Agricultural biomass as a matrix for release of plant active compounds

• US 9,873,639 B1
• Filed: 07/17/2015
• Issued: 01/23/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arborjet, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Russell Davis Jr
• Inventors: Doccola, Joe, Davis, Jr., Russell, Acimovic, Srdan G, Grosman, Don
• Primary Examiner(s): Pryor, Alton
• Application Number:
  US14/802,488
• Time in Patent Office: 921 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 25/08 containing solids as carriers or diluents
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 51/00 Biocides, pest repellants or attractants, or plant growth regulators containing organic compounds having the sequences of atoms O—N—S, X—O—S, N—N—S, O—N—N or O-halogen, regardless of the number of bonds each atom has and with no atom of these sequences forming part of a heterocyclic ring
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 61/00 Biocides, pest repellants or attractants, or plant growth regulators containing substances of unknown or undetermined composition, e.g. substances characterised only by the mode of action
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 65/00 Biocides, pest repellants or attractants, or plant growth regulators containing material from algae, lichens, bryophyta, multi-cellular fungi or plants, or extracts thereof containing compounds of determined constitution A01N27/00 - A01N59/00
• CPC Class Codes: C05C 11/00 Other nitrogenous fertilisers
• CPC Class Codes: C05D 9/02 containing trace elements
• CPC Class Codes: C05F 1/005 from meat-wastes or from other wastes of animal origin, e.g. skins, hair, hoofs, feathers, blood
• CPC Class Codes: C05F 11/02 from peat, brown coal, and similar vegetable deposits
• CPC Class Codes: C05G 3/44 for affecting solubility
• CPC Class Codes: C05G 3/60 Biocides or preservatives, e.g. disinfectants, pesticides or herbicides; Pest repellants or attractants
• CPC Class Codes: C05G 3/80 Soil conditioners
• CPC Class Codes: C05G 5/40 Fertilisers incorporated into a matrix
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 40/22 Improving land use; Improving water use or availability; Controlling erosion
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 60/21 Dinitrogen oxide [N2O], e.g. using aquaponics, hydroponics or efficiency measures

Abstract

The invention is directed to compositions comprising at least one agricultural biomass, at least one nitrogen source, at least one organic acid and at least one active agent wherein the agricultural biomass is impregnated with about 5% wt to about 45% wt of the active agent. Methods of their preparation and methods of use are also described. The composition effectively reduces the leaching of, and facilitates the metering of, loaded active agents for plant protection.

Claims

1. A composition comprising biochar, at least one nitrogen source, at least one organic acid and at least one active agent wherein the biochar is impregnated with about 5% wt to about 45% wt of the active agent, and further wherein the biochar has a bulk density of less than about 40 pounds per cubic foot and has a size of about 90-100% passing through a ¼

″

mesh screen and about 50% or more passing through a 4 mesh screen;

or a size of about 90-100% passing through a No. 4 mesh screen and about 70% or more passing through a No. 10 mesh screen;

or a size of about 90-100% passing through a No. 10 mesh screen and about 50% or more passing through a No. 45 mesh screen.

2. The composition of claim 1, wherein the biochar comprises about 5% wt to about 75% wt of an herbaceous non-woody and/or a monocot biochar or a hardwood biochar or a softwood biochar or a combination of two or more thereof.

3. The composition of claim 2, wherein the biochar comprises about 25% wt to about 50% wt of the herbaceous, non-woody, monocot biochar and about 50% wt to about 75% wt of the hardwood biochar.

4. The composition of claim 1, wherein the biochar has a size of about 90-100% passing through a No. 4 mesh screen and about 70% or more passing through a No. 10 mesh screen.

5. The composition of claim 1, wherein the active agent is selected from the group consisting of an insecticide, an insect growth regulator, a fungicide, a plant growth regulator, a pesticide, and a bio-pesticide.

6. The composition of claim 5, wherein the insecticide is selected from the group consisting of imidacloprid, dinotefuran, acephate and abamectin;

the insect growth regulator is azadirachtin;

the fungicide is selected from the group consisting of thiabendazole, triadimefon and a strobulurin;

the plant growth regulator is selected from the group consisting of paclobutrazol, ethephon and indole-3-butyric acid; and

the bio-pesticide is a mixture of spinosad A and spinosad D.

7. The composition of claim 5, wherein the pesticide is selected from the group consisting of an algicide, a bacteriocide, a defoliant, a herbicide, a miticide, a nematicide and an ovicide.

8. The composition of claim 1, wherein the nitrogen source is selected from the group consisting of blood meal, bone meal, kelp meal, sodium nitrate, sulfur-coated urea, inorganic salts, urea-formaldehyde reaction products, and isobutylidene diurea.

9. The composition of claim 1, wherein the organic acid is selected from the group consisting of calcium chelate derived from calcium chloride, 5% chelated iron derived from iron sulfate, 5% manganese chelate derived from manganese sulfate, 5% zinc chelate derived from zinc sulfate, copper (II) sulfate pentahydrate, boric acid, phosphoric acid and sodium molybdate.

10. The composition of claim 1, comprising about 46% wt biochar, about 10% wt chelated calcium chloride, about 34% wt blood meal and about 10% wt technical imidacloprid.

11. The composition of claim 1, wherein the active agent is released from the biochar at a rate of 33 mg/L.

12. The composition of claim 1, where the active agent is released from the biochar in a controlled manner.

13. The composition of claim 1, wherein the active agent is released from the biochar immediately.

14. The composition of claim 1, wherein a portion of the active agent is released from the biochar immediately and the remainder of the active agent is released from the biochar in a controlled release manner.

15. The composition of claim 1, comprising biochar, chelated calcium chloride, blood meal, and imidacloprid.

16. The composition of claim 8, wherein the inorganic salts are selected from the group consisting of magnesium ammonium nitrate, potassium nitrate, ammonium nitrate and calcium nitrate.

17. A method for minimizing leaching of an active agent into water sources comprising applying to soil a composition comprising biochar, at least one nitrogen source, at least one organic acid and at least one active agent wherein the biochar is impregnated with about 5% wt to about 45% wt of the active agent, and further wherein the biochar has a bulk density of less than about 40 pounds per cubic foot and has a size of about 90-100% passing through a ¼

″

mesh screen and about 50% or more passing through a 4 mesh screen;

or a size of about 90-100% passing through a No. 4 mesh screen and about 70% or more passing through a No. 10 mesh screen;

or a size of about 90-100% passing through a No. 10 mesh screen and about 50% or more passing through a No. 45 mesh screen.