Superabsorbent polymer seed coatings and associated methods
View Patent ↗Superabsorbent polymer products for use in agricultural applications, and methods of making the same, are provided. The superabsorbent polymer is used in a seed coating along with an active ingredient, and optionally a singulating substance, to improve seed germination and/or blooming; improve germination under dry conditions; decrease irrigation requirements; increase propagation, crop growth, and crop production; and improve the efficacy of the active ingredient.
1. A coated seed product comprising:
a seed including a coating, the coating comprising:
a superabsorbent polymer, wherein the superabsorbent polymer is present at a rate of between about 0.10% and about 1.50% of the weight of the seed;
an active ingredient, wherein the active ingredient is selected from at least one of the following: nutrients, plant growth regulators, insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, and biological materials; and
a singulating substance, wherein:
the singulating substance is present at a rate of below about 1.5% of the weight of the seed;
the superabsorbent polymer, or said active ingredient, or a combination of said superabsorbent polymer and said active ingredient is distributed on and at least partially covers the seed's surface;
the coated seed product is free of a binder or adhesive.
2. The coated seed product of claim 1 , wherein the superabsorbent polymer is a polyacrylamide or a polyacrylate.
3. The coated seed product of claim 1 , wherein the superabsorbent polymer is a starch graft copolymer.
4. The coated seed product of claim 3 , wherein the superabsorbent polymer is a starch-g-poly (2-propenamide-co-2-propenoic acid) potassium salt starch graft copolymer.
5. The coated seed product of claim 1 , wherein the singulating substance is talc.
6. The coated seed product of claim 1 , wherein the singulating substance is selected from at least one of the following: calcium carbonate, sodium sulfate, mica, magnesium sulfate, wood flour, and silica.
7. A coated seed product comprising:
a seed including a coating, the coating comprising:
a superabsorbent polymer, wherein the superabsorbent polymer is present at a rate of between about 0.10% and about 1.50% of the weight of the seed;
an active ingredient, wherein the active ingredient is selected from at least one of the following: nutrients, plant growth regulators, insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, and biological materials; and
a singulating substance; wherein:
the singulating substance is talc and is present at a rate of between about 0.05% and about 0.50% of the weight of the seed;
the superabsorbent polymer, or said active ingredient, or a combination of said superabsorbent polymer and said active ingredient is distributed on and at least partially covers the seed's surface;
the coated seed product is free of a binder or adhesive.
8. The coated seed product of claim 1 , wherein the active ingredient is present at a rate of between about 0.01% and about 3.0% of the weight of the seed.
9. The coated seed product of claim 1 , wherein the superabsorbent polymer is present at a rate of between about 0.2% and about 0.4% of the weight of the seed.
10. The coated seed product of claim 1 , wherein the seed is selected from at least one of the following: corn, soybeans, wheat, cotton, sunflowers, sorghum, canola, vegetables, barley, oats and other small grains, dry beans, peas, lentils, and peanuts.
11. The coated seed product of claim 1 , wherein the singulating substance is present at a rate of between about 0.05% and about 0.50% of the weight of the seed.
12. The coated seed product of claim 1 , wherein the active ingredient is present at a rate of between about 1.0% and about 50.0% of the weight of the seed.
13. A coated seed product produced by a method comprising the steps of:
applying an active ingredient to a plurality of seeds to produce a mixture of seeds and
active ingredient, wherein the active ingredient is selected from at least one of the following:
nutrients, plant growth regulators, insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, and biological materials;
applying a superabsorbent polymer to the mixture of seeds and active ingredient to form a mixture of seeds, active ingredient, and superabsorbent polymer; and
applying a singulating substance to the mixture seeds, active ingredient, and superabsorbent polymer, wherein the singulating substance is applied in an amount of below about 1.5% of the weight of the seed;
wherein said superabsorbent polymer, or said active ingredient, or a combination of said superabsorbent polymer and said active ingredient is distributed on and at least partially covers the seed's surface; and the coated seed product is free of a binder or adhesive.
14. The coated seed product of claim 13 , wherein the application of the singulating substance occurs within 5 seconds of the addition of the superabsorbent polymer to the mixture of seeds and active ingredient.
15. The coated seed product of claim 13 , wherein the application of the singulating substance occurs within 2 seconds of the addition of the superabsorbent polymer to the mixture of seeds and active ingredient.
16. The coated seed product of claim 13 , wherein the superabsorbent polymer is a starch-g-poly (2-propenamide-co-2-propenoic acid) potassium salt starch graft copolymer.
17. The coated seed product of claim 13 , wherein the singulating substance is talc.
18. The coated seed product of claim 13 , wherein the superabsorbent polymer is present at a rate of between about 0.10% and about 1.50% of the weight of the seed.
19. The coated seed product of claim 13 , wherein the superabsorbent polymer is present at a rate of between about 0.2% and about 0.4% of the weight of the seed.
20. The coated seed product of claim 13 , wherein the singulating substance is present at a rate of between about 0.05% and about 0.50% of the weight of the seed.
21. The coated seed product of claim 13 , wherein the active ingredient is present at a rate of between about 1.0% and about 50.0% of the weight of the seed.
22. The coated seed product of claim 13 , wherein the active ingredient is present at a rate of between about 0.01% and about 3.0% of the weight of the seed.
23. The coated seed product of claim 13 , wherein the seed is selected from at least one of the following: corn, soybeans, wheat, cotton, sunflowers, sorghum, canola, vegetables, barley, oats and other small grains, dry beans, peas, lentils, and peanuts.
24. The coated seed product of claim 16 , wherein the singulating substance is talc.
25. The coated seed product of claim 24 , wherein the superabsorbent polymer is present at a rate of between about 0.25% and about 1% of the weight of the seed and the talc is present at a rate of about 0.20% to 0.30% of the weight of the seed.
26. The coated seed product of claim 25 , wherein the active ingredient is present at a rate of between about 0.01% and about 3.0% of the weight of the seed.
27. The coated seed product of claim 26 , wherein the seed is selected from at least one of the following: corn, soybeans, wheat, cotton, sunflowers, sorghum, canola, vegetables, barley, oats and other small grains, dry beans, peas, lentils, and peanuts.
28. The coated seed product of claim 26 , wherein the seed is a soybean seed or a wheat seed.
29. The coated seed product of claim 7 , wherein the superabsorbent polymer is a starch-g-poly (2-propenamide-co-2-propenoic acid) potassium salt starch graft copolymer.
30. The coated seed product of claim 29 , wherein the singulating substance is talc and the talc is present at a rate of about 0.20% to 0.30% of the weight of the seed.
31. The coated seed product of claim 30 , wherein the superabsorbent polymer is present at a rate of between about 0.25% and about 1% of the weight of the seed.
32. The coated seed product of claim 31 , wherein the active ingredient is present at a rate of between about 0.01% and about 3.0% of the weight of the seed.
33. The coated seed product of claim 32 , wherein the seed is selected from at least one of the following: corn, soybeans, wheat, cotton, sunflowers, sorghum, canola, vegetables, barley, oats and other small grains, dry beans, peas, lentils, and peanuts.
34. The coated seed product of claim 33 , wherein the seed is a soybean seed or a wheat seed.