Moisturizing agent with nutrients

Abstract

The present invention relates to a gelatinous moisturizing substrate such as that described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,865,640 for controllably delivering water, gas micro-nutrients, plant growth additives, preservatives, and surfactants to plant tissue such as the entire vertical root system of a plant. The preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a mixture of the following by percent weight: 97.6% water, 2.0% sodium carboxymethylcellulose, 0.15% aluminum sulfate, 0.04% sodium benzoate, 0.04% potassium sorbate, 0.237% zinc acetate, 0.00009% kinetin, 0.00004% indole-3-butyric acid, 0.00003% gibberellic acid, and 0.005% sodium sesquicarbonate. The concentrations of these nutrients disclosed in this invention maintain the substrate's viscosity. As a result, the moisturizing agent retains water, zinc, acetic acid, auxins, gibberellins, and cytokinins in the gel and releases the water and nutrients into the soil surface at a controlled rate, enabling cell growth, formation of new leaves, vigorous shoot growth, even maturity, and improved stress tolerance.

1 . A substrate which releases impregnated water, gas, and nutrients when interacting with biological organisms comprising a mixture of:
 a. a cellulosic compound ranging from 0.6 to 3% by weight of the water to be used, having an average molecular weight ranging between 90,000 and 700,000 represented by the formula: R—O—COOM in which “M” is a metal substituted for hydrogen on said carboxyl group of the cellulose compound and “R” is cellulosic chain;   b. a hydrated metallic salt ranging from 0.1% to 0.3% by weight of the weight of water being used;   c. water ranging from 96.0% to 99.5% by weight;   d. a micro-nutrient selected from the group consisting of zinc and zinc salts, the concentration of zinc ranging from 0.006% to 0.72% by weight of the weight of water being used;   e. at least one plant growth additive selected from the group consisting of plant growth hormones and plant growth regulators ranging from 0.00001% to 0.0003% by weight of the weight of water being used;   f. at least one preservative selected from the group consisting of sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate, and acetic acid ranging from 0.01% to 0.3% by weight of the weight of water being used;   g. a surfactant ranging from 0.0025% to 0.006% by weight of the weight of water being used; and   h. an acetic acid component selected from the group consisting of acetic acid or acetic acid salts, the concentration of acetate ranging from 0.1% to 0.48% by weight of the weight of water being used.   
   
   
       2 . The substrate of  claim 1  in which the metal of the cellulosic compound is selected from the group consisting of lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium and cesium. 
   
   
       3 . The substrate of  claim 1  in which the hydrated metallic salt is selected from the salt group consisting of aluminum sulfate, zinc sulfate, indium sulfate, cadmium sulfate, and gallium sulfate. 
   
   
       4 . The substrate of  claim 1  in which the water is aerated. 
   
   
       5 . The substrate of  claim 1  in which the plant growth hormone is selected from the group consisting of gibberellins and auxins. 
   
   
       6 . The substrate of  claim 5  in which the giberellin is gibberellic acid (GA3) at a range of 0.00001% to 0.00005% by weight of the weight of the water being used. 
   
   
       7 . The substrate of  claim 5  in which the auxin is indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) at a range of 0.00001% to 0.00008% by weight of the weight of the water being used. 
   
   
       8 . The substrate of  claim 1  in which the plant growth regulator is a cytokinins. 
   
   
       9 . The substrate of  claim 8  in which the cytokinin is kinetin at a range of 0.00001% to 0.0001% by weight of the weight of the water being used. 
   
   
       10 . The substrate in  claim 1  in which the preservative is a combination of at least two preservatives, at least one having an acidic pH and at least one having a basic pH. 
   
   
       11 . The substrate of  claim 1  in which the surfactant is sodium sesquicarbonate. 
   
   
       12 . A method of providing water, gas, and nutrients to a plant in soil at a predetermined, time release rate comprising:
 a. placing a substrate in the soil, the substrate comprising a mixture of:
 a cellulosic compound ranging from 1 to 3% by weight including glucose units and having a molecular weight ranging between 90,000 and 700,000 represented by the formula: R—O—CH2-COOM where “M” is a metal substituted on said glucose units of the cellulose compound and “R” is a cellulose chain; a hydrated metallic salt ranging from 0.1% to 0.03% by weight; water ranging from 96.0% to 99.5% by weight; a micro-nutrient selected from the group consisting of zinc and zinc salts, the concentration of zinc ranging from 0.006% to 0.72% by weight of the weight of water being used; at least one plant growth additive selected from the group consisting of plant growth hormones and plant growth regulators ranging from 0.00001% to 0.0003% by weight of the weight of water being used; at least one preservative selected from the group consisting of sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate, and acetic acid ranging from 0.01% to 0.3% by weight of the weight of water being used; a surfactant ranging from 0.0025% to 0.006% by weight of the weight of water being used; and an acetic acid component selected from the group consisting of acetic acid or acetic acid salts, the concentration of acetate ranging from 0.1% to 0.48% by weight of the weight of water being used; and 
   b. placing the plant roots in the vicinity of the substrate.   
   
   
       13 . The method according to  claim 12  in which the metal of the cellulosic compound is selected from the group consisting of lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium and cesium. 
   
   
       14 . The method according to  claim 12  in which the hydrated metallic salt is selected from the salt group consisting of aluminum sulfate, zinc sulfate, indium sulfate, cadmium sulfate, and gallium sulfate. 
   
   
       15 . The method according to  claim 12  in which the water is aerated. 
   
   
       16 . The method according to  claim 12  in which the plant growth hormone is selected from the group consisting of gibberellins and auxins. 
   
   
       17 . The method according to  claim 16  in which the giberellin is gibberellic acid (GA3) at a range of 0.00001% to 0.00005% by weight of the weight of the water being used. 
   
   
       18 . The method according to  claim 16  in which the auxin is indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) at a range of 0.00001% to 0.00008% by weight of the weight of the water being used. 
   
   
       19 . The method according to  claim 12  in which the plant growth regulator is a cytokinin. 
   
   
       20 . The method according to  claim 19  in which the cytokinin is kinetin at a range of 0.00001% to 0.0001% by weight of the weight of the water being used. 
   
   
       21 . The method according to  claim 12  in which the preservative is a combination of at least two preservatives, at least one having an acidic pH and at least one having a basic pH. 
   
   
       22 . The method according to  claim 12  in which the surfactant is sodium sesquicarbonate. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 12  additionally comprises the steps of:
 a. Adding soil to cover the root area of the plant after said step of placing the plant roots in the vicinity of the substrate.   b. Watering the plant to help minimize transplant shock before the substrate begins to release moisture and nutrients.