# US 9,775,284 B2 · Activated-release fertilizer, pesticides, and other granules, germination-activated seeds, and methods of making and using same

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- Number: US 9,775,284 B2
- Document ID: US9775284B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/735,664
- Filed: 2015-06-10
- Published: 2015-10-08
- Granted: 2017-10-03
- Earliest claimed: 2012-03-13
- Assignees: Activation Technologies, LLC
- Applicants: Activation Technologies LLC
- Inventors: Kim R. Polizotto
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9775284B2

## CPC

- A01C 21/005: {Following a specific plan, e.g. pattern}
- A01C 7/085: {Broadcast seeders}
- A01C 21/00: Methods of fertilising {, sowing or planting}
- A01C 23/04: Distributing under pressure; Distributing mud; Adaptation of watering systems for fertilising-liquids
- A01G 7/00: Botany in general
- A01G 25/09: Watering arrangements making use of movable installations on wheels or the like
- A01M 9/00: Special adaptations or arrangements of powder-spraying apparatus for purposes covered by this subclass
- C05G 5/30: Layered or coated, e.g. dust-preventing coatings
- A01C: PLANTING; SOWING; FERTILISING (parts, details or accessories of agricultural machines or implements, in general A01B51/00 - A01B75/00)
- A01G: HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING (picking of fruits, vegetables, hops or the like A01D46/00; propagating unicellular algae C12N1/12)
- A01M: CATCHING, TRAPPING OR SCARING OF ANIMALS (appliances for catching swarms or drone-catching A01K57/00; fishing A01K69/00 - {A01K99/00}; biocides, pest repellants or attractants A01N); APPARATUS FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF NOXIOUS ANIMALS OR NOXIOUS PLANTS
- 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

## Abstract

An activated-release, water-insoluble or slowly-soluble coating is utilized on fertilizers, pesticides, seeds, medicine, and other granules to precisely time the release of the active ingredient of the granules, for purposes such as fertilizer and pesticide release as well as to initiate seed germination. An external stimulus, or activating agent, including, but not limited to, microwaves, ultrasonic waves, X-rays, radio waves, electromagnetic waves, radar waves, sonar waves, magnetic induction, (or pulses of any of the foregoing), specific chemical, bacteria, or fungus organism (such as ionic or non ionic surfactants, organic solvents, specifically cultured bacteria, fungi or catalytic agents) is used to break the coating, thus allowing for the release or germination. An activating device may be mounted on or in a tool bar, cart, or other apparatus pulled by a tractor, all-terrain vehicle (ATV), airplane, helicopter, or other implement and passed over a field, sprayed onto or injected into the soil, when the granule content is actually needed or germination is sought. The present disclosure also relates to liquid fertilizers of complex chemistry that are not readily available to plants; activation will degrade the nutrient compounds to readily-available forms.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method, comprising:
applying coated granules of agricultural material to a field in an unactivated state;
determining an appropriate time to activate the granules, wherein the time is at least 24 hours after the granules are applied to the field; and then
applying an activating agent to the field at the determined time to activate the granules.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein applying the activating agent comprises emitting activating waves from a transmitter.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein applying the activating agent comprises spraying an activating material onto the field.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein activating the granules comprises stimulating the breakdown of a water-insoluble or slowly-soluble coating of the granules.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the coated granules comprise seeds, fertilizer or pesticide.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the time is at least one week after the granules are applied to the field.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein applying coated granules further includes:
providing coated granules having an activated-release coating; and
allowing the coated granules to remain in the field in an unactivated state in which the activated-release, coating prevents an active ingredient from being released into the soil; and
wherein applying the activating agent further includes initiating a breakdown of the activated-release coating, thereby causing the active ingredient to be released into the soil.