Food-grade fertilizer for crops

Abstract

The disclosure relates to fertilizer compositions and methods of using the compositions to grow crops. The disclosed compositions are especially useful at growing crops under drought or nutrient-deprived conditions.

1 . A method of fertilizing comprising applying a soil amendment composition to a seed at a rate of about 0.5 to about 25 gallons per acre, wherein the soil amendment composition consists essentially of:
 from about 1 ppm to about 5 ppm of a plant growth regulator; and   optionally micronutrients.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the micronutrients are selected from the group consisting of zinc, iron, and copper. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plant growth regulator is gibberellic acid. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is a ready-to-use liquid. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises additional materials selected from the group consisting of vitamins, amino acids, carbohydrates, polysaccharides, beneficial microorganisms, carbon, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition has less than 50 ppm of heavy metals. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is foliar applied to the plant leaves after germination at a rate of about 0.1 to about 10 gallons per acre. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is considered GRAS. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition has a pH from about 5.5 to about 7.5. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition has a salt index from about 30 to about 60. 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , the composition consisting essentially of:
 i. from about 0.1 to about 1% of a micronutrient selected from the group consisting of zinc, copper, iron, manganese, boron, calcium, magnesium, sulfur, and mixtures thereof; and   ii. from about 1 ppm to about 5 ppm of a plant growth regulator;   
       wherein the composition is free of nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium. 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . (canceled)