METHOD FOR CONTROLLING ROOT GROWTH USING GLUFOSINATE COMPOUNDS

Abstract

The invention relates to the treatment of subterranean pipe works and other conduits to control plant root growth therein, novel compositions for use in the sewers to kill root growth therein, and novel and effective methods for application of such composition. The present invention particularly concerns compositions that include glufosinate, salts thereof, and/or derivates thereof and methods using such compositions for controlling root growth in subterranean pipes.

Claims

1. A method of controlling root growth in and around subterranean pipe works, comprising applying a root control composition comprising an effective amount of a glufosinate, a salt thereof, and/or a derivative thereof to roots present in or around a pipe.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the root control composition further comprises a root growth inhibitor.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the root growth inhibitor comprises dichlobenil.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the root growth inhibitor is selected from the group consisting of dichlobenil, a dinitroaniline, a pyridine, 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA); paclobutrazol, or combinations thereof.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the dichlobenil is present in said root control composition in a range of about 0.0001% w/w to about 5% w/w.

6. (canceled)

7. The composition of claim 1, wherein the glufosinate, a salt thereof, and/or a derivative thereof is present in said root control composition in a range of about 0.0001% w/w to about 5% w/w.

8. (canceled)

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the root control composition is applied to the exposed root as a foam, and the root control composition comprises a surfactant as a foaming agent.

10. (canceled)

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the root control composition is applied to the exposed root as a viscous liquid having a thickening agent therein.

12. (canceled)

13. (canceled)

14. A method of controlling root growth in and around subterranean pipe works, comprising applying a root control composition comprising an effective amount of a glufosinate, a salt thereof, and/or a derivative thereof and a root growth inhibitor to roots present in or around a pipe.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the root growth inhibitor comprises dichlobenil.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the root growth inhibitor is selected from the group consisting of dichlobenil, a dinitroaniline, a pyridine, 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA); paclobutrazol, or combinations thereof.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the dichlobenil is present in said root control composition in a range of about 0.0001% w/w to about 5% w/w.

18. (canceled)

19. The composition of claim 14, wherein the glufosinate, a salt thereof, and/or a derivative thereof is present in said root control composition in a range of about 0.0001% w/w to about 5% w/w.

20. (canceled)

21. The method of claim 14, wherein the root control composition is applied to the exposed root as a foam, and the root control composition comprises a surfactant as a foaming agent.

22. (canceled)

23. (canceled)

24. (canceled)

25. (canceled)

26. A root control composition for controlling root growth comprising: a. a glufosinate, a salt thereof, and/or a derivative thereof in said root control composition in a range of about 0.0001% w/w to about 5% w/w; b. a root growth inhibitor present in said root control composition in a range of about 0.0001% w/w to about 5% w/w; c. a foaming agent.

27. (canceled)

28. The composition of claim 26, wherein the root growth inhibitor comprises dichlobenil.

29. The composition of claim 26, wherein the root growth inhibitor is selected from the group consisting of dichlobenil, a dinitroaniline, a pyridine, 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA); paclobutrazol, or combinations thereof.

30. (canceled)

31. The composition of claim 26, wherein said root growth inhibitor is present in said root control composition in a range of about 0.001% w/w to about 2% w/w.

32. (canceled)

33. The composition of claim 26, wherein said glufosinate, a salt thereof, and/or a derivative thereof is present in said root control composition in a range of about 0.001% w/w to about 2% w/w.

34. (canceled)

35. (canceled)

36. (canceled)

37. The composition of claim 26, wherein the root control composition is a concentrate for dilution prior to application, wherein the concentrate includes glufosinate, and/or a salt or a derivate thereof in a range of about 10% by weight to about 50% by weight and the concentrate includes the root growth inhibitor in a range of about 10% by weight to about 50% by weight.

38. (canceled)

39. (canceled)

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] FIG. 1 shows a method of applying a root control composition according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of an exemplary hydraulic sewer cleaning machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0031] Reference will now be made in detail to certain embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. While the invention will be described in reference to these embodiments, it will be understood that they are not intended to limit the invention. To the contrary, the invention is intended to cover alternatives, modifications, and equivalents that are included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claims. In the following disclosure, specific details are given to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details.

[0032] The present invention provides for a method for destroying plant root tissue in a targeted, localized area, comprising applying to the tissue an effective amount of glufosinate, a glufosinate salt, and/or a glufosinate derivate. In some examples, the root control composition may include glufosinate-ammonium, the scientific name of which is 2-amino-4-(hydroxymethylphosphinyl)butanoic acid monoammonium salt, and which has the chemical structure:

##STR00001##

[0033] Glufosinate, a glufosinate salt, and/or a glufosinate derivate may be incorporated into a root treatment composition that includes additional functional agents. The applied root treatment composition may include glufosinate, a glufosinate salt, and/or a glufosinate derivate in a concentration of between about 0.0001% w/w to about 5% w/w (e.g., about 0.001% w/w to about 2% w/w, about 0.0025 w/w and about 1 percent w/w), or other ranges therein). Such solutions may further comprise other agents, such as a root growth inhibitor, such as dichlobenil, at effective concentrations. The root growth inhibitor may be present in said root control composition in a concentration of about 0.001% w/w to about 2% w/w. Such solutions may also comprise adjuvants such as a surfactant to facilitate foaming, a thickening agent to increase viscosity of the composition, and/or other agents to improve the adherence and penetration of the active agents, such as emulsifiers, wetting agents, penetrants, spreaders, and sticking agents.

[0034] The root treatment composition may be applied as a solution as a pressurized spray. In some embodiments, the root treatment composition may be applied to exposed roots as a foam. For example, the root treatment composition may be mixed with water and surfactant, which acts as a foaming agent. In other embodiments, the root treatment composition may be a viscous solution comprising a thickening agent. The root treatment composition may be delivered into a subterranean pipe using a hydraulic sewer cleaning system that includes at least a tank, a pumping system, and a delivery mechanism.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 1, an application hose 11 may be placed within a subterranean pipe 20 (e.g., into a sewer pipe), from a first end of the pipe 21 to the other. A hydraulic sewer cleaning machine 10 may be used to apply the root treatment composition into the pipe 20. The delivery hose 11 may be delivered into the pipe by manual introduction. A high-pressure nozzle 15 may be present on the distal end of the delivery hose 11, which may be operable to deliver the root treatment composition in radiating sprays that provide 360 coverage of the surrounding roots and pipe. The angle of the nozzle apertures may be rearward facing, such that the jets of fluid emitted by the nozzle propel the nozzle 15 and the delivery hose 11 forward through the pipe 20.

[0036] An exemplary hydraulic sewer cleaning machine used to deliver the root treatment composition is depicted in FIG. 2. FIG. 2 provides a schematic diagram of the machine, including a tank 21 in which the root control composition may be housed, a high pressure pump 22 connected to the tank by a feeder hose 23, and the high pressure pump is able to pump water through a pressure line 24 to a hose reel 25 connected to a delivery hose 26 having a jet nozzle 27. The root control composition of root control agent is introduced into the tank 21 connected to the feeder hose 23 via a valve. The nozzle may be located at the free end of the delivery hose 26. The nozzle may have multiple rearward facing ports which eject fluid so as to propel the nozzle and hose forward. The nozzle may be a spinning nozzle, which may provide better coverage of the root control composition within the pipe. The spinning nozzle may provide a side ports that jet radiating streams of water in a direction approximately perpendicular to the pipe wall. The radiating jets of water from the side port causes the nozzle body to spin, thereby causing the direction of the spray to rotate, thereby widely distributing root control composition over the inner surface of the pipe. In further examples, the nozzle may be equipped with spray ports designed to atomize the root control composition, which may minimize droplet size, and reduce run-off.

[0037] Compressed air may be injected into a stream of the root treatment composition as it is being pumped, in order to create a foam. The foam composition may be introduced into a hydraulic sewer cleaning machine pump system into tank 21 or may be delivered into the delivery hose 26 of the machine to be propelled by pressurized water in the delivery hose 26. Alternatively, the root treatment composition may be conditioned into a foam by a conventional foam generating machine. The foam may be delivered under pressure to fill the targeted pipe. The filling capability may be optimized by altering the rate at which the application hose is retrieved. In order to fill a pipe with foam, the application hose may be retrieved at a rate (feet per minute) equal to the gallons of foam generated per minute divided by the volume (gallons per foot of length) of pipe.

[0038] As a non-limiting example of the invention, the foaming agent may have an expansion ratio of 20 to 1 when applied at a rate which utilizes 4.5 gallons of solution per minute, which therefore produces 90 gallons of foam per minute (4.5 gallons20). The volume of an 8 inch diameter pipe is approximately 2.6 gallons per foot of length. At an application rate of 90 gallons of foam per minute in an 8 inch diameter pipe, the hose should be retrieved at a rate of approximately 35 feet per minute (90 gallons/minute-2.6 gallons per foot=35 feet per minute). As another non-limiting example, the foaming compound may provide a lower expansion ratio, e.g., 15 to 1, and the foam may be applied at a lower rate, e.g., 3.5 gallons per minute. In such examples, the hose may eject approximately 53 gallons of foam per minute (3.515=53). If the pipe to be treated is 10 in diameter, the volume of the pipe is approximately 4 gallons per foot. The hose retrieval rate in this example would be approximately 13 feet per minute (53 gallons per minute4 gallons per foot=13.25).

[0039] In another non-limiting example, the flow in large diameter pipes (e.g., 15 and greater) may overpower the foam such that it cannot fill the pipe and remain in place. This condition may be addressed by applying a 3 to 4 coating of foam along the entire inside circumference of the pipe. The volume of foam required to coat a pipe may be calculated by determining the volume of the pipe to be treated (per foot), and subtracting from that the volume of a pipe 6 to 8 inches smaller in diameter (per foot).

CONCLUSION/SUMMARY

[0040] The present invention thusly provides compositions and methods for killing off roots that invade and/or surround subterranean pipe works. It is to be understood that variations, modifications, and permutations of embodiments of the present invention, and uses thereof, may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. It is also to be understood that the present invention is not limited by the specific embodiments, descriptions, or illustrations or combinations of either components or steps disclosed herein. Thus, although reference has been made to the accompanying figures, it is to be appreciated that these figures are exemplary and are not meant to limit the scope of the invention.

[0041] The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto and their equivalents.