C05B - Definition

Definition statement

This subclass covers:

Materials affecting the growth of plants solely by supplying nutrients ordinarily required for growth or materials which are used to prevent or cure mineral deficiencies in plants as listed below

Superphosphates, i.e. fertilisers produced by reacting rock or bone phosphates with sulfuric or phosphoric acid in such amounts and concentrations as to yield solid products directly; apparatus for the manufacture thereof

Fertilisers based essentially on di-calcium phosphate

Thomas phosphate; Other slag phosphates

Fertilisers based essentially on alkali or ammonium orthophosphates

Fertilisers based essentially on phosphates or double phosphates of magnesium

Fertilisers produced by wet-treating or leaching raw materials either with acids in such amounts and concentrations as to yield solutions followed by neutralisation, or with alkaline lyes; pretreatment thereof

Fertilisers produced by pyrogenic processes from phosphatic materials

Organic phosphatic fertilisers, e.g., containing phosphoric triamide compounds

Other phosphatic fertilisers, e.g. soft rock phosphates, bone meal

Granulation or pelletisation of phosphatic fertilisers other than slag

Mixtures of phosphatic fertilisers covered by more than one of main groups C05B 1/00-C05B 19/00

Preparation, treatment or modification of any of the materials above: e.g., by chemical means (e.g. addition of stabilisers, preservatives), physical means (e.g., irradiation, concentration, purification, separation) or combination of both chemical and physical means, with the proviso that the resultant product is proper for classification in this subclass

Methods of preparing phosphatic fertilisers in general

Relationship between large subject matter areas

In contrast with fertilisers (C05), plant growth regulators (A01N) are those materials which alter a plant through chemical modification of plant metabolism, for example auxins.

Soil-conditioning materials or soil-stabilising materials are classified in C09K 17/00 and covers mixtures of soil-conditioning materials or soil-stabilising materials with fertilisers where the composition in question is characterised by the soil-conditioning or soil-stabilising properties.

Mixtures of soil-conditioning materials or soil-stabilising materials with fertilisers where the composition in question is characterised by the fertilising activity are classified in C05G.

Whilst the subject matter of C05B deals with phosphatidic fertilisers per se, A01C 3/00 deals with methods of treating manure/methods of manuring per se and A01C 21/00 deals with methods of fertilising per se.

Any apparatus for preparing fertilisers may be classified in those areas of C05 that are specific for such apparatus – e.g., C05B 1/10 – apparatus for the manufacture of superphosphates. Otherwise, individual apparatus should be classified in the relevant area of the IPC, e.g., F26B 17/00

References relevant to classification in this subclass

This subclass does not cover:

NITROGENOUS FERTILISERS	C05C
INORGANIC FERTILISERS NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C05B, C05C; FERTILISERS PRODUCING CARBON DIOXIDE	C05D
ORGANIC FERTILISERS NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C05B, C05C, e.g. FERTILISERS FROM WASTE OR REFUSE	C05F

Informative references

Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:

Harrows with means for distributing fertilisers	A01B 25/00
Fertiliser distributors	A01C 15/00
Mowers combined with dispensing apparatus, e.g., for fertilisers	A01D 43/14
HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS, OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING	A01G
Root feeders; Injecting fertilisers into the roots	A01G 29/00
Processes or devices for granulating materials, in general	B01J 2/00
Phosphorus, inorganic compounds thereof	C01B 25/00
Granulating slag	C04B
(Organo)Phosphorus compounds	C07F 9/02
Soil-conditioning or soil-stabilising materials	C09K 17/00

Special rules of classification

Note(s)

1. An ingredient in a mixture of fertilisers, or a single fertiliser which contains more than one of the chemical elements on which the subdivision into subclasses is based, is classified only in the first of the appropriate subclasses. Thus, a nitrophosphate or an ammoniated superphosphate is classified in C05B but not in C05C, magnesium phosphate is classified in C05B but not in C05D, and calcium cyanamide in C05C but not in C05D.

2. Any ingredient in a mixture, which is considered to represent information of interest for search, may also additionally be classified according to Note (1). This can, for example, be the case when it is considered of interest to enable searching of mixtures using a combination of classification symbols. Such non-obligatory classification should be given as "additional information".

Glossary of terms

In this subclass, the following terms or expressions are used with the meaning indicated:

Fertiliser (fertiliser material)	Natural or artificial substance containing the chemical elements that improve growth and productiveness of plants.
Phosphatic fertiliser	A source of inorganic and/or organic phosphate. Common examples include single superphosphate - (CaH2PO4)16 - having a P2O5 content of circa 18%* and ammonium phosphate, having a P2O5 content of circa 20%*.
Thomas phosphate	A furnace slag produced in steel-making, containing large amounts of calcium phosphate.
Double superphosphate	CaH4(PO4)2 - having circa 32% P2O5 present*
Triple superphosphate	Ca(H2 PO4)2 having circa 46-48% P2O5 present*

Synonyms and Keywords

In patent documents the following terms "Agricultural chemical", "Plant food", "Amendment" and "Fertiliser" are often used as synonyms. Also, these terms can be used as keywords.

In patent documents the expression "enrichment" is often used with the meaning of "fertiliser".