Classifications

• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C05—FERTILISERS; MANUFACTURE THEREOF
  • C05F—ORGANIC FERTILISERS NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C05B, C05C, e.g. FERTILISERS FROM WASTE OR REFUSE
  • C05F11/00—Other organic fertilisers
  • C05F11/02—Other organic fertilisers from peat, brown coal, and similar vegetable deposits

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a biodegradable organic growth composition which is based on particulate coal.
• the plant growth composition of the invention represents an improvement in the formulation described in U.S. Patent 4,541,857, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
• U.S. Patent 4,541 ,857 describes a plant fertilizer composition which comprises a mixture of particulate coal containing releasable plant nutrients, sodium molybdate which serves to release the plant nutrients in a form that plants can use, and one or more auxiliary agents selected from ferric sulfate, magnesium sulfate, sodium chloride, zinc sulfate, zinc chloride, copper sulfate, sulfur, hydrated sodium borate, brunt limestone and cobalt carbonate.
• auxiliary agents selected from ferric sulfate, magnesium sulfate, sodium chloride, zinc sulfate, zinc chloride, copper sulfate, sulfur, hydrated sodium borate, brunt limestone and cobalt carbonate.
• the coal particulate has a maximum mesh size of about 100 mesh and comprises from about 50-75 weight percent of the total weight of the composition, the molybdate is present in an amount ranging from 0.001 to 0.100 percent by weight of the composition and the auxiliary agent(s) comprise the balance of the composition.
• the present invention provides certain improvements in the compositions described in U.S. Patent 4, 541 , 857. These improvements maintain the useful features of the composition described in the earlier patent but also result in further advantages as detailed hereinafter, including, for example, enhanced growth and yield of plants and expanded applicability and use of the composition.
• a linear alcohol alkoxylate e.g. a poly(ethylene oxide) ether with a C ⁇ 2 -C ⁇ 5 linear primary alcohol.
• Other essential features of the present composition include the use of a substantial amount of sand and a small amount of water. Further features will also be evident from the more detailed description of the invention which follows.
• the plant growth composition of the invention consists essentially of the following components:
• the balance usually in an amount of about 20-60% by weight of the overall composition, being sand.
• composition thus consists primarily of coal and sand in its preferred embodiment although molybdate, linear alcohol alkoxylate, magnesium sulfate and water, within the limits indicated, are also essential for the success of the invention.
• the coal particulate is advantageously as described in the earlier U.S. Patent 4,541 ,857 referred to above.
• the coal particulate may be of any type, for instance, anthracite, bituminous, sub-bituminous or lignite, and can be of varying quality all of which generally contain from about 0.5 to 3.0 percent of known nitrogen.
• Other plant nutrients present in coal and made available for use by plants in accordance with the present invention include iron, phosphorus, potassium, sulfur or sulfates, calcium, chloride and at least traces of manganese, copper, boron, cobalt, alumina and selenium. High sulfur content coal has been found to be particularly advantageous.
• the coal is of 100 mesh particulate size or smaller, i.e. it is such that it passes through a 100 mesh Tyler Screen. Larger and smaller sizes can be effectively used ranging from, for example, -50 mesh to about -300 mesh. Particles larger than 100 mesh, however, tend to release plant nutrients more slowly. Hence, it is preferred to use a coal particulate of 100 mesh size or finer, i.e. particles which will pass through a 100 mesh Tyler Screen.
• coal While any type of coal can be used, preferably one of high sulfur content, the coal composition specifically exemplified in U.S. 4,541 ,857 may be cited as typical for use herein.
• Such coal on a dry basis, has the following ultimate analysis:
• composition can also be defined on a mineral analysis-ignited basis as follows:
• ferric oxide 33.09%
• the sodium molybdate appears to function in some way to digest the coal particulate and to release plant nutrients from the particulate in a way which enables plants to effectively and advantageously use these nutrients. While the amount of molybdate can be varied and may in some instances fall outside the ranges earlier stated, depending on the nature and size of the coal particulate, best results appear to be obtainable when the molybdate content is in the range of 0.5-1 % by weight of the total composition. More than this preferred amount can be used although it is believed that effective digestion of the coal is realized by using the molybdate in the amount indicated.
• the linear alcohol alkoxylate is preferably a primary linear C ⁇ 2 to C 15 alcohol, e.g. dodecyl alcohol or mixture thereof with other C ⁇ 2 -C ⁇ s alcohol, which has been ethoxylated, i.e. a polyethylene oxide ether of a primary linear alcohol, preferably a primary alcohol of 12-15 carbons.
• a preferred linear alcohol alkoxylate for use herein is available commercially as "Basic H" surfactant. This material, or its equivalent, may be used for present purposes.
• the composition should also contain a small amount of water, usually not more than about 2% by weight. It appears that this small amount of water facilitates the effect of the alkoxylate and also seems to help activate the plant growth elements of the coal component.
• sand Any convenient source of sand may be used.
• the amount of sand employed can be varied and will depend, at least to some extent, on the nature and composition of the coal component, and the amounts of other materials present. However, generally speaking, the amount of sand in the composition will fall within the range earlier stated herein, i.e. 20-60% by weight. Optimum results appear to be obtained with sand which includes small amounts, e.g. 0.001 to 0.01% by weight, of magnesium sulfate, copper sulfate and other similar trace metal sulfates.
• magnesium sulfate In addition to any magnesium sulfate which may be included in the sand, it is useful to add magnesium sulfate in an amount of from .001 to 4% by weight of the composition.
• the composition may be prepared in any convenient fashion.
• the coal and sand are uniformly mixed together after which the sodium molybdate, alkoxylate and magnesium sulfate, in water are sprayed over the coal/sand mixture while stirring to insure uniformity.
• the product is then allowed to dry after which it may be bagged for later use or applied directly to the soil at the place of use.
• the mixture of coal and sand may be placed at the site of use, e.g. around the base of a fruit tree, after which an aqueous mix of molybdate and alkoxylate is sprayed over the coal/sand mix.
• the magnesium sulfate may be included in the aqueous spray of alkoxylate and molybdate or it may be included in the coal/sand mix.
• composition of the invention is usable under most, if not all, soil conditions globally.
• An important advantage of the invention, as shown below, is that the composition appears to be able to convert soil which is unsatisfactory for agricultural purposes into soil which is highly useful. In extensive testing, the product has consistently exceeded yield by 50-100% per acre production as measured against conventionally available N-P-K fertilizers which are in common usage.
• the mixture was sprayed with a liquid composition comprising 50 gallons of water, 1 gallon Basic H type (polyethylene oxide ether of C- ⁇ 2 -Ci5 primary alcohols) and 4 ounces of sodium molybdate. No pesticides, herbicides, insecticides or fungicides were used. The resulting peaches appeared to be flawless with excellent rich color and superior taste. The yield over the growing period (about 4 months) was so large per tree that wooden support stakes had to be used to prop the trees up under the weight of the fruit crop.
• Basic H type polyethylene oxide ether of C- ⁇ 2 -Ci5 primary alcohols
• Example 1 was repeated except that, in this case, the composition was used with 30 year old apple trees which were past their prime and growing in clay soil in Pennsylvania. Although in this case the apple trees had previously borne fruit, the yield had been sparse. About 100 pounds of the composition spread around the base of the tree followed by spraying with the liquid mixture referred to in Example 1. The composition was applied around the trees in April. The trees blossomed in May and bore fruit by late summer. The yield of apples obtained was greatly increased over past years. The quality of the apples was also outstanding.
• Example 1 The growth composition of Example 1 was compared with a commercially available N-P-K fertilizer in a 24 acre corn field test.
• the field had been unusable for 40 to 50 years. It was located on a mountain and had 1 inch of soil before shale rock was encountered, representing the worst type of field test conditions. It was estimated that 4000 lbs. of limestone, 120 pounds of nitrogen and 180 pounds of phosphorus would have to be used on each acre to effectively grow corn on the site. However, it was decided to use only about 200 pounds per acre of the present composition with no lime.
• Example 4 The results of Example 4 indicate that the growth composition of the invention can be used for the production of corn on underused or farm lands which would otherwise be considered too poor to be useful. Such production could be highly valuable in, for example, ethanol production.
• the amount of the present composition which is applied to the soil can be widely varied. It has been found that the application of 200 pounds of the composition, e.g. the composition of Example 1 , per acre is usually effective to give the desired results. More or less than this amount can be used, the optimum amount for any particular situation being readily determined by varying the application and observing the results. The use of from about 100 to 300 pounds, or more, per acre is generally sufficient to obtain the desired results with something around 200 pounds per acre being preferred.
• the invention has been shown in the foregoing examples to improve the yield of fruit (apples and peaches), corn and cabbage, the invention is not limited to such fruits or vegetables. Similar improved results have been obtained with, for example, tomatoes, hay, alfalfa or the like.
• the composition has been used to grow effective grass cover over ground made bare by coal mine stripping. In that particular situation, it had previously been impossible to provide ground cover as required by state and Federal authorities.
• the composition of the invention was sprayed as an aqueous spray (hydroseeded) with grass seed over the ground and, in about two weeks time, complete ground cover was obtained.
• the Mo content was not determined in the analysis.
• composition could be viewed as a 5-5-7
• N-P-K composition where N is presented as %N, P is presented as %P 2 O 5 and K is presented as %K 2 O, as is typical for fertilizer assays.
• the precise formulation is 5- 4.8-6.8. Therefore, 10 dry tons of this material will supply 100 lbs. of Total N, and 2.4 dry tons of the material will supply 100 lbs. of P. None of the trace elements are present at concentrations that would pose a concern for land application of this material as a fertilizer. Although Cr, Pb and Zn concentrations are greater than 10 ppm, these values are not any higher than one would measure in unpolluted (pristine) soils because these elements are present in rock materials as well.
• composition of the invention offers a number of important advantages.
• the composition in addition to improving crop yields and functioning in less than optimum soil conditions, has the direct effect of enriching soil, not depleting it.
• the use of N-P-K fertilizer has the opposite effect. Soils throughout the world have been severely depleted of nutrients, and polluted by the use of insecticides, herbicides, pesticides and fungicides over centuries of usage but especially during the past 50 years.
• N-P-K nitrogen, phosphate and potash
• artificial fertilizer have been required to yield crops from the depleted soil, all at ever-increasing cost and all this occurring while the quality of crops such as corn, tomato, watermelon or other vegetable or fruit, is diminished.
• Tests with the invention indicate that less of the growth compound is required per acre to match and exceed crop yields from artificial commercial fertilizer blends (N-P-K).
• the present composition appears to minimize the need for pesticides, insecticides, herbicides and fungicides. This has been true with all crops tested from corn to cabbage, tomatoes, melons, peaches, apples, beans and other vegetables.
• the composition of the invention offers a number of other advantages.
• the invention can be used to reclaim previously unusable soils, e.g. coal strip-mining and deep-mining soil.
• the composition of the invention as in Examples 1-4 was applied on the surface of "hot" or acidic soil resulting from a coal mining operation in Pennsylvania. Previous attempts to create ground cover as required by authorities had failed. However, effective ground cover was obtained over the area in about 10 days after application of the present composition.
• advantages of the present composition include the following: it avoids the use of costly N-P-K fertilizers or the equivalent and the disadvantages of such fertilizers. It eliminates or reduces substantially the need for pesticides, herbicides and fungicides, the composition apparently tending to fend off such pests naturally. It appears to enable and promote more uniform water penetration in the soil making the nutrients released from the coal more available to the plant over a shorter period of time than possible with conventional fertilizers.
• the present composition has no negative effect on soil pH, results in greener plant leaves, promotes sprouting of seeds, increases plant yield, promotes the appearance of earthworms which aid the nutrient enrichment of the soil, promotes larger, taller and thicker plants, crops and plant stalks; promotes more efficient water usage because it retains water in the soil thereby reducing soil erosion, water evaporation and water runoff, while separately promoting drainage in soil areas of excessive water accumulation and promotes water retention during dry weather, but, conversely, helps water leach through the soil in hot or dry weather.

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• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Organic Chemistry (AREA)
• Agricultural Chemicals And Associated Chemicals (AREA)
• Fertilizers (AREA)
• Cultivation Of Plants (AREA)

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• 2001
  • 2001-11-28 NZ NZ530591A patent/NZ530591A/en unknown
  • 2001-11-28 BR BRPI0117107-0A patent/BR0117107B1/pt not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2001-11-28 KR KR1020047008009A patent/KR100882956B1/ko not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2001-11-28 EA EA200400741A patent/EA008089B1/ru not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2001-11-28 AU AU2002246528A patent/AU2002246528B2/en not_active Ceased
  • 2001-11-28 UA UA20040605055A patent/UA77040C2/uk unknown
  • 2001-11-28 EP EP01994098A patent/EP1448495A4/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2001-11-28 WO PCT/US2001/044290 patent/WO2003045876A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2001-11-28 CA CA002453793A patent/CA2453793C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2001-11-28 JP JP2003547334A patent/JP4324475B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related
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• 2004
  • 2004-01-14 HR HR20040034A patent/HRP20040034A2/xx not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2004-04-15 IL IL161453A patent/IL161453A/en not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2004-05-27 NO NO20042212A patent/NO20042212L/no not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2004-05-29 EG EGNA2004000036 patent/EG24687A/xx active

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