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`PATENT APPLICATION
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`TITLE: SEEDING TREATMENTS
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`By: Daniel Paul Madigan
`804 S. Madison
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`Green Bay, WI 54301
`Citizenship:
`USA
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`Michael Dennis Krysiak
`3554 Highland Center Drive
`Green Bay, WI 54311
`Citizenship: USA
`
`Ronald Dean Eichhorn
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`1524 % Cedar Street
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`Green Bay, WI 54302
`Citizenship: USA
`
`Glen H. Wesenberg
`920 Laverne Drive
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`Green Bay, WI 54311
`Citizenship: USA
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`Date of Deposit
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`“Express Mail” mailing number
`EM 469 259 847 US
`
`June 10
`1998
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`I hereby certify that this paper or fee is being deposited with the United
`States Postal Service “Express Mail Post Office to Addressee" service under 37
`CFR 1.10 on the date indicated above and is addressed to the Assistant
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`Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D.C. 20231.
`
`(Typed or printed name of person mailing paper or fee)
`
`Jerr
`
`F. Janssen
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`TDW,
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`JSK
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`SCOTTSEX;HW9
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`SCOTTS EX. 1009
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`

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`Git/73W(WCWWWWa)“9WWWWW/”92
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`29214
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`SEEDINQ TREATMENTS
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`Field of the Invention
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`This present
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`invention relates to improvements in seed and
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`seed-related. products, processes for" making such. products and
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`processes for establishing and improving seed beds and seed bed
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`{m
`2%
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`germination” As additional benefits, this invention is directed at
`improving soil productivity through enhancements in soil fertility,
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`soil condition/tilth, and control of soil moisture. Further,
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`the
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`leg
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`invention relates to productive use of certain types of abundantly
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`available manufacturing waste, which. waste is currently' being
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`disposed of in landfills.
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`Background of the Invention
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`Agricultural growers, gardeners,
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`landscape operators,
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`flower
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`growers, and the like produce a wide variety of cultivated crops.
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`Many such crops are grown from seed.
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`The sizes,
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`shapes,
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`and
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`physical characteristics of
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`the various kinds of seeds are as
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`varied as the number of crops produced therefrom.
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`Producers of such cultivated crops encounter a variety of
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`challenges in handling and distributing such seed, as well as with
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`sowing of such seed in suitable growing media. Certain seed may
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`desirably be
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`sowed by a broadcast method
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`if
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`the seed were
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`compatible with broadcast application. For example, grass seed for
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`lawns is desirably broadcast, but
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`the low density and generally
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`non-aerodynamic shape of
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`some grass seed can limit
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`the range of
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`such broadcast, and make such seed susceptible to being blown about
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`29214
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`by wind, or washed away by surface water, even if initially well
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`placed in a good seeding application.
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`Another difficulty encountered in sowing seed is that the seed
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`may be so small as to be difficult to handle,
`thereby to place
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`properly-spaced seeds at
`a desired spacing as
`to make cost~
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`effective use of the seed,
`thereby to produce a crop of the related
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`plants without using any more seed than necessary,
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`maximum benefit from the amount of seed used.
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`thus to gain
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`While small seed may be efficiently handled by industrial‘
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`equipment especially designed for handling such seed, typically the
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`user of such seed also handles various other types of seed; and may
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`be unable to justify the cost of
`such specialty seed—handling
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`equipment. Rather,
`the seed user typically has a limited range of
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`seed handling equipment which must be capable of being used and/or
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`adapted to handle and apply all the types of seeds being used by
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`that user. Where the seed itself can be adapted to the equipment,
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`specialty seed can be handled without need for any specialized
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`equipment.
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`Even where the seed may be sown by hand, such as in seedling
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`some
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`seeds are so small as
`to be
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`difficult for the sower/user to effectively manipulate and control
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`by hand. Typical of such difficult-to-handle seeds are seeds of
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`lettuce, carrots,
`the cabbage family, ground cherries, and alfalfa.
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`Many flower seeds are equally small and/or difficult
`to handle
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`and/or manipulate, for example poppy seed.
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`When seed is planted,
`the seed has immediate use for moisture
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`to aid in germination of the seed, and subsequent early development
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`the resulting young plant. Where nwisture is not readily
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`available to the seed when planted,
`the seed may lie in a dormant
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`state for some period of time before germinating. While the seed
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`is thus dormant, awaiting suitable moisture,
`the seed is subject to
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`a variety of hazards which may destroy its viability. The seed may
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`be attacked by worms, parasites, and other pests.
`The seed may be
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`of
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`10
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`29214
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`and
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`the
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`the
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`The seed
`eaten by foraging animals including insects and larvae.
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`may be overheated by a hot sun.
`The seed may lie dormant without
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`germinating for so long that any plant emerging therefronlwill have
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`insufficient time to mature before the end of the growing season.
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`If and when the seed does germinate,
`the seedling plant has a
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`continuing need for a proper balance of moisture and oxygen, as
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`well as for such plant nutrients as nitrogen, phosphorous,
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`potash, as well as the micronutrients,
`in relatively predictable
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`To the extent the proper balance of such materials is
`quantities.
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`available to the young plant,
`a healthy young plant may be
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`produced, with optimwm potential
`for maximwn crop production,
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`assuming germination occurs at a seasonably-desirable time.
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`To the extent one or more such materials is not available to
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`the seed and/or the young plant, plant growth, plant health, and
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`ultimately maturity, may be adversely affected.
`For example,
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`soil may be too dry to support germination, or optimum.germination.
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`Or while the soil may in general have a desired moisture content,
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`moisture content at a macro level can vary widely. Thus, while the
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`in general may have
`a desirable moisture content,
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`microcosm of the soil adjacent an individual seed may be too dry,
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`or too wet,
`to support any germination, or optimum germination.
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`the soil may be generally depleted of one or more
`Similarly,
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`plant nutrients needed by the germinated seedling.
`Or while the
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`soil may in general have desired nutrient
`the nutrient
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`Thus,
`levels at a macro level can vary widely.
`the microcosm of
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`the soil adjacent an individual seed may be too low in one or more
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`nutrients to support a desired level of plant growth, or so high as
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`to be toxic to a desired level of plant growth.
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`Further, plant nutrient chemicals may be present in the soil,
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`but so tied up chemically in the soil as to be unavailable, or
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`poorly available, relative to the quantities and use rates needed
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`for desired plant growth.
`the soil may become so hard, dry,
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`and/or caked shortly after the seed germinates that the seedling
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`H"‘I}5"””E?‘“”'?“{J?“:T“m“
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`soil
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`levels,
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`29214
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`plant has difficulty penetrating such soil, difficulty becoming
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`associated suitable nutrients, and/or difficulty taking up such
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`factors,
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`nutrients because of insufficient moisture availability.
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`After
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`roots extend deeper into the soil, conditions of the soil near the
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`surface are less critical. However, until such time as the roots
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`so penetrate, conditions of the soil at and near the top surface of
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`the soil may be critical.
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`Soil fertility generally relates to uptake of plant nutrients
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`from the soil by plants. Uptake is generally the result of two
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`the presence of plant nutrients in the soil,
`and the
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`availability of the plant nutrients for plant uptake. Presence of
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`function of
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`plant nutrients in the soil
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`(b) depletion
`combination of (a)
`the basic level of soil fertility,
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`by previous crop production and (c) replenishment with fertilizer.
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`Availability of a plant nutrient physically present in the soil for
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`plant uptake is in general related to solubility of the respective
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`nutrient or nutrient combination in a solvent for the nutrient,
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`which solvent is present in the soil, such solvent as water, along
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`with any other material affecting solvation of the plant nutrient
`into the water or other solvent.
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`a
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`Plant nutrients are routinely depleted from the soil by crop
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`production, and.are routinely added.back, or otherwise replenished,
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`to the soil by conventional inorganic fertilizers.
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`In order for plant nutrients in the soil to be available for
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`the nutrients must be held in the soil without
`uptake by plants,
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`but. must not be held so tightly that
`excessive leaching,
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`nutrients cannot be released for plant uptake.
`Thus, nutrient
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`availability requires a balance between holding tightly enough to
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`retain the nutrient in the root zone, without leaching, but not so
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`tight as to make the nutrient unavailable for plant uptake. Thus,
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`the general "condition" or "tilth" of the soil is instrumental in
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`the
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`9':
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`N UT
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`29214
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`determining the efficiency with which plant nutrients are utilized
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`for plant nutrition.
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`A.properly conditioned soil has advantageous soil chemistry in
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`combination with advantageous soil texture. Thus,
`in addition to
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`providing specific plant nutrients, soil users also use products
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`that modify basic soil chemistry, and soil texture.
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`Basic soil chemistry is modified by adding to the soil,
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`example, calciunlproducts to provide pH control, and flyash or like
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`products to provide pH control as well as micronutrients.
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`texture is generally nmdified by adding to the soil
`Soil
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`organic matter such as nanures,
`sludges, wood and other plant
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`products and by—products, and the like. While such materials have
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`good soil conditioning properties, plant nutrient value of such
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`materials is fixed and is generally so low that other "fertilizer"—
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`type products must in general be used in addition to the organic
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`matter in order to preserve plant nutrient values in the soil.
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`The primary object of this invention is to provide solid.plant
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`seed capsule products that supply both soil conditioning properties
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`and the seed, which can benefit from such conditioned soil,
`in a
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`for
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`given seed capsule particle.
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`It is a further object to provide a plant nutrient material,
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`in the seed capsule particle,
`in amount beneficial to the seedling
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`and higher
`emerging from the seed,
`than £1 naturally—occurring
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`amount of such nutrient in such soil conditioning material,
`so as
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`to have enhanced chemical nutrient qualities over use of the soil
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`conditioning material alone.
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`is to provide soil
`further object
`In another aspect,
`a
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`conditioning and optionally nutrient qualities to seed products
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`that reach the soil as the result of fulfilling objectives separate
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`from providing soil fertility or soil conditioning.
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`Still another object is to provide seed capsules containing
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`fertility—enhancing elements having a high level of plant
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`food
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`29214
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`nutrients in combination with a high level of soil conditioning
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`properties.
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`in a soil
`seed,
`is to encapsulate a
`Still another object
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`conditioning material using materials rich in plant nutrients as
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`part of the encapsulating agent.
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`Yet another object is to provide a seed product which reduces
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`the tendency for light weight seeds to be washed away by surface
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`water runoff.
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`seed. product which
`is to provide a
`Still another object
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`obviates the typical practice of adding straw as a mulch over e.g.
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`grass seed,
`to protect the seed from being washed away by surface
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`water,
`from heat of the sun, and to hold moisture in the soil.
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`A further object is to provide products wherein a single seed
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`texture and
`capsule product particle provides
`enhanced soil
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`enhanced. soil nutrient value at nutrient
`levels traditionally
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`needed.by'newly-germinated seedlings, optionally with higher levels
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`of plant nutrient suitably spaced from the seed itself so as to not
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`be toxic to seedling growth, optionally in combination with time—
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`release technology.
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`is to provide fertility—enhancing seed
`Yet another object
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`capsule products having a suitable level of plant food nutrients in
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`combination with a
`of organic matter
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`conditioning material.
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`
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`high
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`level
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`as
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`soil
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`10
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`

`

`
`
`Summar of the Invention
`
`29214
`
`The invention generally addresses a combination seed capsule,
`
`comprising at least one viable seed, having an outer surface and
`
`acting as a core or pseudo—core of said combination seed capsule;
`
`and a coating of a composition comprising a soil conditioning
`
`material mounted proximate,
`
`including disposed outwardly of
`
`the
`
`outer surface of said seed.
`
`In general,
`
`the coating provides at least one of (i) enhancing
`
`10
`
`broadcast flight properties of the combination seed capsule;
`
`(ii)
`
`reducing susceptibility to deleterious affects of weather on the
`
`combination seed capsule;
`
`(ii)
`
`enhancing resistance of
`
`the
`
`combination seed capsule to attack by animals, weeds, or spore—
`
`formers;
`
`(iv)
`
`staged germination of ones of
`
`the seed capsules,
`
`having seeds, under a given set of conditions, over a period of
`
`time longer than the range of germination times inherent
`
`in the
`
`seeds;
`
`(v) enhancing control of moisture about the seed thereby to
`
`assist in seed germination;
`
`(vi)
`
`release of plant nutrients into
`
`soil onto which the combination seed capsule is placed;
`
`(vii) soil
`
`conditioning effect to soil onto which the combination seed capsule
`
`is placed; (viii) staged release of plant nutrients into soil onto
`
`which said combination seed capsule is placed, over a period of
`
`time longer
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`than.
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`the range of
`
`times
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`inherent
`
`in the chemical
`
`composition so released;
`
`(ix) higher embryo emergence and survival
`
`rate in_ a population of
`
`the seed capsules,
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`thereby reducing
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`required seed planting density for
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`a: desired plant population
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`density; and (x) assisting in stabilizing moisture content in soil
`
`on which such seed capsule is disposed.
`
`While a wide variety of seeds may be used,
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`in general such
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`30
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`seeds are selected from the group consisting of grass, vegetables,
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`grains, and flowers.
`
`Preferably,
`
`the coating comprises
`
`the soil conditioning
`
`material in combination with at least one ingredient effective to
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`

`

`
`
`
`
`29214
`
`
`
`at
`
`comprising
`
`to
`
`the
`
`second
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`is
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`reduce susceptibility of the seed capsule to deleterious affect of
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`some
`In.
`least one of animals, weeds,
`and spore-formers.
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`
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`the ingredient for reducing such susceptibility of the
`embodiments,
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`seed capsule is selected from the group consisting of herbicides,
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`
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`for example metalaxyl, and a bitter substance.
`fungicides,
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`In some embodiments,
`the combination seed capsule further
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`
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`
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`comprises a second coating, separate from the first coating, and
`
`
`
`
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`
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`reduce
`effective
`ingredient
`one
`least
`at
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`
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`
`
`
`
`
`susceptibility of
`the seed capsule to deleterious effect of at
`
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`
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`least one of animals, weeds, and spore—formers.
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`Some embodiments are effective to provide a plant nutrient at
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`a desirable controlled distance fronla plant seedling emerging from
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`the seed,
`in an amount beneficial to the plant seedling.
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`
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`embodiments,
`In other
`coating material
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`
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`intermingled.with the first coating material in an outer portion of
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`the first coating, and generally displaced from the seed.
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`The second coating material can comprise a plant nutrient,
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`
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`in location and in amount of availability,
`to a plant
`beneficial
`
`
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`
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`seedling emerging from the seed.
`The second coating composition
`
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`can comprise an inorganic form of a plant nutrient and can be
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`
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`selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, phosphoaaitagnd
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`second coating composition can compriseL an
`The
`potassium.
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`inorganic form of a plant nutrient and can be selected from the
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`group consisting of e.gx sees, monammonium phosphate, diammonium
`
`
`
`
`superphosphate,
`superphosphate,
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`phosphate, and potash or a méerenutrient such_as sulfur, manganese,
`
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`
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`copper, boron,
`iron, magnesium, or chromium.
`
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`A.population of the seed capsules can comprise coatings having
`
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`
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`a range of properties affecting germination rate of
`the seeds,
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`thereby to stage germination of the seeds in the population over a
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`period of time longer than the range of germination times inherent
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`
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`in ‘uncoated. ones of
`the seeds.
`Such. properties can be,
`
`phosphate,
`
`triple
`
`
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`
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`
`
`
`
`dicalcium
`
`
`for
`
`
`
`
`
`lO
`
`
`
`rainy—0.... $7,.
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`
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`
`
`
`30
`
`
`
`

`

`
`
`
`
`29214
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`example, a range of hardnesses, or a range of thicknesses, of the
`
`
`coatings.
`The
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`layer
`
`
`
`of
`
`the
`
`
`
`first
`a
`comprise
`coating can
`soil
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`conditioning material, and a second layer comprising an inorganic,
`
`
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`
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`and/or organic, fertilizer, and/or at least oneleeesonutrient, such
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`as, for example, sulfur, manganese, copper, boron,
`iron, magnesium,
`
`
`or chromium.
`
`
`A preferred
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`a
`
`
`sludge
`
`
`a jpaper
`
`
`
`is
`conditioning material
`soil
`
`
`
`
`
`fiber—containing' by—product of
`such. as a
`composition,
`
`
`
`
`
`making operation, or sewage sludge.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`a water—leachable plant
`comprise
`seed capsule
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`such as wax,
`leach—retardant composition,
`a
`and/or
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`effective to retard leaching of the leachable plant nutrient out of
`
`
`
`
`the combination seed capsule.
`
`
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`
`
`
`
`
`In some embodiments,
`in a population of the combination seed
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`less
`the coatings
`in ones, but
`than all,
`
`
`
`
`
`
`comprise ingredients effective to retard effective
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`penetration of
`a
`seed-germinating- environment
`to the seed for
`
`
`germination thereof.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`the seed
`some applications,
`In embodiments preferred for
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`capsule comprises an inner layer on the outer surface of the seed,
`and an outer layer,
`the inner layer enhancing properties of the
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`nucleus
`acting as
`in an
`agglomeration operation
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`agglomerating the coating onto the inner layer.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`In some embodiments,
`the coating comprises an admixture of the
`
`
`
`
`
`
`soil conditioner and a plant nutrient.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`In preferred embodiments,
`the coating remains generally
`
`
`
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`
`
`
`
`
`
`disposed.about the seed, and preferably but not necessarily remains
`
`
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`
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`generally intact about the seed, until the seed germinates.
`
`
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`
`
`comprises
`invention further
`a plant
`growing medium
`
`
`
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`
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`
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`extending over an area,
`the plant growing medium having a root
`
`
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`
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`zone, and a top surface of the root zone generally corresponding
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`
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`
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`with a top surface of the plant growing medium,
`the plant growing
`
`
`
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`
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`
`
`
`
`
`can
`
`
`
`of
`
`the
`
`
`
`The
`
`nutrient,
`
`capsules,
`
`population,
`
`seed
`
`for
`
`The
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`10
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
` x 1
`
`
`
`2
`
`iL
`
`
`
`0 ”
`M q
`
`
`5:35
`
`
`3
`
`....—......_....
`
`M Ul
`
`
`
`30
`
`
`
`

`

`
`
`10
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`3O
`
`
`
`
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`
`
`292l4
`
`
`
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`
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`medium having a first overall soil condition and texture; and a
`
`
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`
`
`
`
`population of seed capsules disposed over the top surface of the
`
`
`
`
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`
`
`
`plant growing' mediunh
`the seed. capsules comprising individual
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`seeds, having outer surfaces, and coatings of soil conditioning
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`material disposed outwardly of the outer surfaces of the seeds,
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`coatings of the seed capsules providing localized germination and
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`growth environments, at and adjacent the seeds, having texture, and
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`and. water holding‘ properties for supporting seedling
`nutrient
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`health, superior to respective properties as provided overall in
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`the root zone of the plant growing medium.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`The invention yet further comprises a method of providing
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`plant micronutrients to soil,
`the method comprising placing onto
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`the soil a population of combination seed capsules, each comprising
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`at least one seed, and a coating comprising a plant micsonutrient
`
`material.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`the
`
`
`
`
`
`
`the
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`The coating can comprise a first coating comprising the plant
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`~mieronutrient, and a second coating, separate and distinct from the
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`first coating, and comprising a soil conditioning material.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`The invention yet further comprehends a method of providing a
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`seed bed having enhanced growing conditions for growing seed,
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
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`method comprising coating a population of the seeds with a coating
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`material, and thereby providing coatings thereon of such material,
`
`
`
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`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`the material tending to stabilize,
`in the seed capsules, or in soil
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`on which the seed capsules are disposed coating compositions which
`
`
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`
`
`
`
`tend to hold, moisture adjacent the seeds in the seed capsules or
`
`
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`
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`
`
`
`
`in soil adjacent the seed capsules,
`in such quantities and for such
`
`
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`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`times as to enhance growing conditions for the seeds; and placing
`
`
`
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`
`
`
`the population of seeds on soil effective to support germination of
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`the seeds which are in the seed capsules.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`In some embodiments,
`the seed capsules comprise inner layers
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`on the outer surfaces of the seeds, and outer layers,
`the inner
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`layers enhancing properties of the seeds for acting as nuclei
`
`
`
`
`
`in
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`
`
`
`
`29214
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`agglomeration operations agglomerating the coatings onto the inner
`
`
`layers.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`The invention yet further comprehends a method of making a
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`population of combination seed capsules, each comprising a seed,
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`and a coating of
`a
`soil conditioning material,
`the method
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`comprising pre—coating the seed with a material which enhances the
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`ability" of
`the seed to act as a .nucleus
`in. an agglomeration
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`subsequently
`to form ea pre—coated substrate;
`operation,
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`coating the pre-coated substrate with a soil‘conditioning material.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`A preferred pre—coating material comprises dicalcium phosphate.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`In general,
`the pre—coating step typically results in an
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`overall
`increase in the density of pre-coated seed combination.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`The prewcoating step can be accomplished by, for example, spraying.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`the prewcoating material onto the seed, and subsequently driving
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`off such as by drying, as necessary, any solvent or other liquid
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`carrier used for application of the coating material to the seed.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`~In yet other expressions,
`the invention comprehends a method
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`environment
`germination
`enhanced
`an
`providing
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`combination with placement of
`a controlled amount of plant
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`in controlled proximity to each seed,
`the method
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`comprising providing a population of seeds, coated with a soil
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`conditioning material which tends to enhance germination of
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`seeds, and with plant nutrient composition effective to enhance
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`growth of plant embryos emerging from the seeds; and placing the
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`population of seeds on soil effective to support germination of the
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`In such method,
`the coating material can include a second
`
`
`
`
`
`ingredient comprising plant nutrient moieties.
`
`
`
`10
`
`
`
`
`
`of
`
`
`
`nutrients
`
`seeds.
`
`and
`
`in
`
`the
`
`seed
`
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`Brief Descri tion of the Drawin s
`
`29214
`
`FIGURE 1
`
`is a
`
`transverse cross-sectional ViGW’ of
`
`a
`
`coating drum suitable for spray—coating substrate seed according to
`
`the present invention.
`
`FIGURE 2 is a partially cut away view showing a length of the
`
`drum of FIGURE 1.
`
`FIGURE
`
`3
`
`is
`
`a
`
`schematic
`
`representative
`
`flow diagram
`
`illustrating a
`
`first manufacturing
`
`process
`
`for
`
`producing
`
`10
`
`combination seed capsule product of the invention.
`
`FIGURE
`
`4
`
`is
`
`a
`
`block
`
`diagram illustrating a
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`second
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`manufacturing process
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`for producing combination seed capsule
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`product of the invention.
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`FIGURE
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`5
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`is
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`a
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`schematic
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`representative
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`flow diagram
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`illustrating a
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`third manufacturing
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`process
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`for
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`producing
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`combination seed capsule product of the invention.
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`FIGURES
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`6A,
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`6B,
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`6C,
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`and 6D show cross
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`sections of
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`seed
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`capsules of the invention.
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`FIGURE 7 illustrates a cross-section of the soil root zone,
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`and a representative population of seed capsules at the top surface
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`of the soil.
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`FIGURE 8
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`illustrates a
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`single seed capsule on the soil
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`surface,
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`and the micro-environment developing about
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`the seed
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`capsule.
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`

`

`DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLU TRATED EMBODIMENTS
`
`29214
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`The following is a detailed description of
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`the illustrated
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`embodiments of
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`the present
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`invention which provides combination
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`seed capsule products that provide for a combination of efficient
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`and proper seed placement in the soil, soil conditioning properties
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`at the specific site of the seed, plant nutrients at or near the
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`specific site of
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`the
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`seed,
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`ingredients effective to reduce
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`deleterious effects of
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`spore—formers and animals, and/or other
`
`10
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`various physical benefits/properties of
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`the combination seed
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`capsule not previously available in a single product.
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`In general, at least one seed substrate and at least one soil
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`conditioning material are selected as
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`raW' materials,
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`and are
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`combined to make a combination soil conditioning seed capsule
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`product of the invention.
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`The invention can operate with any of a wide variety of soil
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`conditioning materials such as municipal or other sewage sludge,
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`scrubber sludge, paper mill sludge, fly ash, dust, animal waste,
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`other organic materials, and mineral soil conditioning materials.
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`The soil conditioning material can be a solid material having
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`a melting temperature so high that handling such material
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`in the
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`melt state is impractical and/or undesirable in view Of the limited
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`temperatures at which the seed will remain viable.
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`For example,
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`the soil conditioning material may be combustible at a temperature
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`lower
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`than its melt
`
`temperature,
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`or will melt only above
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`temperatures which can be
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`tolerated by the seed,
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`such that
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`viability of the seed would be destroyed if melting were attempted
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`in an environment which exposed the seed to such temperatures.
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`Thus, handling such material
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`in the melt state is impractical,
`
`30
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`whereby other methods of handling the soil conditioning material
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`may be desired.
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`Solid sewage sludge,
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`sawdust,
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`and solid animal waste are
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`representative of soil conditioning Imaterials which cannot be
`
`- 13 _
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`

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`29214
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`some soil conditioning
`In the alternative,
`readily melted.
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`materials such as sewage sludge, paper mill sludge,
`sawdust, and
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`solid animal waste can be suitably comminuted and then dissolved or
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`suspended in water or other solvent composition for processing
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`purposes, optionally along with other soil conditioning materials
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`and/or inorganic chemical fertilizer materials, and the solvent
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`subsequently dr'ven off to make a resulting solid product.
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`‘inorganée *hemical fertilizers generally are distributed in
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`
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`commerce as solid state materials.
`Such material
`is generally
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`produced in manufacturing steps either in solution or in the melt
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`state to meet a specified narrow range of size, hardness, and plant
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`nutritional characteristics, distinct to the application of each
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`
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`such product.
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`Examples of
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`phosphorus,
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`such fertilizers include nitrogen,
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`such as urea,
`and potassium containing products
`superphosphate,
`monoammonium phosphate,
`diammonium phosphate,
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`triple super phosphate, dicalcium phosphate, potash, and the like.
`The Hfikfififinfizf chemical
`fertilizer can be a mixture or other
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`physical combination of known inorganic fertilizer chemicals, and
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`Where
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`sludge,
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`
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`is,
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`sewage
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`The
`
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`_ l4 _
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`in
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`may
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`such
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`
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`sulfur,
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`of méeronutrients
`include desired amounts
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`iron, zinc, and the like.
`manganese, copper, boron,
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`In preferred embodiments of this invention, a precursor seed
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`the soil conditioning
`capsule, having one or more coatings of
`
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`and/or other material thereon may first be prepared as a solid or
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`semi-solid particle or agglomerate.
`The soil conditioning raw
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`material may be a particulate powder, or may be fibrous, or may be
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`a suspension of a powder or fibrous material in a liquid carrier,
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`and is preferably coated onto the substrate seed to form a seed
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`capsule or other agglomeration of particles, fibers, or the like.
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