System and method for handling and timely deployment and uniform delivery of micro amounts of sensitive products

Abstract

A product applicator system and method for agricultural applications is disclosed for handling and uniformly delivering micro amounts of sensitive products, such as microorganisms, chemicals, biologicals and / or byproducts. The method includes providing a carrier reservoir with a liquid carrier and a product reservoir with a liquid product, both connected via a liquid flow path to a discharge outlet. Liquid carrier and product amounts are introduced into the flow path, and the system automatically adjusts the carrier amount to maintain a consistent discharge flow rate. The system features a carrier reservoir, a product reservoir, a discharge outlet, a liquid flow path connecting the reservoirs to the outlet, and a bypass within the flow path. The bypass regulates the liquid carrier amount based on the product introduced, ensuring uniform delivery of the mixture. This system enables timely deployment and consistent application of sensitive agricultural products.

Description

TITLE: SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR HANDLING AND TIMELYDEPLOYMENT AND UNIFORM DELIVERY OF MICRO AMOUNTS OF SENSITIVE PRODUCTSCROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to provisional application Serial No. 63 / 602,645 filed November 26, 2023, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0002] The present disclosure relates generally to a product applicator system and method. More particularly, but not exclusively, the present disclosure relates to a system and method for handling and timely deployment and uniform delivery of micro amounts of sensitive products in agricultural applications.BACKGROUND

[0003] Application of a sensitive product or combinations of sensitive products, such as an active ingredient, at a time other than at the time of deployment onto a seed, seedling, plant, plant part, soil, biomass, or combinations thereof is not capable of capturing the full efficacy, vitality, and virility of the sensitive product or combinations thereof, by applying microscale amounts of the sensitive product or combinations thereof to a seed, seeding, plant, plant part, soil, biomass, or combinations thereof, and overcoming the problems associated with current product handling and delivery systems in a manner that accounts for a myriad of conditions, such as the needs that exist for a particular application, deployment, and / or planting, using a particular type and amount of a sensitive product or combinations thereof, in a particular agricultural setting, such as a field, with a particular seed, seedling, plant, plant part, soil, biomass, or combinations thereof and under particular conditions. Therefore, what is needed is a system and method for handling and timelydeployment and uniform delivery of micro amounts of sensitive products in agricultural applications.SUMMARY

[0004] Therefore, it is a primary object, feature, and / or advantage of the present disclosure to improve on the state of the art and overcome the deficiencies within the art.

[0005] It is also a primary object, feature and / or advantage of the present disclosure to provide a system and method for handling and timely deployment and uniform delivery of micro amounts of sensitive products by optimized product injection into a carrier liquid.

[0006] It is a further object, feature and / or advantage of the present disclosure to a system and method for handling and timely deployment and uniform delivery of micro amounts of sensitive products by precisely calculating and applying a targeted range of a microscale amount (low volume) of a product to be applied.

[0007] It is a yet another object, feature and / or advantage of the present disclosure to provide a system and method for handling and timely deployment and uniform delivery of micro amounts of sensitive microorganisms chemicals, biologicals and / or byproducts by varying the type(s) and amount(s) depending on the needs of the microorganisms, chemicals, biologicals and / or byproducts, to the object or point of application / deployment, and location being applied.

[0008] It is a still another object, feature and / or advantage of the present disclosure to provide a system and method for handling and timely deployment and uniform delivery of micro amounts of sensitive products by adding multiple different products consecutively or simultaneously to be applied.

[0009] At least one other object, feature and / or advantage of the present disclosure is to provide a system and method for handling and timely deployment and uniform delivery of micro amounts of sensitive products by ensuring all outputs apply a homogenous or near homogenous mix of product and liquid carrier.

[0010] Still another other object, feature and / or advantage of the present disclosure is to provide a system and method for handling and timely deployment and uniform delivery of micro amounts of sensitive products by ensuring all outputs apply a uniform or nearly uniform amount of a mix of product and liquid carrier.

[0011] In still another other object, feature and / or advantage of the present disclosure is to provide a system and method for handling and timely deployment and uniform delivery of micro amounts of sensitive products across multiple outputs or a set of outputs.

[0012] In yet another object, feature and / or advantage of the present disclosure is to provide a system and method for handling and timely deployment and uniform delivery of micro amounts of sensitive products by automatically adjusting carrier flowrates based on adjustments to product flowrates.

[0013] Still other objects, features and / or advantages of the present disclosure are to provide a system and method for handling and timely deployment and uniform delivery of micro amounts of sensitive products by maintaining the efficacy, vitality, and virility of the product until deployment or application.

[0014] It is another object, feature and / or advantage of the present disclosure to provide a system and method for handling and timely deployment and uniform delivery of micro amounts of sensitive products applied in a field based on a location within the field.

[0015] It is still another object, feature and / or advantage of the present disclosure to provide a system and method for handling and timely deployment and uniform delivery of micro amounts of sensitive products applied to a seed in a field immediately prior to planting based on a location within the field.

[0016] It is still yet another object, feature and / or advantage of the present disclosure to provide a system and method for handling and timely deployment and uniform delivery of micro amounts of sensitive products deployed onto a seed, seedling, plant, plant part, soil, biomass, or combinations thereof by maintaining the efficacy, vitality, and virility of the product until deployment or application.

[0017] It is at least another object, feature and / or advantage of the present disclosure to provide a system and method for handling and timely deployment and uniform delivery of micro amounts of sensitive products in agricultural applications by optimizing efficacy of the liquid solution, maximizing total acres of application, and while minimizing applied amounts of liquid product and carrier, or solution, within the field.

[0018] It is yet still another object, feature and / or advantage of the present disclosure to provide a system and method for handling and timely deployment and uniform delivery of micro amountsof sensitive products by matching or nearly matching liquid flow requirements (e.g., pressure, flow rate, viscosity), such as for a nozzle, at a discharge or across multiple discharges.

[0019] At least one of the other objects, features and / or advantages of the present disclosure to is to provide a system and method for handling and timely deployment and uniform delivery of micro amounts of sensitive products by adjusting the introduction rate of a liquid carrier equal to, nearly equal to or proportional to the introduction rate of one or more liquid products into a flow path plumbed to a discharge or multiple discharges.

[0020] At least one of the other objects, features and / or advantages of the present disclosure to is to provide a system and method for handling and timely deployment and uniform delivery of micro amounts of sensitive products encompassing off-seed deployment in agricultural processes, including field applications during non-planting activities such as field conditioning or other beneficial treatments within a field environment.

[0021] In an aspect of the present disclosure, a method for handling and timely deployment and uniform delivery of micro amounts of sensitive products is disclosed. The method includes, for example, such steps as, providing a carrier reservoir having a liquid carrier and one or more product reservoirs having a liquid product wherein the carrier reservoir and the one or more liquid product reservoirs are plumbed by a liquid flow path to a discharge, introducing an amount of the liquid carrier and the one or more liquid products into the liquid flow path, and adjusting the amount of the one or more liquid products in the liquid flow path automatically adjusts the amount of the liquid carrier in the liquid flow path for maintaining a generally constant flow rate of liquid, such as when discharged.

[0022] In another aspect of the present disclosure, a system for handling and timely deployment and uniform delivery of micro amounts of sensitive products in agricultural applications is disclosed. The system includes, for example, a liquid carrier reservoir having a liquid carrier, one or more liquid product reservoirs having a liquid product, a discharge plumbed to the liquid carrier reservoir and the one or more liquid product reservoirs by a liquid flow path, a bypass disposed in the liquid flow path between the one or more liquid product reservoirs and the liquid carrier reservoir. An amount of the liquid carrier in the liquid flow path, wherein the bypass adjusts the amount of the liquid carrier in the liquid flow path based on an amount of the liquid product introduced into the liquid flow path from the one or more liquid product reservoirs.

[0023] In yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a method for handling and timely deployment and uniform delivery of micro amounts of sensitive products in agricultural applications is disclosed. The method includes, for example, such steps as, providing an agricultural implement having a liquid carrier reservoir with a liquid carrier and one or more liquid product reservoirs with a liquid product, wherein the liquid carrier reservoir and the one or more liquid product reservoirs are plumbed by a liquid flow path to one or more discharge outlets disposed on the agricultural implement, introducing an amount of the liquid carrier and the liquid product from the one or more liquid product reservoirs into the liquid flow path, and adjusting the amount of the liquid product from the one or more liquid product reservoirs in the liquid flow path automatically adjusts the amount of the liquid carrier in the liquid flow path for maintaining a generally constant flow rate of liquid when discharged from the one or more discharge outlets.

[0024] One or more of these and / or other objects, features, or advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent from the specification and claims that follow. No single aspect of the disclosure need to provide each and every object, feature, or advantage. Different aspects of the disclosure may have different objects, features, or advantages. Therefore, the present disclosure is not to be limited to or by any objects, features, or advantages stated herein.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] Illustrated embodiments of the disclosure are described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, which are incorporated by reference herein, and where:

[0026] FIGS. 1-12 are pictorial representations of exemplary liquid distribution systems in accordance with illustrative aspects of the present disclosure;

[0027] FIGS. 13-14 are pictorial representations of an agricultural implement with a liquid distribution system in accordance with illustrative aspects of the present disclosure;

[0028] FIG. 15 is pictorial representation of a control box housing and liquid distribution controls in accordance with an illustrative aspect of the present disclosure;

[0029] FIG. 16 is a pictorial representation of a liquid distributor in accordance with another illustrative aspect of the present disclosure;

[0030] FIG. 17 is top view of the liquid distributor shown in FIG. 16;

[0031] FIG. 18 is a sectional view of the liquid distributor taken along line 18-18 in FIG. 16;

[0032] FIG. 19 is a sectional view of the liquid distributor taken along line 19-19 in FIG. 16;

[0033] FIG. 20 is a pictorial representation of a liquid distributor and a capping plate (shown removed) in accordance with an illustrative aspect of the present disclosure;

[0034] FIG. 21 is a sectional view of the liquid distributor taken along line 21-21 in FIG. 20;

[0035] FIG. 22 is a pictorial representation of a liquid distributor in accordance with another illustrative aspect of the present invention;

[0036] FIG. 23 is an opposite side view of the liquid distributor shown in FIG. 22;

[0037] FIG. 24 is a top view of the liquid distributor in FIG. 22 with the top surface hidden for illustrating the internal features and configurations;

[0038] FIGS. 25A-C are pictorial representations of exemplary nozzle mounting brackets in accordance with an illustrative aspect of the present disclosure;

[0039] FIG. 25D is a top view of the nozzle mounting bracket shown in FIG. 25B;

[0040] FIG. 26 is a pictorial representation of a system for uniform fluid delivery of micro amounts of a product at seed drop tube in accordance with an illustrative aspect of the present disclosure;

[0041] FIG. 27 is a pictorial representation of liquid product being applied to a seed at the furrow in accordance with an illustrative aspect of the present disclosure;

[0042] FIG. 28 is a flow diagram for a method of uniform fluid delivery of micro amounts of a product in accordance with an illustrative aspect of the present disclosure; and

[0043] FIGS. 29-30 are a flow diagram for a method of uniform fluid delivery of micro amounts of a product in accordance with another illustrative aspect of the present disclosure.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0044] The present disclosure contemplates many different systems and methods for handling and timely deployment and uniform delivery of micro amounts of sensitive products, such as microorganisms and / or biochemical byproducts. Representative applications of methods and systems are described in this section. These examples are being provided solely to add context and aid in the understanding of the described aspects of the disclosure. It will thus be apparent to one skilled in the art that the described aspects of the disclosure may be practiced without some and / or all of these specific details. In other instances, well known process steps have not been describedin detail in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the described embodiments. Other applications are possible, such that the following examples should not be taken as limiting.

[0045] In the following detailed description, references are made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the description and show, by way of illustration, specific embodiments in accordance with the methods and systems of the present disclosure. Although aspects of the disclosure are described in sufficient detail to enable one skilled in the art to practice the described embodiments, it is understood that these examples are not limiting; other aspects may be used, and changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the described aspects of the disclosure.

[0046] It will also be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by such terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first step could be termed a second step, and, similarly, a second step could be termed a first step, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

[0047] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular aspects of the disclosure only and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure. As used in the description of the invention and the appended claims, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. By way of example only, while the singular form of numerous components and steps are described in various aspects of the disclosure herein, it will be apparent that more than one of such components and / or steps can be used to accomplish the same. It will also be understood that the term "and / or" as used herein refers to and encompasses any and all possible combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. It will be further understood that the terms "comprises" and / or "comprising," when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, functions, integers, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, but do not preclude the presence and / or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or groups thereof. It will be similarly understood that the terms "including," "include," "includes", "such as" and the like, when used in this specification, are intended to be exemplary and should be construed as including, but not be limited to, all items recited thereafter. As used herein, the term "if’ may be construed to mean "when" or "upon" or "in response to determining" or "in response to detecting," depending on the context.

[0048] As used herein, the term "agricultural implement" includes agricultural equipment, devices systems and / or technology used in agricultural planting, spraying, and harvesting operations. For example, the present disclosure contemplates that planters can include past planters, currently existing planters, future planters and other current and future equipment used in the planting process, including, but not be limited to, tractors, cabins, nurse tanks, and bulk input devices. The various features of the disclosure are useful in connection with any device used in planting one or more seeds (e.g., broadcast planters, drill planters, air planters, bulk planters, individual row unit planters, research planters, clam-shell planters, cone planters, cyclone planters, pneumatic planters, finger planters, plate planters, and the like), especially those devices that could be used to plant one or more combinations of seeds and seed-applied products that are prescriptively selected for planting at one or more locations. The systems and methods of the present disclosure, including the various features, may be implemented on tillage equipment, foliar applicators, harvesting equipment, a drone, a plane, a helicopter or other like aerial deployment craft, a bulk spreader, a transplanter, a soil injection or knife system, and any of the aforementioned implements whether partially or fully autonomous.

[0049] As used herein, the term "seed" includes seeds of any type of plants, including, but not be limited to, row crops, cereals, grains, oilseeds, fruits, vegetables, turf, forage, ornamental, nuts, tobacco, plantation crops and the like (including, without limitation, cotton and other fiber and hemp and related seeds).

[0050] As used herein, the term “plant” includes any kingdom (Plantae) of multicellular eukaryotic mostly photosynthetic organisms typically lacking locomotive movement or obvious nervous or sensory organs and possessing cellulose cell walls.

[0051] As used herein, the term “soil” includes the upper layer of earth that may be dug or plowed and in which plants grow or a medium in which something takes hold and develops.

[0052] As used herein, the term “biomass” includes organic material that comes from plants and animals, including plant materials and animal waste.

[0053] As used herein, the term liquid “carrier” includes a liquid engaged in transporting micro doses of inputs, such as doses of sensitive products.

[0054] As used herein, the term "optimized” includes to make and / or maintain as perfect, effective, or functional as possible for the intended environment and purpose of utilization.

[0055] As used herein, the term “biologicals” includes living organisms or derived from living organisms or natural sources.

[0056] As used herein, the term “chemical byproducts” refers to substances formed as secondary or incidental results of a chemical reaction or process, in addition to the primary desired product.

[0057] As used herein, the term “homogenous” includes combinations or mixtures having a uniform structure or composition throughout.

[0058] As used herein, the term "uniform” or “uniformly” includes providing an unvaried application, consistent in rate, coverage, and dosage, such as across multiple outputs / discharges.

[0059] As used herein, the term “micro amounts” includes minute quantities or variations of quantities.

[0060] As used herein, the term “sensitive products” includes products that degrade and decrease in efficacy, vitality, and / or virility if not handled in a timely manner, in an optimal state, and under optimal conditions. This includes exposure to various elements, conditions, and the like (e.g., heat, cold, light, air, friction, pressure, agitation, excessive handling, and / or exposure to or combination with pesticides, salts, acids, or other substances that kill, degrade, or otherwise negatively impact living organisms). Sensitive products can include living organisms, such as, for example, any past, present, and / or future active ingredients, and may include chemicals, biologicals (including, without limitation, fungal, bacterial, parasitic, insects, and other living organisms), biostimulants, micronutrients, macronutrients, and / or other compositions. Examples of plant-based targets impacted by sensitive products include seeds, seedlings, plants, or plant parts. Examples of environment-based targets include soil, water, biomass, or other substrates within a field or similar application environment. Sensitive products are particularly susceptible to degradation or reduced functionality when exposed to conditions in these targets, such as variations in pH, salinity, microbial populations, or environmental contaminants. Examples of some current potential active ingredients include nitrogen, clothianidin, ipconazole, trifloxystrobin, imidacloprid, metalaxyl, pyraclostrobin, bradyrhizobium, myclobutanil, thiamethoxam, abamectin, mefenoxam, fludioxonil, fipronil, azoxystrobin, cyantraniliprole, Rynaxypyr®, and the like. As used herein, the terms “sensitive products" and / or "liquid products" include any composition, such as a solution, applied to seeds contemporaneously with, immediately or nearly immediately before the seeds are planted (e.g., when the seed comes in contact with the soil in a field), applied to soil contemporaneously with, immediately or nearly immediately after the seed is planted, applieddirectly to seedlings, plants, or plant parts in a field contemporaneously with, immediately or nearly immediately upon deployment, or applied directly to biomass in a field contemporaneously with, immediately or nearly immediately upon deployment. The liquid product(s) can include active ingredients, other products, combinations of more than one active ingredient and / or other products, and / or mixtures having one or more active ingredients and / or one or more other products. Active ingredients can include any type of product that causes something to occur (e g., the ingredient(s) in a pesticide that impact the pest, the ingredient(s) in a fungicide that impact the disease and / or plant growth, health, and / or vigor, the ingredient(s) in a nematicide that impact the nematode, or the ingredient(s) in an inoculant and / or other plant growth and / or health product that improve the plant’s growth, health, and / or vigor). These may include growth regulators (e.g., auxins, gibberellins, cytokinins, abscisic acid, and ethylene), which influence plant development, growth rate, or environmental responses, either alone or in combination with other active ingredients. Active ingredients can include any past, present, and / or future active ingredients and can be chemicals, biologicals (including, without limitation, fungal, bacterial, parasitic, insects, and other living organisms), biostimulants, micronutrients, macronutrients, synthetic chemistries such as seed treatments, herbicides, fungicides, and / or other compositions. Other products typically do not impact the target (e.g., pest, disease, nematode, and / or plant growth, health, and / or vigor) but can be included for various reasons, such as causing the active ingredients to be at the appropriate levels and / or concentrations to be efficacious but not harmful to the seed and / or plant, helping the active ingredients affix and / or stick to the seed, helping treated seeds not stick to each other and / or other objects, improving the color of the treated seed (e.g., to indicate the seed is treated with a pesticide), increasing the number and / or amount of active ingredients a seed can absorb and / or otherwise carry, and the like. Examples of such products include polymers, pigments, binders, surfactants, colorants, coatings, and other additives. Liquid products can take any form, including but not limited to wet and slurry-based products.

[0061] As used herein, the term "combination" includes one or more types and / or one or more amounts of applied products that are applied to a seed, seed part, seedling, germinating plant, plant, plant part, or biomass.

[0062] As used herein, the term "farmer" includes farmers, farm owners, farm managers, farm investors, farmer operators, seed companies, planter companies, chemical companies, biologicalcompanies, agricultural research companies and / or any other individual and / or entity that can engage in farm-related decisions and / or activities.

[0063] As used herein, the term " condi tion(s)" includes any circumstance that can impact what seed to be planted or plant to be grown at a particular location and / or the type and / or amount of product(s) to be applied. In some aspects of the disclosure, these conditions can include historical conditions, current conditions, future and / or predictive conditions and the like. By way of example, historical conditions can include past pests, insects, parasites, and / or diseases (e.g., rootworms, cutworms, aphids, nematodes, white mold, fungus), pest pressures, soil types, weather conditions, water levels, soil conditions (e.g., last-known nutrient, fertility, temperature and / or moisture levels of the soil), weeds, weed pressures, knowledge of the terrain of the field, and / or planting practices and / or associated yields. By way of further example, current conditions can include current pest type and / or levels, crop, seeding rate, soil nutrition, disease, and insect pressure / pest pressure, soil type, weather conditions, planting date, water levels, soil conditions, weed levels, weed type, weed pressure, field terrain of the field, global positioning system (GPS) coordinates, geographical location of the system, geographical location, other location-based conditions, seed availability, nearby pest pressures and / or trends, commodity pricing and / or other market conditions, planter gas level, planter engine and / or ground speed and / or other planting operational monitoring information. By way of still further example, future conditions can include weather forecasts and / or predictions, projected planting date, projected yield of seeds, and / or predicted commodity pricing and / or other market conditions. Additionally, the conditions can be based, at least in part, on historical measurements, real-time measurements, predicative measurements, analytics and / or the like.

[0064] The present disclosure sets forth microscale methods and systems for handling and timely deployment and uniform delivery of micro amounts of sensitive microorganisms in agricultural applications is better understood by contrasting microscale, or micro amounts, with macroscale application processes, like that of traditional in furrow applications. It is important to note that macroscale application processes, like traditional in furrow applications and foliar applications, use bigger tubing, larger applicators, longer dispense times and volumes (e.g., liters), larger valves, higher volume pumps, and other macroscale components often to create a pool of the material in the furrow to ensure enough remains in the soil when the seed actually hits the furrow. This application inefficiency results in over application (i.e., overage), low-precision application, longerapplication times, and so forth. In addition to the material waste and high cost of goods sold resulting from in-furrow applications, seed can be damaged when too much of certain active ingredients contact seed. Conversely, microscale treatments involve smaller tubing, smaller applicators, shorter dispense times and volumes (e.g., deciliters), smaller valves, lower volume pumps, and other microscale components to create a spray, mist or fog or other dispersions for applying to the seed. Seed treatment material losses are minimized due to precision application (i.e., minimal to little overage), even if there’s overage it represents a smaller volumetric amount compared to macroscale overage, high precision and more direct application, short application times, less cost, and so forth. The potential for seed damage is greatly reduced if not eliminated with microscale treatments.

[0065] The present disclosure sets forth microscale methods and systems for handling and timely deployment and uniform delivery of micro amounts of sensitive microorganisms in agricultural applications is also better understood given the objects, features and advantages of the present disclosure are to maintain the efficacy, viability and virility of microorganisms up to and until deployment, such as in a field, such as on a seed, seedling, plant, plant part, or other biomass. Maintaining the efficacy, vitality and virility of the sensitive product(s) up to and until deployment is critical to promote optimal agronomic performance including but not limited to plant health, soil health, drought resistance, nutrient uptake, yield, etc.

[0066] FIGS. 1-27 illustrate various aspects of systems and methods for handling and timely deployment and uniform delivery of micro amounts of sensitive liquid product(s), such as microorganisms and / or biochemical byproducts. Although pictorial illustrations and corresponding descriptions are provided for various aspects, embodiments, and configurations, each is directed to the concepts set forth in the exemplary claims appended hereto and form the totality of the present disclosure. Written description and disclosure for each pictorial illustration is provided to elaborate on the concepts presented herein. Written description directed to a single or several figures for the purpose of elaborating on the concepts of the present disclosure is not to be limited to any one figure and is presented to provide enablement and written description of all figures and concepts of the present disclosure. In one aspect, the disclosed system and method are designed for handling, timely deployment, and uniform delivery of micro amounts of sensitive products. While particularly suited for on-seed application, the system is also adaptable for off- seed deployment in agricultural processes. These include, but are not limited to, field applicationsduring non-planting activities such as field conditioning, soil treatments, or other processes where the precise and efficient application of sensitive products is beneficial. The flexibility of the system enables its use across a wide range of agricultural environments to optimize the effectiveness of sensitive products.

[0067] FIGS. 1-4 and 28 illustrate various system configurations and methods for the same for handling and timely deployment and uniform delivery of micro amounts of sensitive products. System 10, shown, for example, in FIGS. 1-4 and 29, includes a liquid carrier, housed, for example, in a liquid carrier reservoir 12 and liquid product housed in liquid product reservoirs 14A-14D (Step 150 in FIG. 28). An amount of the liquid carrier from liquid carrier reservoir 12 and an amount of one or more liquid products from liquid product reservoirs 14A-14D are introduced into liquid flow path 16A (Step 152 in FIG. 28). For example, a pump may be configured to communicate a liquid carrier through a flow path 16A at a specified volumetric rate (e.g., oz / sec) and speed (e.g., rpm). The specified rate may be adjusted equal to, nearly equal to, or proportional to adjustments in the amounts of liquid product introduced into flow path 16A by adjusting the rate of operation of the liquid carrier pump (Step 156 in FIG. 28). In at least one aspect, liquid carrier pump may be operated at a constant flow rate (Step 158 in FIG. 28). A valve (not shown), such as a solenoid valve, controlled by system 10, may be configured between liquid carrier reservoir 12 and flow path 16A, for controlling flow of liquid carrier into flow path 16A. Liquid product reservoirs 14A-14D are plumbed directly into fluid communication with flow path 16A, such as shown, by way of example, in FIGS. 1 and 3. In at least one aspect of the present disclosure, such as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, liquid product reservoirs 14A-14D are plumbed directly into fluid communication with a liquid product mixing reservoir 22 and liquid product mixing reservoir 22 is plumbed into fluid communication with flow path 16A. The number of liquid product reservoirs 14A-14D can vary according to the need. Each liquid product reservoir 14A-14D can be configured with a pump, such as a peristaltic pump, for controlling flow of liquid product into flow path 16A at a specified volumetric rate (e.g., oz / sec) and speed (e.g., rpm). Liquid carrier pump may be operated at a variable rate depending on the amount of liquid product to be dispensed into liquid flow path 16A (Step 160 in FIG. 28). A valve (not shown), such as a solenoid valve, controlled by system 10, may be configured between liquid product reservoir 14A-14D and flow path 16A, for controlling flow of liquid product into flow path 16A. A liquid distributor 18 is plumbed into fluid communication with flow path 16A. Liquid carrier from liquid carrierreservoir 12 and liquid product(s) from liquid product reservoirs 14A-14D are communicated through flow path 16A into liquid distributor 18. In at least one instance of operation, such as when system 10 does not call for deployment of liquid product from one or more liquid product reservoirs 14A-14D, only liquid carrier from liquid carrier reservoir 12 is communicated through flow path 16A and into liquid distributor 18. In at least one instance of operation, such as when system 10 calls for deployment of liquid product from one or more liquid product reservoirs 14A- 14D, liquid carrier and liquid product(s) is communicated through flow path 16A. Liquid product from one or more liquid product reservoirs 14A-14D mix in flow path 16A whereby liquid product(s) is / are uniformly dispersed throughout liquid carrier in flow path 16A for providing a homogenous or nearly homogenous solution of liquid carrier from liquid carrier reservoir 12 and one or more liquid product from liquid product reservoirs 14A-14D in liquid distributor 18. In at least one aspect, such as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, liquid product from one or more liquid product reservoirs 14A-14D mix in liquid product mixing reservoir 22 whereby liquid product(s) is / are uniformly dispersed throughout liquid carrier in liquid product mixing reservoir 22 for providing a homogenous or nearly homogenous solution of liquid carrier from liquid carrier reservoir 12 and one or more liquid product from liquid product reservoirs 14A-14D in liquid product mixing reservoir 22, flow path 16A and liquid distributor 18. Liquid distributor 18 is plumbed into fluid communication with liquid discharges 20A-20D by flow paths 16B-16E whereby liquid from liquid distributor 18 is uniformly communicated to liquid discharges 20A-20D (Step 162 in FIG. 28). Although shown as two separate components, liquid distributor 18 and liquid product mixing reservoir 22 may be configured as a single component. For example, distributor 18 may also be designed to include the features and functions of liquid product mixing reservoir 22 or vice-versa. In at least one aspect, such as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, flow path 16A is plumbed directly into fluid communication with flow paths 16B-16E instead of liquid distributor 18 shown in FIGS. 1-2. A valve (not shown), such as a solenoid valve, controlled by system 10, may be configured between liquid product distributor 18 and liquid discharges 20A-20D for controlling flow of liquid through flow paths 16B-16E. In at least one instance of operation, such as when system 10 calls for deployment of liquid from each liquid discharge 20A-20D, fluid is communicated from liquid distributor 18 through flow paths 16B-16E to each liquid discharge 20A-20D. In at least another instance of operation, such as when system 10 does not call for deployment of liquid from one or more liquid discharges, fluid is not communicated through one or more flow paths 16B-16E andone or more corresponding liquid discharges 20A-20D. In at least one instance of operation, system 10 may close a valve (not shown), such as an electrically controlled solenoid valve, to prevent liquid deployment from one or more liquid discharges 20A-20D. By way of example, system 10 may independently control deployment of fluid flow from each liquid discharge 20A- 20D by operation of a valve. The amount of liquid carrier deployed from liquid discharges 20A- 20D can be controlled, for example, by the rate and pressure of operation of a liquid carrier pump for pumping liquid carrier from the liquid carrier reservoir 12 to liquid discharges 20A-20D, the size (e.g., internal diameter) of the flow paths 16A-E, and the size and flow characteristics of the orifice (e.g., internal diameter) of liquid discharges 20A-20D and corresponding nozzle. Similarly, the amount of liquid product deployed from liquid discharges 20A-20D can be controlled, for example, by the rate and pressure of operation of a liquid product pump for pumping liquid product from the liquid product reservoirs 14A-14D to liquid discharges 20A-20D, the size (e.g., internal diameter) of the flow paths 16A-E, and the size of the orifice (e.g., internal diameter) of liquid discharges 20A-20D. Liquid carrier from liquid carrier reservoir 12 and liquid product from liquid product reservoirs 14A-14D pumped into flow paths 16A-16E at a rate exceeding a liquid discharge capacity for liquid discharges 20A-20D increases the pressure in flow paths 16A-16E. In the case where liquid discharges 20A-20D have an orifice with operational requirements, such as a specified pressure and flow rate, system 10 can adjust the rate of operation of the liquid carrier pump plumbed for pumping liquid carrier into flow path 16A from liquid carrier reservoir 12 while maintaining the desired quantity or flow rate of liquid product dispensed into flow path 16A. In at least one instance of operation, system 10 may be configured to decrease the rate of operation of a liquid carrier pump thereby reducing the rate of liquid carrier dispensed into flow path 16A at the same or nearly the same rate or proportionally to any increase in a rate of operation of a liquid product pump (i.e., an increase in a rate of disbursement of liquid product from any liquid product reservoir 14A-14D into flow path 16A) to maintain the same pressure and flow rate of liquid from liquid discharges 20A-20D despite the rate of liquid product from each liquid product reservoir 14A-14D changing based on the number and amounts of liquid product being deployed by system 10. In at least one aspect, system 10 includes discharges 20A-20D having a nozzle with flow specifications and characteristics suitable for micro amounts of liquid deployment. Optimal operation specifications for a liquid nozzle, such as a nozzle specced for micro amounts of liquid, include, for example, the pressure, flow rate, and viscosity of the liquid being discharged from thenozzle. Changes in the amounts of one or more liquid products dispensed into flow path 16A from liquid product reservoirs 14A-14D can increase or decrease the pressure and flow rate at each discharge 20A-20D and corresponding nozzle. System 10 shown in FIGS. 1-4 may be configured to adjust the pressure and / or flow rate of liquid carrier from liquid carrier reservoir 12 equal to, nearly equal to, or proportionally to changes in the pressure and flow rate of liquid in flow path 16A resulting from any increases or decreases in the amount of one or more liquid products introduced into liquid flow path 16A, thereby continuously matching or nearly matching optimal operating properties of the nozzle at each liquid discharge 20A-20D. Flow paths 16A-16E and reservoirs 12 may be optimized for maintaining the full efficacy, vitality, and virility of the liquid products up and until deployment from liquid discharges 20A-20D. Maintaining the efficacy, vitality and virility of the sensitive product(s) up to and until deployment is critical to promote optimal agronomic performance including but not limited to plant health, soil health, drought resistance, nutrient uptake, yield, etc.

[0068] FIGS. 5-6 illustrate various system configurations and methods for the same for handling and timely deployment and uniform delivery of micro amounts of sensitive products without using a liquid carrier dispensed from a liquid carrier reservoir, such as liquid reservoir shown in FIGS. 1-4. System 10, shown in FIGS. 5-6, includes liquid product reservoirs 14A-14D plumbed directly in fluid communication with liquid product mixing reservoir 22. Liquid product mixing reservoir 22 may be plumbed directly into fluid communication with flow path 16A as shown in FIG. 5 or directly in fluid communication with liquid product mixing reservoir 22 as shown in FIG. 6. The number of liquid product reservoirs 14A-14D can vary according to the need. Each liquid product reservoir can be configured with a pump, such as a peristaltic pump, for controlling flow of liquid product into liquid product mixing reservoir 22 at a specified volumetric rate (e.g., oz / sec) and speed (e.g., rpm). A valve (not shown), such as a solenoid valve, controlled by system 10, may be configured between liquid product reservoirs 14A-14D and liquid product mixing reservoir 22, for controlling flow of liquid product into liquid product mixing reservoir 22. Liquid product from one or more liquid product reservoirs 14A-14D mix in liquid product mixing reservoir 22 whereby liquid product(s) is / are uniformly dispersed in liquid product mixing reservoir 22 for providing a homogenous or nearly homogenous solution in liquid product mixing reservoir 22, flow path 16A and liquid distributor 18. As shown in FIG. 6, a mixed liquid product pump 24 may be configured and plumbed into fluid communication with liquid product mixing reservoir 22 and liquid flowpath 16A for dispensing a liquid product or mixed liquid products into flow path 16A at a desired pressure and flow rate. As shown in FIG. 5, a liquid product pump may be configured at each liquid product reservoir 14A-14D to pump liquid product into liquid product mixing reservoir 22 and liquid flow path 16A. Alternatively, liquid flow path 16A may be configured to provide mixing of liquid product from each liquid product reservoir 14A-14D to alleviate the need for a liquid product mixing reservoir. A liquid distributor 18 is plumbed into fluid communication with liquid flow path 16A whereby liquid product from liquid product reservoirs 14A-14D is communicated through flow path 16A into liquid distributor 18. Liquid product(s) from one or more liquid product reservoirs 14A-14D continue to mix in flow path 16A whereby liquid product(s) is / are uniformly dispersed for providing a homogenous or nearly homogenous solution of one or more liquid product from liquid product reservoirs 14A-14D in liquid distributor 18. Although shown as two separate components, liquid distributor 18 and liquid product mixing reservoir 22 may be configured as a single component. For example, distributor 18 may also be designed to include the features and functions of liquid product mixing reservoir 22 or vice-versa. Liquid distributor 18 is plumbed into fluid communication with liquid discharges 20A-20D by flow paths 16B-16E whereby liquid from liquid distributor 18 is uniformly communicated to liquid discharges 20A-20D. A valve (not shown), such as a solenoid valve, controlled by system 10, may be configured between liquid product distributor 18 and liquid discharges 20A-20D for controlling flow of liquid product(s) through flow paths 16B-16E. In at least one instance of operation, such as when system 10 calls for deployment of liquid from each liquid discharge 20A-20D, a liquid product is a mix of liquid products are communicated from liquid distributor 18 through flow paths 16B-16E to each liquid discharge 20A-20D. In at least another instance of operation, such as when system 10 does not call for deployment of a liquid product or a mix of liquid products from one or more liquid discharges 20A-20D, liquid product is not communicated through one or more flow paths 16B-16E corresponding liquid discharges 20A-20D. In at least one instance of operation, system 10 may close a valve (not shown), such as an electrically controlled solenoid valve, to prevent liquid product deployment from one or more liquid discharges 20A-20D. By way of example, system 10 may independently control deployment of liquid product from each liquid discharge 20A-20D by operation of a valve. The amount of liquid product deployed from liquid discharges 20A-20D can be controlled, for example, by the rate and pressure of operation of mixed liquid product pump 24 (see FIG. 6) or the pumps for each liquid product reservoir 14A-14D (seeFIG. 6), the size (e.g., internal diameter) of the flow paths 16A-E, and the size and flow characteristics of the orifice (e.g., internal diameter) of liquid discharges 20A-20D and corresponding nozzle. A liquid product or mix of liquid products pumped into flow paths 16A- 16E at a rate exceeding a liquid discharge capacity for liquid discharges 20A-20D increases the pressure in flow paths 16A-16E. In the case where liquid discharges 20A-20D have an orifice with operational requirements, such as a specified pressure and flow rate, system 10 can adjust the rate of operation (e.g., pressure and flow rate) of mixed liquid product pump 24 or the pumps for each liquid product reservoir 14A-14D plumbed for pumping a liquid product or mix of liquid products into flow path 16A from liquid product mixing reservoir 22. In at least one instance of operation, system 10 may be configured to increase or decrease the rate of operation of mixed liquid product pump 24 or the pumps for each liquid product reservoir 14A-14D thereby increasing or reducing the rate of liquid product dispensed into flow path 16A at the same or nearly the same rate or proportionally to any increase in a rate of operation of a liquid product pump (i.e., an increase or decrease in a rate of disbursement of liquid product from any liquid product reservoir 14A-14D into liquid product mixing reservoir 22) to maintain the same pressure and flow rate of liquid from liquid discharges 20A-20D despite the rate of liquid product from each liquid product reservoir 14A-14D and liquid product mixing reservoir 22 changing based on the number and amounts of liquid product being deployed by system 10. Further, in at least one aspect of the configurations shown in FIGS. 5-6, a purging reservoir or bladder (not shown) having a pressurized air or a pressurized liquid may be plumbed in fluid communication with liquid product mixing reservoir to purge flow paths 16A-16E of liquid product(s) by operation of a valve, such as a solenoid valve. Flow paths 16A-16E, liquid product mixing reservoir 22, and liquid distributor 18 may be optimized for maintaining the full efficacy, vitality, and virility of the liquid products up and until deployment from liquid discharges 20A-20D. Maintaining the efficacy, vitality and virility of the sensitive product(s) up to and until deployment is critical to promote optimal agronomic performance including but not limited to plant health, soil health, drought resistance, nutrient uptake, yield, etc.

[0069] FIGS. 7-12 and 28 illustrate various system configurations and methods for the same for handling and timely deployment and uniform delivery of micro amounts of sensitive products using a liquid carrier dispensed from a liquid carrier reservoir, such as liquid carrier reservoir 12. System 10, shown, for example, in FIGS. 7-12, includes a liquid carrier, housed, for example, in aliquid carrier reservoir 12 and liquid product housed in liquid product reservoirs 14A-14C (Step 150 in FIG. 28). Pump 26D is plumbed into liquid communication with liquid carrier reservoir 12 by flow path 16H and configured to communicate a liquid carrier through flow paths 16H, 16J, 16A, and 16B-16E at a constant specified volumetric rate in ounces / sec (oz / sec) and pump speed in revolutions per minute (rpm), as shown in Table 1 (Steps 152, 158 in FIG. 28). A valve (not shown), such as a solenoid valve, controlled by system 10, may be configured between liquid carrier reservoir 12 and flow path 16A, for controlling flow of a liquid carrier from liquid carrier reservoir 12 into flow paths 16H, 16J, 16A, and 16B-16E. Bypass 28 is plumbed in between flow path 16J connected in fluid communication with flow path 16A and flow path 16F connected in fluid communication with liquid carrier reservoir 12. Bypass 28 is configured with, for example, an adjustable pressure relief valve or a ball valve check valve to recycle liquid carrier back into liquid carrier reservoir 12 in an amount equal to, nearly equal to, or proportional to the amounts of liquid product from liquid product reservoirs 14A-14C introduced into flow path 16A, as is discussed below in additional detail (Step 156 in FIG. 28). For example, an adjustable pressure relief valve may be set to the desired operating pressure of system 10, such as, for example, 30 psi. Liquid product reservoirs 14A-14C may be plumbed directly in fluid communication with flow path 16A as shown in FIGS. 7-8, plumbed directly in fluid communication with liquid product mixing reservoir 22 as shown in FIGS. 9-10, or plumbed directly in fluid communication with liquid distributors 18 or 18A-18D shown in FIGS. 11-12. The number of liquid product reservoirs 14A-14C can vary according to the need for different types of liquid product. The number of liquid distributors 18, such as liquid distributors 18A-18D, can vary depending on whether one liquid distributor feeds a single or multiple discharges, such as discharges 20A-20D. Liquid distributors 18 and 18A-18D may be configured to include features and functions of liquid product mixing reservoir 22 shown in FIGS. 9-10. Each liquid product reservoir 14A-14C is configured with a pump 26A-26C, such as a peristaltic pump, for controlling flow of liquid product from liquid product reservoirs 14A-14C through one or more of flow paths 16K-16Q directly into flow path 16A in FIGS. 7-8, liquid product mixing reservoir in FIGS. 9-10, and liquid distributors 18 and 18A-18D in FIGS. 11-12 at a variable specified volumetric rate (e.g., oz / sec) and speed (e.g., rpm) (Steps 152, 160 in FIG. 28). System 10 is configured to control the volumetric rate and speed of each pump 26A-26C. A valve (not shown), such as a solenoid valve, controlled by system 10, may be configured in one or more of flow paths 16K-16Q between liquid product reservoirs 14A-14C and flow path 16A in FIGS. 7-8, between liquid product reservoirs 14A-14C and liquid product mixing reservoir 22 in FIGS. 9-10 and between liquid product reservoirs 14A-14C and liquid distributors 18 and 18A-18D in FIGS. 11-12 for controlling flow of liquid product into flow path 16A, liquid product mixing reservoir 22, and distributors 18 and 18A-18D. In FIGS. 7-8, liquid distributor 18 is plumbed directly in fluid communication with flow path 16A. Flow path 16A may be plumbed in fluid connection at the bottom of liquid distributor 18 whereby liquid product received from liquid product reservoirs 14A-14C continues to mix and become a homogenous or nearly homogenous mixture before being communicated through flow paths 16B- 16E. In at least one instance of operation, such as when system 10 does not call for deployment of liquid product from one or more liquid product reservoirs 14A-14C, only liquid carrier from liquid carrier reservoir 12 is communicated through flow path 16A and into liquid distributor 18. In at least one instance of operation, such as when system 10 calls for deployment of liquid product from one or more liquid product reservoirs 14A-14C, liquid carrier and liquid product(s) are communicated through flow path 16A. Liquid product from one or more liquid product reservoirs 14A-14C mix in flow path 16A and continue to mix in liquid distributor whereby liquid product(s) is / are uniformly dispersed throughout liquid carrier in flow path 16A and liquid distributor 18 for providing a homogenous or nearly homogenous solution of liquid carrier from liquid carrier reservoir 12 and one or more liquid product from liquid product reservoirs 14A-14C in liquid distributor 18. In at least one aspect, such as shown in FIGS. 9-10, liquid product from one or more liquid product reservoirs 14A-14C mixes in liquid product mixing reservoir 22 whereby liquid product(s) is / are uniformly dispersed throughout liquid carrier in liquid product mixing reservoir 22 for achieving a homogenous or nearly homogenous solution of liquid carrier from liquid carrier reservoir 12 and one or more liquid product from liquid product reservoirs 14A-14C while staging and / or passing through liquid product mixing reservoir 22, flow path 16A and liquid distributor 18. Liquid distributor 18 is plumbed into fluid communication with liquid discharges 20A-20D by flow paths 16B-16E whereby liquid from liquid distributor 18 is uniformly communicated to liquid discharges 20A-20D. In at least one aspect, such as shown in FIG.8, flow path 16A is plumbed directly into fluid communication with flow paths 16B-16E instead of liquid distributor 18 shown in FIGS. 7 and 9-12. Liquid product reservoirs 14A-14C are plumbed in fluid communication with liquid distributor 18 (see, for example, FIG. 11), which is in turn plumbed into fluid communication with corresponding liquid discharges 20A-20D. Alternatively, liquidproduct reservoirs 14A-14C are plumed into fluid communication with liquid distributors 18A- 18D (see, for example, FIG. 12), which are plumbed into fluid communication with liquid discharges 20A-20D so that one or more liquid product(s) from liquid product reservoirs 14A-14C may be received in one or more or each liquid distributor 18A-18D and amounts of liquid product(s) may vary between different ones of liquid discharges 20A-20D. Valves 66A-66D, such as a solenoid valve, controlled by system 10, may be configured between liquid distributor 18 and liquid discharges 20A-20D in FIGS. 7 and 9-12 and between liquid product reservoirs 14A-14C and liquid discharges 20A-20D in FIG. 8 for controlling flow of liquid through flow paths 16S- 16V and deployment from liquid discharges 20A-20D. In at least one instance of operation, system 10 may operate valves 66A-66D from an open position to a closed position to prevent liquid deployment from one or more liquid discharges 20A-20D. By way of example, system 10 may independently control deployment of fluid flow from each liquid discharge 20A-20D by independent operation of each valve 66A-66D. The amount of liquid carrier deployed from liquid discharges 20A-20D can be controlled, for example, by the volumetric rate of flow (e.g., oz / sec) and rate of operation (e.g., rpm) of liquid carrier pump 26D for pumping liquid carrier from the liquid carrier reservoir 12 to liquid discharges 20A-20D, the size (e.g., internal diameter) of the flow paths 16A-16E and 16S-16V, and the size and flow characteristics of the orifice (e.g., internal diameter) of liquid discharges 20A-20D and corresponding nozzle. Similarly, the amount of liquid product deployed from liquid discharges 20A-20D can be controlled, for example, by the volumetric rate of flow (e.g., oz / sec) and rate of operation (e g., rpm) of liquid product pumps 26A-26C for pumping liquid product from the liquid product reservoirs 14A-14D to liquid discharges 20A-20D, the size (e.g., internal diameter) of the flow paths 16K-16P, 16A, 16B-16E, and 16S-16V, and the size of the orifice (e.g., internal diameter) of liquid discharges 20A-20D and corresponding nozzle. Liquid carrier from liquid carrier reservoir 12 and liquid product from liquid product reservoirs 14A-14D pumped into flow paths 16A-16E at a rate exceeding a liquid discharge capacity for liquid discharges 20A-20D and their corresponding nozzle increases the pressure in flow path 16A and 16J. Liquid discharges 20A-20D have a nozzle with an orifice having optimal operational requirements, such as a specified operational pressure and volumetric flow rate. System 10, in FIGS. 7-12, is configured to operate liquid carrier pump 26D at a fixed rpm thereby pumping liquid carrier from liquid carrier reservoir 12 into flow path 16A for dispensing liquid carrier from liquid discharges 20A-20D at a constant rate (Step 158 in FIG. 28).Each liquid nozzle at each liquid discharge 20A-20D has optimal operational specifications and requirements. Optimal operational requirements for micro nozzles are particularly sensitive to changes in the pressure, flow rate, and viscosity of the liquid being discharged from the nozzle. During system 10 operation, the pressure in flow path 16A increases as system 10 calls for liquid product from one or more liquid product reservoirs 14A-14C or increases the amounts of one or more liquid products being dispensed into flow path 16A from liquid product reservoirs 14A-14C. Similarly, the pressure in flow path 16A decreases as system 10 stops liquid product flow from one or more liquid product reservoirs 14A-14C or decreases the amounts of one or more liquid products being dispensed into flow path 16A from liquid product reservoirs 14A-14C. System 10, shown in FIGS. 7-12 is configured to recycle an amount of liquid carrier through bypass 28 into liquid carrier reservoir 12 equal to, nearly equal to, or proportional to changes in the amount of liquid product in flow path 16A resulting from any increases or decreases in the amount of one or more liquid products introduced into liquid flow path 16A, thereby continuously matching or nearly matching optimal operating properties of the nozzle (e.g., pressure, flowrate, etc.) at each liquid discharge 20A-20D for maintaining a constant flow rate across liquid discharges 20A-20D (Steps 154, 162 in FIG. 28). For example, dispensing liquid product from one or more liquid product reservoirs 14A-14C at a rate of .0005 oz / sec would result in the same or nearly the same amount of liquid carrier being recycled via bypass 28 back into liquid carrier reservoir 12 to maintain a constant or nearly constant flow rate and pressure at liquid discharges 20A-20D and their corresponding nozzles. Similarly, by way of example, decreasing the amount of liquid product dispensed from one or more liquid product reservoirs 14A-14C at a rate of .0005 oz / sec would result in the same or nearly the same amount of liquid carrier being kept in flow path 16A and not recycled to maintain a constant or nearly constant flow rate and pressure at liquid discharges 20A-20D and their corresponding nozzles. Flow paths 16A-16V, liquid product mixing reservoir 22, distributors 18 and 18A-18D, liquid product reservoirs 14A-14C may be optimized for maintaining the full efficacy, vitality, and virility of the liquid products up and until deployment from liquid discharges 20A-20D. Maintaining the efficacy, vitality and virility of the sensitive product(s) up to and until deployment is critical to promote optimal agronomic performance including but not limited to plant health, soil health, drought resistance, nutrient uptake, yield, etc.TABLE 1 : Exemplary System Operational Specifications

[0070] FIGS. 13-27 and 28-30 illustrate exemplary agricultural implements with which the objects of the present disclosure can be implemented within an agricultural setting, such as a field and incorporate the systems and method of FIGS. 1-12 and the corresponding written description.The agricultural implement 50 is comprised of, in at least one aspect of the present disclosure, a seed planting implement. Other types of agricultural implements 50, such as spreaders, fertilizers, harvesters, conditioners, are all contemplated agricultural platforms, which are adaptable to provide a system and method of the present disclosure for handling and timely deployment and uniform delivery of micro amounts of sensitive products within a field. The agricultural implement 50, as previously defined, can include a tractor (not shown) that can be operably connected to a draw bar that can be operably connected to a framework 52 operably attached to a toolbar 54, which can be comprised of any type, number and / or configuration of structural members to support the components of the agricultural implement 50, including, but not be limited to, one or more individual row units 60 attached to toolbar 54. The present disclosure contemplates other planting units, in addition to row unit 60, including, but not limited to, seed precision air drills, seed precision belt drills, precision cell wheel drills, seed precision air drills and high density HDS sponge drills. Agricultural implement 50 may be configured with system 10 shown in FIGS 1-12 and the methods provided in FIGS. 28-30. In at least one aspect of the present disclosure, agricultural implement 50 includes a liquid carrier, housed, for example, in a liquid carrier reservoir 12 and liquid product reservoir 14A mounted to one or more frame members 52 secured to toolbar 54 (Step 166 in FIG. 29). Liquid carrier reservoir 12, such as a blow-molded tank, may be specced according to the number of gallons of liquid carrier needed for a particular field. For example, liquid carrier reservoir 12 may have a capacity of 200-500 gallons, or more, as needed. Pump 26D is plumbed into liquid communication with liquid carrier reservoir 12 by flow path 16H and configured to communicate a liquid carrier through flow path 16A at a constant specified volumetric rate in ounces / sec (oz / sec) and pump speed in revolutions per minute (rpm), as shown in Table 1 (Steps 170, 176 in FIG. 29). Pressure gauge 30 may be configured in flow path 16A to monitor the pressure in flow path 16A. A valve (not shown), such as a solenoid valve, controlled by system 10, may be configured between liquid carrier reservoir 12 and flow path 16A, for controlling flow of liquid carrier into flow path 16A. Bypass 28 is plumbed in between flow path 16J connected in fluid communication with flow path 16A and flow path 16F connected in fluid communication with liquid carrier reservoir 12. Bypass 28 is configured with, for example, a ball valve check valve to recycle liquid carrier back into liquid carrier reservoir 12 in an amount equal to, nearly equal to, or proportional to the amounts of liquid product introduced into flow path 16A (Steps 172, 174 in FIG. 29). Liquid product reservoir 14A is plumbed directly in fluidcommunication with liquid distributor 100 shown (as liquid distributor 18 and liquid distributors 18A-18D in FIGS. 1-2, 7, 9-12), in at least one exemplary configuration, such as in FIGS. 16-24. Although only one liquid product reservoir 14A is shown in FIGS. 13-14, it is understood that the number of liquid product reservoirs can vary according to the need for different types of liquid product, as shown in FIGS. 1-12. Liquid product reservoir 14A is configured with a pump 26A, such as a peristaltic pump, for controlling flow of liquid product from liquid product reservoir 14A through flow paths 16K and 16N directly into liquid distributor 100 at a variable specified volumetric rate (e.g., oz / sec) and speed (e.g., rpm) (Step 170, in FIG. 29). System 10 includes a control box 40, shown in FIGS. 14-15. Other swath controllers are contemplated, and the following is exemplary of one type but not intended to be limiting. Control box 40 includes a stepper motor 41 operably connected to and for operating pump 26A. Stepper driver 42 in control box 40 is configured to control the volumetric rate and speed of pump 26A. Microcontroller 45 operates pumps 26A-26C (see, for example FIGS. 7-12) at a rate based on the type and rate of liquid product called for based on the location of the agricultural implement 50 within a field enabled by a prescriptive field mapping GPS system or prescriptive field map (Step 184, in FIG. 30). In one aspect, speed of agricultural implement 50, population of seed 82 being planted, row spacings in inches, weight of seed 82 in seeds per pound, flow rate of peristaltic pump in milliliters per revolution, number of rows serviced (e.g., number of liquid discharges 20), and rate of liquid product from liquid product reservoir 14A to be applied in ounces per hundred weight. System 10 may be configured to read in field maps and determine what type(s) and amount(s) of liquid product from liquid product reservoir 14A to be applied at a specific location within a field. In one aspect, system 10 is configured to read a prescription field map to determine what type(s) and amount(s) of liquid product to deploy within the mapped field. Stepper drive 42 is controlled by microcontroller 45 on PCB board 44 within control box 40. Power supplied from aboard such as from battery 56 or to agricultural implement 50 from a tractor (not shown) via wire harness 49 is electrically connected to master on / off switch 48 on control box 40 and converted with DC convertor 43 for supplying DC power to the control box 40 electronics and pump 26D. Power from the switch 48 is supplied to the electronics within control box 40 and grounded at ground bar 47. Relay switch 46 is configured within control box 40 for supplying power and control signals from the PCB board 44 and microcontroller 45 to pump 26D, stepper motor 41 and solenoid valve 19. Valve 32, such as a solenoid valve, controlled by microcontroller 45, may be configured inflow path 16K or 16N. In one example, valve 32 is configured between liquid product reservoir 14A and pump 26A. Valve 19, such as solenoid valve, controlled by microcontroller 45, may be configured in liquid distributor to control flow of liquid product from liquid product reservoir 14A into liquid distributor 100 via flow path 16N. Flow path 16A is plumbed in fluid connection at the bottom of liquid distributor 100 whereby liquid carrier from liquid carrier reservoir 12 and liquid product received from liquid product reservoir 14A mixes with liquid products from other liquid product reservoirs, such as additional liquid product reservoirs shown in FIGS. 1-12, in flow path 114 within liquid distributor 100 (see, for example, FIGS. 18-24), one or more flow paths (such as, for example, flow path 16A) plumbed in fluid communication with liquid distributor 100, and / or one or more liquid product mixing reservoirs 22, thereby becoming a homogenous or a nearly homogenous mixture. The mixture of liquid product and liquid carrier is communicated to row unit 60 through flow path 16B. In at least one instance of operation, such as when system 10 does not call for deployment of liquid product from one or more liquid product reservoirs, only liquid carrier from liquid carrier reservoir 12 is communicated through flow path 16A, into liquid distributor 100 and out through flow path 16B. Liquid distributor 100 is plumbed into fluid communication with liquid discharge 20A via flow path 16B. Liquid distributor 100 includes multiple liquid output ports 112A-112O as shown in FIGS. 17, 19 and liquid outlet ports 112A- 112L as shown in FIGS. 20-21 for uniformly supplying liquid carrier or a mixture of liquid carrier and one or more liquid products from manifold reservoir 116 to each liquid discharge at each row unit 60, such as liquid discharges shown in FIGS. 1-12.

[0071] One exemplary liquid distributor 18 of the present disclosure is shown as liquid distributor 100 in FIGS. 16-19. Liquid distributor 100 includes a liquid carrier inlet port 108 plumbed in fluid communication with flow path 16A for receiving liquid carrier from liquid carrier reservoir 112, which travels upward through the liquid distributor 100 via flow path 114 into manifold reservoir 116 located at its top within liquid distribution manifold 110. Liquid product ports 104A-104D are staged in the body of liquid distributor 100 along and plumbed in fluid communication with the ascending flow path 114. Liquid product ports 104A-104D are each plumbed in fluid communication with a liquid product reservoir as shown and discussed herein. Solenoid ports 102A-102D are plumbed in communication with each liquid product port 104A-104D. Solenoid valves, such as solenoid valve 19 shown in FIG. 14, operated by microcontroller 45, controls the flow of liquid product through each liquid product port 104A-104D into flow path 114. Liquidproduct introduced into flow path 114 mixes with liquid carrier in flow path 114 and together travel through flow path 114 to manifold reservoir 116 thereby becoming a homogenous or nearly homogenous mixture before being communicated into liquid outlet ports 112A-1120 to nozzle 65 at each row unit 60 for deployment onto a seed, seeding, plant, plant part, or biomass while agricultural implement 50 travels through a field. Liquid discharge 20A includes a check valve 66 plumbed in fluid communication with flow path 16B for controlling deployment of liquid carrier or a mixture of liquid carrier and one or more liquid products from a nozzle 65 mounted in a fixed position relative to seed drop tube 62 and seed drop guide 64 using a nozzle body mount 67 secured between opposing nozzle body mounting plates 68 A, 68B shown, for example, in FIG. 13 or opposing nozzle body mounting plates 68 AA, 68BB shown, for example, in FIG. 13. Row unit 60 includes a seed hopper 78 and seed meter 70 for dispensing seed, an opening disc 72 for opening the furrow, a depth gauge wheel 74 for controlling the depth of the furrow created by the opening disc 72, and a closing wheel for closing the furrow after each seed is metered from seed meter 70 into the furrow by traveling down seed drop tube 62 and across seed drop guide 64 through a seed travel path into the furrow (Step 168 in FIG. 29). Nozzle 65 is positioned and shown, for example, in FIGS. 26-27 to deploy a liquid carrier or a mixture of a liquid carrier and one or more liquid products into seed travel path 88 and onto seed 82 as the seed passes nozzle 65 as shown in FIG. 27 (Step 186, in FIG. 30). Operating specifications and characteristics of various nozzles, such as nozzle 65, are detailed in Table 2 below.TABLE 2: Exemplary Nozzles & Operating Specifications

[0072] In one aspect, spacers (not shown) are disposed between opposing nozzle body mounting plates 68A, 68B and between opposing nozzle body mounting plates 68AA, 68BB as shown, for example, in FIG. 13 for centering nozzle body mount 67 directly in line with the seed drop guide 64 (see, for example, FIGS. 26-27) and resulting seed travel path 88 of seed 82 as shown in FIG. 27. Nozzle body mounting plates 68AA, 68BB are secured to seed drop tube 62 with mounting hardware to rigidly fix a plate on each side of the seed drop tube 62 for extending outward from seed drop tube 62 to position nozzle body mount 67, secured between opposing nozzle body mounting plates, directly above and behind the seed drop guide 64 as shown, for example, in FIG. 13. The geometry of each nozzle body mounting plate 68 AA, 68BB as shown in FIG. 13 allows each plate to fit and be rigidly secured on each side of seed drop tube 62. Similarly, nozzle body mounting plates 68A, 68B are secured to structural row unit component of row unit 60 with mounting hardware to rigidly fix a plate on each side of the seed drop tube 62 for extending outward from seed drop tube 62 to position nozzle body mount 67, secured between opposing nozzle body mounting plates, directly above and behind the seed drop guide 64 as shown in FIG. 13. The geometry of each nozzle body mounting plate 68 A, 68B and 68 AA, 68BB as shown in FIG. 13 allows each plate to fit and be rigidly secured on each side of seed drop tube 62. In another aspect, nozzles 65 are secured at liquid discharge locations with nozzle body mounts 67 shown in FIGS. 25A-D, which include opposing mounting tabs 68A-B for securing to another componentimmediately near the desired discharge location using securements and / or tension fit features, such as shown, by way of example, in FIGS. 26-27. Nozzle body mounts 67 may include a nozzle connector 69A, which may include one or more features for orienting the nozzle 65 to direct spray in the desired direction as shown in FIG. 27. In at least one aspect, as shown in FIG. 25D, nozzle connector 69A includes a self-orienting nozzle guide 69B for orienting nozzle 65 when connected to nozzle connector 69A.

[0073] Another exemplary liquid distributor 18, shown for example in FIGS 5-7 and 9-12, of the present disclosure is shown as liquid distributor 100 in FIGS. 20-21. Liquid distributor 100 includes a liquid distribution manifold 110 with a liquid carrier inlet port 108 plumbed into fluid communication via a flow path 114 with a manifold reservoir 116 and a plurality of liquid outlet ports 112A-L (shown, for example, in FIG. 20) and liquid outlet ports 112H-112X (shown, for example, in FIG. 21, with ports 112M-112W located between ports 112L-112X and unnumbered in FIG. 21 to retain figure clarity). Manifold reservoir 116 is accessible, for example, by removing a capping plate 118 attached to liquid distribution manifold 110 by securements, such as threaded bolts, passed through holes 120 and secured to corresponding threaded bore holes 122. Liquid outlet ports 112A-L are plumbed in fluid communication with corresponding discharges, such as corresponding discharges 20, such as nozzles 65, at corresponding row units 60. In one aspect, liquid carrier inlet port 108 is a mixed liquid inlet port 108 and plumbed into fluid communication with liquid product reservoirs 14A-14C and liquid carrier reservoir 12 with valves and / or pumps controlling introduction of a mixture of liquid product from one or more reservoirs 14A-14C and liquid carrier from liquid carrier reservoir 12 into manifold reservoir 116 for distributing from liquid distributor 100 through liquid output ports 112A-L to corresponding nozzles 65 at corresponding row units 60. In one aspect, mixing of one or more liquid products from liquid product reservoirs 14A-14C and liquid carrier from liquid carrier reservoir 12 mix in flow path 16A and continue to mix in manifold reservoir 116 before and / or while being distributed to corresponding discharges 20A-20D, such as corresponding nozzles 65 at corresponding row units 65. The number of liquid product output ports 112 in one or more liquid distributors 100 may be increased / decreased depending on the number of discharges 20 or the number of nozzles 65 applying a mixture of liquid product and liquid carrier in a field. In the case of planter, the number of liquid product output ports 112, whether embodied in one or more liquid distributors 100, may be configured to match the number of nozzles 65 and, in the case where each row unit 60 includesa single nozzle 65, may also be configured to match the number of row units 60. Liquid distributor 100 is configured to operate on the same pressure and flowrate principles set forth herein.

[0074] Another exemplary liquid distributor 18, shown for example in FIGS 5-7 and 9-12, of the present disclosure is shown as liquid distributor 100 in FIGS. 22-24. Liquid distributor 100 includes a liquid distribution manifold 110 housing liquid product inlet ports 104A-C plumbed into controlled open or closed fluid communication with manifold reservoir 116 via corresponding valves 124A-C and pass-through fluid communication with corresponding liquid product outlet ports 106A-C. Liquid distribution manifold 110 also includes a liquid carrier (accessible via capping plate 118) inlet port 108 A plumbed into controlled open or closed fluid communication with manifold reservoir 116 via corresponding valve 124D and pass-through fluid communication with corresponding liquid carrier outlet port 108B. Manifold reservoir 116 is plumbed into controlled open or closed fluid communication with liquid mixture outlet port 128 via solenoid valve 126 for controlling flow of a mixture of one or more liquid products and liquid carrier mixed in manifold reservoir 116 through flow path 114 and discharged from liquid distribution manifold 110 via liquid mixture outlet port 128. Liquid mixture outlet port 128 is plumbed into fluid communication with a corresponding discharge, such as one of discharges 20A-20D, which can include, for example, a corresponding nozzle 65 at a corresponding row unit 60. Liquid distributor 18 is configured to supply liquid product from liquid product outlet ports 106A-C to corresponding liquid product inlet ports 104A-C of another liquid distributor 100, which in turn may be plumbed into fluid communication to supply liquid product to a series of other daisy-chained liquid distributors 100. Similarly, liquid distributor 100 is conjured to supply liquid carrier from liquid carrier out port 108B to a corresponding liquid carrier inlet port 108 A of another liquid distributor 100, which in turn may be plumbed into fluid communication to supply liquid carrier to a series of other daisy-chained liquid distributors 100. Thus, in at least one configuration, corresponding nozzles 65 may be plumbed in fluid communication with corresponding liquid mixture outlet ports 128 for communicating a mixture of one or more liquid products and liquid carrier from manifold reservoir 116 in each corresponding liquid distributor 100 to each corresponding nozzle 65 where the one or more liquid products and liquid carrier are supplied to the corresponding liquid distributors 100 being daisy-chained in fluid communication with each other by liquid product reservoirs 14A-14C and liquid carrier reservoir 12. In at least one configuration, a liquid distributor 100 may be disposed at the location of each liquid discharge 20A-D, including, for example, at thelocation of each nozzle 65. In at least one other configuration, a liquid distributor 100 is disposed at each row unit 60 for providing a mixture of one or more liquid product and liquid carrier for application to a field or directly to a seed immediately after discharge from a seed tube and before contact with the soil for planting. Liquid distributor 100 is configured to operate on the same pressure and flowrate principles set forth herein.

[0075] Nozzle 65 at each liquid discharge, such as liquid discharge 20A, has an orifice having optimal operational requirements, such as a specified operational pressure and volumetric flow rate. System 10 is configured to operate liquid carrier pump 26D at a fixed rpm thereby pumping liquid carrier from liquid carrier reservoir 12 into flow path 16A for dispensing liquid carrier from liquid discharges 20A at a constant rate (Step 176 in FIG. 29). Optimal operational requirements for micro nozzles are particularly sensitive to changes in the pressure, flow rate, and viscosity of the liquid being discharged from the nozzle. During system 10 operation, the pressure in flow path 16A increases as microcontroller 45 calls for liquid product from one or more liquid product reservoirs, such as liquid product reservoirs 14A-14C, or increases the amounts of one or more liquid products being dispensed into flow path 16A from liquid product reservoirs 14A-14C, such as, for example, based on an increase in the rate of planting and / or ground speed of agricultural implement 50 (Step 178 in FIG. 29). Similarly, the pressure in flow path 16A decreases as microcontroller 45 stops liquid product flow from one or more liquid product reservoirs 14A-14C or decreases the amounts of one or more liquid products being dispensed into flow path 16A from liquid product reservoirs 14A-14C, such as, for example, based on a decrease in the rate of planting and / or ground speed of agricultural implement 50 (Step 178 in FIG. 29). System 10 is configured to recycle an amount of liquid carrier through bypass 28 into liquid carrier reservoir 12 equal to, nearly equal to, or proportional to changes in the amount of liquid product in flow path 16A resulting from any increases or decreases in the amount of one or more liquid products introduced into liquid flow path 16A, thereby continuously matching or nearly matching optimal operating properties of the nozzle 65 at each liquid discharge, such as liquid discharge 20A, for maintaining a constant flow rate of liquid deployment from each nozzle 65 (Steps 172, 180 in FIGS. 29-30). For example, dispensing liquid product from one or more liquid product reservoirs 14A-14C at a rate of .0005 oz / sec would result in the same or nearly the same amount of liquid carrier being recycled via bypass 28 back into liquid carrier reservoir 12 to maintain a constant or nearly constant flow rate and pressure at liquid discharges 20A-20D and their corresponding nozzles 65, or nozzle65 at liquid discharge 20A shown in FIG 12. Similarly, by way of example, decreasing the amount of liquid product dispensed from one or more liquid product reservoirs 14A-14C at a rate of .0005 oz / sec would result in the same or nearly the same amount of liquid carrier being kept in flow path 16A and not recycled to maintain a constant or nearly constant flow rate and pressure at liquid discharges 20A-20D and their corresponding nozzles. Flow paths, liquid product mixing reservoir, liquid distributor, liquid product reservoirs may be optimized for maintaining the full efficacy, vitality, and virility of the liquid products up and until deployment from liquid discharges (Step 182 in FIG. 30). Maintaining the efficacy, vitality and virility of the sensitive product(s) up to and until deployment is critical to promote optimal agronomic performance including but not limited to plant health, soil health, drought resistance, nutrient uptake, yield, etc.

[0076] The disclosure is not to be limited to the particular aspects described herein. In particular, the disclosure contemplates numerous variations in methods and systems for on-planter seed treatments. The foregoing description has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list or limit any of the disclosure to the precise forms disclosed. It is contemplated that other alternatives or exemplary aspects are considered included in the disclosure. The description is merely examples of embodiments, processes, or methods of the disclosure. It is understood that any other modifications, substitutions, and / or additions can be made, which are within the intended spirit and scope of the disclosure.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A method for uniform fluid delivery of micro amounts of a product, comprising: providing a carrier reservoir having a liquid carrier and a product reservoir having a liquid product, the carrier reservoir and the product reservoir plumbed by a liquid flow path to a discharge outlet; introducing an amount of the liquid carrier and the liquid product into the liquid flow path; and adjusting the amount of the liquid product in the liquid flow path automatically adjusts the amount of the liquid carrier in the liquid flow path for maintaining a generally constant flow rate of liquid when discharged from the discharge outlet.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: recycling a portion of the liquid carrier back to the carrier reservoir based on an amount of the liquid product introduced into the liquid flow path.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising: introducing two or more types of the liquid product into and at different locations along the liquid flow path.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising: operating a liquid carrier pump at a constant flow rate.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising: operating a liquid product pump at a variable flow rate.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising: introducing two or more types of the liquid product into a mixing reservoir plumbed to the liquid flow path.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising: preserving or improving efficacy of the liquid product with the liquid carrier.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising: optimizing an environment of and / or the product reservoir and the liquid flow path for maintaining efficacy of the liquid product through application from the discharge outlet.

9. A system for uniform fluid delivery of micro amounts of a product, comprising: a carrier reservoir having a liquid carrier; a product reservoir having a liquid product; a discharge outlet plumbed to the fluid reservoir and the product reservoir by a liquid flow path; a bypass disposed in the liquid flow path between the product reservoir and the liquid reservoir; an amount of the liquid carrier in the flow path, wherein the bypass adjusts the amount of the liquid carrier in the flow path based on an amount of the liquid product introduced into the flow path.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising: a recycled amount of the liquid carrier in the flow path returned to the carrier reservoir, wherein the recycled amount of the liquid carrier returned to the carrier reservoir is generally equal to the amount of the liquid product introduced into the flow path.

11. The system of claim 9, further comprising: two or more liquid product injection points disposed in the flow path, wherein the two or more liquid product injection points are plumbed to respective liquid product reservoirs.

12. The system of claim 9, further comprising: a mixing reservoir plumbed into to liquid flow path and two or more liquid injection points disposed in the mixing reservoir and plumbed to respective liquid product reservoirs.

13. The system of claim 9, further comprising: a carrier reservoir pump plumbed into the flow path for introducing the liquid carrier into the flow path at generally a constant rate.

14. The system of claim 9, further comprising: a product reservoir pump plumbed into the flow path for introducing the liquid product into the flow path at generally a variable rate.

15. A method for uniform fluid delivery of micro amounts of a product, comprising: providing an agricultural implement having a carrier reservoir with a liquid carrier and a product reservoir with a liquid product, the carrier reservoir and the product reservoir plumbed by a liquid flow path to a discharge outlet disposed on the agricultural implement; introducing an amount of the liquid carrier and the liquid product into the liquid flow path; and adjusting the amount of the liquid product in the liquid flow path automatically adjusts the amount of the liquid carrier in the liquid flow path for maintaining a generally constant flow rate of liquid when discharged from the discharge outlet.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising: providing a plurality of row units on the agricultural implement, each row unit having a seed drop tube for planting a seed, wherein the discharge outlet of the liquid flow path is disposed at an outlet of the seed drop tube.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising: discharging liquid in the flow path through a nozzle disposed at the discharge outlet for applying to the seed during planting.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising: adjusting the amount of the liquid product in the liquid flow path based on at least a speed of the agricultural implement and rate of planting.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising: optimizing an environment of and / or the product reservoir and the flow path aboard the agricultural implement for maintaining efficacy of the liquid product through application to the seed during planting.

20. The method of claims 15, further comprising: selecting one or more of a type of the liquid product and a type of the liquid carrier based on the location of the agricultural implement in a field; and discharging the one or more of the type of liquid product and the type of liquid carrier at the location within the field.

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