GB735391A - Improvements in or relating to a method of improving soil structure - Google Patents

Abstract

Water-soluble polymers of a vinyl ester of a hydroxy acid of the general formula <FORM:0735391/IV (a)/1> where n is an integer from 1 to 5, m is an integer not greater than n, are made either by ester interchange of a vinyl ester polymer with a hydroxy carboxylic acid. e.g. polyvinyl acetate with glycollic acid, gluconic acid or lactic acid, or by polymerizing the hydroxy acid ester, e.g. vinyl lactate, vinyl glycollate, vinyl alpha-hydroxy butyrate or vinyl gluconate, alone, or in admixture with another olefinic monomer. Specified polymers are homopolymers of vinyl lactate, vinyl gluconate, vinyl leucinate, vinyl alpha-hydroxy butyrate, vinyl hydroxy valerate, vinyl saccharinate, vinyl glucosaccharinate and copolymers of vinyl chloride and vinyl lactate, and vinyl alcohol and vinyl glycollate. The polymers alone, or in admixture with water or a solid carrier such as peat moss, limestone, sand, clay, silage or other fertilizers containing basic nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and trace elements such as boron, manganese, magnesium, molybdenum, cobalt, or iron, are used as soil conditioning agents. The compositions may also include a herbicide.ALSO:Soils are conditioned by incorporating therein a water-soluble polymer of a vinyl ester of a hydroxy acid of the general formula CH2 = CHO.CO.CnH(2n+1-m).(OH)m where n is an integer from 1 to 5 and m is an integer not greater than n, or a composition comprising the polymer and a solid carrier, e.g. a fertilizer. The polymers may be incorporated in the soil by spading, discing or harrowing. Exemplified polymers are polyvinyl glycollate and polyvinyl lactate. The solid carrier may be peat moss, limestone, sand, clay, silage or other fertilizers containing basic nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and trace elements such as boron, manganese, magnesium, molybdenum, cobalt or iron. The fertilizer may also contain a herbicide.