# US 2014/0190227 A1 · Fertilizer for foliar use

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- Number: US 2014/0190227 A1
- Document ID: US20140190227A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/151,893
- Filed: 2014-01-10
- Published: 2014-07-10
- Earliest claimed: 2013-01-10
- Assignees: Tessenderlo Chemie S.A.
- Applicants: Tessenderlo Chemie NV
- Inventors: Michel MARCHAND; Nicolas WHITE; Peter LANDUYT; Peter LUTS
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140190227A1

## CPC

- C05D 1/00: Fertilisers containing potassium (C05D7/00 takes precedence)
- C01D 5/00: Sulfates or sulfites of sodium, potassium or alkali metals in general {(sulfites in general C01B17/62)}
- C05D 1/005: {post-treatment}
- C05D 1/02: Manufacture from potassium chloride or sulfate or double or mixed salts thereof
- C05G 5/27: Dispersions, e.g. suspensions or emulsions
- Y10T 428/2982: Particulate matter [e.g., sphere, flake, etc.]
- C05D: INORGANIC FERTILISERS NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C05B, C05C; FERTILISERS PRODUCING CARBON DIOXIDE
- C01D: COMPOUNDS OF ALKALI METALS, i.e. LITHIUM, SODIUM, POTASSIUM, RUBIDIUM, CAESIUM, OR FRANCIUM (metal hydrides {monoborane, diborane or addition complexes thereof} C01B6/00; salts of oxyacids of halogens C01B11/00; peroxides, salts of peroxyacids C01B15/00; sulfides C01B17/22; thiosulfates, dithionites, polythionates C01B17/64; compounds containing selenium or tellurium C01B19/00; binary compounds of nitrogen with metals C01B21/06; azides C01B21/08; {compounds other than ammonia and cyanogen, containing nitrogen and other non-metals C01B21/082}; metal amides C01B21/092; nitrites C01B21/50; phosphides C01B21/50; {compounds of noble gases C01B23/0005}; phosphides C01B25/08; salts of oxyacids of phosphorus C01B25/16; carbides C01B32/90; compounds containing silicon C01B33/00; compounds containing boron C01B35/00; cyanides C01C3/08; salts of cyanic acid C01C3/14; salts of cyanamide C01C3/16; thiocyanates C01C3/20)
- 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
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

The invention relates to a potassium sulphate powder wherein about 80 wt % or more of the powder has a particle size of about 0.2 mm or lower, preferably about 0.13 mm or less. The particle size preferably is such, that about 80 wt % or more is about 0.02 mm or higher, more preferably about 0.04 mm or higher. This potassium sulphate powder dissolves easily in water, more in particular, 50 gram of said potassium sulphate powder dissolves in 1 litre of water without stirring within 1 minute, preferably within 30 sec. This potassium sulphate powder is very suitable as foliar fertilizer, in particular for broad acre crops. Further, the invention relates to the use of foliar potassium fertilizer, to enhance the uptake of potassium from the soil.

## Claims

### Claim 1

Potassium sulphate powder wherein about 80 wt % or more of the powder has a particle size of about 0.2 mm or lower, and wherein about 80 wt % or more of the potassium sulphate powder has a particle size of about 0.02 mm or higher.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The potassium sulphate powder according to claim 1, wherein about 95 wt % or more of the powder has a particle size of about 0.2 mm or lower, and wherein about 95 wt % or more of the potassium sulphate powder has a particle size of about 0.02 mm or higher.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The potassium sulphate powder according to claim 1, wherein a 1 wt % solution of the potassium sulphate powder has a pH of about 4 or lower.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The potassium sulphate powder according to claim 1, wherein the potassium sulphate powder dissolves easily in water, such that 50 gram of said potassium sulphate powder dissolves in 1 litre of water without stirring within about 1 minute or less.

### Claim 5

A method of improving the yield of crop, wherein potassium sulphate powder dissolved in water is applied to said crop as a foliar application, wherein said potassium sulphate powder is a potassium sulphate powder wherein about 80 wt % or more of the powder has a particle size of about 0.2 mm or lower.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method of improving the yield of a crop according to claim 5, wherein said crop is a broad acre crop.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein said broad acre crop is chosen from root or tuber crops, chosen from sugar beet or potato.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein said broad acre crop is a cereal, chosen from maize, wheat, rice, grain and barley.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein said broad crop is an oil crop chosen from soy bean, sunflower, rapeseed, or peanut.

### Claim 10 (depends on 6)

The method according to claim 6, wherein said broad acre crop is clover, cotton or mustard.

### Claim 11 (depends on 5)

The method according to claim 5, wherein the potassium sulphate is applied in an amount of about 1.2 kg or more per acre per application (i.e. about 3 kg or more per hectare per application), and in an amount of about 10 kg or less per acre per application (i.e. about 25 kg or less per hectare per application).

### Claim 12 (depends on 5)

The method according to claim 5, wherein the potassium sulphate is applied once, twice, or three times or more often during the growth of the crop.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method according to claim 12, wherein in case the potassium sulphate is applied more than once, a further application is applied between about 7 days up to about 20 days from the earlier application.

### Claim 14 (depends on 5)

The method according to claim 5, wherein potassium sulphate powder is dissolved in water in equipment that has no need of mechanical stirring means, after which the solution is applied to said crop, wherein said potassium sulphate powder is a potassium sulphate powder wherein about 80 wt % or more of the powder has a particle size of about 0.2 mm or lower.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method according to claim 14, wherein said solution is prepared by filling the main tanks of a spray apparatus for 50-80% with water, adding the potassium sulphate and further adding water to fill the tank to about 100% of the required amount.

### Claim 16

A method of improving the yield of crop, wherein a potassium foliar fertilizer is applied on a crop for which the soil has high nutrient level of potassium, such that the foliar applied potassium fertilizer causes a plant to increase the uptake of potassium from the soil.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The method according to claim 16, wherein potassium fertilization is used both on soil and as foliar application, to achieve an additional uptake from the soil by the foliar application.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The method according to claim 17, wherein a combined application of fertilizers is used, wherein an amount of potassium fertilizer for the soil is applied, which amount is such that about 70% or more of the maximum desirable amount is applied, in combination with a foliar potassium fertilizer in an amount of about 1.2 kg or more per acre per application (i.e. about 3 kg or more per hectare per application), and in an amount of about 10 kg or less per acre per application (i.e. about 25 kg or less per hectare per application).

### Claim 19 (depends on 16)

The method according to claim 16, wherein potassium sulphate powder, wherein about 80 wt % or more of the powder has a particle size of about 0.2 mm or lower, and wherein about 80 wt % or more of the potassium sulphate powder has a particle size of about 0.02 mm or higher, is used.

### Claim 20 (depends on 17)

The method according to claim 17, wherein the potassium foliar fertilizer is applied, wherein the potassium sulphate is applied in an amount of about 1.2 kg or more per acre per application (i.e. about 3 kg or more per hectare per application), and in an amount of about 10 kg or less per acre per application (i.e. about 25 kg or less per hectare per application), in combination with soil fertilization, wherein the soil is fertilized with at least 40 kg/ha potassium (as K2O).