MXPA97007833A - Composition for the nutritive layer of cesped depa - Google Patents

Abstract

A composition for a nutritive layer for grass turf is described, which comprises, in volume percentage, from 40 to 80% volcanic gravel and from 0.8 to 60% composed of green vegetables. The composition also preferably contains up to 15% by volume of pumice in the form of granules, and 2 * 10-3% - 3 * 10-35 in volume of bone meal. A method for the construction or processing of grass turf using the composition described above is also described

Description

COMPOSITION FOR THE NUTRITIOUS LAYER DB LAWN GRASS DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In its most general aspect the present invention relates to the production of grass lawns for surfaces suitable for sports activities such as golf, football, rugby, horse riding, horse racing, polo, etc. or public parks or gardens or covered areas for parking of motor vehicles. In particular, the invention relates to a composition of solid materials for the production of the surface layer of pastures such as those discussed above, in which layer the grass plants are sown and rooting and which is commonly referred to as the "layer". nutritive'7 or "substrate." For ease, explanation will be referred to hereinbelow to the production of a nutritive layer for appropriate grounds for playing golf, but what is illustrated in this respect is generally relevant for any type of ground with a grass lawn REF: 25905 It is known that the land for golf courses comprises a layer of deep drainage in general constituted by pebbles, gravel, broken bricks and coarse sand, within which a system of Perforated tubes for the purpose of collecting and transporting excess water On the drainage layer there is a nourishing layer that has a thickness of approx. imadamente 20 to 40 cm, constituted mainly by a mixture of peat and sand. Pasture plants are sown and allowed to take root in the aforementioned nutrient layer through the appropriate application of fertilizers to the surface of this nutritive layer, and the knee and irrigation operations (see for example Mario Vietti "II prato ornaméntale", De Agostini , L991). It is likewise known that the quality of the turf on today's golf courses tends to deteriorate inexorably only in a few years, mainly as long as the resistance of the plants to trampling and uprooting is compromised. The causes of this deterioration in quality have to be found in the progressive compaction of the nutritive layer, which prevents the plants from rooting deeply and consequently anchoring themselves firmly to the floor. In turn, the compaction of the nutritive layer it is due to the different specific gravity of the two fundamental components of which it is constituted, which is peat and sand. The latter, being heavier, tends to sediment and form a heavily compacted, deep layer, which prevents deep penetration of the roots of grass plants and also prevents the penetration of nutrients introduced into the floor by the application of fertilizer to the surface. The heavy compaction of the nutrient layer also obstructs the drainage of the land. Consequently, the roots of the grass plants tend to always be oriented in a direction parallel to the surface of the floor, either because they can not succeed in penetrating the lower compacted layers, and also because they find the nutrients only in the soil. layer closest to the surface. Consequently, the horizontal development of the roots of the plants creates, immediately below the surface of the floor, a layer consisting almost exclusively of closely woven roots, which contributes to the additional compaction of the nutritive layer and over time causes strangulation of the roots. plants. In addition, due to poor root depth development, plants offer very little resistance to mechanical stresses such as trampling or abrasion, and tend to be more easily torn off. In order to treat and reduce the strangulation of the plants and to reactivate, at least in part, the drainage, it is usual to drill the step with operations known as "vertical cutting" ("verticut") using appropriate machinery, in a way such as to create pores that allow the development of the roots and that facilitate the drainage. These techniques, while they are costly from the point of view of manual labor used, they constitute only a partial and temporary remedy to the aforementioned problem of soil compaction and plant strangulation. The problem on which the present invention is based, is that of making available a composition for the nutritive layer of grass turf, which avoids the disadvantages stated above with reference to the prior art.

This problem is solved, according to the invention, by a composition comprising a volume percentage of 40-80% of volcanic gravel and 0.8-60% of green vegetable compost. The percentage of green vegetable compost for most applications is preferably in the range of 20 to 60%. Preferably, the composition according to the invention also includes up to 15% by volume of pumice in the form of granules. Preferably, the composition of the invention includes from 2 × 10"3% to 3 × 10 ~ 3% by volume of bone meal.A particularly preferred composition for purposes of the present invention is described below, in percentages by volume: Volcanic Gravel 40-50 Compost of green vegetables 20 - 35 Pumice sand 10 - 15 Granular pumice 8 - 12 Swampy soil 0 - 10 Manure 8 - 12 Bone flour 0.002 - 0.003 Chemical fertilizer 0.000-2"- 0.001 The present invention also relates to a method for production of grass turf comprising the steps of: - provision, in a conventional manner, of a drainage layer having appropriate drainage devices - the placement of a nutritive layer • on the drainage layer, and proceeding with conventional sowing, kneeing and the like operations, wherein the nutritive layer is constituted by the composition described hereinabove. The aforementioned volcanic gravel, which is constituted by volcanic materials of intrusive and / or effusive origin, is highly mineralized, chemically inert, permeable and has a high thermal inertia. The grain size of the volcanic gravel is more than 1 mm, and preferably 1 to 4 mm. An example of the commercially available volcanic gravel, usable for purposes of the present invention, is constituted by the product VULCASOIL of the company Europomice S.R.L. of Turin. Another example is constituted by lapilli or lava. The volcanic sand used in the composition of the present invention is of the same nature as the volcanic gravel, but has a grain size of up to 1 mm. The compost of green vegetables included in the composition according to the invention, also referred to only as "compost", is a product obtained primarily by the anaerobic and then aerobic decomposition of fresh crumbled vegetable desiccation. The decomposition process takes 40 to 60 days, after which the decomposed mass is aerated, sieved on rotating screens, washed and stored in piles. The manner of preparation of green vegetable compost is defined in a US instruction. Appropriate C (N.91 / 156). The compost preferably contains from 6 to 12% nitrogen, from 10 to 15% organic substance and from 2? at 37% crude fiber. The sand of stone. Pumice preferably has a grain size of 0.5 to 1.5 mm, while pumice granules have an average diameter of 5 to 14 mm. The muddy soil included in the composition according to the invention is constituted by soil of sedimentary origin, which contains at least 30% silt or silt. This is obtained in general from the deltas of the rivers and is sifted to remove stones with a diameter greater than 0.5 mm. The manure used for purposes of the present invention is preferably constituted by manure from cattle or horse stalls matured for at least 6 months; This manure should preferably come from stables in which one or more of the following materials is used as a bed or bed; cereal straw, chopped wood, pine bark or sawdust. In addition, it is preferable in any case to use sterilized manure to ensure the absence of unwanted weed seeds. Bone meal is obtained by grinding animal bone and horny substances such as horn and hooves. Preferably, a bone meal having an organic content of 32 to 44% and a nitrogen content equal to 12-44% is used. . The chemical fertilizer is preferably manufactured from products rich in phosphorus, such as, for example, the product commercially available under the name AGB.OSXL to facilitate "a root-and-branch development of the root system of grass plants, and products rich in organic nitrogen that have a prolonged action such as, For example, commercial fertilizers under the name NITRO ?? OSK? GOU ^ *, to ensure an adequate nitrogen reserve for the plants The composition according to the invention allows all the aforementioned disadvantages described with reference to the technique to be overcome. In particular, the substitution of the components traditionally used to form the nutritive layer for grass turf, which is sand and peat, with volcanic gravel and compost of green vegetables, avoids the compaction of the land, which takes place due to the sedimentation of the sand In fact, the volcanic sand and the compost have specific gravities very close to each other, as for not prov ocar any sedimentation phenomenon. As a result, the soil remains soft and permeable and the roots of the grass plants are free to penetrate deep inside. Drainage is maintained at optimum levels over time, which allows nutrients introduced as top fillings to diffuse evenly and permeate or leach even within the deeper layers. In this way, the roots of the plants are promoted to develop deeply for the purpose of having access to the nutritious substances. The nutritive layer prepared with the composition according to the invention confers significant elasticity to the turf and high resistance to the loads, and prevents it from becoming marshy. This becomes an increased safety for sports users and a reduction in the occurrence of trauma and injury from accidental damage in the performance of athletic or riding activities because users are protected from excessive stresses that arise on the ground excessively hard and dry or excessively wet and flexible. The pumice, in the form of sand or granules, has a high degree of permeability but at the same time gives the composition according to the invention a significant capacity to retain moisture and to release it progressively depending on the requirements of the plants. In addition, this has no tendency to join with other components of the terrain and this avoids compaction phenomena even under high loads. All this contributes to the provision, in the nutritive layer constituted by the composition according to the invention, of an aerated structure which remains constant over time and significantly facilitates the possible drilling and "verticut" operations. Finally, pumice, thanks to its low specific gravity, has no tendency to settle within the nutritive layer. The bone meal, which is preferably contained in the composition according to the invention, serves to constitute a pool of slowly released nutrients, which guarantees the balanced development and maintenance of the grass and which, given its uniform distribution within the nutritive layer, accentuates the tendency for the deep rooting of the grass plants. An additional nutritional supply comes from other components that can be advantageously included in the composition, constituted by appropriate manure and chemical fertilizers. The composition according to the invention can be prepared by uniformly mixing the various components with apparatuses of the conventional type, and can then be stored in silos as such, or packed in plastic bags before being sent to the site where it is going to to be used, that is, to the land on which a nutritious layer will be formed for a meadow or grass lawn. Alternatively, the composition can be prepared on site by mixing the various components with the apparatus suitable for use in the field. The composition according to the invention and the method for the production of a nutritive layer for meadows using it, will be described with reference to various examples provided hereinafter for purposes of illustration and not limitation.

Example 1 Two parcels of land of 10 2 that are part of a golf course, were completely removed from the nutritive layer, in such a way as to expose the underlying drainage layer. These portions or parcels were then covered with the nutritive layer in a conventional manner, by placing on the drainage layer a mixture of equal parts by volume of non-fibrous black peat of the "Russian" type and sand having a thickness of 30. cm.

This was then sown with a mixture of seeds consisting of Fes t uca arundinacea, Agropyron repens, Fes tuca ovina, Agrastis and Loli um pere ni al in equal proportions and in a total amount of 100 g. Having completed the planting, the seeds were covered with 5 mm of the aforementioned mixture of peat and sand, and irrigation and fertilization took place with a fertilizer 8-24-24. In parallel, the second plot was covered with a nutritive layer by placing on the drainage layer, a mixture according to the invention constituted by 60% of volcanic gravel (VULCASOIL) and 40% of the compost of green vegetables that has a nitrogen content of 9% and a content of organic substance of 13%, at a thickness of 3Q cm. The plot was then sown with the same mixture of seeds * used for the first plot in the same proportions and in equal quantities. Having completed the sowing, the seeds were covered with the composition according to the invention defined above, at a thickness of 5 mm, and the irrigation and fertilization took place with the same fertilizer 8-24-24 used for the first plot.

After about 20 days, the grass plants began to develop in both plots; the development was controlled and facilitated by periodic irrigation and fertilization according to the usual agronomic practices, taking care to perform the same treatments on both plots at the same time. After three months specimens of the nutritive layer of both plots were taken over the whole thickness, by drilling and then the development of the roots within them was evaluated. From the macroscopic observation of the core or core samples it was established that the development of the roots in the nutritive layer made with the composition of the invention had proceeded predominantly in a vertical sense, while the roots present in the The conventional nutritive layer showed a clear tendency to develop in the horizontal direction. In addition, the consistency of the nutritive layer according to the invention was detected as uniform throughout its depth, while the deeper portions of the conventional nutritive layer were compacted.

The permeability of the nutritive layers was likewise evaluated using the following methods. On the bottom of a water-tight container having a surface of 1 square meter, provided with 45 cm high sides, a sponge rubber sheet of the same surface area and a thickness of 10 cm was placed. On this sponge rubber sheet a nutritive layer taken from the first plot was deposited, at a thickness of 30 cm. On an identical water-tight container that had an identical sheet of sponge rubber on its bottom, a nourishing layer taken from the second plot was deposited, at a thickness of 30 cm. The surfaces of the nutritive layers of the two containers were uniformly irrigated with 36 liters of water, that is to say, an amount of water corresponding to 36 mm of rain (that of a violent storm) and each container was then covered with a sheet of material plastic to prevent evaporation of water. After 3 hours the surface of the nutritive layer according to the invention, ie that of the second container, was simply moistened in the first 10 cm of the layer.

The nutrient layer was completely removed from the container and the sponge rubber removed and squeezed between two steel rollers of the type used to squeeze the fabrics to wash motor vehicles, to measure the amount of water that the sponge had absorbed. This amount was equal to 22.80 liters. The water had therefore wet through 1.6 mm per minute for a transient amount per square meter equal to 0.126 liters per minute and 13.2 liters of water remained in the nutrient layer. These values are indicators of an optimum permeability of the layer, which guarantees a good drainage without causing a leaching effect of the land and the consequent impoverishment of the soluble nutritive substances of the same. The nutrient layer of the first container had, after three hours, 6 cm of stagnant water under the floor surface. The squeezing of the sponge rubber after removal of the nutritive layer from the container, resulted in 18.40 liters of water. This indicates that some 17.6 liters of water had been retained in the nutritive layer and is testimony to an insufficient permeability of the conventional nutritive layer.

Example 2 The surface layers of a football field were completely removed in such a way as to reveal the underlying drainage layer. A new nutrient layer having a thickness of 30 cm and constituted by the following composition according to the invention was deposited on the latter in parts by volume: Volcanic gravel 40 Green vegetable compost 29 Pumice stone sand 13 Granular pumice stone 9 Manure 8.9965 Bone meal 0.003 Chemical fertilizers 0.0005 Seeding, irrigation and similar treatments were then undertaken in a conventional manner similar to those described in the previous example. After three months, specimens of the nutrient layer were taken through the full thickness by core samples and the development of the roots within it was evaluated. From the macroscopic observation of the nuclear sample it was established that the roots of the plants had been developed in such a way as to reach even the deepest level of the nutritive layer. In addition, the consistency of the nutritive layer was found to be extremely uniform throughout its depth. The permeability of the nutritive layer was measured three months after sowing with the same method illustrated in the previous example, obtaining the following results: the amount of water retained by the foam rubber was equal to 25.2 liters. The water was therefore percolated at 1.6 mm per minute for a transient amount per square meter equal to 0.14 liters per minute, and 10.80 liters of water remained in the nutrient layer.

Example 3 The surface layers of a riding field were completely removed in such a way as to expose the underlying drainage layer. In the latter, a new nutrient layer having a thickness of 30 cm was deposited and constituted by the following composition according to the invention, in parts by volume: Volcanic gravel 43,997 Green vegetable compost 20 Pumice stone sand 10 Granular pumice stone 8 Silt soil 10 Manure 8 Bone meal 0.002 Chemical fertilizer 0.001 Then the conventional sowing, irrigation and similar treatments were carried out in a manner similar to that described in the preceding examples. After three months, specimens were removed from the full thickness nutrient layer by drilling and the development of the roots within them was evaluated. From the macroscopic observation of the nuclear sample taken, it was established that the roots of the plants had developed in such a way as to reach even the deepest levels of the nutritive layer. In addition, it was found that the consistency of the nutritive layer was extremely uniform throughout its depth.

The permeability of the nutritive layer was measured three months after sowing with the same method illustrated in Example 1, obtaining the following results: the amount of water retained by the sponge rubber was equal to 26.20 liters. The water had therefore flowed through at 1.66 mm per minute for a transient amount per square meter equal to 0.145 liters per minute and 9.8 liters of water remained in the nutrient layer.

Example 4 The surface layers of a green turf area suitable for a park were completely removed in such a way as to expose the underlying drainage layer. A thickness of 30 cm of a new nutrient layer constituted by the following composition according to the invention was deposited on it, in parts by volume: Volcanic gravel 50 Green vegetable compost 20 Pumice stone sand 10 • Granular pumice stone 10 Manure 8.9968 Bone meal 0.003 Chemical fertilizers 0.0002 Conventional sowing, irrigation and similar treatments were then performed in a manner similar to that described in the preceding examples. After three months, specimens were removed from the nutrient layer through the full thickness by drilling and the development of the roots within it was evaluated. From the macroscopic observation of the core sample taken, it was established that the roots of the plants had been developed in such a way as to reach even the deepest levels of the nutritive layer. In addition, it was found that the consistency of the nutritive layer was extremely uniform throughout its depth. The permeability of the nutritive layer was measured three months after sowing, using the same method illustrated in Example 1, obtaining the following results: the amount of water retained by the sponge rubber was equal to 24 liters. The water had therefore flowed at 1.6 mm per minute to give a transient amount per square meter equal to 0.133 liters per minute and 12.00 liters of water remained in the nutrient layer.

Example 5 The surface layers of a football field were completely removed in such a way as to reveal the underlying drainage layer. A new nutrient layer having a thickness of 30 cm was deposited on the latter and constituted by the following composition according to the invention, in parts by volume: Volcanic gravel 80 Volcanic sand 4.196 Green vegetable compost 0.8 Granular pumice 15 Flour of bone 0.003 Chemical Fertilizers 0.001 The treatments of sowing, irrigation and the like were then undertaken in a conventional manner, similar to that described in the preceding examples. After three months, specimens of the nutrient layer were taken through the full thickness by core samples and the development of the roots within them was evaluated. From the macroscopic observation of the core sample it was established that the root of the plants had developed in such a way as to reach even the deepest level of the nutritive layer. In addition, it was found that the consistency of the nutritive layer was extremely uniform throughout its depth. The permeability of the nutritive layer was measured after three months of sowing with the same method illustrated in Example 1, obtaining the following results: the amount of water retained by the foam rubber was equal to 28.5 liters. The water had therefore percolated to 2.6 mm per minute for a transient amount per square meter equal to 0.237 liters per minute, and 7.50 liters of water remained in the nutrient layer. The particular composition used in this example is specially adapted for football fields or riding fields which, due to the extremely frequent use to which they are subjected, require a large number of irrigation operations and very frequent administrations of liquid or microgranulated fertilizers. The nutritive layer of such fields must therefore show a high proportion of drainage, in order to maintain a low residual moisture within it and to avoid any risks of putrefaction.

The specific composition of the present example is also particularly suitable for sports activities in regions characterized by a large amount of annual rainfall.

It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known to the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention, is that which is clear from the present description of the invention.

Having described the invention as above, property is claimed as contained in the following:

Claims (6)

1. A composition for a nutritive layer of a grass turf, characterized in that it comprises, in volume percentage, from 30 to 80% of volcanic gravel and from 0.8 to 60% of green vegetable compost.

2. A composition according to claim 1, characterized in that the green vegetable compost is in the range of 20 to 60%.

3. A composition according to claim 1, characterized in that it also includes up to 15% by volume of pumice granules.

4. A composition according to claim 3, characterized in that it also includes 2 x 10"3% up to 3 x 10" 3% by volume of bone meal.

5. A composition according to any of claims 2 and 4, characterized in that it comprises, in percentages by volume: Volcanic gravel 40-50 Green vegetable compost 20-35 Pumice stone sand 10 - 15 Granular pumice 8 - 12 Swampy soil 0 - 10 Manure 8 - 12 Bone meal 0.002 - 0.003 Chemical fertilizers 0.0002 - 0.001

6. A method for preparing meadows, characterized in that it comprises the steps of: - providing a drainage layer having appropriate drainage devices, in a conventional manner, - depositing a nutritive layer on the drainage layer and performing of conventional seeding, kneeing and the like operations, wherein the nutritive layer is constituted by a composition according to any of the preceding claims.