Subsurface soil injection apparatus and method
AssigneeArysta LifeScience North America, LLC
InventorsMichael A. Allan, Charles T. Schiller
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for the subsurface application of fertilizers, biologicals, fumigants, non-fumigant pesticides or other chemicals to soil with reduced application rates. Discrete amounts of the materials are injected into the soil at numerous sites along a path during a pass through the soil. At the injection sites, the materials form diffusion patterns which may touch or overlapping with diffusion patterns of adjacent soil injections. The application of materials to soil in this manner maintains optimum efficacy with the use of the least amount of materials necessary per acre of soil.
Claims25
An apparatus for introducing a discrete, predetermined amount of a material into soil at a plurality of predetermined points in the soil, comprising:
- a container for holding the material to be introduced into the soil;
- tubing in fluid connection with the reservoir at a first end thereof, the tubing having a distal end for introducing the material into the soil;
- at least one shank for placing the distal end of the tubing at a predetermined depth in the soil during introduction of the material into the soil;
- and
- a switch for controlling flow of the material through the tubing, the switch being operable between an open state for introducing the discrete, predetermined amount of material into the soil at the predetermined points in the soil, and a closed state when the shank is positioned between the predetermined points in the soil.
An apparatus for introducing a discrete, predetermined amount of iodomethane into soil at a plurality of predetermined points in the soil, comprising of:
- a container for holding the iodomethane;
- tubing in fluid connection with the container at a first end thereof, the tubing having a distal end for introducing the iodomethane into the soil;
- at least one shank for placing the distal end of the tubing at a predetermined depth in the soil during introduction of the iodomethane into the soil;
- and
- a switch for controlling flow of the iodomethane through the tubing, the switch being operable between an open state for introducing the discrete, predetermined amount of iodomethane into the soil at a predetermined point in the soil, and a closed state when the shank is positioned between the predetermined points in the soil.
A method for applying a material to soil, comprising the step of injecting a discrete, predetermined amount of the material into the soil at a plurality of predetermined points in the soil, the material diffusing into the soil from each of injection points to provide diffusion patterns of the materials in the soil.
A method for fumigating soil, comprising injecting a discrete, predetermined amount of the fumigant into the soil at a plurality of predetermined points in the soil, the fumigant volatilizing from each of the points where it is introduced and diffusing into surrounding soil to form a plurality of diffusion patterns in the soil.
A method for fumigating soil with iodomethane, comprising the step of injecting a discrete, predetermined amount of iodomethane into the soil at a predetermined depth and at a plurality of predetermined injection sites spaced substantially equidistant from each other along a path, the iodomethane volatilizing into a gas at each of the predetermined injection sites along the path to form a plurality of touching or overlapping diffusion patterns of the iodomethane in the soil.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.