Soil improver composition and plant growth enhancer

• US 6,254,654 B1
• Filed: 09/16/1999
• Issued: 07/03/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dirk Van Barneveld
• Original Assignee: Dirk Van Barneveld
• Inventors: Van Barneveld, Dirk
• Primary Examiner(s): LANGEL, WAYNE A
• Application Number:
  US09/397,644
• Time in Patent Office: 656 Days
• Field of Search: 71/11, 71/22, 71/23, 71/32, 71/37, 71/39, 71/640.6, 71/641, 71/17, 71/19, 71/8, 71/9, 71/10, 719/03, 71/20, 71/21, 405/264, 47/9, 47D/IG.10
• US Class Current: 71/8
• CPC Class Codes: C05F 17/20 using specific microorganisms or substances, e.g. enzymes, for activating or stimulating the treatment use of invertebrates C05F17/05
• CPC Class Codes: C05F 9/04 Biological compost
• CPC Class Codes: C05G 3/70 for affecting wettability, e.g. drying agents
• CPC Class Codes: C05G 5/30 Layered or coated, e.g. dust-preventing coatings
• CPC Class Codes: C05G 5/40 Fertilisers incorporated into a matrix
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 17/40 containing mixtures of inorganic and organic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 40/20 Fertilizers of biological origin, e.g. guano or fertilizers made from animal corpses
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/145 the feedstock being materials of biological origin
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 30/40 Bio-organic fraction processing; Production of fertilisers from the organic fraction of waste or refuse
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 47/10 Physical and chemical treatment of agricultural soils
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 71/903 Soil conditioner

Abstract

A soil improver composition produced by digesting a mixture comprising leguminous plant material, igneous rock powder of particle size less than 350 microns, a biodegradable surfactant and water with composting microbes to produce said soil improver composition.

Claims

1. A soil improver composition produced by digesting a mixture comprising leguminous plant material, igneous rock powder of particle size less than 350 microns, a biodegradable surfactant and water with composting microbes to produce said soil improver composition.

2. The soil improver composition of claim 1, wherein the igneous rock powder is of particle size less than 175 microns.

3. The soil improver composition of claim 1, wherein the surfactant is a non-ionic surfactant.

4. The soil improver composition of claim 1, wherein the mixture to be digested further comprises fine brown coal powder, calcium metasilicate, gypsum, dolomite, potassium hydroxide, sulphur, or a combination thereof.

5. The composition of claim 4, wherein said composition does not contain heavy metal salts or synthetic ureas.

6. A soil improver composition produced by the steps comprising:

(a) digesting a mixture comprising leguminous plant material, igneous rock powder of particle size less than 350 microns, a biodegradable surfactant and water with composting microbes to produce a compost, and

(b) treating the compost with an acidifying agent to release a liquid biomaterial produced by digestion from residual digestion products in the preparation of the soil improver composition.

7. The soil improver composition of claim 6, wherein the acidifying agent is aqueous citric acid or carbonic acid.

8. The soil improver composition of claim 6, wherein the composition further comprises clay-based soil, sand, minerals, plant growth agents, auxins, nutrients, manure or manure products, blood and bone, or a combination thereof.

9. The soil improver composition of claim 6, which composition comprises the liquid biomaterial recovered from the residual digestion products.

10. The soil improver composition of claim 9, wherein the liquid biomaterial is recovered by filtration, hydraulic pressing or centrifugation.

11. The soil improver composition of claim 9, wherein the composition further comprises clay-based soil, sand, minerals, nutrients, plant growth agents, auxins, manure or manure products, blood and bone, diluents, carriers, extenders, gelling agents, thickeners, or a combination thereof.

12. A soil improver composition produced by the steps comprising:

(a) digesting a mixture comprising leguminous plant material, igneous rock powder of particle size less than 350 microns, a biodegradable surfactant and water with composting microbes to produce a compost,

(b) treating the compost with an acidifying agent to release a liquid biomaterial produced by digestion from residual digestion products,

(c) recovering the liquid biomaterial from the residual digestion products,

(d) adsorbing the liquid biomaterial on to a colloidal solid to produce loaded colloidal particles as the soil improver composition.

13. The soil improver composition of claim 12, wherein the colloidal solid is igneous rock powder, zeolite or kaolin having a particle size less than 350 microns.

14. The soil improver composition of claim 12, wherein an aqueous solution of acid digested igneous rock is added to the recovered liquid biomaterial prior to adsorption on to the colloidal solid.

15. The soil improver composition of claim 14, wherein the igneous rock is digested with nitric acid or hydrochloric acid.

16. The soil improver composition of claim 12, wherein the loaded colloidal particles further comprise at least one member selected from the group consisting of aggregating agents, extrusion agents, fillers, colouring agents, clay-based soil, sand, minerals, nutrients, auxins, plant growth agents, manure or manure products, blood and bone, diluents carriers, extenders, gelling agents, and thickeners, and the loaded colloidal particles are then aggregated as granules or prill, or the particles are extruded as pellets.

17. A method for producing a soil improver composition comprising digesting a mixture comprising leguminous plant material, igneous rock powder of particle size less than 350 microns, a biodegradable surfactant and water with composting microbes to produce said soil improver composition.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the mixture to be digested further comprises fine brown coal powder, calcium metasilicate, gypsum, dolomite, potassium hydroxide, sulphur, or a combination thereof.

19. A method for producing a soil improver composition comprising the steps:

(a) digesting a mixture comprising leguminous plant material, igneous rock powder of particle size less than 350 microns, a biodegradable surfactant and water with composting microbes to produce a compost,

(b) treating the compost with an acidifying agent to release a liquid biomaterial produced by digestion from residual digestion products,

(c) recovering the liquid biomaterial from the residual digestion products,

(d) adding an aqueous solution of acid digested igneous rock to the liquid biomaterial, and

(e) adsorbing the liquid biomaterial on to a colloidal solid to produce loaded colloidal particles as the soil improver composition.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the mixture to be digested further comprises fine brown coal powder, calcium metasilicate, gypsum, dolomite, potassium hydroxide, sulphur, or a combination thereof.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the colloidal solid is igneous rock powder, zeolite or kaolin having a particle size less that 350 microns.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the igneous rock is digested with nitric acid or hydrochloric acid.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein the loaded colloidal particles further comprise at least one member selected from the group consisting of aggregating agents, extrusion agents, fillers, colouring agents, clay-based soil, sand, minerals, nutrients, auxins, plant growth agents, manure or manure products, blood and bone, diluents carriers, extenders, gelling agents, and thickeners, and the loaded colloidal particles are then aggregated as granules or prill, or the particles are extruded as pellets.

24. The method according to claim 19, wherein said composting microbes are selected from the group consisting of bacteria, fungi, yeast, and mixtures thereof.

25. The method according to claim 19, wherein said bacteria is a thermolytic bacteria or a gram-negative bacteria.

26. The method according to claim 25, wherein said thermolytic bacteria stabilize the heat or temperature of said digestion mixture from about 55°

C. or more.

27. The method of claim 19, wherein said soil improver composition is subsequently sterilized by killing said microbes.

28. The method of claim 19, wherein said leguminous plant material is selected from the group consisting of peas, beans, and clover.

29. The method of claim 19, wherein said leguminous plant material is stacked from one or more successive layers of said plant material, said igneous rock powder, said surfactant, and said composting microbes.