Anionic vinyl/dicarboxylic acid polymers and uses thereof

A method of enhancing the growth of plants comprising the step of applying to said plants or to the earth adjacent said plants a growth-enhancing amount of a fertilizer product, said fertilizer product comprising a fertilizer in intimate contact with a polymer comprising recurring polymeric subunits each made up of at least two different moieties individually and respectively taken from the group consisting of A, B, and C moieties, or recurring C moieties, wherein moiety A is of the general formula

• 15
• moiety B is of the general formula
• 16
• and moiety C is of the general formula
• 17
• wherein R1, R2 and R7 are individually and respectively selected from the group consisting of H, OH, C1-C30 straight, branched chain and cyclic alkyl or aryl groups, C1-C30 straight, branched chain and cyclic alkyl or aryl C1-C30 based ester groups (formate (C0), acetate (C1), propionate (C2), butyrate (C3), etc. up to C30), R′CO2 groups, and OR′ groups, wherein R′ is selected from the group consisting of C1-C30 straight, branched chain and cyclic alkyl or aryl groups;
• R3 and R4 are individually and respectively selected from the group consisting of H, C1-C30 straight, branched chain and cyclic alkyl or aryl groups;
• R5, R6, R10 and R11 are individually and respectively selected from the group consisting of H, the alkali metals, NH4 and the C1-C4 alkyl ammonium groups, Y is selected from the group consisting of Fe, Mn, Mg, Zn, Cu, Ni, Co, Mo, V, Cr, Si, B, and Ca;
• R8 and R9 are individually and respectively selected from the group consisting of nothing, CH2, C2H4, and C3H6, at least one of said R1, R2, R3 and R4 is OH where said polymeric subunits are made up of A and B moieties, at least one of said R1, R2 and R7 is OH where said polymeric subunits are made up of A and C moieties, and at least one of said R1, R2, R3, R4 and R7 is OH where said polymeric subunits are made up of A, B and C moieties.