Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for creating an advantageous growing zone in a soilbed having a topsoil stratum and a hardpan stratum

US5437336A · kind A · utility

9Cited by
14References
33Claims
0Family size

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateApr 19, 1993
Grant dateAug 1, 1995
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 19, 2013

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA01B49/02
  • WIPO fieldOther special machines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A soilbed having a topsoil stratum and a subsurface hardpan stratum is fractured by a subsoiling tine to form a trench-like path which extends in depth at least partially into the hardpan stratum. One or more pairs of rotatable blades are operated thereafter which lift up, invert, and mound nutrient-rich topsoil from the topsoil stratum on either side of the trench-like path into the trench-like path. The mounded topsoil provides an unusually hospitable environment for plant growth, especially for the root systems of plants. Additional features, such as blade attachments, coulter disks, and a bulldozer blade may be provided to enable efficient operation with consistently beneficial results.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.