Method for afforestation of sands and the like

• US 6,378,247 B1
• Filed: 01/19/2000
• Issued: 04/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tokyo University of Agriculture
• Original Assignee: Tokyo University of Agriculture
• Inventors: Takahashi, Satoru
• Primary Examiner(s): Poon, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): COPIER, FLORIS C
• Application Number:
  US09/487,602
• Time in Patent Office: 832 Days
• Field of Search: 47/71, 47/25, 47/10.1 F, 47/73--75, 47/84, 47/405
• US Class Current: 47/75
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 23/00 Forestry
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 9/02 Receptacles, e.g. flower-pots or boxes self-acting watering devices A01G27/00; hanging flower baskets, holders or containers for flower-pots A47G7/00; Glasses for cultivating flowers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 40/22 Improving land use; Improving water use or availability; Controlling erosion
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 60/40 Afforestation or reforestation

Abstract

A method for afforestation of sands and the like and a structure used for said method. The method and structure permit trees and vegetables to take root and grow easily and certainly in tropical arid land. The method comprises digging the ground to form a vertical hole with a prescribed sectional area and depth, fitting an outer cylindrical body into the hole, filling the outer cylindrical body with soil containing a water-holding material, making a hole with a prescribed sectional area and depth at the center of the soil in the outer cylindrical body, placing in the hole an inner cylindrical body with a prescribed sectional area and length which is filled with soil containing a water-holding material and has a large number of vent holes in its lower section, watering the soil in the outer cylindrical body and the inner cylindrical body so that the water-holding material absorbs sufficient water, sowing a seed or transplanting a nursery tree in the soil in the inner cylindrical body, and growing the plant, with the outer cylindrical body preventing water from escaping from the soil therein, and the soil in the outer cylindrical body isolating the soil in the inner cylindrical body from the ground heat, thereby keeping the soil for vegetation in a wet condition.

Claims

1. A structure used for afforestation of sands and the like, said structure comprising a heat-insulating outer cylindrical body with a prescribed sectional area and length, and a heat-insulating inner cylindrical body with a prescribed sectional area and length, said inner cylindrical body being filled with soil for vegetation containing a water-holding material and being inserted into a hole formed at the center of the outer cylindrical body, wherein the outer cylindrical body is provided with a water container at its lower ends, said water container functioning as a weight and supplying water to the soil upon breakage.

2. A structure used for afforestation of sands and the like as defined in claim 1, wherein the inner cylindrical body is one which is formed from a plastic sheet or one which is molded from plastics or a pipe of polyvinyl chloride.

3. A structure used for afforestation of sands and the like as defined in claim 1, wherein the outer cylindrical body is one which is formed from a material selected from biodegradable plastics, kraft paper, sisal hemp, cedar bark, carbon paper, and regenerated corrugated board, which decompose and vanish spontaneously in soil.

4. The structure of claim 1, wherein said water-holding material is at least one selected from the group consisting of charcoal, peat moss, compost, husk, seaweeds, dung, weeds, and bentonite.

5. The structure of claim 1, wherein said water container is configured to break over time.

6. The structure of claim 1, wherein said water container is biodegradable.

7. The structure of claim 1, wherein said inner cylindrical body includes a closed bottom end.

8. The structure of claim 1, wherein said outer cylindrical body is configured to be placed into the ground such that soil surrounds said outer cylindrical body.

9. A structure used for afforestation of sands and the like, said structure comprising a heat-insulating outer cylindrical body with a prescribed sectional area and length, which is filled with soil containing a water-holding material such that a hole with a prescribed sectional area and length is formed at the center of the soil, and a heat-insulating inner cylindrical body with a prescribed sectional area and length, said inner cylindrical body being filled with soil for vegetation containing a water-holding material and being inserted into the hole formed at the center of the outer cylindrical body, wherein the outer cylindrical body is provided with a water container at its lower ends, said water container functioning as a weight and supplying water to the soil upon breakage.

10. A structure used for afforestation of sands and the like as defined in claim 9, wherein the inner cylindrical body is one which is formed from a plastic sheet or one which is molded from plastics.

11. The structure of claim 9, wherein said water-holding material is at least one selected from the group consisting of charcoal, peat moss, compost, husk, seaweeds, dung, weeds, and bentonite.

12. The structure of claim 9, wherein said inner cylindrical body includes a closed bottom end.

13. The structure of claim 9, wherein said outer cylindrical body is configured to be placed into the ground such that soil surrounds said outer cylindrical body.

14. A method for afforestation of sands and the like, said method comprising digging the ground to form a vertical hole with a prescribed sectional area and depth, fitting an outer cylindrical body into the hole, filling the outer cylindrical body with soil containing a water-holding material, making a hole with a prescribed sectional area and depth at the center of the soil in the outer cylindrical body, placing in the hole an inner cylindrical body with a prescribed sectional area and length which is filled with soil containing a water-holding material and has a large number of vent holes in its lower section, watering the soil in the outer cylindrical body and the inner cylindrical body so that the water-holding material absorbs sufficient water, sowing a seed or transplanting a nursery tree in the soil in the inner cylindrical body, and growing the plant, with the outer cylindrical body preventing water from escaping from the soil therein, and the soil in the outer cylindrical body isolating the soil in the inner cylindrical body from the ground heat, thereby keeping the soil for vegetation in a wet condition.

15. A method for afforestation of sands and the like as defined in claim 14, wherein the hole in the soil in the outer cylindrical body is formed by positioning a cylindrical body with a prescribed sectional area and length vertically at the center of the outer cylindrical body, and the space between the outer cylindrical body and the cylindrical body is filled with soil containing a water-holding material, and finally removing the cylindrical body.

16. A method for afforestation of sands and the like as defined in claim 14, wherein the hole in the soil in the outer cylindrical body is formed by filling the outer cylindrical body with soil containing a water-holding material and then digging the soil at its center to make a vertical hole with a prescribed sectional area and depth.

17. A method for afforestation of sands and the like as defined in claim 14, wherein the surface of the ground within a certain area gently declines toward the inner cylindrical body.

18. A method for afforestation of sands and the like as defined in claim 14, wherein the water-holding material is any one or more selected from char coal, peat moss, compost, husk of sorghum and peanut, seaweeds, dung such as cow dung, weeds, and bentonite.

19. A method for afforestation of sands and the like as defined in claim 14, wherein the inner cylindrical body is one which is prepared by filling a cylindrical body with a prescribed sectional area and length with soil containing a water-holding material, loosely tying at certain intervals along the length, and immersing in water so that the water-holding material absorbs sufficient water through vent holes made at least in the lower section of the cylindrical body.