Method for application of biochar in turf grass and landscaping environments

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11279662-B2
Application number	US-201916550980-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 26, 2019
Priority date	Jun 6, 2011
Publication date	Mar 22, 2022
Grant date	Mar 22, 2022

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for applying biochar to turf and landscape to allow the turf and landscape to be effectively maintained under reduced water and/or reduced fertilizer applications.

First claim

We claim:

1. A method for applying biochar to an area of soil prior to transplanting a plant, the method comprising:
removing soil, thereby creating a hole for the plant, thereby forming removed soil;
mixing the removed soil with the biochar to a final concentration of 1 to 30% by volume of biochar to soil, thereby forming a mixture of soil and biochar, wherein:
the biochar comprises a plurality of pores,
the plurality of pores comprises a total pore volume,
at least 25% of the total pore volume is filled with an additive solution using a surfactant, and
the plurality of pores comprise binders infused into at least some of the pores, the binders configured to facilitate binding of the biochar with seeds;

placing the plant in the hole; and
backfilling the hole with the mixture of soil and biochar.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mixture comprises additives beneficial to plants.

3. A method for applying biochar to a container or a bed prior to planting a seed or a plant, the method comprising:
mixing a soil with the biochar to a final concentration of 1 to 30% by volume of biochar to soil, thereby forming a mixture of soil and biochar;
placing the mixture of soil and biochar in the container or the bed; and
planting the seed or the plant in the mixture;
wherein the biochar comprises pores comprising a total pore volume, and wherein:
at least 25% of the total pore volume is filled with an additive solution;
the filling with an additive solution is achieved using a surfactant; and
the biochar pores comprise binders infused into the pores, the binders configured to facilitate binding of the biochar with seeds.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the binder infused into the pores comprises a starch solution.

5. The method of claim 3 , further comprising planting the seed in the mixture, and creating, prior to planting the seed in the mixture, a slurry of the biochar and the binder, immersing the seed in the slurry, and drying the seed such that the seed remains coated with the biochar.

Assignees

• Carbon Tech Holdings Llc

Inventors

• Wilson Richard W
• Kim Han Suk
• Bontchev Ranko Panayotov
• Wahlgren Neil Christopher
• Traxler Vern S
• Thompson Timothy Alan
• Buege Brian
• Jarand Mark L

Classifications

• C05F11/08

  Organic fertilisers containing added bacterial cultures, mycelia or the like · CPC title

• C09K17/04

  applied in a physical form other than a solution or a grout, e.g. as granules or gases · CPC title

• C05D9/00 Primary

  Other inorganic fertilisers · CPC title

• C10B57/02

  Multi-step carbonising or coking processes · CPC title

• Y02E50/10

  Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel · CPC title