AU687437B2 - Improved mulch composition - Google Patents
Improved mulch composition Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- AU687437B2 AU687437B2 AU75771/94A AU7577194A AU687437B2 AU 687437 B2 AU687437 B2 AU 687437B2 AU 75771/94 A AU75771/94 A AU 75771/94A AU 7577194 A AU7577194 A AU 7577194A AU 687437 B2 AU687437 B2 AU 687437B2
- Authority
- AU
- Australia
- Prior art keywords
- composition
- mulch
- fertilisers
- leafy parts
- leafy
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Ceased
Links
- 239000002362 mulch Substances 0.000 title claims description 37
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 title claims description 28
- 239000003337 fertilizer Substances 0.000 claims description 15
- 241000196324 Embryophyta Species 0.000 claims description 14
- 240000000111 Saccharum officinarum Species 0.000 claims description 12
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000002023 wood Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 241001474374 Blennius Species 0.000 claims description 2
- 235000019733 Fish meal Nutrition 0.000 claims description 2
- 241001465754 Metazoa Species 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000008280 blood Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 210000004369 blood Anatomy 0.000 claims description 2
- 210000000988 bone and bone Anatomy 0.000 claims description 2
- 210000003608 fece Anatomy 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000004467 fishmeal Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000010871 livestock manure Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000010893 paper waste Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000011573 trace mineral Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 235000013619 trace mineral Nutrition 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000002245 particle Substances 0.000 claims 2
- 239000002689 soil Substances 0.000 description 6
- 235000007201 Saccharum officinarum Nutrition 0.000 description 4
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 4
- 235000015097 nutrients Nutrition 0.000 description 3
- 230000008635 plant growth Effects 0.000 description 3
- 241000609240 Ambelania acida Species 0.000 description 2
- XEEYBQQBJWHFJM-UHFFFAOYSA-N Iron Chemical compound [Fe] XEEYBQQBJWHFJM-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 239000010905 bagasse Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000001035 drying Methods 0.000 description 2
- 235000010204 pine bark Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- ZOXJGFHDIHLPTG-UHFFFAOYSA-N Boron Chemical compound [B] ZOXJGFHDIHLPTG-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- RYGMFSIKBFXOCR-UHFFFAOYSA-N Copper Chemical compound [Cu] RYGMFSIKBFXOCR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- FYYHWMGAXLPEAU-UHFFFAOYSA-N Magnesium Chemical compound [Mg] FYYHWMGAXLPEAU-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- ZOKXTWBITQBERF-UHFFFAOYSA-N Molybdenum Chemical compound [Mo] ZOKXTWBITQBERF-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229920002522 Wood fibre Polymers 0.000 description 1
- HCHKCACWOHOZIP-UHFFFAOYSA-N Zinc Chemical compound [Zn] HCHKCACWOHOZIP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229910052796 boron Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 230000015556 catabolic process Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229910052802 copper Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000010949 copper Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000000593 degrading effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000003628 erosive effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000001704 evaporation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000008020 evaporation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000003306 harvesting Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229910052742 iron Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 238000003973 irrigation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000002262 irrigation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000002386 leaching Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229910052749 magnesium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000011777 magnesium Substances 0.000 description 1
- WPBNNNQJVZRUHP-UHFFFAOYSA-L manganese(2+);methyl n-[[2-(methoxycarbonylcarbamothioylamino)phenyl]carbamothioyl]carbamate;n-[2-(sulfidocarbothioylamino)ethyl]carbamodithioate Chemical compound [Mn+2].[S-]C(=S)NCCNC([S-])=S.COC(=O)NC(=S)NC1=CC=CC=C1NC(=S)NC(=O)OC WPBNNNQJVZRUHP-UHFFFAOYSA-L 0.000 description 1
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229910052750 molybdenum Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000011733 molybdenum Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000123 paper Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000008188 pellet Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000001681 protective effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000010902 straw Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000011701 zinc Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052725 zinc Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02A—TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02A40/00—Adaptation technologies in agriculture, forestry, livestock or agroalimentary production
- Y02A40/10—Adaptation technologies in agriculture, forestry, livestock or agroalimentary production in agriculture
- Y02A40/20—Fertilizers of biological origin, e.g. guano or fertilizers made from animal corpses
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02P—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
- Y02P20/00—Technologies relating to chemical industry
- Y02P20/10—Process efficiency
- Y02P20/133—Renewable energy sources, e.g. sunlight
Landscapes
- Protection Of Plants (AREA)
- Cultivation Of Plants (AREA)
Description
AUSTRALIA
Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT Name of Applicants: Actual Inventors: Address for Service: BARRY WALTER KRIEDEMANN GRAEME JOHN KRIEDEMANN BARRY WALTER KRIEDEMANN GRAEME JOHN KRIEDEMANN CULLEN CO., Patent Trade Mark Attorneys, 240 Queen Street, Brisbane, Qld. 4000, Australia.
Invention Title: IMPROVED MULCH COMPOSITION Details of Associated Provisional Applications: Nos. PM2430 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: 111 I THIS INVENTION relates to an improved mulch composition and particularly to a mulch composition which will boost plant growth.
Mulch compositions can be defined as those which form a protective covering over a ground surface to reduce evaporation, maintain even soil temperature, prevent erosion, control weeds and ultimately enrich soil upon breakdown of the mulch.
Mulches include bark (usually pine bark), wood fibre or chips, bagasse, straw, paper and forest mulch.
While these existing mulches in time will degrade to enrich the soil, the degrading time can take several months or years. Therefore, it is still necessary to promote plant growth by addition of fertilisers to the mulched soil.
A disadvantage with many fertilisers is that they release the nutrients too quickly into the soil causing root burn and damage to young plants. Mixing the fertiliser with the known mulches described above does 20 not alleviate the problem.
oeoo Another disadvantage with merely mixing fertilisers with known mulches, is that during transportation of the mixture, the fertiliser tends to settle out from the mulch composition. This results in an uneven distribution of mulch/fertiliser which again can cause damE-- to the plants by a too high a concentration of ±~-tiliser, and nutrient depravation to other plants.
After much research and experimentation, we have now developed a mulch composition which can be mixed with fertilisers, and where the mulch can slow the release of nutrients from the fertiliser therebyr assisting in minimising root burn to the plant, or damage to young plants.
This can be achieved by using a mulch product formed from the leafy parts of plants from the species saccharum officinarum, a variety of which is the sugar cane plant. The leafy parts may comprise the tops and leaves of the plant.
It is an object of the invention to provide an improved mulch composition which may overcome the abovementioned disadvantages or provide the public with a useful or commercial choice.
In one form, the invention resides in a dry mulch composition comprising one or more fertilisers and the leafy parts of plants from the species saccharum officinarum wherein the leafy parts are at least partially dried and the ratio of fertiliser to leafy parts is between 1:250 and By leafy parts, we mean the tops and leaves of the plants which may be from the sugar cane plant.
Typically, the sugar cane plants are harvested by a harvester which cuts the plant just above tihe base, strips the leaves from the stem, cuts the top of the plant, cuts the stem into short lengths (billets) for future crushing and discards the tops and leafy parts of the plant.
S 20 It is found that up to 4 tons of leafy parts can be recovered from an acre of sugar cane. The leafy parts may be collected and are suitably at least partially dried before further processing. This can be achieved by leaving the leafy parts in the sun to dry and it may be 25 necessary to rake the product once or twice or more to assist in the drying process.
Suitably, the leafy parts may be cut or chopped to a size to be suitable for mulch composition. Thus, S: the leafy parts may be cut to lengths of between 1 and 30 20cm. The leafy parts may be crushed in a hammer mill or S"other suitable type of apparatus to improve the mulch composition.
The fertiliser may be added in a ratio of one hundred to five thousand grams per twenty-five kilograms of mulch, and typically one to two kilograms of fertiliser per twenty-five kilograms of mulch are used.
The fertiliser may be in the form solid pellets and these may range from between 0.1 to 5 mm in size.
I Alternatively, the fertiliser may include a liquid fertiliser which may be sprayed over or into the mulch eee s 'ee e we :i composition. As the mulch composition is waterabsorbing, the liquid fertiliser can be effectively absorbed into the mulch composition.
Suitable fertilisers include blood and bone, fish meal, seaweed extract, or concentrated composted animal manures. Essential trace elements such as magnesium, iron, manganese, zinc, copper, boron and molybdenum may also be added.
The mulch may be blended with other mulch components such as paper waste, wood chips, bark chips, and the like.
In an embodiment, grown sugar cane is harvested using a conventional harvester which will strip the leaves and tops from the sugar cane plants. The leaves 15 and tops (the leafy parts) and raked together and left to dry in the sun. This pile is occasionally raked to :.".assist in the drying process. The partially dried product is then baled and forwarded to a hammer mill which crushes and chops the leafy parts into lengths of 20 approximately three-quarters of an inch. Fertiliser can added, the amount of fertiliser being one to two kilograms per twenty-five kilograms of mulch. The mixture is then packaged in bags.
The advantages of the mulch composition are many. Firstly, the mulch component is readily available and allows the sugar cane to be harvested in a green state. That is, it is not necessary to burn the sugar cane before harvesting. Furthermore, the resultant mulch product is less susceptible to crusting and allows good air and water permeation through the mulch to the ground surface. These is little or no hindrance to plant growth if desired. The mulch has a good ability to absorb water (during rain or irrigation) and has a reduced tendency to allow water to flow past it and not be absorbed by it (as is the case with wood chips, pine bark, and bagasse).
The mat-like nature of the mulch prevents or reduces the fertilisers from settling out during transportation of the bagged product. The mulch is 1 111 1 however easily spreadable by hand, and when wet, will absorb water and slowly release it to provide a controlled leaching of fertilisers into the soil.
It should be appreciated that various other changes and modifications may be made to the embodiment without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.
*e: I I I
Claims (11)
1. A dry mulch composition comprising one or more fertilisers and the leafy parts of plants from the species saccharum officinarum wherein the leafy parts are at least partially dried and the ratio of fertiliser to leafy parts is between 1:250 and
2. The composition of claim 1, wherein the leafy parts comprise the tops and leaves of the sugar cane plant.
3. The composition of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the leafy parts are between 1 20cm long.
4. The composition as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the leafy parts are crushed.
The composition as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the fertiliser comprises solid particles.
6. The composition as claimed in claim 5, wherein the particles are between 0.1mm 5.0mm across.
7. The composition as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the one or more fertilisers comprise liquid fertilisers.
8. The composition as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein one or more fertilisers are selected from the group consisting of blood and bone, fish meal, seaweed extract, or concentrated composted animal manures.
9. The composition as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, additionally including one or more trace elements. 30
10. The composition as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, additionally including other mulch components such as paper waste, wood chips and bark chips.
11. A composition as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and substantially as described. DATED this 22nd day of October 1997 BARRY WALTER KRIEDEMANN and GRAEME JOHN KRIEDEMANN -By their Patent Attorneys CULLEN CO. II 1-III
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| AU75771/94A AU687437B2 (en) | 1993-11-16 | 1994-10-12 | Improved mulch composition |
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| AUPM243093 | 1993-11-16 | ||
| AUPM2430 | 1993-11-16 | ||
| AU75771/94A AU687437B2 (en) | 1993-11-16 | 1994-10-12 | Improved mulch composition |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| AU7577194A AU7577194A (en) | 1995-05-25 |
| AU687437B2 true AU687437B2 (en) | 1998-02-26 |
Family
ID=25638017
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| AU75771/94A Ceased AU687437B2 (en) | 1993-11-16 | 1994-10-12 | Improved mulch composition |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| AU (1) | AU687437B2 (en) |
Citations (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AU4424093A (en) * | 1992-07-30 | 1994-02-03 | Barry Walter Kriedemann | A hydromulch composition |
-
1994
- 1994-10-12 AU AU75771/94A patent/AU687437B2/en not_active Ceased
Patent Citations (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AU4424093A (en) * | 1992-07-30 | 1994-02-03 | Barry Walter Kriedemann | A hydromulch composition |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| AU7577194A (en) | 1995-05-25 |
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| EP0608287B1 (en) | Process for establishing optimum soil conditions by naturally forming tilth | |
| Drechsel et al. | Composted shrub-prunings and other organic manures for smallholder farming systems in southern Rwanda | |
| Chandra | Organic manures | |
| KR20050083878A (en) | Process for the treatment of palm waste | |
| JPH07255269A (en) | Soil for plant culture | |
| EP0356816B1 (en) | Process for the conversion of biomasses | |
| US4553351A (en) | Method of treating a soil | |
| DE4401278C2 (en) | Method and device for producing culture substrate | |
| AU2010202667A1 (en) | Soil enhancement materials | |
| DE4040771C1 (en) | ||
| AU687437B2 (en) | Improved mulch composition | |
| EP0026767B1 (en) | Use of grape marc to start and accelerate the aerobic decomposition of wastes | |
| KR100496529B1 (en) | Grass medicine for promoting nutrition and the manufacture method | |
| JP2000192038A (en) | Soil conditioner, culture medium and its production method | |
| EP4622446A1 (en) | Fermented material comprising stalk particles of monocotyledonous flowering plants, and its production method | |
| JP3240028B2 (en) | Culture soil for plant cultivation | |
| CN1277785C (en) | Organic CO2 fertilizer and its preparing process | |
| JP3240014B2 (en) | Culture soil for plant cultivation | |
| US20140144196A1 (en) | Organic water retention mix for use on soil | |
| DE102004052726B3 (en) | Producing an organic NPK fertilizer comprises composting a mixture of liquid and comminuted solid organic wastes in covered heaps under defined conditions | |
| JP2005052099A (en) | Agricultural culture medium and method for culturing crop by using the same culture medium | |
| JPS58208190A (en) | Manufacture of odorless organic blended novel fertilizer | |
| JPS5813120B2 (en) | Method for producing soil conditioner | |
| JP4529224B2 (en) | Fermentation promoter and intermediate fermented product of organic waste, fertilizer and soil improver using the same | |
| JPH07241138A (en) | Culture soil for cultivating plant |