Delivery system for pesticides and crop-yield enhancement products using micro-encapsulated active ingredients in extruded granules

• US 20030224031A1
• Filed: 05/29/2002
• Published: 12/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wilbur Ellis Company
• Original Assignee: Wilbur Ellis Company
• Inventors: Schulteis, David T., Heier, John L.
• Granted Patent: US 6,797,277 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 424/408
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 2300/00 Combinations or mixtures of active ingredients covered by classes A01N27/00 - A01N65/48 with other active or formulation relevant ingredients, e.g. specific carrier materials or surfactants, covered by classes A01N25/00 - A01N65/48
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 25/08 containing solids as carriers or diluents
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 25/14 wettable
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 25/28 Microcapsules or nanocapsules
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 43/80 five-membered rings with one nitrogen atom and either one oxygen atom or one sulfur atom in positions 1,2
• CPC Class Codes: C05D 9/00 Other inorganic fertilisers
• CPC Class Codes: C05G 5/12 Granules or flakes
• CPC Class Codes: C05G 5/30 Layered or coated, e.g. dust-preventing coatings
• CPC Class Codes: C05G 5/35 Capsules, e.g. core-shell
• CPC Class Codes: C05G 5/37 layered or coated with a polymer

Abstract

Water-dispersible, extruded granules for delivering agricultural chemicals, such as pesticides or non-pesticidal materials, to a crop. The granules are extrusion-formed from a blended composition including at least one active chemical ingredient, a solid carrier, and a binder. The active chemical ingredient may or may not be micro-encapsulated. The binder may be added directly to the composition or applied as a coating to the granules after the extrusion process. The binder reduces attrition, chemical volatility, and phytotoxicity. The granules are applied to a crop field by aerial means. The dense granules display good vertical drop characteristics, with little drift. If the crop field has standing water, the water-dispersible granules sink and break up, effecting dispersion of the chemical ingredient. When applied to a dry field, the subsequent exposure to water to the granules effects the same dispersal of chemical ingredient.

Claims

1. An article of manufacture for delivering agricultural chemicals to a crop, comprising a granule extrusion-formed from a composition including at least one active ingredient, a solid carrier, and a binder.

2. An article of manufacture as in claim 1, further including a dispersant.

3. An article of manufacture as in claim 1, in which said active ingredient comprises a pesticide product or a crop yield enhancement material.

4. An article of manufacture as in claim 1 in which said active ingredient is a micro-encapsulated herbicide.

5. An article of manufacture as in claim 1 in which said active ingredient is an insecticide.

6. An article of manufacture as in claim 1 in which said active ingredient is a fungicide.

7. An article of manufacture as in claim 1 in which said active ingredient is a plant growth regulator.

8. An article of manufacture as in claim 1 in which said active ingredient is a fertilizer.

9. An article of manufacture as in claim 1 in which said solid carrier has the characteristic that it can be extruded and not affect the chemical nature of said active ingredient.

10. An article of manufacture as in claim 1 in which said solid carrier consists of aluminum silicate clay, kaolin, montmorillinite, attapulgite, bentonite, corn cob, sand, biodac, starch matrix, fluid earth, carbon, and activated carbon.

11. An article for delivering an agricultural chemical to a crop, comprising:

a uniformly blended composition of about 80% by weight of clay, about 16% by weight of an active ingredient, about 1% by weight of adhesive binder, about 1% by weight of dispersant, and about 2% by weight of water, said composition being extrusion-formed into a granule.

12. An article as in claim 11 in which said active ingredient is a pesticide

13. An article as in claim 12 in which said pesticide is CLOMAZONE.

14. An article as in claim 11 in which said active ingredient is a non-pesticidal material.

15. An article as in claim 14 in which said non-pesticidal material is a plant growth regulator.

16. An article as in claim 14 in which said non-pesticidal material is a fertilizer.

19. A method as in claim 16 in which the crop field is flooded with water, so that when the granules are dispersed and enter the water, the active ingredient will be released and dispersed in the water.

20. A method as in claim 19 in which the crop is rice.

17. A method for delivering agricultural chemicals to a crop field, comprising the steps of:

a. blending together a composition including at least one active ingredient, a solid carrier, and a binder;

b. extrusion-forming a plurality of granules from said composition, said granules being of substantially the same weight; and

,

c. dispersing said plurality of granules from an elevated position over the crop field, providing a substantially uniform density of granules over the exposed field.

18. A method as in claim 17, further including a dispersant in said composition.

21. A method as in claim 17 in which said active ingredient is a pesticide.

22. A method as in claim 21 in which said pesticide is micro-encapsulated.

23. A method as in claim 17 in which said active ingredient is a non-pesticidal material.

24. A method as in claim 23 in which said non-pesticidal material is a plant growth regulator.

25. A method as in claim 23 in which said non-pesticidal material is a fertilizer.

26. A method as in claim 17 including a pesticide and a non-pesticidal material as active ingredients.

27. A method as in claim 26 in which said pesticide is CLOMAZONE and in which said non-pesticidal material is either a plant growth regulator, an insect growth regulator, a micronutrient, or a fertilizer.

28. A method as in claim 17 in which the blended composition is forced through an extrusion die having perforations approximately 2 mm in diameter, and in which the extruded granules are cut to a length of approximately 2 mm.

29. A method as in claim 17, further including a step after extruding the granules of coating the granules with a dispersant solution.

30. A method as in claim 17 in which said granules are dispersed over the crop field at an application rate of approximately 12 pounds per acre.

31. A process for making an extruded granule for delivering an agricultural chemical to a crop, comprising the steps of:

a. blending at least one active ingredient selected from the group including an herbicide, an insecticide, a fungicide, a plant growth regulator, an insect growth regulator, a micronutrient, or a fertilizer, with a solid carrier, forming a blended composition;

b. extruding said blended composition through a die, forming extruded granules;

c. coating said extruded granules with a solution containing a binder; and

,

d. dehydrating the coated granules to a relative moisture content of 1%-10%.

32. A process for making an extruded granule for delivering an agricultural chemical to a crop, comprising the steps of:

a. blending at least one active ingredient selected from the group including an herbicide, an insecticide, a fungicide, a plant growth regulator, an insect growth regulator, a micronutrient, or a fertilizer, with a solid carrier, forming a blended composition;

b. extruding said blended composition through a die, forming extruded granules;

c. coating said extruded granules with a solution containing a binder and a dispersant; and

,

d. dehydrating the coated granules to a relative moisture content of 1%-10%.

33. A process for making an extruded granule for delivering an agricultural chemical to a crop, comprising the steps of:

a. blending at least one active ingredient selected from the group including an herbicide, an insecticide, a fungicide, a plant growth regulator, an insect growth regulator, a micronutrient, or a fertilizer, with a solid carrier and a binder, forming a blended composition;

b. extruding said blended composition through a die, forming extruded granules; and

,

c. dehydrating said extruded granules to a relative moisture content of 1%-10%.

34. A process for making an extruded granule for delivering an agricultural chemical to a crop, comprising the steps of:

a. blending at least one active ingredient selected from the group including an herbicide, an insecticide, a fungicide, a plant growth regulator, an insect growth regulator, a micronutrient, or a fertilizer, with a solid carrier, a binder, and a dispersant, forming a blended composition;

b. extruding said blended composition through a die, forming extruded granules; and

,

c. dehydrating said extruded granules to a relative moisture content of 1%-10%.