BIODEGRADABLE IRRIGATION DRIP TAPE AND METHOD OF USING SAME

• US 20090224078A1
• Filed: 03/04/2008
• Published: 09/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Deere & Company
• Original Assignee: Deere & Company
• Inventors: Anderson, Noel W.
• Application Number:
  US12/041,783
• Publication Number:
  US 20090224078A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 239/542
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/02 Watering arrangements located above the soil which make use of perforated pipe-lines or pipe-lines with dispensing fittings, e.g. for drip irrigation
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/20 Arrangements of several outlets along elongated bodies, e.g. perforated pipes or troughs, e.g. spray booms spray booms for agricultural uses A01M7/0071; spray bars for treating roads E01C19/176; Outlet elements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 15/658 the spraying apparatus or its outlet axis being perpendicular to the flow conduit
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 63/06 derived from hydroxycarboxylic acids
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 40/22 Improving land use; Improving water use or availability; Controlling erosion

Abstract

An agricultural irrigation assembly includes a water supply header and a plurality of drip tapes fluidly coupled with the supply header. Each drip tape consists essentially of a biodegradable plastic material. A catalyst dispenser is in fluid communication with the supply header. The catalyst dispenser contains a catalyst for initiating fast degradation of the biodegradable plastic material.

Claims

1. An agricultural irrigation assembly, comprising:

a water supply header;

a plurality of drip tapes fluidly coupled with said supply header, each said drip tape consisting essentially of a biodegradable plastic material; and

a catalyst dispenser in fluid communication with said supply header, said dispenser containing a catalyst for initiating fast degradation of said biodegradable plastic material.

2. The agricultural irrigation assembly of claim 1, wherein said biodegradable plastic material consists essentially of a polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) polymer.

3. The agricultural irrigation assembly of claim 1, wherein said catalyst consists essentially of one of a chemical and an enzyme.

4. The agricultural irrigation assembly of claim 1, wherein said catalyst is an organic catalyst.

5. The agricultural irrigation assembly of claim 4, wherein said catalyst is an enzyme.

6. The agricultural irrigation assembly of claim 5, wherein said catalyst is a microorganism producing an enzyme.

7. The agricultural irrigation assembly of claim 1, wherein said catalyst dispenser is metered into said supply header by one of a pump and a venturi.

8. The agricultural irrigation assembly of claim 1, wherein said catalyst is metered into said supply header and degrades said biodegradable plastic in less than 24 hours.

9. The agricultural irrigation assembly of claim 8, wherein said supply header is made from a material which is substantially unaffected by said catalyst.

10. The agricultural irrigation assembly of claim 1, wherein said supply header is an irrigation hose.

11. A method of using irrigation drip tape for the irrigation of soil, comprising the steps of:

transporting water through a water supply header and a plurality of drip tapes fluidly coupled with said supply header, each said drip tape consisting essentially of a biodegradable plastic material;

irrigating the soil using water flowing through a plurality of emitters formed in each said drip tape;

dispensing a catalyst from a catalyst dispenser into said supply header and said plurality of drip tapes; and

degrading said biodegradable plastic material using said catalyst.

12. The method of using irrigation drip tape of claim 11, wherein said dispensing step includes metering said catalyst into said supply header using one of a pump and a venturi.

13. The method of using irrigation drip tape of claim 11, wherein said dispensing step includes metering said catalyst into said supply header, and said degrading step degrades said biodegradable plastic in less than 24 hours.

14. The method of using irrigation drip tape of claim 13, wherein said supply header is made from a material which is substantially unaffected by said catalyst.

15. The method of using irrigation drip tape of claim 11, wherein said biodegradable plastic material consists essentially of a polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) polymer.

16. The method of using irrigation drip tape of claim 11, wherein said catalyst consists essentially of one of a chemical and an enzyme.

17. The method of using irrigation drip tape of claim 11, wherein said catalyst is an organic catalyst.

18. The method of using irrigation drip tape of claim 17, wherein said catalyst is an enzyme.

19. The method of using irrigation drip tape of claim 18, wherein said catalyst is a microorganism producing an enzyme.

20. The method of using irrigation drip tape of claim 11, wherein said supply header is an irrigation hose.