Turf based sports grounds
AssigneeRockwool International A/S
InventorLinda De Vries
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A grass sports ground is produced by mixing man-made vitreous fibres into soil having relatively high loam levels at a rate in the range 0.5 to 50 parts by weight per 100 parts soil (dry weight), preferably in the presence of moisture to separate the fibres and distribute them among soil particles, and then growing grass. The soil/fibre mixture has desirable moisture management properties as well as good mechanical characteristics providing extended use characteristics even in cold, wet or hot and dry conditions.
Claims38
A plant growth medium comprising soil that comprises 1 to 10% loam wherein loam is a fraction of soil that passes through a sieve with 0.063 mm openings, at least 0.5% organic matter and has particulate size distribution having a M50 value in the range 100-500 μm and having at least 95% by weight particle size less than 4 mm, further comprising man-made vitreous fibres (MMVF), wherein the man-made vitreous fibres are present in an amount of from 0.5 to 50 parts by weight per 100 parts soil, on a dry matter basis, and wherein the fibres are present in loose form distributed in the soil particulate matter.
A method of producing a stratified field for growth of plants comprising a substratum and a top layer, wherein the substratum comprises water drainage means and the top layer comprises a mixture of soil and MMVF, comprising the steps:
- providing a layer of soil, comprising 1-10% loam by weight, wherein loam is a fraction of soil that passes through a sieve with 0.063 mm openings, at least 0.5% by weight organic matter, and having a M50 value in the range 100-500 μm and at least 95% by weight particle size less than 4 mm, on said substratum at a thickness in the range 5-30 cm,
- controlling the moisture level of the soil to a level in the range 5 to 50%,
- applying flocks of entangled MMVF to the layer of soil,
- optionally application of water to the MMVF,
- comprising compressing the flocks of MMVF, and,
- mixing the compressed MMVF and layer of soil by application of energy so as to separate the entangled fibres in the flocks and distribute the separated fibres among soil particles.
A sports ground comprising grass growing on a grass support layer 5 to 30 cm thick in which roots of growing grass are supported, said grass support layer comprising soil containing 1-10% loam by weight, wherein loam is a fraction of soil that passes through a sieve with 0.063 mm openings, at least 0.5% by weight organic matter, and having a particulate size distribution having M50 value in the range 100 to 500 μm and having at least 95% by weight particle size less than 4 mm, intermingled with 1 to 30 parts by weight per 100 parts soil based on dry matter MMVF fibres, having content of oxides as wt % as follows:
- SiO2
- 35 to 50,
- Al2O3
- 12 to 30,
- TiO2
- up to 2
- Fe2O3
- 2 to 12
- CaO
- 5 to 30,
- MgO
- up to 15,
- Na2O
- 0 to 15
- K2O
- 0 to 15
- P2O5
- up to 3
- MnO
- up to 3
- B2O3
- up to 3.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.