WO2025214954A1 - Fertilizer compositions - Google Patents

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to fertilizers comprising krill-derived compositions. Both krill-oil, krill-meal and krill-meal-residues can be used as NP-fertilizers for plants.

Description

Title: Fertilizer compositions Field The present disclosure relates to the field of agriculture, particularly the field of 5 organic fertilizers and plant biostimulants. Background Agriculture needs to supply food for a growing population whilst also minimizing the environmental impact, and the adoption of sustainable agriculture systems has 10 been proposed as a solution to achieve this. The availability of quality synthetic fertilizer has been good, but growing needs and demands for sustainable solutions suggest that there is a need for new organic products. Unlike synthetic fertilizers, organic fertilizers release nutrients slowly and 15 improve the structure and fertility of the soil over time. They also promote beneficial microbial activity in the soil and are environmentally friendly as they do not contain harmful chemicals or additives. Organic fertilizers are commonly used in organic farming practices to provide essential nutrients to plants in a sustainable and natural way. 20 The primary fertilizer nutrients for plants are based on nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K). They are mainly absorbed by plants in the form of ions, such as NO3- , NH4⁺, HPO4^2- , H2PO4- and K⁺. Accordingly, most inorganic fertilizers provide salts comprising some or all the mentioned ions. Organic fertilizers can also 25 provide sources of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and/or potassium (K). However, in contrast to inorganic fertilizers, organic fertilizers can also comprise organic carbon (C). Fertilizers providing all the three primary nutrients in an available form for the 30 plants, are often referred to as NPK fertilizers. Fertilizers providing nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), are often referred to as NP fertilizers. Drip irrigation systems may distribute aqueous solutions or water to plants through a network often comprising valves, pipes, tubing, and emitters. Drip irrigation has 35 the potential to save water and nutrients by allowing water to drip slowly to the roots of plants, either from above the soil surface or buried below the surface. This may allow applying water directly into the root zone and minimize evaporation in a hot climate or warm weather. However, drip irrigation systems are vulnerable for clogging. Physical clogging may be caused by debris in the tap water. Biological 40 clogging may be caused by growth of algae, moss and micro-organisms. Chemical clogging may be caused by crystallization of salts. There is an unmet need to find improved or alternative ways to grow plants, trees and crops, also in hot climate or warm weather. Summary 5 The present disclosure relates to fertilizers comprising krill-derived compositions, such as krill-oil, krill-meal or krill-meal residue as disclosed herein. It has been found that such krill-derived compositions can be used as an organic fertilizer and/or as a plant biostimulant. Krill-derived compositions may increase plant growth and stimulate natural processes to enhance plant nutrient uptake, nutrient 10 use efficiency, tolerance to abiotic stress and crop quality. In particular, as demonstrated herein, plants receiving a krill-derived composition developed denser and more robust trichomes which represent a first defense layer against biotic and abiotic stress as well as defense against herbivores. In contrast to most marine oils, krill-oil comprises substantial amounts of phospholipids, in particular 15 phosphatidylcholine. Accordingly, because emulsions based on krill-oil provide a source of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), they can be used as NP fertilizers. Furthermore, phospholipids from krill-oil comprise a substantial amount of EPA and/or DHA moieties. Without being bound by theory, these fatty acids may contribute to the beneficial effects seen when applying the krill-derived 20 compositions disclosed herein to plants. However, in some krill-derived compositions other ingredients like chitin and astaxanthin may also contribute. In a first embodiment, the present disclosure provides use of krill-oil for fertilizing plants and/or conditioning of soil, 25 wherein the krill-oil is a mixture comprising a. at least 30 % w/w phospholipids selected from the group of phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol or phosphatidylserine, wherein at least 80 mol% of the phospholipids is phosphatidylcholine, 30 b. at least 15% w/w omega-3 fatty acids, or c. at least 3% w/w of choline. In a first aspect of the first embodiment, the present disclosure provides use of krill- oil for fertilizing plants and/or conditioning of soil, 35 wherein the krill-oil is a mixture comprising a. at least 30 % w/w phospholipids selected from the group of phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol or phosphatidylserine, wherein at least 85 mol% of the phospholipids is phosphatidylcholine, 40 b. at least 15% w/w omega-3 fatty acids, and c. at least 3% w/w choline. In a second aspect of the first embodiment, the present disclosure provides use of krill-oil for fertilizing plants and/or conditioning of soil, wherein the krill-oil is a mixture comprising at least 18% w/w omega-3 fatty acids. 5 In a third aspect of the first embodiment, the present disclosure provides use of krill-oil for fertilizing plants and/or conditioning of soil, wherein the krill-oil is a mixture comprising at least 20% w/w omega-3 fatty acids. In a fourth aspect of the first embodiment, the present disclosure provides use of 10 krill-oil for fertilizing plants and/or conditioning of soil, wherein the krill-oil is a mixture comprising at least 30% w/w omega-3 fatty acids. In a fifth aspect of the first embodiment, the present disclosure provides use of krill- oil for fertilizing plants and/or conditioning of soil, wherein the krill-oil is a 15 mixture comprising at least 5% w/w choline. In a sixth aspect of the first embodiment, the present disclosure provides use of krill-oil for fertilizing plants and/or conditioning of soil, wherein the krill-oil is a mixture comprising at least 7% w/w choline. 20 In a seventh aspect of the first embodiment, the present disclosure provides use of krill-oil for fertilizing plants and/or conditioning of soil, wherein the krill-oil is in the form of an oil-in-water emulsion. 25 In a second embodiment, the present disclosure provides use of an oil-in-water emulsion comprising dispersed lipid particles for fertilizing plants and/or conditioning of soil, wherein the dispersed lipid particles comprise 50 to 70% w/w phosphatidylcholine. 30 In a third embodiment, the present disclosure provides a method of fertilizing plants and/or conditioning of soil comprising the step of applying an oil-in-water emulsion to plants or soil, wherein the emulsion comprises dispersed lipid particles comprising 30 to 80% w/w marine phospholipids. 35 In a fourth embodiment, the present disclosure provides a method of fertilizing plants and/or conditioning of soil comprising the step of applying krill-meal or krill- meal-residue to plants or soil. In a first aspect of the fourth embodiment, the present disclosure provides a method 40 comprising the step of applying krill-meal to plants or soil, wherein the krill-meal in the form of an aqueous dispersion or aqueous suspension. In a second aspect of the fourth embodiment, the present disclosure provides a method comprising the step of applying krill-meal-residue to plants or soil, wherein the krill-meal-residue in the form of an aqueous dispersion or aqueous suspension. 5 Brief description of the figures Figure 1 visualizes a phospholipid (1a), and how they may form micelles (cross- section illustrated in 1b) and liposomes (cross-section illustrated in 1c) in aqueous solutions. Figure 1d visualizes four test tubes with emulsions comprising 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25% w/w krill-oil (KO). 10 Figure 2 shows a certificate of analysis of a suitable krill-meal. HPLC is conventional High-Performance Liquid Chromatography. Definitions 15 Throughout the present disclosure relevant terms are to be understood consistently with their typical meanings established in the relevant art, i.e. the art of agriculture, biology, biochemistry and plant physiology. Unless specifically defined herein, all technical and scientific terms used have the 20 same meaning as commonly understood by a skilled person. “Aqueous solution”, as used herein, refers to any aqueous solution suitable for irrigating plants. Accordingly, it covers tap water, purified water, fertilizer solutions, waste-water suitable for plants, and the aqueous phase in oil-in-water 25 emulsions etc. “Plant” or “plants” as used herein means any cultured plant including food crops, fiber crops, oil crops, ornamental crops, industrial crops, herbs and trees. 30 “pH” is the conventional measurement unit of hydrogen ion activity in a solution at room temperature, unless another temperature is specified. The term “EPA” refers to eicosapentaenoic acid. The term “DHA” refers to docosahexaenoic acid. 35 EPA and DHA, as used herein in connection with the compositions of the invention, refers to the fatty acid chain that can be bound to a lipid backbone, such as to a phospholipid backbone, lysophospholipid backbone, triacylglyceride backbone, diacylglyceride backbone, monoacylglyceride backbone or any other lipid backbone, or it can exist in the compositions as a free fatty acid or ethyl ester. The term “phospholipids” is used herein to describe the total content of phospholipids, including lyso-phospholipids, in a composition. As such, 5 "phospholipid" refers to an organic compound that has one or two fatty acid moieties attached at the sn-1 and/or sn-2 positions of glycerol, and contain a head group linked by a phosphate residue at the sn-3 position of the glycerol. Exemplary headgroup moieties include choline, ethanolamine, serine and inositol. Phospholipids include phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylserine, 10 phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol, and phosphatidic acid. The fatty acid moiety is the portion of the fatty acid molecule that is bound at the sn-1 or sn-2 position, for example by an ester or ether linkage. When the fatty acid moiety is a fatty acyl, the aliphatic chain of the fatty acyl is attached via an ester linkage and when the fatty acid moiety is an aliphatic chain of a fatty acid, the aliphatic chain is 15 attached via an ether linkage. When a particular fatty acid is mentioned in connection with a phospholipid of the invention (e.g., EPA or DHA) it should therefore be taken as a reference to the relevant fatty acyl group or to its aliphatic chain. In krill-oil, a predominant amount of the total amount of EPA and/or DHA is bound in a phospholipid, in particular a predominant amount of EPA and/or DHA is 20 bound in phosphatidylcholine. The term “phosphatidylcholine” is used herein to describe the total content of phosphatidylcholine, including lyso-phosphatidylcholine (LPC), in a composition. The term “LPC” is used herein to describe the content of lyso-phosphatidylcholine in a composition. 25 All publications, patent applications, patents, and other references mentioned herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety. In case of conflict, the present specification, including definitions, will prevail. Where a numerical limit or range is stated herein, the endpoints are included. Also, 30 all values and sub ranges within a numerical limit or range are specifically included as if explicitly written out. Headings have been used for organizational purposes and should not be construed as limiting the subject-matter herein. Detailed description 5 It has been found that krill derived compositions, such as krill-oil, krill-meal or krill-meal-residues, as well as emulsions based on such krill-derived products, can be used as an organic fertilizer and as a plant biostimulant. Krill-derived compositions may increase plant growth and stimulate natural 10 processes to enhance plant nutrient uptake, nutrient use efficiency, tolerance to abiotic stress and crop quality. Furthermore, oil-in-water emulsions comprising krill-oil is demonstrated to improve moist retention in soil. Accordingly, they can be used as a soil conditioner. It is found that emulsions can be made simply by mixing a certain amount of krill-oil with an aqueous solution by high shear-force 15 mixing at ambient temperature. It is found that such emulsions comprising 10% w/w lipid particles remain more storage-stable than emulsions comprising 5% w/w lipid particles. Because krill-oil, in contrast to most marine oils, comprise substantial amounts of 20 phospholipids, in particular phosphatidylcholine, emulsions based on krill-oil provide a source of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), they can be used as NP fertilizers. In addition, phospholipids can improve plant growth and performance in several ways. 25 Stimulating soil microorganisms: As suggested in WO1996012685A1, adding phospholipids to the substrate on which plants grow can stimulate the growth and activity of beneficial soil microorganisms, which in turn improves plant growth and health. 30 Enhancing salt stress tolerance: Phospholipids play an important regulatory role in helping plants respond to and cope with salt stress, which can otherwise negatively impact plant growth (Munnik and Testerink, J. Lipid Res.2009. S260–S265). Involvement in signaling pathways: It is known that high salinity threatens crop 35 production by harming plants and interfering with their development (Han and Yang, Plants 2021, 10(10), 2204). Phospholipids and their metabolites may act as important signaling molecules in plants, regulating processes like root hair development, pathogen defense, and flower development. 40 Facilitating nutrient uptake: Some phospholipids can act as surfactants, helping plants better absorb and utilize nutrients from the soil. Improving stomatal function: The phospholipid transporter ALA10 was found to be important for the uptake of lysophosphatidylcholine in guard cells, affecting stomatal conductance and transpiration. 5 Phospholipids from krill-oil are superior to the vegetable and animal lecithin’s described in the prior art as krill-oil phospholipids are marine phospholipids wherein a predominant part of the phospholipids are substituted with EPA and DHA. By adding krill-oil to the substrate on which plants can grow, the invention provides an improved solution for fertilizing plants and/or conditioning of soil. 10 In summary, adding phospholipids to the plant substrate and thereby optimizing phospholipid metabolism in plants will have multiple beneficial effects on plant growth, stress tolerance, and overall performance. As phospholipids are an important component of plant nutrition and signaling, krill-oil comprising marine 15 phospholipids will provide several benefits to plants as an organic fertilizer or as biostimulant. Based on the present disclosure, “off-spec” krill-oil may be conveniently used in agriculture, and thus also improve the overall sustainability of such industry. 20 Omega-3 fatty acids from natural sources are found predominantly in the form of triglycerides and phospholipids. Triglycerides comprise three fatty acid moieties while phospholipids comprise one or two fatty acid moieties. 25 One of the fundamental advantages of krill-oil is that its omega-3 fatty acids are mainly bound in phospholipids, whereas fish oil’s are bound in triglycerides. This important distinction has many different implications for the absorption, function and health effects of the omega-3 fatty acids and technical aspects of the phospholipids. 30 Phospholipids are present in eggs, milk, meat and fish, however, the common fatty acids in these PLs are palmitic, stearic, oleic and linoleic acid. Many marine derived phospholipids are unique due to high levels of EPA and DHA. In krill as much as 80 % or higher of the total amount of EPA and DHA can be bound in phospholipids. In 35 addition, a predominant part of the EPA and DHA found in krill-oil is bound in PC. In contrast, EPA and DHA in fish oil are mostly bound in triglycerides (TGs). A phospholipid molecule comprises one or two fatty acid moieties. The fatty acid moieties are attached to a glycerol backbone that is further linked to a phosphate 40 group. Phosphate is an important nutrient providing phosphorus (P) for plants. The phosphate group is often attached to organic molecules such as choline, ethanolamine, inositol or serine. Choline, serine and ethanolamine comprise nitrogen (N). In krill-oil, a predominant part of the phospholipids comprise a choline head group, 5 e.g. phosphatidylcholine (PC). Choline, phosphate, and glycerol make up the hydrophilic side of the molecule, the fatty acid chains are the hydrophobic part of the molecule. Phospholipids are amphiphilic in nature, meaning that they have both hydrophilic and hydrophobic parts. This characteristic is important for the structural function of phospholipids, which serve as the building blocks of cell membranes. 10 When phospholipids are exposed to water, the molecules may spontaneously arrange such that the tails are shielded from the water, resulting in the formation of membrane structures such as bilayers, vesicles, and micelles. Production of krill-oil is well known (see for example WO2016128838A2. Krill-oil 15 is a source of omega-3 fatty acids. Krill-oil is distinguished from fish oils by a high content of phospholipids, which may constitute as much as 85% by weight of the oil, depending on production methods and down-stream processing. The krill-oil mixture applicable for use as described herein can comprise 20 a. at least 30 % w/w, more specifically from 30 to 85% w/w, even more specifically from 40 to 60% w/w of phospholipids selected from the group of phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol or phosphatidylserine, wherein at least 80 mol% of the phospholipids is phosphatidylcholine, 25 b. at least 15% w/w omega-3 fatty acids, or c. at least 3% w/w of choline. The content of several suitable krill-oils is provided in Table 1. The analytical methods used are well-known for skilled persons within the field of krill-oil 30 industry. GC FAME = Gas chromatography of total Fatty Acid Methyl Esters NMR = Nuclear Magnetic Resonance PCR = Polymerase Chain Reaction 35 AOCS = American Oil Chemists’ Society The viscosity is provided in milliPascal-seconds (mPa·s). PV = Peroxide value cfu = Colony-forming units Table 1: Specification and lipid composition of krill derived oil composition. Sample 1 Sample 2 Sample Sample 4 (Superba (Superba2 3 Boost at at facility (AKO at facility 1) (AKO at facility 1) facility 3) 2) Parameter Method Unit Value Appearance Visual Red Dark red Dark red Dark red viscous viscous viscous viscous oil oil oil oil Identification GC FAME Conforms Conforms Conforms Conforms Viscosity at 35°C Rotational mPa·s 1937.44 598 NA 662 Viscometer TMAO+TMAO Ion mgN/100g <2 <2 chromatography Na+ (g/100g) Ion g/100g 0,137 <0.1 chromatography LIPID COMPOSITION Phospholipids 31P NMR g/100g 58.54 50 47 41 PC 31P NMR g/100g 47.78 45 41 36 LPC 31P NMR g/100g 4.08 Choline 31P NMR g/100g 7.09 6 6 5 Free fatty acids 13C NMR g/100g ND Ethyl esters 13C NMR g/100g ND Acid value AOCS Cd 3d-63 mg KOH/g 18 Free fatty acids AOCS Cd 3d-63 g/100g 8.84 (as oleic acid) FATTY ACID PROFILE total omega-3 GC (FAME) g/100g 28.45 24.9 29 20.8 fatty acids C 20:5 n-3 (EPA) GC (FAME) g/100g 15.63 14.0 12 11.1 C 22:6 n-3 (DHA) GC (FAME) g/100g 8.03 7.1 9 5.6 STABILITY INDEX Peroxide value PV value Acetic 1.7 <1 <1 <1 acid-Isooctane Method ANTIOXIDANTS Astaxanthin UV spectroscopy mg/kg 191.9 367 711 263 Astaxanthin Conforms Conforms Conforms Conforms esterification WATER AND ETHANOL Water content Karl Fischer g/100g 0.78 1 Water activity at Moisture probe 0.23 0.1 25°C Ethanol content Gas g/100g 2.18 1 3 Chromatography MICROBIOLOGY Total plate count cfu/g <10 <10 <10 70 Mould and Yeast cfu/g <10 <10 <10 <10 E. Coli cfu/g Negative Negative Negative Coliform cfu/g <10 <10 <10 Salmonella PCR detected/not Negative Negative Negative detected in 25g

Table 2: Lipid composition and fatty acid profile of a krill-oil composition of Sample 1. Lipids (Nofima) Triacylglycerol HPLC g/100g 20 Diacylglycerol HPLC g/100g 1.8 Monoacylglycerol HPLC g/100g <1 Free fatty acids HPLC g/100g 6.4 Cholesterol HPLC g/100g 1.7 Cholesterol esters HPLC <0.5 Phosphatidyletanolamin HPLC g/100g 6.4 Phosphatidylinositol HPLC g/100g <1 Phosphatidylserin HPLC g/100g <1 Phosphatidylcholin HPLC g/100g 56 Lyso-Phosphatidylcholin HPLC g/100g 3.9 Total polar lipids HPLC g/100g 66.3 Total neutral lipids HPLC g/100g 29.9 Total sum lipids HPLC g/100g 96.2 Fatty acid composition C12:0 GC (FAME) g/100g 0.009 C14:0 GC (FAME) g/100g 4.74 C15:0 GC (FAME) g/100g 0.22 C16:0 GC (FAME) g/100g 13.94 16:1 n-7 GC (FAME) g/100g 3.21 C18:0 GC (FAME) g/100g 1.31 C18:1 n-9 GC (FAME) g/100g 5.51 C18:1 n-7 GC (FAME) g/100g 4.04 C18:2 n-6 GC (FAME) g/100g 1.35 C18:3 n-3 GC (FAME) g/100g 1.03 C18:4 n-3 GC (FAME) g/100g 2.47 C20:1 n-9 GC (FAME) g/100g 0.35 C20:4 n-6 GC (FAME) g/100g 0.35 C20:3 n-3 GC (FAME) g/100g 0 C20:4 n-3 GC (FAME) g/100g 0.42 C20:5 n-3 GC (FAME) g/100g 15.63 C22:1 n-9 GC (FAME) g/100g 0.61 C21:5 n-3 GC (FAME) g/100g 0.46 C22:5 n-3 GC (FAME) g/100g 0.36 C22:6 n-3 GC (FAME) g/100g 8.08 Total FA GC (FAME) g/100g 64.15 SFA GC (FAME) g/100g 20.3 MUFA GC (FAME) g/100g 13.71 PUFA n-6 GC (FAME) g/100g 1.69 EPA + DHA GC (FAME) g/100g 23.71 PUFA n-3 GC (FAME) g/100g 28.45 Total PUFA GC (FAME) g/100g 30.14 Unknown FA 3.72 Krill-oil production for human consumption may occasionally provide batches outside the regulatory or commercial specifications. Such “off-spec”-batches may be used as disclosed herein, instead of being discarded as waste. Furthermore, waste-water from a krill-oil production facilities also contain valuable plant nutrients. When such waste-water is included in the emulsions provided in the present disclosure, a double sustainability-benefit can be achieved. Accordingly, the present disclosure provides organic fertilizers comprising carbon (C), phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N). Fertilizing plants is the process of providing nutrients to plants for growth and/or health. Plants need sources of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and/or potassium (K) in order to grow. These are the major macronutrients for plants. However, plants also need other nutrients like calcium (Ca), sulfur (S), magnesium (Mg), and micronutrients like iron (Fe), boron (B), chlorine (Cl), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), molybdenum (Mo), and nickel (Ni). Oil-in-water emulsions comprise dispersed lipid particles in a continuous aqueous phase. Such lipid particles comprising a substantial amount of phospholipids may form micelles and/or liposomes. As visualized in Figure 1b and 1c, micelles have a lipophilic core while liposomes comprise an aqueous solution in the core. Such micelles and liposomes may also comprise triglycerides, fatty acids, cholesterol and other components found in biological lipid membranes. It has been demonstrated that krill-oil in water emulsions can stimulate improved growth and development. In Example 4 we tested a krill-oil-in-water emulsion as provided in the present disclosure as a soil drench in an experiment with tomato plants. The results demonstrated improved plant growth, faster leaf development and enhanced trichome (plant hair) formation and development. In addition, the stem of plants treated with the oil-in-water emulsion was thicker and the color was improved. Trichomes are protruding epidermal cells in some plant species, such as tomato plants. Trichomes function as the first defense layer against biotic and abiotic stresses. Tomato trichomes has an essential role in defense against herbivores (Tian D, Tooker J, Peiffer M, Chung SH, Felton GW. Role of trichomes in defense against herbivores: comparison of herbivore response to woolly and hairless trichome mutants in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). Planta.2012 5 Oct;236(4):1053-66. doi: 10.1007/s00425-012-1651-9. Epub 2012 May 3. PMID: 22552638). In summary, the example demonstrates effects of the disclosed krill-oil- in-water emulsions indicating that the emulsions are highly usable as biostimulants. The emulsions disclosed herein can contain 5 to 20% w/w dispersed lipid particles and 80 to 95% w/w of an aqueous solution. 10 The emulsions disclosed herein can contain 6 to 18% w/w dispersed lipid particles and 82 to 94% w/w of an aqueous solution. The emulsions disclosed herein can contain 7 to 16% w/w dispersed lipid particles and 84 to 94% w/w of an aqueous solution. The emulsions disclosed herein can contain 8 to 14% w/w dispersed lipid particles 15 and 86 to 92% w/w of an aqueous solution. The emulsions disclosed herein can contain 9 to 12% w/w dispersed lipid particles and 88 to 91% w/w of an aqueous solution. The emulsions disclosed herein can contain 10% w/w dispersed lipid particles and 90% w/w of an aqueous solution. 20 The emulsions disclosed herein can contain marine phospholipids. As used herein, marine phospholipids are phospholipids comprising at least one omega-3 fatty acid moiety. Such phospholipids are obtainable from marine sources like krill. The lipid particles may comprise 10 to 20% w/w of eicosapentaenoic acid and/or an eicosapentaenoic acid moiety. 25 The lipid particles may comprise 12 to 18% w/w of eicosapentaenoic acid and/or an eicosapentaenoic acid moiety. The lipid particles may comprise 14 to 16% w/w of eicosapentaenoic acid and/or an eicosapentaenoic acid moiety. The lipid particles may comprise 15% w/w of an eicosapentaenoic acid moiety. 30 The lipid particles may comprise 5 to 15% w/w of docosahexaenoic acid and/or a docosahexaenoic acid moiety. The lipid particles may comprise 6 to 12% w/w of docosahexaenoic acid and/or a docosahexaenoic acid moiety. The lipid particles may comprise 7 to 10% w/w of docosahexaenoic acid and/or a docosahexaenoic acid moiety. The lipid particles may comprise 8% w/w of docosahexaenoic acid and/or a docosahexaenoic acid moiety. 5 The emulsions disclosed herein can have a pH in the range of 6 to 8. The emulsions disclosed herein can have a pH in the range of 6.5 to 7.5. The emulsions disclosed herein can have a pH of 6.5, 6.6, 6.7, 6.8, 6.9.7.0, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4 or 7.5. The emulsions disclosed herein can contain lipid particles with a median particle 10 size, D50, in the range of 50 to 500 nm. The emulsions disclosed herein can contain lipid particles with a median particle size, D50, in the range of 100 to 400 nm. The emulsions disclosed herein can contain lipid particles with a median particle size, D50, in the range of 200 to 300 nm. 15 The emulsions disclosed herein can contain lipid particles with a median particle size, D50, in the range of 50 to 100 nm. The emulsions disclosed herein can have a viscosity the range of 0.01 to 1000 mPa·s. The emulsions disclosed herein can have a viscosity the range of 0.1 to 500 mPa·s 20 at 35°C. The emulsions disclosed herein can have a viscosity the range of 1 to 400 mPa·s at 35°C. The emulsions disclosed herein can have a viscosity the range of 10 to 300 mPa·s at 35°C. 25 The emulsions disclosed herein can have a viscosity the range of 50 to 250 mPa·s at 35°C. The emulsions disclosed herein can be used for irrigation of plants. They can also be used for fertigation. They can also be used for irrigation of plants by sprinkling, spraying. 30 Sprinkler irrigation may distribute water or aqueous solutions in a controlled manner, often similar to rainfall. The water or aqueous solutions may be distributed through a network that often comprise pumps, valves, pipes, and sprinklers with nozzles. The sprinkler nozzles are generally wide enough to avoid clogging even if some particles are present, and even if the aqueous solution is slightly viscous. Accordingly, they are suitable for the emulsions and dispersions disclosed herein. The emulsions disclosed herein can be further diluted in water for treatment of plants. The final concentration of dispersed lipid particles in the aqueous solutions 5 provided to the plants can be from 0.5 % to 5 % w/w. The final concentration of dispersed lipid particles in the aqueous solutions provided to the plants can be in the range 1 % to 4 % w/w, 1.5 % 3.5 % w/w or 2 to 3 % w/w. Accordingly, these emulsions can contain 0.5 % w/w, 0.6 % w/w, 0.7 % w/w, 0.8 % w/w, 0.9 % w/w, 1.0 % w/w, 1.1 % w/w, 1.2 % w/w, 1.3 % w/w, 1.4 % w/w, 1.5 % w/w, 1.6 % w/w, 10 1.7 % w/w, 1.8 % w/w, 1.9 % w/w, 2.0 % w/w, 2.1 % w/w, 2.2 % w/w, 2.3 % w/w, 2.4 % w/w, 2.5 % w/w, 2.6 % w/w, 2.7 % w/w, 2.8 % w/w, 2.9 % w/w, 3.0 % w/w, 3.1 % w/w, 3.2 % w/w, 3.3 % w/w, 3.4 % w/w, 3.4 % w/w, 3.5 % w/w, 3.6 % w/w, 3.7 % w/w, 3.8 % w/w, 3.9 % w/w, 4.0 % w/w, 4.1 % w/w, 4.2 % w/w, 4.4 % w/w, 4.4 % w/w, 4.5 % w/w, 4.6 % w/w, 4.7 % w/w, 4.8 % w/w, 4.9 % w/w or 5.0 % w/w 15 krill-oil. The emulsions disclosed herein can be used as coating. In particular, they can be used to coat fertilizer particles such as pellets, granules, etc. Such coated particles will conveniently comprise a solid core with a source of nitrogen (N) available for plants, and/or a source of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) available for plants, 20 and/or a source of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) available for plants. The coatings will thus contain krill-oil which is a source of NP. The coating can be applied by spraying fertilizer particles with the emulsions, especially porous fertilizer particles such as granules or extruded particles. The present disclosure provides a method for production of the emulsions defined 25 above, comprising the steps: a. providing a krill-oil in contact with an aqueous solution, and b. mixing said liquids by high shear mixing, microfluidisation, or ultrasonication to obtain an emulsion. The aqueous solution can contain waste-water from a krill-oil production facility. 30 Such waste-water is generally low-toxic or non-toxic for plants and crops, and it may contain additional plant nutrients. The aqueous solution can contain potassium ions. For making an NPK-fertilizer, potassium salts like KNO₃, K₂SO₄ etc., can be dissolved in water and used for making the emulsions defined above. This may provide emulsions comprising 35 liposomes containing potassium ions. The compositions herein for fertilizing plants and/or conditioning of soil are obtainable by emulsifying 5 to 30% w/w krill-oil in water by high-shear mixing. The compositions herein for fertilizing plants and/or conditioning of soil are obtainable by emulsifying 6 to 25% w/w krill-oil in water by high-shear mixing. The compositions herein for fertilizing plants and/or conditioning of soil are obtainable by emulsifying 6 to 18% w/w krill-oil in water by high-shear mixing. 5 The compositions herein for fertilizing plants and/or conditioning of soil are obtainable by emulsifying 7 to 16% w/w krill-oil in water by high-shear mixing. The compositions herein for fertilizing plants and/or conditioning of soil are obtainable by emulsifying 8 to 14% w/w krill-oil in water by high-shear mixing. The compositions herein for fertilizing plants and/or conditioning of soil are 10 obtainable by emulsifying 9 to 12% w/w krill-oil in water by high-shear mixing. The compositions herein for fertilizing plants and/or conditioning of soil are obtainable by emulsifying 10% w/w krill-oil in water by high-shear mixing. Accordingly, the present disclosure provides the use of krill-oil for producing an oil-in-water emulsion for fertilizing plants and/or conditioning of soil. 15 Accordingly, the present disclosure provides an oil-in-water emulsion comprising 8 to 12% w/w dispersed lipid particles, and wherein the lipid particles comprise 30 to 80% w/w marine phospholipids. Accordingly, the present disclosure provides an oil-in-water emulsion comprising 8 to 12% w/w dispersed lipid particles, and wherein the lipid particles comprise 30 to 20 80% w/w marine phospholipids. Accordingly, the present disclosure provides an oil-in-water emulsion comprising 8 to 12% w/w dispersed lipid particles with a median particle size, D50, in the range of 100 to 400 nm, and wherein the lipid particles comprise 30 to 80% w/w marine phospholipids. 25 Accordingly, the present disclosure provides an oil-in-water emulsion comprising 8 to 12% w/w dispersed lipid particles, and wherein the lipid particles comprise 25 to 70% w/w phosphatidylcholine. Accordingly, the present disclosure provides an oil-in-water emulsion comprising 8 to 12% w/w dispersed lipid particles, and wherein the lipid particles comprise 40 to 30 70% w/w phosphatidylcholine. Accordingly, the present disclosure provides an oil-in-water emulsion comprising 8 to 12% w/w dispersed lipid particles with a median particle size, D50, in the range of 100 to 400 nm, and wherein the lipid particles comprise 40 to 70% w/w phosphatidylcholine. Accordingly, the present disclosure provides an oil-in-water emulsion comprising 8 to 12% w/w dispersed lipid particles in with a median particle size, D50, in the range of 100 to 400 nm, and wherein the lipid particles comprise 40 to 70% w/w phosphatidylcholine and wherein the emulsion comprises waste-water from krill-oil 5 production. Accordingly, the present disclosure provides an oil-in-water emulsion comprising 8 to 12% w/w dispersed lipid particles in with a median particle size, D50, in the range of 100 to 400 nm, and wherein the lipid particles comprise 40 to 70% w/w phosphatidylcholine and wherein the aqueous phase of emulsion is waste-water 10 from krill-oil production. The emulsions disclosed herein can be used for irrigation and/or fertilizing of plants. Accordingly, the present disclosure provides a method for fertilizing plants comprising the steps of providing emulsions as defined above and applying said 15 emulsion to plants by spraying or sprinkling. Accordingly, the present disclosure provides a method for irrigating plants comprising the steps of providing emulsions as defined above and applying said emulsion to plants by spraying or sprinkling. Accordingly, the present disclosure provides a method for conditioning of soil 20 comprising the steps of providing emulsions as defined above and applying said emulsion to soil by spraying or sprinkling. Accordingly, the present disclosure provides a method for fertilizing plants comprising the steps of providing emulsions as defined above and applying said emulsion to plant foliage by spraying. 25 Krill-meal can also be used for fertilizing plants and or for condition of soil. For example, krill meal can be used as a NP-fertilizer or as an organic fertilizer. The krill-meal can be applied directly to soil, for example as a top dressing in the form of powder or granulates. Alternative methods are broadcast application or starter fertilizer application. “Broadcasting" or "broadcast application." is known as a 30 technique involving spreading fertilizer evenly over the entire field surface, often simultaneously with seeding. Broadcasting can be done manually or with a mechanical spreader. In Example 6, it was demonstrated use of a krill-meal composition applied as a starter fertilizer. The fertilizer used in the experiment contained 50% krill meal. It was applied at the time of planting to provide initial 35 nutrients to the newly planted oat seeds. This can be critical for early growth and development and can be particularly effective in promoting strong early root development and vigorous seedling growth. The results showed strong early root development and larger grains and an increased number of grains per stem, indicating reproductive rather than vegetative growth. In the end the krill-meal fertilizer demonstrated 50% higher crop yield, well-developed grains more uniform in size and noticeable reduction in fungal diseases. 5 In alternative embodiments, it has been found that aqueous compositions comprising krill-meal can be used as an organic fertilizer and/or as a plant biostimulant. Krill-meal can be partly dissolved and/or dispersed in aqueous solutions. Such compositions may increase plant growth and stimulate natural 10 processes to enhance plant nutrient uptake, nutrient use efficiency, tolerance to abiotic stress and crop quality. Furthermore, such compositions may improve moist retention in soil. Accordingly, they may be used as a soil conditioner. Based on the present disclosure, “off-spec” krill-meal may be conveniently used in agriculture, and thus improve the overall sustainability of such industry. 15 Production of krill-meal is well-known. It can for example be produced from Euphausia superba and/or Euphausia pacifica. The krill-meal applicable for use as described herein can comprise 20 - from 30 to 60% w/w protein, peptides and/or amino acids, - from 15 to 35% w/w lipids, and - from 10 to 30% w/w ash. More specifically, the krill-meal applicable for use as described herein can comprise 25 - from 30 to 60% w/w protein, peptides and/or amino acids, - from 15 to 35% w/w lipids, - from 10 to 30% w/w ash and - from 10 to 15% w/w chitin. 30 Besides having a well-balanced amino acid profile, krill-meal contains astaxanthin. Krill-meal contains phospholipids and it is a source of omega-3 fatty acids. The krill-meal applicable for use as described herein comprises from 15 to 35 % w/w of lipids. In different embodiments at least 30 % w/w, such as from 30 to 50 % 35 w/w or from 35-45 % w/w or about 40 % w/w of the lipids in the krill meal are phospholipids. Krill-meal production may occasionally provide batches outside the regulatory or commercial specifications. Such “off-spec”-batches may be used as disclosed herein, instead of being discarded as waste. Furthermore, waste-water from a krill-40 oil production facilities also contain valuable plant nutrients. When such waste- water is included in the krill-meal dispersions provided in the present disclosure, a double sustainability-benefit can be achieved. Krill-meal dispersions may comprise dispersed particles in a continuous aqueous 5 phase. Such dispersed particles may comprise a substantial amount of phospholipids, proteins, peptides and amino acids. The krill-meal dispersions disclosed herein can contain 5 to 20% w/w dispersed particles and 80 to 95% w/w of an aqueous solution. The krill-meal dispersions disclosed herein can contain 6 to 18% w/w dispersed 10 particles and 82 to 94% w/w of an aqueous solution. The krill-meal dispersions disclosed herein can contain 7 to 16% w/w dispersed particles and 84 to 94% w/w of an aqueous solution. The krill-meal dispersions disclosed herein can contain 8 to 14% w/w dispersed particles and 86 to 92% w/w of an aqueous solution. 15 The krill-meal dispersions disclosed herein can contain 9 to 12% w/w dispersed particles and 88 to 91% w/w of an aqueous solution. The krill-meal dispersions disclosed herein can contain 10% w/w dispersed particles and 90% w/w of an aqueous solution. The krill-meal dispersions disclosed herein can contain marine phospholipids. 20 The krill-meal dispersions disclosed herein can have a pH in the range of 6 to 8. The krill-meal dispersions disclosed herein can have a pH in the range of 6.5 to 7.5. The krill-meal dispersions disclosed herein can have a pH of 6.5, 6.6, 6.7, 6.8, 6.9. 7.0, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4 or 7.5. The krill-meal dispersions disclosed herein can contain particles with a median 25 particle size, D50, in the range of 50 to 500 nm. The krill-meal dispersions disclosed herein can contain particles with a median particle size, D50, in the range of 100 to 400 nm. The krill-meal dispersions disclosed herein can contain particles with a median particle size, D50, in the range of 200 to 300 nm. 30 The krill-meal dispersions disclosed herein can contain particles with a median particle size, D50, in the range of 50 to 100 nm. The krill-meal dispersions disclosed herein can have a viscosity the range of 0.01 to 1000 mPa·s. The krill-meal dispersions disclosed herein can have a viscosity the range of 0.1 to 500 mPa·s at 35°C. The krill-meal dispersions disclosed herein can have a viscosity the range of 1 to 400 mPa·s at 35°C. 5 The krill-meal dispersions disclosed herein can have a viscosity the range of 10 to 300 mPa·s at 35°C. The krill-meal dispersions disclosed herein can have a viscosity the range of 50 to 250 mPa·s at 35°C. The krill-meal dispersions disclosed herein can be used for irrigation of plants. 10 They can also be used for fertigation. They can also be used for irrigation of plants by sprinkling, spraying. Sprinkler irrigation may distribute water or aqueous solutions in a controlled manner, often similar to rainfall. The water or aqueous solutions may by distributed through a network that often comprise pumps, valves, pipes, and sprinklers with 15 nozzles. The sprinkler nozzles are generally wide enough to avoid clogging even if some particles are present, and even if the aqueous solution is slightly viscous. Accordingly, they are suitable for the krill-meal dispersions and krill-meal dispersions disclosed herein. The present disclosure provides a method for production of the krill-meal 20 dispersions defined above, comprising the steps: a. providing a krill-meal in contact with an aqueous solution, and b. dispersing the krill-meal particles into the aqueous solution by mechanical forces like impeller rotation. The aqueous solution can contain waste-water from a krill-oil production facility. 25 Such waste-water is generally low-toxic or non-toxic for plants and crops, and it may contain additional plant nutrients. The aqueous solution can contain potassium ions. For making an NPK-fertilizer, potassium salts like KNO3, K2SO4 etc., can be dissolved in water and used for making the krill-meal dispersions defined above. 30 The krill-meal dispersions herein for fertilizing plants and/or conditioning of soil are obtainable by dispersing 5 to 30% w/w krill-meal in water by high-shear mixing. The krill-meal dispersions herein for fertilizing plants and/or conditioning of soil are obtainable by dispersing 6 to 25% w/w krill-meal in water by high-shear mixing. The krill-meal dispersions herein for fertilizing plants and/or conditioning of soil are obtainable by dispersing 6 to 18% w/w krill-meal in water by high-shear mixing. The krill-meal dispersions herein for fertilizing plants and/or conditioning of soil are obtainable by dispersing 7 to 16% w/w krill-meal in water by high-shear mixing. 5 The krill-meal dispersions herein for fertilizing plants and/or conditioning of soil are obtainable by dispersing 8 to 14% w/w krill-meal in water by high-shear mixing. The krill-meal dispersions herein for fertilizing plants and/or conditioning of soil are obtainable by dispersing 9 to 12% w/w krill-meal in water by high-shear mixing. The krill-meal dispersions herein for fertilizing plants and/or conditioning of soil 10 are obtainable by dispersing 10% w/w krill-meal in water by high-shear mixing. Accordingly, the present disclosure provides the use of krill-meal for producing a krill-meal dispersion for fertilizing plants and/or conditioning of soil. The krill-meal dispersions disclosed herein can be used for irrigation and/or fertilizing of plants. 15 Accordingly, the present disclosure provides a method for fertilizing plants comprising the steps of providing krill-meal dispersions as defined above and applying said krill-meal dispersion to plants by spraying or sprinkling. Accordingly, the present disclosure provides a method for irrigating plants comprising the steps of providing krill-meal dispersions as defined above and 20 applying said krill-meal dispersion to plants by spraying or sprinkling. Accordingly, the present disclosure provides a method for conditioning of soil comprising the steps of providing krill-meal dispersions as defined above and applying said krill-meal dispersion to soil by spraying or sprinkling. 25 When phospholipids are extracted from krill-meal, a defatted, protein krill-meal is obtained. This defatted protein krill-meal contains crude protein, ash and some fat. The protein krill-meal can be subjected to enzymatic hydrolysis to produce a krill protein hydrolysate. When the krill protein hydrolysate is separated from the rest, a krill-meal-residue is obtained. 30 Krill-meal-residue can also be used as a NP-fertilizer. The krill-meal-residue can be applied directly to soil, for example as a top dressing in the form of powder or granulates. However, it has been found that aqueous compositions comprising krill- meal-residue can be used as an organic fertilizer and/or as a plant biostimulant. 35 Krill-meal-residue can be partly dissolved and/or dispersed in aqueous solutions. Such compositions may increase plant growth and stimulate natural processes to enhance plant nutrient uptake, nutrient use efficiency, tolerance to abiotic stress and crop quality. Furthermore, such compositions can improve moist retention in soil. Accordingly, they can be used as a soil conditioner. Based on the present disclosure, “krill-meal-residue and waste-water from krill-oil production may be conveniently 5 used in agriculture, and thus improve the overall sustainability of such industry. Production of krill-meal-residue is described in Example 4. Krill-meal-residue dispersions may comprise dispersed particles in a continuous aqueous phase. Such dispersed particles may comprise phospholipids, proteins, peptides and amino acids. 10 The krill-meal-residue dispersions disclosed herein can contain 5 to 20% w/w dispersed particles and 80 to 95% w/w of an aqueous solution. The krill-meal-residue dispersions disclosed herein can contain 6 to 18% w/w dispersed particles and 82 to 94% w/w of an aqueous solution. The krill-meal-residue dispersions disclosed herein can contain 7 to 16% w/w 15 dispersed particles and 84 to 94% w/w of an aqueous solution. The krill-meal-residue dispersions disclosed herein can contain 8 to 14% w/w dispersed particles and 86 to 92% w/w of an aqueous solution. The krill-meal-residue dispersions disclosed herein can contain 9 to 12% w/w dispersed particles and 88 to 91% w/w of an aqueous solution. 20 The krill-meal-residue dispersions disclosed herein can contain 10% w/w dispersed particles and 90% w/w of an aqueous solution. The krill-meal-residue dispersions disclosed herein can contain marine phospholipids. The krill-meal-residue dispersions disclosed herein can have a pH in the range of 6 25 to 8. The krill-meal-residue dispersions disclosed herein can have a pH in the range of 6.5 to 7.5. The krill-meal-residue dispersions disclosed herein can have a pH of 6.5, 6.6, 6.7, 6.8, 6.9.7.0, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4 or 7.5. 30 The krill-meal-residue dispersions disclosed herein can contain particles with a median particle size, D50, in the range of 50 to 500 nm. The krill-meal-residue dispersions disclosed herein can contain particles with a median particle size, D50, in the range of 100 to 400 nm. The krill-meal-residue dispersions disclosed herein can contain particles with a median particle size, D50, in the range of 200 to 300 nm. The krill-meal-residue dispersions disclosed herein can contain particles with a median particle size, D50, in the range of 50 to 100 nm. 5 The krill-meal-residue dispersions disclosed herein can have a viscosity the range of 0.01 to 1000 mPa·s. The krill-meal-residue dispersions disclosed herein can have a viscosity the range of 0.1 to 500 mPa·s at 35°C. The krill-meal-residue dispersions disclosed herein can have a viscosity the range of 10 1 to 400 mPa·s at 35°C. The krill-meal-residue dispersions disclosed herein can have a viscosity the range of 10 to 300 mPa·s at 35°C. The krill-meal-residue dispersions disclosed herein can have a viscosity the range of 50 to 250 mPa·s at 35°C. 15 The krill-meal-residue dispersions disclosed herein can be used for irrigation of plants. They can also be used for fertigation. They can also be used for irrigation of plants by sprinkling, spraying. Sprinkler irrigation may distribute aqueous solutions in a controlled manner, often similar to rainfall. The aqueous solution may by distributed through a network that 20 often comprise pumps, valves, pipes, and sprinklers with nozzles. The sprinkler nozzles are generally wide enough to avoid clogging even if some particles are present, and even if the aqueous solution is slightly viscous. Accordingly, they are suitable for the krill-meal-residue dispersions disclosed herein. The present disclosure provides a method for production of the krill-meal-residue 25 dispersions defined above, comprising the steps: a. providing a krill-meal-residue in contact with an aqueous solution, and b. dispersing the krill-meal-residue particles into the aqueous solution by mechanical forces like impeller rotation. The aqueous solution can contain waste-water from a krill-oil production facility. 30 Such waste-water is generally low-toxic or non-toxic for plants and crops, and it may contain additional plant nutrients. The aqueous solution can contain potassium ions. For making an NPK-fertilizer, potassium salts like KNO₃, K₂SO₄ etc., can be dissolved in water and used for making the krill-meal-residue dispersions defined above. The krill-meal-residue dispersions herein for fertilizing plants and/or conditioning of soil are obtainable by dispersing 5 to 30% w/w krill-meal-residue in water by high-shear mixing. The krill-meal-residue dispersions herein for fertilizing plants and/or conditioning 5 of soil are obtainable by dispersing 6 to 25% w/w krill-meal-residue in water by high-shear mixing. The krill-meal-residue dispersions herein for fertilizing plants and/or conditioning of soil are obtainable by dispersing 6 to 18% w/w krill-meal-residue in water by high-shear mixing. 10 The krill-meal-residue dispersions herein for fertilizing plants and/or conditioning of soil are obtainable by dispersing 7 to 16% w/w krill-meal-residue in water by high-shear mixing. The krill-meal-residue dispersions herein for fertilizing plants and/or conditioning of soil are obtainable by dispersing 8 to 14% w/w krill-meal-residue in water by 15 high-shear mixing. The krill-meal-residue dispersions herein for fertilizing plants and/or conditioning of soil are obtainable by dispersing 9 to 12% w/w krill-meal-residue in water by high-shear mixing. The krill-meal-residue dispersions herein for fertilizing plants and/or conditioning20 of soil are obtainable by dispersing 10% w/w krill-meal-residue in water by high- shear mixing. Accordingly, the present disclosure provides the use of krill-meal-residue for producing a krill-meal-residue dispersion for fertilizing plants and/or conditioning of soil. 25 The krill-meal-residue dispersions disclosed herein can be used for irrigation and/or fertilizing of plants. Accordingly, the present disclosure provides a method for fertilizing plants comprising the steps of providing krill-meal-residue dispersions as defined above and applying said krill-meal-residue dispersion to plants by spraying or sprinkling. 30 Accordingly, the present disclosure provides a method for irrigating plants comprising the steps of providing krill-meal-residue dispersions as defined above and applying said krill-meal-residue dispersion to plants by spraying or sprinkling. Accordingly, the present disclosure provides a method for conditioning of soil comprising the steps of providing krill-meal-residue dispersions as defined above 35 and applying said krill-meal-residue dispersion to soil by spraying or sprinkling. The present disclosure provides a method including a step of emulsifying a side- stream phospholipid oil in an oil-water-emulsion. The product can be used to reduce the effects from abiotic stress such as drought. 5 The compositions herein can be particularly useful as a complementary fertilizers to inorganic NPK-fertilizers in the farming operation. The following items are also disclosed: 10 Item 1. A composition for fertilizing plants and/or conditioning of soil, comprising an oil-in-water emulsion, wherein the oil-in-water emulsion comprises dispersed lipid particles, and wherein the lipid particles comprise 30 to 80% w/w marine phospholipids. Item 2. A composition according to item 1, wherein the oil-in-water emulsion 15 comprises micelles and/or liposomes. Item 3. A composition according to item 1 or 2, comprising 5 to 20% w/w dispersed lipid particles and 80 to 95% w/w of an aqueous solution. Item 4. A composition according to any one of item 1 to 3, wherein the lipid particles comprise 25 to 70% w/w phosphatidylcholine. 20 Item 5. A composition according to any one of item 1 to 4, wherein the lipid particles comprise 10 to 20% w/w of eicosapentaenoic acid or an eicosapentaenoic acid moiety. Item 6. A composition according to any one of item 1 to 5, wherein the lipid particles comprise 5 to 15% w/w of docosahexaenoic acid or a docosahexaenoic 25 acid moiety. Item 7. A composition according to any one of item 1 to 6, wherein the pH is in the range 6 to 8. Item 8. A composition according to any one of item 1 to 7, wherein the median particle size, D50, of the lipid particles is in the range of 50 to 200 nm. 30 Item 9. A composition according to any one of item 1 to 8, wherein the viscosity the range of 500 to 3000 mPa·s. Item 10. A composition according to any one of item 1 to 9, suitable for irrigation. Item 11. A composition according to any one of item 1 to 10, suitable for fertigation. Item 12. A composition according to any one of item 1 to 11, comprising all three major macronutrients for plants, NPK. 5 Item 13. A composition according to any one of item 1 to 12, further comprising the required micronutrients for plants. Item 14. A method for production of the composition as defined in any one of items 1 to 13, comprising the steps: a. providing a krill-oil in contact with an aqueous solution, and 10 b. mixing said liquids by high shear mixing, microfluidisation, or ultrasonication to obtain an emulsion. Item 15. A method according to item 14, wherein the aqueous solution comprises waste-water from a krill-oil production facility. Item 16. A method according to item 14 or 15, wherein the aqueous solution 15 comprises potassium ions. Item 17. A method according to item 16, wherein the emulsion comprises liposomes containing potassium ions. Item 18. A composition for fertilizing plants and/or conditioning of soil obtainable by emulsifying 5 to 15% w/w krill-oil in water by high-shear mixing. 20 Item 19. Use of krill-oil for producing an oil-in-water emulsion for fertilizing plants and/or conditioning of soil. Item 20. Use of a composition as defined in any one of items 1 to 13 for irrigation and/or fertilizing of plants. Item 21. A method for fertilizing plants comprising the steps of providing the 25 composition as defined in any one of items 1 to 13, and by applying said composition to plants by spraying or sprinkling. Item 22. A method for irrigating plants comprising the steps of providing the composition as defined in any one of items 1 to 13, and by applying said composition to plants by spraying or sprinkling. 30 Item 23. A method for conditioning of soil comprising the steps of providing the composition as defined in any one of items 1 to 13, and by applying said composition to soil by spraying or sprinkling. Item 24. A method for fertilizing plants comprising the steps of providing the composition as defined in any one of items 1 to 13, and by applying said composition to plant foliage by spraying. Item 25. A fertilizer pellet for providing NP to plants, 5 comprising a solid core and an outer coating, wherein the solid core comprises a source of nitrogen (N) available for plants, and wherein the coating comprises krill-oil. Item 26. A fertilizer pellet according to item 25, wherein the solid core comprises a 10 source of phosphorus (P), potassium (K) or micronutrients available for plants. Item 27. A fertilizer pellet according to item 25, wherein the solid core comprises a source of phosphorus (P), potassium (K) and micronutrients available for plants. Item 28. A fertilizer pellet according to any one of items 25 to 27 , wherein the solid core comprises an inorganic source of NPK available for plants. 15 Item 29. A fertilizer pellet according to any one of items 25 to 27 , wherein the solid core comprises an organic source of NPK available for plants.

Example 1: Krill derived oil compositions can be used as biostimulants. A krill derived composition rich in phospholipids (Superba Boost) was chosen as model substance. The composition of Superba Boost is provided in Table 1 and 2 and 2b. The krill derived composition was mixed with water using high shear mixer to an emulsion with 10% inclusion. Table 3: Nutrient profile of different krill-oil -products. Type of % PL in TMAO % inclusion % P % N % P % N composition oil in oil in finished in mix in mix in oil in oil mix (EmulsiX) Batch 1 56 500 10 0.25 0.12 2.48 1.21 (Superba Boost) Batch 2 40 500 10 0.18 0.09 1.77 0.89 (Superba 2) Batch 3 35 10000 10 0.16 0.26 1.55 2.57 (AKO) As can be seen from the table 3, the krill-derived oil composition comprises both nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P). It is therefore suitable as an organic fertilizer. TMAO is Trimethylamine N-oxide. % inclusion is the weight-percentage of lipid particles in the oil-in-water emulsion. Example 2 In lab testing (see Table 2) it is verified that the oil composition has superior qualities compared with water regarding moist retention in soil. In the below test results, it is verified that the liquid reduction in the soil is faster in the control group (water) compared to the krill-oil emulsions. Table 4: Moist retention in soil of krill-oil emulsions (EmusiX) compared to water.

29 Example 3 5 Krill-oil emulsions were tested for stability from mid-December 2023 until Q1- 2024. With a 5% inclusion, the emulsion starts to break after 1 week (water separation). However, using a 10% inclusion the emulsion is still intact after 5 weeks. The stability testing was done at 40°C. 10 Krill-oil emulsions were also tested for long term stability at ambient temperatures (ca 25°C). After 9 months in black cans, the 10% inclusion krill-oil emulsions remain intact, there is no break of water separations. It is demonstrated that krill-oil mixes well with water and that the phospholipids can 15 be an emulsifying agent. Accordingly, by using krill-oil rich in phospholipids, it is possible to achieve an emulsion with the advantage of containing as much water as possible. Example 4 20 Krill-oil emulsions can be used as biostimulant in cultivation of tomato plants. A krill-oil emulsion was produced by mixing krill-oil with water using high shear mixer to an emulsion with 10% inclusion. 25 Experimental Setup The experiment was conducted using AUK, a controlled cultivation system designed for home herb cultivation. By using the system, we were able to conduct a comparative agricultural study. The AUK was equipped with ordinary cultivation 30 soil, sourced locally to ensure typical growth conditions for tomato plants. Treatment Application Two water tanks were utilized in this experiment: one served as the control and the other as the treatment group. The control tank was filled with plain water, while the treatment tank was supplemented with a 1% krill-oil emulsion mixed in water. The emulsion was thoroughly mixed to ensure homogeneity and consistency in the 5 treatment application throughout the growth period. Plant Material and Cultivation Tomato seeds were evenly distributed across the cultivation trays filled with the soil 10 in the AUK. The seeds in both the control and treatment groups were sown at a uniform depth and spacing to eliminate variability in seed placement as a growth factor. Monitoring and Data Collection 15 The growth of the tomato plants was monitored daily. Key growth parameters such as germination rate, stem height, leaf number, and health status were recorded. The environmental conditions within the AUK, including temperature, light exposure, and humidity, were maintained consistently across both the control and treatment 20 setups. Results Growth Metrics 25 The experiment demonstrated significant differences in growth parameters between the control and treatment groups. Plants in the treatment group, which received the 1% krill-oil emulsion, exhibited enhanced overall growth compared to the control group. Notably, the treatment group showed a faster rate of leaf development, with 30 leaves appearing fuller, more colorful and larger earlier in the growth cycle. Trichome Development A marked increase in trichome formation was observed in the treatment group. The 35 plants in this group developed denser and more robust trichomes, suggesting a potential increase in plant defenses and possibly other physiological benefits that merit further investigation. Stem Thickness 40 The stems of the tomato plants in the treatment group were significantly thicker than those in the control group. This increased stem thickness may indicate a stronger structural capacity to support the plant, which could be advantageous for supporting fruit production in a full life cycle study. Photographic Documentation 5 A camera was set up to take daily photographs of both groups, utilizing a time-lapse technique to capture the developmental differences over time. The photographic evidence clearly illustrated the phenotypic distinctions between the control and treatment groups, providing visual support to the quantitative data collected. These 10 images highlighted the accelerated growth rate and more vigorous development of the treatment group throughout the experimental period. Example 5 Krill derived byproduct can be used as organic fertilizer 15 A krill-meal residue was produced as a byproduct after enzymatic hydrolysis of a defatted protein krill-meal. A protein krill-meal was subjected to water washing before enzymatic hydrolysis, as 20 described in WO2019150197. After enzyme inactivation, the hydrolysate was separated from the krill-meal residue, i.e. the insoluble fraction. The krill-meal residue will typically comprise 35-50 % protein (as measured by Kjeldahl method x 6.25), 18-22 % fat, 10-15 % chitin and 14-17 % ash in a dried product. 25 Chemical analyses of a krill-meal residue according to the invention were done at NIBIO. pH, dry matter, organic dry matter, and chemical oxygen demand were determined by standard methods. A sample was dried at 105 ^C for 24 hours, followed by subjection to 550 ^C for 12 30 hours. Chemical oxygen demand (COD) is an indicative measure of the amount of oxygen that can be consumed by reactions in a measured solution. It is for many materials a more suited method for determining amount of energy in a material than determining the organic dry matter. COD is commonly expressed in mass of oxygen consumed over volume of solution which in SI units is milligrams per litre (mg/L). 35 A COD test can be used to easily quantify the amount of organics in a composition. Measurement of COD was determined by incubating a sample in a closed tube with an oxidating agent, upon which the tube where heated to 250 ^C for 2 hours before measurements of COD by a spectrophotometric method (COD Cell Test, Merck, 40 Spectroquant). Table 5. Chemical analysis of a wet krill-meal residue. pH Dry Organic Organic COD Total Total C/N Fat Protein matter dry dry matter carbon nitrogen (r) (%) (%) (%) matter (g/L) (C) (N) (%) 7.7 43.69 86.14 376.32 388.44 49.21 8.43 5.84 8 18.8 Table 6: Minerals in dried krill meal residue. Minerals Fluorid (Fl) 1170 mg/kg Phosphor (P) 30500 mg/kg Iodine (I) 1.4 mg/kg Iron (Fe) 114 mg/kg Calcium (Ca) 51000 mg/kg Chloride (Cl) <50(LOQ) mg/kg Copper (Cu) 135 mg/kg Magnesium (Mg) 6800 mg/kg Sodium (Na) 0.1 % Selenium (Se) 4.7 mg/kg Sulfur (S) 6000 mg/kg Zink (Zn) 120 mg/kg Chemical analysis of the krill meal residue reveals that the product can advantageously be used as an organic fertilizer. With high levels of nitrogen, phosphor, calcium and chitin it contains useful plant nutrients. The krill meal residue disperses easily in water. As an alternative, the product can be evaporated to dryness to be applied directly to soil, for example as a top dressing in the form of powder or granulates. Example 6 Field trial with krill meal fertilizer Materials and Methods Experimental Design The field trial was conducted on adjacent plots to maintain environmental consistency across all treatments. Each plot was treated with one of five different fertilizers: Grønn Gjødsel (= “Green Fertilizer”) 8, Grønn Gjødsel 11, Yara 22-3-10, a Hybrid 20-4-8 blend, and a Krill-based organic fertilizer. The primary test crop was oats, selected for its common use and agricultural relevance. Fertilizer Application The fertilizers were applied at the start of the growing season according to the manufacturers’ recommendations to ensure optimal nutrient availability. The application rates were as described in table 7. 5 Table 7: Application rates Fertilizer name NPK Amount (MT/He) Grønn Gjødsel 8 8-3-5 1.5 Grønn Gjødsel 11 11-3-7 1.3 Yara 22-3-10 22-3-10 0.7 Hybrid 20-4-8 20-4-8 0.8 Krill Estimated 1.3 50% Krill meal, nitrogen: 30% fish slurry, 7-11 20% bonemeal Each fertilizer’s application rate was chosen to match the nutrient needs of oats, considering the NPK ratio and organic content where applicable. 10 Monitoring and Data Collection Crop development was closely monitored through regular plant inspections, focusing on root systems, stem growth, and grain development. This hands-on 15 approach allowed for detailed observations throughout the growing season, revealing early and more advanced root development in the Krill-treated plots. Initial mid-season assessments noted lower plant heights in the Krill-treated section, but further investigation showed larger grains and an increased number of grains per stem, indicating a shift towards reproductive rather than vegetative growth. 20 Additional observations were made for signs of plant stress, disease presence, and overall plant health 25 30 Results Crop Yield and Plant Development Table 8: Crop yield Input Wet Avrg. Avrg. Avrg. Avrg. (t) (ha) MT/He weight Wet % Dry (ha/t) (MT) (MT/Ha) (MT/Ha) K_rill 1.3 2.82 6.23 14.77 % 6.2 4.8 2.05 0.22 0.45 Grønn 1.3 1.18 5.08 14.87 % 5.04 3.9 1.97 0.12 0.23 Gjødsel 11 Hybrid 0.8 1.35 4.93 14.15 % 4.92 6.2 1.8 0.15 0.27 20-4-8 Grønn 1.5 1.48 4.81 16.24 % 4.72 3.1 1.91 0.16 0.31 Gjødsel 8 Yara 22- 0.7 1.49 4.75 NA 4.13 5.9 1.46 0.21 0.31 3-10 The use of Krill-based fertilizer resulted in a 50% higher crop yield compared to the next best performing fertilizer. Notable observations included: ^ Enhanced Root and Grain Development: Plants treated with Krill fertilizer showed significantly more robust root systems and well-developed grains. ^ Uniform Grain Size: The grains from Krill-treated plants were more uniform in size compared to those from other treatments. ^ Reduced Fungal Presence: There was a noticeable reduction in fungal diseases in the Krill-treated plots, which contributed to the overall health and yield of the crop. Potential Mechanisms The superior performance of the Krill-based fertilizer is hypothesized to be due to its unique composition, containing chitin, phospholipids, and astaxanthin. These components are believed to contribute to: ^ Enhanced Plant Immunity: Chitin may enhance plant immunity, aiding in disease resistance. ^ Enhanced Nutrient Uptake: Phospholipids could improve root membrane function, facilitating better nutrient absorption. ^ Antioxidant Protection: Astaxanthin, known for its antioxidant properties, may protect plants against oxidative stress, further improving plant vigor and productivity. 5 Example 7 Pellet coating with krill-oil Objective 10 The experiment aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of incorporating krill-oil as a coating in the production of Grønn Gjødsel 8 and 11 fertilizers. The primary objectives were to assess the potential benefits of krill oil coating in reducing nutrient loss and dust formation during handling and application. 15 Materials and Methods Fertilizer Production The production of Grønn Gjødsel 8 and Grønn Gjødsel 11 followed standard 20 industrial procedures for organic fertilizer creation, which includes the composting of organic matter, nutrient balancing, and pelletizing. The base materials consisted of decomposed plant matter, bone meal, and other organic nutrients tailored to achieve the NPK ratios specified for Grønn Gjødsel 8 (8-3-5) and Grønn Gjødsel 11 (11-3-7). 25 Krill-oil Coating Application In the final step of production, a coating of krill-oil was applied to the fertilizer pellets. The krill-oil was chosen for its potential to form a barrier around the pellets, thereby reducing the exposure of the nutrients to the environment and minimizing 30 dust during handling. The krill-oil was evenly sprayed over the pellets in a controlled amount to ensure a uniform coat without affecting the structural integrity of the pellets. Evaluation Metrics 35 The effectiveness of the krill-oil coating was assessed through several tests: ^ Nutrient Retention Test: Samples from batches with and without krill-oil coating were analyzed for nutrient content after exposure to simulated environmental conditions (humidity, temperature fluctuations, and 40 mechanical agitation). ^ Dust Generation Measurement: The amount of dust produced during handling and application of the fertilizers was measured using a standardized dust chamber test. Comparisons were made between the krill-coated and non-coated batches. ^ Physical Integrity Test: The structural integrity of the fertilizer pellets was assessed through mechanical durability tests to evaluate the impact of the 5 krill-oil on pellet robustness. Results Table 9. Determination of Ammonia Nitrogen in Organic Fertilizers According to 10 AOAC 920.03 AN 5531 Sample Total nitrogen % Sample amount (g) Magnesium oxide (g) With oil 0,0981 0,7162 0,9859 without oil 0,1239 0,7198 1,016 with oil 0,1014 3,5335 2 without oil 0,1212 3,5271 2 Even though the experiment was not able to demonstrate an improvement in nutrient retention, a clear reduction in dust generation for the krill-oil coated fertilizers, alongside maintaining and enhancing the physical integrity of the pellets were 15 achieved. Hence, the krill-oil coating offers a significant improvement in the environmental and operational performance of organic fertilizers. 20 25 30

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Use of krill-oil for fertilizing plants and/or conditioning of soil, wherein the krill-oil is a mixture comprising a. at least 30 % w/w phospholipids selected from the group of 5 phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol or phosphatidylserine, wherein at least 80 mol% of the phospholipids is phosphatidylcholine, b. at least 15% w/w omega-3 fatty acids, or c. at least 3% w/w of choline. 10

2. Use of krill-oil for fertilizing plants and/or conditioning of soil, wherein the krill-oil is a mixture comprising a. phospholipids selected from the group of phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol or 15 phosphatidylserine, wherein at least 80 mol% of the phospholipids is phosphatidylcholine, b. at least 15% w/w omega-3 fatty acids, and c. at least 3% w/w choline. 20

3. Use of krill-oil for fertilizing plants and/or conditioning of soil according to claim 2, wherein the krill-oil is a mixture comprising at least 18% w/w, more particularly at least 20% w/w, even more particularly at least 30% w/w omega-3 fatty acids or omega-3 fatty acid moieties. 25

4. Use of krill-oil for fertilizing plants and/or conditioning of soil according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the krill-oil is a mixture comprising at least 5% w/w, more particularly at least 7% w/w choline.

5. Use of krill-oil according to any one of claim 1 to 4, wherein the krill-oil is 30 in the form of an oil-in-water emulsion.

6. Use of an oil-in-water emulsion comprising dispersed lipid particles for fertilizing plants and/or conditioning of soil, wherein the dispersed lipid particles comprise 50 to 70% w/w phosphatidylcholine. 35

7. A method of fertilizing plants and/or conditioning of soil comprising the step of applying an oil-in-water emulsion to plants or soil, wherein the emulsion comprises dispersed lipid particles comprising 30 to 80% w/w marine phospholipids. 40

8. A method of fertilizing plants and/or conditioning of soil comprising the step of applying krill-meal or krill-meal-residue to plants or soil.

9. A method according to claim 8, comprising the step of applying krill-meal to 5 plants or soil, wherein the krill-meal in the form of an aqueous dispersion or aqueous suspension.

10. The method according to claim 8, comprising the step of applying krill-meal- residue to plants or soil, wherein the krill-meal-residue in the form of an 10 aqueous dispersion or aqueous suspension. 15 20 25 30