DESC:Field of the invention
This invention relates to a fertilizer composition comprising elemental sulphur (ES) for crop application alongwith at least one of Mycorrhiza (M), Mycorrhiza Helper Bacteria (MHB) and Mycorrhiza Helper Fungi (MHF). The invention also relates to a process of preparation of a plant fertilizer composition comprising elemental sulphur (ES) for crop application alongwith at least one of Mycorrhiza (M), Mycorrhiza Helper Bacteria (MHB) and Mycorrhiza Helper Fungi (MHF).

Background of Invention:
Sulphur is a secondary nutrient and applied in agriculture as elemental sulphur or sulphate (So4). Sulphate is readily absorbed by the plant but leached too and becomes unavailable where as elemental sulphur slowly converted in to sulphate by soil microbes and made them available for crop nutrition. Elemental sulphur is well reported to reduce the pH of alkaline soil and act as a fungicide and an insecticide.
Fertilizer control order FCO has various composition of sulphur as sulphate with Primary nutrients (Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potash) as fertilizer and Mycorrhiza (M), nitrogen fixing bacteria, phosphate, potash and zinc solubilising bacteria and Phosphate solubilising fungi as Biofertilizer. However, there is not any composition of mixed fertilizer and biofertilizer for sustainable crop production. Various microbial taxa including beneficial bacteria and fungi are currently used as biofertilizers, as they successfully colonize the rhizosphere, rhizoplane or root interior. Despite their great potential to improve soil fertility, biofertilizers have yet to replace conventional chemical fertilizers in commercial agriculture. In the last 10 years, multi-omics studies have made a significant step forward in understanding the drivers, roles, processes, and mechanisms in the plant microbiome. However, translating this knowledge on microbiome functions in order to capitalize on plant nutrition in agroecosystems still remains a challenge. Biofertilizers have great potential to replace chemical inputs in agricultural systems but still face several challenges in terms of technical reliability and accessibility to farmers. The current composition is bridging this gap by being economical, sustainable with instant as well as long term benefit for soil and crop.
Sulphur has also been incorporated in fertilizer compositions for a different purpose. Specifically, sulphur has been used in the manufacture of compositions such as Sulphur bentonite pellets, Calcium Sulphate, Ammonium Sulphate and other sulphate based compositions of fertilizers, the process of conversion of Sulphur to sulphate form is slow and sulphate is the only form in which plants can take up sulphur. In the conventional sulphur based fertilizers it is observed that sulphur is not timely converted into sulphate and hence is not readily available to the plant.
The composition of elemental sulphur with Mycorrhiza, Mycorrhiza Helper Bacteria (MHB) and Mycorrhiza Helper Fungi (MHF) gives an advantage of sustainable conversion of elemental sulphur and its availability for nutrient solubilization, absorption and transportation of not only sulphate but also for other primary and trace elements for balanced fertilization. The composition is useful to enhance the growth of agricultural crops.
Thus, there arises a need to develop a novel fertilizer composition of elemental sulphur with Mycorrhiza (M), Mycorrhiza Helper Bacteria (MHB) and Mycorrhiza Helper Fungi (MHF) to enhance the growth of agricultural crops, which is environment friendly and sustainable. Alongwith better sulphate absorption, the composition of the present invention is cost effective, as the sulphates is prepared from a waste, such as by product of refineries.

Objects of the Present Invention
An objective of this invention is to provide a fertilizer composition comprising sulphur with at least one of the Mycorrhiza (M), Mycorrhiza Helper Bacteria (MHB) and Mycorrhiza Helper Fungi (MHF), to establish sulphur as carrier for Mycorrhiza (M), Mycorrhiza Helper Bacteria (MHB) and Mycorrhiza Helper Fungi (MHF).
Yet another objective of the invention, is to provide a process for the preparation of composition of elemental sulphur with at least one of the Mycorrhiza (M), Mycorrhiza Helper Bacteria (MHB) and Mycorrhiza Helper Fungi (MHF).
Yet another objective of this invention is to provide a process for the preparation of composition of elemental sulphur with atleast one of the Mycorrhiza (M), Mycorrhiza Helper Bacteria (MHB) and Mycorrhiza Helper Fungi (MHF), to establish sulphur as carrier for Mycorrhiza (M), Mycorrhiza Helper Bacteria (MHB) and Mycorrhiza Helper Fungi (MHF).
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a method of use of the composition of elemental sulphur with at least one of the Mycorrhiza (M), Mycorrhiza Helper Bacteria (MHB) and Mycorrhiza Helper Fungi (MHF) formulation of the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:
The present invention is a fertilizer composition of elemental sulphur (ES) for crop application comprising an adequate amount of ES and at least one of the Mycorrhiza (M), Mycorrhiza Helper Bacteria (MHB) and Mycorrhiza Helper Fungi (MHF).
According to an embodiment, elemental sulphur is in the range of about 90% to about 95% (w/w) of the total composition and at least one of the Mycorrhiza (M), Mycorrhiza Helper Bacteria (MHB) and Mycorrhiza Helper Fungi (MHF) with carrier and binding agent of about 5 % to about 10 % (w/w of the total composition).
According to an embodiment the fertilizer composition is at least one of a fertilizer composition, a biofertilizer composition, a soil composition, a disease and pest protectant composition, crop biomass enhancer composition and a crop productivity enhancer composition.
According to an embodiment, the fertilizer composition is formulated in a form selected from a group comprising at least one of a raw sulphur from any source such as Petrochemical waste or by-product of oil refineries.
According to an embodiment the elemental sulphur of the composition for crop application is in the form of a wettable powder in a size ranging from 20 microns to about 200 microns and/ or granules in a size ranging from 0.1 mm to about 4.0 mm.
According to an embodiment the invention the fertilizer composition of the present patent application is applied primarily to the soil and/ or also to the foliar parts of crops.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the invention also relates to a process for preparation of the novel fertilizer composition.
Brief description of drawings:
Figure 1 represent the % increase in biomass over control for maize after elemental sulphur composition treatment.
Figure 2 represents the effect of elemental sulphur composition on seed germination in maize after 7 days.
Figure 3 represents the effect of elemental sulphur composition on seed germination in barley after 7 days.
Figure 4 represents the effect of elemental sulphur composition on root cocolonization in Barley.

Detailed Description of the Invention:
The detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms. The, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. The terms used herein are not intended to be limiting but rather to provide an understandable description of the invention.
The invention relates to elemental sulphur (ES) composition comprising an effective amount of elemental sulphur ingredient and at least one of Mycorrhiza (M), Mycorrhiza Helper Bacteria (MHB) and Mycorrhiza Helper Fungi (MHF). According to an embodiment, the elemental sulphur ingredients in a composition of elemental sulphur (ES) for crop application can be in the range of about 90% to about 95% on weight by weight of the total composition.
According to another aspect of the invention, the Mycorrhiza in the agricultural crops can be chosen from a group comprising ectomycorrhiza, endomycorrhiza, Arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) and Vesicular Arbuscular mycorrhiza (VAM) of genera; Glomus species, Rhizophagus species, Funneliformis species, Gigaspora species, Scutellospora species, Aculospora species, Sclerocystis spercie and Entrophospora species.
According to an aspect of the invention, the Mycorrhiza can be chosen from other Mycorrhiza without departing from the scope of the invention.
According to an embodiment the total number of percentage parts of the raw elemental sulphur and the at least one Mycorrhiza (M), Mycorrhiza Helper Bacteria (MHB) and Mycorrhiza Helper Fungi (MHF) with carrier and binding agent does not exceed 100 on a dry (w/w of the total composition) basis.
According to an embodiment the elemental sulphur (ES) for crop application composition can further comprise at least one Mycorrhiza (M) colonised root powder, Mycorrhiza Helper Bacteria (MHB) and Mycorrhiza Helper Fungi (MHF).
According to an embodiment the at least one Mycorrhiza (M), Mycorrhiza Helper Bacteria (MHB) and Mycorrhiza Helper Fungi (MHF) can be in the range of about 5% to 10% w/w of the total composition with carrier and binding agent on a dry weight by weight of the total composition.
According to an embodiment the Mycorrhiza Helper Bacteria (MHB) can be in the range of about 0.01% to 1.0% w/w of the total composition. According to an embodiment the Mycorrhiza Helper Bacteria (MHB) which can be used in the elemental sulphur (ES) for crop application can be chosen from a group comprising species of Sulphur solubilising bacteria (SSB), Potash solubilising bacteria (KSB), Phosphate solubilising bacteria (PSB), Nitrogen fixing bacteria, Iron chelating bacteria, Zinc solubilising bacteria (ZSB), Magnesium solubilising bacteria, Silicon solubilising bacteria and Manganese solubilising bacteria. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that it is possible to utilize other Mycorrhiza Helper Bacteria (MHB) known in the art without departing from the scope of the claims of the present invention.
According to an embodiment, the Mycorrhiza Helper Fungi (MHF) is in the range of about 0.01% to 2.0% w/w of the total composition. According to an embodiment the Mycorrhiza Helper Fungi (MHF) which can be used in the elemental sulphur (ES) for crop application selected from a group comprising Sulphur oxidizing fungus, Phosphate solubilising fungi (PSF), Potash solubilising fungi (KSF), Zinc solubilising fungi (ZSF) and Manganese solubilising fungi.
However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that it is possible to utilize other Mycorrhiza Helper Fungi (MHF) without departing from the scope of the claims of the present invention.
According to an embodiment the carrier can be in the range of about 2.0% to about 8.0% w/w of the total composition. According to an aspect of the invention, the carrier can be selected from a group comprising charcoal, activated charcoal, coal, compost sawdust, agri-perlite, expanded clay, kaolin, celite, vermicompost, peat, mineral soils, wheat bran and sugarcane baggas. However, it is possible to utilize other carrier known in the art without departing from the scope of the invention.
According to an embodiment, the binding agent can be in the range of about 1.0 % to 5.0 % w/w of the total composition. According to an embodiment the binding agent which can be used in the elemental sulphur for crop application can be selected from a group comprising Guar gum, Gum arabic, Starch, Sago, Pytagel, Gelrite and Isabgoal. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that it is possible to utilize other binding agents known in the art without departing from the scope of the claims of the present invention.
According to an embodiment the elemental sulphur for crop application can be formulated as wettable powders and granules composition. According to an embodiment the granules are in the size range of about 0.1 mm to about 4.0 mm. The particles of wettable powder can be in a size range of about 20 microns to about 200 microns. However, it is possible to formulate the agricultural composition in other forms known in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention.
According to an embodiment the elemental sulphur for crop application can be used as at least one of a fertilizer composition, a biofertilizer composition, a soil amendment composition, a disease & pest protectant composition, a crop biomass enhancer composition and a crop productivity enhancer composition. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that it is possible to use the agricultural composition in other forms known in the art without departing from the scope of the claims of the present invention.
According to an embodiment a process of making the elemental sulphur for crop application is disclosed. The process comprises initially the grinding of raw sulphur procured from petrochemical industries and oil refineries with an effective amount of water by spraying in a blending tank. The grinded raw sulphur is passed through a suitable size sieve / filter. According to an embodiment the blending step further comprise blending of filtered sulphur with at least one of the Mycorrhiza (M) colonised root powder, Mycorrhiza Helper Bacteria (MHB) and Mycorrhiza Helper Fungi (MHF), carrier and binding agent in another blending tank. According to an embodiment the properly blended material is then subjected to drying in suitable drying equipment to obtain the elemental sulphur for crop application.
According to an embodiment a method of treating a plant can comprise applying an effective amount of the elemental sulphur for crop application to the soil and the foliar parts of the plant wherein the composition can comprise elemental sulphur in the range of about 90% to about 95% (w/w) and at least one of the Mycorrhiza (M) colonised root powder, Mycorrhiza Helper Bacteria (MHB) and Mycorrhiza Helper Fungi (MHF), carrier and binding agent in the range of about 5 % to 10% (w/w of the total composition).
Experiment:
Elemental sulphur is grinded and filtered and added to about 0.1 to about 1.0 % Mycorrhiza colonised root powder, about 0.01% to about 1.0% of Mycorrhiza Helper Bacteria (MHB), about 0.01% to 2.0% Mycorrhiza Helper Fungi (MHF), about 5.0% carrier and about 3.0% binding agent in a suitably hydrated condition by spraying effective amount of water. The blended material so formed is subjected to drying in a drying equipment to obtain the elemental sulphur for crop application as wet powder in the size range of 20 to 200 micron and granule in the size range of 0.1 mm to 4.0 mm by passing through a mesh.
Table 1: Treatment details
Treatment composition Formulation per polybag Recommended Dose per acre
T0 Soil & Sand (3:1) 0 gm As per FCO for Sulphur and Mycorrhiza
T1 Soil & Sand (3:1) 1 gm
T2 Soil & Sand (3:1) 2 gm
T3 Soil & Sand (3:1) 5 gm
Table 1 describes various treatment groups
Figure 1 represent the % increase in biomass over control for maize after treatment with elemental sulphur composition. After the treatment of the maize crop with T1, T2 and T3 % increase with respect to Control were calculated. As it is evident from figure 1 and table 2, for root biomass the percentage increase is 33%, s32% and 39 % respectively for T1, T2 and T3 over control.
Table 2. data for plant biomass for the treatment group T1 to T3 over control.
Parameters Control T1 T2 T3
Root Biomass 0 33.27357 31.91108 39.4048
Shoot Biomass 0 7.439966 12.73585 13.70069
Plant Biomass 0 17.10721 19.91145 23.31947

Figure 2 represents the effect of elemental sulphur composition on seed germination in maize after 7 days. The effect of the elemental sulphur composition after 7 days for treatment T1, T2 and T3 results in % increase of 41, 42 and 43%.
Table 3: seed germination data in maize after 7 days
T0 T1 T2 T3
R1 16 21 19 21
R2 15 20 21 19
R3 17 21 22 25
R4 15 20 20 23
R5 18 20 22 19
STDEV 1.30 0.55 1.30 2.61
Average 16.2 20.4 20.8 21.4
% Germination 32.4 40.8 41.6 42.8
% Over Control 0.00 25.93 28.40 32.10

Figure 3 represents the effect of elemental sulphur composition on seed germination in barley after 7 days of treatment.
Figure 4 represents the effect of elemental sulphur composition on root colonization in Barley. The treatment of roots after 10 days shows an increase of 50, 56 and 59% over control for T1, T2, and T3 respectively. The treatment of roots after 22 days shows an increase of 49, 51 and 67% over control for T1, T2, and T3 respectively.
Table 4: % root colonization in Barley after 10 and 22 days
Control T1 T2 T3
After 10 days 34.00 50.00 56.00 59.00
Increase Over Control 0.00 47.06 64.71 73.53
After 22 days 39.00 58.00 59.00 65.00
Increase Over Control 0.00 49 51.28 67
The effect of the elemental sulphur composition establishes the advantage of the composition for crop. The results further support the role and compatibility of elemental sulphur as carrier for Mycorrhiza, Mycorrhiza Helper Bacteria (MHB) and Mycorrhiza Helper Fungi (MHF).
The scope of the combination is not limited just by the above range, but also to other combinations, which can still maintain the same functional activity of the elemental sulphur ingredient known to those who are skilled in the art.
In the foregoing specification, specific embodiments of the present invention have been described. However, one of ordinary skill in the art appreciates that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention as set forth in the claims below. Accordingly, the specification and the example are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of present invention. The benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essential features or elements of any or all the claims. The invention is defined solely by the appended claims including any amendments made during the application. From the foregoing it will be observed that numerous modifications and variations can be effectuated without departing from the true spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the present invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific embodiments illustrated is intended or should be inferred. The disclosure is intended to cover by the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the scope of the claims.
,CLAIMS:We claim:
1. A fertilizer composition comprising:
a) an elemental sulphur source - 90% to 95% w/w of the total composition;
b) a Mycorrhiza – 0.01% to 1.0% w/w of the total composition;
c) a Mycorrhiza Helper Bacteria (MHB)- 0.01% to 1.0% w/w of the total composition;
d) a Mycorrhiza Helper Fungi (MHF)- 0.01% to 2.0% w/w of the total composition;
e) carrier -2.0% to about 8.0% w/w of the total composition; and
f) binding agent- 5.0% to about 10.0% w/w of the total composition.

2. The composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the elemental sulphur is selected from Petrochemical waste or by-product of oil refineries.

3. The composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the elemental sulphur of the composition for crop application is in the form of a wettable powder in a size ranging from 20 microns to about 200 microns and/ or granules in a size ranging from 0.1 mm to about 4.0 mm.

4. The composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the Mycorrhiza is selected from a group comprising ectomycorrhiza, endomycorrhiza, Arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) and Vesicular Arbuscular mycorrhiza (VAM) of genera; Glomus species, Rhizophagus species, Funneliformis species, Gigaspora species, Scutellospora species, Aculospora species, Sclerocystis spercie and Entrophospora species.

5. The composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the Mycorrhiza Helper Bacteria (MHB) is selected from Sulphur solubilising bacteria (SSB), Potash solubilising bacteria (KSB), Phosphate solubilising bacteria (PSB), Nitrogen fixing bacteria, Iron chelating bacteria, Zinc solubilising bacteria (ZSB), Magnesium solubilising bacteria, Silicon solubilising bacteria and Manganese solubilising bacteria.

6. The composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein Mycorrhiza Helper Fungi (MHF) is selected from Sulphur oxidizing fungus, Phosphate solubilising fungi (PSF), Potash solubilising fungi (KSF), Zinc solubilising fungi (ZSF) and Manganese solubilising fungi.

7. The composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the carrier is selected from a group comprising charcoal, activated charcoal, coal, compost sawdust, agri-perlite, expanded clay, kaolin, celite, vermicompost, peat, mineral soils, wheat bran and sugarcane baggas.

8. The composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the binder is selected from Guar gum, Gum arabic, Starch, Sago, Pytagel, Gelrite and Isabgoal.

9. The composition as claimed in claim1, wherein the composition enhances seed germination, % root colonization in maize and barley.

10. A process for preparation of the fertilizer composition comprising steps of:
grinding elemental sulphur obtained from petrochemical industries and oil refineries with an effective amount of water by spraying in a blending tank followed by filtration through a suitable size sieve / filter;
blending the grinded and filtered sulphur with at least one of the Mycorrhiza (M) colonised root powder, Mycorrhiza Helper Bacteria (MHB) and Mycorrhiza Helper Fungi (MHF), carrier and binding agent in another blending tank; and
drying the properly blended material in suitable drying equipment to obtain equipment to obtain final composition of elemental sulphur for crop application as wet powder in the size range of 20 to 200 micron and granule in the size range of 0.1 mm to 4.0 mm by passing through a mesh.