Abstract: A method of using phosphate chemicals of the formula LDPO.sub.4 to provide controlled release nutrients to the food chain in aquatic environments to supply improved feeding and growth of fish, wherein L represents a monovalent Lewis Acid moiety, D represents a divalent metal moiety, and PO.sub.4 represents an orthophosphate moiety. The method includes the use of slow release phosphate chemicals which provide water soluble nutrients disseminating in flowing water streams for a period of about one year. The chemicals include: magnesium ammonium phosphate, manganous ammonium phosphate, zinc ammonium phosphate, ferrous ammonium phosphate, magnesium potassium phosphate, manganous potassium phosphate, and manganous potassium phosphate.

Abstract: A method of preparing a near-neutral homogeneous mineral composition containing an excess of strong anions over strong cations for supplementing ruminant animal feeds, wherein magnesium and calcium chlorides are admixed with a molecular excess of ammonium sulfate and water and heated until a liquid phase is formed in which a metathetical chemical reaction occurs to substantially form homogeneous particles of magnesium and calcium sulfates, ammonium chloride and excess ammonium sulfate. Addition of granule binders and conditioning clays allows preparation of minigranules from damp agglomerates formed during the reaction. The minigranules exhibit a high degree of strength, palatability and storage stability. The minigranular anionic salt composition prepared by the new method was found to be an effective mineral feed supplement for ruminant animals, particularly for preparturition cows.

Abstract: A controlled slow release potassium divalent metal phosphate composition for agriculture and an effective method of preparing the composition. The cold water insolubilities of each of the contained nutrients are between 35 and 98 percent. The potassium exhibits an Activity Index between 20 and 85. The release of all contained nutrients is substantially complete in one growing season without damage to plant foliage or roots. Divalent metals effectively forming the new composition include magnesium, manganese, zinc, iron, cobalt, and copper. The effective method of preparing the new composition requires the exothermic coreaction of concentrated potassium hydroxide, divalent metal oxide powder, and concentrated phosphoric acid, with a molecular ratio of 1 potassium/1 divalent metal/1 phosphate with the total water content of the initial reaction mixture between 20 and 50 percent, at a maximum temperature between 85.degree. and 150.degree. C.

Abstract: A new slow releasing particulate iron humate agricultural nutrient composition exhibiting substantially complete solubility of its iron content in soil solutions as indicated by neutral citrate solubilities, and almost no solubility in water, and a new method for preparing the composition. The method comprises admixing and coreacting iron humate with about equimolar amounts of a divalent metal oxide, an aqueous hydroxide of a monovalent Lewis acid, and a water soluble inorganic phosphate. The iron humate amounts to between 20 and 70 percent of the nutrient particles, and the reaction is carried out at temperatures between 60.degree. and 150.degree. C. for between 4 and 25 minutes.

Abstract: A method of preparing a new granular homogeneous metal ammonium phosphate-alkylene urea buffered fertilizer, containing slow releasing water insoluble nitrogen of two types which provide sustained nitrogen release. The method is based on the discovery that a strong metal ammonium phosphate matrix may be formed to homogeneously contain fine particles of alkylene urea compounds. The new buffered fertilizer provides concentrated slow release nitrogens, and phosphate, and buffering amounts of metal nutrients. The alkylene urea may be formed in-situ from liquids concommittantly with the formation of the metal ammonium phosphates, or it may be admixed as finely divided alkylene urea solids. The preferred alkylene ureas are methylene ureas and polymers, isobutylene diurea, and crotonylidene diurea. The metal nutrients are divalent and are preferably magnesium, manganese, zinc, and iron reacted as oxides, hydroxides, or carbonates.

Abstract: A new method of preparing a new aminoureaformaldehyde fertilizer composition which exhibits high cold water insoluble nitrogen (CWIN) levels and high Availability Indices (AI). The method utilizes the discoveries that ammonia compounds, usually ammonium salts, inhibit the urea-formaldehyde polymerization reaction and decrease the formation of hot water insoluble nitrogen (HWIN), and that the ammonium compounds take part in the reaction to form controlled release compounds which are both cold water soluble and insoluble. The process is carried out at elevated temperatures between 60 and 125.degree. F., so that it may be completed in an order of magnitude less time than either the dilute or concentrated conventional commercial ureaform processes, requiring between 2 and 20 minutes for completion. In the process, between 3 and 25 percent of the total nitrogen is supplied as ammonia nitrogen with the remainder from urea, respective formaldehyde to urea to ammonia mol ratio is 1.0, between 1.0 and 2.