Mulch and Methods of Manufacturing and Utilizing the Same

This invention relates to mulches and to methods of manufacturing and utilizing the same.

Paper mulches are well known. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,846,185; 2,685,150; 1,803,838; and 1,844,051. It has heretofore been proposed to render the paper mulch waterproof and fungus-resistant by completely coating the paper sheet with suitable fungicide and waterproofing materials. As taught by U.S. Pat. No. 3,493,464, for example, it has also been proposed to produce a fungus-resistant or mold-proof mulch paper by adding suitable materials to the pulp slurry from which the paper is made. The manufacture of all such mulch papers is rather expensive, however, hindering widespread utilization of the mulches.

In accordance with the present invention, it has been discovered that a highly satisfactory fungus-resistant or mold-proof mulch paper may be produced by coating or covering one side only of a paper sheet with a water-impervious material and by coating marginal regions only of the opposite side of the sheet with a water-insoluble fungicide. The treating of the marginal regions may occur as the sheet is fed from a supply roll and laid upon the ground with the waterproof side against the ground. Then only the treated marginal regions are covered with soil to hold the sheet against the ground for long periods without substantial deterioration.

The invention will be further described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate preferred and exemplary embodiments, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mulch in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the treating of marginal regions of the mulch as the mulch is fed from a supply roll and laid upon the ground; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the manner in which the mulch is held down on the ground.

Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIG. 1 thereof, a mulch 10 of the invention comprises a paper sheet 12, which may be ordinary 60 pound kraft paper, for example, substantially completely covered at one side thereof with a water-impervious material 14. This may be accomplished, for example, by coating or laminating one side of the paper sheet with polyethylene, wax, polyvinyl acetate, Saran, or the like, each of which may form a plastic layer on one side of sheet 12. At the opposite side of the paper sheet the paper is treated, at marginal regions 16 and 18 only, with a water-insoluble fungicide, which may comprise a solution of 99 parts diesel oil and 1 part pentachlorophenol, for example, producing a residual concentration of pentachlorophenol in the treated marginal regions of approximately 0.25% to 2%. Other suitable fungicides include 0.25 to 2% orthophenylphenol, 0.05 to 0.5% copper - 8 - quinolinolate, 0.05 to 2% metallic salt (i.e., copper, zinc, aluminum, cobalt, manganese, nickel, iron) of dimethyldithiocarbamic acid and mercaptobenzothiozole. Other metallic chelates of hydroxyquinoline may also be used. The diluent-carrier may be fuel oil or isopropyl alcohol, for example.

As shown in FIG. 2, the marginal regions 16 and 18, which are spaced from the longitudinal edges 20 and 22 of the paper sheet, may be treated as the mulch is fed from a supply roll 24, and laid upon the ground with the waterproof side 14 in contact with the ground (although the treatment may be carried out before the paper is rolled). It is well known to feed mulch paper or the like to the ground from a moving vehicle (diagrammatically shown by the vehicle frame 25), and it is also well known to coordinate with the paper mulch delivery other operations, such as paper slitting for plant openings and the transfer of soil or earth to the edges of the paper to retain the mulch upon the ground.

The marginal region treatment apparatus may comprise any suitable apparatus for coating the selected regions of the sheet. Diagrammatically such apparatus is represented by liquid feed tanks 26 and by applicators 28 (such as sponges or spray heads). Other suitable coating apparatus, such as the type employing cooperating padding rolls, pressure rollers, and metering rolls or doctor blades, may be employed, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

As or after the mulch is applied to the ground 27, as shown in FIG. 3, the treated marginal regions 16 and 18 are covered with soil 30 or the like to retain the mulch upon the ground. It has been discovered that maximum deterioration of untreated paper occurs at the soil/air/paper interface, becoming significantly less severe below the surface of the soil. Hence, by treating the paper sheet at the marginal regions covered by the soil and slightly beyond such regions, minimal deterioration occurs for prolonged periods of time (at least one growing season). The regions immediately adjacent to the longitudinal edges need not be treated, because the soil need not cover such regions. In addition, the invention is much less expensive than prior art fungus-resistant or mold-proof mulches which are treated uniformly throughout the mulch.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes can be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims.