Compositions and methods for enhancing nutrient uptake in plants are disclosed. The primary ingredients of the disclosed compositions are (a) poly amino acids, such as tri-polyaspartic acid (TPA), and (b) citric acid. Another component, (c) L amino acids may also be included in the composition. The composition may be used to enhance fertilizer efficiency and to promote plant growth and/or yield.

A combined fertilizer and humics soluble granule is provided that includes at least soluble fertilizer particles admixed with a plurality of humic particles without a binder. A combined fertilizer and humics soluble granule is also provided that includes at least one soluble fertilizer-rich domain fused to at least one humic-rich domain. A process of forming a combined fertilizer and humics soluble granule is provided that includes forming a mixture of particles of soluble fertilizer and humics, the particles of urea each having a urea particle surface. The soluble fertilizer particle surface is tackified in contact with the particles of humics to create adherence between the soluble fertilizer particle surface and the particle of humics to form a granule without resort to a binder.

The encapsulated sustained release urea fertilizer is a urea fertilizer and a stabilizer encapsulated in fumed silica. The stabilizer may be a gellan gum hydrogel or biochar. The encapsulated sustained release urea fertilizer allows for both immediate and sustained nitrogen release over time and displays reduced nitrogen volatilization and increased water holding capacity.

An agricultural spray may be produced by admixing citric acid and glutamic acid with a metal salt and a pesticide or other agricultural chemical containing components capable of precipitating with the metal salt in the admixture. The citric acid and the glutamic acid chelate with the metal salt to provide a stability and compatibility-enhancing composition, thereby preventing the metal salt from forming an insoluble solid within the admixture. Such a composition may be produced by admixing citric acid and glutamic acid at a molar ratio of about 6.8:0.5 to about 1:0.29. The composition may include a metal sat, citric acid and glutamic acid in a molar ratio of about 1:6.8:0.5 to about 1:1:0.29 and a pesticide.

The present specification describes increasing the Brix degree, nutrient transport and density, and yields of cannabis crops through the application of photoacoustic resonance to a nutrient formulation. An activated nutrient solution is obtained by forming an unactivated nutrient solution and applying to the unactivated nutrient solution ultra-rapid impulses of modulated laser light, from one or more laser systems. An increase of at least 5% in the Brix degree of the crop, relative to an unactivated nutrient formulation, can be achieved. In addition, an increase of at least 5%, relative to an unactivated nutrient formulation, is seen with respect to nutrient density and crop yield through application of the activated nutrient solution.

Process for manufacturing a formulation of a chelating agent according to general formula (I): R.sup.1CH(COOX.sup.1)N(CH.sub.2COOX.sup.1).sub.2, wherein R.sup.1 is selected from C.sub.1-C.sub.4-alkyl, linear or branched, phenyl, benzyl, CH.sub.2OH, and CH.sub.2CH.sub.2COOX.sup.1, X.sup.1 is (M.sub.xH.sub.1-x), M being selected from alkali metal, x is in the range of from 0.6 to 1, said formulation comprising in the range of from 0.01 to 20% by weight of water, and at least one organic solvent selected from alkanols with a boiling point at normal pressure that is higher than the boiling point of water, from alkandiols, alkantriols and polyols and mixtures of at least two of the foregoing, said process comprising the following steps: (a) providing an aqueous solution of chelating agent according to general formula (I), (b) adding said organic solvent and (c) removing the water completely or the majority of the water by distillation.

The invention discloses a method for the preparation and use of a slow-release iron-based biochar soil heavy metal passivator. The slow-release iron-based biochar soil heavy metal passivator of the present invention is prepared by an one-step method, wherein iron-based biochar, kaolin and a biological starch are mixed into a core material in a specific ratio; an acidic silica sol and a chitosan solution are prepared, under the effects of an alkaline catalyst and an emulsifier, as a chitosan and silica-sol composite material as a coating, and the iron-based biochar is coated with the alkaline coating material, with the core material and the coating material being controlled at a certain volume ratio. The passivator has a wide raw material source, a simple and convenient preparation process, easy industrialized production, and can passivate the heavy metal arsenic and cadmium efficiently and inhibit the absorption and accumulation of arsenic and cadmium. The passivator prepared by the present invention can last for 4 growing seasons and has a higher passivation efficiency and a longer action time than common iron-based biochar passivators. The passivator can be widely used in the control of arsenic and cadmium pollution farmland.

In embodiments, the present invention relates to liquid formulations containing hydrophobic, biodegradable polymers dispersed within a Non-aqueous Organic Solvent Delivery System (NOSDS) that is designed to coat fertilizer granules with a hydrophobic film utilizing simple application equipment such as mixers, blenders and tumblers. This film can impede the dissolution of fertilizer components by water improving fertilizer efficiency. The NOSDS can be aprotic solvents, protic solvents and mixtures of protic and aprotic solvents which are environmentally friendly, have flashpoints above 145 F., and are inherently rated safe for contact with humans and animals. The hydrophobic polymers are the reaction product of aldehyde(s) and nitrogen containing compounds.

The present invention relates to an organic nutrient-based dissolution accelerator for potassium sulfate and a preparation method therefor and the use thereof. The organic nutrient-based dissolution accelerator for potassium sulfate of the present invention consists of an organic acid mixture solution, tyrosine, leucine, threonine, alcohol amine, and the like. The organic nutrient-based dissolution accelerator for potassium sulfate of the present invention can not only substantially improve the dissolution speed of potassium sulfate by 6-120 times, but also provides organic nutrition for crops to achieve a synergy with inorganic nutrition to further improve the nutritional efficiency of potassium and sulfur elements.

The present invention relates to an organic nutrient-based dissolution accelerator for potassium sulfate and a preparation method therefor and the use thereof. The organic nutrient-based dissolution accelerator for potassium sulfate of the present invention consists of an organic acid mixture solution, tyrosine, leucine, threonine, alcohol amine, and the like. The organic nutrient-based dissolution accelerator for potassium sulfate of the present invention can not only substantially improve the dissolution speed of potassium sulfate by 6-120 times, but also provides organic nutrition for crops to achieve a synergy with inorganic nutrition to further improve the nutritional efficiency of potassium and sulfur elements.