US4952229A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Plant supplement and method for increasing plant productivity and quality
Assignee: MUIR HUGH M UNDIVIDED ONE-HALF OF ENTIRE INTEREST
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Filing: 1983-09-27
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Granted: 1990-08-28
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Expires: 2003-09-27
Abstract
Abstract A soil and foliar supplement for application to plants to improve plant growth and quality. A method for increasing plant productivity and quality also is disclosed. The supplement includes a quantity of specific microbes and an organic acid, such as humic acid, fulvic acid, and ulvic acid. Trace minerals also can be added. A humectant also can be incorporated with the microbes, organic acid, and trace minerals to provide a matrix to provide an improved moisture and nutrient environment and a greatly increased surface area and cation exchange ability for optimizing microbe growth. Chelated micronutrients may also be added to the supplement or added later to the foliage to improve the effects of the supplement still further. Methods of improving plant productivity and quality by treating the plant with the microbes, organic acids and a naturally balanced formulation of chelated minerals are disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 Hugh M. Muir
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 19:05
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01G; A01G13/00; A01G13/30; A01G13/35; C; C05; C05D; C05D9/00; C05D9/02; C05F; C05F11/00; C05F11/08; A01G2013/004; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S71/00; Y10S71/02; Y10S71/903; Y10S71/904
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 41
Claim 1
Independent Claim
59 words
A soil and foliage supplement to improve crop growth and quality comprising: a plurality of microbes species for fixing and stabilizing nitrogen, for digesting cellulosic matter, lipids and protein, and for converting starch and carbohydrates to plant and microorganism nutrients; and an organic acid selected from the group consisting of humic acid, fulvic acid, ulvic acid and mixtures thereof.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
59 words
A soil and foliage supplement to improve crop growth and quality comprising: a plurality of microbes species for fixing and stabilizing nitrogen, for digesting cellulosic matter, lipids and protein, and for converting starch and carbohydrates to plant and microorganism nutrients; and an organic acid selected from the group consisting of humic acid, fulvic acid, ulvic acid and mixtures thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
10 words
The supplement of claim 1 further comprising: a trace mineral.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The supplement of claim 1 further comprising: at least two trace minerals selected from the group consisting of calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, iron, manganese, zinc, cadmium, copper, aluminum, silicon, barium, titanium, molybdenum, boron, sodium, sulphur, cobalt and mixtures thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
100 words
The supplement of claims 1 or 3 wherein the plurality of microbe species are selected from the group consisting Bacillus thuringiensis Bacillus subtillis Arthrobacter globiformis Arthrobacter agilis Nocardia coarallina Pseudomonas denitrificans Pseudomonas fluorescens Bacteroides succinogenes Bacteroides lipolyticum Kurthis zopfil Brevibacterium lipolyticum Aspergillus terreus Rhizopus arrhizus Pseudomonas fluorescens Azotobacter chroococcum Azotobacter paspali Myrothecium verrucaria Trichoderma viride Phanerochaete chrysosporium Pseudomonas halestorga Pseudomonas calcis Pseudomonas gelatic Pseudomonas marinoglutionosa Pseudomonas nigriaciens Brevibacterium stationis Arthrobacter citreus Arthrobacter luteus Arthrobacter simplex Azosprillum brasilienese Azosprillum lipoferum Bacillus brenis Bacillus macerans Bacillus pumilus Bacillus polymyxa Pseudomonas putida Streptomycus cellulasae Streptomycus fradiae Streptomucus griseoflavus Acinetobacter lwoffii and mixtures thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
The supplement of claims 1 or 3 wherein the plurality of microbe species include: Bactillus thuringiensis Bacillus subtillis Arthrobacter globiformis Arthrobacter agilis Nocardia opaca Nocardia corallina Pseudomonas denitrificans Pseudomonas fluorescens Bacteroides succinogenes Bacteroides lipolyticum Kurthia zopfil Barevibacterium lipolyticum Aspergillus terreus, and Rhizopus arrhizus.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
The supplement of claim 5 wherein the plurality of microbe species further includes species selected from the group consisting of Azotobacter chroococcum, Azotobaxter paspali, Azosprillum brasilenese, Azosprillum lipoferum, and mixtures thereof, whereby additional nitrogen fixation is accomplished.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
The supplement of claim 5 wherein the plurality of microbe species further includes species selected from the group consisting of Myrothecium verrucaria, Trichoderma viride, Phanerochaete chrysosporium and mixtures thereof, whereby the plurality of microbe species has increased cellulosic digestion and lignin enzyme production capability.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
The supplement of claim 5 wherein the plurality of microbe species further includes Pseudomonas halestorga, Pseudomonas calcis, Pseudomonas gelatic, Pseudomonas marinoglutionosa, Pseudomonas nigriaciens, and Brevibacterium stationis, whereby the plurality of microbe species has improved performance in a hydropenic environment.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
78 words
The supplement of claims 1 or 3 wherein the plurality of microbe species comprises by numbers of microbes: about ten percent (10%) Bacillus thuringiensis; about ten percent (10%) Bacillus subtillis; about five percent (5%) Arthrobacter globiformis; about five percent (5%) Arthrobacter agilis; about five percent (5%) Nocardia opaca; above five percent (5%) Nocardia coarallina; ten percent (10%) Pseudomonas denitrificans; about five percent (5%) Pseudomonas fluoroescens; about eighteen percent (18%) Bacteroides succinogenes; and about eighteen percent (18%) Baxteroides lipolyticum.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
42 words
The supplement of claim 9 wherein the plurality of microbe species further comprises by number of microbes: about one percent (1%) Kurthia zopfil; about one percent (1%) Brevibacterium liopolyticum; about one percent (1%) Aspergillus terreus; and about one percent (1%) Rhizopus arrhizus.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The supplement of claim 2 further comprising: a humectant for providing the plurality of microbe species with a matrix to enhance propagation.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The supplement of claim 11 wherein the humectant is a potassium salt of a starch/polyacrylate graft polymer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
The supplement of claims 2 or 11 further comprising: a chelated micronutrient to further encourage microbe propagation.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
50 words
A method for improving the growth of crops comprising treating the soil with a plurality of microbe species on a carrier and an organic acid combined with at least one trace mineral, the organic acid selected from the group consisting of humic acid, fulvic acid, ulvic acid, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
50 words
A method for improving the growth of crops comprising treating the soil with a plurality of microbe species on a carrier and an organic acid combined with at least one trace mineral, the organic acid selected from the group consisting of humic acid, fulvic acid, ulvic acid, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
50 words
A method for improving the growth of crops comprising applying to the foliage a plurality of microbe species on a carrier and an organic acid combined with at least one trace mineral, the organic acid selected from the group consisting of humic acid, fulvic acid, ulvic acid and mixtures thereof.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
50 words
A method for improving the growth of crops comprising applying to the foliage a plurality of microbe species on a carrier and an organic acid combined with at least one trace mineral, the organic acid selected from the group consisting of humic acid, fulvic acid, ulvic acid and mixtures thereof.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
58 words
A method for improving the growth of nursery stock comprising treating the soil, per acre per crop cycle, with about 5 to 10 grams of a plurality of the microbe species on a carrier and about 60 to 120 milliliters of organic acid selected from the group consisting of humic acid, fulvic acid, ulvic acid, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
58 words
A method for improving the growth of nursery stock comprising treating the soil, per acre per crop cycle, with about 5 to 10 grams of a plurality of the microbe species on a carrier and about 60 to 120 milliliters of organic acid selected from the group consisting of humic acid, fulvic acid, ulvic acid, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 16 further comprising treating the soil with about 1 to 2 ounces of humectant per tree per crop cycle.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
69 words
The method of claim 17 wherein at least one trace mineral is included with the organic acid, wherein the microbes and organic acids are dispersed in 100 gallons of water, wherein the humectant is dispersed evenly in the backfill soil, wherein root bundle soil is replaced with treated soil and wherein the plant is watered with one gallon of the water containing the microbes, organic acid and trace minerals.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
61 words
A method for maintaining transplanted nursery stock comprising treating the soil, per acre per crop cycle, with about 30 grams of a plurality of microbe species on a carrier and about 180 to 360 milliliters of an organic acid selected from the group consisting of humic acid, fulvic acid, ulvic acid, and mixtures thereof, combined with at least one trace mineral.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
61 words
A method for maintaining transplanted nursery stock comprising treating the soil, per acre per crop cycle, with about 30 grams of a plurality of microbe species on a carrier and about 180 to 360 milliliters of an organic acid selected from the group consisting of humic acid, fulvic acid, ulvic acid, and mixtures thereof, combined with at least one trace mineral.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
71 words
A method for improving the growth of tree crops which are about 2 to 4 years old comprising treating the soil, per acre per crop cycle, with about 60 grams of a plurality of microbe species on a carrier and about 360 to 720 milliliters of an organic acid selected from the group consisting of humic acid, fulvic acid, ulvic acid and mixtures thereof, combined with at least one trace mineral.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
71 words
A method for improving the growth of tree crops which are about 2 to 4 years old comprising treating the soil, per acre per crop cycle, with about 60 grams of a plurality of microbe species on a carrier and about 360 to 720 milliliters of an organic acid selected from the group consisting of humic acid, fulvic acid, ulvic acid and mixtures thereof, combined with at least one trace mineral.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
66 words
A method for improving the growth of mature tree crops comprising treating the soil, per acre per crop cycle, with about 60 to 120 grams of a plurality of microbe species on a carrier and about 1 to 1.5 liters of an organic acid selected from the group consisting of humic acid, fulvic acid, ulvic acid and mixtures thereof, combined with at least one trace mineral.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
66 words
A method for improving the growth of mature tree crops comprising treating the soil, per acre per crop cycle, with about 60 to 120 grams of a plurality of microbe species on a carrier and about 1 to 1.5 liters of an organic acid selected from the group consisting of humic acid, fulvic acid, ulvic acid and mixtures thereof, combined with at least one trace mineral.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
77 words
A method for improving the growth of tree crops comprising applying to the foliage of the crop, per acre per crop cycle, about 5 to 10 grams of a plurality of microbes on a carrier, about 120 to 240 milliliters of an organic acid selected from the group consisting of humic acid, fulvic acid, ulvic acid and mixtures thereof, the acid combined with at least one trace mineral, and about 50 to 100 grams of a humectant.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
77 words
A method for improving the growth of tree crops comprising applying to the foliage of the crop, per acre per crop cycle, about 5 to 10 grams of a plurality of microbes on a carrier, about 120 to 240 milliliters of an organic acid selected from the group consisting of humic acid, fulvic acid, ulvic acid and mixtures thereof, the acid combined with at least one trace mineral, and about 50 to 100 grams of a humectant.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the soil of vegetable crops is inoculated with, per acre per crop cycle, about 60 to 120 grams of the microbe species on a carrier and about 1 to 2 liters of the organic acid.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 15 wherein the foliage of vegetable crops has applied, per acre per crop cycle, about 5 to 10 grams of the microbe species, on a carrier, about 120 to 240 milliliters of the organic acid and further comprising treating with about 50 to 100 grams of a humectant.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the soil of vine and berry crops is inoculated, per acre per crop cycle, with about 60 to 120 grams of the microbe species, on a carrier and about 1 to 2 of the organic acid.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 15 wherein the foliage of vine and berry crops has applied to it, per acre per crop cycle, about 15 to 30 grams of the microbe species on a carrier and about 120 to 240 milliliters of the organic acid.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the soil of field and row crops are inoculated, per acre per crop cycle, with about 30 to 45 grams of the microbe species on a carrier and about 120 to 180 milliliters of the organic acid.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
66 words
The method of claim 15 wherein the foliage of field and row crops has applied to it, per acre per crop cycle, about 5 to 10 grams of the microbe species on a carrier and about 90 to 120 milliliters of the organic acid, and further treating the foliage, per acre per crop cycle, with about 50 to 100 grams of a humectant and with micronutrients.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the media of a hydroponic tank is initially inoculated, per 1,000 gallons, with about 5 to 10 grams of the microbe species on a carrier and about 90-120 milliliters of the organic acid, and further the media being inoculated with about 250 to 500 grams of a humectant.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the media of a hydroponic tank is inoculated per 1,000 gallons, with about 2 to 5 grams of the microbes on the carrier and about 50 to 75 milliliters of the organic acid.
Claim 39
Independent Claim
68 words
A method of improving frost/freeze protection to plants comprising spraying onto at least a portion of the plant, the mixture comprising: a plurality of microbe species for fixing and stabilizing nitrogen, for digesting cellulosic matter, lipids and protein, and fox converting starch and carbohydrates to plant and microorganism nutrients; and an organic acid selected from the group consisting of humic acid, fulvic acid, ulvic acid and mixtures thereof.
Claim 40
Independent Claim
68 words
A method of improving frost/freeze protection to plants comprising spraying onto at least a portion of the plant, the mixture comprising: a plurality of microbe species for fixing and stabilizing nitrogen, for digesting cellulosic matter, lipids and protein, and fox converting starch and carbohydrates to plant and microorganism nutrients; and an organic acid selected from the group consisting of humic acid, fulvic acid, ulvic acid and mixtures thereof.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 31 wherein an humectant is added to the mixture for spraying onto the plant portions to provide and enhance thermal stability thereto.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-08-27 | 1994-02-26 | 1994-08-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-08-27 | 1998-02-26 | 1998-08-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-08-27 | 2002-02-26 | 2002-08-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |