Title: Slow release soil amendment and micronutrient source

Abstract: Particulate, easy to handle, inexpensive combination soil amendments and micronutrient sources are disclosed along with methods for their manufacture and use. These compositions comprise highly porous sulfur particles having substantial internal surface area with the micronutrient source dispersed either throughout the sulfur matrix or over the interior surfaces. Major plant nutrients including nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium can also be added but are not essential. These methods allow the use of inexpensive, abundant starting materials, afford slow release sulfur and micronutrient solubility and mobility, reduced micronutrient loss by elution, and minimum ground water pollution and plant toxicity problems associated with heavy metal contamination.

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Inventors: Young, Donald C. (Fullerton, CA)

Application Number: 06/211205
Filing Date: 1980-11-28
Publication_date: 1982-06-15
Assignee: UNION OIL CO

Primary Class(es): 71/33 71/64.130, 71/50, 71/53, 71/63, 71/64.110
Other Classes: C05D9/00; C05D11/00
US Patent Ref:

2983594	May, 1961	Jost	71/1	Trace element fertilizers
2988439	June, 1961	Gloss	71/1	Method of preparing a potassium polyphosphate glass fertilizer
3560192	February, 1971	DiCicco	71/1
3666523	May, 1972	Nau	71/64DB
3769378	October, 1973	Young et al.	264/14
3951639	April, 1976	Windgassen	71/1	Process for introducing zinc micronutrients into liquid fertilizers

Other Refs: Other References: Fertilizer Technology and Use, Olson, 1971, Second Edition, 344, 345, Soil Science of America, Madison, Wisconsin.
Sharpee, Ludwick, and Attoe, "Availability of Zinc, Cooper, and Iron in Fusions with Sulfur," Agronomy Journal, vol. 61, Sep.-Oct. 1969, pp. 746-749.

Primary Examiner: Therkorn, Ernest G.
Assistant Examiner:
Attorney: Franks, Robert A.
Sandford, Dean
Laird, Michael H.

Parent Case Data: CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPL