A granule defined by a shape and a size, including a mass formed of a plurality of soluble fertilizer particles and a plurality of humic particles and an extended-release polymer coating surrounding an exterior surface of the mass. A process for forming the granule includes providing a mass of a plurality of soluble fertilizer particles and a plurality of humic particles and applying an extended-release coating to an exterior surface of the mass. The granule is used in a method for enhancing root growth of a target plant, such as turf grass, by applying a plurality of the granules to the target plant and allowing sufficient time for extended release of nutrients and humics from the plurality of granules.

A process of treating sewage sludge and the formation of a granular product thereof, wherein said process comprises utilizing a urea-formaldehyde resin to treat a sludge product from thermal hydrolysis processes (THPs) to create an end product for agricultural and other uses. The process utilizes a high intensity mixing and chopping reactor, which combines the sludge with a resin and utilizes sulfuric or other mineral acid to polymerize the resin. The resultant product is subsequently dried and sized through a screening process. The process results in an end product that is a granular fertilizer that is substantially dehydrated and a substantial portion of the nutrients having low solubility and slow release rates. This reduces or eliminates the loss of plant nutrients to water runoff effects. The novel process results in a product that is a low-odor, enhanced fertilizer useful for the processing and utilization of sewage sludge for agricultural and other purposes.

A process of treating sewage sludge and the formation of a granular product thereof, wherein said process comprises utilizing a urea-formaldehyde resin to treat a sludge product from thermal hydrolysis processes (THPs) to create an end product for agricultural and other uses. The process utilizes a high intensity mixing and chopping reactor, which combines the sludge with a resin and utilizes sulfuric or other mineral acid to polymerize the resin. The resultant product is subsequently dried and sized through a screening process. The process results in an end product that is a granular fertilizer that is substantially dehydrated and a substantial portion of the nutrients having low solubility and slow release rates. This reduces or eliminates the loss of plant nutrients to water runoff effects. The novel process results in a product that is a low-odor, enhanced fertilizer useful for the processing and utilization of sewage sludge for agricultural and other purposes.

The present invention concerns a process for preparing a composite of porous material/compound/hybrid organic-inorganic material having a 2:1 lamellar structure, said hybrid material having the following general formula I:
Na.sub.x[(Mg.sub.3)(Al.sub.x(RSi).sub.4−x)O.sub.8+x(OH).sub.2]  (I)
wherein
x is a number such that 0≤x<1.2 and
R represents a C.sub.1-C.sub.30 alkyl group, an aryl group, a (C.sub.1-C.sub.30 alkyl)aryl group or an O—(C.sub.1-C.sub.30 alkyl) group, it being possible for the alkyl group to be substituted with a group chosen from a phenyl, vinyl, aminopropyl or mercaptopropyl group,
and said compound being chosen from the group constituted of at least one active substance and at least one microorganism and mixtures thereof the process comprising:
a) the step of sol-gel synthesis of the hybrid organic-inorganic material having a 2:1 lamellar structure in the presence of the compound and of the porous material saturated with the compound;
b) the recovery of the composite. It also concerns a composite obtainable by means of this process, a composition comprising it and its use in particular for the fertilization of plants.

The present invention concerns a process for preparing a composite of porous material/compound/hybrid organic-inorganic material having a 2:1 lamellar structure, said hybrid material having the following general formula I:
Na.sub.x[(Mg.sub.3)(Al.sub.x(RSi).sub.4−x)O.sub.8+x(OH).sub.2]  (I)
wherein
x is a number such that 0≤x<1.2 and
R represents a C.sub.1-C.sub.30 alkyl group, an aryl group, a (C.sub.1-C.sub.30 alkyl)aryl group or an O—(C.sub.1-C.sub.30 alkyl) group, it being possible for the alkyl group to be substituted with a group chosen from a phenyl, vinyl, aminopropyl or mercaptopropyl group,
and said compound being chosen from the group constituted of at least one active substance and at least one microorganism and mixtures thereof the process comprising:
a) the step of sol-gel synthesis of the hybrid organic-inorganic material having a 2:1 lamellar structure in the presence of the compound and of the porous material saturated with the compound;
b) the recovery of the composite. It also concerns a composite obtainable by means of this process, a composition comprising it and its use in particular for the fertilization of plants.

A process for the production of elemental sulphur-urea fertilizer products is described, comprising the preparation of molten urea; preparing a suspension of micronized sulphur particles with water; mixing the molten urea with suspension of micronized sulphur particles with water wherein the micronized sulphur particles substantially remain in micronized solid state; and spraying the mixture of molten urea and suspension of micronized sulphur particles with water into a granulator, wherein the water in the mixture is flashed off, resulting in the formation of sulphur-urea granules with an even distribution of urea and micronized sulphur particles. An elemental sulphur-urea fertilizer composition obtained by the process is also described.

A process for the production of elemental sulphur-urea fertilizer products is described, comprising the preparation of molten urea; preparing a suspension of micronized sulphur particles with water; mixing the molten urea with suspension of micronized sulphur particles with water wherein the micronized sulphur particles substantially remain in micronized solid state; and spraying the mixture of molten urea and suspension of micronized sulphur particles with water into a granulator, wherein the water in the mixture is flashed off, resulting in the formation of sulphur-urea granules with an even distribution of urea and micronized sulphur particles. An elemental sulphur-urea fertilizer composition obtained by the process is also described.

A process for the production of elemental sulphur-urea fertilizer products is described, comprising the preparation of molten urea; preparing a suspension of micronized sulphur particles with water; mixing the molten urea with suspension of micronized sulphur particles with water wherein the micronized sulphur particles substantially remain in micronized solid state; and spraying the mixture of molten urea and suspension of micronized sulphur particles with water into a granulator, wherein the water in the mixture is flashed off, resulting in the formation of sulphur-urea granules with an even distribution of urea and micronized sulphur particles. An elemental sulphur-urea fertilizer composition obtained by the process is also described.

This disclosure describes a biological system of plant growth promotion, pest resistance and disease resistance by application of strains of T. viride, Trichoderma harzianum K2, Bacillus amyloliquifaciens AS2, Bacillus amyloliquifaciens AS3, or a combination thereof. These strains can be used in conventional or organic agriculture for the promotion nematode resistance when applied topically as a foliar spray or as a seed coating. The highly active strains also are expected to increase plant productivity and improve quality of fruits, vegetables, flowers or other plant products.

This disclosure describes a biological system of plant growth promotion, pest resistance and disease resistance by application of strains of T. viride, Trichoderma harzianum K2, Bacillus amyloliquifaciens AS2, Bacillus amyloliquifaciens AS3, or a combination thereof. These strains can be used in conventional or organic agriculture for the promotion nematode resistance when applied topically as a foliar spray or as a seed coating. The highly active strains also are expected to increase plant productivity and improve quality of fruits, vegetables, flowers or other plant products.