METHOD FOR ADDITION OF BENEFICIAL AGRICULTURAL, BIOLOGICAL, AND/OR DEDUSTING ADDITIVES TO GRANULAR FERTILIZERS

A method for conditioning fertilizer granules for improved dust control, agricultural benefits, or both, the method comprising:providing a plurality of fertilizer granules into a conditioning vessel, the fertilizer granules having a surface temperature of 10°C (50°F) to 121.111°C (250°F);introducing an aqueous conditioning agent comprising water to an outer surface of the plurality of fertilizer granules in the conditioning vessel in an amount of 0.1 wt% to 10 wt% of the total weight of the fertilizer granules, the aqueous conditioning agent being in the form of liquid, steam, or superheated steam;subjecting the plurality of fertilizer granules with the aqueous conditioning agent thereon to a mechanical energy exposure in the form of tumbling or mixing the plurality of fertilizer granules in the conditioning vessel to condition the outer surface of the fertilizer granules; anddrying the plurality of fertilizer granules to remove moisture added from the aqueous conditioning agent until a final moisture content of the fertilizer granules is between 0 wt% to 6.5 wt% of the granules.