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`PATENT APPLICATION
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`TITLE: SEEDING TREATMENTS
`
`By: Daniel Paul Madigan
`804 S. Madison
`Green Bay, WI 54301
`Citizenship: USA
`
`Michael Dennis Krysiak
`3554 Highland Center Drive
`Green Bay, WI 54311
`Citizenship: USA
`
`Ronald Dean Eichhorn
`1524 ~ Cedar 8treet
`Green Bay, WI 54302
`Citizenship: USA
`
`Glen H . Wesenberg
`920 Laverne Drive
`Green Bay, WI 54311
`Citizenship: USA
`
`Date of Deposit
`
`"Express Mai l " mailing number
`EM 469 259 847 US
`June 10. 1998
`
`I hereby certify that this paper or fee is being deposited wi th 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
`Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D.C. 20231.
`
`Jerry F. Janssen
`(Typed or printed name of person mailing paper or fee)
`
`(Sig
`
`TDW, JSK
`
`SCOTTS EXHIBIT 1012
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`1
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`29214
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`SEEDING TREATMENTS
`
`Field of the Invention
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`This present invention relates to improvements in seed and
`seed- related products, processes for making such products and
`processes for es t ablishing and improving seed beds and seed bed
`germination. As additional benefits, this invention is directed at
`improving soil productivity through enhancements in soil fertility,
`soil condition/tilth, and control of soil moisture. Further, the
`invention relates to productive use of certain types of abundantly
`ava i lable manufacturing waste, which waste is currently being
`disposed of in landfills.
`
`Background of the Invention
`
`Agricultural growers, gardeners, landscape operators, flower
`growers, and the like produce a wide variety of cultivated crops .
`Many such crops are grown from seed.
`The sizes, shapes, and
`physical characteristics of the various kinds of seeds are as
`varied as the number of crops produced therefrom.
`Producers of such cultivated crops encounter a variety of
`challenges in hand l ing and distributing such seed, as well as with
`sowing of such seed in suitable growing media. Certain seed may
`desirab l y be sowed by a broadcast method if the seed were
`compatible with broadcast application. For example, grass seed for
`lawns is desirably broadcast, but the low density and generally
`non-aerodynamic shape of some grass seed can limit the range of
`such broadcast, and make such seed susceptible to being blown abou t
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`by wind, or washed away by surface water; even if initially well
`placed in a good seeding application.
`Another difficulty encountered in sowing seed is that the seed
`may be so small as to be difficult to handle,
`thereby to place
`properly-spaced seeds at a desired spacing as
`tc make cost(cid:173)
`effective use of the seed, thereby to produce a crop of the related
`plants without using any more seed than necessary, thus to gain
`maximum benefit from the amount of seed used.
`While small seed may be efficiently handled by industrial
`equipment especially designed for handling such seed, typically the
`user of such seed also handles various other types of seed; and may
`be unable to justify the cost of such specialty seed-handling
`equipment. Rather, the seed user typically has a limited range of
`seed handling equipment which must be capable of being used and/or
`adapted to handle and apply all the types of seeds being used by
`that user. Where the seed itself can be adapted to the equipment,
`specialty seed can be handled without need for any specialized
`equipment.
`Even where the seed may be sown by hand, such as in seedling
`or bedding trays or pots,
`some seeds are so small as
`to be
`difficult for the sower/user to effectively manipulate and control
`by hand. Typical of such difficult-to-handle seeds are seeds of
`lettuce, carrots, the cabbage family, ground cherries, and alfalfa.
`Many flower seeds are equally small and/or difficult to handle
`and/or manipulate, for example poppy seed.
`When seed is planted, the seed has immediate use for moisture
`to aid in germination of the seed, and subsequent early development
`of the resulting young plant. Where moisture is not readily
`available to the seed when planted, the seed may lie in a dormant
`state for some period of time before germinating. M1ile the seed
`is thus dormant, awaiting suitable moisture, the seed is subject to
`a variety of hazards which may destroy its viability. The seed may
`be attacked by worms, parasites, and other pests. The seed may be
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`eaten by foraging animals including insects and larvae. The seed
`may be overheated by a hot sun. The seed may lie dormant without
`germinating for so long that any plant emerging therefrom will have
`insufficient time to mature before the end of the growing season.
`If and when the seed does germinate, the seedling plant has a
`continuing need for a proper balance of moisture and oxygen, as
`well as for such plant nutrients as nitrogen, phosphorous, and
`potash, as well as the micronutrients, in relatively predictable
`quantities. To the extent the proper balance of such materials is
`available
`to
`the young plant, a healthy young plant may be
`produced, with optimum potential for maximum crop production,
`assuming germination occurs at a seasonably-desirable time.
`To the extent one or more such materials is not available to
`the seed and/or the young plant, plant growth, plant health, and
`ultimately maturity, may be adversely affected. For example, the
`soil may be too dry to support germination, or optimum germination.
`Or while the soil may in general have a desired moisture content,
`moisture content at a macro level can vary widely. Thus, while the
`soil in general may have a desirable moisture content,
`the
`microcosm of the soil adjacent an individual seed may be too dry,
`or too wet, to support any germination, or optimum germination.
`Similarly, the soil may be generally depleted o~ one or more
`plant nutrients needed by the germinated seedling. Or while the
`soil may in general have desired nutrient levels,
`the nutrient
`levels at a macro level can vary widely. Thus, the microcosm of
`the soil adjacent an individual seed may be too low in one or more
`nutrients to support a desired level of plant growth, or so high as
`to be toxic to a desired level of plant growth.
`Further, plant nutrient chemicals may be present in the soil,
`but so tied up chemically in the soil as to be unavailable, or
`poorly available, relative to the quantities and use rates needed
`for desired plant growth. Or the soil may become so hard, dry,
`and/or caked shortly after the seed germinates that the seedling
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`plant has difficulty penetrating such soil, difficulty becoming
`associated suitable nutrients, and/or difficulty taking up such
`nutrients because of insufficient moisture availability.
`After the plant has further developed such that the plant
`roots extend deeper into the soil, conditions of the soil near the
`surface are less critical. However, until such time as the roots
`so penetrate, conditions of the soil at and near the top surface of
`the soil may be critical.
`Soil fertility generally relates to uptake of plant nutrients
`from the soil by plants. Uptake is generally the result of two
`factors,
`the presence of plant nutrients in the soil, and the
`availability of the plant nutrients for plant uptake. Presence of
`plant nutrients in the soil is generally a
`function of
`the
`combination of (a) the basic level of soil fertility, (b) depletion
`by previous crop production and (c) replenishment with fertilizer.
`Availability of a plant nutrient physically present in the soil for
`plant uptake is in general related to solubility of the respective
`nutrient or nutrient combination in a solvent for the nutrient,
`which solvent is present in the soil, such solvent as water, along
`with any other material affecting solvation of the plant nutrient
`into the water or other solvent.
`Plant nutrients are routinely depleted from the soil by crop
`production, and are routinely added back, or otherwise replenished,
`to the soil by conventional inorganic fertilizers.
`In order for plant nutrients in the soil to be available for
`uptake by plants, the nutrients must be held in the soil without
`excessive leaching, but must not be held so tightly that the
`nutrients cannot be released for plant uptake.
`Thus, nutrient
`availability requires a balance between holding tightly enough to
`retain the nutrient in the root zone, without leaching, but not so
`tight as to make the nutrient unavailable for plant uptake. Thus,
`the general "condition" or "tilth" of the soil is instrumental in
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`determining the efficiency with which plant nutrients are utilized
`for plant nutrition.
`A properly conditioned soil has advantageous soil chemistry in
`combination with advantageous soil texture. Thus, in addition to
`providing specific plant nutrients, soil users also use products
`that modify basic soil chemistry, and soil texture.
`Basic soil chemistry is modified by adding to the soil, for
`example, calcium products to provide pH control, and flyash or like
`products to provide pH control as well as micronutrients.
`Soil texture is generally modified by adding to the soil
`organic matter such as manures, sludges, wood and other plant
`products and by-products, and the like. While such materials have
`good soil conditioning properties, plant nutrient value of such
`materials is fixed and is generally so low that other "fertilizer"(cid:173)
`type products must in general be used in addition to the organic
`matter in order to preserve plant nutrient values in the soil.
`The primary object of this invention is to provide solid plant
`seed capsule products that supply both soil conditioning properties
`and the seed, which can benefit from such conditioned soil, in a
`given seed capsule particle.
`It is a further object to provide a plant nutrient material,
`in the seed capsule particle, in amount beneficial to the seedling
`emerging from the seed, and higher than a naturally-occurring
`amount of such nutrient in such soil conditioning material, so as
`to have enhanced chemical nutrient qualities over use of the soil
`conditioning material alone.
`further object is to provide soil
`In another aspect,
`a
`conditioning and optionally nutrient qualities to seed products
`that reach the soil as the result of fulfilling objectives separate
`from providing soil fertility or soil conditioning.
`Still another obj.ect is to provide seed capsules containing
`fertility-enhancing elements having a high level of plant food
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`nutrients in combination with a high level of soil conditioning
`properties.
`Still another object is to encapsulate a seed in a soil
`conditioning material using materials rich in plant nutrients as
`part of the encapsulating agent.
`Yet another object is to provide a seed product which reduces
`the tendency for light weight seeds to be washed away by surface
`water runoff.
`Still another object is to provide a seed product which
`obviates the typical practice of adding straw as a mulch over e.g.
`grass seed, to protect the seed from being washed away by surface
`water, from heat of the sun, and to hold moisture in the soil.
`A further object is to provide products wherein a single seed
`capsule product particle provides enhanced soil
`texture and
`enhanced soil nutrient value at nutrient levels traditionally
`needed by newly-germinated seedlings, optionally with higher levels
`of plant nutrient suitably spaced from the seed itself so as to not
`be toxic to seedling growth, optionally in combination with time(cid:173)
`release technology.
`Yet another object is to provide fertility-enhancing seed
`capsule products having a suitable level of plant food nutrients in
`combination with
`a high
`level of organic matter as 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 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
`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(cid:173)
`( i v) staged germination of ones of the seed capsules,
`formers;
`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 p l aced; (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 o f
`time longer than the range of t imes inherent in the chemical
`composition so released; (ix) higher embryo emergence and survival
`rate in a population of the seed capsules,
`thereby reducing
`required seed planting density for a desired plant population
`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, in general such
`seeds are selected from the group consisting of grass, vegetables,
`grains, and flowers.
`the soil conditioning
`Preferably,
`the coating comprises
`material in combination with at least one ingredient effective to
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`reduce susceptibility of the seed capsule to deleterious affect of
`at least one of animals, weeds, and spore-formers.
`In some
`embodiments, the ingredient for reducing such susceptibility of the
`seed capsule is selected from the group consisting of herbicides,
`fungicides, for example metalaxyl, and a bitter substance.
`In some embodiments,
`the combination seed capsule further
`comprises a second coating, separate from the first coating, and
`comprising at
`least
`one
`ingredient effective
`to
`reduce
`susceptibility of the seed capsule to deleterious effect of at
`least one of animals, weeds, and spore-formers.
`Some embodiments are effective to provide a plant nutrient at
`a desirable controlled distance from a plant seedling emerging from
`the seed, in an amount beneficial to the plant seedling.
`is
`In other embodiments,
`the
`second coating material
`intermingled with the first coating material in an outer portion of
`the first coating, and generally displaced from the seed.
`The second coating material can comprise a plant nutrient,
`beneficial in location and in amount of availability, to a plant
`seedling emerging from the seed. The second coating composition
`can comprise an inorganic form of a plant nutrient and can be
`selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, phosphorus, and
`~~~ olo(cid:173)
`potassium.
`The second coating composition can comprisel an
`inorganic form of a plant nutrient and can be selected from the
`group consisting of e.g. ~' monammonium phosphate, diammonium
`phosphate,
`superphosphate,
`triple
`superphosphate,
`dicalcium
`phosphate, and potash or a !n±el!?snutrient such as sulfur, manganese,
`copper, boron, iron, magnesium, or chromium.
`A population of the seed capsules can comprise coatings having
`a range of properties affecting germination rate of the seeds,
`thereby to stage germination of the seeds in the population over a
`period of time longer than the range of germination times inherent
`in uncoated ones of the seeds.
`Such properties can be,
`for
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`example, a range of hardnesses, or a range of thicknesses, of the
`coatings.
`the soil
`layer of
`first
`a
`The coating can comprise
`conditioning material, and a second layer comprising an inorganic,
`and/or organic, fertilizer, and/or at least one &:Rieli'i>nutrient, such
`as, for example, sulfur, manganese, copper, boron, iron, magnesium,
`or chromium.
`sludge
`a
`is
`A preferred soil conditioning material
`composition, such as a fiber-containing by-product of a paper
`making operation, or sewage sludge.
`a water-leachable plant
`The
`seed capsule can comprise
`nutrient, and/or a
`leach-retardant composition,
`such as wax,
`effective to retard leaching of the leachable plant nutrient out of
`the combination seed capsule.
`In some embodiments, in a population of the combination seed
`capsules,
`the coatings
`in ones, but
`less
`than all, of
`the
`population, comprise ingredients effective to retard effective
`penetration of a seed-germinating environment to the seed for
`germination thereof.
`the seed
`In embodiments preferred for some applications,
`capsule comprises an inner layer on the outer surface of the seed,
`and an outer layer, the inner layer enhancing properties of the
`seed
`for acting as nucleus
`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
`disposed about the seed, and preferably but not necessarily remains
`generally intact about the seed, until the seed germinates.
`The
`invention further comprises a plant growing medium
`extending over an area,
`the plant growing medium having a root
`zone, and a top surface of the root zone generally corresponding
`with a top surface of the plant growing medium, the plant growing
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`medium having a first overall soil condition and texture; and a
`population of seed capsules disposed over the top surface of the
`plant growing medium,
`the seed capsules comprising individual
`seeds, having outer surfaces, and coatings of soil conditioning
`material disposed outwardly of the outer surfaces of the seeds, the
`coatings of the seed capsules providing localized germination and
`growth environments, at and adjacent the seeds, having texture, and
`nutrient and water holding properties for supporting seedling
`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 ~jgrenutrient
`material.
`The coating can comprise a first coating comprising the plant
`•miersnutrient, 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, the
`method comprising coating a population of the seeds with a coating
`material, and thereby providing coatings thereon of such material,
`the material tending to stabilize, in the seed capsules, or in soil
`on which the seed capsules are disposed coating compositions which
`tend to hold, moisture adjacent the seeds in the seed capsules or
`in soil adjacent the seed capsules, in such quantities and for such
`times as to enhance growing conditions for the seeds; and placing
`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
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`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
`operation,
`to form a pre-coated substrate; and
`subsequently
`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 pre-coating step can be accomplished by, for example, spraying
`the pre-coating material onto the seed, and subsequently driving
`off such as by drying, as necessary, any solvent or other liquid
`carrier used for applicatlon of the coating material to the seed.
`•In yet other expressions, the invention comprehends a method
`of providing an
`enhanced
`seed germination
`environment
`in
`combination with placement of a controlled amount of plant
`nutrients
`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 the
`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
`seeds.
`In such method, the coating material can include a second
`ingredient comprising plant nutrient moieties.
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`Brief Description of the Drawings
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`transverse cross - sectional view of a
`is a
`FIGURE 1
`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.
`representative
`schematic
`a
`FIGURE
`3
`is
`illustrating
`a
`first manufacturing process
`combination seed capsule product of the invention.
`second
`a
`FIGURE
`4
`is
`a
`block diagram
`illustrating
`manufacturing process for producing combination seed capsule
`product of the invention.
`representative
`FIGURE
`5
`is
`a
`schematic
`illustrating
`a
`third manufacturing process
`combination seed capsul e product of the invention.
`FIGURES 6A, 6B,
`6C, and 6D show cross sections of seed
`capsules of the invention.
`FIGURE 7
`i l lustrates a cross-section of the soil root zone,
`and a representative population of seed capsules at the top surface
`of the soil.
`FIGURE 8
`surface, and
`capsule.
`
`d i agram
`flow
`for producing
`
`flow diagram
`for producing
`
`illustrates a single seed capsule on
`the micro-environment developing about
`
`the soil
`the seed
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`DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS
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`The following is a detailed description of the illustrated
`embodiments of the present invention which provides combination
`seed capsule products that provide for a combination of efficient
`and proper seed placement in the soil , soil conditioning properties
`at the specific site of the seed, plant nutrients at or near the
`specific site of
`the seed,
`ingredients effective
`to reduce
`deleterious effects of spore-formers and animals, and /or other
`various physical benefits/properties of
`the combination seed
`capsule not previously available in a single product.
`In general, at least one seed substrate and at least one soil
`conditioning material are selected as raw materials, and are
`combined to make a combination soil conditioning $eed capsule
`product of the invention.
`The invention can operate with any of a wide variety of soil
`conditioning materials such as municipal or other sewage sludge,
`scrubber sludge, paper mill sludge, fly ash, dust, animal waste,
`other organic materials, and mineral soil conditioning materials.
`The soil conditioning material can be a solid material having
`a melti ng temperature so high that handling such material
`i n the
`melt state is impractical and/or undesirable in view of the l imited
`temperatures at which the seed will remain viable. For example,
`the soil conditioning material may be combustible at a temperature
`lower
`than its melt
`temperature, or will melt only above
`temperatures which can be
`tolerated by
`the seed,
`such
`that
`viability of the seed would be destroyed if melting were attempted
`in an environment which exposed the seed to such temperatures.
`Thus, handling such material in the melt state is impractical ,
`whereby other methods of handling the soil conditioning material
`may be desired.
`Solid sewage sludge, sawdust, and solid animal waste are
`representative of soil conditioning materials which cannot be
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`some soil conditioning
`the alternative,
`In
`readily melted.
`materials such as sewage sludge, paper mill sludge, sawdust, and
`solid animal waste can be suitably comminuted and then dissolved or
`suspended in water or other solvent composition for processing
`purposes, optionally along with other soil conditioning materials
`and/or inorganic chemical fertilizer materials, and the solvent
`subsequently d(fven off to make a resulting solid product.
`I±wLgani-s cthemical fertilizers generally are distributed in
`commerce as solid state materials.
`Such material is generally
`produced in manufacturing steps either in solution or. in the melt
`state to meet a specified narrow range of size, hardness, and plant
`nutritional characteristics, distinct to the application of each
`such product.
`Examples of such fertilizers include nitrogen,
`phosphorus,
`and potassium containing products such as urea,
`monoammoniurn phosphate,
`diammoniurn phosphate,
`superphosphate,
`triple super phosphate, dicalciurn phosphate, potash, and the like.
`The 'iRSJ::§aniC' chemical fertilizer can be a mixture or other
`physical combination of known inorganic fertilizer chemicals, and
`may
`include desired amounts of mia~~nutrients such sulfur,
`manganese, copper, boron, iron, zinc, and the like.
`In preferred embodiments of this invention, a precursor seed
`capsule, having one or more coatings of the soil conditioning
`and/or other material thereon may first be prepared as a solid or
`semi-solid particle or agglomerate.
`The soil conditioning raw
`material may be a particulate powder, or may be fibro11s, or may be
`a suspension of a powder or fibrous material in a liquid carrier,
`and is preferably coated onto the substrate seed to form a seed
`capsule or other agglomeration of particles, fibers, or the like.
`Where
`the soil conditioning material is, for example,
`sewage
`sludge, the sewage sludge raw material can be obtained as a slurry
`that may be bound together as with a binder, preferably an organic
`binder, when dried.
`The slurry may be spray-applied to the
`substrate seeds, for example to a rolling bed of such seeds, in
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`combination with a flow of air to evaporate water from the thus(cid:173)
`applied coating. Such sewage sludge, or paper mail sludge, need
`not be reacted or otherwise treated with any acid, caustic, or any
`other chemical before being applied and/or dried, or partially
`dried, either in preparation for, or after, the slurry application
`of the sludge to the seed substrate.
`Specifically,
`the sewage sludge or paper mill sludge used
`herein as soil conditioning raw material need not be treated to
`transform such sludge into colloidal form.
`Thus,
`the sludge
`preferred for use herein is generally non-colloidal in nature, and
`is distinguished by its non-colloidal nature from conventional
`sludges which are specifically treated to provide the colloidal
`characteristics thereto.
`Natural lignin, lignosulfonates, and the like, may serve as
`suitable binders where the soil conditioning material is, for
`example, paper mill sludge,
`raw wood,
`sewage sludge, or other
`organic or inorganic material.
`In the case of, for example,
`calcium chloride or other inorganic additives, such materials may
`be added to the primary coating, e.g. onto or into the sludge
`coating, by well-known processes.
`Soil conditioning material used herein may be devoid of such
`conventional plant nutrients
`as nitrogen,
`potassium,
`and
`phosphorous, or may have such limited plant nutrient value, or may
`be so unbalanced in nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium content,
`that the soil conditioning material may not, by itself, be a
`desirably complete material for use as the only ingredient in the
`seed coating.
`Thus, such soil conditioning material may have
`limited application herein where basic level of soil fertility is
`seriously degraded.
`However, all soil conditioning materials
`contemplated herein beneficially modify soil to which they are
`applied,
`in some way other than direct provision 0f nitrogen,
`phosphorous, and/or potassium or other plant nutrients. By use of
`soil conditioner in intimate association with the seed,
`this
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`the growth
`invention not only enhances soil condition of
`medium/soil
`to which it is applied,
`it also provides soil
`conditioning value
`to
`the seed so coated,
`and
`in
`intimate
`association with the seed,
`irrespective of
`the general tilth
`condition of the growth medium into or onto which the seed capsule
`is applied.
`Further to preferred embodiments, typically a first coating
`material (e.g. soil conditioning material) is readily converted
`into liquid state such as liquid suspension, and is provided to the
`process as a liquid. As a general statement, the first coating
`material may be sprayed onto the substrate seed, then is converted
`back to solid state on the thus-created seed capsules or seed
`capsule precursors.
`In the alternative, the coating material may
`be mixed with the seed in an (e.g. ribbon) blender, or may be ·
`otherwise coated onto
`the substrate seed in an agglomeration
`process
`according
`to well-known
`conventional
`agglomeration
`principles.
`the coating 111aterial can
`the coating process,
`Regarding
`accumulate as a single or multiple layer coating on the outside of
`the seeds to form a population of combination seed capsules. The
`layer or layers of coating material can be a homogeneous or
`heterogeneous mixture of the desired elements.
`Further, such
`population of combination seed capsules can have a
`range of
`hardnesses and thicknesses for improved seeding treatments.
`Cooperating inner and/or outer layers may be used e.g. to
`control direct contact between the seed and moisture. Suitable
`materials and processes
`therefore are
`taught
`in USA Patent
`3,698,133 Schreiber and 4,759,151 Gerber, and are thus well known
`in the art.
`In some embodiments, a second coating material may penetrate
`into the layer of soil conditioning coating material.
`Such
`penetration may comprise a generally uniform distribution of the
`second coating material throughout the first coating material, or
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`a more stratified or otherwise heterogeneous
`represent
`may
`distribution of second coating material in or on the first coating
`material.
`In other embodiments, the coating materials may be mixed into
`a heterogenous
`layer.
`Such
`layer or layers of heterogenous
`material can then be coated upon the outside surface of the seed.
`Where the liquid state of a coating material was obtained by
`slurrying or otherwise combining the coating material with water,
`the liquid fraction is reduced after application of the liquid-
`state material to the substrate seed, or to the growing seed
`capsule,
`to effect solidifying of
`the coating material after
`application of the coating material to the substrate seed.
`The
`liquid fraction is reduced by driving off the liquid carrier, as by
`medium or low temperature air, or vacuum or other flash drying,
`after or during application of
`the coating material
`to
`the
`substrate seed. The resulting solid seed capsule, comprising the
`seed coated with
`the e.g. sludge coating material,
`is then
`recovered as a combined