Fertilizer Stick

Abstract

A fertilizer stick comprising a saccharide and a fertilizer dispersed therein, wherein the saccharide constitutes about 25% to about 95% (w/w) of the stick.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fertilizer stick comprising a saccharide and a fertilizer dispersed therein, wherein the saccharide constitutes about 25% to about 95% (w/w) of the stick. 
     
     
         2 . The fertilizer stick of  claim 1 , where the saccharide is selected from the group consisting of monosaccharides, disaccharides, trisaccharides, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The fertilizer stick of  claim 2 , where the saccharide is selected from the group consisting of glucose, fructose, galactose, sucrose, lactose, maltose, maltotriose, raffinose, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The fertilizer stick of  claim 1 , wherein the saccharide constitutes from about 40% to about 95% (w/w) of the stick. 
     
     
         5 . The fertilizer stick of  claim 1 , wherein the saccharide constitutes from about 60% to about 95% (w/w) of the stick. 
     
     
         6 . The fertilizer stick of  claim 1 , wherein the saccharide is a component of a saccharide-based material that is formed by heating and kneading a precursor mixture containing the saccharide. 
     
     
         7 . The fertilizer stick of  claim 6 , wherein the precursor mixture comprises a syrup. 
     
     
         8 . The fertilizer stick of  claim 6 , wherein the precursor mixture comprises molasses. 
     
     
         9 . The fertilizer stick of  claim 1 , wherein the fertilizer is selected from the group consisting of organic fertilizers, inorganic fertilizers, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The fertilizer stick of  claim 1 , where the fertilizer is selected from the group consisting of monocalcium phosphate, urea, soy protein, soy oil, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The fertilizer stick of  claim 1 , wherein the stick is individually wrapped. 
     
     
         12 . A fertilizer stick comprising a saccharide and a fertilizer dispersed therein, wherein the saccharide constitutes about 25% to about 95% (w/w) of the stick, and wherein the fertilizer stick is manufactured by a method comprising:
 heating a precursor mixture comprising a saccharide, to form a cooked precursor mixture;   kneading the cooked precursor mixture, while subjecting the cooked mixture to compressed air, to form a kneaded mixture;   blending the kneaded mixture with a fertilizer, to form a product mixture, and   shaping the product mixture into the fertilizer stick.   
     
     
         13 . The fertilizer stick of  claim 1 , where the saccharide is selected from the group consisting of monosaccharides, disaccharides, trisaccharides, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The fertilizer stick of  claim 2 , where the saccharide is selected from the group consisting of glucose, fructose, galactose, sucrose, lactose, maltose, maltotriose, raffinose, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The fertilizer stick of  claim 1 , wherein the saccharide constitutes from about 40% to about 95% (w/w) of the stick. 
     
     
         16 . The fertilizer stick of  claim 1 , wherein the saccharide constitutes from about 60% to about 95% (w/w) of the stick. 
     
     
         17 . The fertilizer stick of  claim 1 , wherein the saccharide is a component of a saccharide-based material that is formed by heating and kneading a precursor mixture containing the saccharide. 
     
     
         18 . The fertilizer stick of  claim 6 , wherein the precursor mixture comprises a syrup. 
     
     
         19 . The fertilizer stick of  claim 6 , wherein the precursor mixture comprises molasses. 
     
     
         20 . The fertilizer stick of  claim 1 , wherein the fertilizer is selected from the group consisting of organic fertilizers, inorganic fertilizers, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         21 . The fertilizer stick of  claim 1 , where the fertilizer is selected from the group consisting of monocalcium phosphate, urea, soy protein, soy oil, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         22 . The fertilizer stick of  claim 1 , wherein the stick is individually wrapped. 
     
     
         23 . The fertilizer stick of  claim 1 , wherein the precursor mixture is heated to a temperature from at least 270° F. to at most 290° F. 
     
     
         24 . The fertilizer stick of  claim 1 , the cooked precursor mixture having a water content of at least about 7.5% (w/w) to at most about 12.5% (w/w).