AU2003204887B2 - Seed inoculation process and apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Our Ref:7830053 P/00/011 Regulation 3:2 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 ORIGINAL COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Applicant(s): JKJ & EM Mahon Pty Ltd "Hillview" Oura via Wagga Wagga New South Wales 2650 Australia Address for Service: DAVIES COLLISON CAVE Patent & Trade Mark Attorneys Level 10, 10 Barrack Street SYDNEY NSW 2000 Invention Title: Seed inoculation process and apparatus The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: 5020 P:\WPDOCS\AMD\speci\7745730.doc-20 Jun, 2003 SEED INOCULATION PROCESS AND APPARATUS Background of the Invention The present invention relates to methods and device for preparing carrier materials for the 5 culture, sustenance, transportation and subsequent application at relatively low liquid volumes, of microbial inoculants, with particular reference to microbial inoculants used on seeds in agriculture. The present invention also relates to a porous pack, housing particulate material containing 10 microbes, for forming a liquid inoculant, which can be used in the apparatus and method for inoculating agricultural seeds. Description of the Prior Art The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an 15 acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that that prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in Australia. In the present knowledge of the art, it has been the practice for many years to culture microbial inoculants, such as Rhizobacteria, on peat moss or similar organic material that 20 has been finely ground or milled so that individual particles are of a relatively small size. These fine particles provide a suitable environment for the survival of microbes and also act as a carrier of the microbes on to seeds when the ground material is either spread over the seeds to be inoculated, or mixed with water, usually at a rate of about ten litres of water 25 per tonne of seed, to form a slurry that is then mixed with the seeds. More recently, the development of large seed planting equipment with seed holding capacities of up to three tonnes has made the traditional microbial carriers less appropriate, as it will be appreciated that the preparation of slurries is time consuming and the treated 30 seeds must be allowed to dry before loading, to avoid clogging of the machinery. It will P:\WPDOCS\AMD\speci\7745730.doc-20 June, 2003 -2 also be appreciated that the drying process and delay in planting of the seeds results in the death of a significant number of the microbes, thus reducing the efficacy of the inoculant. In the development of the prior art, attempts have been made to reduce these problems by straining or filtering the carrier material mixed in water prior to spraying the filtered 5 material on to the seeds or in to the earth furrow. However because the carrier materials are ground or milled to such a small particle size, many of the particles are left suspended in the liquid but tend to quickly settle out of suspension, resulting in clogging of the delivery lines and nozzle blockages of the spray equipment. 10 Another attempted remedy has been to produce liquid inoculant carriers that substitute dissolved nutrient solutions for the ground organic material. While liquid carriers are more convenient, they do not provide an environment that is as protective for storage of the microbes as the carriers containing solid organic particles. 15 It is therefore necessary to utilize a volume of liquid that is larger than that added to alternative fine particulate material, in order to provide the equivalent amount of nutrients. This in turn limits the use of liquid inoculants when it is desirable to treat seeds immediately before planting, due to excessive wetting of the seeds. 20 Summary of the Invention The present invention seeks to provide a method and apparatus for storing and applying microbial inoculants utilizing particulate carrier materials that have individual particles of a size that will not pass through filters or strainers with a mesh size smaller than the nozzle diameters commonly employed in inoculation applicator equipment. 25 In one broad form, the present invention provides a pack having at least one porous wall and housing a particulate material containing microbes, wherein, in use, a liquid is permeated through said pack wall(s) such that said microbes are transferred from said particulate material to form a liquid inoculant. 30 Preferably, said pack is formed at least partially of flexible porous material, such as filter P:\WPDOCS\AMD\Speci\7745730.doc-20 June 2003 paper or like fibrous material. Alternatively, but also preferably, said pack is formed at least partially of a mesh material, such as of plastics or metal material. 5 Preferably, said particulate material is of organic or inorganic origin capable of sustaining colony forming units (CFUs) of microbes, with or without the addition of nutrient materials. 10 Most preferably, said liquid includes water. In its most preferred form, said pack is used in an apparatus for applying a liquid inoculant to seeds. 15 In a further broad form, the present invention provides a method of forming a liquid inoculant, including the steps of: supplying a pack into a container, said pack having at least one porous wall and housing a particulate material containing microbes; and, providing a liquid into said container, such that said microbes are transferred from 20 said particulate material to form a liquid inoculant. Preferably, in said supplying step, said particulate material is of organic or inorganic origin capable of sustaining colony forming units (CFUs). 25 Also preferably, in said providing step, said liquid includes water. In yet a further broad form, the present invention provides an apparatus for applying a liquid inoculant to agricultural seeds, including: a seed hopper, to feed said agricultural seeds to an outlet; 30 a container of liquid inoculant, said container being adapted to receive a pack having a least one porous wall and housing a particulate material containing microbes, and, P:\WPDOCS\AMD\spei\7745730.doc-20 Jun 2003 -4 a liquid to permeate said pack wall(s) such that microbes are transferred from said particulate material to form said liquid inoculant; and an application means, to supply liquid inoculant from said container to said agricultural seed as said seed is supplied from said seek hopper to said outlet. 5 Preferably, said applicator is in the form of an axially rotatable disc-shaped device to which said liquid inoculant is supplied from said container, such that, as said device is rotated, said droplets of liquid are sprayed generally outwardly therefrom. 10 Also preferably, said disc-shaped device is either a solid disc device, optionally including etched grooves, or similar, in an upper surface thereof, or, a plurality of fibres extending substantially outwardly from an axial portion of said disc-shaped device. Also preferably, said apparatus is portable. 15 Also preferably, said liquid inoculant is an insecticide, fungicide, fertiliser, a biological inoculant, or like inoculant. In yet a further broad form, the present invention provides a method of applying a liquid 20 inoculant to agricultural seeds, including the steps of: inserting a pack housing a particulate material containing microbes into a container, said pack having at least one porous wall; supplying a liquid in said container, such that said liquid is adapted to permeate through said pack wall(s) to transfer said microbes from said particulate material to form a 25 liquid inoculant; supplying agricultural seeds from said hopper to an outlet; applying, via an application means, said liquid inoculant to said seed as said seed is supplied from said hopper to said outlet. 30 Preferably, in said applicator step aid application means includes an axially rotatable disc shaped device to which said liquid inoculant is supplied from said container, such that, as p:\WPDOCS\AMD\speci\7745730.dc- 2 0 I, 2003 said device is rotated, said droplets of liquid inoculant are sprayed generally outwardly therefrom. Brief Description of the Drawings The present invention will become more fully understood from the following detailed 5 description of preferred but non-limiting embodiments thereof, described in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 illustrates a schematic representation of an inoculation pack, in accordance with the present invention; and, Fig. 2 illustrates the use of the inoculation pack of Fig. 1, in the inoculation apparatus of 10 the present invention. Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments Throughout the drawings, like numerals will be used to identify similar features, except where expressly otherwise indicated. 15 The embodiment shown in Fig. 1 is of an inoculation pack, generally designated by the numeral 1, having porous walls 2. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, two substantially circular walls 2 are joined at their edges 3. Inside the pack is particulate material 4, which may be organic or inorganic in origin, capable of sustaining colony forming units (CFUs) 20 of microbes, with or without the addition of nutrient materials. In use, a liquid, such as water, is permeated through the porous walls 2 of the pack such that the microbes are transferred from the particulate material 4 to form a liquid inoculant. The inoculant pack may be formed at least partly of flexible porous material, such as filter 25 paper or a like fibrous material, or, may be formed of at least partially of a mesh material, such as plastics or material. Perhaps most preferably, if the pack is formed of a filter paper type material, then it is intended as a single or limited use pack, whilst, if formed of plastics or metal material, the pack may be openable, such that used particulate material may be discarded therefrom, and a fresh supply of material can then be reinserted for use 30 of the pack on numerous occasions.

P:\WPDOCS\AMD\spci\7745 7 30.doc-20 Ju, 2003 -6 Likewise, the pack may be of any desired shape, such that an effective amount of permeation is achieved through the porous walls thereof, and such that the microbes, when transferred from the particulate material to form the liquid inoculant, is also able to penetrate the walls thereof. 5 The pack may be supplied for sale within a further sealed packet, of non-porous material, which is then opened when required for use. An example of an apparatus in which the pack may be used, is shown in Fig. 2, for 10 applying a liquid inoculant to agricultural seeds. The inoculant pack 1 may be inserted in the container 22, and filled with water or other liquid, such that a supply of liquid inoculant is thereby formed within container 22 It will be appreciated that the amount of water will vary according to the particular inoculant used, etc., but typically, an eight litre volume of inoculant is envisaged to be made from a single pack, which may then treat about two 15 tonnes of seed. The liquid inoculant may-then be supplied under the forces of gravity, or from the container 22 being pressurised, or, by utilising a mechanical or electrical hydraulic pumping means through tubing to nozzle 21. Particulate material, such as seeds or grains, may then be supplied through a first end 25 of 20 a housing 27, for instance, by a seed delivery system 28. Grain or seed 29 then falls under the forces of gravity in a manner substantially as illustrated through the first end of the housing 25 to the second end of the housing 26 and may then be supplied into a seed container 30. The facilitate the separation of the particulate material, a spreader plate 24 may be provided such that, as the seed falls and hits the spreader plate, it is directed over 25 the edges of the spreader plate towards the second end 26 of the housing 27. As the seed or grain passes past the intermediate portion of the housing 21, and generally past a spinning disc 20, liquid droplets, being sprayed generally outward of the spinning disc 20 become applied to the particulate material. 30 The configuration of the spinning disc 20 may be of the form described in the Applicant's earlier Australian Patent No. 640546 (and US Patent No. 5246167), or, in the Applicant's PA\WPDOCS\AMD\spci\7745730.dc-20 June, 2003 -7 earlier International Application No. PCT/AU01/00276. In the Applicant's previous Patents/Applications, it is described that the disc 20, may be formed of either a solid disc device, optionally including etched grooves or similar, in an upper surface thereof, or, a plurality of fibres extending substantially outwardly from an axial portion of the disc 5 shaped device. The supply of discs of different density fibre or different design, can determine the dispersement of inoculant fluid, to the agricultural seed material. The applicator nozzle is selected to suit the grain flow rate. If the correct nozzle is used, the treated seed will be thoroughly covered with inoculant, but will not be excessively wet and can 10 be sown immediately through the seeder. The unique design of the applicator ensures that seed is adequately coated with inoculant at low liquid rates. Large seeds such as faba beans and lupins will be wetter at a given rate of liquid application than smaller seeds such as chickpeas or mung beans. 15 The nozzle may typically be selected as follows: For grain flow rates of Nozzle Liquid rate range Up to 290 kg per minute Small 1 to 2 litres per tonne 290 to 650 kg per minute Medium 1 to 2 litres per tonne More than 650 kg Large 1.5 to 2.2 litres 20 Preferably, water is passed through the particulate material containing the microbes and the liquid inoculant containing transferred microbes so derived is then applied to seeds immediately before planting, preferably but not exclusively, at rates of five litres or less of liquid per tonne of seeds treated. In a preferred form, the particulate carrier is confined in 25 an inner container that is constructed of a porous material and the inner container is in turn surrounded by an outer container that is constructed of a material that is non porous. In a preferred embodiment, the particulate carrier materials are composed of substances of organic or inorganic origin capable of sustaining Colony Forming Units (CFUs) of 30 microbes, with or without the addition of nutrient materials, in similar numbers to those P:\WPDOCS\AMD\spei\7745730.do-20 June, 2003 -8 sustained by traditionally used carrier materials reduced to smaller individual particulate sizes. It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art, that microbes is a generic term that 5 describes micro organisms of many types, including but not confined to, bacteria, fungi and nematodes. It will be appreciated that numerous types of inoculant may be produced by the pack of the present invention. The Applicant has, in particular, trialled the pack and the inoculation 10 apparatus very successfully for efficiently covering seeds, such as chickpea, lupin and field pea with Rhizobia, however, it will be appreciated that any type of inoculant may be used to cover numerous crop strain seeds, using the apparatus and method of the present invention. 15 The inoculant materials derived in the manner described in this application are particularly suitable for dispersal using the "Apparatus and method for applying liquid droplets to a particulate material", described in the Applicants previous invention, Australian Provisional Patent Application No. PQ 6305 and subsequently, in International Patent Application No. PCT/AUO1/00276. The entire disclosures of these documents should be 20 considered to be incorporated herein by their reference thereto. It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art, that numerous variations in the packaging of the carrier materials and the methods of extracting microbes from the carrier materials will become apparent. All such variations and modifications that particularly, but 25 not exclusively, pertain to applications to seeds of five litres or less of liquid per tonne which become apparent to persons skilled in the art, should be considered to fall within the scope of the invention as broadly described and claimed in this application.

Claims (20)

1. A pack having at least one porous wall and housing a particulate material containing microbes, wherein, in use, a liquid is permeated through said pack wall(s) such that said microbes are transferred from said particulate material to form a liquid inoculant. 5

2. A pack as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pack is formed at least partially of flexible porous material, such as filter paper or like fibrous material.

3. A container as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pack is formed at least partially of 10 a mesh material, such as of plastics or metal material.

4. A pack as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said particulate material is of organic or inorganic origin capable of sustaining colony forming units (CFUs) of microbes, with or without the addition of nutrient materials. 15

5. A pack as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein, in use, said liquid includes water.

6. A pack as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said pack is used in an 20 apparatus for applying a liquid inoculant to seeds.

7. A method of forming a liquid inoculant, including the steps of: supplying a pack into a container, said pack having at least one porous wall and housing a particulate material containing microbes; and, 25 providing a liquid into said container, such that said microbes are transferred from said particulate material to form a liquid inoculant.

8. A method of forming a liquid inoculant as claimed in claim 7, wherein, in said supplying step, said particulate material is of organic or inorganic origin capable of 30 sustaining colony forming units (CFUs). P:\WPDOCS\AMD\spei\7745730.do-20 June, 2003 -10

9. A method of forming a liquid inoculant as claimed in claim 7 or 8, wherein, in said providing step, said liquid includes water.

10. An apparatus for applying a liquid inoculant to agricultural seeds, including: 5 a seed hopper, to feed said agricultural seeds to an outlet; a container of liquid inoculant, said container being adapted to receive a pack having a least one porous wall and housing a particulate material containing microbes, and, a liquid to permeate said pack wall(s) such that microbes are transferred from said particulate material to form said liquid inoculant; and 10 an application means, to supply liquid inoculant from said container to said agricultural seed as said seed is supplied from said seek hopper to said outlet.

11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said applicator is in the form of an axially rotatable disc-shaped device to which said liquid inoculant is supplied from said 15 container, such that, as said device is rotated, said droplets of liquid are sprayed generally outwardly therefrom.

12. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein said disc-shaped device is either a solid disc device, optionally including etched grooves, or similar, in an upper surface 20 thereof, or, a plurality of fibres extending substantially outwardly from an axial portion of said disc-shaped device.

13. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein said apparatus is portable. 25

14. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 13, wherein said liquid inoculant is an insecticide, fungicide, fertiliser, a biological inoculant, or like inoculant.

15. A method of applying a liquid inoculant to agricultural seeds, including the steps 30 of: inserting a pack housing a particulate material containing microbes into a container, P:\WPDOCS\AMD\spci\7745730.doc-20 June, 2003 - 11 said pack having at least one porous wall; supplying a liquid in said container, such that said liquid is adapted to permeate through said pack wall(s) to transfer said microbes from said particulate material to form a liquid inoculant; 5 supplying agricultural seeds from said hopper to an outlet; applying, via an application means, said liquid inoculant to said seed as said seed is supplied from said hopper to said outlet.

16. A method of applying a liquid inoculant to agricultural seeds as claimed in claim 10 15, wherein, in said applicator step aid application means includes an axially rotatable disc-shaped device to which said liquid inoculant is supplied from said container, such that, as said device is rotated, said droplets of liquid inoculant are sprayed generally outwardly therefrom. 15

17. A pack, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

18. A method of forming a liquid inoculant, substantially as herein described. 20

19. An apparatus for applying a liquid inoculant to agricultural seeds, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

20. A method of applying a liquid inoculant to agricultural seeds, substantially as herein described. 25 DATED this 23rd day of June, 2003 JKJ & EM MAHON PTY LIMITED By Their Patent Attorneys 30 DAVIES COLLISON CAVE