Method for accelerating the biodegradation of crop residues following grain harvest
US5005345A · kind A · utility
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 5, 1990 |
| Grant date | Apr 9, 1991 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 5, 2010 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S56/02
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
Improved agricultural technology has increased yields of cereal crops to a level wherein the crop residues left on the land are of such volume as to interfere with the following crop. Historically, these residues have been incinerated and the practice continues to this day, polluting the air, causing health problems, destroying valuable natural plant foods and soil humus. It is the nature of cereal crop residues to degrade slowly because of their low nitrogen content and complex polysaccharide chemical moieties. This application teaches that by crushing and shredding the crop residue and applying a liquid nutrient enrichment medium for the growth of the native soil microflora decay can be accelerated. Species of fungi such as Rhizopus, Aspergillus, Penicillium, and species of the hay bacillus, Bacillus subtilis, Actinomyces, and the like, all being indigenous soil inhabitants, feeding voraciously on our microbial nutrient enrichment medium, provided as herein described, induce an accelerated rate of decay removing the need for incinerating the crop residue. By means of this disclosure cereal growers may improve their land without harm to the environment. The implementation of this …
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.