PAPER MULCH GRANULE WITH FERTILIZER FOR IMPROVED SEED ESTABLISHMENT

Abstract

A homogenous granular paper mulch including fertilizer (with the fertilizer composed of natural and/or conventional synthetic ingredients). The mulch is a granular solid composed of recycled paper, fertilizer, and water. The granular product is easy to handle and apply and provides an improved environment for germinating seed.

Claims

1. A granular mulch comprising: recycled paper or other cellulosic material; said cellulosic material comprised of cardboard, wood waste products, and other plant-based waste products natural fertilizer, synthetic fertilizer or a combination of same; said mulch being a homogeneous pelletized mulch that improves seed germination and seedling establishment while recycling waste products that would otherwise enter the waste stream.

2. The granular mulch of claim 1 wherein said granular mulch is used with turfgrass, ornamental plants, and edible plants.

3. The granular mulch of claim 1 wherein said granular mulch is used with slow-release organic fertilizers.

4. The granular mulch of claim 1 further comprising surfactants.

5. The granular mulch of claim 1 wherein said granular mulch and fertilizer product have an irregular shape.

6. The granular mulch of claim 1 further comprising a pigment.

7. The granular mulch of claim 1 wherein said granular mulch comprises paper, fertilizer and water.

8. A method for preparing a granular mulch comprising: comminuting paper; mixing said comminuting paper with water to form a pulp; blending in fertilizer; extruding said pulp through a die orifice to form an extrudate; chopping said extrudate to a length of less than ¼ inch to form extruded granules; treating said granules with a crumbling equipment to partially shred said granules to produce irregular and rough edges to prevent seed separation; and drying said granules to a final moisture content of between 6% to 13% by weight.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said granular mulch comprises recycled paper granule with pelletized natural fertilizer, where said fertilizer added is a homogeneous pelletized or granulated product.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said fertilizer comprises dairy manure digestate and limestone blend, feather meal, gypsum, bentonite clay, zeolite, sulfate of potash, and guar gum.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein resulting product has a bulk density of about 13.5 pounds per cubic foot.

12. The method of claim 8 further comprising adding a green pigment or dye to said granule to make it stand out after application on bare soil, or blend into turf when applied to bare spots in lawns.

13. The method of claim 8 wherein said granular mulch comprises a recycled paper granule enhanced with pelletized natural fertilizer comprised of dehydrated dairy manure, dehydrated poultry manure, and feather meal and sufficient binding material for ensuring pelletization.

14. The method of claim 8 wherein said fertilizer granule is added to said paper and water slurry before extrusion.

15. The granular mulch of claim 1 wherein said granular mulch facilitates nutrient release from slow-release organic fertilizers, as said granule readily absorbs moisture, creating and maintaining moist conditions that promote microbial activity, facilitating release of nutrients from slow release natural fertilizers while creating a beneficial environment for seed germination.

16. The granular mulch of claim 1 wherein said mulch holds said fertilizer close to seeds, so it is available to growing seedlings.

17. The method of claim 8 wherein irregular nature of said granular product ensures that when it is combined with seed in a bagged or containerized product, said seed does not segregate or separate from said mulch.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein when said mulch granule is blended with fertilizer, said fertilizer does not migrate and separate in said bag.

19. The method of claim 8 wherein homogeneous nature of said granule ensures fertilizer is retained where it is needed to fuel plant growth, and nutrients are held and released in close proximity to germinating seed.

20. A mulch granular solid comprising: 65% to 80% paper by weight; 5% to 15% fertilizer by weight, and 6% water by weight; resulting product has a bulk density between 12 and 16 pounds per cubic foot.

21. The mulch granular product of claim 20 further comprising surfactants in an amount sufficient to enhance water absorption, in range of 0.1% to 0.5% by weight.

22. A recycled paper granule comprising: 9%-11% pelletized natural fertilizer, where said fertilizer is a homogeneous pelletized or granulated product composed of 57.5%-59.5% dairy manure digestate and limestone blend, 22.25%-24.25% feather meal, 8%-10% gypsum, 5%-7% bentonite clay, 1%-2% zeolite, 0.5%-1.5% sulfate of potash, and 0.5%-1% guar gum; said granule is added to a paper and water slurry before extrusion; resulting product has a bulk density of 12.5-14.5 pounds per cubic foot.

23. A recycled paper granule comprising: 11%-13% pelletized natural fertilizer composed of 46.75%-48.75% dehydrated dairy manure, 26.25%-28.25% dehydrated poultry manure, and 24%-26% feather meal and sufficient binding material for ensuring pelletization; said granule is added to a paper and water slurry before extrusion.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] The nature of the mulch granule facilitates nutrient release from slow-release organic fertilizers, as the granule readily absorbs moisture, creating and maintaining moist conditions that promote microbial activity, facilitating the release of nutrients from slow release natural fertilizers while creating a beneficial environment for seed germination. For conventional fertilizer, the mulch helps to hold the fertilizer close to seeds, so it can be easily available to growing seedlings.

[0017] Surfactant in the granules helps to ensure rapid and thorough wetting of the granule after rain or irrigation.

[0018] The irregular nature of the granular product ensures that when it is combined with seed in a bagged or otherwise containerized product the seed does not segregate or separate from the mulch. In addition, compared to a mulch granule blended with fertilizer, it is impossible for fertilizer to migrate and separate in bag, which can be a problem with blended mulch products. The homogeneous nature of the granule ensures fertilizer is retained where it is needed to fuel vigorous plant growth. Nutrients are held and released in close proximity to germinating seed.

Manufacture

[0019] The mulch is a granular solid comprising at least about 65% to 80% paper by weight, at least about 5% to 15% fertilizer by weight, and at least about 6% water by weight. The resulting product has a bulk density between 12 and 16 pounds per cubic foot.

[0020] Surfactants are included in an amount sufficient to enhance water absorption, in the range of 0.1% to 0.5% by weight. A range of surfactant types are suitable, including anionic surfactants, nonionic surfactants, cationic surfactants, and amphoteric surfactants.

[0021] The product is prepared by comminuting paper, mixing the comminuting paper with water to form a pulp, blending in the fertilizer ingredient(s), extruding the pulp through a die orifice, chopping the extrudate to a length of less than about ¼ inch to form granules, further treating the granules with a crumbling equipment to partially shred the extruded granules (producing irregular and rough edges that help to prevent seed separation), and drying the granules to a final moisture content of about 6% to about 13% by weight. The resulting granular product is easy to handle and apply.

EXAMPLE 1

[0022] A recycled paper granule enhanced with about 10% pelletized natural fertilizer, where the fertilizer added is a homogeneous pelletized or granulated product composed of about 58.5% dairy manure digestate and limestone blend, 23.25% feather meal, 9% gypsum, 6% bentonite clay, 1.5% zeolite, 1% sulfate of potash, and 0.75% guar gum. The manure granule is added to the paper and water slurry before extrusion. The resulting product has a bulk density of approximately 13.5 pounds per cubic foot. The granule can optionally be colored with a green pigment or dye to make it stand out after application on bare soil, or blend into turf when applied to bare spots in lawns.

[0023] The recycled paper granule can be enhanced with 9%-11% pelletized natural fertilizer, where the fertilizer added is a homogeneous pelletized or granulated product composed of 57.5%-59.5% dairy manure digestate and limestone blend, 22.25%-24,25% feather meal, 8%-10% gypsum, 5%-7% bentonite clay, 1%-2% zeolite, 0.5%-1.5% sulfate of potash and 0.5%-1% guar gum. The resulting bulk density is between 12.5-14.5 pounds per cubic inch.

EXAMPLE 2

[0024] A recycled paper granule enhanced with about 12% pelletized natural fertilizer composed of 47.75% dehydrated dairy manure, 27.25% dehydrated poultry manure, and 25% feather meal and sufficient binding material for ensuring good pelletization. The fertilizer granule is added to the paper and water slurry before extrusion. The granule can optionally be colored with a green pigment or dye to make it stand out after application on bare soil, or blend into turf when applied to bare spots in lawns.

[0025] The recycled paper granule can be enhanced with 11%-13% pelletized natural fertilizer composed of 46.75%-48.75% dehydrated dairy manure, 26.25%-28.25% dehydrated poultry manure, and 24%-26% feather meal.