US1864672A

US1864672A - Soil treatment

Info

Publication number: US1864672A
Application number: US367789A
Authority: US
Inventors: Harold J Rose; William H Hill
Original assignee: Koppers Co Inc
Current assignee: Beazer East Inc; Koppers Co of Delaware
Priority date: 1929-06-01
Filing date: 1929-06-01
Publication date: 1932-06-28
Anticipated expiration: 1949-06-28

Description

June 28, 1932. H ROSE ET AL 1,864,672

SOIL TREATMENT Filed June 1, 1929 Patented June 28, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE CORPORATION OF DELAWARE HAROLD J1 ROSE, OF PENN TOWNSHIP, ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA, AND

WILLIAM H. HILL, NEW YORK, N. Y.,

ASSIGNORS TO THE KOPPEBS COMPANY, A

-SOIL- TREATMENT Application filed June 1, 1929. Serial No. 367,789.

This invention relates to improvements in soil surface coverings and processes for applying the same, and more particularly to coatings applied to the ground for agricul- 3 tural purposes.

It is well known that the yield and quality of garden, field and orchard crops are great- 1y improved and the maturity thereof hastened by covering the ground around the m plants with mulches made from paper or other fibrous materials.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved covering means for the soil and a process of forming the same on the surface thereof.

In accordance with the present invention, various types of bituminous materials are spread over the surface of the ground, preferably in the form 'of a relatively thin layer,

in any desired position with respect to the crop grown.

Melted asphalts, chemically altered asphalts, as for instance oxidized asphalts, solutions of coal prepared in accordance with the process described in application fi erial No. 97,467, filed March 25, 1926, tars and pitches, either raw, prepared, or chemically altered, and natural bituminous products of all kinds may be used.

Water emulsions of the above bituminous materials may be used, in which case certain stabilizers, such as bentonite, clay, soap, etc., may be added.

Fibrous materials. if desired, may be added, preferably in finely divided form, to the above substances to increase their tensile strength. Alternatively fibrous materials may be spread on the surface of the ground and the bituminous materials applied thereto. For instance, pulp from old newspapers, sawdust or wood flour, flax, straw and hulls may be used. Fibrous mineral matter, such as rock wool or slag wool may also be used.

If desired, certain fillers may be added, such as clay, fine sand, rock dust. granulated slag, dry sifted soil, pulverized coal, coke dust, etc.

Coal solutions, referred to above, may be prepared by dissolving coal in oils such as coal 50 tar or water-gas tar and certain distillates ness. bituminous material is more easily app therefrom, or cracked petroleum oils. A coal solution may be readily prepared by heating a mixture of coal and oil to a temperature of from about 200 C. to about 400 C. with or without pressure.

Substantially all of the coal dissolves, forming homogeneous solutions which remain stable at temperatures below the point of rapid volatilization or even below the dissolvmg temperatures. The insoluble portions of the coal, namely, the mineral matter or ash and the mineral charcoal or fusain, may re- Ifpfiim in the solution and act as additional ers.

Coal solutions or other treated bituminous materials may be prepared so that at normal temperatures they may be of various degrees of toughness and hardness and are relatively little affected by weather conditions. They may be prepared so as to produce thin layers of unusual toughness for bituminous materials and when employed on slopes they will I10tTIl:1I1Il inthot weatlger. 1

ecoa ingma ea iedb s rain or spreading melted or eiiiillsified lditui nirfims compositions on the soil in sufiicient quantity to form a surface layer of any desired thick- When in the "form of an emulsion, lied. The bituminous material may also be sprinkled over the soil in powdered or mastic form, after which the particles can be made to coalesce to form a film by means of pressure with a roller or other device and by the heat from the sun or other source.

In some cases when the bituminous material is quite fluid, it will penetrate the soil a slight distance beneath the surface, and yet it may be of such consistency as to form a continuous surface film.

After the film is laid it may be shaped in any manner desired, depending on the requirements of the crops grown. In some cases the rows and hills may be formed first and the protective layer will conform therewith.

The coating layer is preferably formed on the surface of the ground by various methods and in various shapes, as diagrammatically illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which Figs. 1-4 are perspective views, partly in cross section,

of portions of earth provided I with various forms of coating layers;

Fig. 5 is a form; and

Fig. 6 is a vertical cross sectional view of the arrangement shown in Fig. 5.

In preparing soil for agricultural purposes, a continuous coating of the bituminous composition may be placed over the entire cultivated area and then the coating may be slitted to permit transplanting or the insertion of seeds in rows or hills. However, the coating may be placed on the ground after seeding. Also, after the plants have appeared, coatings may be placed over the ground around the stems of the plants.

In each of the figures shown, the thickness of the coating layer is somewhat exaggerated perspective view of another for clearness of illustration, and, in proportion to the other dimensions as shown, it would preferably be somewhat less.

In Fig. 1, coating layers 1 are shown between the rows of plants, and so shaped as to promote drainage to the plants in soil 2. For this purpose the upper surfaces of the layers 1 are convex and the edges spaced apart to permit insertion of plants or seeds 3.

In Fig. 2, coating layers 4 are positioned in the same manner with respect to the plants as layers 1 in Fig. 1. The upper surfaces of layers 4, however, are concave to promote surface drainage and the application of fertilizer to places at a predetermined distance from the stems of plants or seeds 3. For this purpose, perforations or slits 5 may be provided wherever desired in the layers 4.

The coating is perforated to permit the supply of oxygen, nitrogen and moisture and also to control evaporation, the rate and nature of chemical changes in the soil, the activity of bacteria, other micro-organisms, insects and worms, decay of humus, concentration of carbon dioxide, etc. The nature of the crop and the character of the soil and climate determine the area which is to remain uncoated.

In Fig. 3, relatively flat strips 6 of bituminous material are placed between rows and have their longitudinal edges turned downwardly into the soil adjacent the plant stems. This formation tends to reduce damage from out worms, and so forth.

Fig. 4 shows the application of bituminous material? to the sides of ridges in which the plants grow. The surface of the soil 2 may, if desired, be left uncovered in the valleys between the ridges.

When plants are grown in hills, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, a layer 8 may be formed on the sides of the hills and an opening 9 left at the top for the stem of the plant.

Where bituminous coating materials are employed in connection with an orchard, vineyard or field where the same crop requires several years to mature, a thick coating designed to last several years may be employed. Additional coatings may be applied to reinforce or patch the earlier coatings. Provision may be made for plowing or culti vating the soil at intervals. In certain cases two or more crops may be grown one after the other without disturbing the coating.

coating of such composition and thickness may be used which will permit satisfactory plowing under and disintegration, articularly following oxidation and embritt ing of the coating when exposed to sunlight and weather.

Besides plowing under the bituminous layer, it may be disposed of by taking it up in rolls. Owing to surface alteration or dust, the coating will not stick while in the rolls and may be stored for later use.

If desired, the coating may be readily taken up and melted or otherwise Worked up for reuse. Goarse impurities may be strained out or allowed to separate by gravity. Fresh materials may be added to the reclaimed material. v

The use of bituminous coatings is especially recommended in arid districts where it is desirable to reduce all possible moisture 95 losses except through respiration by the plants. The coating can be made to direct moisture to the plant and can be usefully employed in conjunction with irrigation.

The bituminous coating materials may be we applied to the margins of gardens or fields and roadsides, as well as around plants, as a means of reducing evaporation and of keeping down weeds, and may be left on certain areas through the winter season to prevent 105 soil losses by washing or by erosion.

Certain plants, such as melons, squash, etc., are subject to severe attacks by pests which bore into recumbent stems, or fruits in contact with the ground. Coatings applied in 110 accordance with our invention help to control such attacks. Furthermore, the coatings tend to reduce decay and attacks by fungus where the fruit touches the ground and will promote ripening at the point of contact.

Bituminous materials used in the manner described have a relatively low first cost and long life. The coating is not likely to be blown away by the wind and since t lies in direct contact with the soil, it is n t likely 1 0 that insects will seek shelter beneath it. The coatings, as used in practice, are very effective in preventing germination of eed seeds and may be of suflicient thickness and toughness to resist penetration by sprouting weeds. 125

lVe claim as our invention:

1. A process of preparing a covering for soil used for raising crops, which comprises spreading a coating of a composition comprising coal and oil on the surface of the 130 growth,

sail in a given area and providing openingsv soil used for raislng crops, which comprises spraying a composition comprising coal and oil on the surface of the soil over restricted areas to form a continuous film of the said composition on the said areas.

4. A process of preparing a covering for soil used for raising crops, which comprises spraying a composition comprising coal an oil on the surface of the soil, forming a continuous layer of the said composition, an

providing openings in the layer at intervals for plant growth and for the passage of moisture.

5. A process of preparing a covering for soil used for raising crops, which comprises spraying a composition comprising coal and oil on the surface of the soil, forming a continuous layer of the said composition having openings in the said and shaping the said layer to control the drainage of water with respect to the openings.

6. A covering for soil adapted for plant growth, which comprises a layer of a composition compnsing coal and oil adapted to be placed in the vicinity of plants, the said layer eing of such shape as to control the passage of water to and from the plants.

7. A covering for. soil adapted for plant growth, which comprises a layer of a composition comprising coal and oil adapted to e positioned in the vicinity of plants, the said layer having a curved upper surface and adapted to control the passage of water to and from the plants.

8. A covering for soil adapted for plant growth, which comprises a layer of a composition comprising 'coal and oil adapted to e positioned in the vicinity of plants and in direct contact with the soil.

9. A' covering for soil adapted for plant growth, which comprises a layer of a comosition comprising coal and oil adapted to e ositioned in the vicinity of plants, the sai layer being perforated to control the passage of water to and from the soil.

10. A covering for soil adapted for plant growth, which comprises a layer of a composition contaming a solution of coal in oil. 11.- A covering for soil adapted for plant position comprising coal and oil and fibres. 12. A covering for soil adapted for plant growth, which comprises a layer of a com- EQSltlOIl comprising coal and oil and a filler lstributed throughout the said layer.

layer for plant growth,

which comprises a layer of a comv 13. A process of preparing a covering for soil used for raising crops, which comprises spreadin fibrous materlal over the surface of the so1l and then spreading a composition comprising coal and oil on the fibrous ma terial.

14. A process of preparing a covering for soil used for raising crops, which comprises spraying an emulsion containin bituminous matter, to form a layer of bituminous matter on the surface of the soil in the vicinity'of plants.

15. A process of preparing a covering for soil used for raising cro s, which comprises spreading a mixture of a ituminous emulsion and paper pulp, to form a layer of the said mixture on the surface of the soil in the vicinitXof plants.

16. covering for soil adapted for plant growth, which comprises a layer of bituminous matter in contact with the soil, the said layer having a convex upper surface and having its edges directed downward into the soil in the vicinity of the lant growth.

In testimony whereo I have hereunto subscribed my name this 24th da of May, 1929.

HAROL J. ROSE. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 25th dafiof May, 1929.

WILLIA H. ILL.