Precision fertilizer placement
US8322293B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 23, 2009 |
| Grant date | Dec 4, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 7, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA01C7/0445
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A method to precisely meter and dispense two or more crop inputs with a common metering disc is presented to achieve proper placement in the soil relative to one another. In one embodiment, dry granular or granulized fertilizer is metered from one side of the disc and seed is metered from the opposite side of the same metering disc. The fertilizer is placed in a concentrated “pulse” approximately equal distances between seeds within a common seed furrow and/or between seed furrows to improved nutrient use efficiency by minimizing soil to fertilizer contact and subsequent chemical reactions that make applied supplemental nutrients less available to plants. Pressurized air may be utilized to assist discharge of both the seed and fertilizer from the disc meter to assure precise spacing in the soil. A cover may be placed on the meter and metering disc to recirculate air and thus minimize potential atmospheric contamination from seed coatings and fertilizer materials.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.