Abstract: A method for capturing material extracted from biochar is provided comprising the steps of: (i) providing a biochar; (ii) contacting the biochar with an extraction media, where the extraction media causes the removal of residual compounds from the pores and surface of the biochar, creating a resulting extract comprised of the extraction media and removed compounds; and (iii) collecting the resulting extract. The method also can include other steps of extraction and purification. The method further comprises the step of applying the resulting extract to seeds, plants, soil, other agricultural products, or for use in other applications. A biochar having high levels of soluble signaling compounds is also provided, where the biochar is derived from a biomass source that together with predefined pyrolysis parameters produces resulting biochar having increased levels of soluble signaling compounds that are known to increase seed germination rates and early plant growth.

Abstract: An application of farnesene in preparing a plant-derived urease inhibitor is provided. The compound can effectively inhibit activities of Canavalia ensiformis urease and soil urease, and has an effect that is equivalent to that of commercial urease inhibitor acetohydroxamic acid. The urease inhibitor in the present disclosure, derived from plants, has “pollution-free” characteristics of natural products, high biological safety, simple and stable chemical structure and remarkable urease inhibition effect, can solve the problems of conventional chemically-synthesized urease inhibitor such as high toxicity, easy degradation and poor stability, also provides a new concept for creating a biological ecological technology for efficiently inhibiting the rapid hydrolysis of urea in farmland and increasing the utilization rate of urea nitrogen fertilizer, and has good application value and development prospect.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are soil amendments, generally in the form of coated perlite compositions, as well as methods of making and using the same. The disclosed compositions, methods, and systems provide for various beneficial enhancements to plants growth and soil health, and may decrease costs, for example by avoiding the need for multiple treatments. The presently disclosed compositions, methods, and systems also aid in prolonging release of plant nutrition into the soil (including silica), enhancing aeration, water retention, and drainage, resisting soil compaction, providing for pest and insect control, etc. In many embodiments, the disclosed coated perlite composition is a sterile composition, that is lightweight, and has a low dust content, which may provide for efficient and low-cost handling and transport of products comprising same.

Abstract: The present disclosure is intended to enhance the capability for arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis by treating the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi with oxidized glutathione or cystathionine.

Abstract: The present invention relates to improving the efficiency of man-made and/or natural organic-based animal manure fertilizers by administration of formulations containing poly(organic acids), [P(OA)]s, and/or their salts dispersed in a Non-aqueous Organic Solvent Delivery System (NOSDS). Utilizing a NOSDS allows for coating all components in a fertilizer formulation including but not limited to Urea, Manure, mono-ammonium phosphate (MAP), di-ammonium phosphate (DAP), solid micronutrients such as lime, zinc chloride, etc.) with a layer of [P(OA)]s and/or their salts that liberates, in a plant available form, the micronutrient metals and macronutrients, that are bound as insoluble salts and complexes in the soil.

Abstract: A method for producing a pedosphere-improving granulate (6) and granulate itself, the method includes a) producing a raw material dispersion including at least one inorganic secondary phosphate (1) and at least one reaction agent (2) in a liquid phase (4), b) separating part of the liquid phase (4) from the raw material dispersion, c) granulating and/or extruding the remaining raw material dispersion with a reduced liquid phase (4), d) either returning the liquid phase (4) separated in process step b) to process step a) in order to produce a raw material dispersion without at least partly separating (5) heavy metals or at least partly separating heavy metals (7) from the liquid phase (4) separated in process step b) and discharging the heavy metals (7) out of the process in a manner analogous to process step a) and/or returning the liquid phase to process step c), and e) repeating process steps a) to d).

Abstract: Methods for the chemical dissolution of human and other cadavers, such as pets as an example, using ethanolic potassium hydroxide (KOH) or ethanol-water solutions of KOH at atmospheric pressure are described. After acid neutralization, to a neutral pH range, the resulting solutions may be applied to the earth for disposal as fertilizer, or further treated using hydrogen peroxide. Use of ethanol has been found to reduce the dissolution time of the cadavers to approximately two hours for high concentrations of KOH.

Abstract: A preparation method of a carbon-based selenium-enriched fertilizer for rice is disclosed. The preparation method of the carbon-based selenium-enriched fertilizer for rice includes planting a selenium-enriched plant material; collecting and concentrating a selenium-enriched extracting solution; preparing modified selenium-enriched biomass charcoal from the tertiary residues; and preparing the carbon-based selenium-enriched fertilizer. In the present disclosure, active organic selenium enriched and generated by plant is compounded with the biomass charcoal, so that the fixation and loss of the active selenium in soil are reduced, and the utilization efficiency of the selenium fertilizer is improved.

Abstract: A charge-modified particle comprising the inorganic core and a shell surrounding the inorganic core, wherein the shell comprises a copolymer comprising monomeric units corresponding to free-radically polymerizable monomers, and wherein at least one of the monomeric units comprises a substituted benzotriazolylphenolate salt. Methods of making the charge-modified particle by admicellar polymerization are also disclosed.

Abstract: A fertilizer composition including a base fertilizer granule with a hydrophobic or super-hydrophobic coating that reduces fertilizer caking and dust formation. The coating can include a roughening component, which creates micron-scale surface roughness, and a hydrophobic coating containing wax. Together, the components of the coating act to physically protect water soluble fertilizers granules from the ingress of moisture and from caking, and increase the resistance of the granules to abrasion.

Abstract: A fertilizer composition including a base fertilizer granule with a hydrophobic or super-hydrophobic coating that reduces fertilizer caking and dust formation. The coating can include a roughening component, which creates micron-scale surface roughness, and a hydrophobic coating. Together, the components of the coating act to physically protect water soluble fertilizers granules from the ingress of moisture and from caking, and increase the resistance of the granules to abrasion.

Abstract: The fertilizer composition is an algae-based, biodegradable and compostable fertilizer composition. The fertilizer composition includes an algal biomass, ground fenugreek seeds, and a binder for molding the fertilizer into pellets. In some embodiments, the fertilizer composition includes Enteromorpha prolifera (E. prolifera), ground and sieved fenugreek seeds and mastic gum. E. prolifera contains numerous nutrients, including vitamins, minerals and a variety of bioactive compounds. Fenugreek seeds have antimicrobial and antioxidant activities, and also have natural insect repellant properties. Mastic gum exhibits antimicrobial activity. Thus, the fertilizer composition provides a variety of nutrients to plants and also provides protection against pathogens. In the fertilizer composition, a ratio of the E. prolifera to the ground fenugreek seeds to the mastic gum by weight may be 6:3:1.

Abstract: Methods and system for increasing the water solubility and availability of zinc in granular fertilizers using acid treatments. The treatment of granular fertilizers with an acidic solution increases an amount of water-soluble zinc, which in turn, increases the efficiency of zinc uptake and reduces the costs and equipment otherwise needed to mitigate zinc deficiencies.

Abstract: A particle is provided for delivery of humics, and biochar that is water-dispersible into constituent granules. The resulting particles are amenable to broadcast application, for example via rotary or drop spreader. As a result, a dust-free particle is formed that simultaneously addresses the prior art problems of the friable nature of humics and the sooty dusting property of biochar to facilitate ease of handling, broadcast field spreading, and gain the synergistic effects of dosing soil with both humics and biochar. The particle provides improved storage capabilities for materials improving the quality of the delivered material and decreasing negative storage consequences such as odor emanation or degradation. The resulting particles upon dispersion have a pH of between 3.3 and 8.1.

Abstract: A calcium sulfate urea (UCS) fertilizer granule and methods for making and using the same are disclosed. The granule can include urea, calcium sulfate, and a calcium sulfate urea adduct, wherein a portion of the surface of the calcium sulfate urea adduct includes a layer comprising urea, calcium sulfate, or calcium sulfate urea adduct, or any combination or all thereof.

Abstract: Fertilizer particles with urease inhibitors and nitrification inhibitors are described herein. The fertilizer particles can include a core particle comprising a urease inhibitor and an outer layer comprising a nitrification inhibitor.

Abstract: An inhibitor composition contains alkyl thiophosphoric triamide (or a mixture of alkyl thiophosphoric triamide and dicyandiamide), dissolved in a liquid medium comprising at least one organic solvent, at least one amine stabilizer and, optionally, at least one dye and/or at least one odor masking agent, is useful in making fertilizer compositions and in a method of fertilizing target plants.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for drying a bulk waste product, such as animal waste, having a moisture content of 95% or more water can include a trough configured to receive the bulk waste product and to dispense it in a form suitable for convective drying, one or more conveyors having an air-permeable conveyor belt, each conveyor receiving the waste product from the trough and transporting the waste product along a transport path; and one or more air moving devices (AMDs) that pass air through the air-permeable conveyor belt and across the waste product as it is transported along the transport path to transform the bulk waste product into a dried waste product having a moisture content of about 5% to about 20%, inclusive.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a liquid composition comprising living green microalgae for improving plant growth. The liquid composition is prepared by growing green microalgae at a pH of 10-12 in the presence of hydrogen carbonate as the inorganic carbon source. The liquid composition may be stored at 4 to 25 degrees C. until use. The liquid composition may be used to improve fertilizers.

Abstract: Catalysts for NH3 cracking and/or synthesis generally include barium calcium aluminum oxide compounds decorated with ruthenium, cobalt, or both. These catalysts can be bonded to a metal structure, which improves thermal conductivity and gas conductance.