Abstract: Provided is a method of delivering water to a root system of a crop, the method including causing the crop to be adjacent to, or in a region of, soil containing hydrogel, and delivering air to the hydrogel.

Abstract: Provided is a method of delivering water to a root system of a crop, the method including causing the crop to be adjacent to, or in a region of, soil containing hydrogel, and delivering air to the hydrogel.

Abstract: An irrigation tube having outlets extending along the length of the tube in a spaced relationship and finely-divided silica or iron oxide particles dispersed in the tube thereby increasing a surface hardness of the tube to deter rodent, worm or insect damage, the silica particles further can include an odor repellant located within the particles.

Abstract: There is provided a plastic cylindrical pipe including a nonconductive wall, wherein the wall includes a filler that is either electrically conductive or magnetic.

Abstract: An irrigation tube having outlets extending along the length of the tube in a spaced relationship and finely-divided silica or iron oxide particles dispersed in the tube thereby increasing a surface hardness of the tube to deter rodent, worm or insect damage, the silica particles further can include an odor repellant located within the particles.

Abstract: A subsurface drip irrigation device having a tube having a first layer having a releasable herbicide compounded in the first layer are on an inside surface of the first layer, a second barrier layer adjacent the first layer, outlets extending through the tube in a spaced relationship along the tube, drippers positioned on an inside surface of the tube in a spaced relationship over an outlet where the barrier layer prevents outward movement of released herbicide through the first layer and directs the released herbicide into a flow path through the tube for exiting the drip irrigation device through an inlet into the dripper and out the outlet in the tube for preventing root intrusion into the device.

Abstract: A weed control root barrier includes a polymeric sheet material having spaced apart nodules or disks comprising a polymer containing a herbicide. The sheet is porous to permit free passage of water. It may be a non-woven fabric of non-biodegradable polyolefin material. Diffusion of the herbicide directly into the soil is controlled by a barrier material coated on selected portions of the nodules or disks. In one embodiment, essentially all the herbicide in the nodules or disks is directed into the soil via long term migration through and away from the sheet. The barrier layer is coated on portions of the nodules or disks facing the back surface of the carrier to block release of the herbicide to areas of the soil where it is not needed. Exposed surface portions of the nodules can be coated with the barrier material, leaving uncoated sides of the nodules from which herbicide may be released into the soil along a narrow zone of protection generally parallel to the front face of the carrier.

Abstract: A polyolefin sheet material carries layered segments of a polymer which contains a herbicide such as a 2,6-dinitroaniline. The sheet material can be porous to permit free passage of water. It may be either a perforated sheet or a woven or non-woven material. A desired material is a non-woven fabric of non-biodegradable polyolefin material, such as a geotextile, for example. In order to obtain a root growth-repelling property, the herbicide is blended with a polymer which is attached or bonded to or embedded in the geotextile, or other polyolefin carrier sheet material, in the form of spaced apart layered segments. Diffusion of the herbicide directly into the soil is prevented by a barrier material positioned on, coated on, or otherwise bonded to the layered segments, to encompass surfaces of the segments which are otherwise exposed on the sheet material.

Abstract: A weed control root barrier includes a polymeric sheet material having spaced apart nodules or disks comprising a polymer containing a herbicide. The sheet is porous to permit free passage of water. It may be a non-woven fabric of non-biodegradable polyolefin material. Diffusion of the herbicide directly into the soil is controlled by a barrier material coated on selected portions of the nodules or disks. In one embodiment, essentially all the herbicide in the nodules or disks is directed into the soil via long term migration through and away from the sheet. The barrier layer is coated on portions of the nodules or disks facing the back surface of the carrier to block release of the herbicide to areas of the soil where it is not needed. Exposed surface portions of the nodules can be coated with the barrier material, leaving uncoated sides of the nodules from which herbicide may be released into the soil along a narrow zone of protection generally parallel to the front face of the carrier.

Abstract: A water transmission tubing for controlling the flow of water under pressure comprises a tubular inner liner of generally uniform cross-sectional configuration continuous with the length of the tubing and having an anti-bacterial agent for preventing the growth of bacteria on the inside wall of the tube. The inner liner contains a dispersed slip additive that forms a low friction surface inside the tubing for preventing adherence of slime to the inside of the tubing. The slip additive can comprise a fluoroelastomer, a fluoropolymer, a silicone resinous material, or mixtures thereof. The liner can be a separate inner layer of a multi-layer dripline, a monolayer form of the dripline or the inside of a drip irrigation emitter. The invention is particularly useful in subsurface treatment of wastewater.

Abstract: A polyolefin sheet material carries layered segments of a polymer which contains a herbicide such as a 2,6-dinitroaniline. The sheet material can be porous to permit free passage of water. It may be either a perforated sheet or a woven or non-woven material. A desired material is a non-woven fabric of non-biodegradable polyolefin material, such as a geotextile, for example. In order to obtain a root growth-repelling property, the herbicide is blended with a polymer which is attached or bonded to or embedded in the geotextile, or other polyolefin carrier sheet material, in the form of spaced apart layered segments. Diffusion of the herbicide directly into the soil is prevented by a barrier material positioned on, coated on, or otherwise bonded to the layered segments, to encompass surfaces of the segments which are otherwise exposed on the sheet material.

Abstract: Greenhouse gas emissions containing methane are collected at the source and dispersed into the soil via subsurface drip irrigation techniques. In one embodiment, methane gas generated from anaerobic digestion in a septic tank, such as a decentralized septic system, is disposed of via a subsurface wastewater disposal system. Secondary-treated wastewater effluent from the septic tank and the air/methane gas drawn from above the septic tank can be alternately pumped downstream to a drain field containing a time-dosed dispersal system comprising drip irrigation emitters in downstream driplines. Alternatively, the air/methane gas can be simultaneously drawn from the septic tank and injected into the pressure flow of wastewater effluent via a venturi-type mixer-injector. The methane gas pumped through the drip system into the soil can oxidize and break down into carbon dioxide as one of its by-products.

Abstract: A water transmission tubing for controlling the flow of water under pressure comprises a tubular inner liner of generally uniform cross-sectional configuration continuous with the length of the tubing and having an anti-bacterial agent for preventing the growth of bacteria on the inside wall of the tube. The inner liner contains a dispersed slip additive that forms a low friction surface inside the tubing for preventing adherence of slime to the inside of the tubing. The slip additive can comprise a fluoroelastomer, a fluoropolymer, a silicone resinous material, or mixtures thereof. The liner can be a separate inner layer of a multi-layer dripline, a monolayer form of the dripline or the inside of a drip irrigation emitter. The invention is particularly useful in subsurface treatment of wastewater.

Abstract: A wastewater treatment and disposal system includes a pressure system for forcing wastewater effluent from a treatment tank to a subsurface dispersal/reuse area. Filtered effluent is discharged into the dispersal area through a system of drip irrigation-type driplines contained inside separate elongated, generally tubular sleeve-like enclosures running along the length of each dripline. The sleeve-like enclosures are made of flexible geotextile subsurface drainage fabric for spreading out the effluent discharged to the dispersal area from the driplines. At least a portion of the drainage fabric may contain an herbicide for forming a “biobarrier” that inhibits undesired root growth into the fabric. The sleeved geotextile fabric can set up a biologically active zone in the ground around the dripline. Air can be injected into the biologically active zone through the dripline emitters for dewatering and/or for treating an anaerobic condition in the zone, for changing the zone to a more aerobic condition.

Abstract: A drip irrigation emitter includes a housing containing an inlet opening for receiving water from a supply tube and an outlet opening for emitting water at a pressureless drip rate. A labyrinth inside the emitter receives water from the supply tube through the inlet opening, reducing its pressure and emitting the water at a drip rate. A flexible pressure-compensating diaphragm inside the housing flexes elastically under pressure changes of water entering in the opening from the supply tube. A raised structured surface positioned between the inlet opening and the diaphragm prevents the diaphragm from sealing off water entry to the emitter housing through the inlet opening when water pressure in the supply tube is shut off. The raised structured surface is configured to allow air contained in the soil to be drawn backwards through the emitter at a very slow rate, thereby inhibiting emitter blockage caused by soil ingestion.

Abstract: A water treatment and/or irrigation system which includes a source of water under pressure, such as a pump, an optional filter that receives water from the pump and emits filtered water under pressure, a system of irrigation lines that receives water under pressure for distribution to a field, and a flushing system for periodically cleaning the irrigation lines and/or the filter. The flushing system has a pressure vessel that receives the water under pressure and periodically builds its pressure to a level in excess of the normal level of the pressure delivered to the field, followed by discharging the built-up pressure as sharp pulses separated by one or more short time intervals directed toward the irrigation lines and/or the filter to effect cleaning thereof.

Abstract: A disc filtration system comprises a filter element containing microporous plastic discs through which liquid effluent such as wastewater is passed for filtration. The filter disc surface material contains an anti-bacterial agent exposed to the liquid being filtered for inhibiting growth of microorganisms on the exterior of the filter element. The exposure to the anti-bacterial agent inhibits microorganism growth to an extent that prolongs the useful operational filtration cycle life of the filter between backwashing cycles. The invention applies to disc filters having automatic backwashing and manually operated disc-type filters.

Abstract: A drip irrigation emitter includes a housing containing an inlet opening for receiving water from a supply tube and an outlet opening for emitting water at a pressureless drip rate. A labyrinth inside the emitter receives water from the supply tube through the inlet opening, reducing its pressure and emitting the water at a drip rate. A flexible pressure-compensating diaphram inside the housing flexes elastically under pressure changes of water entering in the opening from the supply tube. A raised structured surface positioned between the inlet opening and the diaphram prevents the diaphram from sealing off water entry to the emitter housing through the inlet opening when water pressure in the supply tube is shut off. The raised structured surface is configured to allow air contained in the soil to be drawn backwards through the emitter at a very slow rate, thereby inhibiting emitter blockage caused by soil ingestion.

Abstract: A method for reducing the rate of diffusion of a slow-release material through a host polymer material to increase the useful life of a slow-release product. An inert fine particulate inorganic material such as an intercalation material having a layered structure is incorporated into a mixture of the slow-release material and the host polymer. The intercalation material has its layers intercalated with molecules of the slow-release material which are accommodated within spaces between the layers of the intercalation material. The particulate material slows the diffusion rate of the slow-release material through the host polymer when compared with the diffusion rate of the same slow-release material through the same host polymer not containing the particulate material. In one embodiment, the intercalation material comprises a nano-clay, the host polymer is a polyolefin, and the slow-release material is a bioactive material such as dinitroanaline.

Abstract: A method for reducing the rate of diffusion of a slow-release material through a host polymer material to increase the useful life of a slow-release product. An inert fine particulate inorganic material such as an intercalation material having a layered structure is incorporated into a mixture of the slow-release material and the host polymer. The intercalation material has its layers intercalated with molecules of the slow-release material which are accommodated within spaces between the layers of the intercalation material. The particulate material slows the diffusion rate of the slow-release material through the host polymer when compared with the diffusion rate of the same slow-release material through the same host polymer not containing the particulate material. In one embodiment, the intercalation material comprises a nano-clay, the host polymer is a polyolefin, and the slow-release material is a bioactive material such as dinitroanaline.