg/1.2 L) with and without 50 ppm by weight polyaspartic acid (PA). The nutrient media were adjusted to pH value of about 6.0. The Mw of the PA was about 3,000-5,000 (about 22 to about 40 repeating units).

.sup.1 Total Nitrogen (N) . . . 20% 3.906 Ammoniacal Nitrogen 6.15% Nitrate Nitrogen 9.95% Urea Nitrogen Available Phosphoric Acid (P.sub.2 O.sub.5) . . . 20% Soluble Potash (K.sub.2 O) . . . 20% Derived from: Ammonium, Phosphate, Potassium Nitrate, Urea. Commercially available from Grace-Sierra Horticultural Products Company, 1001 Yosemite Drive, Milpitas, Calif. 95035.

A single duckweed plant at the three-frond stage was placed in each flask. The flasks were then incubated under continuous light (500 lux) at 28.degree..+-.2.degree. C. for 21 days.

After 21 days, the plants were harvested, oven-dried, and weighed. Results show that nutrient reduction by 75% reduced plant weight by 74%, and that (a) no significant reduction in plant growth was found when PA was present in the medium with 25% nutrients indicating a more efficient use of a limited amount of nutrients and (b) plant growth was enhanced when PA was present in the medium with 100% nutrients. The results are presented in Table V, below. All reported values represent averages from three to five replicates.

TABLE V______________________________________RESULTS Plant dry wt.-milligrams (mg)Treatment Expt. A Expt. B Average % Change______________________________________100% Nutrients 16.5 17.7 16.6 0100% Nutrients + PA 21.3 22.2 21.7 3125% Nutrients 4.7 4.0 4.4 -7425% Nutrients + PA 15.2 16.7 16.0 0______________________________________

EXAMPLE 7

Effect of Polyaspartic Acid on Biomass

The procedure described in Example 6, above, was followed except that a chemically defined nutrient medium having the composition described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,813,997 to Kinnersley et al. (Nickell's medium with Fe present as Fe.sup.2+ chelated with EDTA) was used. The plants were grown in five replicate flasks, harvested after 21 days, and the combined dry weight of the harvested plants was determined. The content of potassium and phosphorus in the plants and in the spent media was determined as well. The observed results are presented in Table VI, below.

TABLE VI______________________________________CHANGES IN BIOMASS Amount of Mineral (.mu.g) Control/With PA Plant BiomassTreatment (mg) Spent Media Plants______________________________________100% Nutrients/100% 94.4/90.9Nutrients + 50 ppm PAPotassium (K) 11,610/11,740 1540/1530Phosphorus (P) 1170/1140 250/28025% Nutrients/25% 67.3/89.3Nutrients + 50 ppm PAPotassium (K) 2420/1170 990/1530Phosphorus (P) 334/322 125/17312.5% Nutrients/12.5% 54.1/62.7Nutrients + 50 ppm PAPotassium (K) 955/718 769/942Phosphorus (P) 190/192 89/111______________________________________

The above results show that nutrient concentration reduced by 75% caused a 29% reduction in plant biomass (94.4-67.3) and a 36% reduction in the potassium content of plants (1540-990). However, in the same treatments containing polyaspartic acid the plant biomass was barely reduced (90.9-89.3), and the potassium content was unchanged. Analysis of the spent media showed much less potassium in the media containing PA. This data also indicates that the polymers had increased the uptake of potassium into plants.

The above results also show a remarkably good correlation between potassium content and plant-biomass as can be seen in Table VII, below.

TABLE VII______________________________________CORRELATION BETWEEN POTASSIUM CONTENT AND BIOMASS Nutrients Nutrients + PANutrient Amount Biomass (mg) K (mg) Biomass (mg) K (mg)______________________________________ 100% 94.4 1.54 90.9 1.53 25% 67.3 0.99 89.3 1.5312.5% 54.1 0.77 62.7 0.94______________________________________

Potassium is the most important metal needed for plant growth, and is the principal metal component of most fertilizers. However, heretofore no agent was known able to simultaneously increase the growth and potassium content of plants.

EXAMPLE 8

Plant Content of Nutrients

The content of other nutrients in plants from the full strength and 1/4-strength treatments described in Example 7, above, was determined. The observed results are set forth in Table VIII, below.

TABLE VIII______________________________________PLANT NUTRIENT CONTENTAmount, micrograms (.mu.g) 25% Nutrients +Elements 100% Nutrients 25% Nutrients 50 ppm PA______________________________________Zn 9.2 2.6 3.7Mg 70 43 49Fe 2.5 1.0 5.9Ca 340 172 243Cu 3.9 3.7 3.2Mn 4.1 1.1 1.1Biomass, mg 94.4 67.3 89.3______________________________________

These results show that the content of most other minerals needed for plant growth was also greatly increased by the presence of PA. Particularly noteworthy is the substantial increase in the iron content at reduced nutrient level.

EXAMPLE 9

Effect of Polyaspartic Acid to Increase Plant Utilization of Limited Amounts of Nutrients

Duckweed (Lemna minor L.) was grown in tap water under conditions described in Example 6, above, and containing as nutrient media a solution of Peters.TM. 20--20--20 fertilizer at full strength (100% nutrients), half strength (50% nutrients), and one-quarter strength (25% nutrients), with and without 50 ppm polyaspartic acid (PA) (Code DGI-KI) of about 3,000-5,000 Mw.

The plants were harvested, oven dried, and weighed after 21 days. The average plant dry weight is reported in Table IX, below. All reported values represent 12 to 20 replicates.

TABLE IX______________________________________RESULTS Average Plant Dry Wt.Treatment milligrams (mg)______________________________________100% Nutrients 15.5100% Nutrients + PA 20.250% Nutrients 8.850% Nutrients + PA 15.125% Nutrients 3.725% Nutrients + PA 9.9______________________________________

The foregoing results are depicted graphically in FIG. 5. These results show that the addition of PA permits decreasing the nutrient level by about 50% without a significant decrease in plant growth. From FIG. 5 it can also be seen that while the addition of PA to the nutrient solution increased plant growth at all nutrient levels, the effect of PA was much greater at the relatively lower levels of nutrients. Specifically, an increase in plant growth of about 168% was noted when PA was added to a 25% nutrient solution, and an increase of about 29% was noted when PA was added to a 200% nutrient solution. Therefore, when limited amounts of nutrients were available for plant growth, use of PA increased the efficiency of usage of these nutrients.

EXAMPLE 10

Effect of Polyaspartic Acid to Increase Bean Plant Utilization of Limited Amounts of Nutrients

Garden beans (Mayo's Red Peanut Bush) were grown in the greenhouse in gallon pots filled with Fafard 3B potting soil. Ten pots were given 50 ml of a 7,500 ppm solution of Peters.TM. 20--20--20 nutrient. Twenty pots were given 50 ml of a 2,500 ppm Peters.TM. nutrient solution, and 10 of these pots were also given four weekly treatments of 50 ml aliquots of a 1 ppm solution of PA in water. When the bean plants flowered, they were taken outside for insect pollination. The beans that grew were harvested. The weight of beans on each plant was then determined. Results in Table X, below, show that PA increased reproductive growth results in a greater weight yield of beans from each plant. The increase in bean yield in the 1/3 fertilizer treatment with PA compared to the fertilizer alone, was statistically significant with Duncan's multiple range test.

TABLE X______________________________________YIELD OF BEANS Average Fresh WeightTreatment of Beans/Plant, g______________________________________100% Nutrients 6.433% Nutrients 3.933% nutrients + 7.21 ppm PA______________________________________

The foregoing data show that when one-third the regular nutrient level was used along with 1 ppm of PA, the average fresh weight of bean/plant increased by 85%. This was a greater yield than was obtained when the 100% nutrient level was used. Under the conditions of limited nutrient availability, use of PA increased the efficiency of nutrient utilization resulting in increased bean yields.

EXAMPLE 11

Effect of Polyaspartic Acid to Increase Rapeseed Plant Utilization of Limited Amounts of Nutrients

A fast growing variety of rapeseed (Brasica rapus) was obtained from the Crucifer Genetics Cooperative at the University of Wisconsin. This variety was grown in 9-cm pots in a greenhouse. Pots were given 50 ml of a full strength solution of Peters.TM. 20--20--20 nutrient (7,500 ppm) in water, or the same volume of a 3,750 ppm solution in water. Some of the pots were given 50 ml of a 2 or 20 ppm solution of polyaspartic acid (PA) in water as a single treatment. Plants were pollinated by hand when they flowered. Mature seed pods were harvested. The observed results are reported in Table XI, below.

TABLE XI______________________________________RAPESEED HARVEST Average # Pods Average Dry Weight ofTreatment per Plant Pods per Plant, mg______________________________________Full Nutrient 3.8 20250% Nutrient 2.9 17450% Nutrient + 4.8 2832 ppm PA50% Nutrient + 5.2 29020 ppm PAFull Nutrient + 5.0 2712 ppm PA______________________________________

The above results show that average grain yield was higher in plants given PA than in plants receiving nutrient alone. PA increased grain yield in plants given both full and 1/2 strength nutrient. In many plants yield was higher for plants given 1/2 strength nutrient+2 ppm PA than in plants receiving full fertilizer alone. This result shows that use of PA increased the efficiency of utilization of a limited amount of nutrients available to the rapeseed plants.

EXAMPLE 12

Effect of Polyaspartic Acid on Duckweed Plants Grown in Tap Water

Duckweed was grown in tap water and in tap water solutions of polyaspartic acid (PA) following the procedure described in Example 6, above. Table XII, below, presents the compositions of the aqueous growth medium and the observed corresponding results. In each growth medium containing nutrients, the nutrient was Peters.TM. 20--20--20, and in each solution containing PA, the concentration of PA was 50 ppm.

TABLE XII______________________________________EFFECT OF POLYASPARTIC ACID ONDUCKWEED PLANTS GROWN IN TAP WATER Plant DryAqueous Growth Medium Wt. (mg) % Change______________________________________A. Nutrient (2.2 g/L) 37 Nutrient (2.2 g/L) + PA 78 111B. Nutrient (1.1 g/L) 18 Nutrient (1.1 g/L) + PA 57 217C. Nutrient (0.55 g/L) 17 Nutrient (0.55 g/L) + PA 22 72D. Tap water only.sup.1 20 Tap water + PA 26 30______________________________________ .sup.1 There is some mineral content in tap water.

In the above table, each treatment dosage of nutrient combined with PA is compared to the same nutrient dosage without PA (the control) and % change in plant weight compared to the corresponding control is given. The above results show that PA was least effective at promoting plant growth when it was given with treatment D that has no added nutrients. If, in fact, PA was acting as a fertilizer, it should have been most effective (as measured by relative % change over control) when plants had no added nutrient for growth. Actually, the reverse was observed to be true. PA was only effective in promoting plant growth in conjunction with a real nutrient source. In treatment D, when no nutrient was added, use of PA still permitted increased plant growth by facilitating uptake of minerals from the tap water.

EXAMPLE 13

Effect of Polyaspartic Acid on Duckweed Plants Grown in Deionized Water

Duckweed was grown in deionized water and in deionized water solution of polyaspartic acid (PA) following the procedure described in Example 6, above, except that the plants were harvested after four weeks instead of 21 days. Table XIII, below, presents the composition of the aqueous growth media that was used and the corresponding observed results. Because the biomass of each plant was so minimal, plants from eight replicate flasks of each treatment were combined to provide enough plant material to be weighed accurately.

TABLE XIII______________________________________EFFECT OF POLYASPARTIC ACID ONDUCKWEED PLANTS GROWN IN DEIONIZED WATER Plant DryAqueous Growth Medium Wt. (mg) % Change______________________________________A. Deionized water 8B. Deionized water + PA 2 -75 (50 ppm)______________________________________

The above results show that PA did not increase plant growth when added to deionized water from which all minerals had been removed. This effect would not have been observed if PA was functioning as a fertilizer.

The tests performed with duckweed plants as described in Examples 12 and 13, above, demonstrate (a) that PA had minimal biological activity when supplied to plants grown in tap water and (b) that PA itself showed no nutrient or fertilizer activity with regard to these plants when the plants were grown in deionized water.

In U.S. Pat. No. 4,839,461 to Boehmke it is stated that K, Mg, and Ca salts of polyaspartic acid are suitable for use as fertilizers. No experimental evidence or examples are given to support this statement, however. The above tests with Duckweed plant in tap water and deionized water show that PA itself does not act as a fertilizer. It is likely that if the Ca, K and Mg salts of PA act as fertilizers, this activity is due to the nutrient value of Ca, K and Mg ions themselves rather than PA.

EXAMPLE 14

Effect of Polyaspartic Acid on Corn Plants

White corn (Zea mays L.) seed (5145 Truckers Favorite; George W. Park Seed Co., Greenwood, S.C.) was planted in 8-cm black round pots with Fafard 3B potting soil. Each pot was given 0.3 g, 0.15 g, or 0.075 g of Peters.TM. 20--20--20 nutrient. Five pots representing each treatment were kept as controls, five pots were given 50 ml of 5 ppm aqueous polyaspartic acid (PA) solution, and five pots 50 ml of a 500 ppm aqueous PA solution. After six weeks the plants were harvested, and the fresh weight and nitrogen content of the harvested plants was determined. The observed results are reported in Table XIV, below.

TABLE XIV______________________________________EFFECT OF POLYASPARTIC ACID ON CORN PLANTSTreatment Fresh wt., g Average N Content, mg______________________________________100% Nutrients 45.8 67.6100% Nutrients + 5 ppm PA 46.5 75.7100% Nutrients + 500 ppm PA 50.2 73.250% Nutrients 34.7 40.550% Nutrients + 5 ppm PA 45.6 57.650% Nutrients + 500 ppm PA 38.6 49.625% Nutrients 24.1 29.625% Nutrients + 5 ppm PA 31.7 36.225% Nutrients + 500 ppm PA 38.3 47.8______________________________________

Above results show that PA enables plants to be grown with a 50% reduction in nutrients without showing any reduction in growth. Simultaneously with increasing the corn biomass, PA also increased the nitrogen content of the corn. Plants grown with 25% nutrients and 500 ppm PA contained more nitrogen than plants grown with 50% nutrients that were given twice the amount of nitrogen.

EXAMPLE 15

Environmental Stability of Polyaspartic Acid

A nutrient solution was made by adding Peters.TM. 20--20--20 nutrient (375 mg) to tap water (150 ml). The solution was divided into three aliquots. One 50-ml aliquot was maintained as a control. To another aliquot was added 1,000 ppm of polyaspartic acid, and 1000 ppm of lactic acid oligomer containing less than ten lactic acid residues and obtained by thermal condensation of 88% L-lactic acid by heating at 70.degree. C. for 4 hours followed by heating under vacuum at 100.degree. C. for 4 hours, was added to the last 50-ml aliquot.

The turbidity of the samples were measured every day to ascertain the extent of microbial growth in each sample. Within a few days the solution containing the lactic acid oligomer had become milky, indicating microbial contamination. The sample containing polyaspartic acid remained substantially clear, even after 7 days. The observations are compiled in Table XV, below.

TABLE XV______________________________________TURBIDITY MEASUREMENTS DAYS 1 2 3 4 5______________________________________Control 0 0 0 0 0Polyaspartic Acid -0.04 +0.25 +0.26 +0.40 +0.95Lactic Acid Oligomer -0.11 +2.20 +3.45 +16.5 +382.0______________________________________

Results indicate that polyaspartic acid has a relatively longer life on the environment.

EXAMPLE 16

Nutrient Composition for Hydroponic Growing

An illustrative aqueous composition suitable for incorporating polyamino acid or a crosslinked polyamino acid embodying the present invention and well suited for hydroponic farming is set forth in Table XVI, below.

TABLE XVI______________________________________HYDROPONIC GROWING MEDIUMNutrients ppm by weight______________________________________Nitrogen as N 50Phosphorus as P 48Potassium as K 210Magnesium as Mg 30Sulfates as SO.sub.4.sup.-2 117Sodium as Na 3.619Chlorides as Cl 0.04Iron as Fe 3Zinc as Zn 0.15Copper as Cu 0.15Boron as B 0.5Manganese as Mn 0.5Molybdenum as Mo 0.1Water, q.s.______________________________________

EXAMPLE 17

Stress Protection and Enhanced Plant Productivity by Amino Acid Co-polymers

Duckweed (Lemna minor L.) was grown in an aqueous solution containing relatively low levels of nutrients as shown in the following Table XVII.

TABLE XVII______________________________________LOW NUTRIENT COMPOSITION ConcentrationNutrient Element (ppm as element)______________________________________Nitrogen (N) 12.5Phosphorus (P) 3Potassium (K) 12Calcium (Ca) 10Magnesium (Mg) 4Sulfur (S) 14Iron (Fe) 1Water, q.s.______________________________________

Tests were performed in which the plants were grown in separate flasks under controlled conditions employing the low nutrient solution which was enhanced by the addition of 50 ppm by weight of a selected amino acid co-polymer, identified as Compounds A-H in Table XVIII, below.

TABLE XVIII__________________________________________________________________________CO-POLYMERIC ACIDA. The co-polymer of the formula: ##STR7##x (98 mole percent), y (2 mole percent), n = 17, molecular size 9,319DaltonsB. The co-polymer of the formula: ##STR8##x (98 mole percent), y (2 mole percent), n = 34, molecular size 7,347DaltonsC. The co-polymer of the formula: ##STR9##x (25 mole percent), y (75 mole percent), molecular size 30,000 DaltonsD. The co-polymer of the formula: ##STR10##x (80 mole percent), y (20 mole percent), molecular size 11,172 DaltonsE. The co-polymer is of the formula: ##STR11##x (18 mole percent), y (76 mole percent) - z (6 mole percent), molecularsize 16,000 DaltonsF. The co-polymer of aspartic acid (90 mole percent), succinimide (10mole percent), molecular size 4,100 DaltonsG. The co-polymer of aspartic acid (50 mole percent), asparagine (50 molepercent), molecular size 3,000 DaltonsH. The co-polymer of aspartic acid (55 mole percent) - asparagine (45mole percent), molecular size 5,000 Daltons For evaluating stress protection, a similar series of tests wereperformed in which the plants were grown employing each of the foregoingcompositions to which 3 ppm of Cu.sup.++ ion was also added. For eachtest, the enhanced nutrient solution was adjusted to pH 6.7.+-.0.1 and

A single duckweed plant at the three-frond stage was placed in each flask. Each flask was then incubated under continuous light in a greenhouse at a temperature of about 28.degree..+-.2.degree. C. for three days. The plants were then harvested, oven dried and weighed. The average dry weight of the plant is reported in Table XVIX, below. All reported values represent an average of five replicates.

TABLE XVIX______________________________________STRESS PROTECTION AND PLANT PRODUCTIVITY AVERAGE BIOMASS (mg) no additionalCompound Cu.sup.++ 3 ppm Cu.sup.++______________________________________None 9.648 3.338(Control)A 13.568 5.838B 11.256 5.426C 11.396 3.954D 12.970 4.906E 8.354 3.844F 12.878 5.142G 14.002 5.750H 11.384 4.542______________________________________

The data show that the addition of amino acid co-polymers to a relatively low level nutrient solution resulted in enhanced plant productivity based on an average biomass increase of more than 10%. The result for compound E, which only has 18 mole percent of aspartic acid units, demonstrates that at least about 20 mole percent of acidic amino acid residue content is required for enhancing plant productivity. The data also show that the stress-producing effect of copper toxicity limited plant growth to 35% as compared to the plant growth at non-toxic copper levels. The presence of each amino acid co-polymer afforded a degree of stress protection by enhancing plant productivity.

The foregoing specification and the Examples are intended to illustrate the present invention, but are not to be taken as limiting.

Claims

1. A method for enhancing plant productivity which comprises supplying to a plant a productivity enhancing amount of a water-soluble co-polymer of a non-acidic amino acid and an acidic amino acid having an acidic alkyl group, --ROOCH, in which R contains 1 to about 22 carbon atoms, wherein the acidic amino acid constitutes at least about 20 mole percent of the co-polymer, the co-polymer having a molecular size larger than about 1,500 Daltons.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the amino acid is aspartic acid.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the amino acid is glutamic acid.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the molecular size of the co-polymer is about 2,000 to about 100,000 Daltons.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein plant nutrients are supplied to the plant together with the co-polymer.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the productivity enhancing amount of the co-polymer is supplied to the plant as a solid and at a level of about 2 to about 500 ounces per acre.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the productivity enhancing amount of the co-polymer is supplied to the plant as an aqueous solution containing at least about 10 parts per billion of the co-polymer.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the productivity enhancing amount of the co-polymer is supplied to the plant as an aqueous solution containing about 0.1 to about 1,000 parts per million of the co-polymer.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the non-acidic amino acid is a basic amino acid selected from the group consisting of lysine, arginine, histidine, and a derivative thereof.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the non-acidic amino acid is a neutral amino acid selected from the group consisting of glycine, alanine, valine, leucine, isoleucine, phenylalanine, proline, asparagine, glutamine, tryptophan, serine, threonine, tyrosine, methionine, cysteine and a derivative thereof.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the non-acidic amino acid is a rare amino acid selected from the group consisting of 4-hydroxyproline, 5-hydroxylysine, D-serine, .gamma.-aminobutyric acid, .beta.-alanine and a derivative thereof.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the co-polymer is in the form of a salt having a substantially non-toxic counterion selected from the group consisting of an alkali metal, an alkali earth metal, a transition metal, and ammonium.

13. A method for enhancing plant productivity which comprises supplying to a plant a productivity enhancing amount of a water-soluble co-polymer of a non-acidic poly(amino acid) and an acidic poly(amino acid) having an acidic alkyl group, --ROOCH, in which R contains 1 to about 22 carbon atoms, wherein the acidic poly(amino acid) constitutes at least about 20 mole percent of the co-polymer, the co-polymer having a molecular size larger than about 1,500 Daltons.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the acidic poly(amino acid) is poly(aspartic acid).

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the acidic poly(amino acid) is poly(glutamic acid).

16. The method of claim 13 wherein the molecular size of the co-polymer is about 2,000 to about 100,000 Daltons.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein plant nutrients are supplied to the plant together with the co-polymer.

18. The method of claim 13 wherein the productivity enhancing amount of the co-polymer is supplied to the plant as a solid at a level of about 2 to about 500 ounces per acre.

19. The method of claim 13 wherein the productivity enhancing amount of the co-polymer is supplied to the plant as an aqueous solution containing at least about 10 parts per billion of the co-polymer.

20. The method of claim 13 wherein the productivity enhancing amount of the co-polymer is supplied to the plant as an aqueous solution containing about 0.1 to about 1,000 parts per million of the co-polymer.

21. The method of claim 13 wherein the non-acidic poly(amino acid) is a rare amino acid selected from the group consisting of 4-hydroxyproline, 5-hydroxylysine, D-glutamic acid, D-serine, .gamma.-aminobutyric acid, .beta.-alanine and derivatives thereof.

22. A method for enhancing plant productivity which comprises supplying to a plant a productivity enhancing amount of a water-soluble co-polymer of an amino acid derivative, wherein the co-polymer is of the formula: ##STR12## in which the molar ratio of x to y is about 49:1 and n is an integer having a value of about 17, the co-polymer having a molecular size of about 9,319 Daltons.

23. A method for enhancing plant productivity which comprises supplying to a plant a productivity enhancing amount of a water-soluble co-polymer of an amino acid derivative, wherein the co-polymer is of the formula: ##STR13## in which the molar ratio of x to y is about 49:1 and n is an integer having a value of about 34, the co-polymer having a molecular size of about 7,347 Daltons.

24. A method for enhancing plant productivity which comprises supplying to a plant a productivity enhancing amount of a water-soluble co-polymer of an amino acid derivative, wherein the co-polymer is of the formula: ##STR14## in which the molar ratio of x to y is about 4:1, the co-polymer having a molecular size of about 11,172 Daltons.

25. A method for enhancing plant productivity which comprises supplying to a plant a productivity enhancing amount of a water-soluble co-polymer of an amino acid derivative, wherein the co-polymer is of the formula: ##STR15## in which the molar ratio of x to y to z is about 3:12.6:1, the co-polymer having a molecular size of about 16,000 Daltons.

26. A method for enhancing plant productivity which comprises supplying to a plant a productivity enhancing amount of a water-soluble co-polymer of an amino acid derivative, wherein the co-polymer is of the formula: ##STR16## in which the molar ratio of x to y is about 1:3, the co-polymer having a molecular size of about 30,000 Daltons.

27. A method for enhancing plant productivity which comprises supplying to a plant a productivity enhancing amount of a water-soluble co-polymer of an amino acid derivative and an acidic amino acid having an acidic alkyl group, --ROOCH, in which R contains 1 to about 22 carbon atoms, wherein the acidic amino acid constitutes at least about 20 mole percent of the co-polymer, the co-polymer having a molecular size larger than about 1,500 Daltons.

28. A method of claim 1 wherein the co-polymer constitutes about 90 mole percent of aspartic acid and 10 mole percent succinimide, the co-polymer having a molecular size of about 4,100 Daltons.

29. The method of claim 1 wherein the co-polymer constitutes about 50 mole percent aspartic acid and 50 mole percent asparagine, the co-polymer having a molecular size of about 3,000 Daltons.

30. The method of claim 1 wherein the co-polymer constitutes about 55 mole percent aspartic acid and 45 mole percent asparagine, the co-polymer having a molecular size of about 5,000 Daltons.

31. A composition, suitable for the enhancement of plant productivity, comprising a water-soluble co-polymer of a non-acidic amino acid and an acidic amino acid having an acidic alkyl group, --ROOCH, in which R contains 1 to about 22 carbon atoms, wherein the acidic amino acid residue constitutes at least about 20 mole percent of the co-polymer, the co-polymer having a molecular size larger than about 1,500 Daltons.

32. The composition of claim 31 wherein the acidic amino acid is aspartic acid.

33. The composition of claim 31 wherein the acidic amino acid is glutamic acid.

34. A composition, suitable for the enhancement of plant productivity, comprising a water-soluble co-polymer of a non-acidic poly(amino acid) and an acidic poly(amino acid) having an acidic alkyl group, --ROOCH, in which R contains 1 to about 22 carbon atoms, wherein the acidic poly(amino acid) constitutes at least about 20 mole percent of the co-polymer, the co-polymer having a molecular size larger than about 1,500 Daltons.

35. The composition of claim 34 wherein the acidic poly(amino acid) is poly(aspartic acid).

36. The composition of claim 34 wherein the acidic poly(amino acid) is poly(glutamic acid).