Patent ID: 6407038
Filing Date: 2002-06-18
Classification: A01N,C05D,C05F,Y02A

Abstract:
A method for controlling plant-parasitic nematodes, comprising applying an effective amount of an alkaline-stabilized wastewater sludge to at least one of a plant host, a seed of a plant host, or a locus of a plant host, wherein said alkaline-stabilized wastewater sludge comprises a granular product made by mixing a quantity of wastewater sludge with a quantity of an alkaline material and drying the mixture for a period of time, wherein the quantity of alkaline material is sufficient to raise a pH level of the mixture to at least 12 for a period of at least 24 hours, and wherein the quantity of alkaline material and said drying are sufficient to reduce offensive odors associated with waste sludge to a tolerable level, to reduce animal viruses in the mixture to less than one plaque-forming unit per 100 ml, to reduce pathogenic bacteria in the mixture to less than three colony-forming units per 100 ml, and to reduce parasites in the mixture to less than one viable egg per 100 ml.