Fertilizer/pesticide compositions are disclosed which include a fertilizer component and an active component. The fertilizer component includes plant nutrients, and the active component includes an active material, such as a pesticide, which has a desired effect on plant growth or health when released to the plant over an extended period of time. In a preferred form, the fertilizer component is admixed with the active component and a binder and compressed to form a briquette in which the fertilizer component occludes the active component. The briquette is essentially free of significant quantities of materials which have a high solubility in water. Thus, when a briquette is placed in the soil, it releases nutrients and the active material into the soil over an extended period of time for delivery to the plant. A method of treating plants with such fertilizer/pesticide compositions is also disclosed.
This invention provides a novel fungicide composition which has bicarbonate-containing inorganic salt ingredients which enhance the efficacy of a fungicide ingredient for the treatment of cultivated crops. The fungicide composition contains nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilizer elements, and the inorganic salt ingredients contain at least two different alkali metal or ammonium cations.
This invention provides a novel fungicide composition which has a bicarbonate-containing inorganic salt ingredient which enhances the efficacy of a fungicide ingredient for the treatment of cultivated crops. An invention fungicide composition also contains a surfactant ingredient, and a water-soluble organic compound which functions as a compatibility enhancing ingredient in aqueous formulations, and the ingredients improve the spreadability and adhesiveness of the composition when applied to foliage. An invention fungicide composition also contains a fertilizer-effective ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.
An attrition resistant fertilizer spike composition, exhibiting a mechanical strength which allows the spike to be hammered unsupported into the soil without suffering damage, to provide an effective source of slow releasing plant nutrients to the soil. The composition comprises between 93 and 98 percent of particulate plant nutrient compounds containing one phosphate ion chemically combined with one divalent cation and one monovalent cation, including the compounds magnesium ammonium phosphate and magnesium potassium phosphate. The composition includes a coating of between 2 and 7 percent of thermoplastic adhesive with a softening temperature between 65 and 160.degree. C. on the particles. The coated particles are formed into an attrition and shatter resistant spike shape, suitable for hammering into the soil, by pressing into a die at a temperature higher than the softening temperature of the thermoplastic adhesive and then cooling to a temperature lower than the softening temperature. A method of preparing these improved spikes is provided. In the method the thermoplastic adhesive is applied as an aqueous dispersion or emulsion along with a die lubricant prior to pressing the coated particles into a spike exhibiting a high degree of physical integrity.
An attrition and shatter resistant plant nutrient/pesticide briquette composition which slowly releases the nutrients and biologically active materials over long periods of time, comprising slow release plant nutrient particles, pesticide sorption particles, liquid systemic pesticide sorbed on the pesticide sorption particles to reduce pesticide leachability, an adhesive, coating the slow release plant nutrient and pesticide sorption particles, the composition formed into briquettes by pressing into dies at elevated pressures and temperatures to make briquettes resistant to attrition and shattering. A six step method is provided for the preparation of the slow releasing briquettes from slow release fertilizers, such as magnesium ammonium phosphate; pesticide sorption particles, such as activated carbon; liquid systemic pesticides emulsions, such as imidachloprid fosetyl-Al, and metalaxyl; and adhesives, such as a vinylidine chloride, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, acrylic acid resin emulsion.
The present invention provides a method for controlling fungal disease in plants with a fungicidal fertilizer composition which contains ingredients which are biocompatible for purposes of agricultural applications, and which are harmless to animals and humans. Illustrative of an invention composition is an aqueous solution which has a content of two alkali metal bicarbonate salts, an alkali metal fatty acid salt, and a water-soluble thickener such as xanthan gum. The combination of fatty acid salt and thickener functions as an effective spreader-sticker medium.
