Soil aerator fertilizer and method

In an apparatus for treating the soil to improve plant growth by sequentially driving at least one probe into the soil, injecting at least one of air and liquid products into the soil, and then removing the probe, the improvement comprising:

• at least one hydraulic ram having an elongate cylinder with respective hydraulic fluid ports for introducing and extracting hydraulic fluid, a piston at least partially received within said elongate cylinder with one end extending outwardly from said cylinder,
• an elongate fertilizer probe having a first end attached to said one end of said piston, a second end terminating in an insertion point with at least one discharge opening, and an elongate fluid passage extending from said first end of said probe to said discharge opening,
• at least one fertilizer port for receiving and delivering at least one of pressurized air and liquid products to said elongate passage at said first end of said probe, said fertilizer port being located in said one end of said piston adjacent said first end of said probe,
• a source of hydraulic fluid for selectively supplying hydraulic fluid to said hydraulic fluid ports of said cylinder,
• a source of pressurized air for selectively supplying pressurized air to valve means,
• a source of liquid products for supplying said liquid products to said valve means,
• said valve means for selectively directing at least one of pressurized air and liquid products to said fertilizer port for discharge from said probe into the soil following insertion of said probe into the soil,
• hydraulic control means for selectively controlling the extension of said piston and insertion of said probe into the soil and the retraction of said piston into said cylinder and withdrawal of said probe from the soil,
• wherein said valve means comprises a four position three way flow control valve having a first inlet operatively connected to said pressurized air source, a second inlet operatively connected to said source of liquid products, and an outlet operatively connected to said fertilizer port, and
• whereby said flow control valve is placed in selected positions to selectively supply at least one of pressurized air, liquid products, and a combination thereof to said probe.

A fertilizer injection system comprising:

• at least one hydraulic ram having an elongate cylinder with respective ports for introducing and extracting hydraulic fluid, a piston at least partially received within said elongate cylinder with one end extending outwardly from said cylinder,
• an elongate fertilizer probe having a first end attached to said one end of said piston, a second end terminating in an insertion point with at least one discharge opening, and an elongate fluid passage extending from said first end of said probe to said discharge opening,
• a source of hydraulic fluid for selectively supplying hydraulic fluid to said ports of said cylinder,
• a source of pressurized air for selectively supplying pressurized air to said fluid passage in said probe,
• a source of liquid products for supplying said liquid products to said fluid passage in said probe,
• valve means for selectively directing at least one of pressurized air and liquid products to said probe for discharge into the soil following insertion of said probe into the soil, said valve means including a four position three-way flow control valve having a first inlet operatively connected to said pressurized air source, a second inlet operatively connected to said liquid products fertilizer source, and an outlet operatively connected to said fluid passage in said probe,
• whereby said flow control valve is placed in selected positions to selectively supply at least one of pressurized air, liquid products, and a combination thereof to said probe, and
• hydraulic control means for selectively controlling the extension of said piston and insertion of said probe into the soil and the retraction of said piston into said cylinder and withdrawal of said probe from the soil.