Manufactured soil

• US 20050235716A1
• Filed: 09/22/2004
• Published: 10/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Alice A. Devine
• Original Assignee: Alice A. Devine
• Inventors: Devine, Alice A.
• Application Number:
  US10/947,642
• Publication Number:
  US 20050235716A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 71/6
• CPC Class Codes: C05F 17/00 Preparation of fertilisers characterised by biological or biochemical treatment steps, e.g. composting or fermentation
• CPC Class Codes: C05F 17/70 Controlling the treatment in response to process parameters
• CPC Class Codes: C05F 17/943 Means for combined mixing and conveying
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/145 the feedstock being materials of biological origin
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 30/40 Bio-organic fraction processing; Production of fertilisers from the organic fraction of waste or refuse

Abstract

The disclosure sets forth methods for cattle waste composting and post-composting treatments. The composting includes the steps of forming a windrow of beef cattle manure, adding moisture to the windrow, monitoring the temperature of the windrow, maintaining the moisture content of the windrow and mixing the windrow after a predetermined temperature drop. The windrow is formed in an outdoor environment, preferably without a carbon amendment. During active composting, the moisture content of the organic portion of the windrow is kept within a range of 40% to 65% by weight. Steps of monitoring the temperature, addition moisture, and mixing are repeated until such steps do not create a predetermined significant temperature increase following the step of mixing. The composting is completed by curing. The compost can then be ground and pelletized to be used as a manufactured soil for various applications.

Claims

1. A method of creating a soil product comprising:

a. composting animal waste;

b. curing the compost;

c. grinding the cured compost; and

d. pelletizing the ground compost.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the animal waste includes beef manure.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said composting the animal waste includes:

a. forming a pile of waste in an outdoor environment;

b. monitoring the temperature of the pile;

c. monitoring the moisture content of the pile;

d. mixing the pile after a predetermined temperature drop;

e. adding moisture to the pile to maintain the moisture content of the pile within a predetermined moisture range; and

f. repeating the steps of monitoring the temperature and moisture, adding moisture, and mixing until such steps do not create a significant temperature increase following the step of mixing.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising layering the pelletized compost with non-pelletized, ground compost.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising mixing the pelletized compost with non-pelletized compost.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the non-pelletized compost is ground prior to mixing.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein pelletizing the ground compost includes creating pellets of varying sizes.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein pellets of varying sizes are created by crumbling.

7. A soil product produced by the process including:

a. composting animal waste;

b. curing the compost;

c. grinding the cured compost; and

d. pelletizing the ground compost.

8. The soil product of claim 7, wherein the compost is produced by a process including:

a. collecting cattle waste;

b. forming the cattle waste into at least one pile;

c. bringing the moisture level of the pile within a predetermined range;

d. monitoring the temperature of the pile;

e. mixing the pile upon a predetermined temperature drop of the pile; and

f. repeating the steps of monitoring and mixing until mixing results in no significant temperature increase.

9. The soil product of claim 8, wherein the process further includes checking the moisture content of the pile after a predetermined temperature drop and adding moisture to the pile as needed to bring the moisture content within a predetermined range.

10. The soil product of claim 7, wherein the process further includes adding a nitrogen source.

11. The soil product of claim 7, wherein the process further includes adding plant seeds.

12. A method of creating a soil product comprising:

a. forming a pile of waste in an outdoor environment;

b. monitoring the temperature of the pile;

c. monitoring the moisture content of the pile;

d. mixing the pile after a predetermined temperature drop;

e. adding moisture to the pile to maintain the moisture content of the pile within a predetermined moisture range;

f. repeating the steps of monitoring the temperature and moisture, adding moisture, and mixing until such steps do not create a significant temperature increase following the step of mixing;

g. curing and mixing the pile to create a cured material; and

h. grinding the cured material.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising pelletizing the cured material after said step of grinding.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said waste includes beef manure.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising layering the pelletized compost with non-pelletized, cured material.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the non-pelletized, cured material is ground prior to layering.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising mixing the pelletized material with non-pelletized, cured material.

23. The method of claim 13, further comprising crumbling the pellets into differing sizes.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising sifting the pellets into differing sizes.

18. A method of creating a filter material comprising:

a. composting animal waste;

b. curing the compost;

c. grinding the cured compost; and

d. pelletizing the ground compost.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising layering the pelletized, ground compost with other materials.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the other layer materials include a non-pelletized soil product.

25. The method of claim 19, wherein the pelletized compost includes pellets of varying sizes.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the pellets are sifted prior to layering.