Soil is treated prior to planting by spreading water-insoluble, polyolefin pellets having an average cross sectional dimension in the range of 1/16 in. to 3/16 in. and having an average density in the range of 30 pounds per cubic foot to 37.5 pounds per cubic foot over the surface of the soil. The amount of particulate material applied ranges from 0.010 pounds to 0.035 pounds per square foot of soil surface area, as indicated by type of soil and degree of compaction. The soil is then worked so that the polyolefin particles are distributed uniformly within the soil to a depth in the order to about 6 to 8 inches below the surface. The method promotes seed germination, allows faster plant growth, provides more efficient use of moisture and nutrients, reduces erosion and crustation, and thus improves crop yields.
RELATED APPLICATION
This is a continuation-in-part application of my copending application, Ser. No. 879,569, for improvements in "Treatment of Soil," filed Nov. 24, 1969, and now abandoned.
An agricultural soil composition for the growing of plants and the like is provided in which a means is included for controlling and regulating the distribution of water throughout the growing zone. This composition is characterized by including in the agricultural soil a critical proportion of hydrophobic particulate material.
Soil amendment techniques are described utilizing solid rubber particles to be mixed with soil to improve porosity and reduce compaction. The rubber particles are preferably derived from shredded scrap tires. The size of the rubber particles may vary, and the amount of rubber mixed with the soil may also vary. The soil amendment techniques are especially useful for reducing compaction of soil under turf (e.g., football fields, soccer fields, golf courses, steeplechase courses, pathways, and the like). The soil amendment also improves soil porosity. Sod grown on soil including rubber particles, and later placed on soil which also includes rubber particles, will reduce certain types of athletic injuries to humans as well as horses. Also, the inclusion of rubber particles in soil improves the use efficiency of water and fertilizer.
A continuous process for making rigid PVC foam objects by extruding a preform from an initial PVC mixture, optionally cutting the preform into blanks, and expanding the preform or the blanks in water heated to a temperature above 70.degree. C. The initial mixture contains polyvinyl chloride, at least a first blowing agent capable of generating a gas, for example an isocyanate or a polyisocyanate, and at least one organic anhydride (and does not contain any added inert particles finely divided therein). The initial mixture may also contain less than one weight percent of a second blowing agent, for example azobisisobutyronitrile or azodicarbonamide. The objects produced possess heat- and sound-insulating properties.
An animal running surface composition and optimization technique is described. The surface provides a firm in-place foundation layer above which is spread a surface layer. The surface layer intermixes earthen material and rubber particles which may be sized from one-quarter to three-quarters of an inch. These particles may also be shredded rubber from scrap tires to assist in waste disposal. The ratio of the amount of rubber particles to earthen material in the surface, the size of the rubber particles, and the depth of the surface layer can be varied to optimize the surface for particular uses ranging from horse or equestrian tracks to dog tracks to arenas, etc. Several other variations such as the avoidance of organic material, removal of any metallic materials, and inclusion of other layers are also provided for. The present invention provides resiliency, optimizes water use, is porous for drainage, and can be reasonably constructed, among other advantages.
