A seedmat for growing plants, the seedmat comprises a biodegradable base layer, a seed layer and a biodegradable cover layer. The seed layer includes fertilizer granules or pellets that each have a coating, such as a polymer coating, that enables the pellets to absorb water and to slowly release that water, together with fertilizer.

Pellets for use in agricultural applications are disclosed herein. The pellets can include a porous substrate having an internal interconnected porosity. An agricultural treatment material can be disposed into at least a portion of the internal interconnected porosity of the porous substrate.

In embodiments, the present invention relates to liquid formulations containing hydrophobic, biodegradable polymers dispersed within a Non-aqueous Organic Solvent Delivery System (NOSDS) that is designed to coat fertilizer granules with a hydrophobic film utilizing simple application equipment such as mixers, blenders and tumblers. This film can impede the dissolution of fertilizer components by water improving fertilizer efficiency. The NOSDS can be aprotic solvents, protic solvents and mixtures of protic and aprotic solvents which are environmentally friendly, have flashpoints above 145° F., and are inherently rated safe for contact with humans and animals. The hydrophobic polymers are the reaction product of aldehyde(s) and nitrogen containing compounds.

In embodiments, the present invention relates to liquid formulations containing hydrophobic, biodegradable polymers dispersed within a Non-aqueous Organic Solvent Delivery System (NOSDS) that is designed to coat fertilizer granules with a hydrophobic film utilizing simple application equipment such as mixers, blenders and tumblers. This film can impede the dissolution of fertilizer components by water improving fertilizer efficiency. The NOSDS can be aprotic solvents, protic solvents and mixtures of protic and aprotic solvents which are environmentally friendly, have flashpoints above 145° F., and are inherently rated safe for contact with humans and animals. The hydrophobic polymers are the reaction product of aldehyde(s) and nitrogen containing compounds.

A slow release fertilizer composition includes particles of a nitrogen fertilizer coated with at least one layer having at least one polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), the at least one layer having an average thickness between 1 μm and 200 μm. The relative production process is also described. The slow release fertilizer composition provides for the use of biodegradable and biocompatible materials that allow a slow release of the fertilizer in the culture medium, according to the current regulations, without causing the accumulation of products which are harmful for the environment.

A slow release fertilizer composition includes particles of a nitrogen fertilizer coated with at least one layer having at least one polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), the at least one layer having an average thickness between 1 μm and 200 μm. The relative production process is also described. The slow release fertilizer composition provides for the use of biodegradable and biocompatible materials that allow a slow release of the fertilizer in the culture medium, according to the current regulations, without causing the accumulation of products which are harmful for the environment.

In one aspect, a multi-layered fertilizer includes a layer-by-layer coated fertilizer layer and a coating layer, wherein the fertilizer layer is separated from the coating layer, and one of the fertilizer layers is a fertilizer core; the fertilizer layer contains at least one of nitrogen fertilizer, phosphate fertilizer and potassium fertilizer, the coating layer is polyurea formaldehyde, which includes at least a polyurea formaldehyde having two to five carbon atoms. It can better control the release of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium and zinc in the fertilizer to meet the different nutrient requirements of different crops at different growth stages. The fertilizer can be prepared by a reactor, a slurry tank, a powdering tank and supporting facilities, which can control the amount of each layer of fertilizer and its position in the entire fertilizer granules according to a design procedure.

The present invention comprises one or more organic solvents that create a non-aqueous organo solvent delivery system, (NOSDS), and one or more Organo Polycarboxylate functionalities, OPCF, that results in a stable, non-aqueous solution that can easily, safely, evenly and economically coat nitrogen source granules and/or be added to a mobile liquid form of a nitrogen source such as an aqueous dispersion, pressurized ammonia gas or molten urea and/or molten modified urea. Using these solvents provides more flexibility for nitrogen source manufacturers to produce nitrogen sources designed for a particular soil or plant. The liquid solutions are comprised of NOSDS and OPCFs and one or more of a) nitrification inhibitors, b) urease inhibitors, c) pesticides, d) fungicides, e) herbicides, f) insecticides and g) micronutrients.

A moisture barrier coating includes the reaction product of (A) at least one polyol and (B) at least one polyisocyanate. The moisture barrier coating further includes at least one amorphous thermoplastic material that forms a homogeneous mixture with the polyol, and is nonreactive with the polyol and with the polyisocyanate. A controlled release fertilizer, a method for the production of a controlled release fertilizer, and a moisture barrier coating composition are also disclosed.

The present invention relates to improving the efficiency of man-made and/or natural organic-based animal manure fertilizers by administration of formulations containing poly(organic acids), [P(OA)]s, and/or their salts dispersed in a Non-aqueous Organic Solvent Delivery System (NOSDS). Utilizing a NOSDS allows for coating all components in a fertilizer formulation including but not limited to Urea, Manure, mono-ammonium phosphate (MAP), di-ammonium phosphate (DAP), solid micronutrients such as lime, zinc chloride, etc.) with a layer of [P(OA)]s and/or their salts that liberates, in a plant available form, the micronutrient metals and macronutrients, that are bound as insoluble salts and complexes in the soil. The carboxylic groups of a [P(OA)] that can exist within the [P(OA)] as carboxylic acids, carboxylic anhydrides and/or carboxylic imides, dispersed within the NOSDS, can be neutralized with one or more metals in the form of elemental metals, metal oxides, metal hydroxides, metal alkylates and metal carbonates and/or nitrogen containing compounds such as ammonia, ammonium hydroxide or organoamines to form a stable dispersion that can contain completely complexed micronutrients and provide the vehicle for the delivery of these nutrients to soils and/or as a coating to the surfaces fertilizer granules and seeds.