Three-part plant nutrient system

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to United States provisional patent application entitled “Three-Part Plant Nutrient System,” having Ser. No. 61/809,560, filed on Apr. 8, 2013, which is entirely incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a three-part primary nutrient system for facilitating the growth of a plant in any soilless growing media.

BACKGROUND

Mineral nutrition plays a crucial role in the biochemical economy of green plants. As autotrophic organisms, plants synthesize all of the organic compounds they need for survival from inorganic mineral elements, most of which are derived from the soil.

Plant physiologists have determined that among the 90 or so chemical elements that occur in the earth's crust and atmosphere there are at least seventeen (17) elements that are essential for plant growth. An element is deemed to be essential if, in its absence, a plant fails to grow properly and complete its life cycle in a normal manner. The essential elements are listed in Table 1.

Biological Role of Essential Elements

The essential elements listed in Table 1, are arbitrarily classified as major (macro) or minor (micro), based on the relative amount of each element taken up and utilized by plants. According to most classification schemes, the elements, hydrogen through sulfur (see table 2) are regarded as major elements; the remaining seven (7) are grouped as minor elements (see table 3). Generally speaking, the major elements function as structural components of plant metabolites, besides acting as co-factors for enzymatic reactions. Minor elements primarily function as co-factors for enzymes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is incorporated in a three-part primary nutrient system for facilitating the growth of a plant in soilless growing media. The first part of the nutrient system comprises calcium and nitrogen and is devoid of magnesium, sulfur, and minor minerals. The second part of the nutrient system comprises nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and minor minerals and is devoid of calcium. The third part of the nutrient system comprises potassium, phosphorus, and magnesium and is devoid of calcium.

The structure, overall operation and technical characteristics of the present invention will become apparent with the detailed description of a preferred embodiment and the illustration of the related drawings as follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS OR PICTURES

FIG. 1 illustrates a program for implementing an embodiment of the system.

FIG. 2 illustrates a program for implementing an embodiment of the system.

FIG. 3 illustrates a program for implementing an embodiment of the system.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In general, this invention is embodied in a three-part nutrient system that separates the calcium from the magnesium and minor minerals allowing growers to easily customize their formulas. As discussed in more detail below, isolating calcium to the first part (base) creates a unique way for a user to selectively combine the second part (grow) and third part (bloom) to meet the specific needs of any grow media in any stage of growth while maintaining the ideal balance for optimum plant growth. Among other things, this system eliminates the need for calcium and magnesium additives or separate formulations based on grow media or water quality.

The first three of the major elements (hydrogen, carbon and oxygen) are derived from the atmosphere and the elements of water; as such, they are not part of the preferred embodiments below.

The First Part—Base

The first part of the nutrient system (“base”) functions as a catalyst for both the second and third parts and contains 100% of the calcium. It is preferred that the first part contain an NPK ratio of 4-0-0, plus+5% calcium—and no minor minerals, magnesium, or sulfur. By keeping all the minor minerals out of the first part, a user can customize calcium and nitrogen levels without affecting the balance of these other essential elements. For example, a user using coco coir, reverse osmosis water or a plant requiring high levels of calcium and nitrogen can simply increase the amount of first part (base) to meet these specific needs. Likewise, if the grow media is clay pebbles, rockwool or the water is hard, a user can reduce the first part to meet these other specific needs.

The Second Part—Grow

The second part (“grow”) comprises nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and minor minerals and is devoid of calcium. It is preferred that the second part (grow) contain an NPK ratio of 2-2-4. The second part is designed for the vegetative period of the growth cycle. When used in combination with the other parts meets the precise demands of a plant in any media, at any stage.

The Third Part—Bloom

The third part (“bloom”) comprises potassium, phosphorus, and magnesium and is devoid of calcium. It is preferred that the third part (bloom) contain an NPK ratio of 0-6-6. It is also preferred that the second part have a ratio of elemental phosphorous to potassium of 1-1.2 to encourage healthy branch and stalk development, accelerate flower sets, and maximize crop yields

Preferred Method of Operation

In preferred operation, a user applies the first part to the plant to provide the calcium required during the entire growth cycle of the plant. A user applies the second part of to the plant in order to provide the plant a proper nitrogen and potassium level during the growth cycle. And a user applies the third part of the nutrient system to the plant in order to provide the plant a proper elemental phosphorus and potassium ratio during the growth cycle. Example embodiments of such application are shown in FIGS. 1-3.

As shown in the example programs of FIGS. 1-3, the three part nutrient system can be adjusted to provide maximum results of plant growth depending on the media in which the plant is growing, hardness of the water, and the specific needs of the plant.

While the invention has been described by means of specific embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those ordinarily skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention set forth in the claims.