Stable metal phosphite composition

Abstract

A stable metal phosphite composition made from water, phosphorous acid (H.sub.3PO.sub.3), a metal salt and a sufficient a quantity of liquid ammonium hydroxide (NH.sub.4OH) where the molar ratio of ammonium ions to metal ions is 1-4 moles ammonium to 1 mole metal. The composition can be diluted for use-application providing beneficial nutrients for plant uptake.

Claims

1. A stable metal phosphite composition comprising: 4-8 parts water, 1-3 parts phosphorous acid (H.sub.3PO.sub.3), 0.5-1.5 parts copper sulfate (CUSO.sub.4) by weight and 0.5-1.5 parts liquid ammonium hydroxide (NH.sub.4OH) having a pH between 6.5-7.5.

2. The composition of claim 1 which is diluted between 75-150 times water to form a solution for use-application.

3. A stable metal phosphite composition comprising: 4-8 parts water, 1-3 parts phosphorous acid (H.sub.3PO.sub.3), 0.5-1.5 parts copper sulfate (CUSO.sub.4) by weight and a sufficient quantity of liquid ammonium hydroxide where the molar ratio of ammonium to copper is 1-4 moles ammonium to 1 mole copper.

4. The composition of claim 2 which is diluted between 75-150 times water to form a solution for use-application.

5. A stable metal phosphite composition comprising: 4-8 parts water, 1-3 parts phosphorous acid (H.sub.3PO.sub.3), 0.5-1.5 parts metal salt by weight and a sufficient quantity of liquid ammonium hydroxide (NH.sub.4OH) where the molar ratio of ammonium to metal is 1-4 moles ammonium to 1 mole metal; and where said metal salt is selected from the group consisting of: copper sulfate, copper carbonate, copper oxide, copper hydroxide, copper chloride, copper nitrate, copper citrate, copper gluconate, cupric acetate, cupric citrate, cupric oxide, cupric glycinate, cupric lysinate, cupric sulfide and combinations thereof.

6. The composition of claim 5 which is diluted between 75-150 times water to form a solution for use-application.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

(1) Eleven 100 gram compositions were blended with the ingredients indicated in Table 1 below. Each composition comprises: water, H.sub.3PO.sub.3, and, the metal salt CuSO.sub.4. A complexing agent HEDP is used with KOH and NH.sub.4OH are used in four of the samples.

(2) Either NH.sub.4OH and/or KOH are used to increase the solution pH to approx. 6.5 in each of the samples with the exception of Sample # I.

(3) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Sample Composition (grams) Sample # Materials I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI Water 63 24 6 59 20 2 6 18 23 3 67 Phosphorous Acid 25 25 25 15 15 15 23 25 25 25 9 Copper Sulfate 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 8 12 4 Potassium 39 39 25 24 Hydroxide (50%) Ammonium 57 57 57 20 20 60 20 Hydroxide (26%) HEDP 14 14 14 2

(4) A traditional complexing agent, HEDP, is used without a base (# IV), and blended with KOH (# V) and NH.sub.4OH (# VI & # VII).

(5) The amount of base added in the compositions above was to achieve a pH for the respective sample of 6.5 with the exception of (# X & # XI) which yielded pH values of 7.0 and 6.6 respectively.

(6) The purpose of Tables 1 & 2 is to establish a range of base concentration relative to the metal salt in which no precipitates would form when pH is increased to at least 6.5. Samples # VIII-# XI were only used for this purpose and are not included in the subsequent Phototoxicity or Germination tests.

(7) TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 pH and Appearance of Samples Sample # I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI pH 0.5 6.5 6.5 0.8 6.5 6.5 6.5 6.5 6.5 7.0 6.6 Appearance Clear Not Clear Clear Clear Clear Clear Clear Clear Clear Clear Blue Clear Blue Blue Blue Blue Blue Blue Blue Blue Blue Precipitation No Yes No No No No No No No No No
Phytotoxicity Tests

(8) Samples # I-# VII were each diluted with 100 times water and sprayed onto leaves of crops until the solution started to drip from the leaves. Phytotoxicities were observed 3 days after spraying.

(9) TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Phytotoxicity Test Results Phytotoxicity Rating Sample No. Strawberry Celery Lettuce Spinach I 6 7 6 7 II 2 2 1 2 III 0 0 0 1 IV 6 6 5 7 V 1 1 1 1 VI 0 0 0 1 VII 0 1 0 0
Rating

(10) 0No injury

(11) 1Very slight injury or symptoms of yellowing and deformation

(12) 2Signs of slight injury

(13) 3Recognized plant injury

(14) 4Damage more severe but no necrosis

(15) 5Scorching on the edges of the leaves or severe deformation

(16) 6Extensive severe leaf scorch or leaf deformation

(17) 7Over 50% of the leaves indicate scorch or deformation

(18) 8Over 90% of the leaves destroyed

(19) 9Extremely severe damage

(20) 10Complete kill

(21) Without ammonium or potassium supplied from a base, Samples # I and # IV had the highest phytotoxicity due to the acidity of the spray.

(22) KOH samples # II and # V were improved. The better results for Sample # V result from the use of a complexing agent to prevent copper precipitate formation. NH.sub.4OH samples # III, # VI and # VII showed almost no phytotoxicity. The addition of the HEDP complexing agent in samples # VI &# VII showed no significant improvement when compared to the use of NH.sub.4OH alone.

(23) Germination Tests

(24) TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 4 Germination Test Results Germination (%) Sample Green No. Corn Soybean Bean Wheat I 4 3 2 1 II 6 6 7 6 III 8 9 9 8 iv 5 4 3 4 V 9 7 9 8 VI 9 9 8 9 VII 9 9 9 8

(25) Samples were diluted with 100 times water. Ten seeds were sowed in each pot. After sowing, 20 millimeters of the diluted products were sprayed into each of the pots. Results were observed 10 days after sowing.

(26) Without ammonium or potassium supplied from a base, Samples # I and # IV showed the lowest germination rate.

(27) KOH samples # II and # V showed improvement. The greater improved results were for Sample # V which included the HEDP complexing agent.

(28) NH4OH samples # III, # VI and # VII showed performance on the same level as Sample # V. However, the addition of HEDP as a complexing agent did not influence results in which NH4OH was used (# III & # VI).

(29) From the above tests, NH.sub.4OH provided a stable composition having no precipitates at pH 6.5 having minimal phototoxicity when used as a use-dilution solution and resulting in improved germination which is indicative of nutrient transfer.

(30) A complexing agent such as HEDP is not necessary and does not improve germination performance when used in combination with ammonium hydroxide.