Biodegradable mulch mat

Abstract

Biodegradable mulch mat comprising an air and water-permeable, light-impermeable, open celled, composite of granules and fibers in a binder matrix prepared from a foam precursor. Biodegradable fibers include cellulosic fibers such as shredded wood, straw, paper, corn stalks, cotton fiber and mosses; protein fibers such as hair; and synthetic polymer fibers such as vinyl polymer fibers and polyamide fibers. Granules include milled hard vegetation such as corn cob, nut shells, seed hulls, seeds, gourds and bark. The mulch mats can also comprise pigments, fungicides, soil builders such as vermiculite, perlite, sand, diatomaceous earth and gypsum; nutrients such as nitrate, potassium and phosphorus compounds; soil conditioners such as limestone, sulfur and iron sulfate. Useful binders include polysaccharides, glycosides, vegetable gums, vinyl polymers, waxes and crosslinkable oils. Useful surfactants include saponins, e.g. extract of Yucca shidigera, and amine surfactants. Slurries of fibers, granules, binder and surfactant are gas entrained, e.g. by whipping, to provide a foam which is applied to soil around seedlings; the foams dry to a durable, biodegradable mulch mat which suppresses weeds, builds soil, conserves soil and water and improves soil temperature providing an enhanced growing environment.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.