Plant husbandry – Coated or impregnated seed – method or apparatus
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-29
2001-03-20
Poon, Peter M. (Department: 3643)
Plant husbandry
Coated or impregnated seed, method or apparatus
Reexamination Certificate
active
06202346
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Planting seeds is one of the most important methods of propagating many species of plants. Examples of plants which may be propagated from seeds include vines such as cucumbers, watermelons, and cantaloupes, flowers such as marigolds, zinnias, and pansies, cereals and small grains such as corn, wheat, oats, and barley, forage crops and grasses, such as alfalfa, lespedeza, clover, orchard grass, bluegrass and fescue, beans such as soybeans, string beans, pinto beans, navy beans and lima beans, peas such as English peas, chickpeas and black-eyed peas, and shrubbery and trees such as juniper, cedar, holly, pine, poplar and maple.
Normally, seeds are placed directly in the soil at the proper depth and spacing for the species being planted. Certain types of seeds, however, are extremely small which often makes planting difficult. These smaller seeds are also difficult to see which also adds to the difficulty of their planting. Examples of small seeds include alfalfa, celery and any type of grass seed.
Alfalfa seeds are much smaller than most seeds. Attempts to alleviate the problems associated with planting alfalfa seeds have included coating the seeds to make them larger and therefore easier to see and to plant. Seed coatings have also been used to house other ingredients to enhance seed propagation, such as pesticides, moldicides, fungicides, filler, and nutrients including nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus.
The current industry standard for coating alfalfa seeds is to place the coating on the seed in an amount based on 33% of the weight of the seed. These coatings have been applied using a rotary drum method wherein the seed is tumbled while the coating composition is sprayed thereon and a stream of hot air is directed at the coated seeds. Other coating methods include pan-type arrangements, all of which are well known in the art.
There are several problems associated with these thick coatings. First, the coatings often do not stick to the seed well and can also chip and crack. This can cause the planters to get clogged or messy. Further, the thick coating impedes the rate of the flow of seeds in planters. This also leads to planter clogging.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a seed coating to coat various types of seeds to make them easier to plant.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a seed coating which does not clog or make a mess in planters.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a seed coating which provides a seed size which is more acceptable to customers.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a seed coating which increases the size of seeds which would otherwise have to be discarded.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a thin seed coating for seeds that would be too large with the conventional coating and would otherwise have to be discarded.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a seed coating which allows seeds to flow easier through planters than conventionally coated seeds.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a seed coating which makes the seed easy to recognize and is aesthetically pleasing.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a seed coating which is economical to manufacture.
These and other objects of this invention are described more fully hereinafter.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The coating of the present invention primarily comprises an insoluble particulate material, such as limestone or clay, which may contain a water-based, water-soluble, polymer. The limestone or clay is used to build-up the size of the seed and the polymer is used as a binder and protects the coating from chipping. A coloring agent may optionally be added to the polymer layer to make the seed easier to see and to improve the appearance of the seed. This type of coating is very light-weight and can increase the size of very small seeds for ease in planting. Seeds which may be coated according to the invention include but are not limited to any kind of grass seeds, alfalfa seeds, or celery seeds. Any seed can be used with the methods of the invention, however it is particularly useful for small seeds such as alfalfa which benefit from a size increase.
One embodiment of the invention entails applying a limestone/polymer coating to alfalfa seeds so as to increase the weight of the seed by about 4.5% to about 30% preferably about 4.5% to about 20% and most preferably about 9.5% to about 15%. This coating can then be sealed with a separate polymer coating. The coatings are preferably applied using a continuous coating machine system.
The coatings of the present invention has the advantages of making seeds which are either too large or too small a more uniform and acceptable size for customers. Further, the coated seeds flow well through planters. The seeds also have a more aesthetically pleasing appearance. In addition, the coating can be more economically applied to seeds using the continuous coating machine system. Continuous coating machines useful for applying the coatings of the invention are described and disclosed in the following United States patents by Richard L. Long, Jr., the disclosures of which are hereby expressly incorporated by reference: U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,494,709 and 5,443,637.
The following definitions are useful for interpreting the invention disclosed herein.
Coated/Pelleted seed
The deposition of a layer of inert materials that obscure the original shape and size of the seed resulting in a substantial weight increase and improved plantability. The addition of biologicals, pesticides, identifying colorants or dyes and/or other active ingredients including polymers can be included in this process.
Film coated seed
Film coated seed retains the shape and the general size of the raw seed with a minimal weight gain. The film coating may contain polymers, pesticides, biologicals, identifying colorants or dyes, and other additives. The coating should result in more/less continuous covering which eliminates or minimizes product dust-off.
Inoculated seed
Seed which has received a coating of a commercial preparation containing a microbial product i.e., Rhyzobia sp.
Primed seed
Seed that has been subjected to a procedure (biotic or abiotic) that reduces dormancy, promotes faster and/or more uniform germination. (Not to include physical processes such as scarification which are normally considered a conditioning operation.)
Raw seed
Seed that is free of any added foreign or inert materials. Not inoculated, treated, pelleted or coated.
Treated seed
Seed with a minimal covering of various materials whose primary objective is to reduce or control certain disease organisms, insects or other pests attacking the seed or seedlings growing therefrom and contains identifying colorants or dyes.
Working Sample
Purity—The sample on which the purity analysis is made. Noxious-weed seed—The sample on which the noxious-weed seed examination is made.
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Burgess G. Edwin
Long Richard L.
Lyons John M.
Gellner Jeffrey L.
Pioneer Hi-Bred International , Inc.
Poon Peter M.
Zarley McKee Thomte Voorhees & Sease
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