AU643600B2 - Soil substitute - Google Patents

Description

Our Ref: 423615 fiJ4 6 0 P/00/011 Regulation 3:2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT

S.

Applicant(s): Addrcss for Service: Kenneth William Hope 334 The Northern Road ORCHARD HILLS NSW 2748

AUSTRALIA

DAVIES COLLISON CAVE Patent Trade Mark Attorneys Level 10, 10 Barrack Street SYDNEY NSW 2000 Invention Title: Soil substitute is a full description of this invention, including the ig it known to me:- The following statement best method of performin 5020 1 SOIL SUBSTITUTE The present invention concerns a soil substitute which can be used as a top dressing, potting mix, or for gardens and golf courses where good quality soil is needed.

It is increasingly difficult to obtain soil for use in gardening, particularly near cities. Various substitutes for soil have been tried, such as using sawdust, or using soil extenders such as by extending soil with peat, sand and different types of compost, but these all have difficulties and disadvantages.

It would therefore be useful to provide a soil substitute containing components which are readily available, and in which plants and other vegetation will readily grow.

S•It has now been discovered that a soil substitute S" comprising a mixture of coal fines as well as sand or another growth matrix for example, is extremely suitable for this purpose and provides an unexpectedly healthy growth in plants with which it is used.

"A further advantage of this invention arises from the S fact that coal fines are a waste product, and have few uses. At present, coal fines are generally stockpiled, and Sare difficult to dispose of. In addition it is surprising that coal fines can be used to provide a soil substitute as it is generally believed that fines do not promote healthy plant growth. In fact, stockpiles of coal fines are generally bare, without covering and vegetation and plants tend to colonise this material slowly, if at all.

In a broad form the present invention comprises a soil substitute, which substantially comprises a mixture of sand and coal fines.

Preferably, the coal fines constitute from about 5 to by weight of the mixture. More preferably, the coal fines constitute from 25 to 55% by weight of the mixture.

0331e/VMJ 2 As well, if desired, additional ingredients can be incorporated in the mixture. These additional ingredients can be selected from any one or more of different types of fertilizer, manure, compost, sawdust, finely divided wood chips, peatmoss, and. other such substances that promote or allow plant growth, or provide a matrix for growth.

As a further alternative in the invention, a portion of soil can be included in the mixture. Clay,-based soils which generally are not good soils in which to grow plants, can be incorporated in the mixture in place of, or preferably in addition to, the sand. It is also possible to add a portion of low quality soil to the soil substitute of the invention as this improves the quality of the soil oooeo mixture significantly.

S"Coal fines are the waste products obtained from coal mining and processing. Generally the fines are a black granular substance. The fines, when mixed with river sands, for example, colour the resulting soil substitute a rich, dark loam colour, which is desirable in products which are S sold as soil substitutes.

The coal fines are a byproduct of coal mining, and comes from deep below ground, and therefore do not contain seeds or other undesirable plant matter which can later propagat in the soil substitute. As the coal fines are ideally mixed with river sand, which also do not contain unwanted plant matter, the soil substi ute mixture of the present invention that is produced will not contain grass or weed seeds or other matter which can later grow. This is not the case with existing soil and soil substitutes, which generally must be sterilized using gases poisonous to plants, or steam, or in other ways. The present invention thus avoids the need for sterilization to kill off undesirable weeds and plants, and therefore is a more economic product than other prior known products.

0331e/VMJ 3 It is preferred to mix the coal fines with a river sand. The two products are combined and screened to blend them together, and if desired the other components such as fertiliser, superphosphate, or fowl manure, can be added.

To produce a soil substitute for top dressing, an ideal mixture comprises half coal fines and half sand, by weight. If a high performance top dressing soil is desired, for speedy growth of grass, such as on golf courses, then about 5% fowl manure can be added. In place of fowl manure, a fertiliser, particularly a nitrogen-based fertiliser, can be used, and a suitable such fertiliser is "Nitropril".

A suitable mixture as a soil for underlaying turf, and for seeding lawns, is a mixture containing 30% coal fines and 70% sand. Various types of potting mixes can also be produced with varying additives and ratios of the sand to coal fines according to the intended use.

It has also been found that plants grown in the coal fines/sand mixture of the invention grow unexpectedly well. It was previously believed by nurserymen that coal fines would inhibit plant growth because of the poor growth of weeds and plants on stockpiles of coal wastes, but it now seems that by mixing the coal fines with other soil substances, like sand or clay, the results are unexpectedly good. A comparison of plant growth using the mixture of the invention, and other traditional top dressings, indicates the mixture of the invention works better than previously known soil dressings.

By "soil substitute" is meant a material which functions in the same manner as soil, particularly for growing plants, and also for use as a top dressing material, or even as a soil conditioner or additive.

The invention is now described with reference to various examples.

Example 1 A top dressing mixture was produced comprising 50% coal fines and river sand. These components were screened, and blended together producing a dark coloured soil substitute with the appearance of rich loam. This top o* D#8\423615.0331\vmj -4dressing was tried on a variety of grasses, and the grass so treated thrived.

A comparison was made using the top dressing of the invention to grass treated with conventional top dressing, and it was noted that the grass treated with the top dressing of the invention had a better appearance after the same time period. It therefore seems that the soil substitute of the invention is unexpectedly effective in promoting the growth of vegetation.

Example 2 A soil to underlay turf was produced by mixing sand with 30% coal fines. This was spread on the ground and pre-grown turf was placed on top. The turf grew vigorously.

Example 3 o A soil mixture containing a growth promoter was Sprepared for use as a top dressing for extra fast growth for all types of grasses by firstly mixing half coal fines and half sand. To this mixture, was added about 5% by weight per tonne of fowl manure. When used to top dress grass, S very healthy growth of the grass was observed.

In a similar manner, a soil mixture was prepared using "Nitropril", nitrogen-based fertiliser in place of the fowl manure. This was also observed to be very effective on grass as a top dressing.

Example 4 An organic soil substitute was prepared for use on domestic gardens. A mixture of coal waste, sand, sawdust, fowl manure, mushroom compost, nitrogen-based fertilizer, and superphosphate, were mixed together with a heavy grade clay-based soil. The resulting mixture was tried on domestic plants and on vegetable gardens with excellent results. The mixture had a dark colour and the appearance of a heavy loam, which is ideal and popular with gardeners.

0331e/VMJ Example A potting mixture was prepared by mixing coal fines, sand, pot ash, and peat moss. Seedlings and well established plants were grown in pots in this mixture and excellent growth was seen. The potting mixture had excellent drainage and was ideal for this use, as well as having a good appearance and a dark colour, likely to lead to good consumer acceptance.

Example 6 A soil substitute mixture was prepared for use for seeding lawns. The mixture comprised 70% sand and 30% coal fines. Grass seeds spread in this mixture grew vigorously, and turf could be produced from lawns grown in this manner.

Example 7 S.The product of the present invention, comprising sand and 30% coal fines, was spread on a grassed area in summer. The weather during the period in which this trial was conducted was hot and dry, but the grass was watered regularly. The grass that was top dressed was in poor Shealth, and in need of top dressing. After the product was applied, the areas of grass that were covered grew quickly.

The colour of the grass changed to a lush green, instead of the yellow colour of the dried grass in the areas not treated. At the conclusion of the trial, the grass was healthy and approximately 3 or 4 cms longer than grass that had not been top dressed. The product of the invention is therefore found to be unexpectedly useful as a top dressing, and for promoting plant growth.

Other variations from those described above are possible without departing from the scope or intent of the present invention.

0331e/VMJ

Claims (6)

1. A soil substitute for use, comprising a mixture comprising: from 5% to 70% by weight of coal fines, and sand, and optionally a minor amount of any one or more of: fertilizer, manure, compost, sawdust, finely divided wood chips, peatmoss, or soil.

2. The soil substitute of claim 1 wherein the coal fines constitute from 25% to by weight of the mixture.

3. The soil substitute of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the sand is river sand.

4. The soil substitute of any one of the preceding claims which additionally include a minor amount of any one or more of: fertilizer, manure, compost, sawdust, finely divided wood chips or peatmoss.

The soil substitute of any one of the preceding claims which additionally includes a minor amount of soil. o*

6. A soil substitute substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the Examples thereof. DATED this 9th day of September, 1993. KENNENIH W HOPE S. By his Patent Attorneys DAVIES COILISON CAVE *r D#8\423615.0331\vmj ABSTRACT A soil substitute comprising a mixture of sand and coal fines, and optionally minor amounts of additional ingredients such as fertilizer, manure, compost, sawdust, peatmoss, wood chips, soil, or clay, for example. Preferably the coal fines constitute 5 to 70% by weight of the mixture, most preferably 25 to 55%. The soil substitute can be used as top dressing, potting mix, or for gardens and golf courses. 0SSa *o S. S 0S S S *55S *oo 0331e/VMJ