Chemistry: fertilizers – Processes and products – Organic material-containing
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-10
2001-01-30
Griffin, Steven P. (Department: 1754)
Chemistry: fertilizers
Processes and products
Organic material-containing
C071S023000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06179892
ABSTRACT:
This invention relates to plants.
More particularly, the invention relates to a method for improving the yield of a healthy plant.
In a further respect, the invention relates to a method for utilizing crystalline, birefringent starch granules to achieve surprising and unexpectedly high increases in the yield of plants.
In another respect, the invention relates to a method for utilizing starch granules which can, since the use of starch to consistently increase the yield of crops is either non-existent or insignificant, result in the creation of a widespread new use for starch.
In a further respect, the invention relates to a method for significantly increasing the yield of plants at a cost which is much less than that associated with many or all conventional fertilizers and other growth enhancers.
Millions of dollars are spent annually by farmers to apply fertilizer, pesticides, and other chemicals which enhance the growth of plants.
Attempts have been made to utilize starch to enhance the growth of plants. A particular advantage of using starch is its comparatively low cost. Starch granules have been added to the top of soil around the base of plants and have been inserted or worked into the ground near the roots of plants. The results associated with such applications of starch to the ground have been inconsistent. Farmers will not pay for or go to the trouble of applying starch because the results are unpredictable. Despite long existing claims that starch does or should work, the failure of starch as a growth enhancer is readily demonstrated by the fact that there is no significant market or distribution network for selling starch to be applied to plants. Nor is there a brand name starch product for use to enhance the growth of plants. If a significant demand for starch existed, the companies which produce starch promptly would take advantage of such a demand. There appears to have been absolutely no such demand for at least the last five decades.
In the mind of most, if not all, farmers, starch is unpredictable and, therefore, is worthless.
The starch industry itself seems to be somewhat secretive and only reluctantly disseminates information concerning starch.
Another problem associated with applying fertilizers or other chemical compounds to plants is the use of the terms growth and productivity. A statement often heard is that using a particular product increases the growth and productivity of a plant. While such a statement may be true with respect to a particular product, it can be misleading and constitute a statement of omission for the following reasons.
First, the growth of a plant includes a vegetative growth period and a reproductive growth period. The vegetative growth period precedes the reproductive growth period. During the reproductive growth period, buds and flowers form on the plant, “set”, and develop into fruit.
Second, enhancing the vegetative growth of a plant does not always result in increasing the number or size of fruit produced by the plant. For example, applying excessive amounts of nitrogen to a plant can cause a plant to grow vegetatively for a longer than normal period of time. Also, simply making a plant grow faster can be called “increasing the growth” of the plant. But making a plant grow faster does not mean that the plant will necessarily produce an increased number or size of fruit.
Third, enhancing the reproductive growth of a plant does not always result in increasing the yield of a plant. For example, causing a plant to produce an excessive number of flowers may result in a large quantity of smaller-than-normal fruit, or may cause a large portion of the flowers not to set.
Fourth, some assume that if, after a fertilizer or other “growth” enhancing chemical compound is applied, a plant does not grow faster look bigger or look greener or have more leaves or produce more flowers then the fertilizer “does not work”. This can be a misleading position to take.
It can be argued that the real issue is whether the yield of a plant is improved. Use of the general terms growth and productivity does not necessarily address this specific issue. Increasing growth and productivity does not necessarily increase the yield of a plant.
In accordance with the invention, I have discovered a new method which significantly, predictably and consistently increases the yield of a plant. The method treats a stand of plants growing by natural processes and exposed to direct sunlight and an atmosphere of air to improve the yield of the plants. The plants each include at least one leaf including a plurality of epidermal cells; a plurality of stomata for allowing carbon dioxide to enter the leaf; a plurality of food-making cells, each food-making cell including a plurality of chloroplasts; a plurality of air spaces each adjacent at least one of the food-making cells; carbon dioxide in each of the air spaces; water vapor in each of the air spaces; xylem for carrying water; and, phloem for carrying food produced by the leaf. The method includes the step of applying a plurality of solid crystalline optically birefringent starch granules. The granules are applied foliarly to contact the epidermal cells.
In another embodiment of the invention, I provide a method for treating a stand of plants growing by natural processes, exerting less than six atmospheres of pressure to draw water from the ground, and exposed to direct sunlight and an atmosphere of air having an ambient temperature in the range of 65 degrees F. to 105 degrees F. to improve the yield of the plants. Each of the plants includes at least one leaf including a plurality of epidermal cells; a plurality of stomata for allowing carbon dioxide to enter the leaf; a plurality of food-making cells, each food-making cell including a plurality of chloroplasts; a plurality of air spaces each adjacent at least one of the food-making cells; carbon dioxide in each of the air spaces; water vapor in each of the air spaces; xylem for carrying water; and, phloem for carrying food produced by the leaf. The method includes the step of applying foliarly to contact said epidermal cells with a plurality of solid crystalline optically birefringent starch granules to said plants exerting less than six atmospheres of pressure to draw water from the ground and naturally growing in said stand exposed to said direct sunlight and said atmosphere having an ambient temperature in the range of 65 degrees F. to 105 degrees F.
In a further embodiment of the invention, I provide a method for treating a stand of plants growing by natural processes and exposed to sunlight and an atmosphere of air to improve the yield of the plants. Each of the plants includes at least one leaf including a plurality of epidermal cells; a plurality of stomata for allowing carbon dioxide to enter the leaf; a plurality of food-making cells, each food-making cell including a plurality of chloroplasts; a plurality of air spaces each adjacent at least one of the food-making cells; carbon dioxide in each of the air spaces; water vapor in each of the air spaces; xylem for carrying water; and, phloem for carrying food produced by the leaf. The method comprises the step of, less than five weeks before row closure, applying foliarly to contact the epidermal cells with a plurality of solid crystalline optically birefringent starch granules to the plants naturally growing in the stand exposed to the sunlight and the atmosphere.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5861048 (1999-01-01), Kamasaka et al.
patent: 2 764 879 (1998-12-01), None
patent: 2 195 993 (1988-04-01), None
patent: 1-117807 (1989-05-01), None
patent: 10-338586 (1998-12-01), None
patent: 1130196 (1984-12-01), None
Ege, Organic Chemistry Structure and Reactivity, 1994, p. 1125 and 1177.
Griffin Steven P.
Nissle P.C. Tod R.
Warn Elin A
LandOfFree
Method and combination for increasing plant productivity does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Method and combination for increasing plant productivity, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method and combination for increasing plant productivity will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2485359