Method of growing and harvesting vegetation for use in remediating contaminated soil and/or groundwater
OwnerEdward G. Gatliffinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of growing trees for transplantation develops a long and narrow root system for ready rooting activity when transplanted at a remediation site. The trees can be grown in a lined hole with an optional basin, or cap, or otherwise lined at the bottom. The liner can be removed with the root system and associated soils for ease of transportation, and for use in continuing to encourage a downward vertical growth of the root system after transplantation. The trees can also be grown out of the ground in vertical or horizontal tubes which receive, under controlled conditions, water and nutrients. The medium in which tree can be grown out of the ground includes hydroponic media and soil.
Claims24
A method of growing transplantable trees with long and narrow root systems, comprising the steps of:
- (a) creating a hole in the earth;
- (b) preparing the hole to influence the downward growth of the root system of a tree planted therein by lining the walls of the hole with a material which is impervious to water and nutrients for root growth, such that the root growth of a tree is maintained within the lined hole and is directed downward;
- (c) at least partially filling the hole with a rooting medium;
- (d) planting a tree in the at least partially filled hole, whereby the root system of such tree grows within the hole, and becomes long and narrow;
- (e) harvesting the tree and its long and narrow root system;
- (f) transporting the tree with the long and narrow root system to a contaminated site having contaminated soil and/or groundwater;
- and
- (g) replanting the tree with the long and narrow root system to facilitate the remediation of the contaminated soil and/or groundwater at the contaminated site.
A method of growing transplantable trees with long and narrow root systems, comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing an elongate casing having a first end and a second end;
- (b) placing the root system of a tree at least partially into the first end of the casing such that the remainder of the tree is outside of the casing;
- (c) providing a rooting medium within at least a portion of the casing, whereby the root system of the tree is encouraged to grow long and narrow;
- (d) harvesting the tree and its long and narrow root system from the casing;
- (e) transporting the tree to a contaminated site having contaminated soil and/or groundwater;
- and
- (f) planting the tree with the long and narrow root system in the earth to facilitate the remediation of the soil and/or groundwater at the contaminated site.
A method of growing transplantable trees with long and narrow root systems, comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a casing having a first end and a second end;
- (b) placing the root system of a tree at least partially into the first end of the casing such that the remainder of the tree is outside of the tube and whereby the casing is not within the earth;
- and
- (c) providing a rooting medium within at least a portion of the casing, whereby the root system of the tree is encouraged to grow long and narrow.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.