ACID-RESISTANT UREASE INHIBITOR ADDUCT-CONTAINING FERTILIZER COMPOSITIONS

Abstract

A urease inhibiting acidic fertilizer composition is provided, the fertilizer composition including urea; one or more adducts of a urease inhibitor with urea, formaldehyde, or both urea and formaldehyde; a particulate acidic fertilizer; and a basic component. Methods of forming and using such fertilizer compositions are also provided herein.

Claims

1. A composition comprising: a particulate composition comprising urea and one or more adducts of a urease inhibitor with urea, formaldehyde, or both urea and formaldehyde; a particulate acidic fertilizer; and a basic component.

2. The composition according to claim 1, wherein the particulate acidic fertilizer comprises a plurality of particles each having a surface, and wherein the basic component at least partially coats the surface of at least some of the plurality of particles, such that the particulate acidic fertilizer and the basic component are present in the form of a basic component-treated particulate acidic fertilizer.

3. The composition according to claim 2, wherein the weight percentage range of the basic component is 0.0001% to 20% by weight, based on the total dry weight of the basic component-treated particulate acidic fertilizer.

4. The composition according to claim 1, wherein the particulate acidic fertilizer is selected from the group consisting of monoammonium phosphate (MAP), diammonium phosphate (DAP), ammonium sulfate, and ammonium hydrogensulfate, rock phosphate, super phosphate, serpentine super phosphate, reactive phosphate rock, NPSZ, Micro-Essentials SZ (MESZ (12-40-0-10S-1Zn)), triple super phosphate, struvite, and any combination thereof.

5. The composition according to claim 1, wherein the basic component comprises: i) an organic carboxylic or a sulfonic acid salt according to Formula (II):
R.sup.1(X.sup.).sub.nM.sup.n+(Formula II) wherein R.sup.1 is independently hydrogen, substituted or non-substituted C.sub.1-C.sub.30 straight or branched alkyl, substituted or non-substituted C.sub.1-C.sub.30 straight or branched alkenyl, substituted or non-substituted C.sub.3-C.sub.8 cycloalkyl, or substituted or non-substituted C.sub.5-C.sub.6 aromatic carbon or heterocyclic ring; (X.sup.) is a (COO.sup.) or (SO.sub.3.sup.); M.sup.n+ is a metal ion, wherein the metal is Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Ra, Al, Mn, Fe, Co, Cu, or Zn; and n is 1, 2, 3, or 4; ii) a metal oxide, metal hydroxide, metal alkoxide with C.sub.1-C.sub.30 straight or branched carbon chain, metal sulfate, metal bisulfate, metal carbonate, or metal bicarbonate, wherein the metal is Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Ra, Al, Mn, Fe, Co, Cu, or Zn; or iii) an amine compound, wherein the amine compound is a primary, secondary, or tertiary, straight or branched hydrocarbon amine, wherein the hydrocarbon is C.sub.1-C.sub.30 straight or branched alkyl, C.sub.1-C.sub.30 straight or branched alkenyl, C.sub.3-C.sub.8 cycloalkyl, or benzene ring, wherein the hydrocarbon is optionally substituted with hydroxyl, amino, or [(NH)(CH.sub.2CH.sub.2)].sub.xNH.sub.2, wherein x is 1, 2, 3, or 4.

6. The composition according to claim 1, wherein the basic component is selected from the group consisting of ammonium carbonate ((NH.sub.4).sub.2CO.sub.3), lithium oxide (Li.sub.2O), lithium hydroxide (LiOH), lithium carbonate (Li.sub.2CO.sub.3), barium oxide (BaO), barium hydroxide(Ba(OH).sub.2, barium carbonate (BaCO.sub.3), magnesium oxide (MgO), magnesium hydroxide (Mg(OH).sub.2), magnesium carbonate (MgCO.sub.3), calcium oxide (CaO), calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH).sub.2), calcium carbonate (CaCO.sub.3), aluminum oxide (Al.sub.2O.sub.3), aluminum hydroxide (Al(OH).sub.3), aluminum carbonate (Al.sub.2(CO.sub.3).sub.3), sodium oxide (Na.sub.2O), sodium hydroxide (NaOH), sodium carbonate (Na.sub.2CO.sub.3), potassium oxide (K.sub.2O), potassium hydroxide (KOH), potassium carbonate (K.sub.2CO.sub.3), monoethanolamine (MEA), triethylenetetramine (TETA), triethylamine (TEA), triethanolamine, diethanolamine, aniline, and any combination thereof.

7. The composition according to claim 1, further comprising one or more materials selected from the group consisting of free NBPT, free formaldehyde, urea formaldehyde polymer (UFP), water, and combinations thereof.

8. The composition according to any of claim 1, wherein the urease inhibitor comprises N-(n-butyl)thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT).

9. The composition according to claim 1, wherein the composition has an increased shelf-life as compared to a shelf-life of a composition without the basic component.

10. The composition according to claim 9, wherein the increased shelf-life of the composition is about 25% to about 1000% longer than the shelf-life of the composition without the basic component.

11. The composition according to claim 9, wherein the increased shelf-life of the composition is at least 25% longer than the shelf-life of the composition without the basic component.

12. A method of enhancing shelf life of a composition comprising a urease inhibitor and an acidic fertilizer, the method comprising: providing the urease inhibitor in the form of one or more adducts of urease inhibitor with urea, formaldehyde, or both urea and formaldehyde; and providing the acidic fertilizer in the form of a particulate acidic fertilizer; wherein the particulate acidic fertilizer comprises a plurality of particles each having a surface, and wherein a basic component at least partially coats the surface of at least some of the plurality of particles, such that the particulate acidic fertilizer and the basic component are present in the form of a basic component-treated particulate acidic fertilizer.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the weight percentage range of the basic component is 0.0001% to 20% by weight, based on the total dry weight of the basic component-treated particulate acidic fertilizer.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein the particulate acidic fertilizer is selected from the group consisting of monoammonium phosphate (MAP), diammonium phosphate (DAP), ammonium sulfate, and ammonium hydrogensulfate, rock phosphate, super phosphate, serpentine super phosphate, reactive phosphate rock, NPSZ, Micro-Essentials SZ (MESZ (12-40-0-10S-1Zn)), triple super phosphate, struvite, and any combination thereof.

15. The method according to claim 12, wherein the basic component comprises: i) an organic carboxylic or a sulfonic acid salt according to Formula (II):
R.sup.1(X.sup.).sub.nM.sup.n+(Formula II) wherein R.sup.1 is independently hydrogen, substituted or non-substituted C.sub.1-C.sub.30 straight or branched alkyl, substituted or non-substituted C.sub.1-C.sub.30 straight or branched alkenyl, substituted or non-substituted C.sub.3-C.sub.8 cycloalkyl, or substituted or non-substituted C.sub.5-C.sub.6 aromatic carbon or heterocyclic ring; (X.sup.) is a (COO.sup.) or (SO.sub.3.sup.); M.sup.n+ is a metal ion, wherein the metal is Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Ra, Al, Mn, Fe, Co, Cu, or Zn; and n is 1, 2, 3, or 4; ii) a metal oxide, metal hydroxide, metal alkoxide with C.sub.1-C.sub.30 straight or branched carbon chain, metal sulfate, metal bisulfate, metal carbonate, or metal bicarbonate, wherein the metal is Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Ra, Al, Mn, Fe, Co, Cu, or Zn; or iii) an amine compound, wherein the amine compound is a primary, secondary, or tertiary, straight or branched hydrocarbon amine, wherein the hydrocarbon is C.sub.1-C.sub.30 straight or branched alkyl, C.sub.1-C.sub.30 straight or branched alkenyl, C.sub.3-C.sub.8 cycloalkyl, or benzene ring, wherein the hydrocarbon is optionally substituted with hydroxyl, amino, or [(NH)(CH.sub.2CH.sub.2)].sub.xNH.sub.2, wherein x is 1, 2, 3, or 4.

16. The method according to claim 12, wherein the basic component is selected from the group consisting of ammonium carbonate ((NH.sub.4).sub.2CO.sub.3), lithium oxide (Li.sub.2O), lithium hydroxide (LiOH), lithium carbonate (Li.sub.2CO.sub.3), barium oxide (BaO), barium hydroxide(Ba(OH).sub.2, barium carbonate (BaCO.sub.3), magnesium oxide (MgO), magnesium hydroxide (Mg(OH).sub.2), magnesium carbonate (MgCO.sub.3), calcium oxide (CaO), calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH).sub.2), calcium carbonate (CaCO.sub.3), aluminum oxide (Al.sub.2O.sub.3), aluminum hydroxide (Al(OH).sub.3), aluminum carbonate (Al.sub.2(CO.sub.3).sub.3), sodium oxide (Na.sub.2O), sodium hydroxide (NaOH), sodium carbonate (Na.sub.2CO.sub.3), potassium oxide (K.sub.2O), potassium hydroxide (KOH), potassium carbonate (K.sub.2CO.sub.3), monoethanolamine (MEA), triethylenetetramine (TETA), triethylamine (TEA), triethanolamine, diethanolamine, aniline, and any combination thereof.

17. The method according to claim 12, wherein the urease inhibitor comprises N-(n-butyl)thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT).

18. A method of making a urease inhibiting acidic fertilizer composition, the method comprising: providing a particulate composition comprising urea and one or more adducts of a urease inhibitor with urea, formaldehyde, or both urea and formaldehyde; treating a surface of a particulate acidic fertilizer with a basic component to form a basic-treated acidic fertilizer; and combining the particulate composition comprising urea and one or more adducts with the basic-treated acidic fertilizer to form the urease inhibiting acidic fertilizer composition.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising combining urea, formaldehyde, and N-(n-butyl)thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT), such that an excess of urea is present, to form the particulate composition comprising urea and one or more adducts, wherein the one or more adducts comprise one or more adducts represented by the following: ##STR00005## which adduct or adducts remain incorporated into the excess of urea.

20. A method of fertilizing soil comprising treating soil with the composition of claim 1.

Description

EXAMPLES

[0080] In order to provide a better understanding of the foregoing discussion, the following non-limiting examples are offered. Although the examples may be directed to specific embodiments, they are not to be viewed as limiting the invention in any specific respect. All parts, proportions, and percentages are by weight unless otherwise indicated.

Example 1

Synthetic Preparation of Adducts

[0081] As a representative example, to a solution of NBPT (5.0 g, 29.90 mmol) in N-methyl 2-pyrrolidone (NMP, 25 mL), was added to ACS-grade urea (1.79 g, 29.90 mmol, 1 equiv), followed by formalin (50%, 795 L, 29.90 mmol, 1 equiv) at room temperature. The reaction mixture was stirred for 24 h. A homogeneous solution was obtained, containing 10% unreacted NBPT (as evaluated by HPLC) and adducts, among other species.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Adduct Formation Observed With Different Reactants and Reaction Conditions Reaction Conditions NBPT Concentration Reaction conversion Run of NBPT Temp Time (%, # Reactants (wt. %) Solvent ( C.) (hrs) HPLC) 1 NBPT + HCHO 15 water 25 C. 24 82 37% + ACS-U.sup.a (1:1:1) 2 NBPT + 13 water 25 C. 24 98.9 dimethylolurea (1:1) 3 NBPT + 13 water 25 C. 144 99.9 dimethylolurea (1:1) 4 NBPT + 13 water 40 C. 24 96 dimethylolurea (1:1) 5 NBPT + 9 water 40 C. 24 99.2 dimethylolurea (1:4) 6 NBPT + reg-U.sup.b 0.027 water 25 C. 24 <1 7 NBPT + reg-U.sup.b 0.027 water 25 C. 24 26 (MAP added as catalyst) 8 NBPT + HCHO 15 NMP 25 C. 24 67 50% + ACS-U.sup.a (1:0.5:1) 9 NBPT + HCHO 15 propylene 25 C. 24 40 50% + ACS-U.sup.a glycol (1:0.5:1) 10 NBPT + HCHO 15 propylene 25 C. 24 55 50% + ACS-U.sup.a carbonate (1:0.5:1) 11 NBPT + HCHO 15 acetonitrile 25 C. 24 33 50% + ACS-U.sup.a (1:0.5:1) 12 NBPT + HCHO 14 NMP 25 C. 24 98.7 50% + ACS-U.sup.a (1:1:2) 13 NBPT + HCHO 13 NMP 25 C. 24 98.7 50% + ACS-U.sup.a (1:2:2) 14 NBPT + HCHO 15 NMP 25 C. 24 90 50% + ACS-U.sup.a (1:1:1) 15 NBPT + HCHO 40 NMP 25 C. 24 91 50% + ACS-U.sup.a (1:1:1) 16 NBPT + HCHO 55 NMP 25 C. 24 92 50% + ACS-U.sup.a (1:1:1) 17 NBPT + HCHO 15 NMP 40 C. 24 79 50% + ACS-U.sup.a (1:1:1) 18 NBPT + urea 50 none 25 C. 24 80 formaldehyde concentrate (1:1) 19 NBPT + urea 33 NMP 25 C. 24 95 formaldehyde concentrate (1:1) 20 NBPT + urea 25 NMP 25 C. 24 99 formaldehyde (MAP added as concentrate catalyst) (1:1) 21 NBPT + urea 25 NMP/potassium 25 C. 24 99.9 formaldehyde phosphate concentrate buffer pH 7 (1:1) 22 NBPT + urea 13 NMP 25 C. 24 99.7 formaldehyde concentrate (1:4) 19 NBPT + urea 33 NMP 40 C. 24 100 formaldehyde concentrate (1:1) .sup.aACS-U is ACS-grade urea, which is determined as being formaldehyde and/or UF free. .sup.bReg-U is commercial grade urea that contains approx. 0.4 wt. % formaldehyde as UF.

Example 2

Analysis of Fertilizer Compositions Treated with a Basic Component

[0082] Urea samples treated with NBPT adducts were prepared by adding a mixture of AGROTAIN ADVANCED 1.0 and a solution of NBPT adducts formed according to Example 1 to ACS grade urea in a ribbon blender (targeting 111 ppmP of active ingredients on urea), referred to herein below as NBPT adduct-containing urea. AGROTAIN-treated urea was prepared by treating ACS grade urea with AGROTAIN ADVANCED 1.0 (targeting 111 ppmP of NBPT on urea), referred to herein below as NBPT-containing urea. Both NBPT adduct-containing urea and A GROT AIN ADVANCED 1.0-treated urea batches were mixed in a ribbon blender on a medium setting for 5 minutes and left to dry partially covered overnight, at room temperature.

[0083] Macronutrients (300 g) were blended with MgO via manual shaking in ajar. For the samples containing 0.25 wt. % MgO treatment rate, MgO (0.75 g) was applied on the macronutrient (300 g). For treatment rate corresponding to 0.5 wt. %, the macronutrient (300 g) was treated with MgO (1.5 g).

[0084] The 1:1 MgO:NBPT-containing adducts sample was prepared by manually mixing equal weights of MgO with a solution of NBPT-containing adducts prepared according to Example 1. The mixture MgO/adducts was then used to treat ACS grade urea (150 g) by manual shaking in a jar. MAP (150 g) was then blended with the treated sample.

[0085] Final blends of urease inhibiting acidic fertilizer compositions were prepared by manually shaking in a jar both the macronutrient (MAP, DAP, or Micro-Essentials (ME)), with or without MgO, 150 g, with either AGROTAIN ADVANCED 1.0 or NBPT-containing adducts (150 g), resulting in a Ill w/w mixture of macronutrient:urea.

[0086] After measured amounts of time, the particles of macronutrient were physically separated from the urea granules, which are visually different. The granules of urea treated with the urease inhibitor were submitted for HPLC. The phosphorus (P) present in the urea treated with the urease inhibitor, separated out of the various samples of final urease inhibiting acidic fertilizer compositions, was measured as a function as time.

TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 1 Total P (Percent Remaining) in compositions comprising NBPT in free or adduct form and MAP treated with various levels of MgO, measured as a function of time (days) 0.25 0.5 0.25 0.5 wt. % wt. % wt. % wt. % MgO- MgO- MgO- MgO- MgO- Treated Treated NBPT Untreated Treated Treated MAP + MAP + adduct- MAP + MAP + MAP + NBPT- NBPT- containing NBPT- NBPT- NBPT- Adduct- Adduct- urea* + containing containing containing containing containing untreated DAY Urea Urea Urea Urea Urea MAP 0 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 14 16.98% 77.36% 90.57% 92.69% 58.78% 127.77% 28 3.77% 49.06% 49.06% 45.79% 69.68% 83.39% 56 3.77% 20.75% 39.62% 41.25% 36.69% *This is a composition using a slurry containing 50 wt % MgO with 50 wt % NBPT adduct, which was applied on urea. As a result, the treated urea contained 0.4 wt % MgO. The treated urea was then blended with untreated MAP.

[0087] As illustrated in Table 1 above, all of the samples comprising MAP treated with some amount of MgO performed better in terms of total percent phosphorus remaining, initially and after extended time passed (i.e., 84 days), than the sample comprising untreated MAP. It is also noted that the sample wherein the urea granule (rather than the MAP particle) was treated with MgO (i.e., 1:1 w/w MgO:NBPT adduct) outperformed all of the other samples in terms of total percent phosphorus remaining at 14 and 28 days.

[0088] With regard to the samples comprising MAP treated with 0.5% MgO, the samples comprising NBPT adduct-containing urea had almost double the percent phosphorus remaining at 84 days as the samples comprising NBPT-containing urea. It is noted that initially (i.e., at 14 days), the samples comprising NBPT adduct-containing urea demonstrated a greater drop in the percent phosphorus remaining than the samples comprising NBPT-containing urea. However, at 28 days, the samples comprising NBPT adduct-containing urea demonstrated a higher percentage of phosphorus remaining than the samples comprising NBPT-containing urea. At 56 days, the samples comprising NBPT adduct-containing urea demonstrated a comparable percentage of phosphorus remaining to the samples comprising NBPT-containing urea.

TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 2 Total P (Percent Remaining) in compositions comprising NBPT in free or adduct form and DAP treated with various levels of MgO, measured as a function of time (days) 0.25% 0.5% 0.25% 0.5% MgO- MgO- MgO- MgO- Treated Treated Untreated Treated Treated DAP + DAP + DAP + DAP + DAP + NBPT- NBPT- NBPT- NBPT- NBPT- Adduct- Adduct- containing containing containing containing containing DAY Urea Urea Urea Urea Urea 0 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 14 28.30% 86.79% 88.68% 64.35% 61.11% 28 5.66% 64.45% 94.34% 46.81% 95.10% 56 5.66% 35.85% 79.25% 64.68% 68.27% 84 3.44% 15.09% 50.94% 23.94% 53.52%

[0089] As illustrated in Table 2 above, all of the samples comprising DAP treated with some amount of MgO performed better in terms of total percent phosphorus remaining, initially and after extended time passed (i.e., 84 days), than the sample comprising untreated DAP.

[0090] With regard to the samples comprising DAP treated with 0.25% MgO, after 84 days, the samples comprising NBPT adduct-containing urea performed better, in terms of total percent phosphorus remaining, than the samples comprising NBPT-containing urea. It is noted that initially (i.e., at 14 and 28 days), the samples comprising NBPT adduct-containing urea demonstrated a greater drop in the percent phosphorus remaining than the samples comprising NBPT-containing urea. However, at 56 days, the samples comprising NBPT adduct-containing urea demonstrated a higher percentage of phosphorus remaining than the samples comprising NBPT-containing urea.

[0091] With regard to the samples comprising DAP treated with 0.5% MgO, the samples comprising NBPT adduct-containing urea had approximately the same percentage of phosphorus remaining at 84 days as the samples comprising NBPT-containing urea. It is noted that initially (i.e., at 14 days), the samples comprising NBPT adduct-containing urea demonstrated a greater drop in the percent phosphorus remaining than the samples comprising NBPT-containing urea.

TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 3 Total P (Percent Remaining) in compositions comprising NBPT in free or adduct form and ME treated with various levels of MgO, measured as a function of time (days) 0.25% 0.5% 0.25% 0.5% MgO- MgO- MgO- MgO- Treated Treated Untreated Treated Treated Untreated ME + ME + ME + ME + ME + ME + NBPT- NBPT- NBPT- NBPT- NBPT- NBPT- Adduct- Adduct- containing containing containing containing containing containing DAY Urea Urea Urea Urea Urea Urea 0 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 14 3.77% 73.58% 77.36% 1.20% 49.32% 44.80% 28 1.89% 54.72% 60.38% 0.89% 41.63% 55.24% 56 3.77% 26.42% 24.53% 0.77% 35.99% 30.31% 84 1.89% 7.55% 11.32% 0.00% 18.64% 15.76%

[0092] As illustrated in Table 3 above, all of the samples comprising Micro-Essentials (ME) treated with some amount of MgO performed better in terms of total percent phosphorus remaining, initially and after extended time passed (i.e., 84 days), than the sample comprising untreated ME.

[0093] With regard to the samples comprising ME treated with 0.25% MgO, after 84 days, the samples comprising NBPT adduct-containing urea performed better, in terms of total percent phosphorus remaining, than the samples comprising NBPT-containing urea. It is noted that initially (i.e., at 14 and 28 days), the samples comprising NBPT adduct-containing urea demonstrated a greater drop in the percent phosphorus remaining than the samples comprising

[0094] NBPT-containing urea. However, at 56 days, the samples comprising NBPT adduct-containing urea demonstrated a higher percentage of phosphorus remaining than the samples comprising NBPT-containing urea.

[0095] With regard to the samples comprising ME treated with 0.5% MgO, after 84 days, the samples comprising NBPT adduct-containing urea performed better, in terms of total percent phosphorus remaining, than the samples comprising NBPT-containing urea. Again, it is noted that initially (i.e., at 14 and 28 days), the samples comprising NBPT adduct-containing urea demonstrated a greater drop in the percent phosphorus remaining than the samples comprising NBPT-containing urea. However, at 56 days, the samples comprising NBPT adduct-containing urea demonstrated a higher percentage of phosphorus remaining than the samples comprising NBPT-containing urea.

Example 3

Analysis of Untreated Fertilizer Compositions

[0096] For comparison with the samples of urease inhibiting acidic fertilizer compositions prepared in Example 2 above, samples of urease inhibiting acidic fertilizer compositions wherein the macronutrients are not blended with MgO were prepared.

[0097] Urea samples treated with NBPT adducts were prepared by adding a mixture of AGROTAIN ADVANCED 1.0 and a solution of NBPT adducts formed according to Example 1 on ACS grade urea in ribbon blender (targeting Ill ppmP of active ingredients on urea). AGROTAIN-treated urea was prepared by treating ACS grade urea with AGROTAIN ADVANCED 1.0 (targeting 111 ppmP of NBPT on urea). Both NBPT-containing adducts treated urea and A GROT AIN ADVANCED 1.0 treated urea batches were mixed in ribbon blender on a medium setting for 5 minutes and left to dry partially covered overnight, at room temperature.

[0098] Final blends of urease inhibiting acidic fertilizer compositions were prepared by manually shaking in a jar both the macronutrient (MAP or DAP), without MgO, 150 g, with either AGROTAIN ADVANCED 1.0 or NBPT-containing adducts (150 g), resulting in a 1/1 w/w mixture of macronutrient:urea.

[0099] After measured amounts of time, the particles of macronutrient were physically separated from the urea granules, which are visually different. The granules of urea treated with the urease inhibitor were submitted for HPLC. The phosphorus present in the urea treated with the urease inhibitor, separated out of the various samples of final urease inhibiting acidic fertilizer compositions, was measured as a function as time.

TABLE-US-00005 TABLE 4 Total P (Percent Remaining) in compositions comprising urea treated with NBPT in free or adduct form and untreated MAP or DAP, measured as a function of time (days) Untreated MAP Untreated DAP Untreated Untreated Untreated MAP + Untreated DAP + MAP + NBPT DAP + NBPT NBPT- Adduct- NBPT- Adduct- containing containing containing containing DAY Urea Urea Urea Urea 0 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 14 9% 5% 24% 76% 28 17% 0% 10% 31% 49 0% 5% 30% 76 0% 0% 106 0% 0% 209

[0100] As can be seen through a comparison of the results presented in Example 2 above and the results presented in Table 4, all of the samples comprising a macronutrient (i.e., MAP, DAP, or ME) treated with some amount of MgO performed better in terms of total percent phosphorus remaining, initially and after extended time passed, than the samples comprising an untreated macronutrient.

[0101] Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which this invention pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing description. Therefore, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.