A nonwoven biofabric comprises a web comprising (a) biodegradable polymeric melt blown fibers, and (b) a plurality of particles enmeshed in the biodegradable polymeric meltblown fibers.

A bark-based composition having at least 70% by volume of bark is defibrated in order to make cultivation media having water availability that is greater than or equal to 250 mL/L.

A compressed growing medium or mulch fiber opener comprising at least one set of adjacent rotating members, the rotating members having a surface and including at least one wire wound around at least a portion of the surface, wherein the wire includes a plurality of projections engaging compressed or partially opened growing medium or mulch fiber, and wherein a distance between the adjacent rotating members is sufficiently small to create at least one pinch point between the adjacent rotating members, the adjacent rotating members separating the fibers as the fibers pass through the at least one pinch point so that the density of the fiber is lowered by at least 50-95%.

A substrate and a slurry for erosion control are disclosed. The substrate includes mulch and a cover composition including bentonite clay and cellulosic water dispersible polymer or starch. Other desired optional ingredients may also be included. Methods of controlling or reducing erosion control are also disclosed.

A substrate and a slurry for erosion control are disclosed. The substrate includes mulch and a cover composition including bentonite clay and cellulosic water dispersible polymer or starch. Other desired optional ingredients may also be included. Methods of controlling or reducing erosion control are also disclosed.

Disclosed are a biodegradable coating composition for a mulching paper and a mulching paper. Out of these, the biodegradable coating composition for mulching paper to be coated on a surface of mulching paper comprises: spring water prepared by immersing a mineral substance powder that includes sericite powder and has a particle size distribution of 400 to 700 mesh in a container containing water for 10 to 20 days and thus dissolving a mineral component of a mineral substance in water at 45 to 72 parts by weight; charcoal powder having a particle size of 1,000 to 3,000 mesh at 3 to 8 parts by weight; calcium solution at 8 to 13 parts by weight; a filler including sulfur powder, illite powder, and expanded vermiculite powder at 5 to 15 parts by weight; starch at 5 to 8 parts by weight; and an additive at 10 to 20 parts by weight.

Disclosed are a biodegradable coating composition for a mulching paper and a mulching paper. Out of these, the biodegradable coating composition for mulching paper to be coated on a surface of mulching paper comprises: spring water prepared by immersing a mineral substance powder that includes sericite powder and has a particle size distribution of 400 to 700 mesh in a container containing water for 10 to 20 days and thus dissolving a mineral component of a mineral substance in water at 45 to 72 parts by weight; charcoal powder having a particle size of 1,000 to 3,000 mesh at 3 to 8 parts by weight; calcium solution at 8 to 13 parts by weight; a filler including sulfur powder, illite powder, and expanded vermiculite powder at 5 to 15 parts by weight; starch at 5 to 8 parts by weight; and an additive at 10 to 20 parts by weight.

A compressed growing medium or mulch fiber opener comprising at least one set of adjacent rotating members, the rotating members having a surface and including at least one wire wound around at least a portion of the surface, wherein the wire includes a plurality of projections engaging compressed or partially opened growing medium or mulch fiber, and wherein a distance between the adjacent rotating members is sufficiently small to create at least one pinch point between the adjacent rotating members, the adjacent rotating members separating the fibers as the fibers pass through the at least one pinch point so that the density of the fiber is lowered.

A method for planting crops that involves covering the planted seeds of the crop with an elongate sheet of mulch. The elongate sheet of mulch has lateral edges that determine its width. A combustible cord that is affixed to it between the lateral edges. The combustible cord may be formed within plies of the mulch or adhered thereto. The mulch is placed over the planted crop and held in place over the crop. This may be done by burying lateral edges of the mulch. When a user of the mulch wishes to remove the mulch, he will burn the combustible cord and that will separate the mulch along the cord.

A method for making a dyed mulch composition or a dyed growing medium, the method comprising combining tree bark including one or more pigments and/or pigment precursors and wood components together to form an initial composition; heating the initial composition at a temperature greater than about 149° C. under steam in a pressurized vessel; processing the initial composition through a refiner with a plurality of opposing disks, the refiner separating the tree bark and wood components into fibers and separating the fibers from each other; and dyeing the wood components by the one or more pigments and/or pigment precursors while the tree bark and the wood components are being separated into fibers in the refiner to obtain dyed fibers.