Appeal No. 1999-1669
Application No. 08/816,756
DECISION ON APPEAL
This is a decision on appeal under 35 U.S.C. § 134 from the final rejection of claims
1 through 17, all of the claims in the application. Claims 1, 3, 8 and 12 are representative,
and read as follows:
1. A method of stimulating root growth of seedlings comprising the steps of :
positioning a plurality of uncovered seeds in a furrow on the surface of the soil of the
furrow;
applying directly to the uncovered seeds in the furrow and to the furrow immediately
adjacent the seeds in an unatomized form an effective amount of an aqueous ammoniacal
ionic solution of a metal alkanoates, said solution containing alkanoate ions having from 2
to 6 carbon atoms each; and
covering the seeds with soil.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the solution is an aqueous ammoniacal ionic
solution of zinc acetate.
8. A method of treating seeds prior to planting comprising the step of applying
directly to the seeds an effective amount of an aqueous ammoniacal ionic solution of a
metal alkanoates, said solution containing alkanoate ions having from 2 to 6 carbon atoms
each.
12. A method of treating seeds at planting to stimulate root growth of seedlings
germinating therefrom, the method employing a seed planting machine having a liquid
dispenser having a tank, a pump, a microtubing having first and second open ends and
specially adapted to be in fluid communication with said tank at least part of the time
during planting, the method comprising the steps of:
supplying an effective amount of an aqueous ammoniacal ionic solution of a metal
alkanoates to the tank, said solution containing alkanoate ions having from 2 to 6 carbon
atoms each;
pumping the solution from said tank to said microtubing and out said first end of
said microtubing;
depositing said seeds in a furrow;
applying said solution in an unatomized form directly to the seeds in the furrow; and
covering said seeds with soil.
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