Sunscreen compositions for application to plants

Abstract

A sunscreen composition to be used on plants comprises titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ), zinc oxide (ZnO), and a surfactant, wetting agent, dispersant (SWD), the TiO 2 and ZnO combined are in a proportion of greater than 30% by weight. The composition forms a suspension concentrate that when diluted in water provides a solution that enables uniform coverage of an area using conventional spraying equipment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sunscreen composition to be used on plants comprising:
 titanium dioxide (TiO 2 );   zinc oxide (ZnO); and   a surfactant, wetting agent, dispersant (SWD);   wherein the composition is effective in protecting plants from ultraviolet radiation damage, said TiO 2  and ZnO in combination comprising greater than about 30% by weight.   
     
     
         2 . The sunscreen composition of  claim 1 , wherein the ratio of TiO 2  to ZnO is from about 3:1 to about 5:1 by weight. 
     
     
         3 . The sunscreen composition of  claim 1 , further comprising a pigment. 
     
     
         4 . The sunscreen composition of  claim 3 , wherein the pigment is adapted to match a natural color of the plants. 
     
     
         5 . The sunscreen composition of  claim 3 , wherein said pigment is a copper compound. 
     
     
         6 . The sunscreen composition of  claim 1 , comprising from about 25% to about 45% TiO 2  by weight. 
     
     
         7 . The sunscreen composition of  claim 1 , comprising from about 6% to about 17% ZnO by weight. 
     
     
         8 . The sunscreen composition of  claim 1 , comprising from about 15% to about 35% SWD by weight. 
     
     
         9 . The sunscreen composition of  claim 1 , further comprising water. 
     
     
         10 . The sunscreen composition of  claim 3 , the pigment comprising about 6% by weight. 
     
     
         11 . The sunscreen composition of  claim 1 , wherein said TiO 2  and said ZnO combine to form an aggregate having a plurality of particle sizes. 
     
     
         12 . The sunscreen composition of  claim 1 , comprising about 30% TiO 2  by weight. 
     
     
         13 . The sunscreen composition of  claim 1 , comprising about 9% ZnO by weight. 
     
     
         14 . The sunscreen composition of  claim 2 , comprising about 27% SWD by weight. 
     
     
         15 . A method of protecting turfgrass from heat stress, sunburn or ultraviolet radiation, comprising the steps of:
 diluting a concentrated sunscreen composition comprising:
 titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ), zinc oxide (ZnO), and 
 a surfactant, wetting agent, dispersant (SWD), said TiO 2  and ZnO in combination comprising greater than about 30% by weight; and 
   applying said diluted sunscreen composition on an area of turfgrass to thereby protect the applied area of turfgrass from heat stress, sunburn or ultraviolet radiation damage.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said concentrated sunscreen composition further comprises a pigment adapted to match a natural color of the area of turfgrass, said pigment in an amount of about 6% by weight. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the composition comprises about 27% TiO 2  by weight; and about 9% ZnO by weight. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the composition further comprises about 15% to about 35% SWD by weight. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said TiO 2  and said ZnO combine to form an aggregate having a plurality of particle sizes. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the diluting is performed by mixing the concentrated sunscreen composition with an equal part water.