ALKYL THIOPHOSPHORIC TRIAMIDE AND NEEM OIL SOLVENT SYSTEMS FOR USE IN AGRICULTURAL APPLICATIONS

Abstract

An inhibitor composition contains a urease inhibitor (e.g., alkyl thiophosphoric triamide) and a nitrification inhibitor (e.g., a natural nitrification inhibitor such as neem oil and the like), solubilized in a liquid medium comprising at least one organic solvent and, optionally, at least one stabilizer, useful in making fertilizer compositions (e.g., urea prill coatings) and in methods of fertilizing target plants.

Claims

1. A stable liquid agricultural composition comprising at least one nitrification inhibitor comprising neem oil; at least one solvent selected from: (a) at least one dioxolane compound of formula (I.b): ##STR00016## wherein R.sub.6 and R.sub.7 individually comprises a hydrogen, an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, or a phenyl group, wherein n is an integer of from 1 to 10; b) at least one dibasic ester; c) at least one compound of formula (III):
R.sub.3OOC-A-CONR.sub.4R.sub.5   (III), wherein R.sub.3 comprises a C.sub.1—C.sub.36 alkyl group; wherein R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 individually comprise a C.sub.1—C.sub.36 alkyl group, wherein R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 can optionally together form a ring; and wherein A is a linear or a branched divalent C.sub.2—C.sub.6 alkyl group; d) at least one alkyldimethylamide; e) at least one alkyl lactate; f) ethyl levulinate; g) at least one alkyoxyalcohol, ether alcohol, amine alcohol, amino alcohol or alcohol; h) at least one glycol, glycol derivative, glycerine or glycerine derivative; i) at least one alkylene carbonate; j) dimethylsulfoxide; k) an amine selected from monoalkanolamine, dialkanolamine, trialkanolamine, monoethanolamine, diethanolamine and triethanolamine; I) a sulfone or sulfolane; m) an aminoalkoxy alcohol; n) cyclohexanone or cyclopentanone; o) benzyl alcohol; or p) any combination thereof, wherein the at least one nitrification inhibitor is dispersed or solubilized in the at least one solvent.

2. The agricultural composition of claim 1 further comprising at least one urease inhibitor, wherein the at least one nitrification inhibitor and the at least one urease inhibitor are dispersed or solubilized in the at least one solvent.

3. The liquid agricultural composition of claim 1 wherein the at least one solvent comprises: dimethylsulfoxide, and a co-solvent selected from: a) at least one dioxolane compound of formula (I.b): ##STR00017## wherein R.sub.6 and R.sub.7 individually comprises a hydrogen, an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, or a phenyl group, wherein n is an integer of from 1 to 10; b) at least one dibasic ester; c) at least one compound of formula (III):
R.sub.3OOOC-A-CONR.sub.4R.sub.5   (III), wherein R.sub.3 comprises a C.sub.1—C.sub.36 alkyl group; wherein R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 individually comprise a C.sub.1—C.sub.36 alkyl group, wherein R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 can optionally together form a ring; and wherein A is a linear or a branched divalent C.sub.2—C.sub.6 alkyl group; d) at least one alkyldimethylamide; e) at least one alkyl lactate; f) ethyl levulinate; g) at least one alkyoxyalcohol, ether alcohol, amine alcohol, amino alcohol or alcohol; h) at least one glycol, glycol derivative, glycerine or glycerine derivative; i) at least one alkylene carbonate; j) sulfone or sulfolane; k) an amine selected from monoalkanolamine, dialkanolamine, trialkanolamine, monoethanolamine, diethanolamine and triethanolamine; l) an aminoalkoxy alcohol; m) cyclohexanone or cyclopentanone; n) benzyl alcohol; or o) any combination thereof.

4. The liquid agricultural composition of claim 1 wherein the composition comprises: neem oil; dimethylsulfoxide; and an amine selected from monoalkanolamine, dialkanolamine, trialkanolamine, monoethanolamine, diethanolamine, triethanolamine or any combination thereof.

5. The liquid agricultural composition of claim 1 wherein the at least one nitrification inhibitor is present in an amount less than about 75 wt %, by total weight of composition.

6. The liquid agricultural composition of claim 1 wherein the at least one nitrification inhibitor is present in an amount less than about 65 wt %, by total weight of composition.

7. The liquid agricultural composition of claim 1 wherein the at least one nitrification inhibitor is present in an amount less than about 50 wt %, by total weight of composition.

8. The liquid agricultural composition of claim 1 further comprising a compound of formula (I.a): ##STR00018## wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3, are each independently chosen from a C.sub.1—C.sub.16 alkyl group, a C.sub.1—C.sub.16 alkenyl, group, a C.sub.1—C.sub.16 alkoxyalkyl group, a C.sub.7—C.sub.30 alkylarylalkyl group, a C.sub.7—C.sub.30 arylalkyl group, or an aryl group.

9. A method of making a solid or concentrated liquid fertilizer composition comprising contacting one or more nitrogenous fertilizer compounds with a liquid inhibitor composition that comprises at least one nitrification inhibitor comprising neem oil, which is solubilized in a liquid medium comprising at least one solvent selected from: (a) at least one dioxolane compound of formula (I.b): ##STR00019## wherein R.sub.6 and R.sub.7 individually comprises a hydrogen, an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, or a phenyl group, wherein n is an integer of from 1 to 10; b) at least one dibasic ester; c) at least one compound of formula (III):
R.sub.3OOC-A-CONR.sub.4R.sub.5   (III), wherein R.sub.3 comprises a C.sub.1—C.sub.36 alkyl group; wherein R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 individually comprise a C.sub.1—C.sub.36 alkyl group, wherein R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 can optionally together form a ring; and wherein A is a linear or a branched divalent C.sub.2—C.sub.6 alkyl group; d) at least one alkyldimethylamide; e) at least one alkyl lactate; f) ethyl levulinate; g) at least one alkyoxyalcohol, ether alcohol, amine alcohol, amino alcohol or alcohol; h) at least one glycol, glycol derivative, glycerine or glycerine derivative; i) at least one alkylene carbonate; j) dimethylsulfoxide; k) an amine selected from monoalkanolamine, dialkanolamine, trialkanolamine, monoethanolamine, diethanolamine and triethanolamine; l) a sulfone or sulfolane; m) an aminoalkoxy alcohol; n) cyclohexanone or cyclopentanone; o) benzyl alcohol; or p) any combination thereof.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the at least one solvent comprises dimethylsulfoxide, and a co-solvent selected from: a) at least one dioxolane compound of formula (I.b): ##STR00020## wherein R.sub.6 and R.sub.7 individually comprises a hydrogen, an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, or a phenyl group, wherein n is an integer of from 1 to 10; b) at least one dibasic ester; c) at least one compound of formula (III):
R.sub.3OOC-A-CONR.sub.4R.sub.5   (III), wherein R.sub.3 comprises a C.sub.1—C.sub.36 alkyl group; wherein R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 individually comprise a C.sub.1—C.sub.36 alkyl group, wherein R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 can optionally together form a ring; and wherein A is a linear or a branched divalent C.sub.2—C.sub.6 alkyl group; d) at least one alkyldimethylamide; e) at least one alkyl lactate; f) ethyl levulinate; g) at least one alkyoxyalcohol, ether alcohol, amine alcohol, amino alcohol or alcohol; h) at least one glycol, glycol derivative, glycerine or glycerine derivative; i) at least one alkylene carbonate; j) sulfone or sulfolane; k) an amine selected from monoalkanolamine, dialkanolamine, trialkanolamine, monoethanolamine, diethanolamine and triethanolamine; l) an aminoalkoxy alcohol; m) cyclohexanone or cyclopentanone; n) benzyl alcohol; or o) any combination thereof.

11. A concentrated liquid fertilizer composition comprising, based on 100 parts by weight of the composition: from about 5 to about 80 parts by weight of one or more nitrogenous fertilizer compounds, at least one urease inhibitor or at least one nitrification inhibitor; and at least one solvent, wherein the at least one nitrification inhibitor or the at least one urease inhibitor is dispersed or solubilized in the at least one solvent, and wherein the at least one nitrification inhibitor is selected from neem, neem oil, neem cake, koronivia grass, karanj, karanjin seed extract, karanj oil, mahua, mahua oil, castor, castor oil, mint, mint oil, or any combination thereof.

12. The concentrated liquid fertilizer composition of claim 11 wherein the at least one nitrification inhibitor is neem or neem oil.

13. The concentrated liquid fertilizer composition of claim 11 wherein the at least one solvent comprises: (a) at least one dioxolane compound of formula (I.b): ##STR00021## wherein R.sub.6 and R.sub.7 individually comprises a hydrogen, an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, or a phenyl group, wherein n is an integer of from 1 to 10; b) at least one dibasic ester; c) at least one compound of formula (III):
R.sub.3OOC-A-CONR.sub.4R.sub.5   (III), wherein R.sub.3 comprises a C.sub.1—C.sub.36 alkyl group; wherein R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 individually comprise a C.sub.1—C.sub.36 alkyl group, wherein R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 can optionally together form a ring; and wherein A is a linear or a branched divalent C.sub.2—C.sub.6 alkyl group; d) at least one alkyldimethylamide; e) at least one alkyl lactate; f) ethyl levulinate; g) at least one alkyoxyalcohol, ether alcohol, amine alcohol, amino alcohol or alcohol; h) at least one glycol, glycol derivative, glycerine or glycerine derivative; i) at least one alkylene carbonate; j) dimethylsulfoxide; k) an amine selected from monoalkanolamine, dialkanolamine, trialkanolamine, monoethanolamine, diethanolamine and triethanolamine; I) a sulfone or sulfolane; m) an aminoalkoxy alcohol; n) cyclohexanone or cyclopentanone; o) benzyl alcohol; or p) any combination thereof.

14. The concentrated liquid fertilizer composition of claim 11 wherein the at least one solvent comprises dimethylsulfoxide.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0053] As used herein, the term “alkyl” means a saturated straight chain, branched chain, or cyclic hydrocarbon radical, including but not limited to, methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, iso-propyl, n-butyl, sec-butyl, t-butyl, pentyl, n-hexyl, and cyclohexyl.

[0054] As used herein, the term “aryl” means a monovalent unsaturated hydrocarbon radical containing one or more six-membered carbon rings in which the unsaturation may be represented by three conjugated double bonds, which may be substituted one or more of carbons of the ring with hydroxy, alkyl, alkenyl, halo, haloalkyl, or amino, including but not limited to, phenoxy, phenyl, methylphenyl, dimethylphenyl, trimethylphenyl, chlorophenyl, trichloromethylphenyl, am inophenyl, and tristyrylphenyl.

[0055] As used herein, the term “alkylene” means a divalent saturated straight or branched chain hydrocarbon radical, such as for example, methylene, dimethylene, trimethylene.

[0056] As used herein, the term “alkoxyl” means an oxy radical that is substituted with an alkyl group, such as for example, methoxyl, ethoxyl, propoxyl, isopropoxyl, or butoxyl, which may optionally be further substituted on one or more of the carbon atoms of the radical.

[0057] As used herein, the term “alkoxyalkyl” means an alkyl radical that is substituted with one or more alkoxy substituents, more typically a (C.sub.1—C.sub.22)alkyloxy-(C.sub.1—C.sub.6)alkyl radical, such as methoxymethyl, and ethoxybutyl.

[0058] As used herein, the term “alkenyl” means an unsaturated straight or branched hydrocarbon radical, more typically an unsaturated straight, branched, (which, in one particular embodiment, is C.sub.1—C.sub.75) hydrocarbon radical, that contains one or more carbon-carbon double bonds, such as, for example, ethenyl, n-propenyl, iso-propenyl.

[0059] As used herein, the term “arylalkyl” means an alkyl group substituted with one or more aryl groups, more typically a (C.sub.1—C.sub.18)alkyl substituted with one or more (C.sub.6—C.sub.14)aryl substituents, such as, for example, phenylmethyl, phenylethyl, and triphenylmethyl.

[0060] As used herein, the term “aryloxy” means an oxy radical substituted with an aryl group, such as for example, phenyloxy, methylphenyl oxy, isopropylmethylphenyloxy.

[0061] As used herein, the terminology “(C.sub.r—C.sub.s)” in reference to an organic group, wherein r and s are each integers, indicates that the group may contain from r carbon atoms to s carbon atoms per group.

[0062] Dicyandiamide is a known compound according to formula (I.b):

##STR00004##

[0063] Dicyandiamide, also known as “2-cyanoguanidine”, is typically made by treating cyanamide with base and is commercially available.

[0064] In one embodiment, the compositions according to the present invention comprise a urease inhibitor, such as an alkyl thiophosphoric triamide or ammonium thiosulfate, a nitrification inhibitor, or a combination of both a urease inhibitor and a nitrification inhibitor. In another embodiment, the compositions according to the present invention comprise a urease inhibitor, such as an alkyl thiophosphoric triamide or ammonium thiosulfate, a nitrification inhibitor, or a combination of both a urease inhibitor and a nitrification inhibitor that are solubilized in a solvent system. Nitrification inhibitors, in one embodiment, includes both synthetic nitrification inhibitors and natural nitrification inhibitors.

[0065] Natural nitrification inhibitors include neem, including but not limited to neem oil, neem cake and/or neem powder; koronivia, including but not limited to koronivia grass; karanj, including but not limited to karanjin seed extract and/or karanj oil; mahua, including but not limited to mahua oil; castor, including but not limited to castor oil; mint, including but not limited to mint oil; and any combination thereof.

[0066] These natural nitrification inhibitors have benefits over synthetic nitrification inhibitors in terms of cost, availability, and adverse influence on beneficial soil microorganisms. Natural nitrification inhibitors or plant-based nitrification inhibitors, on the contrary, can be naturally sourced. Meaning, in many instances, these natural nitrification inhibitor are environmentally friendly and biodegradable. The natural nitrification inhibitors can also be cheaper to manufacture. The natural nitrification inhibitors can also have a safer toxicological profile versus synthetic nitrification inhibitors.

[0067] In one embodiment, the urease inhibitor is N-(n-Butyl) thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT), N-(n-Butyl) phosphoric triamide (NBPTO or BNPO), phenylphosphorodiamidate (PPD/PPDA), hydroquinone, ammonium thiosulfate, or any combination thereof.

[0068] In one embodiment, alkyl thiophosphoric triamide is N-(n-butyl)-thiophosphoric triamide (“NBPT”). The at least one of alkyl thiophosphoric triamide or dicyandiamide or combination thereof can be present in the liquid agricultural composition at a lower limit of 2% by weight of the composition. In another embodiment, the at least one of alkyl thiophosphoric triamide or a nitrification inhibitor (including neem/neem oil), or combination thereof, can be present in the liquid agricultural composition at a lower range of 3% by weight of the composition. The at least one of alkyl thiophosphoric triamide or neem/neem oil (or a combination thereof) can be present in the liquid agricultural composition at a lower range of 5% by weight of the composition.

[0069] In another embodiment, at least one urease inhibitor and/or nitrification inhibitor can be present, collectively, in the liquid agricultural composition at a lower limit of 0.5%, or 1%, or 2%, or 3%, or 4%, or 5%, 6%, or 8%, or 10% or 12% or 14%, by weight of the composition. The at least one nitrification inhibitor or urease inhibitor or combination thereof can be present in the liquid agricultural composition at an upper limit of 75%, or 65%, or 60% or 55% or 54% or 53%, or 51%, or 50% or 47% or 45% by weight of the composition. In another embodiment, the at least one nitrification inhibitor or urease inhibitor or combination thereof can be present in the liquid agricultural composition at an upper limit of 60% by weight of the composition. In another embodiment, the at least one nitrification inhibitor or urease inhibitor or combination thereof can be present in the liquid agricultural composition at an upper limit of 55% by weight of the composition. In another embodiment, the at least one nitrification inhibitor and/or urease inhibitor can be present in the liquid agricultural composition at an upper limit of 59%, or 57%, or 55% or 53% or 50%, by weight of the composition. In another embodiment, the at least one nitrification inhibitor and/or urease inhibitor can be present in the liquid agricultural composition at an upper limit of 48%, or 46%, or 45% or 42% or 40%, by weight of the composition.

[0070] In some embodiments, the dibasic ester or blend of dibasic esters comprises adducts of alcohol and linear diacids, the adducts having the formula (IV):

R—OOC-A-COO—R   (IV)

[0071] wherein R is an alkyl group (e.g., methyl, ethyl, etc.) and A is a mixture of —(CH2)4-, —(CH2)3, and —(CH2)2-. In other embodiments, the blend comprises adducts of alcohol, typically ethanol, and linear diacids, the adducts having the formula R1—OOC-A-COO—R2, wherein at least part of R1 and/or R2 are residues of at least one linear alcohol having 4 carbon atoms, and/or at least one linear or branched alcohol having at least 5 carbon atoms, and wherein A is a divalent linear hydrocarbon. In some embodiments A is one or a mixture of —(CH2)4-, —(CH2)3, and —(CH2)2-. In other embodiments, the dibasic ester comprises adducts of an alcohol and linear or branched diacids, the adducts having the formula (IV): R—OOC-A-COO—R, wherein R is an alkyl group (e.g., methyl, ethyl, etc.) and A one of the following: —(CH2)4-, —(CH2)3, —(CH2)2-, —CH2-, or any mixture thereof.

[0072] Dibasic esters of the present invention may be derived from one or more by-products in the production of polyamide, for example, polyamide 6,6. In one embodiment, the at least one dibasic ester comprises a blend of linear or branched, cyclic or noncyclic, C1—C20 alkyl, aryl, alkylaryl or arylalkyl esters of adipic diacids, glutaric diacids, and succinic diacids. In another embodiment, the composition comprises a blend of linear or branched, cyclic or noncyclic, C1—C20 alkyl, aryl, alkylaryl or arylalkyl esters of adipic diacids, methylglutaric diacids, and ethylsuccinic diacids

[0073] Generally, polyamide is a copolymer prepared by a condensation reaction formed by reacting a diamine and a dicarboxylic acid. Specifically, polyamide 6,6 is a copolymer prepared by a condensation reaction formed by reacting a diamine, typically hexamethylenediamine, with a dicarboxylic acid, typically adipic acid.

[0074] In one embodiment, the blend of dibasic esters can be derived from one or more by-products in the reaction, synthesis and/or production of adipic acid utilized in the production of polyamide, the composition comprising a blend of dialkyl esters of adipic diacids, glutaric diacids, and succinic diacids (herein referred to sometimes as “AGS” or the “AGS blend”).

[0075] In one embodiment, the blend of esters is derived from by-products in the reaction, synthesis and/or production of hexamethylenediamine utilized in the production of polyamide, typically polyamide 6,6. The composition comprises a blend of dialkyl esters of adipic diacids, methylglutaric diacids, and ethylsuccinic diacids (herein referred to sometimes as “MGA”, “MGN”, “MGN blend” or “MGA blend”).

[0076] In certain embodiments, the dibasic ester blend comprises:

[0077] a diester of formula (IV.a):

##STR00005##

[0078] a diester of formula (IV.b):

##STR00006##

and

[0079] a diester of formula (IV.c):

##STR00007##

[0080] R1 and/or R2 can individually comprise a hydrocarbon having from about 1 to about 8 carbon atoms, typically, methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, n-butyl, isoamyl, hexyl, heptyl or octyl. In such embodiments, the blend typically comprises (by weight of the blend) (i) about 15% to about 35% of the diester of formula (IV.a), (ii) about 55% to about 70% of the diester of formula (IV.b), and (iii) about 7% to about 20% of the diester of formula (IV.c), and more typically, (i) about 20% to about 28% of the diester of formula (IV.a), (ii) about 59% to about 67% of the diester of formula (IV.b), and (iii) about 9% to about 17% of the diester of formula (IV.c). The blend is generally characterized by a flash point of 98° C., a vapor pressure at 20° C. of less than about 10 Pa, and a distillation temperature range of about 200-300° C.

[0081] In certain other embodiments, the dibasic ester blend comprises:

[0082] a diester of the formula (IV.d):

##STR00008##

[0083] a diester of the formula (IV.e):

##STR00009##

and, optionally,

[0084] a diester of the formula (IV.c):

##STR00010##

[0085] R1 and/or R2 can individually comprise a hydrocarbon having from about 1 to about 8 carbon atoms, typically, methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, n-butyl, isoamyl, hexyl, heptyl, or octyl. In such embodiments, the blend typically comprises (by weight of the blend) (i) from about 5% to about 30% of the diester of formula (IV.d), (ii) from about 70% to about 95% of the diester of formula (IV.e), and (iii) from about 0% to about 10% of the diester of formula (IV.c). More typically, the blend typically comprises (by weight of the blend): (i) from about 6% to about 12% of the diester of formula (IV.d), (ii) from about 86% to about 92% of the diester of formula (IV.e), and (iii) from about 0.5% to about 4% of the diester of formula (IV.c).

[0086] Most typically, the blend comprises (by weight of the blend): (i) about 9% of the diester of formula (IV.d), (ii) about 89% of the diester of formula (IV.e), and (iii) about 1% of the diester of formula (IV.c). The blend is generally characterized by a flash point of of 98° C., a vapor pressure at 20° C. of less than about 10 Pa, and a distillation temperature range of about 200-275° C.

[0087] In another embodiment, the at least one nitrification inhibitor and/or urease inhibitor can be present in the liquid agricultural composition in an amount between about 7% by weight of the composition to about 55% by weight of the composition. In another embodiment, the at least one nitrification inhibitor and/or urease inhibitor can be present in the composition in an amount between about 8% by weight of the composition to about 50% by weight of the composition. In another embodiment, the at least one nitrification inhibitor and/or urease inhibitor can be present in the liquid agricultural composition in an amount between about 7% by weight of the composition to about 45% by weight of the composition. In another embodiment, the at least one nitrification inhibitor and/or urease inhibitor can be present in the liquid agricultural composition in an amount between about 7% by weight of the composition to about 40% by weight of the composition.

[0088] The at least one nitrification inhibitor and/or urease inhibitor means that the urease inhibitor (e.g., alkyl thiophosphoric triamide) is solely present, the nitrification inhibitor (e.g., neem oil) is solely present, or a combination is present.

[0089] Certain compounds are suitable as a stabilizer (which can be a co-solvent or additive) component of the composition and methods of the present invention are alkanolamines. In one embodiment, the stabilizer is a monoalkanolamine. In another embodiment, the stabilizer is a dialkanolamine. In another embodiment, the stabilizer is a trialkanolamine. In yet another embodiment, the stabilizer is monoethanolamine. In a further embodiment, the stabilizer is diethanolamine. In yet a further embodiment, the stabilizer is a triethanolamine. In another embodiment, the alkanol group is chosen from methanol, ethanol, propanol, butanol. The stabilizer component forms stable compositions at room temperature, high temperatures or low temperatures, with the nitrification and/or urease inhibitor, which in some embodiments means stability at temperatures ranging from −16° C. to 54° C., in other embodiments, −10° C. to 40° C., in other embodiments, −5° C. to 40° C., in other embodiments, −2° C. to 40° C., or in other embodiments, 0° C. to 40° C.

[0090] In some embodiments, certain solvents in combination with one or more nitrification inhibitors and/or urease inhibitors degrade over time. This drawback is seen, for example, in sulfur containing solvents such as dimethylsulfoxide and sulfones. For example, in one embodiment, the sulfur-containing solvents degrade, which negatively affects properties of the liquid composition such as flash point. However it has been surprisingly discovered that a combination of a sulfur containing solvent in addition to a co-solvent or stabilizer delays or retards such degradation. The co-solvent or stabilizer, in one embodiment, is an amine alcohol including but not limited to methanolamine or an aminoalkoxy alcohol.

[0091] In another embodiment, compounds suitable as the organic solvent are polar aprotic solvents, heterocyclic alcohol solvents, and/or mixtures thereof, that form liquid, or otherwise stable, compositions with the nitrification and/or urease inhibitor at temperatures at or greater than −16° C., in alternative embodiments, greater than −14° C., in other embodiments, greater than −12° C., in other embodiments, greater than −10° C., in further embodiments, greater than −8° C., in other embodiments, greater than −5° C., in other embodiments, greater than −3° C., in other embodiments, greater than −2° C., in other embodiments, greater than 0° C., in other embodiments, greater than 2° C., in other embodiments, greater than 4° C., in other embodiments, greater than 5° C.

[0092] In some embodiments, at high temperature ranges or at greater than a specified temperature (as described herein), the liquid fertilizer composition is stable, meaning the urease and/or nitrification inhibitor(s) do not react with the solvent or solvent component under anticipated manufacturing, storage, and use conditions. In one embodiment, the liquid fertilizer compositions are stable at a temperature greater than 25° C. In one embodiment, the liquid fertilizer compositions are stable at a temperature greater than 27° C. In one embodiment, the liquid fertilizer compositions are stable at a temperature greater than 29° C. In one embodiment, the liquid fertilizer compositions are stable at a temperature greater than 30° C. In one embodiment, the liquid fertilizer compositions are stable at a temperature greater than 32° C. In one embodiment, the liquid fertilizer compositions are stable at a temperature greater than 34° C. In one embodiment, the liquid fertilizer compositions are stable at a temperature greater than 35° C. In one embodiment, the liquid fertilizer compositions are stable at a temperature greater than 37° C. In one embodiment, the liquid fertilizer compositions are stable at a temperature greater than 40° C. In one embodiment, the liquid fertilizer compositions are stable at a temperature greater than 42° C. In one embodiment, the liquid fertilizer compositions are stable at a temperature greater than 44° C. In one embodiment, the liquid fertilizer compositions are stable at a temperature greater than 45° C. In one embodiment, the liquid fertilizer compositions are stable at a temperature greater than 47° C. In one embodiment, the liquid fertilizer compositions are stable at a temperature greater than 50° C.

[0093] In one embodiment, at the specified temperature ranges or at greater than a specified temperature (as described herein), the liquid fertilizer composition is stable, meaning the liquid fertilizer composition is or substantially is in one phase, i.e., no visible crystals, no visible precipitation, and/or no visible multiple liquid phases. In another embodiment, the liquid fertilizer composition is stable, meaning the liquid fertilizer composition is or substantially is in one phase and shows little or slight discoloration.

[0094] Suitable polar aprotic organic solvents include, for example, dichloromethane, dimethyl acetamide, dimethyl formamide, dimethyl sulfoxide, ethyl acetate, hexamethylphosphoramide, dimethyl sulfone, sulfolane, 1,3-dimethyl-2-imidazoidinone, 1,3-dimethyl-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-2(1H)-pyrimidone, methyl acetate, ethyl lactate, methylpyrrolidone, tetrahydrofuran, propylene carbonate, and dibasic ester solvents.

[0095] In one embodiment, suitable solvents include at least one solvent from the following:

[0096] (a) at least one dioxolane compound of formula (I.b):

##STR00011##

[0097] wherein R.sub.6 and R.sub.7 individually comprises a hydrogen, an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, or a phenyl group, wherein n is an integer of from 1 to 10; b) at least one dibasic ester; c) at least one compound of formula (III):

R.sub.3OOC-A-CONR.sub.4R.sub.5   (III)

[0098] wherein R.sub.3 comprises a C.sub.1—C.sub.36 alkyl group; wherein R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 individually comprise a C.sub.1—C.sub.36 alkyl group, wherein R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 can optionally together form a ring; and wherein A is a linear or a branched divalent C.sub.2—C.sub.6 alkyl group; d) at least one alkyldimethylamide; e) at least one alkyl lactate; f) ethyl levulinate; g) at least one alkyoxyalcohol, ether alcohol, amine alcohol, amino alcohol or alcohol; h) at least one glycol, glycol derivative, glycerine or glycerine derivative; i) at least one alkylene carbonate; j) dimethylsulfoxide; k) an amine selected from monoalkanolamine, dialkanolamine, trialkanolamine, monoethanolamine, diethanolamine and triethanolamine; l) a sulfone or sulfolane; m) an aminoalkoxy alcohol; n) cyclohexanone or cyclopentanone; o) benzyl alcohol; or p) any combination thereof, wherein the at least one nitrification inhibitor is dispersed or solubilized in the at least one solvent

[0099] Glycols and glycol derivatives include but are not limited to aliphatic dihydroxy (dihydric) alcohols. In one embodiment, glycol derivatives include but are not limited to polypropylene glycol, triethylene glycol, glycol alkyl ethers such as dipropylene glycol methyl ether, diethylene glycol. In another embodiment, glycol derivatives include but are not limited to polyglycols such as polyethylene glycols (PEG) and polypropylene glycols. Glycols are represented by the general formula Cn H2n (OH)2, where n is at least 2. Non-limiting examples of glycols include ethylene glycol (glycol), propylene glycol (1,2-propanediol), 1,4-butanediol, 1,5-pentanediol, 1,6-hexanediol, 1,7-heptanediol, 1,9-nonanediol, 1,10-decanediol, 1,8-octanediol, 1,3-propanediol, 1,3-butanediol, 1,4-butanediol, 2,3-butanediol, 2,4-pentanediol, 2,5-hexanediol, 4,5-octanediol and 3,4-hexanediol, neopentylglycol, pinacol, 2,2-diethyl-1,3-propanediol, 2-ethyl-1,3-hexanediol, 2-ethyl-2-butyl-1,3-propanediol, isobutylene glycol, 2,3-dimethyl-1,3-propanediol, 1,3-diphenyl-1,3-propanediol, 3-methyl-1,3-butanediol.

[0100] In another embodiment, glycol derivatives include but are not limited to glycol stearate, ethylene glycol monostearate, ethylene glycol distearate, ethylene glycol amido stearate, dilaurate glycol, propylene glycol monostearate, propylene glycol dicaprylate, propylene glycol dicaprate diacetate glycol, dipalmite glycol, diformate glycol, dibutyrate glycol, dibenzorate glycol, dipalmate glycol, dipropionate glycol, monoacetate glycol, monopalmitate glycol and monoformate glycol.

[0101] Polyglycol derivatives include but are not limited to polyethylene glycol (PEG) 200-6000 mono and dilaurates, such as, PEG 600 dilaurate, PEG 600 monolaurate, PEG 1000 dilaurate, PEG 1000 monolaurate, PEG 1540 dilaurate and PEG 1540 monolaurate, polyethylene glycol 200-6000 mono and dioleates, such as, PEG 400 monoleate, PEG 600 dioleate, PEG 600 monooleate, PEG 1000 monoleate, PEG 1540 dioleate, PEG 1540 monooleate and polyethylene glycol 200-6000 mono and distearates, such as, PEG 400 distearate, PEG 400 monostearate, PEG 600 distearate, PEG 600 monostearate, PEG 1000 distearate, PEG 1000 monostearate, PEG 1540 distearate, PEG 1540 monostearate and PEG 3000 monostearate.

[0102] Examples of glycerol derivatives include but are not limited to glycerol monolaurate, glycerol monostearate, glycerol distearate, glycerol trioleate, glycerol monooleate, glycerol dilaurate, glycerol dipalmitate, glycerol triacetate, glycerol tribenzoate, glycerol tributyrate, glycerol monopalmitate, glycerol trimyristate, glycerol trilaurate, glycerol tripalmitate and glycerol tristearate.

[0103] Suitable dibasic ester solvents include, for example, dialkyl esters of dicarboxylic acids, more typically, the di(C.sub.1—C.sub.12)alkyl esters of saturated linear or branched (C.sub.2—C.sub.8)aliphatic carboxylic acids or a mixture thereof. In one embodiment, the dibasic ester component comprises one or more compounds according to formula (III):

R.sup.1OOC-A-CONR.sup.2R.sup.3   (III)

[0104] wherein: [0105] A is a divalent linear or branched (C.sub.2—C.sub.8)aliphatic group, and [0106] R.sup.1, R.sup.2, and R.sup.3 are each independently (C.sub.1—C.sub.12)alkyl, (C.sub.1—C.sub.12)aryl, (C.sub.1—C.sub.12)alkaryl or (C.sub.1—C.sub.12)arylalkyl, and R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 may each optionally be substituted with one or more hydroxyl groups.

[0107] In one embodiment, the dibasic ester solvent component of the compositions and methods of the present invention comprises one or more dimethyl esters of saturated linear or branched (C.sub.4—C.sub.6)aliphatic carboxylic acids, such the dimethyl ester of succinic acid, dimethyl ester of ethyl succinic acid, the dimethyl ester of glutaric acid, the dimethyl ester of methyl glutaric acid, and the dimethyl ester of adipic acid, and mixtures thereof. In one embodiment, the dibasic ester component comprises the dimethyl ester of succinic acid, the dimethyl ester of glutaric acid, and optionally, the dimethyl ester of adipic acid, In another embodiment, the dibasic ester component comprises the dimethyl ester of ethyl succinic acid, the dimethyl ester of methyl glutaric acid, and optionally, the dimethyl ester of adipic acid.

[0108] In one embodiment, the dibasic ester solvent component of the compositions and methods of the present invention comprises one or more dialkyl esters of saturated linear or branched (C.sub.4—C.sub.6)aliphatic carboxylic acids, such the dialkyl ester of succinic acid, dialkyl ester of ethylsuccinic acid, the dialkyl ester of glutaric acid, the dialkyl ester of methylglutaric acid, and the dialkyl ester of adipic acid, and mixtures thereof. In one embodiment, the dibasic ester component comprises the dialkyl ester of succinic acid, the dialkyl ester of glutaric acid, and optionally, the dimethyl ester of adipic acid, In another embodiment, the dibasic ester component comprises the dialkyl dimethyl ester of ethylsuccinic acid, the dialkyl ester of methylglutaric acid, and optionally, the dialkyl ester of adipic acid. Each alkyl group in the dialkyl group, one embodiment, individually comprise a C.sub.1—C.sub.8 alkyl. In another embodiment, each alkyl group in the dialkyl group, one embodiment, individually comprise a C.sub.1—C.sub.4 alkyl. In another embodiment, each alkyl group in the dialkyl group, one embodiment, individually comprise a C.sub.1—C.sub.6 alkyl.

[0109] Suitable amine solvents include primary amines, including monoalkylamines, such as propylamine, secondary amines, including dialkyl amines and diaryl amines, such as dimethylamine and diphenylamine, and tertiary amines, such as diethylene triamine and methyl-5-(dimethylamino)-2-methyl-oxopentanoate. Suitable aminoalkoxy alcohols comprise 2-(2-aminoalkoxy)ethanol or 2-(2-aminoethoxy)ethanol. In one embodiment, the amine solvent component of the compositions and methods of the present invention is selected from aliphatic or aromatic primary, secondary, or tertiary amines may optionally further comprise one or more additional functional groups, such as hydroxyalkyl groups, hydroxyl groups, carbonyl groups, or alkyl ester groups, other than one or more amino groups.

[0110] In one embodiment, the organic solvent component of the compositions and methods of the present invention comprises an amino alcohol. Compounds suitable as the amino alcohol solvent component of the compositions and methods of the present invention are those compounds that comprise at least one primary, secondary, or tertiary amino moiety per molecule and at least one hydroxyalkyl moiety per molecule, more typically In one embodiment, the amino alcohol is a linear, branched, or cyclic, saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon that is substituted on at least one carbon atom with an amino group and on at least one other carbon atom with hydroxyalkyl or hydroxyl group, such as monoethanolamine, ethylaminoethanol, dimethylaminoethanol, isopropylaminoethanol, diethanolamine, triethanolamine, methylaminoethanol, aminopropanol, methylaminopropanol, dimethylaminopropanol, am inobutanol, dimethylaminobutanol, am inobutanediol, trihydroxymethylaminoethane, diethylaminopropanediol, 1-amino-cyclopentane methanol, and aminobenzyl alcohol, or a heterocyclic ring that comprises at least one nitrogen atom as a ring member and/or is substituted on at least one carbon atom with an amino group and that is substituted on at least one other carbon atom with a hydroxyalkyl or hydroxyl group, such as methylaminomethyl-1,3-dioxolane. In one embodiment, the amino alcohol includes Am ino-2-propanol and 2-Amino-2-Methyl-1-Propanol.

[0111] Suitable heterocyclic alcohol solvents include, for example, 5- or 6-membered heterocyclic rings that include 1 or 2 oxygen atoms as ring member, that are substituted on at least one carbon atom of the ring with a (C.sub.1—C.sub.6)hydroxyalkyl group, and that may optionally be substituted on one or more carbon atoms of the ring with one or more (C.sub.1—C.sub.4)alkyl groups. It is understood that the term heterocyclic alcohol includes dioxolane compounds. In one embodiment, the heterocyclic alcohol component of the present invention comprises a one or more compounds selected from heterocyclic alcohols according to formulas (II.c), (II.d), (II.e), (II.f), and (II.g):

##STR00012##

[0112] wherein n=1 or 2,

##STR00013##

[0113] In one embodiment, the organic solvent component comprises one or more dibasic ester compounds according to any of formula (III) or formula (IV), one or more amino alcohols, one or more tertiary amines, one or more heterocyclic alcohols according to formulas (II.a-II.g), or mixtures thereof.

[0114] In one embodiment, suitable solvents include any one or more of the following: an alkoxypropyl amine including but not limited to 3-methoxypropyl amine, 3-Dimethylamino-1-propanol, 4-Hydroxy-4-methyl-2-pentanone, a dialkylacetamine such as N,N-Dimethylacetamide, Amino-2-propanol, Cyclohexanone, 2-butoxyethanol, N-Methylpyrrolidine, Cyclopentanone, 2-Hydroxyethyl acrylate, Tetradecane, 2-Hydroxyethyl acrylate, acetonitrile, a glycol or glycol derivative including but not limited to Polypropylene glycol, Triethylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol Methyl Ether, Diethylene Glycol, Morpholine, alkanolamines including but not limited to methanolamine, γ-Butyrolactone, Furfuryl alcohol, Tri-n-Butyl Phosphate, acetophenone, 4-acetalmorpholine, formamide, or 1-ethyl-2-pyrrolidone, or any combination thereof. In another embodiment, the at least one solvent is a sulfone, including but not limited to sulfolane.

[0115] In one embodiment, the organic solvent component of the composition and methods of the present invention comprises dimethyl sulfoxide, dimethyl formamide, the dimethyl ester of succinic acid, dimethyl ester of ethyl succinic acid, the dimethyl ester of glutaric acid, the dimethyl ester of methyl glutaric acid, and the dimethyl ester of adipic acid, diethylene triamine, or monoethanolamine, methyl-5-(dimethylamino)-2-methyl-oxopentanoate, dimethylaminoethanol, triethanol amine, a heterocyclic alcohol according to any of formulas (II.a-II.g), or a mixture thereof.

[0116] In one embodiment, the organic solvent component of the composition and methods of the present invention comprises dimethyl sulfoxide, dimethyl formamide, diethylene triamine, monoethanolamine, or a mixture thereof.

[0117] In one embodiment, the organic solvent component of the composition and methods of the present invention comprises a mixture of at least one organophosphate solvent according to formula (VIII), wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are as described above, and dimethyl sulfoxide.

[0118] In one embodiment, the at least one organophosphate solvent has the formula (VIII)

##STR00014##

[0119] wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3, are each independently chosen from H, a C.sub.1—C.sub.16 alkyl group, a C.sub.1—C.sub.16 alkenyl, group, a C.sub.1—C.sub.16 alkoxyalkyl group, a C.sub.7—C.sub.30 alkylarylalkyl group, a C.sub.7—C.sub.30 arylalkyl group, or an aryl group; provided that at least one of R.sub.1, R.sub.2 or R.sub.3 is not H. In another embodiment, R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3, are each independently chosen from H, a C.sub.1—C.sub.12 alkyl group, a C.sub.1—C.sub.12 alkenyl, group, a C.sub.1—C.sub.12 alkoxyalkyl group, a C.sub.7—C.sub.30 alkylarylalkyl group, a C.sub.7—C.sub.30 arylalkyl group, or an aryl group; provided that at least one of R.sub.1, R.sub.2 or R.sub.3 is not H. In one embodiment, R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3, are each independently chosen from H, a C.sub.1—C.sub.4 alkyl group, a C.sub.4—C.sub.8 alkyl group, a C.sub.1—C.sub.12 alkenyl, group, a C.sub.1—C.sub.4 alkoxyalkyl group, a C.sub.7—C.sub.30 alkylarylalkyl group, a C.sub.7—C.sub.30 arylalkyl group, or an aryl group; provided that at least one of R.sub.1, R.sub.2 or R.sub.3 is not H.

[0120] In yet another embodiment, R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3, are each independently chosen from a C.sub.1—C.sub.12 alkyl group, a C.sub.1—C.sub.12 alkenyl, group, a C.sub.1—C.sub.12 alkoxyalkyl group, a C.sub.7—C.sub.30 alkylarylalkyl group, a C.sub.7—C.sub.30 arylalkyl group, or an aryl group. In one embodiment, R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3, are each independently chosen from a C.sub.1—C.sub.12 alkyl group, more typically, a C.sub.2—C.sub.8 alkyl group.

[0121] In one embodiment, a compound utilized as the solvent or as a component in the solvent blend is a compound of general formula (III):

R.sub.3OOC-A-CONR.sub.4R.sub.5   (III),

[0122] According to one embodiment, the expression “compound” denotes any compound corresponding to the general formula (III). In other embodiments, the term “compound” also refers to mixtures of several molecules corresponding to general formula (III). It may therefore be a molecule of formula (III) or a mixture of several molecules of formula (III), wherein both fall under the definition of the term “compound” when referring to formula (III).

[0123] The R.sub.3, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 groups can be, in some embodiments, identical or, in other embodiment, different. In one embodiment, may be groups chosen from C.sub.1—C.sub.20 alkyl, aryl, alkaryl or arylalkyl groups or the phenyl group. In another embodiment, may be groups chosen from C.sub.1—C.sub.12 alkyl, aryl, alkaryl or arylalkyl groups or the phenyl group. Mention is made especially of Rhodiasolv® PolarClean (Manufactured by Solvay USA Inc., Cranbury, N.J.). The R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 groups may optionally be substituted. In one particular embodiment, the groups are substituted with hydroxyl groups.

[0124] In one embodiment, R.sub.3 group is chosen from methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, n-pentyl, isopentyl, isoamyl, n-hexyl, cyclohexyl, 2-ethylbutyl, n-octyl, isooctyl, 2-ethylhexyl, tridecyl groups.

[0125] R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 groups, which are identical or different, in one embodiment, may especially be chosen from methyl, ethyl, propyl (n-propyl), isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, n-pentyl, amyl, isoamyl, hexyl, cyclohexyl or hydroxyethyl groups. The R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 groups may also be such that they form, together with the nitrogen atom, a morpholine, piperazine or piperidine group. According to some embodiments, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 are each methyl, or R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 are each ethyl, or R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 are each hydroxyethyl.

[0126] According to one embodiment, if A comprises a linear group of formula —CH.sub.2— CH.sub.2— and/or of formula —CH.sub.2— CH.sub.2— CH.sub.2— CH.sub.2— and/or of formula —(CH.sub.2).sub.8— then it is a mixture of A groups. According to one particular embodiment, if A is linear, then it is a mixture of A groups, for example a mixture of two or three —CH.sub.2— CH.sub.2— (ethylene);—CH.sub.2— CH.sub.2— CH.sub.2— (n-propylene); and —CH.sub.2— CH.sub.2— CH.sub.2— CH.sub.2— (n-butylene) groups (or isomers thereof).

[0127] According to a first particular embodiment of the invention, the A group is a divalent linear alkyl group chosen from the groups of the following formulae: —CH.sub.2— CH.sub.2— (ethylene); —CH.sub.2— CH.sub.2— CH.sub.2— (n-propylene); —CH.sub.2— CH.sub.2— CH.sub.2— CH.sub.2— (n-butylene), and mixtures thereof.

[0128] In one embodiment, the inhibitor composition of the present invention comprises, based on 100 parts by weight (“pbw”) of the composition:

[0129] from about 4 to about 60 pbw, more typically from about 10 to about 55 pbw, and even more typically from about 20 to about 40 pbw nitrification inhibitor (which in one embodiment is neem oil), and

[0130] from about 55 to about 96 pbw, more typically from about 58 to about 90 pbw, and even more typically from about 60 to about 80 pbw of the organic solvent.

[0131] In one embodiment, the inhibitor composition of the present invention comprises one or more urease inhibitors, such as, for example, NBPT or ammonium thiosulfate.

[0132] The nitrogenous fertilizer compound is treated with the inhibitor composition by contacting the nitrogenous fertilizer composition with the inhibitor composition described herein (e.g., nitrification inhibitor or urease inhibitor or a combination of both). The nitrogenous fertilizer composition may be in solid or liquid form.

[0133] Suitable nitrogenous fertilizers are those containing a nitrogenous compound such as urea, nitrate salts, ammonium salt, or a mixture thereof, such as ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulfate, ammonium thiosulfate, ammonium polysulfide, ammonium phosphates, ammonium chloride, ammonium bicarbonate, anhydrous ammonia, calcium nitrate, nitrate soda, calcium cyanamide. In one embodiment, the nitrogenous fertilizer comprises ammonium nitrate. Suitable ammonium nitrate-containing fertilizers include, for example, UAN 18, UAN 28, and UAN 30.

[0134] In one embodiment, the nitrogenous fertilizer composition is in solid particulate form, and the contacting of the nitrogenous fertilizer composition with the inhibitor composition is conducted by, for example, spraying the composition of the present invention on the particles of solid fertilizer composition.

[0135] In one embodiment, the concentrated fertilizer composition of the present invention is a solid nitrification-inhibited fertilizer composition that comprises, based on 100 pbw of the composition:

[0136] from about 60 pbw to about 99.999, more typically from about 70 pbw to about 99.999, and even more typically from about 80 pbw to about 99.999 solid particles of one or more nitrogenous fertilizer compounds, and

[0137] from about 0.001 to about 40 pbw, more typically from about 0.001 to about 30 pbw, and even more typically from about 0.001 to about 20 pbw, nitrification inhibitor.

[0138] In one embodiment, the solid nitrification-inhibited fertilizer composition of the present invention further comprises one or more urease inhibitors, more typically NBPT.

[0139] In one embodiment, the end use fertilizer composition of the present invention is made by combining the inhibitor composition of the present invention with a solid nitrogenous fertilizer to form a solid nitrification-inhibited fertilizer composition and subsequently dissolving the solid nitrification-inhibited fertilizer composition in an aqueous medium, typically water, in a ratio of up to about 500 pbw, more typically from 100 to 500 pbw and even more typically from about 100 to about 300 pbw, of the aqueous medium per 1 pbw of the solid nitrification-inhibited fertilizer composition.

[0140] In one embodiment, the fertilizer compound is in liquid form and the contacting of the fertilizer composition with the inhibitor composition is conducted by mixing the inhibitor composition with the liquid fertilizer composition.

[0141] In one embodiment, the concentrated fertilizer composition of the present invention is a concentrated liquid nitrification-inhibited fertilizer composition that comprises, based on 100 pbw of the composition:

[0142] from about 20 to about 99.989 pbw, more typically from about 30 to about 99.985 pbw, and even more typically from about 40 to about 99.98 pbw of one or more nitrogenous fertilizer compounds,

[0143] from about 0.001 to 40 pbw, more typically from about 0.005 to 30 pbw, and even more typically from about 0.01 to 20 pbw NBPT (or NBPT in combination with a natural nitrification inhibitor), and

[0144] from about 0.01 to 60 pbw, more typically from about 0.01 to about 40 pbw, and even more typically from about 0.01 to about 30 pbw of the organic solvent or solvent mixture, as described herein.

[0145] In one embodiment, the concentrated liquid nitrification-inhibited fertilizer composition of the present invention further comprises one or more urease inhibitors, more typically NBPT.

[0146] In one embodiment, the end use fertilizer composition of the present invention is made by combining the inhibitor composition of the present invention with a concentrated nitrogenous fertilizer to form a concentrated liquid nitrification-inhibited fertilizer composition and subsequently diluting the concentrated liquid nitrification-inhibited fertilizer composition with an aqueous medium, typically water in a ratio of up to about 500 pbw, more typically from about 10 to about 500 pbw and even more typically from about 100 to about 300 pbw, of the aqueous medium per 1 pbw concentrated liquid nitrogenous fertilizer composition.

[0147] In one embodiment, the end use fertilizer composition of the present invention is made by combining the inhibitor composition of the present invention, a solid or concentrated liquid nitrogenous fertilizer, and an aqueous medium.

[0148] In one embodiment, the end use fertilizer composition of the present invention is an aqueous liquid composition that comprises water, one or more nitrogenous fertilizer compounds, and natural nitrification inhibitor, typically in an amount of from 2×10.sup.−6 pbw to about 4 pbw neem oil per 100 pbw of the end use fertilizer composition.

[0149] In one embodiment, the end use fertilizer composition of the present invention comprises water and based on 100 parts by weight of the composition:

[0150] from about 0.04 to about 10 pbw, more typically from about 0.06 to about 10 pbw, and even more typically from about 0.08 pbw to about 10 pbw to of one or more nitrogenous fertilizer compounds,

[0151] from about 2×10.sup.−6 to about 4 pbw, more typically from about 1×10.sup.−5 to about 3 pbw, and even more typically from about 2×10.sup.−4 to about 2 pbw dicyandiamide, and

[0152] from about 2×10.sup.−4 to about 6 pbw, more typically from about 2×10.sup.−4 to about 4 pbw, and even more typically from about 2×10.sup.−4 to about 3 pbw of the organic solvent.

[0153] In one embodiment, the end use fertilizer composition of the present invention comprises one or more urease inhibitors, more typically NBPT, alone or in combination with the nitrification inhibitor.

[0154] In one embodiment, the end use fertilizer composition of the present invention comprises from about 0.001 to about 5 pbw, more typically from about 0.01 to about 2 pbw dicyandiamide per 100 pbw of the one or more nitrogenous fertilizer compounds.

[0155] In one embodiment, the end use fertilizer composition is applied to target plants or to an environment for the target plants, i.e., to ground on or within which the target plants are growing or to be grown, at a rate of from about 0.01 pounds to about 5 pounds of the fertilizer composition, more typically from about 0.05 pounds to about 2 pounds of the fertilizer composition, per 100 square feet of ground.

[0156] In one embodiment, the end use fertilizer composition is applied to target plants or to an environment for the target plants at a rate effective to provide a dosage of nitrogenous fertilizer compound of from about 0.01 pounds to about 5 pounds of fertilizer compound, more typically from about 0.05 pounds to 2 pounds of fertilizer compound, per 100 square feet of ground.

[0157] In one embodiment, the end use fertilizer composition is applied to target plants or to an environment for the target plants at a rate effective to provide a dosage of dicyandiamide of from about 0.01 pounds to 5 pounds of dicyandiamide, more typically from about 0.05 pounds to 2 pounds of dicyandiamide, per 1000 square feet of ground.

[0158] In one embodiment, target plants include but are not limited to cereals, fruits, legumes, vegetables, and/or nuts. In one embodiment, target plants include but are not limited to alfalfa, rye, sorghum, millet, proso millet, foxtail millet, finger millet, sunflower, safflower, wheat, soybean, tobacco, potato, peanuts, cotton, sweet potato, cassava, coffee, coconut, pineapple, citrus trees, cocoa, tea, banana, avocado, fig, guava, mango, olive, papaya, cashew, macadamia, almond, sugar beets, sugarcane, oat, barley, vegetable, ornamental, woody plants, squash, pumpkin, hemp, zucchini, apple, pear, quince, melon, plum, cherry, peach, nectarine, apricot, strawberry, grape, raspberry, blackberry, soybean, sorghum, sugarcane, rapeseed, clover, carrot, tomatoes, lettuce, green beans, lima beans, peas, cauliflower, broccoli, turnip, radish, spinach, asparagus, onion, garlic, pepper, celery, cucumber, cantaloupe, melon, musk melon, hydrangea, hibiscus, petunias, roses, azalea, tulips, daffodils, carnation, poinsettia, chrysanthemum, loblolly pine, slash pine, ponderosa pine, lodgepole pine, monterey pine, Douglas-fir, Western hemlock, Sitka spruce, redwood, silver fir, balsam fir, western red cedar, Alaska yellow-cedar, beans, peas, guar, locust bean, fenugreek, soybean, garden beans, cowpea, mungbean, lima bean, fava bean, lentils, chickpea, pea, moth bean, broad bean, kidney bean, lentil, dry bean, Arachis, peanuts, Vicia, crown vetch, hairy vetch, adzuki bean, mung bean, chickpea, Lupinus, Pisum, Melilotus, Medicago, Lotus, lens, false indigo, turf grass, orchard grass, tall fescue, perennial ryegrass, creeping bent grass, lucerne, birdsfoot trefoil, stylosanthes species, lotononis bainessii, sainfoin or any combination thereof.

[0159] The composition of the present invention provides improved ease of handling of natural nitrification inhibitors, improved solubility characteristics, low toxicity of the organic solvents; good storage characteristics, and excellent miscibility with aqueous compositions, such as aqueous nitrogenous fertilizer formulations.

[0160] In one embodiment the composition comprises, by weight of composition, greater than 50 wt % of neem/neem oil and/or NBPT, the remainder being solvent or a mixture of solvents with the stabilizer. By way of example, in one embodiment, the fertilizer composition comprises, by weight of composition, 50 wt % of neem/neem oil and 50 wt % of a solvent blend of DMSO and at least one stabilizer as described above.

[0161] In one embodiment the composition comprises, by weight of composition, greater than 50 wt % of NBPT, the remainder being solvent or a mixture of solvents with the stabilizer. In one embodiment the composition comprises, by weight of composition, greater than 51 wt %, 52 wt %, 53 wt %, 54 wt % of NBPT, the remainder being solvent or a mixture of solvents with the stabilizer. In one embodiment the composition comprises, by weight of composition, greater than 55 wt %, 56 wt %, 57 wt %, 58 wt %, 59 wt % of NBPT, the remainder being solvent or a mixture of solvents with the stabilizer. In one embodiment the composition comprises, by weight of composition, greater than 60 wt % of NBPT, the remainder being solvent or a mixture of solvents with the stabilizer. In one embodiment the composition comprises, by weight of composition, greater than 65 wt % of NBPT, the remainder being solvent or a mixture of solvents with the stabilizer. In one embodiment the composition comprises, by weight of composition, greater than 70 wt % of NBPT, the remainder being solvent or a mixture of solvents with the stabilizer. . In one embodiment the composition comprises, by weight of composition, greater than 75wt % of NBPT, the remainder being solvent or a mixture of solvents with the stabilizer.

[0162] In one embodiment the composition comprises, by weight of composition, greater than 50 wt % of NBPT in combination with neem/neem oil, the remainder being solvent or a mixture of solvents with the stabilizer. In one embodiment the composition comprises, by weight of composition, greater than 51 wt %, 52 wt %, 53 wt %, 54 wt % of NBPT in combination with neem/neem oil, the remainder being solvent or a mixture of solvents with the stabilizer. In one embodiment the composition comprises, by weight of composition, greater than 55 wt %, 56 wt %, 57 wt %, 58 wt %, 59 wt % of NBPT in combination with neem/neem oil, the remainder being solvent or a mixture of solvents with the stabilizer. In one embodiment the composition comprises, by weight of composition, greater than 60 wt % of NBPT in combination with neem/neem oil, the remainder being solvent or a mixture of solvents with the stabilizer. In one embodiment the composition comprises, by weight of composition, greater than 65 wt % of NBPT in combination with neem/neem oil, the remainder being solvent or a mixture of solvents with the stabilizer. In one embodiment the composition comprises, by weight of composition, greater than 70 wt % of NBPT in combination with neem/neem oil, the remainder being solvent or a mixture of solvents with the stabilizer. In one embodiment the composition comprises, by weight of composition, greater than 75wt % of NBPT in combination with neem/neem oil, the remainder being solvent or a mixture of solvents with the stabilizer.

[0163] In one embodiment the composition comprises, by weight of composition, greater than 30 wt % of neem/neem oil and/or NBPT, the remainder being solvent or a mixture of solvents with the stabilizer. By way of example, in one embodiment, the fertilizer composition comprises, by weight of composition, 30 wt % of neem/neem oil and 70 wt % of a solvent blend of: (i) at least one dioxolane compound of formula (II.b):

##STR00015##

[0164] wherein R.sub.6 and R.sub.7 individually comprises a hydrogen, an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, or a phenyl group, wherein n is an integer of from 1 to 10.

[0165] In one embodiment the composition comprises, by weight of composition, greater than 40 pbw of neem/neem oil (or NBPT in combination with neem/neem oil), the remainder being solvent or a mixture of solvents.

[0166] In one embodiment the composition comprises, by weight of composition, greater than 35 pbw of neem/neem oil (or NBPT in combination with neem/neem oil), the remainder being solvent or a mixture of solvents.

[0167] In one embodiment the composition comprises, by weight of composition, greater than 45 pbw of neem/neem oil and/or NBPT, the remainder being solvent or a mixture of solvents. By way of example, in one embodiment, the fertilizer composition comprises, by weight of composition, 45 wt % of neem/neem oil and 55 wt % of a solvent blend of: (i) DMSO; and (ii) at least one stabilizer as described herein.

[0168] In one embodiment the composition comprises, by weight of composition, greater than 55 pbw of neem/neem oil and/or NBPT, the remainder being solvent or a mixture of solvents. By way of example, in one embodiment, the fertilizer composition comprises, by weight of composition, 55 wt % of neem/neem oil and 45 wt % of a solvent blend of: (i) at least one dioxolane compound of formula (II.b) or formula (II.a), wherein R.sub.6 and R.sub.7 are as described above; and

(ii) at least one stabilizer as described herein.

EXAMPLES

[0169] Referring to Tables 1-5, NBPT active was melted (melting point NBPT is 58-60° C.) along with identified surfactant having a melting point range of 55-75° C. Both the NBPT and identified surfactant component were melted, and neem oil was slowly added to the mixture. When the solutions come to room temperature they were observed to form a paste.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE I % Composition stearic acid, monoester with Product Product when kept glycerol Neem observation standing at 75° C. NBPT glycerol Seed Oil at 30° C. for 10 mins 47.5 5 47.5 Stable paste Neem oil & NBPT separates 45 10 45 Stable paste Neem oil & NBPT separates

TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 % Composition Product Product when kept Glycol Neem observation standing at 75° C. NBPT Stearate Seed Oil at 30° C. for 10 mins 47.5 5 47.5 Stable paste Neem oil & NBPT separates 45 10 45 Stable paste Neem oil & NBPT separates

TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 % Composition Ethylene Product Product when kept Glycol Neem observation standing at 75° C. NBPT Distearate Seed Oil at 30° C. for 10 mins 47.5 5 47.5 Stable paste Neem oil & NBPT separates 45 10 45 Stable paste Neem oil & NBPT separates

TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 4 % Composition Product Product when kept Cocoamide Neem observation standing at 75° C. NBPT MEA Seed Oil at 30° C. for 10 mins 47.5 5 47.5 Stable paste Neem oil & NBPT separates 45 10 45 Stable paste Neem oil & NBPT separates

TABLE-US-00005 TABLE 5 % Composition Product Product when kept PEG Neem observation standing at 75° C. NBPT distearate Seed Oil at 30° C. for 10 mins 47.5 5 47.5 Stable paste Neem oil & NBPT separates 45 10 45 Stable paste Neem oil & NBPT separates

[0170] It should be apparent embodiments other than those expressly described above come within the spirit and scope of the present invention. Thus, the present invention is not defined by the above description but by the claims appended hereto.