# US 10,117,378 B2 · Fertigation composition, use and system

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- Number: US 10,117,378 B2
- Document ID: US10117378B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/787,637
- Filed: 2014-04-25
- Published: 2016-03-17
- Granted: 2018-11-06
- Earliest claimed: 2013-04-30
- Assignees: Saudi Basic Industries Corporation
- Applicants: Saudi Basic Industries Corporation
- Inventors: Mohamed Akasha M. Khaleel
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10117378B2

## CPC

- A01C 23/042: {Adding fertiliser to watering systems}
- C05B 17/00: Other phosphatic fertilisers, e.g. soft rock phosphates, bone meal
- C05G 5/23: Solutions
- A01C: PLANTING; SOWING; FERTILISING (parts, details or accessories of agricultural machines or implements, in general A01B51/00 - A01B75/00)
- C05B: PHOSPHATIC FERTILISERS
- C05G: MIXTURES OF FERTILISERS COVERED INDIVIDUALLY BY DIFFERENT SUBCLASSES OF CLASS C05; MIXTURES OF ONE OR MORE FERTILISERS WITH MATERIALS NOT HAVING A SPECIFIC FERTILISING ACTIVITY, e.g. PESTICIDES, SOIL-CONDITIONERS, WETTING AGENTS (organic fertilisers containing added bacterial cultures, mycelia, or the like C05F11/08; organic fertilisers containing plant vitamins or hormones C05F11/10); FERTILISERS CHARACTERISED BY THEIR FORM

## Abstract

Disclosed herein is a method for fertigation comprising: (a) providing an acidic mixture of water and a fertilizer dissolving agent; (b) contacting the acidic mixture with a fertilizer composition in fertigation equipment to dissolve the fertilizer composition and to form a fertigation composition; and (c) contacting the fertigation composition with soil. Also disclosed are a fertigation composition and a fertilizer system.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for fertigation comprising:
a) providing an acidic mixture comprising water and an acidic fertilizer dissolving agent;
b) contacting the acidic mixture with a NP, PK, or NPK fertilizer composition in fertigation equipment to dissolve the NP, PK, or NPK fertilizer composition and to form a NP, PK, or NPK fertigation composition; and
c) contacting the NP, PK, or NPK fertigation composition with soil,
wherein the acidic mixture comprises at least 100 ppm of Ca+2.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method for fertigation of claim 1, further comprising cleaning the NP, PK, or NPK fertigation composition from the fertigation equipment.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method for fertigation of claim 1, wherein providing the acidic mixture further comprises:
a) filling a fertigation tank with water to a required level;
b) checking the pH and the calcium content of the water to determine the pH and the calcium content of the acidic mixture;
c) adding the fertilizer dissolving agent; and
d) repeating steps b and c, as necessary, until a pH of the acidic mixture is from 5.0 to 9.5 has been reached.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method for fertigation of claim 1, wherein contacting the acidic mixture with the NP, PK, or NPK fertilizer composition further comprises:
a) resting the NP, PK, or NPK fertigation composition for a period of time ranging from about 8 hrs to about 36 hrs; and
b) mixing the NP, PK, or NPK fertigation composition in the fertigation tank for a period of time ranging from about 30 minutes to about 90 minutes.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method for fertigation of claim 1, wherein contacting the NP, PK, or NPK fertigation composition with soil further comprises:
a) dispensing the NP, PK, or NPK fertigation composition in dosages; and
b) charging the NP, PK, or NPK fertigation composition to an irrigation line.

### Claim 6 (depends on 2)

The method for fertigation of claim 2, wherein cleaning the NP, PK, or NPK fertigation composition further comprises:
a) flushing an irrigation line with water; and
b) sending the NP, PK, or NPK fertigation composition to an irrigation line.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method for fertigation of claim 1, wherein
a) the NP, PK, or NPK fertilizer composition is present in an amount ranging from about 10 wt % to about 50 wt %, based on the NP, PK, or NPK fertigation composition;
b) the fertilizer dissolving agent is present in an amount ranging from about 2 wt % to about 88 wt %, based on the NP, PK, or NPK fertigation composition; and
c) water is present in an amount ranging from about 2 wt % to about 88 wt %, based on the NP, PK, or NPK fertigation composition.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method for fertigation of claim 1, wherein the fertilizer dissolving agent comprises hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, phosphoric acid, or sulfuric acid or a combination thereof.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method for fertigation of claim 1, wherein the fertilizer dissolving agent is phosphoric acid, or sulfuric acid or a combination thereof.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method for fertigation of claim 1, wherein the fertilizer dissolving agent is sulfuric acid.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method for fertigation of claim 1, wherein the fertilizer dissolving agent does not comprise hydrochloric acid or nitric acid.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The method for fertigation of claim 1, wherein the fertigation equipment comprises an irrigation tank or a portable fertigation tank.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the fertigation equipment used for carrying out the method comprises:
a) a fertigation storage-mixing tank having an inlet for receiving one or more fertigation components from a source;
b) a fertigation pump having an inlet in fluid communication with the fertigation storage-mixing tank and having a pump discharge outlet;
c) a recirculation loop in fluid communication with said pump discharge outlet and having a terminal recirculation loop discharge end located within said storage-mixing tank and defining a recirculation discharge inlet; and
d) a fertigation feed line in fluid communication with said pump discharge outlet and having a terminal fertigation discharge end in communication with a downstream irrigation system;
wherein the equipment is selectively operable in a first and second operable configuration,
wherein, in the first operable configuration, the fertigation pump inlet is in fluid communication with the fertigation storage mixing tank; the recirculation loop is in fluid communication with the pump discharge outlet; and the fertigation feed line is not in fluid communication with the pump discharge outlet, such that the equipment is configured to recirculate one or more fertigation components within the fertigation storage-mixing tank; and
wherein, in the second operable configuration, the fertigation pump inlet is in fluid communication with the storage mixing tank; the recirculation loop is not in fluid communication with the pump discharge outlet; and the fertigation feed line is in fluid communication with the pump discharge outlet, such that the equipment is configured to feed a dosage of one or more fertigation components to the downstream irrigation system.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The method for fertigation of claim 1, wherein the NP, PK, or NPK fertilizer composition is a NPK fertilizer composition, and wherein the NP, PK, or NPK fertigation composition is a NPK fertigation composition.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the acidic mixture comprises 200 to 1000 ppm of Ca+2.

### Claim 16 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein the pH is 7.5 to 9.5.

### Claim 17

A NP, PK, or NPK fertigation composition comprising:
a) a NP, PK, or NPK fertilizer composition, wherein the NP, PK, or NPK fertilizer composition is present in an amount ranging from about 10 wt % to about 50 wt %, based on the NP, PK, or NPK fertigation composition;
b) a fertilizer dissolving agent comprising sulfuric acid or phosphoric acid, or a mixture thereof, wherein the fertilizer dissolving agent is present in an amount ranging from about 2 wt % to about 88 wt %, based on the NP, PK, or NPK fertigation composition; and
c) water, wherein the water is present in an amount ranging from about 2 wt % to about 88 wt %, based on the NP, PK, or NPK fertigation composition,
d) Ca+2, wherein Ca+2 is present in an amount of 100 to 1000 ppm.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The NP, PK, or NPK fertigation composition of claim 17, wherein the fertilizer dissolving agent does not comprise hydrochloric acid or nitric acid.

### Claim 19 (depends on 17)

The NP, PK, or NPK fertigation composition of claim 17, wherein the NP, PK, or NPK fertigation composition comprises a NP, PK, or NPK fertilizer composition comprising a NPK 11-29-19 Grade fertilizer composition, wherein the NP, PK, or NPK fertilizer composition is present in an amount of about 35 wt % to 60 wt %, based on the total weight of the NP, PK, or NPK fertigation composition; a fertilizer dissolving agent comprising sulfuric acid, wherein the fertilizer dissolving agent is present in an amount of about 4.5 wt % to 7.5 wt %, based on the total weight of the NP, PK, or NPK fertigation composition; and water in an amount of about 30 wt % to 50 wt %, based on the total weight of the NP, PK, or NPK fertigation composition.

### Claim 20 (depends on 17)

The NP, PK, or NPK fertigation composition of claim 17, wherein the NP, PK, or NPK fertigation composition comprises a NP, PK, or NPK fertilizer composition comprising a NPK 14-38-10 Grade fertilizer composition, wherein the NP, PK, or NPK fertilizer composition is present in an amount of about 30 wt % to 60 wt %, based on the total weight of the NP, PK, or NPK fertigation composition; a fertilizer dissolving agent comprising sulfuric acid, wherein the fertilizer dissolving agent is present in an amount of about 4 wt % to 12 wt %, based on the total weight of the NP, PK, or NPK fertigation composition; and water in an amount of about 30 wt % to 50 wt %, based on the total weight of the NP, PK, or NPK fertigation composition.

### Claim 21 (depends on 17)

The NP, PK, or NPK fertigation composition of claim 17, wherein the fertilizer dissolving agent is sulfuric acid.

### Claim 22 (depends on 17)

The NP, PK, or NPK fertigation composition of claim 17, wherein the NP, PK, or NPK fertilizer composition is a NPK fertilizer composition, and wherein the NP, PK, or NPK fertigation composition is a NPK fertigation composition.

### Claim 23 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, wherein the acidic mixture comprises 200 to 1000 ppm of Ca+2.