Coated Seed Composition for Localized Herbicide Release

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing herbicide compositions face issues with handling, storage, multiple applications, limited modes of delivery, weather dependence, and poor efficacy from ground broadcast, leading to high costs and reduced land use efficiency in farming and land development.

Innovation Solution

A seed composition with discrete coatings comprising a pelletising agent, amphiphilic compound, and hydrogel forming agent, optionally with a film coating and binding agent, providing a single product for storage stability, nutrient support, and localized herbicidal action.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If liquid herbicide concentrates are used, then herbicide efficacy is improved, but transport and storage costs increase due to water weight

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveherbicide efficacyVSAvoidtransport weight

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical state of the herbicide from liquid concentrate to dry powder form. This parameter change eliminates the need to transport water or solvent, significantly reducing transport weight while maintaining herbicide efficacy through controlled release mechanisms in the coating composition.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention extracts and removes the water or solvent component from traditional liquid herbicide concentrates, leaving only the active herbicide ingredient in dry powder form to be incorporated into the seed coating. This extraction eliminates unnecessary weight while preserving the active herbicidal function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Manufacturing precision

If multiple separate applications of herbicide and fertiliser are made, then application precision is improved, but labor and time costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveapplication precisionVSAvoidapplication time

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple separate applications (herbicide, fertiliser, and seed planting) into a single integrated application. The herbicide and fertiliser are incorporated into the seed coating composition, allowing all components to be applied simultaneously during seed planting operations, thereby reducing labor and time costs while maintaining precise placement at the seed location.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The seed coating composition serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides herbicidal activity, fertiliser nutrition, and seed protection. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate applications of different agrochemicals, reducing the number of operations required while maintaining the precision of targeted application at the seed site.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Stability of the object's composition

If herbicide is applied as liquid concentrate, then herbicide solubility is improved, but spray drift occurs reducing precision

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveherbicide solubilityVSAvoidspray drift

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces the mechanical spray application system with a dry powder coating system. Instead of using liquid herbicide concentrates that require spraying equipment and are susceptible to drift, the herbicide is formulated as a dry powder incorporated into the seed coating, eliminating spray drift entirely while maintaining herbicide solubility and efficacy through controlled release.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The composition ensures high germination rates and growth, reduces application frequency, supports nutrient levels, and effectively kills local plant growth, while being storage stable and adaptable to various weather conditions.

Implementation Method 1

hydrogel forming agent, the hydrogel forming agent being a separate component mixed with but not embedded in the first coating or the second coating

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydrogel: Hydrogel

Implementation Method 2

a second coating over the first coating comprising an amphiphilic compound, the second coating configured to form a discrete layer over the first coating, the amphiphilic compound configured to delay release of the first coating and seed from the seed composition

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAmphiphilic compound: Amphiphiles

Data Source

PatentUS20260007130A1Seed composition and related methods of manufacture and use

Publication Date: 2026.01.08 DONAGHYS

AI summary

Described herein is a seed composition comprising seed with a number of coatings and mixed with amphiphilic compound and hydrogel forming agent. The resulting seed composition which may be dry, is a single product configured to be storage stable and, when broadcast to a site, acts to deter or kill localised plant growth around the seed as defined by the agrochemical activity if agrochemical is present. The seed composition also supports nutrient levels and hydration about the seed resulting in high levels of subsequent seed germination. Related methods of manufacture and use are also described herein.