Subsurface Barrier Retention System and Methods Related Thereto

• US 20130209172A1
• Filed: 10/13/2011
• Published: 08/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Board of Trustees of Michigan State University (Michigan State University)
• Original Assignee: The Board of Trustees of Michigan State University (Michigan State University)
• Inventors: Smucker, Alvin J.M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,615,518 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 405/38
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/00 Watering gardens, fields, sports grounds or the like special apparatus or adaptations for fertilising-liquids A01C23/00; nozzles or outlets, spraying apparatus B05B
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 27/02 having a water reservoir, the main part thereof being located wholly around or directly beside the growth substrate A01G27/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 29/00 Root feeders; Injecting fertilisers into the roots
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 5/02 for digging trenches or ditches machines for making foundation slots E02F3/205, E02F3/475 take precedence; agricultural ploughs for working ridges A01B13/02

Abstract

A subsurface retention barrier system installed in situ to retain water in a projected root zone of one or more plants is disclosed. An apparatus and system for installing the subsurface retention barriers and methods related thereto are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A system for installing a subsurface retention barrier comprising:

one or more barrier installation devices connectable to a forward moving device, wherein each of the one or more barrier installation devices have a film chamber configured to fold a film to form a folded curvilinear film, to bend the folded curvilinear film to form a bended and folded curvilinear film and to open the bended and folded curvilinear film to form a curvilinear film oriented for deposition into a medium in a projected root zone below the surface; and

a guidance system in communication with the forward moving device, the guidance system for positioning each of the subsurface retention barriers in a particular position configured to maximize retention in the subsurface retention barrier.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the forward moving device is a tractor, the medium is soil, and the guidance system is a global positioning satellite system, further wherein the curvilinear film can be installed at multiple soil depths in a continuous fashion with minimal disturbance to the surface.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the guidance system further includes a depth control wheel connected to the one or more depth control wheels, further wherein each of the subsurface retention barriers retain about 180% to about 300% more water as compared in the projected root zone as compared to a root zone without a subsurface retention barrier.

4. An apparatus for installing a subsurface retention barrier comprising:

an implement having a sweep configured to pass through a medium to temporarily lift the medium to define a cavity therein, the implement configured to dispose a film in the cavity, wherein the implement has a film folding chamber with a curved film entrance configured to fold the film and a folded film transfer chamber contiguous with the film folding chamber for receiving folded film and providing it to a transfer and placement chamber, the transfer and placement chamber having a curvilinear film exit configured to unfold and install the film into a curvilinear trough defining a concave cross section, the trough opening to a surface of the medium, wherein the installed film forms the subsurface retention barrier.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the curved film entrance is a cordate-shaped entrance such that an apex of the film is aligned toward a direction of travel of the implement, and the curved film exit has a plurality of curved surfaces.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the implement is configured to create the cavity at a preselected depth to permit cultivation of a projected root zone in the soil without disturbing the soil surface and the subsurface retention barrier is configured to provide retained water to the projected root zone.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the barrier is at least partially biodegradable.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the apparatus further comprises a film dispenser and a film channel configured to guide the film through the implement.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the film is configured to resist one or both of soil meofaunal or root penetration.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein one or more portions of the subsurface retention barrier are engineered to be semi-permeable in at least one direction.

11. The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising a global positioning satellite (GPS) device coupled to the apparatus.

12. A method for installing a subsurface retention barrier beneath a medium surface comprising:

forming a subsurface retention cavity in a medium located beneath the medium surface by temporarily moving the medium;

positioning one or more subsurface retention barriers within the subsurface retention cavity in a configuration for retaining a maximum amount of available liquid; and

filling the subsurface retention cavity with the temporarily removed medium, such that the medium surface remains in a substantially undisturbed condition after the installation.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the medium is soil and the subsurface retention barrier is a subsurface water retention barrier installed in a site specific location and the method further comprises determining a barrier installation pattern using crop data and filling the trough.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising forming the barrier into a u-shaped barrier having width to height ratio of between about 1.5:

1 to about 2.5;

1 around a projected root zone of one or more plants.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein forming a subsurface cavity comprises dragging an implement through the soil to define the subsurface cavity that opens to a surface of the soil.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein forming a subsurface cavity includes penetrating the soil with a pointed shoe tip.

17. The method of claim 15 comprising determining a depth of the cavity using at least two of precipitation records, water infiltration rate, wind speed, relative humidity, soil temperature, solar radiation, soil type, soil and crop management practices, water management, or plant rooting depths.

18. The method of claim 13 wherein forming a subsurface cavity includes dragging an implement through the soil to define a temporary trough in the soil and further comprising filling the trough.

19. A subsurface retention barrier system comprising:

a series of curvilinear barriers installed in a soil beneath a root zone of a plant to collect and retain nutrients, water, or both in a manner sufficient to enhance growth of the plant.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein at least one of the curvilinear barriers is deeper than other curvilinear barriers in the series, at least two of the series of curvilinear barriers are in contact with one another, or a combination thereof.