Methods for improving crop growth

A method for improving crop growth, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) establishing the soil and climatic conditions where the crop is to be grown;
• b) producing a blended fertilizer by:
• (i) industrially processing organic material biologically to form an activated sludge or a humus like material;
• (ii) removing water from the humus like material to form a synthetic humus;
• (iii) blending the synthetic humus with an inorganic fertilizer, the quantity and content of the inorganic fertilizer being dictated by the soil and climatic conditions established in step a), to produce a blended fertilizer having a suitable nutrient content for crop growth;
• (iv) forming the blended fertilizer into agglomerates that are suitable for transportation and large scale application as a fertilizer, and
• c) applying the agglomerates to the soil.

A method for improving crop growth, the method comprising:

• (a) analysing the soil on which the crop is to be grown;
• (b) establishing the geographical location where the crop is to be grown and/or the climatic conditions at the geographic location at which the crop is to be grown;
• (c) establishing what crop is to be grown on the soil and/or the nutrient requirements of the crop;
• (d) entering the data obtained into a computer which also contains a database and a computer program, wherein the database contains information on at least one of:
• the nutrient requirements of various crops, optionally both short and long term requirements;
• the nutrient requirements of the soil, optionally both short and long term requirements;
• the effect of climate on the nutrient requirements of various crops;
• the effect of soil quality on the nutrient requirements of various crops;
• the soil pH requirements of various crops;
• the climatic conditions at various locations where crops might be grown;
• the costs, chemical compositions and nutrient contents of various fertilizers;
• the rates of release of nutrients in various fertilizers;
• the effects of agglomerate form on rates of release of nutrients in various fertilizers;
• the effects on soil pH of various fertilizers;
• transport costs to various locations;
• the availability and cost of bulking materials at various locations, and the computer program is capable of retrieving information from the database to determine the nutrient requirements for the particular cropping situation and of calculating the blend of fertilizers required to form a combined fertilizer and the application rate of combined fertilizer which is expected to provide the nutrient needs at the lowest cost;
• (e) calculating the quantity of combined fertilizer to be manufactured and the selling price;
• (f) optionally, the quantity and price of combined fertilizer is communicated to the potential customer (if any) for confirmation of an order and if the order is not confirmed the remaining steps are not performed;
• and
• (g) producing said combined fertilizer as required.

A method for producing combined fertilizers, the method comprising:

• (a) analysing the soil on which the crops are to be grown;
• (b) establishing the geographical location where the crops are to be grown and/or the climatic conditions at the geographic location at which the crops are to be grown;
• (c) establishing what crop is to be grown on the soil and/or the nutrient requirements of the crop;
• (d) entering the data obtained into a computer which also contains a database and a computer program, wherein the database contains information on at least one of:
• the nutrient requirements of various crops, optionally both short and long term requirements;
• the nutrient requirements of the soil, optionally both short and long term requirements;
• the effect of climate on the nutrient requirements of various crops;
• the effect of soil quality on the nutrient requirements of various crops;
• the soil pH requirements of various crops;
• the climatic conditions at various locations where crops might be grown;
• the costs, chemical compositions and nutrient contents of various fertilizers;
• the rates of release of nutrients in various fertilizers;
• the effects of agglomerate form on rates of release of nutrients in various fertilizers;
• the effects on soil pH of various fertilizers;
• transport costs to various locations;
• the availability and cost of bulking materials at various locations, and
• the computer program is capable of retrieving information from the database to determine the nutrient requirements for the particular cropping situation and of calculating the blend of fertilizers required to form a combined fertilizer and the application rate of combined fertilizer which is expected to provide the nutrient needs at the lowest cost;
• (e) calculating the quantity of combined fertilizer to be manufactured and the selling price;
• (f) optionally, the quantity and price of combined fertilizer is communicated to the potential customer (if any) for confirmation of an order and if the order is not confirmed the remaining steps are not performed;
• (g) blending the required fertilizers in the proportions determined in step d) and the quantity determined in step e).

A method for producing a fertilizer containing organics, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) industrially processing organic material biologically to form an activated sludge or a humus like material;
• b) removing water from the humus like material to form a synthetic humus and a first intermediate water stream;
• and
• c) forming the synthetic humus into agglomerates, wherein the agglomerates are suitable for transportation and large scale application as a fertilizer.