Method of predicting fertilizer performance

• US 20050246066A1
• Filed: 04/29/2004
• Published: 11/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Agrium Advanced Technologies (U.S.) Inc. (Nutrien Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Pursell Technologies, Inc. (Nutrien Ltd.)
• Inventors: Carney, Frederick T. Jr., Detrick, John H., Higgins, Jeffery M., Hargrove, Garrard L.
• Application Number:
  US10/834,184
• Publication Number:
  US 20050246066A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/266
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 21/007 Determining fertilization requirements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/04 Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem" market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities G06Q30/0202

Abstract

A method of predicting fertilizer performance for optimum efficiency of a fertilizer is described. The method of conducting a computerized fertilizer performance analysis is based upon a request including a plurality of parameter requirements entered on a client computer. A routine is then performed to analyze the plurality of parameter requirements. The routine may be performed by a software program, such as on a provider computer via the Internet, on a CD-ROM inserted into the client computer or downloaded onto the client computer. Upon completion, the fertilizer performance analysis results are received by the client computer and preferably include re-application time, nutrient release indicator, amount of nutrients released, fertilizer nutrient release rate, suggested fertilizer application rate, percent quick release, average nutrient release per time interval, cumulative nutrient release, nutrient longevity, fertilizer spread rate, total amount of fertilizer required or any combination thereof.

Claims

1. A method of performing a computerized fertilizer performance analysis comprising:

(a) inputting a plurality of parameter requirements in a request on a client computer;

(b) analyzing said plurality of parameter requirements in said request, wherein a routine is used to analyze said plurality of parameter requirements;

(c) calculating at least one fertilizer performance analysis result based upon said analyzing of said plurality of parameter requirements from said request; and

(d) receiving said at least one fertilizer performance analysis result by said client computer, wherein said at least one fertilizer performance analysis result comprises a time of re-application of a fertilizer and optionally at least one of an amount of nutrients released at a plurality of pre-selected time intervals from a fertilizer;

a release rate of fertilizer nutrients over time to a soil, or a suggested application rate of a fertilizer to a soil.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said routine comprises:

reviewing said plurality of parameter requirements inputted in said request;

comparing said plurality of parameter requirements inputted in said request to actual nutrient release data stored in a storage medium; and

calculating and accumulating nutrient release for a series of time intervals based upon said plurality of parameter requirements inputted in said request.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said at least one fertilizer performance analysis result provides said release rate in pounds nutrient per 1000 square feet or kilograms nutrient per 100 square meters.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said at least one fertilizer performance analysis result provides said suggested application rate of said fertilizer in pounds per 1000 square feet or kilograms per 100 square meters.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said fertilizer nutrients include at least one of nitrogen, phosphate, potash or any combination thereof.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said time of re-application is determined by said plurality of parameter requirements inputted in said request and an amount of nutrients depleted from said fertilizer.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of parameter requirements include at least one of facility type, calculation units, turfgrass type, country, state, city, name of facility/golf course, name of groundskeeper/superintendent, address and telephone number of facility/golf course, acres or area to treat, fertilizer grade analysis percent, fertilizer particle size, fertilizer nutrient grade, percent fertilizer nutrient grade, product list, application date, application rate, temperature correction or any combination thereof.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein said facility type includes at least one of golf course or sports turf.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein said calculation units include at least one of English or metric units.

10. The method according to claim 7, wherein said turfgrass type includes at least one of warm or cool season type.

11. The method according to claim 7, wherein said country includes at least one of Canada, Ireland, Mexico, United Kingdom or United States.

12. The method according to claim 7, wherein said fertilizer grade analysis percent includes at least one of a percent of nitrogen, percent of phosphate (P₂O₅), percent of potash (K₂O) or any combination thereof.

13. The method according to claim 7, wherein said fertilizer particle size includes at least one of regular, mini or micro particle size.

14. The method according to claim 7, wherein said fertilizer nutrient grade includes at least one of 44, 43, 42, 41, 40, 38.5, 37, 13 or 12 percent nitrogen available in a fertilizer.

15. The method according to claim 7, wherein said fertilizer nutrient grade includes at least one of 59, 56, 50, 45, 43, or 42 percent potash available in a fertilizer.

16. The method according to claim 1, wherein said at least one fertilizer performance analysis result further comprises a percent quick release, average nutrient release per time interval, cumulative release of nutrients, nutrient longevity, fertilizer spread rate, total amount of fertilizer required or any combination thereof.

17. The method according to claim 1, wherein said at least one fertilizer performance analysis result further comprises an indicator of when nutrient release falls below a level required to maintain optimum growing conditions in a fertilizer treated environment.

18. The method according to claim 16, said method further comprising:

repeating (a) through (d) to receive a new at least one fertilizer performance analysis result based upon a new plurality of parameter requirements inputted in a request on said client computer.

19. The method according to claim 1, said method further comprising:

repeating (a) through (d) to receive a new at least one fertilizer performance analysis result based upon a new plurality of parameter requirements inputted in a request on said client computer.

20. A method of performing a computerized on-line fertilizer performance analysis comprising:

(a) inputting a plurality of parameter requirements in a request on a client computer;

(b) sending said request from said client computer to a provider computer;

(c) receiving said request by said provider computer for a fertilizer performance analysis;

(d) analyzing said plurality of parameter requirements in said request, wherein said provider computer uses a routine to analyze said plurality of parameter requirements;

(e) calculating at least one fertilizer performance analysis result based upon said analyzing of said plurality of parameter requirements from said request; and

(f) receiving said at least one fertilizer performance analysis result by said client computer, wherein said at least one fertilizer performance analysis result comprises a time of re-application of a fertilizer and optionally at least one of an amount of nutrients released at a plurality of pre-selected time intervals from a fertilizer;

a release rate of fertilizer nutrients over time to a soil, or a suggested application rate of a fertilizer to a soil.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said routine comprises:

reviewing said plurality of parameter requirements inputted in said request;

comparing said plurality of parameter requirements inputted in said request to actual nutrient release data stored in a storage medium; and

calculating and accumulating nutrient release for a series of time intervals based upon said plurality of parameter requirements inputted in said request.

22. The method according to claim 20, wherein said at least one fertilizer performance analysis result provides said release rate in pounds nutrient per 1000 square-feet or kilograms nutrient per 100 square meters.

23. The method according to claim 20, wherein said at least one fertilizer performance analysis result provides said suggested application rate of said fertilizer in pounds per 1000 square feet or kilograms per 100 square meters.

24. The method according to claim 20, wherein said fertilizer nutrients include at least one of nitrogen, phosphate, potash or any combination thereof.

25. The method according to claim 20, wherein said time of re-application is determined by said plurality of parameter requirements inputted in said request and an amount of nutrients depleted from said fertilizer.

26. The method according to claim 20, wherein said plurality of parameter requirements include at least one of facility type, calculation units, turfgrass type, country, state, city, name of facility/golf course, name of groundskeeper/superintendent, address and telephone number of facility/golf course, acres or area to treat, fertilizer grade analysis percent, fertilizer particle size, fertilizer nutrient grade, percent fertilizer nutrient grade, product list, application date, nutrient application rate, temperature correction or any combination thereof.

27. The method according to claim 26, wherein said facility type includes at least one of golf course or sports turf.

28. The method according to claim 26, wherein said calculation units include at least one of English or metric units.

29. The method according to claim 26, wherein said turfgrass type includes at least one of warm or cool.

30. The method according to claim 26, wherein said country includes at least one of Canada, Ireland, Mexico, United Kingdom or United States.

31. The method according to claim 26, wherein said fertilizer grade analysis percent includes at least one of a percent of nitrogen, percent of phosphate (P₂O₅), percent of potash (K₂O) or any combination thereof.

32. The method according to claim 26, wherein said fertilizer particle size includes at least one of regular, mini or micro particle size.

33. The method according to claim 26, wherein said fertilizer nutrient grade includes at least one of 44, 43, 42, 41, 40, 38.5, 37, 13 or 12 percent nitrogen available in a fertilizer.

34. The method according to claim 26, wherein said fertilizer nutrient grade includes at least one of 59, 56, 50, 45, 43, or 42 percent potash available in a fertilizer.

35. The method according to claim 20, wherein said at least one fertilizer performance analysis result further comprises a percent quick release, average nutrient release per time interval, cumulative release of nutrients, nutrient longevity, fertilizer spread rate, total amount of fertilizer required or any combination thereof.

36. The method according to claim 20, wherein said at least one fertilizer performance analysis result further comprises an indicator of when nutrient release falls below a level required to maintain optimum growing conditions in a fertilizer treated environment.

37. The method according to claim 35, said method further comprising:

repeating (a) through (f) to receive a new at least one fertilizer performance analysis result based upon a new plurality of parameter requirements inputted in a request on said client computer.

38. The method according to claim 20, said method further comprising:

repeating (a) through (f) to receive a new at least one fertilizer performance analysis result based upon a new plurality of parameter requirements inputted in a request on said client computer.

39. A method of performing a computerized performance analysis for a pesticidal controlled release product comprising:

(a) inputting a plurality of parameter requirements in a request on a client computer;

(b) analyzing said plurality of parameter requirements in said request, wherein a routine is used to analyze said plurality of parameter requirements;

(c) calculating at least one controlled release product performance analysis result based upon said analyzing of said plurality of parameter requirements from said request; and

(d) receiving said at least one controlled release product performance analysis result by said client computer, wherein said at least one controlled release product performance analysis result comprises a time of re-application of a controlled release product and optionally at least one of an amount of at least one pesticidal active released at a plurality of pre-selected time intervals from a controlled release product;

a release rate of at least one pesticidal active from said controlled release product over time to a soil;

a suggested application rate of a controlled release product to a soil, or a controlled release product analysis of at least one pesticidal active.

41. The method of claim 39 or 40, wherein said routine comprises:

reviewing said plurality of parameter requirements inputted in said request;

comparing said plurality of parameter requirements inputted in said request to actual pesticidal active or actives release data stored in a storage medium; and

calculating and accumulating pesticidal active or actives release for a series of time intervals based upon said plurality of parameter requirements inputted in said request.

42. The method according to claim 39 or 40, wherein said at least one controlled release product performance analysis result provides said release rate in pounds active or actives per 1000 square feet or kilograms active or actives per 100 square meters.

43. The method according to claim 39 or 40, wherein said at least one controlled release product performance analysis result provides said suggested application rate of said controlled release product in pounds per 1000 square feet or kilograms per 100 square meters.

44. The method according to claim 39 or 40, wherein said plurality of parameter requirements include at least one of facility type, calculation units, country, state, city, name of facility, name of groundskeeper, address and telephone number of facility, acres or area to treat, controlled release product analysis percent, particle size, percent active or actives, product list, application date, application rate, temperature correction or any combination thereof.

45. The method according to claim 44, wherein said calculation units include at least one of English or metric units.

46. The method according to claim 39 or 40, wherein said at least one controlled release product performance analysis result further comprises an indicator of when active or actives release falls below a level required to maintain optimum pest control in a controlled release product treated environment.

47. The method according to claim 39, said method further comprising:

repeating (a) through (d) to receive a new at least one controlled release product performance analysis result based upon a new plurality of parameter requirements inputted in a request on said client computer.

40. A method of performing a computerized on-line pesticidal controlled release product performance analysis comprising:

(a) inputting a plurality of parameter requirements in a request on a client computer;

(b) sending said request from said client computer to a provider computer;

(c) receiving said request by said provider computer for a controlled release product performance analysis;

(d) analyzing said plurality of parameter requirements in said request, wherein said provider computer uses a routine to analyze said plurality of parameter requirements;

(e) calculating at least one controlled release product performance analysis result based upon said analyzing of said plurality of parameter requirements from said request; and

(f) receiving said at least one controlled release product performance analysis result by said client computer, wherein said at least one controlled release product performance analysis result comprises a time of re-application of a controlled release product and optionally at least one of an amount of at least one pesticidal active released at a plurality of pre-selected time intervals from a controlled release product;

a release rate of at least one pesticidal active from said control led release product over time to a soil;

a suggested application rate of a controlled release product to a soil, or a controlled release product analysis of at least one pesticidal active.

48. The method according to claim 40, said method further comprising:

repeating (a) through (f) to receive a new at least one controlled release product performance analysis result based upon a new plurality of parameter requirements inputted in a request on said client computer.

49. A method of performing a computerized performance analysis for a controlled release product including at least one active comprising:

(a) inputting a plurality of parameter requirements in a request on a client computer;

(b) analyzing said plurality of parameter requirements in said request, wherein a routine is used to analyze said plurality of parameter requirements;

(c) calculating at least one controlled release product performance analysis result based upon said analyzing of said plurality of parameter requirements from said request; and

(d) receiving said at least one controlled release product performance analysis result by said client computer, wherein said at least one controlled release product performance analysis result comprises a time of re-application of a controlled release product and optionally at least one of an amount of at least one active released at a plurality of pre-selected time intervals from a controlled release product;

a release rate of at least one active from said controlled release product over time;

a suggested application rate of a controlled release product, or a controlled release product analysis of at least one active from a controlled release product.

51. The method of claim 49 or 50, wherein said routine comprises:

reviewing said plurality of parameter requirements inputted in said request;

comparing said plurality of parameter requirements inputted in said request to actual active or actives release data stored in a storage medium; and

calculating and accumulating active or actives release for a series of time intervals based upon said plurality of parameter requirements inputted in said request.

52. The method according to claim 49 or 50, wherein said at least one controlled release product performance analysis result provides said release rate in pounds active or actives per 1000 square feet or kilograms active or actives per 100 square meters.

53. The method according to claim 49 or 50, wherein said at least one controlled release product performance analysis result provides said suggested application rate of said controlled release product in pounds per 1000 square feet or kilograms per 100 square meters.

54. The method according to claim 49 or 50, wherein said plurality of parameter requirements include at least one of facility type, calculation units, country, state, city, name of facility, acres or area to treat, controlled release product analysis percent, particle size, percent active or actives, product list, application date, application rate, temperature correction or any combination thereof.

55. The method according to claim 54, wherein said calculation units include at least one of English or metric units.

56. The method according to claim 49 or 50, wherein said at least one controlled release product performance analysis result further comprises an indicator of when active or actives release falls below a level required to maintain optimum conditions in a controlled release product treated environment.

57. The method according to claim 49, said method further comprising:

repeating (a) through (d) to receive a new at least one controlled release product performance analysis result based upon a new plurality of parameter requirements inputted in a request on said client computer.

50. A method of performing a computerized on-line controlled release product performance analysis for a controlled release product including at least one active comprising:

(a) inputting a plurality of parameter requirements in a request on a client computer;

(b) sending said request from said client computer to a provider computer;

(c) receiving said request by said provider computer for a controlled release product performance analysis;

(d) analyzing said plurality of parameter requirements in said request, wherein said provider computer uses a routine to analyze said plurality of parameter requirements;

(e) calculating at least one controlled release product performance analysis result based upon said analyzing of said plurality of parameter requirements from said request; and

(f) receiving said at least one controlled release product performance analysis result by said client computer, wherein said at least one controlled release product performance analysis result comprises a time of re-application of a controlled release product and optionally at least one of an amount of at least one active released at a plurality of pre-selected time intervals from a controlled release product;

a release rate of at least one active from said controlled release product over time;

a suggested application rate of a controlled release product, or a controlled release product analysis of at least one active from a controlled release product.

58. The method according to claim 50, said method further comprising:

repeating (a) through (f) to receive a new at least one controlled release product performance analysis result based upon a new plurality of parameter requirements inputted in a request on said client computer.