VISCO-PELLETS FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF SOIL BORNE DISEASES AND RECLAMATION OF SOIL

Abstract

The invention relates to pellet-based formulations containing Cleome viscosa extract, biochar, APSA 80, and rice bran for the management of soil-borne diseases and enhancement of soil health. These pellets provide a slow release of bioactive compounds, offering a natural, eco-friendly alternative to chemical fungicides. They improve soil fertility, reduce pathogen incidence, and are designed for easy application in agricultural settings, providing a sustainable solution for soil reclamation and plant disease management.

Specification

Description:FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to the development of a pellet-based formulation using botanical extracts, biochar, surfactants, and other components for the management of soil-borne diseases in plants. More specifically, it pertains to pellets containing Cleome viscosa extracts that not only manage seed and soil-borne pathogens but also enhance soil health and fertility through natural, eco-friendly means. The invention offers a sustainable and environmentally responsible alternative to chemical management of plant diseases, promoting soil reclamation and disease control.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Chemical control methods for soil-borne diseases in agriculture, while initially effective, have led to significant soil degradation over time. Chemical pesticides cause an accumulation of toxins in the soil, disrupt the natural microbial flora, and result in resistance development in plant pathogens. As a result, farmers are facing diminishing returns from chemical soil management techniques, which have long-term environmental impacts and are unsustainable. In recent years, botanical extracts have gained attention for their role in managing plant diseases, particularly foliar diseases.
Extracts from plants such as Cleome viscosa are known for their antimicrobial, antifungal, and antioxidant properties. However, the majority of these extracts have been utilized for above-ground plant diseases, with limited research or application in soil-borne pathogens. The existing formulations either lack consistency or are ineffective in controlling diseases that reside in the soil, leaving a significant gap in sustainable agricultural disease management.
Soil-borne diseases such as Fusarium, Rhizoctonia, and Pythium continue to pose a major threat to crops worldwide, contributing to reduced yields and poor plant health. The use of chemical fungicides to manage these diseases is not only costly but has also proven detrimental to long-term soil fertility and microbial diversity. Thus, there is a need for an effective, natural alternative that can provide reliable control of these soil-borne pathogens. This invention seeks to address the problems associated with chemical soil treatments by offering a pellet-based solution that incorporates botanical extracts and organic materials, which simultaneously combat soil-borne pathogens while promoting soil reclamation.
The invention fills a significant gap in the agricultural industry by providing a natural, eco-friendly alternative to chemical fungicides. By integrating natural plant extracts with biochar and a surfactant, the invention allows for the formulation of pellets that release their bioactive components slowly, improving their efficacy in managing soil-borne diseases and rejuvenating the soil ecosystem.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts, in a simplified format, that are further described in the detailed description of the invention.
This summary is neither intended to identify key or essential inventive concepts of the invention and nor is it intended for determining the scope of the invention.
To further clarify advantages and features of the present invention, a more particular description of the invention will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof, which is illustrated in the appended drawings. It is appreciated that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope. The invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail with the accompanying drawings.
The invention relates to a pellet-based formulation that incorporates Cleome viscosa extracts, biochar, APSA 80 (as a surfactant), and rice bran (as an adhesive), aimed at managing soil-borne diseases and enhancing soil health. The formulation utilizes the antimicrobial properties of Cleome viscosa, combined with biochar to improve soil structure and microbial activity. APSA 80 acts as a bio-solvent that enhances the bioavailability of the active compounds, while rice bran ensures the stability of the pellets. The pellets are designed to provide a slow release of bioactive compounds into the soil, ensuring prolonged protection against soil-borne pathogens such as Fusarium, Rhizoctonia, and Pythium.
The formulation process involves extracting bioactive compounds from Cleome viscosa, combining them with biochar and rice bran, and pressing the mixture into pellets. These pellets are then dried to achieve a stable moisture content and tested for efficacy against soil-borne diseases. Field trials show that the pellets not only reduce the incidence of disease but also improve soil fertility by promoting beneficial microbial activity. The invention is scalable, offering potential applications in both small-scale farms and large commercial agricultural setups. It can be marketed as a sustainable alternative to chemical fungicides, with additional benefits for soil health and crop productivity.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The detailed description of various exemplary embodiments of the disclosure is described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the embodiments are described herein in such details as to clearly communicate the disclosure. However, the amount of details provided herein is not intended to limit the anticipated variations of embodiments; on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
It is also to be understood that various arrangements may be devised that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and embodiments of the present disclosure, as well as specific examples, are intended to encompass equivalents thereof.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms "a"," "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms "comprises," "comprising," "includes" and/or "including," when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and/or groups thereof.
It should also be noted that in some alternative implementations, the functions/acts noted may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two figures shown in succession may, in fact, be executed concurrently or may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality/acts involved.
In addition, the descriptions of "first", "second", "third", and the like in the present invention are used for the purpose of description only, and are not to be construed as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of technical features indicated. Thus, features defining "first" and "second" may include at least one of the features, either explicitly or implicitly.
Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which example embodiments belong. It will be further understood that terms, e.g., those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.
The present invention provides a step-by-step method for developing a pellet-based formulation to manage soil-borne diseases. The formulation contains Cleome viscosa extract, biochar, APSA 80 as a surfactant, and rice bran as an adhesive. Cleome viscosa is known for its antimicrobial properties, and the bioactive compounds extracted from the plant are used as the primary disease-controlling agents in the formulation. Biochar, produced from agricultural residues, is incorporated at 1-5% by weight, acting as a soil amendment that enhances microbial activity and improves soil structure. APSA 80 is added at 1-5% to increase the bioavailability of the active compounds and improve their spreadability in the soil. Rice bran is included at 5-10% as an adhesive that binds the components together into stable pellets.
The formulation process begins with the extraction of Cleome viscosa bioactive compounds using ethanol in a Soxhlet apparatus. The resulting extract is then mixed with biochar, APSA 80, and rice bran to form a homogeneous mixture. This mixture is pressed into pellets using a manual pellet press, with each pellet measuring 5-10 mm in diameter. Once formed, the pellets are dried at a low temperature (30-50°C) to reduce the moisture content to a maximum of 12%, ensuring stability during storage. The dried pellets are then sieved to ensure uniform size and subjected to quality control tests to verify their stability and bioactivity.
The pellets are designed for easy application in the field and offer a sustained release of active compounds that protect crops from soil-borne diseases. In trials, the pellets demonstrated high efficacy against pathogens such as Fusarium and Pythium, with treated soils showing significant improvement in both plant health and disease resistance. The invention provides a scalable and eco-friendly solution for managing soil-borne diseases while enhancing soil fertility through the use of natural, sustainable materials.
, Claims:1. A pellet-based formulation for managing soil-borne diseases comprising Cleome viscosa extract, biochar, APSA 80 as a surfactant, and rice bran as an adhesive, wherein the pellets provide slow release of bioactive compounds into the soil.
2. The formulation, as claimed in Claim 1, wherein biochar is included at 1-5% by weight to improve soil microbial activity and structure.
3. The formulation, as claimed in Claim 1, wherein APSA 80 is included at 1-5% to enhance the bioavailability of the active compounds.
4. The method of preparing the formulation, as claimed in Claim 1, comprising the steps of extracting bioactive compounds from Cleome viscosa, mixing with biochar, APSA 80, and rice bran, and pressing the mixture into pellets.
5. The method, as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the pellets are dried at a temperature of 30-50°C to achieve a stable moisture content.
6. A process for controlling soil-borne pathogens such as Fusarium and Pythium by applying the pellets, as claimed in Claim 1 to affected soil.
7. The pellets, as claimed in Claim 1, wherein rice bran is used at 5-10% by weight as an adhesive.
8. The formulation, as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the pellets are sieved to ensure uniform size and stability for storage.

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