Michael James Byrd

US Patent:

41336704, Jan 9, 1979

Filed:

Sep 14, 1977

Appl. No.:

5/833151

Inventors:

Michael D. Byrd - Parkville MO
August R. Scott - Kansas City MO

Assignee:

Farmland Industries, Inc. - Kansas City MO

International Classification:

C05B 700

US Classification:

71 34

Abstract:

A simplified, commercially feasible, split-addition method of producing a liquid, sprayable fertilizer composition which contains ammonium phosphates is disclosed which yields a fertilizer with improved storage properties over prior compositions of this type and capable of being sprayed using existing equipment with a minimum of clogging problems. The method includes initially admixing a fractional portion of a total quantity of monoammonium phosphate (MAP) to be employed with water and adding ammonia thereto so as to induce an essentially instantaneous ammoniation reaction; the remainder of the MAP is then added to yield the final fertilizer composition. The addition of a suspending agent is usually desirable. This split addition of MAP (most preferably a 70% - 30% split) unexpectedly serves to minimize formation of large ammonium phosphate crystals in the fertilizer, so that the storage properties are improved and the composition can be sprayed without fear of frequent clogging of the spraying equipment.