Alginate Coating for Sett Treatment

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016249523-A1
Application number	US-201415032767-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 29, 2014
Priority date	Oct 31, 2013
Publication date	Sep 1, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Disclosed are methods of treating setts comprising (a) applying a coating of an alginate optionally containing one or more crop protection agents and/or one or more nutrients, and (b) crosslinking the alginate with a divalent metal ion. Also disclosed are compositions used in the disclosed methods of treating setts.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method of sett treatment comprising:
(a) applying to setts a coating of an alginate, optionally containing one or more crop protection agents selected from the group consisting of insecticides, nematocides and fungicides, and/or one or more nutrients; and (b) applying to setts a coating of a divalent metal ion, thereby crosslinking the alginate with the divalent metal ion.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said alginate is a soluble alginate selected from the group consisting of sodium alginate and potassium alginate.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said divalent metal ion is selected from the group consisting of Ca +2 , Ba +2 and Zn +2 .

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said divalent metal ion solution comprises an aqueous solution of a divalent metal salt.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein said divalent metal salt is a calcium salt.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein said calcium salt is selected from the group consisting of calcium chloride, calcium carbonate and calcium sulfate.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said divalent metal ion solution is applied by spraying.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the application of the alginate coating is via spraying.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the crop protection agent is selected from the group consisting of Eternal®, Furadan 350 SC, and Capture 400EC.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the nutrients are micronutrients.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the micronutrients are selected from the group consisting of Zn, Mo, and a combination thereof.

12 . A method of sugarcane sett treatment comprising:
(a) spraying sugarcane setts with an aqueous calcium salt solution containing one or more crop protection agents selected from the group consisting of insecticides, nematocides and fungicides, and/or one or more nutrients, to form treated sugarcane setts; and (b) spraying said treated sugarcane setts with an aqueous solution of a soluble alginate to form coated sugarcane setts.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein said crop protection agent is selected from the group consisting of Eternal®, Furadan 350 SC, and Capture 400EC.

14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein said calcium salt is selected from the group consisting of calcium chloride, calcium carbonate and calcium sulfate.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein said calcium salt is calcium chloride.

16 . A film composition used in the treatment of sugarcane setts comprising:
(a) an alginate salt solution; and (b) a calcium salt solution, thereby forming a calcium alginate hydrocolloid.

17 . The composition of claim 16 , wherein said alginate salt solution is selected from the group consisting of sodium alginate and potassium alginate.

18 . The composition of claim 16 , wherein said calcium salt is selected from the group consisting of calcium chloride, calcium carbonate and calcium sulfate.

19 . The composition of claim 16 , wherein the concentration of said alginate salt solution is about 0.05% to about 20% of alginate salt in water.

20 . The composition of claim 19 , wherein the concentration of said alginate salt solution is about 1%.

21 . The composition of claim 16 , wherein the concentration of said calcium salt solution is about 0.05% to about 20% of calcium salt in water.

22 . The composition of claim 21 , wherein the concentration of said calcium salt solution is about 1%.

23 . A system for improving the operational yield in sugarcane crop comprising the steps of (a) harvesting sugarcane crops, (b) employing a harvester to produce suitable sized setts, (c) treating said setts with an alginate composition, and (d) depositing the treated setts in-furrow.

24 . The system of claim 23 , wherein the suitable sized sets have at least one bud.

25 . The system of claim 23 , wherein the alginate composition forms a film at the distal portion of said suitable sized setts.

26 . The system of claim 23 , wherein the alginate composition used in the treatment of sugarcane setts comprising:
(a) an alginate salt solution; and (b) a calcium salt solution.

27 . The system of claim 26 , wherein said alginate salt solution is selected from the group consisting of sodium alginate and potassium alginate.

28 . The system of claim 26 , wherein said calcium salt is selected from the group consisting of calcium chloride, calcium carbonate and calcium sulfate.

29 . The system of claim 27 , wherein the concentration of said alginate salt solution is about 0.05% to about 20% of alginate salt in water.

30 . The system of claim 29 , wherein the suitable sized setts are in the ranges of 7.5 cm to 45 cm in length.

31 . The system of claim 30 , wherein the suitable sized setts are in the ranges of 10 cm to 15 cm in length.

32 . The system of claim 31 , wherein the operational yield is at least 15% higher than a comparative system that does not employ said alginate composition.

Assignees

• Fmc Corp

Inventors

• Nogueira Alessandro Leal
• Ortega Yemel Mayo
• Werlang Ricardo Camara

Classifications

• C05G3/60

  Biocides or preservatives, e.g. disinfectants, pesticides or herbicides; Pest repellants or attractants · CPC title

• C08K3/011

  Crosslinking or vulcanising agents, e.g. accelerators · CPC title

• A01N25/02

  containing liquids as carriers, diluents or solvents · CPC title

• C05D9/02

  containing trace elements · CPC title

• A01N25/10 Primary

  Macromolecular compounds · CPC title