Fertilizer equipment attachment for next-to-crop-row surface banded applications

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to in-season surface banded application techniques for dry fertilizer products. For example, a fertilizer equipment attachment may be couplable to existing drop tubes on a fertilizer spreader, such as air flow dry fertilizer spreaders, boom spreaders, or high clearance dry fertilizer spreaders. The fertilizer equipment attachment may include an air vent configured to release air pressure to reduce fertilizer exit velocity from the fertilizer spreader. The air vent may be couplable to a tube connector, for example a Y-shaped tube connector, that extends from the air vent to the base of a crop planted in the ground. The tube connector can facilitate the delivery of fertilizer from the fertilizer spreader through the air vent and to the base of the crop. The fertilizer equipment attachment may further include a particle concentrator configured to maintain fertilizer concentration in a banded concentration near the crop base.

Description

[0001] FERTILIZER EQUIPMENT ATTACHMENT FOR NEXT-TO-CROP-ROW SURFACE BANDED APPLICATIONS

[0002] RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0003] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 656,927, filed June 6, 2024, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0004] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0005] The present disclosure generally relates to fertilizer equipment attachments for next-to- crop-row surface banded applications. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to fertilizer equipment attachments configured to reduce fertilizer exit velocity during surface banded applications and to increase fertilizer concentration near a crop base.

[0006] BACKGROUND

[0007] Fertilizers include any material of natural or synthetic origin that is applied to soil or crops to supply nutrients. Nutrient availability is one of the main factors affecting crop growth and development. Nutrient management, including the application of fertilizers, is crucial for optimal productivity in commercial crop production. Many nutrients, including both mineral and nonmineral elements, are essential to a crop’s growth and survival. Non-mineral nutrients can include, for example, hydrogen (H), oxygen (O), and carbon (C), all of which are typically available from the surrounding air and water. Mineral nutrients, including nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P), and potassium (K), are available or made available in the soil for uptake by the crop’s roots.

[0008] The mineral nutrients can generally be divided into two groups: macronutrients, including primary nutrients and secondary nutrients, and micronutrients. The primary mineral nutrients include N, P, and K. Large amounts of these nutrients are essential to a crop’s survival, and thus typically make up most of a fertilizer composition. In addition to primary nutrients, secondary nutrients are required in much smaller amounts than the primary nutrients. Secondary nutrients include, for example, calcium (Ca), sulfur (S), and magnesium (Mg). Micronutrients can include, for example, boron (B), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), zinc (Zn), chlorine (Cl), cobalt (Co), sodium (Na), and combinations thereof. Despite being present in trace quantities, generally in concentrations less than 100 parts per million in crop tissues, micronutrients are essential for carrying out a wide range of physiological functions, including photosynthesis, chlorosis, metabolic regulation, and osmotic regulation.

[0009] Beyond non-mineral and mineral nutrients, fertilizers can be divided into two types: liquid fertilizers and dry fertilizers. Liquid fertilizers are made of dissolved nutrients that can be sprayed onto soil or a crop via a hose-end sprayer or a tank sprayer, for example. Liquid fertilizers provide quick absorption because they do not need to be dissolved into the soil or crop, and are generally easy to apply in all agricultural settings. Dry fertilizers generally comprise solid particles that can be applied to soil or crops with a spreader, such as an air flow dry fertilizer spreader or a boom spreader, or applied directly by hand using a manual process. In contrast to liquid fertilizers, dry fertilizers dissolve slowly and release their nutrients over time rather than immediately. Dry fertilizers generally do not require reapplication as often given their slower absorption, but will need moisture application to take effect with soil or crops, unlike liquid fertilizers.

[0010] Additional background discussion of fertilizers and fertilizer application operations may be found in Scott William Foxhoven, New Innovations for The 4R’s of Nutrient Stewardship To Improve Com Productivity (2022) (Ph. D. dissertation, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign), the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. Currently, dry fertilizers are generally applied broadcast over the entire soil surface either via pre-plant applications with are then incorporated with tillage, or broadcast over the top of the crop in-season without incorporation and over the entire soil surface. These approaches are inefficient for product efficacy because a large amount of the applied dry fertilizer product may fail to contact the crop’s roots which increases the chance for environmental loss or non-efficacy. An alternative approach which applies dry fertilizer products close to crop roots is banding, such as strip-till banding or subsurface banding, where the products are concentrated in banded patterns at, near, or beneath the soil. A crop can be subsequently planted next to the band to absorb the nutrients found within the dry fertilizer product. While this approach generally increases agronomic efficacy, disadvantages include the need for costly machinery, disturbances to the underlying soil, greater time and energy requirements compared to broadcast fertilizer distribution, and being generally more difficult to do correctly without error.

[0011] Surface banded application of liquid fertilizers generally eliminate the disadvantages of dry fertilizer application while enabling in-season fertilizer application to the crop base. However, such surface banded operations are limited to liquid fertilizer products. As such, there exists a need for in-season surface banded application techniques for dry fertilizer products.

[0012] SUMMARY

[0013] Examples of the present disclosure address this need by describing, among other things, a fertilizer equipment attachment for in-season next-to-crop-row surface banded applications with dry fertilizer products. The fertilizer equipment attachment may be couplable to existing drop tubes on a fertilizer spreader, such as air flow dry fertilizer spreaders, boom spreaders, or high clearance dry fertilizer spreaders. The fertilizer equipment attachment may include an air vent configured to release air pressure during surface banded applications to reduce fertilizer exit velocity from the fertilizer spreader (e.g., fertilizer exit velocity out of the air vent or the tube connector and onto or near soil or crops). The air vent may be couplable to a tube connector, for example a Y-shaped tube connector, that extends from the air vent to the base of a crop planted in the ground. The tube connector can facilitate the delivery of fertilizer from the fertilizer spreader through the air vent and to the base of the crop. The fertilizer equipment attachment may further include a particle concentrator configured to maintain fertilizer concentration (e.g., position of the fertilizer relative to the crop) in a banded concentration near the base of the crop (e.g., at or proximal to the crop base rather than between rows of crops).

[0014] In examples, the particle concentrator may comprise one or more brushes or a scraper that drags along the ground surface to maintain high fertilizer concentration near the crop. In examples, fertilizer equipment attachments described herein can be lightweight to limit excessive weight against a boom included with the fertilizer spreader. In examples, fertilizers equipment attachments described herein can be manufacture independent such that the attachments are couplable to any type of existing or new fertilizer spreader. In examples, the tube connector may include one or more springs configured to keep the connector and the particle concentrator proximal to the crop base or nearby ground surface. Overall, fertilizer equipment attachments, systems, and techniques described herein enable surface banding fertilizer applications which can increase nutrient penetration into the soil when compared to broadcast fertilizer applications. Increase nutrient penetration can lessen nutrient loss during fertilizer application which increases cost savings compared to traditional broadcast operations.

[0015] Advantages of the present disclosure include: providing a fertilizer equipment attachment couplable to existing fertilizer spreaders to limit equipment costs; providing a fertilizer equipment attachment configured for use with next-to-crop-row surface banded applications; increasing the agronomic effectiveness and impact of applied fertilizer products by using banded fertilizer application patterns rather than traditional, non-incorporated broadcast or zone patterns (e.g., concentrating dry fertilizer products at the crop base using dry fertilizer tubes, vents, and air flow); enabling surface banding applications with dry fertilizer products which generally have better surface compatibly and are less costly compared to liquid fertilizer products; increasing the effectiveness of agronomic inputs such as dry granular fertilizer, granular-applied biologicals, fertilizer impregnation products, and other suitable applied fertilizer products, compared to traditional practices such as broadcast or zone applications; increasing the penetration of nutrients into soil compared to traditional, non-incorporated practices; enabling in-season fertilizer application instead of application before planting as with subsurface banding; eliminating all or most soil disturbance as is typically required for subsurface banding; and enabling quicker fertilizer spreader speeds compared to conventional strip-till machinery.

[0016] In an example, a fertilizer equipment attachment, for use with a fertilizer spreader and for surface banding dry fertilizer near a crop, may include an air vent having an inlet tube generally configured to receive fertilizer product. The inlet tube may be couplable to a housing generally configured to receive fertilizer product from the inlet tube and generally configured to transport the fertilizer product to an outlet tube. The air vent may further include a vent tube generally configured to release air from the housing, thereby reducing internal air pressure and decreasing fertilizer exit velocity out of the outlet tube. The attachment may further include a tube connector couplable to the outlet tube, the tube connector generally configured to receive fertilizer product from the outlet tube and generally configured to deposit the fertilizer product near a crop. The attachment may further include a particle concentrator generally configured to increase concentration of fertilizer product near the crop, thereby increasing agronomic efficacy of the fertilizer product for the growth of the crop. The particle concentrator may be positioned proximal both the tube connector and the crop, for example near the crop base on the ground surface.

[0017] The above summary is not intended to describe each illustrated example or every implementation of the subject matter hereof. The figures and the detailed description that follow more particularly exemplify various examples.

[0018] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0019] The disclosure may be more completely understood in consideration of the following detailed description of examples of the disclosure in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

[0020] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fertilizer equipment attachment having an air vent, a tube connector, and a particle concentrator, according to examples of the present disclosure.

[0021] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a first fertilizer spreading system having a fertilizer spreader outfitted with a fertilizer equipment attachment, according to examples of the present disclosure.

[0022] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a second fertilizer spreading system having a fertilizer spreader outfitted with a fertilizer equipment attachment, according to examples of the present disclosure.

[0023] FIGS. 4A and 4B are perspective views of dry-drop nitrogen fertilizer and dry-drop phosphorous and potassium fertilizer, respectively, applied to crop fields, according to examples of the present disclosure.

[0024] While various examples are amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the intention is not to limit the claimed inventions to the particular examples described. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the subject matter as defined by the claims.

[0025] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0026] The following detailed description should be read with reference to the drawings in which similar elements in different drawings are numbered the same. The drawings, which are not necessarily to scale, depict illustrative examples and are therefore not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure.

[0027] Referring to FIG. 1, a fertilizer equipment attachment 10 may include an air vent 12 having a housing 13a, an inlet tube 13b, an outlet tube 13c, and a vent tube 13d, a tube connector 14 having an inlet tube 15a and first and second outlet tubes 15b,c, and a particle concentrator 16. Fertilizer equipment attachment 10 can be configured for coupling to a drop tube of a new or existing fertilizer spreader to facilitate the delivery of fertilizer from the spreader to a crop base. In this manner, attachment 10 enables banded application of dry fertilizer to a crop base to increase agronomic efficacy of fertilizer operations compared to conventional broadcast fertilizer application. Banded fertilization application may increase fertilizer concentration at or near the crop base which improves nutrient absorption and increases the impact of the dry fertilizer product. Fertilizer equipment attachment 10 may be formed of a variety of materials including, but not limited to, metals, polymers, ceramics, wood, composites, or combinations thereof.

[0028] Air vent 12 may include a housing 13a configured to receive dry fertilizer product via inlet tube 13b. Housing 13a may have a sloped geometry and may comprise several integrally formed walls, though other suitable geometries such as cylindrical, cubical, or spherical designs are contemplated by the present disclosure. For example, one wall of the several integrally formed walls may comprise a cover intended to contain air, fertilizer product, and fertilizer dust within the housing 13a. The several walls may be integrally formed via welding, substrative or additive manufacturing, adhesives, straps, fasteners, or other suitable connection operations. Housing 13a may have sufficient internal volume to receive a steady flow of fertilizer product through the structure. As such, housing 13a may be partially hollow to facilitate the storage of fertilizer product therein before, during, or after fertilizer delivery operations.

[0029] Inlet tube 13b may be coupled to a proximal, higher end of the housing 13a (e.g., end of the sloped housing 13a having a greater height or length), such that a length of tube 13b is generally colinear with a length of the housing 13 a. In examples, inlet tube 13b may have an inner diameter between approximately 3.81 centimeters (cm) (1.5 inches (in)) and approximately 7.62 cm (3 in), though other diameter measurements less than or greater than this range are contemplated by the present disclosure. Specifically, inlet tube 13b may have inner diameters of approximately 5.08 cm (2 in) or approximately 6.35 cm (2.5 in) in examples. In examples, inlet tube 13b may have a length between approximately 5.08 cm (2 in) and approximately 12.7 cm (5 in), though other length measurements less than or greater than this range are contemplated by the present disclosure. Inlet tube 13b is generally cylindrical, as illustrated in the figures, though other geometries such as cubical or triangular designs are contemplated by the present disclosure. Inlet tube 13b may be secured to housing 13a using any suitable connection process including, but not limited to, welding, adhesives, straps, fasteners, or other typical connection operations.

[0030] In operation, inlet tube 13b can be configured to receive dry fertilizer product from a drop tube of a fertilizer spreader. The fertilizer product can be delivered through inlet tube 13b and into the housing 13a for subsequent transportation through outlet tube 13c as described later herein. In examples, inlet tube 13b may be oriented vertically with respect to the fertilizer spreader drop tube, such that fertilizer product is forced downward through tube 13b via gravitational force. In other examples, inlet tube 13b may be oriented horizontally with a non-gravitational force used to propel the fertilizer product into the housing 13a (e.g., an actuator acts against the fertilizer product to deliver the product through tube 13b and into the housing 13a).

[0031] Outlet tube 13c may be couplable to a distal, lower end of the housing 13a (e.g., end of the sloped housing 13a having a shorter height or length), such that a length of tube 13c is generally colinear with a combined length of tube 13b and housing 13a. In examples, outlet tube 13c may have the same diameter and length measurements as inlet tube 13b, or outlet tube 13c may have different measurements than inlet tube 13b within the ranges previously listed. Like inlet tube 13b, outlet tube 13c is generally cylindrical, as illustrated in the figures, though other geometries such as cubical or triangular designs are contemplated by the present disclosure. Outlet tube 13c may have the same geometry or a different geometry than inlet tube 13b (e.g., outlet tube 13c has a triangular geometry while inlet tube 13b has a cylindrical geometry). Outlet tube 13c may be secured to housing 13a using any suitable connection process including, but not limited to, welding, adhesives, straps, fasteners, or other typical connection operations.

[0032] In operation, outlet tube 13c can be configured to receive the dry fertilizer product previously located inside the housing 13a. The fertilizer product can be propelled through the outlet tube 13c via gravitational force and subsequently advanced through tube connector 14 and particle concentrator 16 as described later herein. In examples, outlet tube 13c may have the same orientation as inlet tube 13b with respect to the fertilizer spreader drop tube (e.g., oriented vertically such that the fertilizer product is advanced through tube 13c via gravitational force, or oriented horizontally such that the fertilizer product is advanced through tube 13c via a non- gravitational force such as an actuator).

[0033] A side surface of the housing 13a, for example a sloped surface, may include a vent tube 13d extending outward at an angle relative to the combined length of tubes 13b, c and housing 13a (e g., an angle between approximately 15° and approximately 75° relative to the combined length). In examples, vent tube 13d may have an inner diameter between approximately 3.81 cm (1.5 in) and approximately 12.7 cm (5 in), though other diameter measurements less than or greater than this range are contemplated by the present disclosure. In examples, vent tube 13d may have a length between approximately 5.08 cm (2 in) and approximately 25.4 cm (10 in), though other length measurements less than or greater than this range are contemplated by the present disclosure. Like tubes 13b, c, vent tube 13d is generally cylindrical, as illustrated in the figures, though other geometries such as cubical or triangular designs are contemplated by the present disclosure. Vent tube 13d may be secured to housing 13a using any suitable connection process including, but not limited to, welding, adhesives, straps, fasteners, or other typical connection operations.

[0034] Vent tube 13d can be configured to direct air or fertilizer dust out of housing 13a and into the external environment away from the spreader drop tubes. This can reduce air pressure inside housing 13a and can also eliminate buildup of fertilizer product therein which, if not alleviated, could cause air vent 12 to become blocked and made unusable. Reducing air pressure may lead to a decrease in fertilizer exit velocity out of outlet tube 13c. This can increase agronomic effectiveness and impact of banded fertilizer delivery because the fertilizer product is more accurately delivered to the base of a crop rather than being delivered where it is not effective (e.g., greater fertilizer exit velocity may cause inaccurate delivery because the fertilizer product is less precisely delivered at or near the crop base). In examples, vent tube 13d can be oriented downward at an angle away from housing 13a. Air and fertilizer dust may then be directed outward from vent tube 13d away from machinery and the soil or crops where fertilizer product is being delivered to.

[0035] Overall, air vent 12 can facilitate the delivery of fertilizer product from a spreader through inlet tube 13b and into housing 13a, before exiting air vent 12 through outlet tube 13c and being distributed onto soil or a crop near a crop base (after being transported through tube connector 14 and particle concentrator 16 as described in a subsequent section herein). Excess air or fertilizer dust may be removed from airvent 12 via vent tube 13 d. The removal of air can reduce air pressure inside air vent 12 which may reduce fertilizer exit velocity through outlet tube 13c. The removal of fertilizer dust or other excess fertilizer product can prevent blockage inside air vent 12 which, if not acted upon, may cause air vent 12 and associated equipment to become unusable.

[0036] Tube connector 14 can be couplable on one end to air vent 12, for example to outlet tube 13c, and can be placed proximal to soil or crops on a second end thereof. For example, tube connector 14 may include an inlet tube 15a couplable to outlet tube 13c such that fertilizer product can be directed into tube 15a from tube 13c. Tube connector 14 may further include first and second outlet tubes 15b,c couplable to inlet tube 15a to form, for example, a Y-shaped tube connector 14 as illustrated in the figures. In examples, tubes 15a,b,c may be integrally couplable to form a single unitary structure, or removably couplable such that at least one of tubes 15a,b,c can be removed and reattached as needed (e.g., to replace a degraded tube 15a,b,c or to use a different tube 15a,b,c geometry). In examples, tube connector 14 may have geometries other than Y-shaped, such as X- shaped, I-shaped, T-shaped, or other suitable geometric configurations. In examples, tube connector 14 may include only a single outlet tube 15 rather than a pair of tubes 15b,c (e.g., to form a straight, vertical tube connector 14). Tube connector 14 can be configured to transport fertilizer product from air vent 12 to soil or crops in a banded pattern. The generally Y-shaped configuration of tube connector 14 enables fertilizer product deposit in two separate banded patterns along a row of soil or crops (e.g., fertilizer product is transported through first and second outlet tubes 15b,c and onto or near the target location). Other geometrical configurations of tube connector 14 contemplated by the present disclosure can enable similar transport of fertilizer product to a target location. In examples, first and second outlet tubes 15b,c may have a reduced inner diameter or a reduced length compared to inlet tube 15a, to enable more accurate fertilizer deposit. In other examples, tubes 15a,b,c may have identical or substantially identical diameters or lengths as illustrated particularly in FIG. 1. In examples, tubes 15a,b,c may include one or more ridges or other external geometric features such as those illustrated in FIG. 1. In examples, one or both of first and second output tubes 15b,c may include a spring configured to maintain the location of tubes 15b,c at or near soil or the base of a crop. The spring may be positioned external or internal to tubes 15b,c as needed.

[0037] Particle concentrator 16 may be couplable to air vent 12 or to tube connector 14, and can be configured to maintain or increase fertilizer product concentration at or near a crop base (e.g., directly at the crop base or at nearby soil). For example, particle concentrator 16 can be configured to maintain fertilizer product in a concentrated banded pattern to enable increased agronomic efficacy and impact of the fertilizer on a crop. Particle concentrator 16 may comprise any suitable geometry, design, or configuration necessary to achieve suitable fertilizer concentration. In one example, particle concentrator 16 is coupled to at least one of outlets 15b and 15c or both.

[0038] Contemplated designs for particle concentrator 16 include, but are not limited to: one or more brushes that sweep or brush fertilizer product in a desired direction toward a crop base to maintain or increase fertilizer concentration (e.g., a brush with bristles positioned at or near first and second outlet tubes 15b, c); or a scraper design that drags along the ground surface to force or push fertilizer in a desired direction (e.g., a flat piece of metal or other suitable material positioned at or near first and second outlet tubes 15b,c). Other suitable particle concentrator 16 designs configured for sweeping, brushing, forcing, pushing, or otherwise moving fertilizer product are contemplated by the present disclosure. In general, particle concentrator 16 can be configured to maximize fertilizer concentration at a location during fertilizer application to increase material efficiency with respect to crop growth and development and to reduce time and money costs for crop growers.

[0039] Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, example fertilizer distribution operations using fertilizer spreading systems 20, 30, respectively, are illustrated. FIG. 2 illustrates an air flow dry fertilizer spreader 22 (e.g., a boom fertilizer spreader) having a plurality of fertilizer drop tubes 24 each equipped with a fertilizer equipment attachment 10 in use. FIG. 3 illustrates a similar arrangement with a fertilizer spreader 32 equipped with a plurality of drop tubes 34 each having a fertilizer equipment attachment 10 configured to operate as described previously (e.g., attachment 10 having an air vent 12, a tube connector 14, and a particle concentrator 16).

[0040] In reference to FIG. 2 specifically, fertilizer spreader 22 operates as a motorized vehicle with a storage unit containing fertilizer product. The fertilizer product can be transported from the storage unit to the plurality of drop tubes 24 connected to a boom. A distal end of each drop tube 24 can include a fertilizer equipment attachment 10 with an inlet tube 13b couplable to the drop tube 24 and an outlet tube 13c couplable to a tube connector 14. A vent tube 13d can be angled downward to direct air and fertilizer dust away from the attachment 10. Fertilizer product can be delivered through each drop tube 24 and into the attachment 10 via inlet tube 13b (e.g., the drop tubes 24 can be arranged along rows of crops to facilitate delivery of fertilizer product directly at or near the crop bases). The spreading system 20 of FIG. 2 thereby facilitates accurate and efficient delivery of fertilizer product to optimal locations at or near crop bases. Spreading system 30 of FIG. 3 operates in a similar manner to achieve the same improvements and advantages over conventional fertilizer delivery systems and techniques.

[0041] Referring now to FIGS. 4A and 4B, example in-season dry-drop distributions of fertilizer product using a fertilizer spreader having one or more fertilizer equipment attachments 10 are illustrated. FIG. 4A illustrates dry-drop distribution 40 of a fertilizer product containing, among other optional mineral or non-mineral elements, nitrogen (N) mineral nutrients. Similarly, FIG. 4B illustrates dry-drop distribution 50 of a fertilizer product containing, among other optional mineral or non-mineral elements, phosphorous (P) and potassium (K) mineral nutrients.

[0042] The dry-drop distributions illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B highlight the improvements and advantages of using the techniques, systems, attachments, and other disclosure provided herein when compared to conventional distribution techniques such as broadcasting. In particular, the banded distributions of fertilizer distributions 40, 50 are more concentrated near crop bases where they are generally most effective. The penetration of fertilizer into the soil, specifically the nutrients which enable crop growth and development, is evidenced in the dry-drop distribution 40 which shows increased penetration with minimal soil disturbance when compared to broadcast fertilizer application. The concentration of fertilizer product near crop bases with minimal soil disturbance is evidence by the dry-drop distribution 50 which shows a banded pattern of fertilizer placed proximal the crops. By using the fertilizer equipment attachment 10 and techniques described herein with existing machinery, agronomic efficacy and impact of dry fertilizer products on soil and crops can be increased, resulting in more efficient crop growth and development. Cost savings are also available for crop growers given the reduced amount of dry fertilizer product used when compared to broadcast fertilizer application.

[0043] Examples of embodiments of the disclosure can further be found in the following numbered sentences:

[0044] 1. Afertilizer equipment attachment for surface banding dry fertilizer near a crop, comprising; an air vent having a housing, an inlet tube configured to receive fertilizer product from a source and coupled to the housing at a first side, the housing being configured to receive fertilizer product from the inlet tube, and an outlet tube coupled to a second side of the housing and receive the fertilizer product from the housing; a tube connector having an inlet tube and at least one outlet tube, the inlet tube of the tube connector being coupled to the outlet tube of the air vent, the tube connector configured to receive fertilizer product from the outlet tube; and a particle concentrator coupled to at least one of the at least one outlet tube of the tube connector, the particle concentrator being configured to increase concentration of fertilizer product near a base of the crop, thereby increasing agronomic efficacy of the fertilizer product for growth of the crop.

[0045] 2. The fertilizer equipment attachment of sentence 1, wherein the air vent further includes a vent tube coupled to the housing at a third side, the vent tube being configured to release air from the housing, thereby reducing internal air pressure and decreasing fertilizer exit velocity out of the outlet tube.

[0046] 3 The fertilizer equipment attachment of sentence 1 or 2, wherein the housing of the air vent has a sloped geometry such that the inlet tube is at a height of the first wall different than a height of the outlet tube at the second wall.

[0047] 4. The fertilizer equipment attachment of any of the preceding sentences, wherein the tube connector includes a first outlet tube and a second outlet tube. 5. The fertilizer equipment attachment of sentence 4, wherein the inlet tube and the first and second outlet tubes of the tube connector form a Y-shaped tube connector.

[0048] 6. The fertilizer equipment attachment of any of the preceding sentences, wherein the particle concentrator comprises a brush or a scraper that drags along the ground surface to maintain high fertilizer concentration near the crop.

[0049] 7. The fertilizer equipment attachment of claim 6, wherein the particle concentrator comprises a brush with bristles that are configured sweep or brush fertilizer product in a desired direction toward the crop base to maintain or increase fertilizer concentration.

[0050] 8. The fertilizer equipment attachment of claim 6, wherein the wherein the particle concentrator comprises a scraper that drags along the ground surface to force or push fertilizer in a desired direction.

[0051] 9. The fertilizer equipment attachment of any of the preceding sentences, wherein the tube connector includes a spring coupled to at least one of the outlet tubes, the inlet tube, or all, the spring being configured to keep the connector and the particle concentrator proximal to the crop base or nearby ground surface.

[0052] 10. The fertilizer equipment attachment of any of the preceding sentences, wherein the source of fertilizer product comprises a boom spreader, and wherein the inlet tube of the air vent is couplable to a drop tube of the boom spreader.

[0053] 11. A system for providing next-to-crop row surface banded application for dry particulate fertilizers, the system comprising: a fertilizer spreader having a source of particulate or granular fertilizer, and a plurality of drop tubes fluidly connected to the source of particulate or granular fertilizer to receive the particulate or granular fertilizer therefrom; andat least one fertilizer equipment attachment couplable to a drop tube of the plurality of drop tubes, the at least one fertilizer equipment attachment including: an air vent housing including an inlet tube configured to receive fertilizer product from the source, and an outlet tube configured to receive the fertilizer product from the inlet tube, a tube connector having an inlet tube and at least one outlet tube, the inlet tube of the tube connector being configured to receive fertilizer product from the outlet tube of the air vent, and a particle concentrator coupled to the tube connector, the particle concentrator being configured to increase concentration of fertilizer product near a base of the crop, thereby increasing agronomic efficacy of the fertilizer product for growth of the crop.

[0054] 12. The system of sentence 11, wherein the air vent further includes an air vent tube configured to release air from the air vent housing, thereby reducing internal air pressure and decreasing fertilizer exit velocity out of the outlet tube.

[0055] 13. The system of sentence 11 or 12, wherein the tube connector includes a first outlet tube and a second outlet tube.

[0056] 14. The system of sentence 13, wherein the inlet tube and the first and second outlet tubes of the tube connector form a Y-shaped tube connector.

[0057] 15. The system of any of the preceding sentences 11-14, wherein the particle concentrator comprises a brush or a scraper that drags along the ground surface to maintain high fertilizer concentration near the crop.

[0058] 16. The system of sentence 15, wherein the particle concentrator comprises a brush with bristles that are configured sweep or brush fertilizer product in a desired direction toward the crop base to maintain or increase fertilizer concentration.

[0059] 17. The system of sentence 15, wherein the wherein the particle concentrator comprises a scraper that drags along the ground surface to force or push fertilizer in a desired direction. 18. The system of any of sentences 11-17, wherein each of the at least one fertilizer equipment attachment is removably couplable to a drop tube of the plurality of drop tubes.

[0060] 19. The system of any of sentences 11-18, further comprising: a fluid applicator for delivering liquid fertilizer, water, herbicides, pesticides, or any combination thereof in combination with the particulate or granular fertilizer.

[0061] 20. The fertilizer equipment attachment or the system of any of the preceding sentences, wherein the tube connector is removably couplable to the outlet tube of the air vent, the particle concentrator is removably couplable to the tube connector, or both.

[0062] 21. A method of applying a dry fertilizer product to crops via in-season surface banded application techniques, the method including: providing the fertilizer equipment attachment according to any of the preceding sentences; providing a source of particular or granular fertilizer; and applying the source of particular or granular fertilizer to the crops proximate a base of the crops.

[0063] The disclosure may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the essential attributes. Therefore, the illustrated examples should be considered illustrative and not restrictive in all respects. Any claims provided herein are to ensure adequacy of the present application for establishing foreign priority and for no other purpose. Various examples of systems, devices, and methods have been described herein. These examples are given only be way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the claimed disclosures. It should be appreciated, moreover, that the various features of the examples that have been described may be combined in various ways to produce numerous additional examples. Moreover, while various material, dimensions, shapes, configurations, locations, etc. have been described for use with disclosed examples, others besides those disclosed may be utilized without exceeding the scope of the claimed disclosures.

[0064] Persons of ordinary skill in the relevant arts will recognize that the subject matter hereof may comprise fewer features than illustrated in any individual example described above. The examples described herein are not meant to be an exhaustive presentation of the ways in which the various features of the subject matter hereof may be combined. Accordingly, the examples are not mutually exclusive combinations of features; rather, the various examples can comprise a combination of different individual features selected from different individual examples, as understood be persons of ordinary skill in the art. Moreover, elements described with respect to one example can be implemented in other examples even when not described in such examples unless otherwise noted.

[0065] Any incorporation of reference of documents above is further limited such that no claims included in the documents are incorporated by reference herein. Any incorporation by reference of documents above is yet further limited such that any definitions provided in the documents are not incorporated by reference herein unless expressly included herein.

[0066] For purposes of interpreting the claims, it is expressly intended that the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112(f) are not to be invoked unless the specific terms “means for” or “step for” are recited in a claim.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A fertilizer equipment attachment for surface banding dry fertilizer near a crop, comprising: an air vent having a housing, an inlet tube configured to receive fertilizer product from a source and coupled to the housing at a first side, the housing being configured to receive fertilizer product from the inlet tube, and an outlet tube coupled to a second side of the housing and receive the fertilizer product from the housing; a tube connector having an inlet tube and at least one outlet tube, the inlet tube of the tube connector being coupled to the outlet tube of the air vent, the tube connector configured to receive fertilizer product from the outlet tube; and a particle concentrator coupled to at least one of the at least one outlet tube of the tube connector, the particle concentrator being configured to increase concentration of fertilizer product near a base of the crop, thereby increasing agronomic efficacy of the fertilizer product for growth of the crop.

2. The fertilizer equipment attachment of claim 1, wherein the air vent further includes a vent tube coupled to the housing at a third side, the vent tube being configured to release air from the housing, thereby reducing internal air pressure and decreasing fertilizer exit velocity out of the outlet tube.3 The fertilizer equipment attachment of claim 1 or 2, wherein the housing of the air vent has a sloped geometry such that the inlet tube is at a height of the first wall different than a height of the outlet tube at the second wall.

4. The fertilizer equipment attachment of claim 1 or 2, wherein the tube connector includes a first outlet tube and a second outlet tube.

5. The fertilizer equipment attachment of claim 4, wherein the inlet tube and the first and second outlet tubes of the tube connector form a Y-shaped tube connector.

6. The fertilizer equipment attachment of claim 1 or 2, wherein the particle concentrator comprises a brush or a scraper that drags along the ground surface to maintain high fertilizer concentration near the crop.

7. The fertilizer equipment attachment of claim 6, wherein the particle concentrator comprises a brush with bristles that are configured sweep or brush fertilizer product in a desired direction toward the crop base to maintain or increase fertilizer concentration.

8. The fertilizer equipment attachment of claim 6, wherein the wherein the particle concentrator comprises a scraper that drags along the ground surface to force or push fertilizer in a desired direction.

9. The fertilizer equipment attachment of claim 1 or 2, wherein the tube connector includes a spring coupled to at least one of the outlet tubes, the inlet tube, or all, the spring being configured to keep the connector and the particle concentrator proximal to the crop base or nearby ground surface.

10. The fertilizer equipment attachment of claim 1, wherein the source of fertilizer product comprises a boom spreader, and wherein the inlet tube of the air vent is couplable to a drop tube of the boom spreader.

11. A system for providing next-to-crop row surface banded application for dry particulate fertilizers, the system comprising: a fertilizer spreader having a source of particulate or granular fertilizer, and a plurality of drop tubes fluidly connected to the source of particulate or granular fertilizer to receive the particulate or granular fertilizer therefrom; and at least one fertilizer equipment attachment coupl able to a drop tube of the plurality of drop tubes, the at least one fertilizer equipment attachment including: an air vent housing including an inlet tube configured to receive fertilizer product from the source, and an outlet tube configured to receive the fertilizer product from the inlet tube, a tube connector having an inlet tube and at least one outlet tube, the inlet tube of the tube connector being configured to receive fertilizer product from the outlet tube of the air vent, and a particle concentrator coupled to the tube connector, the particle concentrator being configured to increase concentration of fertilizer product near a base of the crop, thereby increasing agronomic efficacy of the fertilizer product for growth of the crop.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the air vent further includes an air vent tube configured to release air from the airvent housing, thereby reducing internal air pressure and decreasing fertilizer exit velocity out of the outlet tube.

13. The system of claim 11 or 12, wherein the tube connector includes a first outlet tube and a second outlet tube.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the inlet tube and the first and second outlet tubes of the tube connector form a Y-shaped tube connector.

15. The system of claim 11 or 12, wherein the particle concentrator comprises a brush or a scraper that drags along the ground surface to maintain high fertilizer concentration near the crop.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the particle concentrator comprises a brush with bristles that are configured sweep or brush fertilizer product in a desired direction toward the crop base to maintain or increase fertilizer concentration.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the wherein the particle concentrator comprises a scraper that drags along the ground surface to force or push fertilizer in a desired direction.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein each of the at least one fertilizer equipment attachment is removably coupleable to a drop tube of the plurality of drop tubes.

19. The system of claim 11, further comprising: a fluid applicator for delivering liquid fertilizer, water, herbicides, pesticides, or any combination thereof in combination with the particulate or granular fertilizer.

20. The fertilizer equipment attachment of claim 1 or the system of claim 11, wherein the tube connector is removably couplable to the outlet tube of the air vent, the particle concentrator is removably couplable to the tube connector, or both.

21. A method of applying a dry fertilizer product to crops via in-season surface banded application techniques, the method including: providing the fertilizer equipment attachment according to any of claims 1-10, or the system of any of claims 11-19; providing a source of particular or granular fertilizer; and applying the source of particular or granular fertilizer to the crops proximate a base of the crops.

Images