Method of suspending weed growth in soil

Abstract

Introducing chlorine dioxide solution into an agricultural soil in an amount effective to suspend weed and pathogen growth in the soil. The chlorine dioxide is allowed to decompose in the soil. Then, a crop is planted in the treated soil. The decomposed chlorine dioxide provides nutrients for the crops as they grow.

Claims

1. A method of treating soil, the method comprising: combining a first solution comprising phosphonobutane tricarboxylic acid, hydrochloric acid, and water and a second solution comprising a chlorite salt and water to yield a third solution comprising solubilized chlorine dioxide, providing the third solution inline to an irrigation system, wherein the irrigation system is configured to deliver water and water-carried nutrients to crops growing in the soil; introducing the solubilized chlorine dioxide into the soil through one or more drip irrigation conduits of the irrigation system in an amount effective to suspend weed and pathogen growth in the soil, wherein the effective amount of the solubilized chlorine dioxide is at a concentration in a range between 150 ppm to 950 ppm; and allowing the solubilized chlorine dioxide to decompose in the soil for a period of time before planting a crop in the soil.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the chlorite salt is sodium chlorite.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more drip irrigation conduits comprise discrete emitters.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more drip irrigation conduits comprise continuous, integral emitters.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising covering the soil for at least part of the time that the solubilized chlorine dioxide is decomposing in the soil.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising irrigating the soil with the irrigation system prior to introducing the solubilized chlorine dioxide into the soil.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein introducing the solubilized chlorine dioxide into the soil comprises saturating the soil with water.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the period of time before planting a crop in the soil is at least 6 days.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Like reference numerals will be used throughout the several views of the drawing, and:

(2) FIG. 1 is a flow diagram showing a solution of water and acid being added to a solution of sodium chlorite and water to form a combined solution (herein termed the chlorine dioxide), and showing the chlorine dioxide being delivered into irrigation water in a conduit leading to irrigation emitters; and

(3) FIG. 2 is a schematic view of one of the emitters shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(4) The soil must be available or provided. This may entail plowing and tiling a field or providing growing beds composed of bed frames and natural soils or other growing mediums placed in the frames. The soil or other bedding material will usually include the seeds of weeds and other invasive vegetation that will cause the above-discussed problems unless their growth is suspended. According to the invention, chlorine dioxide is used to suspend the undesirable invasive plant growth.

(5) Referring to FIG. 1, chlorine dioxide may be prepared by admixing acid in water to form a first solution; admixing sodium chlorite and water to form a second solution; and combining the two solutions to produce a combined solution that is delivered to the soil, such as by use of the irrigation system provided for delivering water and water carried nutrients to the crops as they are growing in the growing bed. A source of irrigation water is labeled 10. This irrigation water is delivered by a conduit 12 to emitters. Drip irrigation conduits can generally be classified in two types: conduits having discreet emitters and conduits having continuous, integral emitters. FIG. 2 is representative of a discreet emitter 14. It is connected at one end of the conduit 12 and has a discharge outlet 16 at its opposite end. An example of a drip irrigation system having discreet emitters is shown by U.S. Pat. No. 4,850,531, granted Jul. 25, 1989, to Kermit R. Littleton. An example of a drip irrigation conduit having continuous, integral emitters is shown by U.S. Pat. No. 4,247,051, granted Jan. 27, 1981, to Davies Allport. A supplier of irrigation conduit with the emitters incorporated into the conduit is T-Systems International, located in San Diego, Calif., USA.

(6) Accordingly, the chlorine dioxide is formed and is delivered to the growing beds and the soil or other growing medium in the beds are contacted by chlorine dioxide for a sufficient time to allow the solution to decompose in the soil and both suspend weed and pathogen growth in the soil, and decompose into components which are beneficial to the desired plant growth without adverse effects to the environment.

EXAMPLE

(7) Water (27.5%), PBTC (17.5%) and hydrochloric acid (HCl) (55%) were admixed to form a first solution. Water (85%) and sodium chlorite (15%) were admixed to form a second solution. The first and second solutions were combined to form a combined solution. Sufficient contact time was allowed in the mixing vessel 12 to convert a substantial portion of the sodium chlorite solution into chlorine dioxide. The combined solution can also be referred to as chlorine dioxide. For test purposes, five soil beds were prepared. These beds were covered with sheet plastic. In the first bed, 150 ppm of chlorine dioxide was added irrigation water and the mixture was introduced to the soil bed until the soil bed was saturated. In the second soil bed, 350 ppm of chlorine dioxide was added to irrigation water and the mixture was introduced into the second soil bed until the second soil bed was saturated. The third soil bed received 750 ppm of chlorine dioxide in irrigation water until that bed was saturated. The fourth soil bed received a mixture of 950 ppm of chlorine dioxide in irrigation water until that soil bed was saturated. The fifth soil bed was treated with methyl-bromide at E.P.A. label recommended dose rates.

(8) After six days of treatment, all four dosages of the chlorine dioxide and irrigation water treated beds were found to suspend weed and undesirable plant growth entirely, in equal to the performance of the methyl-bromide but without any negative consequences to the environment. The chlorine dioxide decomposed into oxygen, water, sodium chloride, and phosphorus becoming nutrients for the crops and not harming the environment. The methyl-bromide, on the other hand, even though effective as a fumigant, had an adverse effect on the environment.

(9) The yield performance of chlorine dioxide treated soils exceeded the methyl bromide treated soils. The higher chlorine dioxide levels demonstrated greater yields. See table below.

(10) TABLE-US-00001 Market- able Crates/ Crates/ Fruit Soil Treatment Acres Acre Grams Appearance Firmness Methyl Bromide 455 428 32.8 3.1 4.0 (used as at EPA label requirements) Chlorine Dioxide 495 431 25.5 3.2 3.8 (75 ppm solution) Chlorine Dioxide 483 435 26.6 3.4 4.0 (175 ppm solution) Chlorine Dioxide 429 572 27.1 3.3 3.9 (375 ppm solution) Chlorine Dioxide 651 605 28.9 3.3 4.0 (475 ppm solution)

(11) The chlorine dioxide treatment can be used with any growing soil or soil bed in which it is desirable to prevent the harmful effects of invasive weeds and other unwanted vegetation. This includes soil used to grow food, crops and soil used to grow ornamental plants. At times, it may be necessary or desirable to irrigate the soil before treatment to allow the undesirable plant seeds to become more active due to the water component and thus more susceptible to the growth suspension when the chlorine dioxide is applied.

(12) The invention is not to be limited by the foregoing description but rather is to be determined by the claims that follows, interpreted by the established rules of patent claim interpretation.