Degradable agricultural mulch sheeting
AssigneeKeuffel & Esser Company
InventorsGerard E. Shanley, Michael J. Lubar
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Abstract
Agricultural mulch sheeting which provides soil moisture retention and weed control during the growing season, yet is readily degradable when harrowed into the soil after harvest, comprises a creped natural kraft paper coated on both sides with a polyvinylidene chloride latex dispersion. The coating on one side of the sheet includes carbon black which provides the opacity to prevent weed growth while also yielding a reversible sheet which may be installed to absorb or reflect the sun's rays. The mulch may also include a sleeve of the same material sealed to the upper surface of the main sheet to form a conduit for irrigating water which seeps into the underlying soil through a row of puctures in the sheet.
Claims8
Degradable agricultural mulch sheeting comprising:
- (a) a base sheet of creped natural kraft paper having a basis weight of about 30 to 80 grams/sq. meter and an extensibility of about 5 to 15 percent;
- and
- (b) a coating on both sides of said base sheet, each comprising about 20 to 25 grams/sq. meter of the dried residue of a composition of polyvinylidene chloride latex dispersion having an average particle size in the range of .times. to 3.times.10.sup.-4 mm.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.