A composition suitable for a fertilizer and method of making the same

Abstract

The invention is directed to a composition suitable for a fertilizer, a method of making the composition, and use of the composition. The composition comprises one or more fertilizer nutrients, an organic material, and a carbon source, wherein the organic material comprises one of more of lignin, cellulose, or cellulose derivatives and the carbon source comprises one or more of char, activated carbon, carbon black, biochar, or coal.

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] A COMPOSITION SUITABLE FOR A FERTILIZER AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME

[0003] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0004] This application claims priority to the benefit of Indian Application No. 202441093327, filed November 28, 2024, the contents of which are incorporated into the present application by reference.

[0005] FIELD OF THE INVENTION:

[0006] The present disclosure relates to a composition suitable for a fertilizer and process for making such composition.

[0007] BACKGROUND:

[0008] Nutrient availability in the soil-plant system is affected by various factors such as interactions between plant roots, microorganisms present in soil, chemical reactions, and other pathways of losses. Nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium (NPK) are required in large amounts for plants and are not always adequately available in natural soils to support and sustain growth of plants. Other nutrients such as sulfur, magnesium, and trace elements (iron, copper, zinc, manganese), although needed in lesser amounts, are indispensable for optimal yields. Therefore, these agrinutrients are often needed to be applied externally through fertilizer. Water soluble conventional fertilizers typically result in a large amount of nutrients being lost by leaching and volatilization. These nutrients required by the plant can also be lost by chemical processes such as exchange, fixation, and precipitation.

[0009] To enhance crop yield and satisfy the growing needs of an increasing population, more fertilizers are being used in agriculture. However, continuous use of fertilizer can lead to nutrient imbalance and loss of soil fertility. In addition, excessive use of urea fertilizer, due to its rapid hydrolysis and nitrification in the soil by soil bacteria, can cause environmental problems such as greenhouse emissions and groundwater contamination.

[0010] Fertilizer in the form of pellets are used in agriculture to deliver nutrients. Often, fertilizer pellets are coated to prevent saturation or premature elution of the nutrients into the area to be treated. Thus, there is an increased interest in developing slow-release fertilizers that release nutrients to plants over time. Advantages of slow-release fertilizers are improved efficiency and quality as the fertilizer is released over time thus providing sufficient quantities of nutrients as required for higher crop yields. Many attempts to provide a fertilizer product having a coating which provides for slow-release of the fertilizer, rendering the fertilizer application effective over a long period of time, have been made. Many such processes have undesirable effects, such as sticky buildup in the coating equipment and release of chemicals from the slow- release coatings into the surrounding environment. In addition, synthetic polymers that have been used in the past for making the slow-release fertilizers are not biodegradable, creating environmental problems which limits their use.

[0011] Therefore, there is a need for fertilizer pellets, and other agricultural treatment pellets, to have environmentally friendly fertilizers that can be processed without sticky buildup and without sacrificing the efficiency of the fertilizer, or concentration in each pellet. Such fertilizer compositions and methods related thereto are disclosed herein.

[0012] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:

[0013] The present invention provides a solution to the above problems. In accordance with the present invention, disclosed herein is a fertilizer composition comprising one or more fertilizer nutrients, an organic material and a carbon source. In one aspect, the fertilizer composition comprises fertilizer nutrients, a carbon source, an organic material and a plurality of live microorganisms. Certain aspects are directed to a fertilizer composition comprising the organic material selected from one or more of cellulose, paper pulp, microcrystalline cellulose, hemicellulose, methylcellulose, ethylcellulose, methylethylcellulose, hydroxymethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, ethylhydroxyethylcellulose, cyanogen ethyl cellulose, ethyl-cyanoethyl cellulose, hydroxyethylmethylcellulose, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, potassium carboxymethylcellulose, nitrocellulose, cellulose phosphate, cellulose acetate, cellulose acetate propionate, acetate butyrate fiber, jute, hemp, corn, flax, rice, wheat straw, sisal, wood pulp, palm tree waste, cotton fibers, orange peels, lemon peels, banana peels, or other agricultural residues. In certain aspects, the organic material is a cellulose. Certain aspects are directed to a fertilizer composition comprising the carbon source comprising a char, an activated carbon, carbon black, coal, or a combination thereof. In certain instances, the carbon source is a carbon black. The carbon black may, in some instances, be a product of decomposition of methane. In some aspects, the carbon source may be derived from a refinery process and / or a hydrogen production process. In some aspects, the carbon source may be derived from a natural gas and / or a shale gas. In some aspects, the carbon source is a porous carbon black. In some aspects, the fertilizer composition comprises a plurality of cavities present in the organic material and / or the carbon source. In some aspects, a part of the fertilizer nutrients is adsorbed on the surface of the organic material and / or the carbon source. In some aspects, a part of the fertilizer nutrients are absorbed on the surface of organic material and / or carbon source. In some aspects, fertilizer nutrients are dispersed within the plurality of cavities of the organic material and / or the carbon source.

[0014] In some aspects, the fertilizer composition comprises a binder and the binder is selected from bleached wheat flour, gaur gum, calcium ligno sulfonate, gelatin, seaweed extract, plaster of paris, flour, starch, cellulose, gluten, colloidal silica, kaolin, bentonite, polyethylene glycol (PEG), polycaprolactone, low molecular weight polyvinyl acetate, silica, dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS), rice husk, or a combination thereof.

[0015] In some aspects, the fertilizer nutrients further comprise a macronutrient fertilizer and / or a micronutrient fertilizer. In some aspects, the macronutrient fertilizer comprises one or more of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium, sulfur (S), magnesium (Mg), or a combination thereof. In a few aspects, the macronutrient fertilizer comprises one or more of urea, potash, ammonium phosphate, potassium sulfate, ammonium sulfate, potassium nitrate, calcium nitrate, sodium nitrate, potassium chloride, monoammonium phosphate (MAP), diammonium phosphate (DAP), triple super phosphate, NPK fertilizers, or a combination thereof. In some other aspects, the micronutrient fertilizer comprises one or more of inorganic or organometallic compounds of boron (B), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), chlorine (Cl), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), nickel (Ni) or zinc (Zn).

[0016] In some aspects, the fertilizer composition comprises microorganisms, wherein the microorganisms are selected from diazotrophic bacteria, Azospirillum species, Azotobacter species, Frateuria aurantia, Bacillus species, endophytes, nitrogen fixing microorganisms, methylotrophs, comammox microorganisms, phosphorus solubilizing microorganisms, Nitrospira species, Methylobacterium species, pink pigmented facultative methylotrophs (PPFM-trophs), or a combination thereof.

[0017] Certain aspects are directed to a method of producing the fertilizer composition described herein. The method may include steps (a), (b), and / or (c) wherein step (a) includes providing one or more fertilizer nutrients, step (b) includes adding an organic material and a carbon source to the one or more fertilizer nutrients to make a blended fertilizer, and step (c) includes pelletizing the blended fertilizer. In some aspects, in step (b) the carbon source comprises at least one of char, activated carbon, carbon black, biochar, or coal. In some aspects, in step (b) the carbon source is carbon black. In some aspects, step (b) includes adding the organic material comprising one or more of cellulose, paper pulp, microcrystalline cellulose, hemicellulose, methylcellulose, ethylcellulose, methylethylcellulose, hydroxymethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, ethylhydroxyethylcellulose, cyanogen ethylcellulose, ethyl-cyanoethyl cellulose, hydroxyethylmethylcellulose, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, potassium carboxymethylcellulose, nitrocellulose, cellulose phosphate, cellulose acetate, cellulose acetate propionate, acetate butyrate fiber, jute, hemp, com, flax, rice, wheat straw, sisal, wood pulp, palm tree waste, cotton fibers, orange peels, lemon peels, banana peels, or other agricultural residues. In some aspects, in step (b) the organic material is a cellulose. In some aspects, step (b) may include contacting the mixture of the organic material and the carbon source with one or more microorganisms. In some aspects, step (a) may include mixing one of more fertilizer nutrients with one or more microorganisms. In some instances, one or more of the microorganisms may be added with the fertilizer nutrients at the same time, before, and / or after the organic material and carbon black are added to the fertilizer nutrients.

[0018] In some embodiments, methods of fertilizing are described. A method can include applying a fertilizer composition, and / or blended or compounded fertilizer composition described herein to a portion of a soil, a crop, water, or any combination of the soil, the water, and the crop. In some embodiments, the soil is at least partially or fully submerged under water (e.g., rice paddy crops) and the granules sink in the water to contact the soil.

[0019] In some embodiments, what is described is use of the composition or the composition produced by the method as disclosed above as a fertilizer or a fertilizer blend or a compounded fertilizer, or a combination thereof.

[0020] Certain embodiments of the present invention are characterized through the following aspects.

[0021] Aspect 1 concerns a composition suitable for a fertilizer comprising one or more fertilizer nutrients, an organic material, and a carbon source, wherein the organic material comprises one of more of lignin, cellulose or cellulose derivatives and wherein the carbon source comprises one or more of char, activated carbon, carbon black, biochar, or coal.

[0022] Aspect 2 concerns the composition of aspect 1, wherein the fertilizer nutrients are present in an amount of 25 wt.% to 85 wt.% of the total weight of the fertilizer composition. Aspect 3 concerns the composition of any one of aspects 1 and 2, wherein the fertilizer nutrients are present in an amount of preferably 30 wt.% to 80 wt.%, preferably 30 wt.% to 70 wt.%, preferably 35 wt.% to 65 wt.%, preferably 30 wt.% to 65 wt.%, more preferably 30 wt.% to 60 wt.% of the total weight of the fertilizer composition.

[0023] Aspect 4 concerns the composition of aspect 1, wherein the one or more fertilizer nutrients comprises a macronutrient fertilizer.

[0024] Aspect 5 concerns the composition of any one of aspects 1 to 4, wherein the one or more fertilizer nutrients comprises a micronutrient fertilizer.

[0025] Aspect 6 concerns the composition of any one of aspects 1 to 5, wherein the one or more fertilizer nutrients comprises a macronutrient fertilizer and a micronutrient fertilizer.

[0026] Aspect 7 concerns the composition of any one of aspects 1 to 6, wherein the organic material is present in an amount of 10 wt.% to 60 wt.% of the total weight of the fertilizer composition.

[0027] Aspect 8 concerns the composition of any one of aspects 1 to 7, wherein the carbon source is present in an amount of 0.1 wt.% to 25 wt.% of the total weight of the fertilizer composition.

[0028] Aspect 9 concerns the composition of any one of aspects 1 to 8, wherein the macronutrient fertilizer comprises nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), sulfur (S), magnesium (Mg), or a combination thereof.

[0029] Aspect 10 concerns the composition of any one of aspects 1 to 9, wherein the macronutrient fertilizer is selected from urea, potash, ammonium phosphate, potassium sulfate, ammonium sulfate, potassium nitrate, calcium nitrate, sodium nitrate, potassium chloride, monoammonium phosphate (MAP), diammonium phosphate (DAP), triple super phosphate, NPK fertilizers, or a combination thereof.

[0030] Aspect 11 concerns the composition of any one of aspects 1 to 10, wherein the macronutrient fertilizer is selected from urea, ammonium phosphate, diammonium phosphate (DAP), or a combination thereof.

[0031] Aspect 12 concerns the composition of any one of aspects 1 to 11, wherein the micronutrient comprises inorganic or organometallic compounds of boron (B), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), chlorine (Cl), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), nickel (Ni) or zinc (Zn), or a combination thereof.

[0032] Aspect 13 concerns the composition of any one of aspects 1 to 12, wherein the carbon source is a carbon black. Aspect 14 concerns the composition of any one of aspects 1 to 13, wherein the organic material comprises one or more of cellulose, paper pulp, microcrystalline cellulose, hemicellulose, methylcellulose, ethylcellulose, methylethylcellulose, hydroxymethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, ethylhydroxyethylcellulose, cyanogen ethylcellulose, ethyl-cyanoethyl cellulose, hydroxyethylmethylcellulose, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, potassium carboxymethylcellulose, nitrocellulose, cellulose phosphate, cellulose acetate, cellulose acetate propionate, acetate butyrate fiber, jute, hemp, com, flax, rice, wheat straw, sisal, wood pulp, palm tree waste, cotton fibers, orange peels, lemon peels, banana peels, or other agricultural residues.

[0033] Aspect 15 concerns the composition of aspect 14, wherein the organic material is a cellulose.

[0034] Aspect 16 concerns the composition of any one of aspects 1 to 15, further comprising a binder present in an amount of 5 wt.% - 10 wt.% of the total weight of the fertilizer composition.

[0035] Aspect 17 concerns the composition of aspect 16, the binder is selected from bleached wheat flour, gaur gum, calcium ligno sulfonate, gelatin, seaweed extract, plaster of paris, flour, starch, cellulose, gluten, colloidal silica, kaolin, bentonite, polyethylene glycol (PEG), polycaprolactone, low molecular weight polyvinyl acetate, silica, dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS), rice husk, or a combination thereof.

[0036] Aspect 18 concerns the composition of any one of aspects 1 to 17, wherein the composition comprises one or more microorganisms.

[0037] Aspect 19 concerns the composition of aspect 18, wherein one or more of the microorganisms comprise a diazotrophic bacteria, Azospirillum species, Azotobacter species, Frateuria aurantia, Bacillus species, endophytes, nitrogen fixing microorganisms, methylotrophs, comammox microorganisms, phosphorus solubilizing microorganisms, Nitrospira species, Methylobacterium species, pink pigmented facultative methylotrophs (PPFM-trophs), Pseudomonas plecoglossicida, Bacillus aryabhattai, or a combination thereof.

[0038] Aspect 20 concerns the composition of any one of aspects 17 to 19, wherein one or more microorganisms are present in an amount of 0-0.5 wt.% of the total weight of the fertilizer composition.

[0039] Aspect 21 concerns the composition of any one of aspects 1 to 20, further comprising one or more additives selected from calcium carbonate, calcium oxide, wax, or a combination thereof. Aspect 22 concerns the composition of any one of aspects 1 to 21, wherein the composition is a solid fertilizer.

[0040] Aspect 23 concerns a process for making a composition suitable for a fertilizer comprising: a. providing one or more fertilizer nutrients; b. adding an organic material and a carbon source to the one or more fertilizer nutrients forming a blended fertilizer wherein the carbon source is selected from char, activated carbon, carbon black, biochar, coal, or a combination thereof; and c. pelletizing the blended fertilizer.

[0041] Aspect 24 concerns the process of aspect 23, wherein the process further comprises adding one or more microorganisms in an amount of 0-0.5 wt.% of the total weight of the composition.

[0042] Aspect 25 concerns the process of aspect 24, wherein the microorganisms are added during step a and / or step b.

[0043] Aspect 26 concerns the process of any one of aspects 23 to 25, wherein the one or more fertilizer nutrients is a macronutrient fertilizer and / or a micronutrient fertilizer.

[0044] Aspect 27 concerns the process of any one of aspects 23 to 26, wherein the fertilizer nutrients are present in an amount of 25 wt.% to 85 wt.%, preferably 30 wt.% to 80 wt.%, preferably 30 wt.% to 70 wt.%, preferably 35 wt.% to 65 wt.%, preferably 30 wt.% to 65 wt.%, more preferably 30 wt.% to 60 wt.% of the total weight of the composition.

[0045] Aspect 28 concerns the process of any one of aspects 23 to 27, wherein the organic matter is present in an amount of 10 wt.% to 60 wt.% of the total weight of the composition.

[0046] Aspect 29 concerns the process of any one of aspects 23 to 28, wherein the organic material comprises one or more of cellulose, paper pulp, microcrystalline cellulose, hemicellulose, methylcellulose, ethylcellulose, methylethylcellulose, hydroxymethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, ethylhydroxyethylcellulose, cyanogen ethylcellulose, ethyl-cyanoethyl cellulose, hydroxyethylmethylcellulose, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, potassium carboxymethylcellulose, nitrocellulose, cellulose phosphate, cellulose acetate, cellulose acetate propionate, acetate butyrate fiber, jute, hemp, com, flax, rice, wheat straw, sisal, wood pulp, palm tree waste, cotton fibers, orange peels, lemon peels, banana peels, or other agricultural residues.

[0047] Aspect 30 concerns the process of aspect 29, wherein the preferable organic material is cellulose. Aspect 31 concerns the process of any one of aspects 23 to 30, wherein the carbon source is present in an amount of 0.1 wt.% to 25 wt.% of the total weight of the composition.

[0048] Aspect 32 concerns the process of any one of the aspects 23 to 31, wherein the the macronutrient fertilizer comprises one or more of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), sulfur (S), or magnesium (Mg).

[0049] Aspect 33 concerns the process of any one of aspects 23 to 32, wherein the macronutrient fertilizer is selected from urea, potash, ammonium phosphate, potassium sulfate, ammonium sulfate, potassium nitrate, calcium nitrate, sodium nitrate, potassium chloride, monoammonium phosphate (MAP), diammonium phosphate (DAP), triple super phosphate, NPK fertilizers, or a combination thereof.

[0050] Aspect 34 concerns the process of any one of the aspects 23 and 33, wherein the micronutrient comprises one or more of inorganic or organometallic compounds of boron (B), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), chlorine (Cl), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), nickel (Ni) or zinc (Zn).

[0051] Aspect 35 concerns the process of any one of the aspects 23 to 34, wherein the process further comprises adding a binder present in an amount of 5 wt.% - 10 wt.% of the total weight of the fertilizer composition.

[0052] Aspect 36 concerns the process of aspect 35, wherein the binder is selected from bleached wheat flour, gaur gum, calcium ligno sulfonate, gelatin, seaweed extract, plaster of paris, flour, starch, cellulose, gluten, colloidal silica, kaolin, bentonite, polyethylene glycol (PEG), polycaprolactone, low molecular weight polyvinyl acetate, silica, dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS), rice husk, or a combination thereof.

[0053] Aspect 37 concerns the process of any one of aspects 23 to 36, wherein the process further comprises adding additives selected from calcium carbonate, calcium oxide, wax, or a combination thereof.

[0054] Aspect 38 concerns the process of any one of the aspects 23 to 37, wherein the composition is a solid fertilizer.

[0055] Aspect 39 concerns the process of fertilizing, the process comprising applying the fertilizer composition of any one of aspects 1 to 22 or produced by using the process of aspects 23 to 38 to a soil, a crop, water, or any combination thereof. Aspect 39 concerns the use of the composition of any one of the aspects 1 to 22 or the composition produced by the process of any one of the aspects 23-38 as a fertilizer, a fertilizer blend, a compounded fertilizer, or a combination thereof.

[0056] The following includes definitions of various terms and phrases used throughout this specification.

[0057] The term “fertilizer” is defined as a material applied to soils or to plant tissues to supply a) one or more plant nutrients essential or beneficial to the growth of plants and / or b) one or more stimulants or enhancers to increase or enhance plant growth. Non-limiting examples of fertilizers include materials having one or more of urea, ammonium nitrate, calcium ammonium nitrate, urea calcium sulfate adduct, one or more superphosphates, binary NP fertilizers, binary NK fertilizers, binary PK fertilizers, NPK fertilizers, molybdenum, zinc, copper, boron, cobalt, manganese, nickel, chloride, and / or iron. In some embodiments, fertilizers include agents that enhance plant growth and / or enhance the ability for a plant to receive the benefit of a fertilizer, such as, but not limited to organic matter, bio stimulants, urease inhibitors, and nitrification inhibitors.

[0058] The term “microbe” or “microorganism” can include bacteria, fungi, protists, and / or archaea.

[0059] The term “micronutrient” is defined as a chemical element or substance used in trace amounts for the normal growth and development of a plant. Non-limiting examples of micronutrients include B, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Zn, Se, and Si or compounds thereof.

[0060] The term “macronutrient” is defined as a chemical element or substance used in relatively large to moderate amounts for plant growth and are less likely to limit crop growth. Non-limiting examples of macro nutrients include N, P, K, Ca, Mg, and S.

[0061] The term “organic agent” is defined as a substance that is produced by or as part of an organism. Non-limiting examples of organic agents suitable for a fertilizer include neem oil, seaweed extract, bio-stimulants, char, biowaste, ashes from incineration of animal waste or animal tissues, and diatomaceous earth.

[0062] The term “granule” can include a solid material. A granule can have a variety of different shapes, non-limiting examples of which include a sphere, a puck, an oval, a rod, an oblong, or a random shape.

[0063] The term “crushing strength” of a fertilizer pellet is a measure of granule hardness. Crushing strength is used as an indicator of granule performance. It is one of the parameters used to evaluate the physical quality of granulated fertilizers. This is important in the evaluation of the stability and subsequent spreading characteristics of fertilizers. Crushing strength is measured by using ASTM test method D4179-11.

[0064] The terms “about” or “approximately” are defined as being close to as understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. In one non-limiting embodiment, the terms are defined to be within 10%, preferably within 5%, more preferably within 1%, and most preferably within 0.5%.

[0065] The terms “wt.%,” “vol.%,” or “mol.%” refers to a weight percentage of a component, a volume percentage of a component, or molar percentage of a component, respectively, based on the total weight, the total volume of material, or total moles, that includes the component. In a non-limiting example, 10 grams of component in 100 grams of the material is 10 wt.% of component.

[0066] The term “substantially” and its variations are defined to include ranges within 10%, within 5%, within 1%, or within 0.5%.

[0067] The terms “inhibiting” or “reducing” or “preventing” or “avoiding” or any variation of these terms, when used in the claims and / or the specification, includes any measurable decrease or complete inhibition to achieve a desired result.

[0068] The term “effective,” as that term is used in the specification and / or claims, means adequate to accomplish a desired, expected, or intended result.

[0069] The use of the words “a” or “an” when used in conjunction with any of the terms “comprising,” “including,” “containing,” or “having” in the claims, or the specification, may mean “one,” but it is also consistent with the meaning of “one or more,” “at least one,” and “one or more than one.”

[0070] The words “comprising” (and any form of comprising, such as “comprise” and “comprises”), “having” (and any form of having, such as “have” and “has”), “including” (and any form of including, such as “includes” and “include”), or “containing” (and any form of containing, such as “contains” and “contain”) are inclusive or open-ended and do not exclude additional, unrecited elements or method steps.

[0071] The microbe-enhanced fertilizer composition and methods of producing the microbe-enhanced fertilizer composition of the present invention can “comprise,” “consist essentially of,” or “consist of’ particular ingredients, components, compositions, steps, etc. disclosed throughout the specification. With respect to the transitional phase “consisting essentially of,” in one non- limiting aspect, a basic characteristic of the fertilizer of the present invention is the presence of a microorganism in or on a granulated fertilizer.

[0072] DETAILED DESCRIPTION:

[0073] Disclosed herein is a composition suitable for a fertilizer and method of making the composition. The fertilizer composition as disclosed herein is a slow-release fertilizer wherein nutrients are released over time thus providing sufficient quantities of nutrients as required for higher crop yields that enables an improved efficiency and quality of the fertilizer. In addition, this fertilizer composition results in reduced environmental damage from leaching of macronutrients into water and emissions as gases, compared to conventional water-soluble fertilizers.

[0074] These and other non-limiting aspects of the present invention are discussed in further detail in the following sections.

[0075] Fertilizer Composition:

[0076] The disclosed fertilizer composition can comprise one or more fertilizer nutrients, an organic material, and a carbon source. In some aspects, the one or more fertilizer nutrients is a macronutrient fertilizer or a micronutrient fertilizer, or a combination thereof. The macronutrient fertilizer can comprise nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potash (K), calcium (Ca), sulfur (S), magnesium (Mg), or a combination thereof. In some aspects, the macronutrient fertilizer is selected from urea, potash, ammonium phosphate, potassium sulfate, ammonium sulfate, potassium nitrate, calcium nitrate, sodium nitrate, potassium chloride, monoammonium phosphate (MAP), diammonium phosphate (DAP), triple super phosphate, NPK fertilizers, or a combination thereof. In some aspects, potassium and sulfur are provided by potassium sulfate (K2SO4). In some aspects, nitrogen and sulfur are provided by ammonium sulfate (NFL SCh). In some aspects, nitrogen is provided by urea. In some aspects, the fertilizer nutrients are present in an amount of 25 wt.% to 85 wt.%, preferably 30 wt.% to 80 wt.%, preferably 30 wt.% to 70 wt.%, preferably 35 wt.% to 65 wt.%, preferably 30 wt.% to 65 wt.%, more preferably 30 wt.% to 60 wt.% of the total weight of the fertilizer composition.

[0077] In some aspects, the fertilizer composition may contain 10 to 25 wt.%, preferably 12 to 22 wt.%, preferably 15 to 20 wt.% of nitrogen based on the total weight of the composition.

[0078] In some aspects, the fertilizer composition may contain 3 to 8 wt.%, preferably 4 to 8 wt.%, preferably 5 to 8 wt.%, preferably 5 to 7 wt.%, preferably 5 to 6 wt.% of sulfur based on the total weight of the composition. In some aspects, the fertilizer composition may contain 5 to 15 wt.%, preferably 5 to 12 wt.%, preferably 5 to 10 wt.%, preferably 8 to 15 wt.%, preferably 10 to 15 wt.%, preferably 12 to 15 wt.%, or preferably 5 to 8 wt.% potassium based on the total weight of the composition.

[0079] In some aspects, the fertilizer composition comprises 10 wt.% to 60 wt.% of the organic material of the total weight of the fertilizer composition, preferably 15 wt.% to 55 wt.%, preferably 20 wt.% to 55 wt.%, preferably 20 wt.% to 50 wt.%, preferably 20 wt.% to 45 wt.%, preferably 20 wt.% to 40 wt.%, preferably 25 wt.% to 60 wt.%, preferably 30 wt.% to 60 wt.%, preferably 30 wt.% to 55 wt.%, preferably 30 wt.% to 50 wt.% of the organic material on the total weight of the composition. The organic material comprises one or more of cellulose, paper pulp, microcrystalline cellulose, hemicellulose, methylcellulose, ethylcellulose, methylethylcellulose, hydroxymethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, ethylhydroxyethylcellulose, cyanogen ethylcellulose, ethyl-cy anoethyl cellulose, hydroxyethylmethylcellulose, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, potassium carboxymethylcellulose, nitrocellulose, cellulose phosphate, cellulose acetate, cellulose acetate propionate, acetate butyrate fiber, jute, hemp, com, flax, rice, wheat straw, sisal, wood pulp, palm tree waste, cotton fibers, orange peels, lemon peels, banana peels, or other agricultural residues. In some aspects, the organic material is a cellulose.

[0080] In some aspects, the fertilizer composition comprises 0.1 wt.% to 25 wt.% of the carbon source of the total weight of the fertilizer composition, preferably 5 wt.% to 25 wt. %, preferably 10 wt.% to 25 wt.%, preferably 15 wt.% to 25 wt.% of the carbon source on the total weight of the composition.

[0081] In some aspects, the fertilizer composition may include a slag, such as a metal production slag or a steelmaking calcium slag. In some aspects, the slag may comprise Ca, Mg, Mn, Si, Al, Fe, Cu, and / or Zn.

[0082] In some aspects, the micronutrient comprises inorganic or organometallic compounds of boron (B), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), chloride (CF), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), nickel (Ni), zinc (Zn), or a combination thereof. In some aspects, the fertilizer composition comprises a binder. In some aspects the binder is present in an amount of 5 wt.% - 10 wt.%, preferably 5 to 9 wt.%, preferably 5 to 8 wt.%, preferably 6 to 8 wt.% on the total weight of the composition. In some aspects, the binder is selected from bleached wheat flour, gaur gum, calcium ligno sulfonate, gelatin, seaweed extract, plaster of paris, flour, starch, cellulose, gluten, colloidal silica, kaolin, bentonite, polyethylene glycol (PEG), polycaprolactone, low molecular weight polyvinyl acetate, silica, dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS), rice husk, or a combination thereof.

[0083] In some aspects, one or more microorganisms can be included in the fertilizer composition. The microorganisms that can be included comprises a bacteria, archaea, fungi, or a protist. In some instances, the microorganism can include an endophyte, rhizosphere a microbe, and / or a phyllosphere microbe. In some aspects, the microorganism can include more than one species of microorganisms. In some aspects, more than one species, genus, phylum, class, and / or kingdom can be represented in a group of microorganisms protected and / or included in the disclosed microbe-enhanced fertilizer. In some aspects, the microorganism can be cultured and / or grown in a laboratory. In some aspects, the microorganism can be obtained from a natural source. In some aspects, the microorganism can be a spore / cyst forming microorganism. In some aspects, the microorganism can be a spore / cyst forming bacteria.

[0084] In some aspects, the fertilizer composition comprises one or more microorganisms present in an amount of 0 - 0.5 wt.%, preferably 0.1 - 0.4 wt.%, preferably 0.1 - 0.3 wt.%, preferably 0.1 - 0.2 wt.% of the total weight of the fertilizer composition. In some aspects, the microorganisms are selected from diazotrophic bacteria, Azospirillum species, Azotobacter species, Frateuria aurantia, Bacillus species, endophytes, nitrogen fixing microorganisms, methylotrophs, comammox microorganisms, phosphorus solubilizing microorganisms, Nitrospira species, Methylobacterium species, pink pigmented facultative methylotrophs (PPFM-trophs), or a combination thereof.

[0085] In some aspects, the microorganism can be cultured and / or grown in a laboratory prior to addition into the fertilizer. In some aspects, the microorganism can be obtained from a natural source. In some aspects, the microorganism can be concentrated prior to addition into the fertilizer.

[0086] In some aspects, the microorganism can be a spore / cyst forming microorganism. In some aspects, the microorganism can be a spore / cyst forming bacteria. In some aspects, the microorganism can be induced to form spores / cysts prior to addition to the fertilizer. In some aspects, the microorganism is not induced to form spores / cysts prior to and / or as part of a protection scheme. In some aspects, the microorganism is not chemically induced to form spores / cysts prior to and / or as part of a protection scheme. In some aspects, a protected microorganism (as further described herein) has been selected for heat tolerance. In some aspects, the protected microorganism as not been selected for heat tolerance.

[0087] In some aspects, microorganisms can be cultured and / or concentrated to greater than, or equal to, approximately 104-1013CFUs prior to addition to the fertilizer. In some aspects, microorganisms can be cultured and / or concentrated to greater than, or equal to, approximately 108-109CFUs prior to addition to the fertilizer.

[0088] Prior to contacting with or addition to the fertilizer to obtain a slow-release fertilizer composition, microorganisms may be protected. In some aspects, microorganism protection may comprise any one or more of encapsulation, physical protection, and / or engineering methods. In some aspects, microorganism protection is by contact with a protectant. In some instances, microorganism protection is by encapsulation in a protectant. In some aspects, a protected microorganism is protected by addition of one or more physical protectants, engineering methods, encapsulating agents, water-soluble additives, stabilizer additives, and / or dispersants.

[0089] In some aspects, microorganism protection can comprise encapsulation with a stabilizer protectant. In some embodiments, the stabilizer comprises one or more of clay, diatomaceous earth, starch, agar, alginate, chitosan, PEG, PVA, polyacrylic acid, ethanol, humic acid, humates, talc, clay, peat, lignite, vermiculite, perlite and / or chemically modified versions of the same.

[0090] In some aspects, chemical modification of a stabilizer can comprise, but is not limited to, one or more of esterification, alkylation, acetylation, phosphorylation, hydrophobic modification, sulfation, sulfomethylation, methylation, amidation, amination, protonation, halogenation, nitration, copolymerization, and / or physical or covalent cross -linking.

[0091] In some aspects, microorganism protection can also comprise addition of a water-soluble additive protectant. In some embodiments, the water soluble additive can comprise but is not limited to glycerol, carboxy methyl cellulose (CMC), polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP), gum Arabic, guar gum, and / or mono- and / or disaccharide based CMC / gum Arabic / guar gum.

[0092] In some aspects, microorganism protection can comprise improved stickiness, stabilization, and surfactant and dispersal abilities. In some embodiments, such characteristics can be provided by protectants / inducers and nutrients (e.g. alginates / glycerol / polyvinyl alcohol, PEG / PVP, clay / humate, mono- and disaccharides, CMC / gum Arabic / guar gum). In some aspects, physical protection and / or engineering methods facilitate pelleting and / or layering of microorganisms as a liquid solution at the core or around a core of a fertilizer granule. In some aspects, a bolus of concentrated microbes in a liquid carrier are protected with a soluble additive, such as in a slurry.

[0093] In some aspects, physical protection of microorganisms may comprise addition of protectants that are molecules and / or enzymes derived from thermophiles (e.g., heat tolerant bacteria). These molecules and / or enzymes may contribute to the thermo-protection phenotypes observed in thermophiles (see e.g., Pedro Lamosa et al., Thermo stabilization of Proteins by Diglycerol Phosphate, a New Compatible Solute from Hyperthermophile Archaeoglobus fulgidus. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, Vol. 66, No. 5, 01 May 2000). Molecules and / or enzymes derived from thermophiles include proteins, lipids, saccharides, nucleic acids, small molecules, and / or inorganic compounds. Thermophiles may include bacteria, archaea, protists, and / or fungi. Thermophile microorganisms may include microorganisms that can thrive, divide, and / or survive at temperatures of 50 °C or greater. A non-limiting example of a thermophile is Archaeoglobus fulgidus.

[0094] In some aspects, engineering methods for the protection of microorganisms may comprise spray drying and / or freeze-drying of the microorganisms. Freeze-drying can be performed by freezing the microorganisms or a composition containing the microorganisms, exposing the frozen microorganism or composition containing the microorganism to pressures below atmospheric pressures, and removing ice from or surrounding the frozen microorganism or composition. The composition containing the microorganism can contain, in some instances, a cryoprotectant, encapsulating agent, water-soluble additive, stabilizer additive, and / or a dispersant.

[0095] In some aspects, a microorganism is contacted with a protectant using a spray, liquid stream, semi-solid, or solid (such as a powder) comprising said protectant. In some aspects, a protectant is contacted with a microorganism using a spray, liquid stream, semi-solid, or solid (such as a powder) comprising said microorganism.

[0096] In some aspects, a protected microorganism is concentrated (e.g., settlement, centrifugation, affinity capture, selective growth media, etc.) prior to contact with a protectant and / or prior to protecting. In some aspects, a protected microorganism is contacted with the protectant or with the fertilizer at a concentration of higher than 1012cells per gram of the protectant. In some embodiments, a protectant is comprised in a liquid, suspension, and / or dried powder. In some aspects, the fertilizer composition comprises one or more additives selected from calcium carbonate, calcium oxide, a phosphate, a polyphosphate, a biodegradable polymer, wax, or a combination thereof. Suitable waxes include, but are not limited to, vegetable waxes, high melt waxes, ethylene bis(stearamide) wax, paraffin waxes, polyethylene based waxes, and olefin waxes. Suitable phosphates include, but are not limited to, diammonium phosphate, and monoammonium phosphate. Suitable polyphosphates include, but are not limited to, ammonium polyphosphate. Suitable biodegradable polymers include, but are not limited to, polyacrylamide, polyacrylic acid, polyacrylonitrile, biodegradable polylactic acid, and other biodegradable polymeric material such as polylactic acid, poly (3 -hydroxypropionic acid), polyvinyl alcohol, poly e-caprolactone, poly L-lactide, poly butylene succinate, and biodegradable starch based polymers.

[0097] In some other aspects, the fertilizer contains a coating layer that can form a coating over at least a portion of an outer surface of the fertilizer granules / powder / particles. In some aspects, at least a portion of the microorganisms are present in a coating of the fertilizer composition. In some aspects, the potassium, nitrogen, sulfur, potassium sulfate (K2SO4), ammonium sulfate (NtU SCU), the mixture of cellulose or carbon source, and / or micronutrients are at least partially surrounded with the plurality of microorganisms. In some aspects, the plurality of microorganisms is at least partially surrounded by the potassium, nitrogen, sulfur, micronutrients, potassium sulfate (K2SO4), ammonium sulfate (NE SC ), and / or the organic material and the carbon source.

[0098] The fertilizer can be of any suitable shape or may be a liquid, powder, or slurry. Non-limiting shapes include spherical, cuboidal, cylindrical, puck shape, oval, and oblong shapes. In some aspects, the fertilizer can be a cylindrical shape with a circular, elliptical, ovular, triangular, square, rectangular, pentagonal, or hexagonal cross section, although cylindrical shaped fertilizers having a cross-section of other shapes can also be made. In some aspects, the fertilizer can have a dimension such as length, width, height and / or cross-sectional diameter between 0.5 mm to 5 mm, preferably 1 mm to 4.5 mm, preferably 2 mm to 4 mm, preferably 3 mm to 4 mm, preferably 0.5 mm to 4 mm, preferably 0.5 mm to 3 mm, preferably 0.5 mm to 2 mm, preferably 0.5 mm to 1 mm, or preferably 2 mm to 3 mm. In some particular aspects, the fertilizer can have a substantially spherical shape with an average diameter 1 mm to 5 mm, preferably 1 mm to 4.5 mm, preferably 2 mm to 4 mm, preferably 3 mm to 4 mm, preferably 0.5 mm to 4 mm, preferably 0.5 mm to 3 mm, preferably 0.5 mm to 2 mm, preferably 0.5 mm to 1 mm, or preferably 2 mm to 3 mm. The fertilizer granules can have desirable physical properties such as desired levels of abrasion resistance, granule strength, pelletizability, hygroscopicity, granule shape, and size distribution, which are important properties for the fertilizer core.

[0099] The fertilizer granules described herein can be comprised in a composition useful for application to soil, water, and / or a crop. In addition to the fertilizer granules, the composition may include other fertilizer compounds, micronutrients, primary nutrients, additional urea, additional nitrogen nutrients, insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, or combinations thereof.

[0100] The fertilizer granules described herein can also be included in a blended composition comprising other fertilizer granules. The other fertilizer granules can be granules of urea, monoammonium phosphate (MAP), diammonium phosphate (DAP), muriate of potash (MOP), monopotassium phosphate (MKP), triple super phosphate (TSP), rock phosphate, single super phosphate (SSP), ammonium sulfate, and the like.

[0101] In some aspects, acid is used to modify the carbon black. In some aspects, the acid can be phosphoric acid, sulfuric acid, and / or nitric acid. In some aspects, the carbon black that is acid modified and activated is a phosphoric acid modified carbon black. In some aspects, carbon black that is acid modified and activated was activated by nitrogen gas purge. In some aspects, the carbon black that is acid modified and activated comprises graphite and / or does not comprise aromatic rings.

[0102] In some aspects, the composition does not contain or is substantially free of one or more of a compost, humic acid, Mg, Br, Fe, urea, ammonium nitrate, ammonium phosphate, diammonium phosphate, sulfate of ammonia, muriate of potash, potassium sulfate, magnesium carbonate, silicon, potassium nitrate, phosphate rock, lime, zeolite, hydrochloric acid, leopardite, torrefied organic waste comprising labile carbon, charcoal, urea, and / or calcium cyanamide. In some aspects, the fertilizer composition further comprises calcium sulfate (CaSO4), calcium carbonate (CaCCh), potassium carbonate (K2CO3), ammonium carbonate (NFU CCh), potassium hydroxide (KOH), and ammonium hydroxide (NH4OH).

[0103] Process of Making Fertilizer Compositions

[0104] Process of producing the fertilizer composition comprising nitrogen and / or potassium and / or sulfur and / or urea and / or potassium chloride and / or ammonium phosphate and / or potassium sulfate (K2SO4) and / or ammonium sulfate (NH4)2SO4) and organic material and carbon source and / or one or more of microorganisms are disclosed. In some aspects, the process for making a composition suitable for a fertilizer comprises the following steps: a. providing one or more fertilizer nutrients; b. adding an organic material and a carbon source to the one or more fertilizer nutrients forming a blended fertilizer wherein the carbon source is selected from char, activated carbon, carbon black, biochar, coal, or a combination thereof; and c. pelletizing the blended fertilizer.

[0105] In step a), the fertilizer nutrients comprise at least urea, potash, ammonium phosphate, potassium sulfate, ammonium sulfate, potassium nitrate, calcium nitrate, sodium nitrate, potassium chloride, monoammonium phosphate (MAP), diammonium phosphate (DAP), triple super phosphate, NPK fertilizers, or a combination thereof.

[0106] Referring to FIG. 1, a schematic of a system and method for making a fertilizer according to one example of the present invention is described. The system 100 can include a granulator 102 and a dryer 104. A feed mixture 106 comprising fertilizer nutrients, organic material, and a carbon source can be granulated in the granulator 102 in the presence or absence of water to form a wet granulated mixture 108. The water, if present, can be provided with the feed mixture 106, and / or can be added separately to the granulator 102. The wet granulated mixture 108 can be dried in the dryer 104 to obtain a dry granulated mixture 110 containing the fertilizer.

[0107] Referring to FIG. 2, a schematic of a system and process for making a fertilizer according to another example of the present invention is described. The system 200 can include a mixer / reactor 212, though the mixer and the reactor can be two, three, four, or more components, such as two reactors and a mixer or a reactor and a mixer. The system 200 can include a granulator 202, a spheronizer 214, one or more size screens 216, and a dryer 204, or any combination thereof. Fertilizer nutrients 218 and both organic material and a carbon source 217, separately and / or at any possible combination, can be added to the mixer / reactor 212 that forms the feed ingredients. In the mixer / reactor 212, the feed ingredients can be reacted and / or mixed to form a feed mixture 206. Feed mixture 206 can be granulated in the granulator 202 in presence or absence of additional water to form a first wet granulated mixture 220. Granules of the first wet granulated mixture 220 can be spheronized in the spheronizer 214 to form a second wet granulated mixture 222 containing substantially spherical granules. The second wet granulated mixture 222 can be passed through one or more size screens 216 to separate granules having a size smaller or bigger than a desired size from the second wet granulated mixture 222 and obtain a third wet granulated mixture 224 containing granules of desired size. At least a portion of the granules separated 226 from the third granulation mixture 224 (shown at 216) can be recycled to the granulator 202. The third wet granulated mixture 224 can be dried in the dryer 204 to obtain a dry granulated mixture 210 containing the fertilizer granule. In some aspects, the mixer / reactor 212 can contain a ribbon mixer.

[0108] The fertilizer nutrients 218 can include i) a Ca source, e.g., calcium carbonate, ii) a Mg source, e.g., magnesium carbonate, iii) a N source, e.g., NH4+and / or NH3, iv) a P source, e.g., phosphoric acid, and v) a S source, e.g., sulfuric acid. In some instances, the fertilizer nutrients provide more than one source of any of Ca, Mg, N, P, and / or S. In some instances, the fertilizer nutrients provide additional nutrients and / or micronutrients, such as Fe and / or Si. In certain aspects, one or more feed ingredients can be added as a water solution. In some instances, the fertilizer nutrients are provided as a powder. In some instances, one or more feed ingredients can be added as a gas. In some instances, the NH3 is provided at a pressure above 1 bar, such as in the range of 1-40, preferably 5-40, preferably 5-35, preferably 5-30, preferably 10-30, or preferably 15-25 bar. In some instances, a portion of the feed ingredients is provided as a powder.

[0109] Looking now at systems 100 and 200 of Figs. 1 and 2, the feed mixture 106, 206 can contain Ca, Mg, N, P, and / or S. In some aspects, the feed mixture 106, 206 can contain urea, potash, ammonium phosphate, potassium sulfate, ammonium sulfate, potassium nitrate, calcium nitrate, sodium nitrate, potassium chloride, monoammonium phosphate (MAP), diammonium phosphate (DAP), triple super phosphate, NPK fertilizers, a metal carbonate, phosphoric acid, ammonium hydroxide, a metal oxide, CaNH4PO4, MgNH4PO4, sulfuric acid, dolomite, MgHPO4, CaHPCU, CaSO4, MgSO4, and / or (NH4)2SO4.

[0110] Water can be added to the feed mixture in the mixer / reactor 212 and / or in the granulator 102, 202. In certain aspects, a total of 5 gm to 20 gm or 10 gm to 20 gm or 15 gm to 20 gm or 5 gm to 15 gm or 5 gm to 10 gm of water per 100 gm of feed mixture (e.g., added with one or more feed mixture ingredients and / or separately) can be added to the feed mixture.

[0111] In some aspects, the granulator 102, 202 can be a drum granulator, pugmill granulator, pan granulator, solid mixer, abrasion drum, extruder, high- shear mixer granulator, roller granulator, mycromix, or a round bottom flask. In the granulator 102, 202 the feed mixture 106, 206 can be granulated by agglomeration, spray granulation, compaction, slurry granulation and / or high- shear mixer granulation. In some particular aspects, the feed mixture 106, 206 can be granulated in the granulator 102, 202 by compaction. In some aspects, the granulator 102, 202 can contain at least two rollers and compaction granulation can include compressing the feed mixture using the at least two rollers. In some aspects, the two rollers can be moved in a counter current direction during compaction. In some aspects, the feed mixture can be compressed into shaped pellets, such as cylindrical pellets, by the at least two rollers. In some aspects, a surface of one roller can have desired holes to compress the feed mixture into the holes, and the surface of the other roller can push the feed mixture into the holes. Pressure during granulation, e.g. compaction granulation, can be 1 bar to 40 bar, preferably 5-40, preferably 5-35, preferably 5- 30, preferably 10-30, or preferably 15-25 bar. In certain aspects, the feed mixture can be granulated in the granulator 102, 202 at ambient temperature to 50 °C, or at a temperature ranging from -20 to 50, or from -15 to 50, or from -10 to 50 or from 0 to 50 or from 5-50 or from 10-50 or from 20-50 or from 25-50 or from 30-50 or from 40-50 °C.

[0112] In some aspects, reacting of the feed mixture ingredients, mixing, and granulating the feed mixture can be performed in different containers, e.g., the mixer / reactor 212 and the granulator 202 can comprise different containers. In some aspects, reacting of the feed mixture ingredients, mixing, and granulating the feed mixture can be performed in the same container, e.g., the mixer / reactor 212 and the granulator 202 can be the same container (not shown). In some aspects, the mixer / reactor 212 and the granulator 202 can comprise more than two containers. As non-limiting examples, in some instances, urea is added as a fertilizer nutrient along with the organic material and carbon source, wherein the organic material can be a cellulose obtained from any tree waste, particularly palm tree wastes, or waste generated from olive oil production. In some aspects, urea can be added simultaneously with the organic material and carbon source 217 in reactor 212 or urea can be added post or pre-addition organic material and carbon source in reactor 212. In some aspects, the microorganisms can be added along with the feed mixture. In some aspects, the microorganisms can be added after the feed mixture.

[0113] In some instances, the fertilizer can be extruded before drying. The extruder can extrude the fertilizer at pressures from 1 to 40 bar, preferably 5-40, preferably 5-35, preferably 10-35, preferably 10-30, preferably 15-30 and preferably 15-25 bar. The extruder can extrude the fertilizer at temperatures at least, at most, equal to, or between any two of -20, -15, -10, 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45 and 50 °C. The extrudate can be sliced or divided before drying, such as by a die. In certain aspect, the desired size of a final fertilizer product, such as a granule, can be 0.5 to 5 mm, or 1 to 4 mm, and having a size lower than 0.5 mm or 1 mm, and / or having a size bigger than 4 mm or 5 mm can be separated from the second wet granulated mixture 222 in the one or more size screens 216. In certain aspects, any of the wet granulated mixtures can be rounded and / or spheronized in a spheronizer. In some instances, any of the wet granulated mixtures are contacted with a spheronizer for at least any one of, at most any one of, equal to any one of, or between any two of 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 50, or 60 seconds. The spheronizer in some instances has a rotating or rotatable disk capable of rotating at least any one of, at most any one of, equal to any one of, or between any two of 200, 500, 1000, 1500, 2000, 2500, 3000, 3500, 4000, 4500, 5000 rpm. In certain aspects, the wet granulated mixture (108, 224) can be dried in the dryer 104, 204 at a temperature 40 °C to 85 °C, or at least any one of, at most any one of, equal to any one of, or between any two of 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80 and 85 °C. In some aspects, the dryer 104, 204 can be a fluid bed dryer, drum dryer, or flash dryer. In some aspects, the wet granulated mixture (108, 224) can be dried in the dryer 104, 204 with a hot air flow having a flow rate of at least any one of, at most any one of, equal to any one of, or between any two of 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 350, 400, 450, and 500 m3 / hr and / or a rotation of at least any one of, at most any one of, equal to any one of, or between any two of 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, and 50 rpm.

[0114] Methods of Using Fertilizers Composition

[0115] In some embodiments, the fertilizer compositions of the present disclosure can be used in methods of increasing the amount of one or more nutrients and one or more microorganisms in soil, and of enhancing plant growth. In some embodiments, methods can include applying to the soil an effective amount of a composition of slow-release fertilizer of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, methods may include increasing the growth and yield of crops, trees, ornamentals, etc. such as, for example, palm, coconut, rice, wheat, corn, barley, oats, and soybeans. In some embodiments, methods can include applying microbe-enhanced fertilizer of the present disclosure to at least one of a soil, an organism, a liquid carrier, a liquid solvent, etc. (e.g., a target substrate).

[0116] In some embodiments, a fertilizer composition can be stored. In some embodiments, the fertilizer composition can be stored for any amount of time, such as 1 minute, 10 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, 4 hours, 8 hours, 12 hours, 16 hours, 1 day, 2 days, 5 days, 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, 4 weeks, 1 month, 2 months, 3 months, 4 months, 5 months, 6 months, 1 year, 2 years, 3 years, 4 years, 5 years or more, or any amount of time. In some embodiments, the microorganisms and / or fertilizer components of the fertilizer composition have an extended shelf life relative to slow-release fertilizers created through traditional methods.

[0117] Non-limiting examples of plants that can benefit from the microbe-enhanced fertilizer of the present invention include vines, trees, shrubs, stalked plants, ferns, etc. The plants may include orchard crops, vines, ornamental plants, food crops, timber, and harvested plants. The plants may include Gymnosperms, Angiosperms, and / or Pteridophytes. The Gymnosperms may include plants from the Araucariaceae, Cupressaceae, Pinaceae, Podocarpaceae, Sciadopitaceae, Taxaceae, Cycadaceae, and Ginkgoaceae families. The Angiosperms may include plants from the Aceraceae, Agavaceae, Anacardiaceae, Annonaceae, Apocynaceae, Aquifoliaceae, Araliaceae, Arecaceae, Asphodelaceae, Asteraceae, Berberidaceae, Betulaceae, Bignoniaceae, Bombacaceae, Boraginaceae, Burseraceae, Buxaceae, Canellaceae, Cannabaceae, Capparidaceae, Caprifoliaceae, Caricaceae, Casuarinaceae, Celastraceae, Cercidiphyllaceae, Chrysobalanaceae, Clusiaceae, Combretaceae, Comaceae, Cyrillaceae, Davidsoniaceae, Ebenaceae, Elaeagnaceae, Ericaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Fabaceae, Fagaceae, Grossulariaceae, Hamamelidaceae, Hippocastanaceae, Illiciaceae, Juglandaceae, Lauraceae, Lecythidaceae, Lythraceae, Magnoliaceae, Malpighiaceae, Malvaceae, Melastomataceae, Meliaceae, Moraceae, Moringaceae, Muntingiaceae, Myoporaceae, Myricaceae, Myrsinaceae, Myrtaceae, Nothofagaceae, Nyctaginaceae, Nyssaceae, Olacaceae, Oleaceae, Oxalidaceae, Pandanaceae, Papaveraceae, Phyllanthaceae, Pittosporaceae, Platanaceae, Poaceae, Polygonaceae, Proteaceae, Punicaceae, Rhamnaceae, Rhizophoraceae, Rosaceae, Rubiaceae, Rutaceae, Salicaceae, Sapindaceae, Sapotaceae, Simaroubaceae, Solanaceae, Staphyleaceae, Sterculiaceae, Strelitziaceae, Styracaceae, Surianaceae, Symplocaceae, Tamaricaceae, Theaceae, Theophrastaceae, Thymelaeaceae, Tiliaceae, Ulmaceae, Verbenaceae, and / or Vitaceae families.

[0118] In some embodiments, the effectiveness of compositions comprising the fertilizer composition of the present invention can be ascertained by measuring the amount of particular nutrients in the soil at various times after applying the fertilizer composition to the soil. In some embodiments, the effectiveness of compositions comprising the fertilizers of the present invention can be ascertained by measuring the amount of the microorganisms in the soil at various times after applying the slow-release fertilizer composition to the soil. It is understood that different soils have different characteristics, which can affect the stability of nutrients and microorganisms in the soil. In some embodiments, effectiveness of a slow-release fertilizer composition can be directly compared to other fertilizer compositions by doing a side-by-side comparison in the same soil under the same conditions.

[0119] In some embodiments, the fertilizer compositions according to the present disclosure can have a density that is greater than water. This can allow the granules and / or fertilizers to sink in water rather than float. This can be especially beneficial in instances where application is intended to a crop that is at least partially or fully submerged in water. A non-limiting example of such a crop is rice, as the ground in a rice paddy is typically submerged in water. Thus, application of the fertilizer compositions to such crops can be performed such that the granules and / or fertilizer are homogenously distributed on the ground that is submerged under water.

[0120] EXAMPLES

[0121] Example 1

[0122] Example 1 presents preparation of a composition containing cellulose and urea. 11 g of urea powder was homogenously mixed in a glass bottle with 9 g of cellulose powder and was shaken vigorously for 1 minute to get a homogenous mixture. The dry mixture was then pelletized at 3 mm using moderate pressure in a machine (4-6 kg-F / N). The produced pellets were tested for their crushing strength (Table 1).

[0123] Table 1

[0124] Example 2

[0125] The same procedure as disclosed in Example 1 was performed for Example 2. For this formulation, 8.75 g of urea powder was homogenously mixed in a glass bottle with 12.5 g of cellulose powder and 3.75 g of carbon black. The mixture was vigorously shaken for 1 minute until a homogeneous mixture was obtained. The dry mixture was then pelletized using high pressure machine (8-12 kg-F / N). Approximately 25 mg (0.1%) of a suspension of microorganisms was spray-coated to the granules’ surfaces. The produced pellets were tested for crushing strength (Table 2).

[0126] Table 2 Example 3

[0127] The same procedure as disclosed in Example 1 was performed for Example 3. In this formulation, 15 g of urea powder was homogenously mixed in a glass bottle with 7.5 g of cellulose powder and 2.5 of carbon black; the three products were then shaken vigorously for 1 minute to get a homogenous mixture, which was subsequently pelletized at 5 mm using a moderate to high pressure machine. The produced pellets were tested on the same day for crushing strength. Details are shown as below in Table 3.

[0128] Table 3

Claims

CLAIMS1. A composition suitable for a fertilizer comprising: one or more fertilizer nutrients; an organic material; and a carbon source; wherein the organic material comprises one or more of lignin, cellulose, or cellulose derivatives; and wherein the carbon source comprises one or more of char, activated carbon, carbon black, biochar, or coal.

2. The composition according to claim 1, wherein the fertilizer nutrients are present in an amount of 25 wt.% to 85 wt.%, preferably 30 wt.% to 80 wt.%, preferably 30 wt.% to 70 wt.%, preferably 35 wt.% to 65 wt.%, preferably 30 wt.% to 65 wt.%, more preferably 30 wt.% to 60 wt.% of the total weight of the composition.

3. The composition according to any of claims 1-2, wherein the organic material is present in an amount of 10 wt.% to 60 wt.% of the total weight of the composition and the carbon source is present in an amount of 0.1 wt.% to 25 wt.% of the total weight of the composition.

4. The composition according to any of claims 1-3, wherein the one or more fertilizer nutrients comprises : a macronutrient fertilizer comprising one of more of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), sulfur (S), magnesium (Mg), and / or a micronutrient fertilizer comprising one or more of inorganic or organometallic compounds of boron (B), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), chlorine (Cl), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), nickel (Ni), or zinc (Zn).

5. The composition according to claim 4, wherein the macronutrient fertilizer is selected from urea, potash, ammonium phosphate, potassium sulfate, ammonium sulfate, potassium nitrate, calcium nitrate, sodium nitrate, potassium chloride, monoammonium phosphate (MAP), diammonium phosphate (DAP), triple super phosphate, NPK fertilizers, or a combination thereof.

6. The composition according to any of claims 1-5, wherein the organic material comprises one or more of cellulose, paper pulp, microcrystalline cellulose,hemicellulose, methylcellulose, ethylcellulose, methylethylcellulose, hydroxymethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, ethylhydroxyethylcellulose, cyanogen ethylcellulose, ethyl-cy anoethyl cellulose, hydroxyethylmethylcellulose, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, potassium carboxymethylcellulose, nitrocellulose, cellulose phosphate, cellulose acetate, cellulose acetate propionate, acetate butyrate fiber, jute, hemp, corn, flax, rice, wheat straw, sisal, wood pulp, palm tree waste, cotton fibers, orange peels, lemon peels, banana peels, or other agricultural residues.

7. The composition according to any of claims 1-6, further comprising a binder present in an amount of 5 wt.% - 10 wt.% on the total weight of the fertilizer composition, wherein the binder is selected from bleached wheat flour, gaur gum, calcium ligno sulfonate, gelatin, seaweed extract, plaster of paris, flour, starch, cellulose, gluten, colloidal silica, kaolin, bentonite, polyethylene glycol (PEG), polycaprolactone, low molecular weight polyvinyl acetate, silica, dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS), rice husk, or a combination thereof.

8. The composition according to any of claims 1-7, further comprising one or more microorganisms present in an amount of 0-0.5 wt.% of the total weight of the composition.

9. The composition according to claim 8, wherein the one or more microorganisms comprises one or more of diazotrophic bacteria, Azospirillum species, Azotobacter species, Frateuria aurantia, Bacillus species, endophytes, nitrogen fixing microorganism, methylotrophs, comammox microorganism, phosphorus solubilizing microorganism, Nitrospira species, Methylobacterium species or pink pigmented facultative methylotrophs (PPFM-trophs).

10. The composition according to any of claims 1-9, further comprising additives selected from calcium carbonate, calcium oxide, wax, or a combination thereof.

11. The composition according to any of claims 1-10, wherein the composition is a solid fertilizer.

12. A process for making a composition suitable for a fertilizer comprising: a. providing one or more fertilizer nutrients; b. adding an organic material and a carbon source to the one or more fertilizer nutrients forming a blended fertilizer wherein the carbon source is selected fromchar, activated carbon, carbon black, biochar, coal, or a combination thereof; and c. pelletizing the blended fertilizer.

13. The process according to claim 12, wherein the method further comprises adding one or more microorganisms in the mixture in an amount of 0-0.5 wt.% on the total weight of the composition.

14. The process according to any of claims 12-13, wherein: the fertilizer nutrients are present in an amount of 25 wt.% to 70 wt.%, preferably 30 wt.% to 65 wt.%, more preferably 35 wt.% to 60 wt.% of the total weight of the composition; the organic material is present in an amount of 20 wt.% to 60 wt.% of the total weight of the composition; and the carbon source is present in an amount of 0.1 wt.% to 25 wt.% of the total weight of the composition.

15. Use of the composition of any one of claims 1 to 10 or the composition produced by the method of any one of claims 12-14 as a fertilizer, a fertilizer blend, a compounded fertilizer, or a combination thereof.

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