Composition and method for crop protection

Abstract

This invention relates generally to crop protection compositions and methods for making and using the compositions. More specifically, the invention relates to crop protection compositions utilizing talc and one or more additives providing for improved aqueous suspension of the talc and methods for making such compositions. The present invention also discloses horticultural substrates coated with a crop protective composition utilizing talc and one or more additives providing for improved aqueous suspension of the talc.

1 . A slurry composition for protecting crops, comprising:
 a phyllosilicate mineral;   a chelating agent; and   multivalent ions wherein the composition has a pH of between about 9.0 and about 11.6.   
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the phyllosilicate mineral is selected from the group consisting of talc, chlorites, and pyrophyllites. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the phyllosilicate mineral is talc. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the phyllosilicate mineral comprises between about 50 dry wt. % and about 99.9 dry wt. %. 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition additionally comprises soda ash. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the chelating agent is selected from the group consisting of sodium maleate, citric acid, sodium citrate, sodium aluminate, sodium silicate, EDTA, DTPA and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises between about 500 ppm to about 2000 ppm citric acid. 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the multivalent ions comprise selected from the group consisting of magnesium cations, aluminum cations, sulfate anions, citrate anions, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the multivalent ions are from magnesium sulfate heptahydrate. 
     
     
         14 . The composition of  claim 13 , wherein the magnesium sulfate heptahydrate is added in the amount of between about 1000 ppm to about 4000 ppm. 
     
     
         15 . The composition of  claim 13 , wherein the magnesium sulfate heptahydrate is added in the amount of between about 2000 ppm to about 3000 ppm. 
     
     
         16 . The composition of  claim 13 , wherein the magnesium sulfate heptahydrate is added in the amount of about 2500 ppm. 
     
     
         17 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the chelating agent is citric acid and the multivalent ions are magnesium and sulfate ions from Epsom salt and wherein the citric acid and the Epsom salt are present in a ratio of between about 1:.5 to about 1:10 citric acid:Epsom salt. 
     
     
         18 . The composition of  claim 1 , further comprising an oil. 
     
     
         19 . A composition for producing a slurry for protecting crops, comprising:
 a phyllosilicate mineral;   a chelating agent; and   a source of multivalent ions.   
     
     
         20 . The composition of  claim 19 , wherein the phyllosilicate mineral is selected from the group consisting of chlorites, and pyrophyllites. 
     
     
         21 . The composition of  claim 19 , wherein the phyllosilicate mineral is talc. 
     
     
         22 . The composition of  claim 19 , wherein the phyllosilicate mineral comprises between about 50 dry wt. % and about 99.9 dry wt. %. 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . The composition of  claim 19 , wherein the composition additionally comprises soda ash. 
     
     
         25 . The composition of  claim 19 , wherein the chelating agent is selected from the group consisting of sodium maleate, citric acid, sodium citrate, sodium aluminate, sodium silicate, EDTA, DTPA and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . The composition of  claim 19 , wherein the multivalent ions comprise ions selected from the group consisting of magnesium cations aluminum cations; sulfate anions; citrate ions, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . The composition of  claim 19 , wherein the source of multivalent ions comprises magnesium sulfate heptahydrate. 
     
     
         30 . The composition of  claim 19 , wherein the chelating agent is citric acid and the multivalent ions are magnesium and sulfate ions from Epsom salt and wherein the citric acid and the Epsom salt are present in a ratio of between about 1:.5 to about 1:10 citric acid:Epsom salt. 
     
     
         31 - 62 . (canceled) 
     
     
         63 . A composition for application to crops, comprising:
 talc;   citric acid;   magnesium sulfate heptahydrate; and   soda ash, wherein the talc is present in an amount between about 75 dry wt. % to about 99 dry wt. %, the citric acid is present in an amount between about 500 ppm and about 2000 ppm, the magnesium sulfate heptahydrate is present in an amount between about 1000 ppm and about 4000 ppm and the soda ash is present in an amount between about 1 dry wt. % and about 4 dry wt. %.   
     
     
         64 - 66 . (canceled) 
     
     
         67 . The composition, as claimed in  claim 63 , wherein the composition is a slurry further comprising water, and wherein the slurry has a pH of between about 9.0 and about 11.6. 
     
     
         68 . (canceled)