NEW METHOD FOR FERTILIZING AGRICULTURAL SOIL

Abstract

Provided herein is a method for fertilizing agricultural soil by applying at least one fertilizer N to the soil, wherein the at least one fertilizer N is applied in combination with a formulation F. The formulation F comprises at least one nitrification inhibitor I and at least one organic solvent S, and the at least one solvent S is selected from ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, diethylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, diglyme, fatty acid dialkylamides, benzyl alcohol, butyrolactone, propylene carbonate, ethyl hexyl lactate, 2-butoxy ethanol, dimethylsulfoxide, or mixtures thereof. The formulation F is essentially free from 3,4-dimethylpyrazolphosphate.

Claims

1. A method for fertilizing agricultural soil comprising: applying at least one fertilizer N to the soil, wherein the at least one fertilizer N is applied in combination with a formulation F, the formulation F comprising at least one nitrification inhibitor I and at least one organic solvent S, wherein the at least one nitrification inhibitor I is 3,4-dimethyl-1-H-pyrazole, and wherein the at least one solvent S is selected from ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, diethylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, diglyme, fatty acid dialkylamides, benzyl alcohol, butyrolactone, propylene carbonate, ethyl hexyl lactate, 2-butoxy ethanol, dimethylsulfoxide and mixtures thereof, and wherein the amount of 3,4-dimethylpyrazolphosphate in the formulation F is not more than 1 weight percent.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the fertilizer N is anhydrous ammonia or urea ammonium nitrate (UAN).

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the solvent S is propylene glycol.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the formulation F comprises 5 to 50 parts by weight of the at least one nitrification inhibitor and 50 to 95 parts by weight of the solvent S.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the formulation F is mixed with anhydrous ammonia in a mixing chamber and the obtained mixture is applied to the soil.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the formulation F and anhydrous ammonia are applied to the soil through separate nozzles.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the formulation F and anhydrous ammonia are applied to the soil as a tank mix.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the formulation F is mixed with urea ammonium nitrate (UAN) in a mixing chamber and the obtained mixture is applied to the soil.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the formulation F and urea ammonium nitrate (UAN) are applied to the soil through separate nozzles.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the formulation F and urea ammonium nitrate (UAN) are applied to the soil as a tank mix.

11. A formulation comprising 5 to 50 parts by weight of 3,4-dimethyl-1H-pyrazole and 50 to 95 parts by weight of propylene glycol, wherein an amount of 3,4-dimethylpyrazolphosphate in said formulation is not more than 1 weight percent.

12. The formulation according to claim 11, further comprising anhydrous ammonia.

13. The formulation according to claim 11, further comprising urea ammonium nitrate (UAN).

14. A method of using the formulation according to claim 11, wherein the method comprises: fertilizing agricultural soil, wherein the formulation is applied to the soil in combination with at least one fertilizer N.

Description

EXAMPLES

Stability of Formulations F

[0065] DMP was used as a technical grade as a pure and undissolved substance.

Example 1

[0066] 40 parts by weight of DMP were mixed with 60 parts by weight of propylene glycol. A clear solution was obtained.

[0067] The so obtained solution could be mixed with anhydrous ammonia without the formation of any precipitate.

Example 2

[0068] 40 parts by weight of DMP were mixed with 10 parts of weight of propylene glycol and 50 parts of a 1:1 mixture of C.sub.8- and C.sub.10-fatty acid dimethylamide. A clear solution was obtained.

[0069] The so obtained solution could be mixed with anhydrous ammonia without the formation of any precipitate.

[0070] The formulations obtained in examples 1 and 2 were clear solutions that were stable over 24 hours at 10 C., 20 C. and 30 C. and were miscible with ammonia without the formation of precipitate.

Comparative Example 3

[0071] A DMPP based formulation (72/8: DMP/H.sub.3PO.sub.4) was mixed with anhydrous ammonia. A cloudy precipitate was obtained.

Comparative Example 4

[0072] The following formulation was prepared:

TABLE-US-00001 Ingredient ratio DMPP 7 Benzyl alcohol 2 Propylene Glycol 1.2 Isopropyl amine (neutralize 0.5 pH to 7) total 10.7

[0073] A clear solution was obtained.

[0074] Upon contact with anhydrous ammonia, a cloudy precipitate was formed.

Example 5: Application of Formulations F to the Soil

[0075] The formulations from examples 1 and 2 (140 g/ha) and anhydrous ammonia (70% N) were co-injected into soil at a temperature below 20 C. Soil samples were collected to a depth of 12 inches centered on injection band. The soil was extracted and ammonium (NH.sub.4.sup.+) amount was analyzed. It was found that with co-injection of DMP the ammonium (NH.sub.4.sup.+) amount is much higher than the soil treated with the same amount of anhydrous ammonia without DMP.

Comparative Example 6: Application of DMPP Formulation to Soil

[0076] Example 5 was carried out with DMPP obtained in Example 4. The formulation formed a solid and clogged the pumping and injection system.

Example 7

[0077] 40 parts by weight of DMP were mixed with 60 parts by weight of propylene glycol. A clear solution was obtained.

[0078] The so obtained solution could be mixed with UAN 32% N solution (solution of urea and ammonium nitrate in water with 32% N) without the formation of any precipitate.

TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 1 Tank mix compatibility data for Example 7 Example 7 Order of Addition First a), then b) Composition a) Fertilizer 32% UAN (57 Gal/A) mixed with b) Solution 1 (10 fl oz/A) = Clear solution obtained by mixing 40 parts by weight of DMP with 60 parts by weight of propylene glycol Properties of the Initial Light Tan Clear solution (tank mix) 30 min stirring Light Tan Clear 4 hours Light Tan Clear 24 hours @ 5 C. Light Tan Clear 15 min stirring Light Tan Clear pH 8.32 Result (tank mix compatibility) Excellent