Method and apparatus for creating an advantageous growing zone in a soilbed having a topsoil stratum and a hardpan stratum
First Claim
1. An apparatus to produce an improved planting bed in soil having a subsurface hardpan stratum and a surface topsoil stratum, comprising:
- (a) a frame;
(b) means attached to said frame for creating a fracture zone in said subsurface hardpan stratum and said topsoil stratum, wherein said fracturing means operates to form an elongated trench having a predetermined depth in said fracture zone; and
(c) at least two pairs of rotatable blades mounted rearwardly on said frame and spaced transversely apart from said fracturing means for breaking up said topsoil stratum and mounding topsoil in said elongated trench, wherein each blade of each pair of blades is parallel to the other blade of said pair.
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Accused Products
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.
23 Citations
33 Claims
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1. An apparatus to produce an improved planting bed in soil having a subsurface hardpan stratum and a surface topsoil stratum, comprising:
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(a) a frame; (b) means attached to said frame for creating a fracture zone in said subsurface hardpan stratum and said topsoil stratum, wherein said fracturing means operates to form an elongated trench having a predetermined depth in said fracture zone; and (c) at least two pairs of rotatable blades mounted rearwardly on said frame and spaced transversely apart from said fracturing means for breaking up said topsoil stratum and mounding topsoil in said elongated trench, wherein each blade of each pair of blades is parallel to the other blade of said pair. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of preparing a soilbed having a subsurface hardpan stratum and a surface topsoil stratum, in order to provide an improved planting medium for plants having root systems, comprising the steps of:
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(a) forming an elongated trench of a predetermined depth in the soil which extends in depth through said topsoil stratum and at least partway into said hardpan stratum, thereby fracturing said hardpan stratum; (b) lifting and inverting topsoil from said topsoil stratum along said elongated trench; and (c) mounding said lifted and inverted topsoil in said elongated trench. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An apparatus to produce an improved planting bed in soil having a subsurface hardpan stratum and a surface topsoil stratum, comprising:
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(a) a frame; (b) means attached to said frame for creating a fracture zone in said subsurface hardpan stratum and said topsoil stratum, wherein said fracturing means operates to form an elongated trench having a predetermined depth in said fracture zone; and (c) at least one transversely spaced pair of rotatable blades mounted rearwardly on said frame and spaced transversely apart from said fracturing means for breaking up said topsoil stratum and mounding topsoil in said elongated trench, wherein a trailing edge of one blade and a center of the other blade substantially lie on a line which is substantially perpendicular to an operative direction of travel. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification