Mulch and method of manufacturing mulch

• US 20040065005A1
• Filed: 02/25/2003
• Published: 04/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Samuel J Morris
• Original Assignee: Samuel J Morris
• Inventors: Morris, Samuel J.
• Application Number:
  US10/374,704
• Publication Number:
  US 20040065005A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 47/9
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 13/0262 Mulches, i.e. covering material not-pre-formed in mats or sheets A01G13/0281 takes precedence; composition of mulches C09K17/52
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 17/52 Mulches
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 40/28 specially adapted for farming

Abstract

A mulch for use in association with the germination of seed comprising paper particles and corn particles. The paper and corn particles are intimately mixed into a substantially uniform mulch. The mulch may be compressed into a pellet form. Additionally, the invention includes a method of manufacturing the mulch.

Claims

1. A mulch for use in association with the germination of seed comprising:

paper particles; and

corn particles;

wherein the paper and corn particles are intimately mixed into a substantially uniform mulch.

2. The mulch product of claim 1 further comprising a tackifier/binder.

3. The mulch product of claim 2 wherein the tackifier/binder comprises one of the group consisting of:

guar gum, plantego gum, vegetable gums, starches and water-swellable polymers.

4. The mulch product of claim 2 wherein the tackifier content is between 0 and 3% by weight.

5. The mulch product of claim 1 further comprising a surfactant.

6. The mulch product of claim 5 wherein the surfactant is selected from one of the group consisting of:

anionic, cationic and non-ionic.

7. The mulch product of claim 5 wherein the surfactant content is between 0 and 0.5% by weight.

8. The mulch product of claim 1 wherein the paper particles comprise shredded paper.

9. The mulch product of claim 8 wherein the paper particles comprise one of the group consisting of:

paperboard, cardboard, newspaper and recycled paper.

10. The mulch product of claim 1 wherein the paper content ranges between 15 and 95% by weight.

11. The mulch product of claim 1 wherein the corn particles comprise at least one of corn stalks and corn husks.

12. The mulch product of claim 1 further comprising a dye.

13. The mulch product of claim 12 wherein the dye consists of one of the following colors:

pink, green, blue-green, red, purple, yellow and combinations of the foregoing.

14. A pelleted mulch product comprising:

paper particles; and

corn mulch particles,

wherein the paper particles and corn particles are mixed and pelleted.

15. The mulch product of claim 14 wherein the pellets generally comprise 15 to 98% by weight paper particles.

16. The mulch product of claim 14 wherein the pellets generally comprise 2 to 85% by weight corn particles.

17. The mulch product of claim 14 wherein the pellets generally include a length of about ⅛

to ½

inches.

18. The mulch product of claim 14 wherein the pellets generally include a circular cross-sectional configuration.

19. The mulch product of claim 14 wherein the pellets further comprise a tackifier/binder.

20. The mulch product of claim 19 wherein the tackifier/binder comprises about 0 to 3% by weight of the mulch.

21. The mulch product of claim 14 further comprising a surfactant.

22. The mulch product of claim 14 wherein the surfactant comprises about 0 to 0.5% by weight of the mulch.

23. A method for manufacturing a mulch product comprising the steps of:

providing paper particles;

providing corn particles; and

mixing the paper and corn mulch particles.

24. The method of claim 23 further comprising the steps of:

pelletizing the mixed paper and corn particles.

25. The method of claim 23 further comprising the step of mixing a tacifier with at least one of the paper particles and the corn particles.

26. The method of claim 23 further comprising the step of mixing a surfactant with at least one of the paper particles and the corn particles.