US-12616083-B2 - Device for distributing fertilizer

US12616083B2US 12616083 B2US12616083 B2US 12616083B2US-12616083-B2

Abstract

A device for distributing solid particles in a field, including elements for producing the solid particles from at least two solid, particulate compositions; the elements for producing including at least two containers for storing each of the solid, particulate compositions, wherein the elements for producing are capable of producing solid particles with different ratios of the at least two solid, particulate compositions; and elements for delivering the solid particles to the field. The present disclosure also provides a method for distributing solid, fertilizer particles to a field with the device.

Inventors

Jakub BUJALSKI
ROBERTUS LOUWE
Amund MYRSTAD

Assignees

YARA INTERNATIONAL ASA

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20230210
Priority Date: 20220211

Claims (15)

1 . A device for continuously producing and distributing solid particles in a field, comprising: a means for producing the solid particles from at least two solid, particulate compositions each having a different chemical composition, the means for producing comprising a first container for storing a first one of the solid, particulate compositions, a second container for storing a second one of the solid, particulate compositions, a device for heating at least a portion of the first one of the solid, particulate compositions from the first container to form a melt and mixing at least a portion of the second one of the solid, particulate compositions from the second container with the melt to form a mixed composition, and a 3D printer for producing solid particles from the mixed composition with different ratios of the at least two solid, particulate compositions; and a means for delivering the solid particles to the field.
2 . The device according to claim 1 , further comprising a third container for storing a third one of the solid, particulate compositions, each solid, particulate composition having a different chemical composition.
3 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the means for delivering the solid particles to the field is able to project the solid particles up to 5 meters away.
4 . The device according to claim 1 , further comprising a memory unit.
5 . The device according to claim 1 , further comprising a communication unit.
6 . A system comprising the device according to claim 5 and a device for determining a status of a plant or crop comprising a communication unit able to exchange data with the communication unit of the device.
7 . The device according to claim 5 , wherein the communication unit is a wireless communication unit.
8 . The device according to claim 1 , further comprising a locating unit.
9 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the means for producing the solid particles from at least two solid, particulate compositions is configured to produce the solid particles using a process selected from a group consisting of fused deposition modelling, direct metal laser sintering, powder pressing, powder compaction and binder jetting.
10 . A method for distributing solid, fertilizer particles to a field, comprising steps of: a) providing the device according to claim 1 ; b) providing the at least two solid, particulate compositions to the containers of the device; c) continuously producing the solid, fertilizer particles from the at least two solid, particulate compositions each having a different chemical composition with the means for producing the solid particles; d) continuously delivering the solid particles produced in step c) to the field with the means for delivering the solid particles to the field.
11 . The method according to claim 10 , wherein each solid, particulate composition of the at least two solid, particulate compositions comprises a nutrient not present in other of the solid, particulate compositions.
12 . The method according to claim 10 , wherein the solid, particulate compositions added to the containers each comprise an element selected from a group consisting of urea, ammonium nitrate, ammonium phosphate, potassium chloride and potassium sulphate.
13 . The method according to claim 10 , wherein the solid, particulate compositions have an average particle diameter ranging between 0.10 mm and 5.0 mm.
14 . The method according to claim 10 , wherein the step a) further includes providing a device for determining a status of a plant or crop comprising a communication unit able to exchange data with the communication unit of the device.
15 . The method according to claim 14 , wherein each of the communication units are wireless communication units.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present disclosure is related to the field of devices for agriculture, in particular devices for distributing fertilizer products in a field. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Modern agriculture often requires the distribution of fertilizer products to crops in a field to ensure optimum growth and yield. Crops require several elements in their life cycle: macronutrients (nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K)), secondary nutrients (magnesium, calcium and sulfur) and micronutrients (boron, copper, iron, molybdenum, manganese and zinc). Fertilizer products can be provided in two forms to the crops: as solid products, such as granules or prills, or as liquid products, such as aqueous solutions. Solid products are the most common form used since they can be manufactured in large amounts, and are easier to transport (since they do not contain water). They can be distributed on a field by hand or with mechanical devices, such as spreaders. A drawback of the current techniques is that the same product is applied to an entire field, and growing conditions can differ a lot within a single field: some areas may receive less light due to the presence of tall structures like buildings or trees, some areas may receive more water (if the field is not flat for example), some areas may have a higher concentration of the crop. These differences mean that the fertilizer requirements for a field may not be homogeneous over the entire field. Systems that apply solid fertilizers at a variable rate exist, wherein the mechanical means can distribute more or less fertilizer based on different sources of data. This is particularly used for nitrogen applications. However, such a system still applies the same fertilizer product across the whole field, which may be acceptable if the fertilizer product contains only one type of nutrient, such as nitrogen. However, using mononutrient fertilizer increases the number of operations for the farmer who needs to supply several nutrients to its crops, so the use of multi-nutrient fertilizers, such as NPK fertilizers is favored by farmers. So there is a need to find a new method and device to apply fertilizer products, wherein the composition of the fertilizer products vary across a field. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present inventors have designed a new device to apply fertilizer products in a field, wherein the composition of the fertilizer products vary across the field. In a first aspect, the present disclosure provides a device for continuously producing and distributing solid particles in a field, comprising a means for producing the solid particles from at least two solid, particulate compositions each having a different chemical composition; the means for producing comprising at least two containers for storing each of the solid, particulate compositions, wherein the means for producing is capable of producing solid particles with different ratios of the at least two solid, particulate compositions; and a means for delivering the solid particles to the field. In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a method for distributing solid, fertilizer particles to a field, comprising the steps of: a) providing a device or a system according to the present disclosure; b) providing at least two solid, particulate compositions to the containers of the device; c) continuously producing the solid, fertilizer particles from the at least two solid, particulate compositions each having a different chemical composition with the means for producing the solid particles; d) continuously delivering the solid particles produced in step c) to the field with the means for delivering the solid particles to the field. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES The following description of the FIGURE of a specific embodiment of a system according to the present disclosure is only given by way of example and is not intended to limit the present explanation, its application or use. In the FIGURE, identical reference numerals refer to the same or similar parts and features. FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a device according to the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Unless otherwise defined, all terms used in disclosing the invention, including technical and scientific terms, have the meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. By means of further guidance, term definitions are included to better appreciate the teaching of the present invention. All references cited in this description are hereby deemed to be incorporated in their entirety by way of reference. As used herein, the following terms have the following meanings: “A”, “an”, and “the” as used herein refers to both singular and plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. By way of example, “a compartment” refers to one or more than one compartment. “About” as used herein referring to a measurable value such as a parameter, an amount,