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`EED
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`T
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`Field of the Invention
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`-s——.
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`This present invention relates to improvements in seed and seed-related products,
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`processes for making such products and processes for establishing and improving seed
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`beds and seed bed gennination. As additional benefits, this invention is directed at
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`improving soil productivity through enhancements in soil fertility, soil condition/tilth,
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`and control of soil moisture. Further, the invention relates to productive use of certain
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`types of abundantly 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, landscape operators, flower growers, and the like
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`produce a wide variety of cultivated crops. Many such crops are grown from seed. The
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`sizes, shapes, and physical characteristics of the various kinds of seeds are as varied as
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`the number of crops produced therefrom.
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`Producers of such cultivated crops encounter a variety of challenges in handling
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`and distributing such seed, as well as with sowing of such seed in suitable growing
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`media. Certain seed may desirably be sowed by a broadcast method if the seed were
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`compatible with broadcast application. For example, grass seed for lawns is desirably
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`broadcast, but the low density and generally non-aerodynamic shape of some grass seed
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`can limit the range of such broadcast, and make such seed susceptible to being blown
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`about by wind, or washed away by surface water, even if initially well placed in a good
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`seeding application.
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`SCOTTS E_X. 1011
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`SCOTTS EX. 1011
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`Another difficulty encountered in sowing seed is that the seed may be so small as
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`to be difficult to handle, thereby to place properly-spaced seeds at a desired spacing as to
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`make cost—effective use of the seed, thereby to produce a crop of the related plants
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`without using any more seed than necessary, thus to gain maximum benefit from the .
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`amount of seed used.
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`While small seed may be efficiently handled by industrial equipment especially
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`designed for handling such seed, typically the user of such seed also handles various
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`other types of seed; and may 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 seed handling
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`equipment which must be capable of being used and/or adapted to handle and apply all
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`the types of seeds being used by that user. Where the seed itself can be adapted to the
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`equipment, specialty seed can be handled without need for any specialized equipment.
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`Even where the seed may be sown by hand, such as in seedling or bedding trays
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`or pots, some seeds are so small as to be difficult for the sower/user to effectively
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`manipulate and control 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. Many flower seeds are
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`equally small and/or difficult to handle and/or manipulate, for example poppy seed.
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`When seed is planted, the seed has immediate use for moisture to aid in
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`germination of the seed, and subsequent early development of the resulting young plant.
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`Where moisture is not readily available to the seed when planted, the seed may lie in a
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`dormant state for some period of time before germinating. While the seed is thus
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`dormant, awaiting suitable moisture, the seed is subject to a variety of hazards which may
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`destroy its viability. The seed may be attacked by worms, parasites, and other pests. The
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`ill}?tljliailllIlIll"ll“z:Ill}?‘“{iii}:.;:i‘jLIE3‘?"ltu"Es:Ilii3:3:lllll
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`seed may be eaten by foraging animals including insects and larvae. The seed may be
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`overheated by a hot sun. The seed may lie dormant without germinating for so long that
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`any plant emerging therefrom will have insufficient time to mature before the end of the
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`growing season.
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`If and when the seed does germinate, the seedling plant has a continuing need for
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`a proper balance of moisture and oxygen, as well as for such plant nutrients as nitrogen,
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`phosphorous and potash, as well as the micronutrients, in relatively predictable quantities.
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`To the extent the proper balance of such materials is available to the young plant, a
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`healthy young plant may be produced, with optimum potential for maximum crop
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`production, assuming germination occurs at a seasonably-desirable time.
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`To the extent one or more such materials is not available to the seed and/or the
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`young plant, plant growth, plant health, and ultimately maturity, may be adversely
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`affected. For example, the soil may be too dry to support germination, or optimum
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`germination. Or while the soil may in general have a desired moisture content, moisture
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`content at a macro level can vary widely. Thus, while the soil in general may have a
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`desirable moisture content, the microcosm of the soil adjacent an individual seed may be
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`too dry, or too wet, to support any germination, or optimum germination.
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`Similarly, the soil may be generally depleted of one or more plant nutrients
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`needed by the germinated seedling. Or while the soil may in general have desired
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`nutrient levels, the nutrient levels at a macro level can vary widely. Thus, the microcosm
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`of the soil adjacent an individual seed may be too low in one or more nutrients to support
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`a desired level of plant growth, or so high as to be toxic to a desired level of plant growth.
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`E21:ill}?
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`llfilllllllrllljii£§ll"ll"1iIlIl§§t"“iéiilt
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`Further, plant nutrient chemicals may be present in the soil, but so tied up
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`chemically in the soil as to be unavailable, or poorly available, relative to the quantities
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`and use rates needed for desired plant growth. Or the soil may become so hard, dry,
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`and/or caked shortly after the seed germinates that the seedling plant has difficulty
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`penetrating such soil, difficulty becoming associated suitable nutrients, and/or difficulty
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`taking up such nutrients because of insufficient moisture availability.
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`After the plant has further developed such that the plant roots extend deeper into
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`the soil, conditions of the soil near the surface are less critical. However, until such time
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`as the roots so penetrate, conditions of the soil at and near the top surface of the soil may
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`be critical.
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`Soil fertility generally relates to uptake of plant nutrients from the soil by plants.
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`Uptake is generally the result of two factors, the presence of plant nutrients in the soil,
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`and the availability of the plant nutrients for plant uptake. Presence of plant nutrients in
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`the soil is generally a function of the combination of (a) the basic level of soil fertility, (b)
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`depletion by previous crop production and (c) replenishment with fertilizer. Availability
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`of a plant nutrient physically present in the soil for plant uptake is in general related to
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`solubility of the respective 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 with any other material
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`affecting solvation of the plant nutrient into the water or other solvent.
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`Plant nutrients are routinely depleted from the soil by crop production, and are
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`routinely added back, or otherwise replenished, to the soil by conventional inorganic
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`fertilizers.
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`7;Fix!7:5:
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`tillfill!xiii:ll,.,§i'il‘*i:till!iiE’.ii_;xlii:
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`In order for plant nutrients in the soil to be available for uptake by plants, the
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`nutrients must be held in the soil without excessive leaching, but must not be held so
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`tightly that the nutrients cannot be released for plant uptake. Thus nutrient availability
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`requires a balance between holding tightly enough to retain the nutrient in the root zone,
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`without leaching, but not so tight’ as to make the nutrient unavailable for plant uptake.
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`Thus, the general “condition” or “tilth” of the soil is instrumental in determining the
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`efficiency with which plant nutrients are utilized for plant nutrition.
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`A properly conditioned soil has advantageous soil chemistry in combination with
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`advantageous soil texture. Thus, in addition to providing specific plant nutrients, soil
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`users also use products that modify basic soil chemistry, and soil texture.
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`Basic soil chemistry is modified by adding to the soil, for example, calcium
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`products to provide pH control, and flyash or like products to provide pH control as well
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`mnswmmmm
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`Ill}!3221!sf:iiI:ti“ll"iitill?“‘
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`as micronutrients.
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`Soil texture is generally modified by adding to the soil organic matter such as
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`manures, sludges, wood and other plant products and by—products, and the like. While
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`such materials have good soil conditioning properties, plant nutrient value of such
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`materials is fixed and is generally so low that other “fertilizer”-type products must in
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`general be used in addition to the organic matter in order to preserve plant nutrient values
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`in the soil.
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`The primary object of this invention is to providelsolid plant seed capsule
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`products that supply both soil conditioning properties and the seed, which can benefit
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`from such conditioned soil, in a given seed capsule particle.
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`It is a further object to provide a plant nutrient material, in the seed capsule
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`particle, in amount beneficial to the seedling emerging from the seed, and higher than a
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`naturally-occurring amount of such nutrient in such soil conditioning material, so as to
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`have enhanced chemical nutrient qualities over use of the soil conditioning material
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`alone.
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`In another aspect, a further object is to provide soil conditioning and optionally
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`nutrient qualities to seed products that reach the soil as the result of fulfilling objectives
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`separate from providing soil fertility or soil conditioning.
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`Still another object is to provide seed capsules containing fertility-enhancing
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`elements having a high level of plant food nutrients in combination with a high level of
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`soil conditioning properties.
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`Still another object is to encapsulate a seed in a soil conditioning material using
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`materials rich in plant nutrients as part of the encapsulating agent.
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`Yet another object is to provide a seed product which reduces the tendency for
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`lightweight seeds to be washed away by surface water runoff.
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`Still another object is to provide a seed product which obviates the typical
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`practice of adding straw as a mulch over e.g. grass seed, to protect the seed from being
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`washed away by surface 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 capsule product
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`particle provides enhanced soil texture and enhanced soil nutrient value at nutrient levels
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`traditionally needed by newly-germinated seedlings, optionally with higher levels of
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`plant nutrient suitably spaced from the seed itself so as to not be toxic to seedling growth,
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`optionally in combination with time-release technology.
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`‘fiiiiIliii:till!
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`Illllllilill.v.‘fIll;3i“il"4i%lIl!“Eliiilt=*ii§i§§ii‘1“ll"i:“it“ii
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`Yet another object is to provide fertility—enhancing seed capsule products having a
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`x I
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`till:illlllsf:iiIII'%‘*ll"irill]!
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`suitable level of plant food nutrients in combination with a high level of organic matter as
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`soil conditioning material.
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`Summary of the Invention
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`The invention generally addresses a combination seed capsule, comprising at least
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`one viable seed, having an outer surface and acting as a core or pseudo-core of said
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`combination seed capsule; and a coating of a composition comprising a soil conditioning
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`material mounted proximate, including disposed outwardly of the outer surface of said
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`seed.
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`In general, the coating provides at least one of (i) enhancing broadcast flight
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`properties of the combination seed capsule; (ii) reducing susceptibility to deleterious
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`affects of weather on the combination seed capsule; (iii) enhancing resistance of the
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`combination seed capsule to attack by animals, weeds, or spore—formers; (iv) staged
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`germination of ones of the seed capsules, having seeds, under a given set of conditions,
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`over a period of time longer than the range of germination times inherent in the seeds; (v)
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`enhancing control of moisture about the seed thereby to assist in seed germination; (vi)
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`release of plant nutrients into soil onto which the combination seed capsule is placed;
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`(vii) soil conditioning effect to soil onto which the combination seed capsule is placed;
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`(viii) staged release of plant nutrients into soil onto which said combination seed capsule
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`is placed, over a period of time longer than the range of times inherent in the chemical
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`composition so released; (ix) higher embryo emergence and survival rate in a population
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`of the seed capsules, thereby reducing required seed planting density for a desired plant
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`population density; and (x) assisting in stabilizing moisture content in soil on which such
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`ii:-ii.1211:33$"ll"::"il"ii‘iiiIrfiistil]!
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`Iii}:till:,;:':Ill}!“ii“ilIll}!“‘
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`seed capsule is disposed.
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`While a wide variety of seeds may be used, in general such seeds are selected
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`from the group consisting of grass, vegetables, grains, and flowers.
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`Preferably, the coating comprises the soil conditioning material in combination
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`with at least one ingredient effective to reduce susceptibility of the seed capsule to
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`deleterious affect of at least one of animals, weeds, and spore—formers. In some
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`embodiments, the ingredient for reducing such susceptibility of the seed capsule is
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`selected from the group consisting of herbicides, fungicides, for example metalaxyl, and
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`a bitter substance.
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`In some embodiments, the combination seed capsule fiirther comprises a second
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`coating, separate from the first coating, and comprising at least one ingredient effective to
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`reduce susceptibility of the seed capsule to deleterious effect of at least one of animals,
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`weeds, and spore—formers.
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`Some embodiments are effective to provide a plant nutrient at a desirable
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`controlled distance from a plant seedling emerging from the seed, in an amount beneficial
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`to the plant seedling.
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`In other embodiments, the second coating material is intermingled with the first
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`coating material in an outer portion of the first coating, and generally displaced from the
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`The second coating material can comprise a plant nutrient, beneficial in location
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`and in amount of availability, to a plant seedling emerging from the seed. The second
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`coating composition can comprise an inorganic form of a plant nutrient and can be
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`selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium. The second
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`coating composition can comprise an inorganic form of a plant nutrient and can be
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`selected from the group consisting of e.g., urea, monammonium phosphate, diammonium
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`phosphate, superphosphate, triple superphosphate, dicalcium phosphate, and potash or a
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`micronutrient such as sulfur, manganese, copper, boron, iron, magnesium or chromium.
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`A population of the seed capsules can comprise coatings having a range of
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`properties affecting germination rate of the seeds, thereby to stage germination of the
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`seeds in the population over a period of time longer than the range of germination times
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`inherent in uncoated ones of the seeds. Such properties can be, for example, a range of
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`hardness, or a range of thicknesses, of the coatings.
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`The coating can comprise a first layer of the soil conditioning material, and a
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`second layer comprising an inorganic, and/or organic, fertilizer, and/or at least one
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`l:i2"i‘l"4z"ii":zits313%
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`micronutrient, such as, for example, sulfur, manganese, copper, boron, iron, magnesium,
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`all}?iii!..:£i.'till"lb:mi
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`or chromium.
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`A preferred soil conditioning material is a sludge composition, such as fiber-
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`containing by—product of a paper making operation, or sewage sludge.
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`The seed capsule can comprise a water-leachable plant nutrient, and/or a leach-
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`retardant composition, such as wax, effective to retard leaching of the leachable plant
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`nutrient out of the combination seed capsule.
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`In some embodiments, in a population of the combination seed capsules, the
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`coatings in ones, but less than all, of the population, comprise ingredients effective to
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`retard effective penetration of a seed-germinating enviromnent to the seed for
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`germination thereof.
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`In embodiments preferred for some applications, the seed capsule comprises an
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`inner layer on the outer surface of the seed, and an outer layer, the inner layer enhancing
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`properties of the seed for acting as nucleus in an agglomeration operation agglomerating
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`the coating onto the inner layer.
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`In some embodiments, the coating comprises an admixture of the soil conditioner
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`and a plant nutrient.
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`In preferred embodiments, the coating remains generally disposed about the seed,
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`and preferably but not necessarily remains generally intact about the seed, until the seed
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`germinates.
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`The invention further comprises a plant growing medium extending over an area,
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`the plant growing medium having a root zone, and a top surface of the root zone
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`generally corresponding with a top surface of the plant growing medium, the plant
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`growing medium having a first overall soil condition and texture; and a population of
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`seed capsules disposed over the top surface of the plant growing medium, the seed
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`capsules comprising individual seeds, having outer surfaces, and coatings of soil
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`conditioning material disposed outwardly of the outer surfaces of the seeds, the coatings
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`of the seed capsules providing localized germination and growth environments, at and
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`adjacent the seeds, having texture, and nutrient and water holding properties for
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`supporting seedling health, superior to respective properties as provided overall in the
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`root zone of the plant growing medium.
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`The invention yet further comprises a method of providing plant micronutrients to
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`soil, the method comprising placing onto the soil a population of combination seed
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`llllilill}!alil:illflll“l“:2ll,.Il
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`capsules, each comprising at least one seed, and a coating comprising a plant
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`micronutrient material.
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`The coating can comprise a first coating comprising the plant micronutrient, and a
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`second coating, separate and distinct from the first coating, and comprising a soil
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`conditioning material.
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`The invention yet further comprehends a method of providing a seed bed having
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`enhanced growing conditions for growing seed, the method comprising coating a
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`population of the seeds with a coating material, and thereby providing coatings thereon of
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`such material, the material tending to stabilize, in the seed capsules, or in soil on which
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`the seed capsules are disposed coating compositions which tend to hold, moisture
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`adjacent the seeds in the seed capsules or in soil adjacent the seed capsules, in such
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`quantities and for such 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
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`the seed capsules.
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`Is some embodiments, the seed capsules comprise inner layers on the outer
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`surface of the seeds, and outer layers, the inner layers enhancing properties of the seeds
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`for acting as nuclei in agglomeration operations agglomerating the coatings onto the inner
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`layers.
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`The present invention uses an agitation/tumbling particle size enlargement
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`technique, i.e., an agglomeration technique, to wrap a pre—determined nucleus/seed(s) in
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`various, and distinctly different layers of fine particles. Particle size enlargement is
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`defined as any process whereby small particles are gathered into larger, relatively
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`permanent masses in which the original particles can still be identified. A nucleus is
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`11
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`Eli.i1§fll:3l§"ll"§’i?‘l:miillllfilili...l§
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`til}!ii}?atil
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`defined as a central mass or point about which matter is gathered. A layer is defined as
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`that which is laid; a stratum; one thickness laid over another; a single thickness of usually
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`some homogeneous substance.
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`The process of the present invention comprises central mass development. The
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`nucleus about which matter is gathered is predetermined. This nucleus is preconditioned
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`with a form of a binding agent while being agitated. The agitation force must be strong
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`enough to overcome the natural tendencies of the conditioned, like particles to bind one
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`another. Additionally, the liquid and tactifying forces associated with the binding agent
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`must be strong enough to ensure proper agglomeration can occur to develop the
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`subsequent layer. This material is then tumbled into a bed of fine particulate that shall
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`adhere to the central mass to comprise the next layer. The net result is an agglomerate
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`that is comprised of a nucleus encapsulated in a layer of matter.
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`Subsequent layer formation is performed as previously described in the central
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`mass development with the only exception being that the previously developed
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`agglomerate now becomes the nucleus.
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`The individual particles and subsequent layers are bound around the nucleus due
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`to binding mechanisms that are consistent with those of the other agitation methods of
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`agglomeration. ‘A binder may or may not be required. Such binding forces include:
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`Solid bridges
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`Interfacial forces and capillary pressure at freely movable liquid
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`surfaces
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`Adhesion and cohesion forces at not freely movable binder bridges
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`Form-closed bonds (interlocking)
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`Any of the following instruments can be used along with the above process to make the
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`product of the present invention.
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`Pan or disk pelletizer or balling disk (all the same equipment/techniques)
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`The invention yet further comprehends a method of making a population of
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`combination seed capsules, each comprising a seed, and a coating of a soil conditioning
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`material, the method comprising pre-coating the seed with a material which enhances the
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`ability of the seed to act as a nucleus in an agglomeration operation to form a pre-coated
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`substrate; and subsequently coating the pre-coated substrate with a soil conditioning
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`material. A preferred pre-coating material comprises dicalcium phosphate.
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`In general, the pre-coating step typically results in an overall increase in the
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`density of pre-coated seed combination. The pre-coating step can be accomplished by,
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`for example, spraying the pre-coated material onto the seed, and subsequently driving off
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`such as by drying, as necessary, any solvent or other liquid carrier used for application of
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`the coating material to the seed.
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`In yet other expressions, the invention comprehends a method of providing an
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`enhanced seed germination environment in combination with placement of a controlled
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`amount of plant nutrients in controlled proximity to each seed, the method comprising
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`13
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`Ill]!33:}!lrfitill!"ll"lllllli“iliiill,.:'IZIliili“ll"ll"ll“ilfiiiiltfiiuill]!
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`providing a population of seeds, coated with a soil conditioning material which tends to
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`enhance germination of the seeds, and with plant nutrient composition effective to
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`enhance growth of plant embryos emerging from the seeds; and placing the population of
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`seeds on soil effective to support germination of the seeds. In such method, the coating
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`material can include a second ingredient comprising plant nutrient moieties.
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`Brief Description of the Drawings
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`FIGURE 1 is a transverse cross-sectional View of a coating drum suitable for
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`spray-coating substrate seed according to the present invention.
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`FIGURE 2 is a partially cut away view showing a length of the drum of FIGURE
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`FIGURE 3 is a schematic representative flow diagram illustrating a first
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`manufacturing process for producing combination seed capsule product of the invention.
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`FIGURE 4 is a block diagram illustrating a second manufacturing process for
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`producing combination seed capsule product of the invention.
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`FIGURE 5 is a schematic representative flow diagram illustrating a third
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`manufacturing process for producing combination seed capsule product of the invention.
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`FIGURE 6A, 6B, 6C, and 6D show cross sections of seed capsules of the
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`invention.
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`FIGURE 7 illustrates a cross—section of the soil root zone, and a representative
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`population of seed capsules at the top surface of the soil.
`I FIGURE 8 illustrates a single seed capsule on the soil surface, and the micro-
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`environment developing about the seed capsule.
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`iiiiiiisf%l?ié’1"li":i"§“utiiiéi$i’§1ri§.f§3
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`mundane
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`14
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`Detailed Description of the Invention
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`The following is a detailed description of the illustrated embodiments of the
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`present invention which provides combination seed capsule products that provide for a
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`combination of efficient and proper seed placement in the soil, soil conditioning
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`properties at the specific site of the seed, plant nutrients at or near the specific site of the
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`seed, ingredients effective to reduce deleterious effects of spore-formers and animals,
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`and/or other various physical benefits/properties o