A method for controlling weeds and undergrowth and for treating plants in agricultural settings is disclosed. The method is characterized by first applying a spray of hot water to the plant, and then applying a foam blanket to the sprayed plants, whereby heat from the hot water spray is held against the plants.

A dispersal pattern of hydrogen bonding sites on an ice surface is used as a template in a process for the design, selection and manufacture of synthetic ice interface dopants. Ice interface dopants are generally molecules which bind to a surface of an ice crystal and inhibit subsequent gain or loss of water molecules. The ice interface dopants can thus inhibit ice crystal growth, recrystallization, and sublimation. Ice interface dopants can also inhibit heterogeneous nucleating agents, and thus postpone or prevent ice nucleation. On the other hand, very strong IIDs may be used as well to beneficially induce ice nucleation. Exemplary dopant structures are provided that achieve near-perfect ice-bonding efficiency while being thoroughly adaptable to a wide variety of specialized ice-bonding applications. Orbital steering provides for steering lone pair orbitals of ice bonding atoms in the interface dopant to result in an optimal angular alignment with the complementary binding sites on ice.

A dispersal pattern of hydrogen bonding sites on an ice surface is used as a template in a process for the design, selection and manufacture of synthetic ice interface dopants. Ice interface dopants are molecules which when bound to a surface of an ice crystal inhibit the incorporation of additional water molecules into the crystal. The ice interface dopants thus inhibit ice crystal growth, recrystallization, and sublimation. Ice interface dopants can also inhibit heterogenous nucleating agents, and thus postpone or prevent ice nucleation. Exemplary dopant structures are provided that achieve near-perfect ice-bonding efficiency while being thoroughly adaptable to a wide variety of specialized ice-bonding applications. Orbital steering provides for steering lone pair orbitals of ice bonding atoms in the interface dopant to result in an optimal angular alignment with the complementary binding sites on ice.

Waxes prepared from hydrogenated plant oils, such as castor, palm, and soybean, are used to prepare water based emulsions. The inventive waxes, obtained from naturally derived, renewable resources, were emulsified under anionic, cationic and nonionic conditions, producing emulsions having a solids content up to about 45% solids. When used to coat fibrous cellulosic articles, such as paperboard, the emulsions' performance was similar to emulsions containing petroleum-derived waxes. The inventive waxes have a low iodine value (between 2-5), and melting points between approximately 120-200 degrees F. (Mettler Drop Point). These waxes comprise a triglyceride whose fatty acids are predominantly stearic acid or ricinoleic acid. The inventive waxes are used as an alternative to petroleum-derived, or expensive naturally-occurring waxes in the manufacture of emulsions used in coatings, polishes, adhesives, paper products, paperboard, in the removal of ink from fibrous cellulosic products and other manufacturing operations.

The present invention is directed to a composition, method, and apparatus for protecting plants from injury caused by frost or freezing temperatures by applying an insulating foam to the surface of plants. Plants are sprayed with a foam formed from a pre-emulsion concentrate comprising a vegetable oil, an emulsifier, and a forming agent. The pre-emulsion concentrate is mixed with water and aerated to form a foam. The foam is then directed onto the surfaces of the plant to be covered.