Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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GOAL-BASED ORGANIC GROWTH COMP7UND
The present invention relates to a biodegradable organic growth composition
which is based on particulate coal.
Background
The plant growth composition of the invention represents an improvement in
the formulation described -in U.S. Patent 4,541,857
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. 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
(rom
0.001 to 0.100 percent by weight of the composition and the auxiliary agent(s)
comprise the balance of the composition.
Summary of the Invention
As indicated, 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.
An important modification in the compositions of U.S. 4,541,857 which the
present invention provides is the use of a linear alcohol alkoxy(ate, e.g. a
pofy(ethylene oxide) ether with a C12-C15 linear primary alcohol.
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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.
Detailed Description of the Invention
The plant growth composition of the invention consists essentially of the
following components:
(1) 40-80%, preferably 70-80%, by weight of particulate coal;
(2) 0.01 to 1%, preferably 0.5 to 1%, by weight of sodium molybdate;
(3) from 0.2 to 2% by weight water;
(4) from 0.1 to 1% by weight of linear alcohol alkoxylate;
(5) from .001 to 4% by weight of magnesium sulfate; with
(6) the balance, usually in an amount of about 20-60% by weight of the
overall composition, being sand.
The 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.
Of the indicated components, the coal particulate is advantageously as
described in the earlier U.S. Patent 4,541,857 referred to above. Thus, 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.
Advantageously, 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
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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 particufate of 100 mesh size or finer,
i.e. particles
which will pass through a 100 mesh Tyler Screen.
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:
carbon: 73.19%
hydrogen: 5.05%
nitrogen: 1.32%
chlorine: 0.07%
sulfur: 4.50%
ash: 6.00% and
oxygen: 9.87%
This composition can also be defined on a mineral analysis-ignited basis as
follows:
phosphorus pentoxide: 0.26%
silica: 32.95%
ferric oxide: 33.09%
alumina: 22.13%
titania: 0.68%
lime: 2.66%
manganese: 0.52%
sulfur trixoide: 3.24%
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potassium oxide: 1.43%
sodium oxide: 0,51 % and
undetermined: 2.53%
As explained in U.S. 4,541,857, 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 C12 to C15
alcohol,
e.g. dodecyl alcohol or mixture thereof with other C12-C15 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.
As indicated, 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.
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.
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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. '
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. Preferably,
however, 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.
As an alternative, 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.
In a typical preparation, 1 to 4 ounces of sodium molybdate and up to 1 gallon
of the alkoxylate, with or without magnesium sulfate, are mixed with 50
gallons, more
or less, of water to form a spray mixture. This mixture is then sprayed over a
dry mix
of coal particulate and sand and magnesium sulfate. Advantageously the mixture
of
molybdate and alkoxylate in water is sprayed over a dry mix of coal, sand and
magnesium sulfate after the dry mix has been applied to the field or soil
where plant
growth is desired although, as earlier noted, the entire composition,
including the
molybdate and alkoxylate, can be prepared before application to the field or
soil.
Whether pre-formed or prepared in situ, it appears that the spray of molybdate
and
alkoxylate helps to activate the nutrients or growth elements in the coal.
The 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
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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 invention is illustrated by the following examples:
Example 1
70 lbs. of high-sulfur coal were pulverized to a particle size of -100 mesh
and
mixed with 25 lbs. of sand and 4 lbs. of magnesium sulfate. The resultant mix
was
then placed around the base of peach trees, untilled, growing in clay soil in
Western
Pennsylvania in the spring. Clay soil and the Western Pennsylvania climate are
not
generally favorable for growing peaches. The trees had been barren for 8
years.
After the dry mix was spread (not plowed) around the trees, the mixture was
sprayed with a liquid composition comprising 50 gallons of water, 1 gallon
Basic H
type (polyethylene oxide ether of C12-C15 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.
Example 2
Example 1was 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 3
Improvements in yield, quality and size were also obtained when the
experiment of Example 2 was repeated with stonehead cabbages grown in the same
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Pennsylvania clay soil. The expected normal cabbage diameter was about six
inches. However, by applying the composition to the soil in the spring
immediately
after planting, cabbages that were fourteen inches in diameter were
consistently
obtained by mid-summer. Insect damage was essentially non-existent although no
pesticide was applied. The indicated results were obtained notwithstanding the
fact
that weeds were intentionally not removed and consequently competed with the
cabbage for soil nutrients.
It was noted, in conducting the tests referred to in the foregoing Examples,
that earthworms tended to arrive during crop growth and remained in the soil,
thereby functioning to nutritionally enrich the soil.
Example 4
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.
Photographs were taken periodically. The N-P-K corn field, comprising a four-
acre plot, failed as expected. No crop resulted on any of the four acres with
stunted
ears of shriveled "bread and butter" corn seen only sporadically. This was
typical of
prior results.
The adjoining portion of the test field, separated from the N-P-K corn plot by
only 12 yards, involved 20 acres using a growth composition according to
Example
1. All 20 acres yielded useful corn plants some of which stood 104 inches
high. The
crop was a complete success yielding an average of 100 bushels of perfectly
shaped
'bread and butter" corn per acre for each of the 20 test acres whereas, in the
past,
using lime and N-P-K fertilizer, the total yield was 50 bushels of corn for
the entire 24
acre field. No pesticides or herbicides were used in the experiment, no stock
damage or discoloration occurred; and the kernels of corn were found to be in
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perfect rows. Furthermore, in addition to the greatly increased yield per
acre,
significantly less growth composition according to the invention was used on
the 20
acre tract than on the 4 acre failed N-P-K field.
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.
It will be appreciated that 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.
While 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. In another application of the
invention,
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.
Analysis of a composition according to the invention as used in the foregoing
examples for percent solids, volatile solids, total carbon (Total C), total
nitrogen
(Total N), organic nitrogen (Org-N), ammonium nitrogen (NH4-N), 'phosphorus
(P),
potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), sodium (Na), cadmium (Cd),
chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), nickel (Ni), zinc (Zn) and boron (B)
has given
the following results:
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Major Constituents (all values in percent by mass standard deviation)
Solids . 95.9 t 0.14
Volatiles 35.8 4.7
Tota I C 22.7 t 1.1
Total N 4.98 t 0.16
OrgN 3.17t0.35
NH4-N 1.82 0.50
P 2.1 t 0.33
K 5.6 0.69
Mg 2.1t0.11
Ca 6.6 0.35
Na 029f0.02
Fe 0.63 0.02
Al 2.1 t 0.16
Mn 0.31 0.02
Trace Elements (all values in mg/kg or ppm standard deviation)
Cd 0.46 0.02
Cr 49.85 4.59
Cu 9.35 0.35
Pb 42.15 t 2.05
Ni 1.5 t 014
Zn 33.5 f 2.19
B 184 t 13
The Mo content was not determined in the analysis.
Based on the foregoing analysis, the composition could be viewed as a 5-5-7
(N-P-K) composition where N is presented as %N, P is presented as %P205 and K
is
presented as %K20, 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.
The
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high concentration of organic C and N indicates that addition of the material
to soil
would increase the organic matter content of the soil, resulting in an overall
improvement in soil quality, over and above that resulting from an equivalent
amount
of nutrient addition alone.
It will be appreciated from the foregoing that the composition of the
invention
offers a number of important advantages. For one thing, 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. As is well known, 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.
Excessive, repeated and ever-increasing amounts of N-P-K (nitrogen, phosphate
and potash) or 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).
Additionally, 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.
In all testing to date, no pesticides or herbicides have been required or used
on the
crops. No negative side effects have been observed and, in fact, the opposite
appears to be true in the resultant addition of nutrients to the soil and
consequent
improved crop yield.
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In addition to reducing costs while improving plant growth results, the
composition of the invention offers a number of other advantages. For example,
the
invention can be used to reclaim previously unusable soils, e.g. coal strip-
mining and
deep-mining soil. As a test, 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.
As will be appreciated from the foregoing, 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. Additionally, 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.
Various modifications may be made in the invention as described above and
as define in the following claims wherein:
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