Fertilizer compositions and methods of making and using same

Abstract

Fertilizer compositions for plant production are described, comprised of decontaminated manure and Bacillus spores, preferably a humic acid derived from lignite and, optionally, one or more of N compounds, P compounds, K compounds, and combinations of two or more of these compounds. Preferred compositions are those wherein the ingredients are blended into an admixture resulting in a granular product. Other preferred compositions are those blended into an admixture resulting in a powdered product. Preferably, the ingredients are formed into hardened prills or pellets. Processes for production and use are also presented.

1 - 43 . (canceled) 
     
     
         44 . A fertilizer composition comprised of decontaminated manure and  Bacillus  spores, wherein the decontaminated manure has a total aerobic/facultative viable plate count reduced by 2-4 logs (100 to 10,000 times) compared to raw manure, and wherein the decontaminated manure is derived from manure selected from broiler chicken manure, ruminant animal manure, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         45 . The fertilizer composition of  claim 44  comprising a humic acid. 
     
     
         46 . The fertilizer composition of  claim 45  comprising an additive selected from the group consisting of N compounds, P compounds, K compounds, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         47 . The fertilizer composition of  claim 46  where the decontaminated manure, the  Bacillus  spores, the additive, and the humic acid are blended into an admixture resulting in a granular or powdered product. 
     
     
         48 . The fertilizer composition of  claim 47  where the decontaminated manure, the  Bacillus  spores, the additive, and the humic acid are formed into prills or pellets. 
     
     
         49 . The fertilizer composition of  claim 44  wherein the  Bacillus  spores are from strains of probiotic  Bacillus  bacteria capable of enhancing beneficial microbial populations within a rhizosphere of a plant. 
     
     
         50 . The fertilizer composition of  claim 45  wherein the humic acid is derived from lignite. 
     
     
         51 . The fertilizer composition of  claim 46  where the N compound are selected from the group consisting of urea, ammonium sulfate, ammonium nitrate, ammonium phosphate, calcium nitrate, potassium nitrate, sodium nitrate; the P compounds are selected from the group consisting of ammonium phosphate, superphosphate, Ca(H 2 PO 4 ) 2 , tricalcium phosphate, phosphate salts of sodium or potassium, including orthophosphate salts; and the K compounds are selected from the group consisting of KCl, potassium sulfate, potassium nitrate, and phosphate salts of potassium, including orthophosphate salts. 
     
     
         52 . The fertilizer composition of  claim 44  wherein the decontaminated manure is derived from raw manure decontaminated by pit composting and solar drying 
     
     
         53 . The fertilizer composition of  claim 44  wherein the decontaminated manure is derived from reaction of raw manure with concentrated mineral acid and subsequently dried. 
     
     
         54 . The fertilizer composition of  claim 44  wherein the decontaminated manure is derived from reaction of raw manure with a hypochlorite compound and subsequently dried. 
     
     
         55 . The fertilizer composition of  claim 44  wherein the  Bacillus  spores are prepared in water suspension and combined with the decontaminated manure in said suspension. 
     
     
         56 . The fertilizer composition of  claim 44  wherein the  Bacillus  spores are present in sufficient concentration to effect a viable spore count of between 10̂6 cfu to 10̂9 cfu per gram of dry composition. 
     
     
         57 . The fertilizer composition of  claim 44  wherein the  Bacillus  spores are derived from  Bacillus  selected from the group consisting of  Bacillus laterosporus  (ATCC PTA-3952),  Bacillus laterosporus  (ATCC PTA-3593),  Bacillus licheniformis  (ATCC PTA-6175),  Bacillus subtilis  (ATCC PTA-6174), and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         58 . A solid fertilizer composition for plant production comprised of decontaminated manure,  Bacillus  spores, humic acid and, optionally, one or more N—P—K compounds, wherein the decontaminated manure is derived from manure selected from broiler chicken manure, ruminant animal manure, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         59 . A method of increasing the yield of a plant while reducing the nitrogen effect, the method comprising the steps of: a) supplying to a rhizosphere of a plant a sufficient amount of a fertilizer composition comprising decontaminated manure and  Bacillus  spores, wherein the decontaminated manure is derived from manure selected from broiler chicken manure, ruminant animal manure, and combinations thereof, to increase yield without significantly increasing the nitrogen effect; and b) maintaining contact between the rhizosphere of the plant and the composition for a time sufficient to enhance yield of the plant while reducing nitrogen effect. 
     
     
         60 . A method of making a prilled or pelleted fertilizer product, the method comprising the steps of: a) producing a substantially decontaminated manure derived from manure selected from broiler chicken manure, ruminant animal manure, and combinations thereof; b) combining the substantially decontaminated manure of step (a) with a second composition comprising  Bacillus  spores to produce a fertilizer composition; c) adding humic acid from an external source to the fertilizer composition to form a modified fertilizer composition; and d) forming a prilled or pelleted product, under conditions of temperature and pressure suitable to produce the product. 
     
     
         61 . A method of increasing concentration of beneficial non- bacillus  organisms in a rhizosphere, the method comprising applying an effective amount of a fertilizer composition to a rhizosphere for a time sufficient to increase concentration of non- bacillus  beneficial organisms in the rhizosphere, the non- bacillus  beneficial organisms selected from the group consisting of actinomycetes and nitrogen fixing bacteria, wherein the decontaminated manure is derived from manure selected from broiler chicken manure, ruminant animal manure, and combinations thereof.