Phosphatic clay products for use as soil wetting agents, methods of delivery of phosphatic clays to soil, and phosphatic clay coatings for purpose of water retention

摘要

Phosphatic clays, and the use of phosphatic clays as a soil wetting agent. Phosphatic clays as wetting agents aid in the retention of water in sandy soil, and/or for prevention or reduction of leaching of nutrients. Due to its unique particle size and shape, phosphatic clay exhibits high water absorbing and retaining qualities. Further, phosphatic clay is readily available as a by-product of mining of phosphatic ore. The phosphatic clay wetting agents increases the effectiveness of the water applied to the soil, thereby reducing the amount of run-off, and reducing the amount of water needed to accomplish sufficient irrigation. The phosphatic clay wetting agents can be delivered to the soil as a sprinkle-on product, spray-on product, soil amendment, fertilizer or seed coating, or fertilizer composition.

主权项

1. A soil wetting agent composition for altering moisture retention qualities of soil, the soil wetting agent comprising:
a carrier, wherein the carrier comprises fertilizer granules formed form a compacted and/or granulated fertilizer material; and a phosphatic clay source incorporated within the carrier, the phosphatic clay source including dry phosphatic clay grains having an average clay grain particulate size of about 4 μm or less, wherein the phosphatic clay source is incorporated into the fertilizer material during granulation and/or compaction such that individual fertilizer granules contain phosphatic clay grains throughout each granule.