Fertilizer stock and method for transforming irrigation water to a compound fertilizer

Abstract

The present invention provides 1) a convenient and novel method for supplementing irrigation water to produce a compound fertilizer that takes into account ambient concentrations of one or more of the nutrients in the irrigation water; 2) a convenient and novel method of prescribing the constituents of compound fertilizers based on predetermined ratios between a desired final concentration of an index nutrient and a desired concentration of at least one non-index nutrient; and, 3) a convenient and novel method of formulating compound fertilizers by providing a graduated series of stocks that accommodate wide variation in ambient concentrations of an index nutrient in local irrigation waters.

1 . A stock for supplementing irrigation water to produce a compound fertilizer, said stock comprising:
 a. an index nutrient, Nu; and,   b. at least one additional nutrient, y;   wherein when a desired final concentration of Nu, [Nu], is achieved in the irrigation water by dissolving an appropriate amount of said stock in the irrigation water, the concentration, [y], of y in the irrigation water is such that the ratio [Nu]/[y] is substantially equal to a predetermined index ratio, R.   
   
   
       2 . The stock of  claim 1  wherein Nu is calcium. 
   
   
       3 . The stock of  claim 2  wherein y is nitrogen. 
   
   
       4 . The stock of  claim 3  wherein R is from about 1.5 to about 4.0. 
   
   
       5 . The stock of  claim 1  wherein said stock is a blend. 
   
   
       6 . The stock of  claim 1  wherein said stock is a solution. 
   
   
       7 . A method of using the stock of  claim 1  to transform a volume, V, of irrigation water to a compound fertilizer, said method comprising the step of adding a prescribed amount of the stock to V, wherein a desired final concentration, [Nu], of an index nutrient, Nu, and a desired final concentration, [y], of at least one additional nutrient, y, are obtained in V. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising the step of determining the amount of y in the 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising the step of determining the ambient concentration of Nu in the irrigation water. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the index nutrient is calcium and wherein [Nu] is about 80 parts per million (ppm). 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising the steps of:
 (11a) selecting a desired final pH of the supplemented irrigation water;   (11b) determining the quantity of an acid or a base required to achieve the pH of Step (11a); and,   (11c) adding to the irrigation water the quantity of the acid or the base determined at Step (11b).   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the desired final pH is from about 6.0 to about 6.5. 
   
   
       13 . A method for supplementing irrigation water to produce a compound fertilizer having an index nutrient, Nu, and at least one additional nutrient, y, wherein the compound fertilizer has a desired final concentration, [Nu] of Nu and a desired final concentration, [y], of y, said method comprising the step of diluting or dissolving into a volume, V, of the irrigation water an amount of a stock that produces [Nu] and [y] in V, with reference to a predetermined index ratio, R, of [Nu]/[y] 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising the step of determining the ambient concentration of Nu in the irrigation water; 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12  wherein Nu is calcium and wherein [Nu] final is about 80 parts per million (ppm), and wherein the ambient concentration of calcium in the irrigation water is from about 0 ppm to about 80 ppm. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising the step of preparing a series of at least two the stocks wherein the quantities of Nu in the stocks accommodate various anticipated ambient concentrations of Nu. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein Nu is calcium and wherein [Nu] is about 80 parts per million (ppm) and wherein the anticipated ambient concentrations of calcium range from about 0 parts per million (ppm) to about 80 ppm. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the quanta of calcium in the stocks are prescribed on the basis of 5 ppm increments in the anticipated concentration of ambient calcium.