AU2012101866A4 - Controlled Release Biodegradable Fertiliser - Google Patents

Controlled Release Biodegradable Fertiliser Download PDF

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Publication number
AU2012101866A4
AU2012101866A4 AU2012101866A AU2012101866A AU2012101866A4 AU 2012101866 A4 AU2012101866 A4 AU 2012101866A4 AU 2012101866 A AU2012101866 A AU 2012101866A AU 2012101866 A AU2012101866 A AU 2012101866A AU 2012101866 A4 AU2012101866 A4 AU 2012101866A4
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Australia
Prior art keywords
fertiliser
plant
soil
solution
macadamia
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AU2012101866A
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Leyland Minter
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MACADAMIA OILS OF AUSTRALIA Pty Ltd
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MACADAMIA OILS OF AUSTRALIA Pty Ltd
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    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02ATECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02A40/00Adaptation technologies in agriculture, forestry, livestock or agroalimentary production
    • Y02A40/10Adaptation technologies in agriculture, forestry, livestock or agroalimentary production in agriculture
    • Y02A40/20Fertilizers of biological origin, e.g. guano or fertilizers made from animal corpses

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Abstract

Abstract The invention relates to a soil treating compound comprising a nutrient rich solution extracted from seawater and an organic by-product of macadamia oil extraction, and carriers adapted to regulate the release of nutrients from the seawater solution into the soil.

Description

1 Controlled Release Biodegradable Fertiliser TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to fertiliser formulations and in particular, a controlled release biodegradable fertiliser formulation. In particular, the present invention provides a controlled release fertiliser which combines macadamia nut meal and a seawater extract solution. BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION When processing macadamia nuts to extract nut oil to be used in food products, cosmetic products and the like, an organic waste product is created which consists of the compressed nut pulp and the shell. This waste product is commonly referred to as 'macadamia meal'. Presently, macadamia meal is typically disposed of as a stock feed additive. However, it is desirable to find alternative uses for the organic macadamia meal waste product. One previous effort has been the use of the macadamia meal as an additive in conventional, water soluble plant fertiliser. However, as the macadamia meal is an organic product, when it is added to an aqueous solution, the organic macadamia meal decays rapidly and the aqueous fertiliser solution rapidly becomes rancid, and the fertiliser is rendered unusable after storing the solution for only a short time period. Controlled release fertilisers have been known and popular for some time due to their ability to deliver minerals and nutrients to soil over a deliberately regulated time period. Controlled release fertilisers are often used to provide fertilising elements to a plant and in some cases the controlled release fertiliser can accelerate the plant's growth for longer than when compared to the application of a conventional aqueous solution fertiliser formulation to the soil.
2 Such regulated release may be through completely or partially coating a fertiliser formulation core using a semipermeable or impermeable membrane which degrades over a controlled pre-determined period of time to allow the nutrients in the fertiliser to flow outwards and be released over time. Alternatively, controlled release fertilisers can be made by soaking an insoluble, porous substrate with a fertiliser solution which also allows the solution to flow outwards over time. Both methods enable the production of a granulated fertiliser, which is able to be mixed into soil and deliver the nutrient rich fertiliser formulation gradually into the soil for uptake and use by plants and plant crops. Whilst it is common that polymeric based materials are used to provide a coating or substrate carrier for fertiliser formulations, alternative materials are increasingly required in order to biodegrade into the soil and reduce polymer waste in the soil. Such an alternative may include diatomaceous earth (DE) as either a carrier or as a coating. Diatomaceous earth is a naturally occurring, soft, siliceous sedimentary rock that is easily crumbled into a fine powder. It has been found that diatomaceous earth biodegrades faster than conventional polymeric based materials, and is a highly suitable choice as an organic coating or substrate carrier in a biodegradable controlled release fertiliser. Accordingly it would be useful to provide a fertiliser formulation which combines macadamia meal and a rich plant suitable nutrient source in a dried, granulated form such that it may be stored for some time without decaying. Furthermore, it would be advantageous to provide such a combination of these ingredients which delivers fertilising properties that promote plant growth over and above the application of the separate individual ingredients alone. One particularly good source of plant suitable nutrients, particularly for use in organic controlled release fertilisers, can be obtained by processing seawater to isolate and extract the organic material and trace minerals.
3 Generally, it would be useful to provide a solution that avoids or at least substantially ameliorates any of the disadvantages present in the prior art or which provides an alternative to the prior art approaches. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a soil treating compound comprising an intimate admixture of horticultural suitable nutrient rich solution extracted from seawater, which is encapsulated in a carrier material and adapted to regulate the release of the nutrients from the solution into the soil. The soil treating compound also includes an organic by-product of macadamia oil extraction from macadamia nuts, which comprises macadamia shell and nut particles. Preferably, the carrier material at least partially consists of an organic material selected from one or more of diatomaceous earth or bioactive charcoal. Preferably, the carrier material is an insoluble porous substrate. More preferably, the carrier material is a semipermeable membrane coating surrounding a core of the horticultural suitable nutrient rich solution. Preferably, the carrier material is saturated with an aqueous solution of the horticultural suitable nutrient rich solution. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIGURE 1 shows a photographic representation of a comparative growing example using a tomato plant (Solanum lycopersicum) after 26 days where the control plant (C) was provided only with water and the test plant (ER) was provided with 5g of the fertiliser composition of the present invention.
4 FIGURE 2 shows a photographic representation of a comparative growing example using a spinach plant (Spinacia oleracea) after 26 days where the control plant (C) was provided only with water and the test plant (ER) was provided with 10g of the fertiliser composition of the present invention. FIGURE 3 shows a photographic representation of a comparative growing example using a beetroot plant (Beta vulgaris) after 26 days where the control plant (C) was provided only with water and the test plant (ER) was provided with 10g of the fertiliser composition of the present invention. FIGURE 4 shows a photographic representation of a comparative growing example using a coriander plant (Coriandrum sativum) after 26 days where the control plant (C) was provided only with water and the test plant (ER) was provided with 5g of the fertiliser composition of the present invention. FIGURE 5 shows a photographic representation of a comparative growing example using a fennel plant (Foeniculum vulgare) after 26 days where the control plant (C) was provided only with water and the test plant (ER) was provided with 10g of the fertiliser composition of the present invention. FIGURE 6 shows a photographic representation of a comparative growing example using a parsley plant (Petroselinum hortense) after 26 days where the control plant (C) was provided only with water and the test plant (ER) was provided with 10g of the fertiliser composition of the present invention. FIGURE 7 shows a photographic representation of a comparative growing example using a shallot plant (A//ium cepa) after 26 days where the control plant (C) was provided only with water and the test plant (ER) was provided with 5g of the fertiliser composition of the present invention. FIGURE 8 shows a photographic representation of a comparative growing example using a basil plant (Ocimum basilicum) after 26 days where the control plant (C) was provided only with water and the test plant (ER) was provided with 10g of the fertiliser composition of the present invention. FIGURE 9 shows a photographic representation of a comparative growing example using a mustard plant (Sinapis alba) after 26 days where the control 5 plant (C) was provided only with water and the test plant (ER) was provided with 5g of the fertiliser composition of the present invention. FIGURE 10 shows a photographic representation of a comparative growing example using a rocket plant (Eruca sativa) after 26 days where the control plant (C) was provided only with water and the test plant (ER) was provided with the fertiliser composition of the present invention. FIGURE 11 shows a photographic representation of a comparative growing example using a basil plant (Ocimum basilicum) after 7 days where the control plant (C) was provided only with water, a further control plant (on the far right) was provided with a commercially available liquid fertiliser, and the test plant (ER) was provided with the fertiliser composition of the present invention. FIGURE 12 shows a photographic representation of a comparative growing example using an aster plant (Diplopappus Cass) after 65 days where the control plant (C) was provided only with water, a further control plant (on the far right) was provided with a commercially available liquid fertiliser, and the test plant (ER) was provided with the fertiliser composition of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention relates to a fertiliser formulation that includes a combination of macadamia meal and a seawater extract to promote plant growth and in particular, the invention is directed towards providing a granulated fertiliser formulation including these ingredients. In order to provide a rich plant suitable nutrient source to be used with the fertiliser of the present invention, seawater is distilled in order to separate and remove the sodium chloride content of the seawater. The distillation process results in the original seawater sample being split into two components, the first being a clear solution of sodium chloride and water, which comprises approximately 8 5% of the original sample, and the remaining approximately 15% of the original sample being a cloudy solution containing 6 magnesium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, organic biological material such as bacteria and a number of trace elements, including gold, cobalt, nickel, copper, ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, silver, osmium and iridium. Following this distillation process, the approximate 8 5% clear solution is discarded as a waste product, and an acid is added to the remaining 15% of the original sample. The addition of the acid modifies the pH of the remaining solution to a range of between 4.5 to 6.5. In order to utilise this nutrient rich solution in the controlled release fertiliser of the present invention, it is necessary to encapsulate the solution. This is because when macadamia meal is added to an aqueous solution, the solution quickly decays and becomes rancid and rapidly unusable as a liquid fertiliser. Accordingly, nutrient rich solution is encapsulated such that the nutrients of the fertiliser of the present invention are delivered using conventional controlled release methods. Such conventional controlled release methods include coating a fertiliser core with an insoluble, impermeable membrane or saturating an insoluble substrate with fertiliser solution such that the fertiliser is released gradually according to a predefined time period. This time period may be selected by varying the dimension or completeness of the coating or by varying the porosity of the substrate, thereby controlling the quantity of fertiliser stored and/or rate of release of the fertiliser formulation into the soil. In the most preferred embodiment of the present invention, the coating or substrate comprises, or is entirely formed from, diatomaceous earth, which is highly absorbent and porous and which biodegrades into the soil more rapidly than polymer based alternatives. The use of diatomaceous earth is particularly preferred as the silicon that is present in the diatomaceous earth is bio-utilisable by the plants, which increases the efficacy of the fertiliser of the present invention. However, in another embodiment of the present invention other coatings or substrates may be used, particularly organic materials, such as 'biochar', which would provide similar properties..
7 The macadamia meal is ground into fine particles and is preferably air or oven dried. The macadamia meal particulate is then mixed with the encapsulated nutrient rich solution including the trace elements isolated from seawater to form an intimate admixture dry mix controlled release fertiliser. Optionally, other additives may also be added to the dry admixture to provide other fertilising, herbicide, fungicide or pesticide properties. Suitable additives include elements useful for plan growth including, lime, calcium, phosphorous, nitrogen, sulphur, magnesium etc., and other useful chemical additives such as fungicides and pesticides. Comparative Growing Examples In a number of controlled trials, comparative growth and performance rates of the fertiliser of the present invention have been evaluated. As shown in the attached figures, the fertiliser of the present invention has been used on a number of different types of plants (both flowers and vegetables), both as a control example compared with water alone (Figures 1 to 10) and against convention liquid fertilisers (Figures 11 and 12). In these comparative growing examples, a single dose of the fertiliser of the present invention was applied to the subject test plant. This single dose was either 5g or 10g depending upon the nutrient needs of the subject plant. Both the control and test subject plants were grown from seedlings in a coco peat growing medium and 100mL were added to both plants at the time of planting. With the test subject plants, the fertiliser of the present invention was mixed into the growing medium prior to planting. With the double growth comparison test (shown in Figures 11 and 12), the fertiliser of the present invention and the convention liquid fertiliser were mixed into the growing medium prior to planting. In this specification, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the term "comprising" has the non-exclusive meaning of the word, in the sense of "including at least" rather than the exclusive meaning in the sense of "consisting only of". The same applies with corresponding grammatical changes to other forms of the word such as "comprise", "comprises" and so on.
8 It will be apparent that obvious variations or modifications may be made which are in accordance with the spirit of the invention and which are intended to be part of the invention. Although the invention is described above with reference to specific embodiments, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that it is not limited to those embodiments, but may be embodied in many other forms. INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The invention can be utilised in the manufacture of fertilisers, which are particularly useful in agricultural and horticultural industries.

Claims (5)

1. A soil treating compound comprising an intimate admixture of horticultural suitable nutrient rich solution extracted from seawater, encapsulated in a carrier material adapted to regulate the release of the nutrients from the solution into the soil; and an organic by-product of macadamia oil extraction from macadamia nuts comprising macadamia shell and nut particles.
2. A soil treating compound according to claim 1 wherein the carrier material at least partially consists of an organic material selected from one or more of diatomaceous earth or bioactive charcoal.
3. A soil treating compound according to claim 1 wherein the carrier material is an insoluble porous substrate.
4. A soil treating compound according to claim 1 wherein the carrier material is a semipermeable membrane coating surrounding a core of the horticultural suitable nutrient rich solution.
5. A soil treating compound according to claim 1 wherein the carrier material is saturated with an aqueous solution of the horticultural suitable nutrient rich solution.
AU2012101866A 2012-12-21 2012-12-21 Controlled Release Biodegradable Fertiliser Ceased AU2012101866A4 (en)

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AU2012101866A AU2012101866A4 (en) 2012-12-21 2012-12-21 Controlled Release Biodegradable Fertiliser

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AU2012101866A AU2012101866A4 (en) 2012-12-21 2012-12-21 Controlled Release Biodegradable Fertiliser

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Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2018169397A1 (en) * 2017-03-15 2018-09-20 Technische Universiteit Delft Diatoms as natural carriers for controlled release for metal protection and coatings

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2018169397A1 (en) * 2017-03-15 2018-09-20 Technische Universiteit Delft Diatoms as natural carriers for controlled release for metal protection and coatings
NL2018517B1 (en) * 2017-03-15 2018-09-24 Univ Delft Tech Diatoms as natural carriers for controlled release for metal protection and coating applications

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