Planting – Liquid or gas soil treatment – Drilling machines
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-15
2001-09-18
Batson, Victor (Department: 3671)
Planting
Liquid or gas soil treatment
Drilling machines
C111S127000, C111S150000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06289829
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to methods of delivering pesticides with agricultural seed planters, and more particularly to agricultural seed planters which include liquid pesticide delivery apparatus.
RELATED ART
Multi-row planters and drills are conventionally used for agricultural seed planting. Each planter and drill includes multiple row units adapted for opening a seed furrow, depositing seeds within the seed furrow, and closing the seed furrow around the seeds. Additionally, it is well known to those skilled in the art to utilize a variety of attachments, including liquid and granular pesticide delivery devices, in combination with the row units.
It is also well known that for optimum seed germination, seed must be placed at the proper soil depth in the furrow, where the seed will receive the correct moisture and temperature. The seed is dropped from a planter into a furrow through a seed tube, and the seed tube is designed and positioned on the planter to drop the seed into the bottom of the furrow. However, as seeds pass through the seed tube, they are prone to bouncing which effects the direction at which they leave the seed tube and fall into the furrow. Further, seeds being planted many times bounce off of the soil when dropped into the seed furrow because of the speed with which they drop to the ground. If seeds are improperly positioned in a furrow, the seeds are in turn likely to be covered by an inadequate layer of soil that will adversely affect many growth aspects of the resulting plant. For example, improper seed placement in the furrow and resulting improper soil coverage of the seed can result in uneven plant emergence, for instance, increased weed population, non-uniform maturity, longer insect life cycles, higher susceptibility to chemical damage, and ultimately lower yields.
The prior art discloses many attempts to address the aforementioned problems. Several well known devices include the KEETON® seed firming attachment disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,425,318 (assigned to J & K Keeton Enterprises, Inc.); and the REBOUNDER™ device disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,640,915 and manufactured by Schaffert Manufacturing Company, Inc. The KEETON® seed firmer disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,425,318 attaches to the seed tube and applies pressure to the seed to assure proper positioning in a furrow. Similarly, the REBOUNDER™ device manufactured by Schaffert Manufacturing Company, Inc. is attached to the seed tube and attempts to properly position seeds in the furrow by reducing seed bounce for proper placing of seeds in a furrow. Other similar attempts to control seed bounce and/or otherwise improve seed positioning in a furrow are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,092,255 to Long et al.; 4,669,922 to Hooper et al.; and 4,253,412 to Hogenson.
More directly relating to the present invention, it is desirable to properly apply a pesticide in the seed furrow during planting to achieve optimal seed and plant protection. The present invention addresses a device and method for applying liquid pesticide, e.g., insecticide, to a seed furrow during planting.
It is known that liquid pesticides may be applied by a planting machine by means of a drop tube connected to the seed tube or by means of a spray nozzle positioned between the seed tube and furrow closing wheel of a planting machine wherein the planting machine does not incorporate a seed firmer or REBOUNDER™ device for properly positioning seed within a furrow.
FIG. 1
shows the “drop-tube” type of planting machine. The drop tube DT, which is optionally attached to the seed tube, administers a dost of pesticide composition in the bottom of the furrow and on the seed which results in the placement of the pesticide as in FIG.
8
A. If the liquid pesticide composition is sprayed into the bottom of a seed furrow or onto the seed itself, the liquid pesticide, particularly the insecticide, located below or around the seed may not serve to protect the ball-like root structure above the seed from soil-borne pests such as western rootworm.
FIG. 2
shows an in-furrow spray nozzle type applicator. The spray nozzle SN applies a high volume (4-7 gallons per acre) spray of pesticide on the seed and the soil around it which provides a “T-band” application of pesticide in the furrow on the seed and over the seed so planted after the furrow is closed.
FIG. 9A
exemplifies the pesticide distribution on the soil and seed before the furrow is closed;
FIG. 9B
exemplifies the distribution after the furrow is closed. Liquid pesticides, particularly liquid insecticides, are better distributed in this type of “T-band” when the application is effected at high volumes of liquid per unit land area, e.g., 4 to 20 gallons per acre (55 to 225 L/Ha).
The T-band application as described in
FIG. 2
also provides an application of the pesticide on the top of the soil since it is very difficult to keep the pesticide completely contained in the furrow at high volumes. This is generally disadvantageous since the pesticide may be transported by wind or runoff from rainfall.
Generally, in-furrow applications of pesticides in corn are effected by placement of granules comprising a pesticide in the furrow. Applications of liquid pesticides are generally not used for the control of corn rootworms. Applicants have overcome the shortcomings of the prior art application of liquid pesticide by a planting machine by means of the apparatus and method described hereinafter.
An object of the present invention is to provide a method of applying pesticidal compositions in a furrow.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a method of applying liquid pesticidal compositions in a furrow.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a method of applying liquid pesticidal compositions in a furrow at low volumes of liquid per unit land area.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved method of applying pesticides in corn.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved method of controlling soil-borne pests in corn.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved method of controlling soil-borne pests in corn in the early part of the growing season.
These objects are met in whole or in part by the present invention.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a method of application of liquid pesticide to a seed furrow created by a planting assembly having a furrow opening mechanism, a seed dispensing means including a seed tube for directing the seeds downwardly and rearwardly as the planting assembly moves forward, and a furrow closing mechanism that creates a soil mixing zone in front of the leading edge of the furrow closing mechanism, the method comprising the steps of directing liquid pesticide spray into the soil mixing zone in front of the furrow closing mechanism and covering seed in the seed furrow with soil comprising the mixture of soil and liquid pesticide spray. In this way a mixture of soil and pesticide is created in the soil mixing zone.
In a highly preferred embodiment of the present invention, the planting assembly further comprises a spray delivery means which directs the pesticide into the soil mixing zone. The spray delivery means may be a drop tube, spray nozzle, or other such structure known to those skilled in the art, a very highly preferred embodiment of which is described infra.
The spray of the pesticide is generally directed into the soil mixing zone below the level of the top of the furrow. In this way, applicants have found that the pesticide is incorporated in the soil below the level of the soil as the furrow is closed. The application spray can be a stream of liquid or a conical spray.
Generally the volume of liquid to be used per unit land area is from 0.1 to 50 gallons per acre, preferably from 0.2 to 10, more preferably from 0.5 to 5, most preferably from 1 to 3 gallons per acre. The volume per unit may also be varied with the forward speed of the assembly or may be varied by a pressure means.
In a highly preferred embodiment of the in
Bender Timothy J.
Feist David A.
Fish James D.
Splear Grant E.
Aventis Cropscience S.A.
Batson Victor
Jenkins & Wilson, P.A.
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