# US 9,751,814 B2 · Persistent, targeted, optimized, soil amendment composition and method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,751,814 B2 - Document ID: US9751814B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/351,794 - Filed: 2016-11-15 - Published: 2017-03-02 - Granted: 2017-09-05 - Earliest claimed: 2013-12-19 - Assignees: Aquasmart Enterprises, LLC - Applicants: Aquasmart Enterprises, LLC - Inventors: Calder Hendrickson; Todd Naff - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9751814B2 ## CPC - A01C 1/046: {Carrier compositions} - A01N 25/26: in coated particulate form - C05G 3/60: Biocides or preservatives, e.g. disinfectants, pesticides or herbicides; Pest repellants or attractants - C05G 3/80: Soil conditioners - C05G 5/30: Layered or coated, e.g. dust-preventing coatings - C05G 5/37: {layered or coated with a polymer} - C09K 17/00: Soil-conditioning materials or soil-stabilising materials (specially adapted for boreholes or wells C09K8/00; fertilisers C05; consolidating by placing solidifying or pore-filling substances in the soil E02D3/12) - C09K 17/16: applied in a physical form other than a solution or a grout, e.g. as platelets or granules - A01C: PLANTING; SOWING; FERTILISING (parts, details or accessories of agricultural machines or implements, in general A01B51/00 - A01B75/00) - A01N: PRESERVATION OF BODIES OF HUMANS OR ANIMALS OR PLANTS OR PARTS THEREOF (preservation of food or foodstuff A23); BIOCIDES, e.g. AS DISINFECTANTS, AS PESTICIDES OR AS HERBICIDES (preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes which kill or prevent the growth or proliferation of unwanted organisms A61K); PEST REPELLANTS OR ATTRACTANTS; PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS - C05G: MIXTURES OF FERTILISERS COVERED INDIVIDUALLY BY DIFFERENT SUBCLASSES OF CLASS C05; MIXTURES OF ONE OR MORE FERTILISERS WITH MATERIALS NOT HAVING A SPECIFIC FERTILISING ACTIVITY, e.g. PESTICIDES, SOIL-CONDITIONERS, WETTING AGENTS (organic fertilisers containing added bacterial cultures, mycelia, or the like C05F11/08; organic fertilisers containing plant vitamins or hormones C05F11/10); FERTILISERS CHARACTERISED BY THEIR FORM - C09K: MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE ## Abstract A material for optimizing and maintaining at least one of water, nutrients, biocides, and other protectant or growth supporting chemicals in natural soils by decreasing leaching, evaporation, and volatility through application of agglomerated granules (prills) formed of engineered hydrating particles, a binder, nutrients, and protectants to the soil. Typical application is by applying prills simultaneously with seeds when drilled, broadcast, or otherwise distributed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for amending soils and promoting plant growth, the method comprising: providing a custom blended prill that comprises a first constituent containing at least one component selected from the group consisting of: a first nutrient, a first protectant, and a polymer capable of retaining water; selecting a first binder effective for coating the first constituent; agglomerating the first binder and the first constituent into prills comprising a first layer; providing a second constituent containing at least one component selected from the group consisting of: a second nutrient, a second protectant, and a polymer capable of retaining water; selecting a second binder effective for coating the second constituent; agglomerating the second binder and the second constituent into a second layer on the prills; the first constituent and the second constituent include different components and the prill includes at least one protectant; and providing the prills for application to the portion of soil. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: coating the prills with an excipient selected to urge the prills to feed properly through machinery designed to do at least one of spreading fertilizer, sowing fertilizer, spreading seed, or sowing seed. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, further comprising: inserting at least a portion of the prills into the portion of soil to be amended. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the prills have an effective prill diameter selected so as to allow effective distribution in the portion of soil that is to be amended. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the prill has an effective prill diameter selected so as to feed through a seed drill without modification thereof. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first constituent is a liquid nutrient that is mixed into the first binder. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the second constituent is a liquid protectant that is mixed into the second binder. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first constituent contains at least two components selected from the group consisting of a first nutrient capable of enhancing plant growth, a first protectant capable of reducing the effectiveness of pathogens attacking plants, and a water absorbent polymer capable of retaining water. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first constituent contains at least two components selected from the group consisting of a first nutrient capable of enhancing plant growth, a first protectant capable of reducing the effectiveness of pathogens attacking plants, and a water absorbent polymer capable of retaining water and the second constituent contains at least two components selected from the group consisting of a first nutrient for enhancing plant growth, a first protectant capable of reducing the effectiveness of pathogens attacking plants, and a water absorbent polymer capable of retaining water. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second binders are water soluble. ### Claim 11 A method for amending soils and promoting plant growth, the method comprising: providing a prill that comprises a first constituent containing at least one component selected from the group consisting of: a first nutrient, a first protectant, and a polymer capable of retaining water; selecting a first binder effective for coating the first constituent; agglomerating the first binder and the first constituent into prills comprising a first layer; providing a second constituent containing at least one component selected from the group consisting of: a second nutrient, a second protectant, and a polymer capable of retaining water; selecting a second binder effective for coating the second constituent and; agglomerating the second binder and the second constituent into a second layer on the prills; wherein the first constituent and the second constituent include different components. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising: coating the prills with an excipient capable of facilitating the prills to feed properly through machinery designed to do at least one of spreading fertilizer, sowing fertilizer, spreading seed, or sowing seed. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising: inserting at least a portion of the prills into a portion of soil to be amended. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the prill has an effective prill diameter selected so as to feed through a seed drill without modification thereof. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the first constituent is a liquid nutrient that is mixed into the first binder. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the second constituent is a liquid protectant that is mixed into the second binder. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the first and second binders are water soluble. ### Claim 18 A method for amending soils and promoting plant growth, the method comprising: providing a prill that comprises a first constituent containing at least two components selected from the group consisting of: a first nutrient capable of enhancing plant growth, a first protectant capable of reducing the effectiveness of pathogens attacking plants, and a polymer capable of retaining water; selecting a first binder effective for coating the first constituent; agglomerating the first binder and the first constituent into prills comprising a first layer; providing a second constituent containing at least two components selected from the group consisting of: a second nutrient capable of enhancing plant growth, a second protectant capable of reducing the effectiveness of pathogens attacking plants, and a polymer capable of retaining water; selecting a second binder effective for coating the second constituent; agglomerating the second binder and the second constituent into a second layer on the prills; the first constituent and the second constituent include different components; and coating the prills with an excipient selected so as to urge the prills to feed properly through machinery designed to do at least one of spreading fertilizer, sowing fertilizer, spreading seed, or sowing seed. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, further comprising: inserting at least a portion of the prills into a portion of soil to be amended. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the first and second binders are water soluble.