•
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`SEEDING TREATMENTS
`
`.~
`
`Field of the Invention
`
`This present invention relates to improvements in seed and seed-related products,
`
`processes for making such products and processes for establishing 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 available 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 handling
`
`and distributing such seed, as well as with sowing of such seed in suitable growing
`
`media. Certain seed may desirably 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
`
`about by wind, or washed away by surface water, even if initially well placed in a good
`
`seeding application.
`
`SCOTTS EXHIBIT 1014
`
`
`
`SEEDING TREATMENTS
`
`.~
`
`Field of the Invention
`
`This present invention relates to improvements in seed and seed-related products,
`
`processes for making such products and processes for establishing 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 available 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 handling
`
`and distributing such seed, as well as with sowing of such seed in suitable growing
`
`media. Certain seed may desirably 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
`
`about by wind, or washed away by surface water, even if initially well placed in a good
`
`seeding application.
`
`SCOTTS EXHIBIT 1014
`
`
`
`•
`
`•
`
`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 to
`
`make cost-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
`
`ot~er 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
`
`i,J~
`
`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. While 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
`
`2
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`•
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`•
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`seed may be 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
`
`health~ 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 of 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.
`
`3
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`
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`•
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`•
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`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 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
`
`1~
`F :r
`id
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`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.
`
`4
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`
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`•
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`•
`
`In order for plant nutrients in the soil to be available for uptake by plants, the
`
`nutrients must be ht;:ld 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 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.
`
`=
`::p
`::
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`~~
`
`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 lik.e. While
`
`such materials have good soil conditioning properties, plant nutrient value of such
`
`materials is fixed and is generally so low that other "fertilizer"-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.
`
`5
`
`
`
`•
`
`•
`
`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.
`
`In another aspect, a further object is to provide soil 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 object is to provide seed capsules containing fertility-enhancing
`
`elements having a high level of plant food 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 lev'els of
`
`plant nutrient suitably spaced from the seed itself so as to not be toxic to seedling growth,
`
`optionally in combination with time-release technology.
`
`6
`
`
`
`•
`
`•
`
`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.
`
`Summary of the Invention
`
`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
`
`!Jl
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`properties of the combination seed capsule; (ii) reducing susceptibility to deleterious
`
`1~
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`::J
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`affects of weather on the combination seed capsule; (iii) 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 than the range of times 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
`
`7
`
`
`
`•
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`•
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`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.
`
`Preferably, the coating comprises the soil conditioning material in combination
`
`with at least one ingredient effective to 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.
`
`In other embodiments, the second coating material is 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
`
`8
`
`
`
`•
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`•
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`selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium. The second
`
`coating composition can comprise an inorganic form of a plant nutrient and can be
`
`selected from the group consisting of e.g., urea, monammonium phosphate, diammonium
`
`phosphate, superphosphate, triple superphosphate, dicalcium phosphate, and potash or a
`
`micronutrient 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 example, a range of
`
`hardness, or a range of thicknesses, of the coatings.
`
`The coating can comprise a first layer of the soil conditioning material, and a
`
`second layer comprising an inorganic, and/or organic, fertilizer, and/or at least one
`
`micronutrient, such as, for example, sulfur, manganese, copper, boron, iron, magnesium,
`
`or chromium.
`
`A preferred soil conditioning material is a sludge composition, such as fiber-
`
`i:J
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`containing by-product of a paper making operation, or sewage sludge.
`
`The seed capsule can comprise a water-leachable plant 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.
`
`9
`
`
`
`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
`
`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 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
`
`::;j
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`::r:;
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`10
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`
`
`•
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`•
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`capsules, each comprising at least one seed, and a coating comprising a plant
`
`micronutrient material.
`
`The coating can comprise a first coating comprising the plant micronutrient, 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
`
`!.f'i =
`
`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.
`
`Is some embodiments, the seed capsules comprise inner layers on the outer
`
`surface of the seeds, and outer layers, the inner layers enhancing properties of the seeds
`
`for acting as nuclei in agglomeration operations agglomerating the coatings onto the inner
`
`layers.
`
`The present invention uses an agitation/tumbling particle size enlargement
`
`technique, i.e., an agglomeration technique, to wrap a pre-determined nucleus/seed(s) in
`
`various, and distinctly different layers of fine particles. Particle size enlargement is
`
`defined as any process whereby small particles are gathered into larger, relatively
`
`permanent masses in which the original particles can still be identified. A nucleus is
`
`II
`
`
`
`•
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`•
`
`defined as a central mass or point about which matter is gathered. A layer is defined as
`
`that which is laid; a stratum; one thickness laid over another; a single thickness of usually
`
`some homogeneous substance.
`
`The process of the present invention comprises central mass development. The
`
`nucleus about which matter is gathered is predetermined. This nucleus is preconditioned
`
`with a form of a binding agent while being agitated. The agitation force must be strong
`
`enough to overcome the natural tendencies of the conditioned, like particles to bind one
`
`another. Additionally, the liquid and tactifying forces associated with the binding agent
`
`must be strong enough to ensure proper agglomeration can occur to develop the
`
`subsequent layer. This material is then tumbled into a bed of fine particulate that shall
`
`adhere to the central mass to comprise the next layer. The net result is an agglomerate
`
`that is comprised of a nucleus encapsulated in a layer of matter.
`
`Subsequent layer formation is performed as previously described in the central
`
`mass development with the only exception being that the previously developed
`
`agglomerate now becomes the nucleus.
`
`The individual particles and subsequent layers are bound around the nucleus due
`
`to binding mechanisms that are consistent with those of the other agitation methods of
`
`agglomeration. A binder may or may not be required. Such binding forces include:
`
`i)
`
`ii)
`
`iii)
`
`iv)
`
`Solid bridges
`
`Interfacial forces and capillary pressure at freely movable liquid
`
`surfaces
`
`Adhesion and cohesion forces at not freely movable binder bridges
`
`Form-closed bonds (interlocking)
`
`12
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`•
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`•
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`Any of the following instruments can be used along with the above process to make the
`
`product of the present invention.
`
`*
`*
`*
`*
`*
`*
`*
`*
`*
`*
`*
`*
`*
`*
`
`Pan or disk pelletizer or balling disk (all the same equipment/techniques}
`Paddle mixer
`Rotary drum agglomerator
`horizontal pan
`Powder blenders
`flow-jet mixing
`Planetary mixer
`Cone mixer
`Ribbon mixer
`Pintype Mixer
`V erticle Mixer
`Pin Mixer
`Cone pelletizer
`Fluidized bed
`
`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-coated 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 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
`
`13
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`.~
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`'"-~
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`
`
`•
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`•
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`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.
`
`Brief Description of the Drawings
`
`FIGURE 1 is a transverse cross-sectional view 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 ofFIGURE
`
`1.
`
`FIGURE 3 is a schematic representative flow diagram illustrating a first
`
`manufacturing process for producing combination seed capsule product of the invention.
`
`FIGURE 4 is a block diagram illustrating a second manufacturing process for
`
`i:J
`
`producing combination seed capsule product of the invention.
`
`FIGURE 5 is a schematic representative flow diagram illustrating a third
`
`manufacturing process for producing combination seed capsule product of the invention.
`
`FIGURE 6A, 6B, 6C, and 6D show cross sections of seed capsules of the
`
`invention.
`
`FIGURE 7 illustrates a cross-section of the soil root zone, and a representative
`
`population of seed capsules at the top surface of the soil.
`
`FIGURE 8 illustrates a single seed capsule on the soil surface, and the micro-
`
`environment developing about the seed ~apsule.
`
`14
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`
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`1:;J
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`!,J"1
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`•
`
`Detailed Description of the Invention
`
`•
`
`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
`
`seed 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 melting
`
`temperature so high that handling such material in the melt state is impractical and/or
`
`undesirable in view of the limited 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 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
`
`15
`
`
`
`•
`
`•
`
`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 readily melted. In the alternative, some soil
`
`conditioning 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 driven off to make a resulting solid product.
`
`Inorganic chemical fertilizers generally are distributed in commerce as solid state
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`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, monoammonium phosphate, diammonium phosphate, superphosphate, triple super
`
`phosphate, dicalcium phosphate, potash, and the like. The inorganic chemical fertilizer
`
`can be a mixture or other physical combination of known inorganic fertilizer chemicals,
`
`and may include desired amounts of micronutrients 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 fibrous, or may be a suspension of a
`
`16
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`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
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`the soil conditioning material is, for example, sewage sludge, the sewage sludge raw
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`material can be obtained as a slurry that may be bound together as with a binder,
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`preferably an organic binder, when dried. The slurry may be spray-applied to the
`
`substrate seeds, for example to a rolling be of such seeds, in combination with a flow of
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`air to evaporate water from the thus-applied coating. Such sewage sludge, or paper mill
`
`sludge, need not be reacted or otherwise treated with any acid, caustic, or any other
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`chemical before being applied and/or dried, or partially dried, either in preparation for, or
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`after, the slurry application of the sludge to the seed substrate.
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`Specifically, the sewage sludge or paper mill sludge used herein as soil
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`conditioning raw material need not be treated to transform such sludge into colloidal
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`form. Thus, the sludge preferred for use herein is generally non-colloidal in nature, and
`
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`is distinguished by its non-colloidal nature from conventional sludges which are
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`specifically treated to provide the colloidal characteristics thereto.
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`Natural lignin, lignosulfonates, and the like, may serve as suitable binders where
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`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
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`chloride or other inorganic additives, such materials may be added to the primary coating,
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`e.g. onto or into the sludge coating, by well-known processes.
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`Soil conditioning material used therein may be devoid of such conventional plant
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`nutrients as nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorous, or may have such limited plant
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`nutrient value, or may be so unbalanced in nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium content,
`
`17
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`
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`•
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`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 of nitrogen, phosphorous,
`
`and/or potassium or other plant nutrients. By use of soil conditioner in intimate
`
`association with the seed, this invention not only enhances soil condition of the growth
`
`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
`
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`
`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
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`agglomeration principles.
`
`Regarding the coating process, the coating material can accumulate as a single or
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`multiple layer coating on the outside of the seeds to form a population of combination
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`seed capsules. The layer or layers of coating material can be a homogenous or
`
`heterogeneous mixture of the desired elements. Further, such population of combination
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`18
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`seed capsules can have a range ofhardnesses and thicknesses for improved seeding
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`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.
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`In some embodiments, a second coating material may penetrate into the layer of
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`soil conditioning coating material. Such penetration may comprise a generally uniform
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`distribution of the second coating material throughout the first coating material, or may
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`represent a more stratified or otherwise heterogeneous distribution of second coating
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