# US 5,350,735 A · Composition and method for enhanced fertilizer uptake by plants > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,350,735 A - Document ID: US5350735A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 07/972,375 - Filed: 1992-11-05 - Granted: 1994-09-27 - Earliest claimed: 1992-11-05 - Assignees: Donlar Corporation - Inventors: Alan M. Kinnersley; Larry P. Koskan; David J. Strom; Abdul R. Y. Meah - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5350735A ## CPC - A01N 37/46: N-acyl derivatives - C05F 11/00: Other organic fertilisers - C05G 3/00: Mixtures of one or more fertilisers with additives not having a specially fertilising activity - C05G 5/20: Liquid fertilisers (layered or coated C05G5/30; incorporated into a matrix C05G5/40) - A01N: PRESERVATION OF BODIES OF HUMANS OR ANIMALS OR PLANTS OR PARTS THEREOF (preservation of food or foodstuff A23); BIOCIDES, e.g. AS DISINFECTANTS, AS PESTICIDES OR AS HERBICIDES (preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes which kill or prevent the growth or proliferation of unwanted organisms A61K); PEST REPELLANTS OR ATTRACTANTS; PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS - C05F: ORGANIC FERTILISERS NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C05B, C05C, e.g. FERTILISERS FROM WASTE OR REFUSE - 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 Water-soluble poly(organic acids) having a molecular size of more than 1,500 Daltons enhance fertilizer uptake and promote plant growth. Particularly suitable for this purpose are the poly(amino acids) such as poly(aspartic acid) and copolymers thereof. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A composition, suitable for the promotion of plant growth, and comprising a mixture of a water-soluble, non-aromatic poly(organic acid) which is a poly(amino acid) of the group consisting of poly(aspartic acid), poly(glutamic acid), poly(glycine), poly(lysine), a copolymer of cysteine and glutamic acid, and a terpolymer of cysteine, glutamic acid and aspartic acid, said poly(amino acid) having at least about 15 repeating organic acid mers and a molecular size larger than 1,500 Daltons and a fertilizer for said plant. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The composition in accordance with claim 1 wherein the poly(amino acid) is poly(aspartic acid). ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The composition in accordance with claim 1 wherein the poly(amino acid) is poly(aspartic acid) having a molecular size in the range of about 3,000 to about 28,000 Daltons. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The composition in accordance with claim 1 wherein the poly(amino acid) is poly(aspartic acid) having a molecular size in the range of about 3,000 to about 5,000 Daltons. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The composition in accordance with claim 1 wherein the poly(amino acid) is poly(glutamic acid). ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The composition in accordance with claim 1 wherein the poly(amino acid) is poly(glutamic acid) having a molecular size in the range of about 4,000 to about 14,000 Daltons. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The composition in accordance with claim 1 wherein the poly(amino acid) is poly(glycine). ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The composition in accordance with claim 1 wherein the poly(amino acid) is poly(glycine) having a molecular size in the range of more than 1,500 to about 7,000 Daltons. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The composition in accordance with claim 1 wherein the poly(amino acid) is poly(lysine). ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The composition in accordance with claim 1 wherein the poly(amino acid) is poly(lysine) having a molecular size in the range of about 2,000 to about 7,000 Daltons. ### Claim 11 A composition, suitable for the promotion of plant growth, which comprises a fertilizer for said plant; and a non-chelating, water-soluble, non-aromatic poly(organic acid) which is a poly(amino acid) of the group consisting of poly(aspartic acid), poly(glutamic acid), poly(glycine), poly(lysine), a copolymer of cysteine and glutamic acid, and a terpolymer of cysteine, glutamic acid and aspartic acid, said poly(amino acid) having a molecular size larger than that which can be absorbed by said plant. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The composition in accordance with claim 11 wherein said poly(organic acid) has a molecular size not larger than about 100,000 Daltons. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The composition in accordance with claim 11 wherein said poly(organic acid) has a molecular size in the range of about 2,000 to about 30,000 Daltons. ### Claim 14 A method for promoting plant growth which comprises supplying to the plant a growth promoting amount of a water-soluble poly(organic acid) which is a poly(amino acid) of the group consisting of poly(aspartic acid), poly(glutamic acid), poly(glycine), poly(lysine), a copolymer of cysteine and glutamic acid, and a terpolymer of cysteine, glutamic acid and aspartic acid, said poly(amino acid) having a molecular size larger than 1,500 Daltons together with plant nutrients. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method in accordance with claim 14 wherein said growth promoting amount is in the range of about 2 to about 500 ounces of the polymeric organic acid per acre. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method in accordance with claim 14 wherein the growth promoting amount of said polymeric organic acid is provided as an aqueous solution containing at least about 10 parts per billion by weight of the polymeric organic acid. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The method in accordance with claim 14 wherein the growth promoting amount of said polymeric organic acid is provided as an aqueous solution containing about 0.1 to about 1,000 parts per million by weight of the polymeric organic acid. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method in accordance with claim 17 wherein the polymeric organic acid is poly(aspartic acid). ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The method in accordance with claim 14 wherein the polymeric organic acid is a copolymer of cysteine and glutamic acid. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The method in accordance with claim 14 wherein the polymeric organic acid is a terpolymer of cysteine, glutamic acid and aspartic acid.