Hydration maintenace apparatus and method
View Patent ↗A material for maintaining hydration in plants, whether potted or in natural soils may include a substrate treated with a binder, securing a layer of hydrating particles thereto. Typical binders may include lignicite, or other naturally occurring materials such as sugars, molasses, corn syrup, gelatin, water, a combination, or the like. Substrates may include natural organic materials or inorganic materials. Various materials can serve as a hydrating, particulate coating. Polyacrylamide has been found to serve well in holding water near plants in a soil.
1. A method of soil amendment, the method comprising:
providing a substrate of a first material as granules;
coating the granules individually with a binder;
providing a second material as a powder, solid and hydrophilic;
adhering to the granules individually, with the binder, the powder; and
distributing the granules as an amendment to a soil.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein distributing the granules further comprises distributing the granules proximate a root location corresponding to a plant.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein distributing further comprises distributing the granules in a layer placed in a location selected from under the soil, within the soil, and on the soil.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the layer is disposed on a surface and the method further comprises covering the layer.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein covering further comprises adding a soil on top of the layer.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second materials is selected from a naturally occurring material, and the second material is selected from the remaining type thereof.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the first material is selected from an organic material and a non-organic material, and the second material is selected from the remaining type thereof.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the binder is selected from a naturally occurring polymer, a synthetic polymer, and water; and
the method further comprises
distributing the granules, and
exposing the granules to irrigation.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the substrate is selected from sand, gravel, vermiculite, pearlite, and a naturally occurring organic substrate.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the powder constitutes from about 1 to about 20 percent of the weight of a granule;
the first material is an organic substrate; and
the second material is an acrylamide.
11. A method for composing a soil amendment, the method comprising:
providing a carrier comprising granules distinct from one another, having a first effective diameter, and of a material distinct from that of a soil to be amended;
selecting an absorber formed as a powder having a second effective diameter less than the first diameter, and formed of an absorber material distinct from the carrier and the soil;
selecting a binder;
coating at least a portion of each granule of the carrier with the binder;
forming the soil amendment by adhering the powder to the binder on each granule.
12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising distributing the soil amendment proximate a growing region for plants.
13. A method for amending soil comprising:
providing a substrate of a first material as granules;
coating the granules individually with a binder;
providing a second material, in powder form, selected to comprise a polymer that is hydrophilic;
coating the binder on the individual granules with the powder;
positioning the granules to amend a soil.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein:
the first material is a naturally occurring substrate; and
the binder is selected from a naturally occurring material.
15. The method of claim 13 , wherein:
the powder is sized to have an effective diameter of from about 20 to about 100 mesh;
the powder coats the granules in an amount of from about one to about 20 percent by weight;
the method further comprises placing the granules in contact with a soil;
the method further comprises exposing the granules to irrigation after the placing.