Mollusc Barrier

Abstract

Use of a composition as a barrier to molluscs is disclosed. The composition comprises a combustion product or an alkaline material and is in granular form. The granular composition may be effective and long-acting in such a use due to improved weather resistance compared to loose combustion product or alkaline material. A method of producing such a granular composition comprising a combustion product or an alkaline material and a barrier method preventing access to plants by molluscs with said granular composition comprising a combustion product or an alkaline material are also disclosed. A granular composition comprising at least 98 wt % of a combustion product or an alkaline material, wherein at least 98% of the granules have a size of from 0.5 to 10.0 mm is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method of forming a barrier to molluscs, the method comprising providing a composition comprising a combustion product or an alkaline material, wherein the composition is in the form of granules, and using the composition to form said barrier to molluscs.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein method involves preventing molluscs from accessing plants, the method comprising arranging the composition comprising a combustion product and/or an alkaline material to form the barrier around a target to be protected from molluscs.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the combustion product is incinerated poultry litter.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the combustion product is incinerated rendered animal waste material.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the combustion product is lime.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the combustion product and/or alkaline material is present in the composition in an amount of greater than 80 wt % based on the total weight of the composition.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the composition is substantially free from heavy metals.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the composition is substantially free from pesticides.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the composition consists of the combustion product and/or the alkaline material and optionally water.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least 98% of the granules have a size of from 0.5 to 10.0 mm.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the granules have a bulk density of from 0.8 to 1.2 kg/L.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the molluscs include slugs and snails.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the composition is used for preventing molluscs from accessing a target, wherein the target is a plant.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein the composition is arranged to be contacting or within 1 metre of the target.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein the composition is used as a barrier to molluscs.

16. The method according to claim 13, wherein the granules of the composition are arranged so that the granules are in contact with one another.

17. The method according to claim 13, wherein the composition is arranged to form a closed shape.

18. The method according to any preceding claim, wherein the combustion product has an alkaline pH.

19. A method of making a granular composition of a combustion product and/or an alkaline material, the method comprising the steps of: a) admixing a combustion product and/or an alkaline material with water; b) granulating the admixture obtained in step a) to provide granules of the combustion product and/or an alkaline material and water; and c) drying the granules of the combustion product and/or an alkaline material and water to provide the granular composition of the combustion product and/or alkaline material.

20. A granular composition comprising at least 98 wt % of a combustion product or an alkaline material, wherein at least 98% of the granules have a size of from 0.5 to 10.0 mm.

Description

[0082] FIG. 1 shows the results in a bar chart. Example 1 is referred to as NEW Doff Barrier in FIG. 1.

[0083]

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Number of days Percentage of plants damaged (%) after slugs No barrier Granules of Fito Slug Efofective STC Slugs Away Doff Wool introduced product Example 1 Barrier Granules Slug Defence Wool mat Pellets 1 3 0 0.38 0.63 0 0 2 6 1.03 1.38 0.5 0.5 0 3 13.5 1.5 5.75 2.75 2.13 0.75 4 18.13 1.5 10.63 5 3.63 2.5 5 23.5 2.13 10.88 3.5 4 2.25 7 26.38 4.5 15.13 3.75 4.25 1 9 35.5 4.5 21.38 5.5 5.5 3.25 14 56.25 15.25 38.25 19 24.75 21.75

[0084] The results show that the granules of Example 1 were effective in preventing damage to the plants from the slugs. The granules of Example 1 also showed efficacy which was superior to the comparative barrier products.

[0085] In summary, the present invention provides the use of a granular composition comprising a combustion product or an alkaline material as an effective barrier to molluscs. The granular composition may be effective and long acting in such a use due to improved weather resistance compared to loose combustions products/alkaline materials. The present invention also provides a method of producing such a granular composition comprising a combustion product or alkaline material and a barrier method of preventing access to plants by molluscs with said granular composition.

[0086] Although a few preferred embodiments have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications might be made without departing from the scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

[0087] As used in the specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “an,” and “the” include both singular and plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. By way of example, “a target” means one target or more than one target.

[0088] Throughout this specification, the term “comprising” or “comprises” means including the component(s) specified but not to the exclusion of the presence of other components. The term “consisting essentially of” or “consists essentially of” means including the components specified but excluding other components except for materials present as impurities, unavoidable materials present as a result of processes used to provide the components, and components added for a purpose other than achieving the technical effect of the invention. Typically, when referring to compositions, a composition consisting essentially of a set of components will comprise less than 5% by weight, typically less than 3% by weight, more typically less than 1% by weight of non-specified components.

[0089] The term “consisting of” or “consists of” means including the components specified but excluding addition of other components.

[0090] Whenever appropriate, depending upon the context, the use of the term “comprises” or “comprising” may also be taken to encompass or include the meaning “consists essentially of” or “consisting essentially of”, and may also be taken to include the meaning “consists of” or “consisting of”.

[0091] For the avoidance of doubt, where amounts of components in a composition are described in wt %, this means the weight percentage of the specified component in relation to the whole composition referred to. For example, “ash is present in the composition in an amount of greater than 80 wt %,” means that greater than 80 wt % of the composition is provided by ash.

[0092] As used herein, unless otherwise expressly specified, all numbers such as those expressing values, ranges, amounts of percentages may be read as if prefaced by the word “about”, even if the term does not expressly appear.

[0093] The term “about” as used herein when referring to a measurable value such as a parameter, an amount, a temporal duration, and the like, indicate that a value includes the standard deviation of error for the device or method being employed to determine the value. The term “about” is meant to encompass variations of +/−10% or less, +/−5% or less, or +/−0.1% or less of and from the specified value, insofar such variations are appropriate to perform in the disclosure. It is to be understood that the value to which the modifier “about” refers is itself also specifically disclosed.

[0094] The recitation of numerical ranges by endpoints includes all integer numbers and, where appropriate, fractions subsumed within that range (e.g. 1 to 5 can include 1, 2, 3, 4 when referring to, for example, a number of elements, and can also include 1.5, 2, 2.75 and 3.80, when referring to, for example, measurements). The recitation of end points also includes the end point values themselves (e.g. from 1.0 to 5.0 includes both 1.0 and 5.0). Any numerical range recited herein is intended to include all sub-ranges subsumed therein.

[0095] The optional features set out herein may be used either individually or in combination with each other where appropriate and particularly in the combinations as set out in the accompanying claims. The optional features for each aspect or exemplary embodiment of the invention as set out herein are also to be read as applicable to any other aspect or exemplary embodiments of the invention, where appropriate. In other words, the skilled person reading this specification should consider the optional features for each exemplary embodiment of the invention as interchangeable and combinable between different exemplary embodiments.

[0096] As used herein, the term “and/or,” when used in a list of two or more items, means that any one of the listed items can be employed by itself or any combination of two or more of the listed items can be employed. For example, if a list is described as comprising group A, B, and/or C, the list can comprise A alone; B alone; C alone; A and B in combination; A and C in combination, B and C in combination; or A, B, and C in combination.

[0097] Attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

[0098] All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

[0099] Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

[0100] The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.