Claims
- 1. A method for controlling the rate of damping-off of plant seedlings caused by plant parasitic fungi which comprises planting said seedlings in a medium which contains a horticultural medium in an amount effective to reduce the growth of damping-off fungi, said horticultural medium having been produced by the process of aerobically fermenting cotton gin waste to biodegrade the waste at a temperature of at least 125.degree. F. with water in an amount ranging from 1 to 5 times the dry weight of the gin waste, said gin waste being in a pile at least 10 feet wide and 8 feet high to conserve self-generated heat in the interior of the pile, and systematically turning the exterior of the pile to the interior so that all particles of the gin waste are heated to a temperature of from 125.degree. to 180.degree. F. for at least several hours, whereby the gin waste is freed of any soil borne plant diseases, weed seeds, insects or nematodes present therein.
- 2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the seedlings are sugar beet seedlings.
- 3. A method according to claim 1 wherein the fermented gin waste is characterized by containing antibiotic agents formed by such process and substantial freedom from insecticidal, herbicidal and plant growth regulants present in the cotton gin waste prior to said fermenting.
- 4. A method according to claim 1 wherein said water contains at least 250 parts of an inorganic water-soluble iron salt per million parts dry weight of the gin waste.
- 5. A method according to claim 4 wherein said iron salt is selected from the group consisting of ferric sulfate, ferric chloride and mixtures thereof and is present in an amount ranging from 250 to 1000 parts per million.
- 6. A method according to claim 1 wherein said horticultural medium has admixed thereto in an amount of from 50 to 90% by weight of a material selected from the group consisting of peat, perlite, vermiculite, sand, wood bark and mixtures thereof.
- 7. A method according to claim 1 wherein the horticultural medium also contains from about 50 to 90% by weight of clay or sandy soil.
- 8. A method for improving the rate of tree growth which comprises placing about the locus of a tree a horticultural medium in an amount effective to improve the rate of growth of said tree, said horticultural medium having been produced by the process of aerobically fermenting cotton gin waste to biodegrade the waste at a temperature of at least 125.degree. F. with water in an amount ranging from 1 to 5 times the dry weight of the gin waste, said gin waste being in a pile at least 10 feet wide and 8 feet high to conserve self-generated heat in the interior of the pile, and systematically turning the exterior of the pile to the interior so that all particles of the gin waste are heated to a temperature of from 125.degree. to 180.degree. F. for at least several hours, whereby the gin waste is freed of any soil borne plant diseases, weed seeds, insects or nematodes present therein.
- 9. A method according to claim 8 wherein from about 75 to 200 pounds of said medium per tree is applied.
- 10. A method according to claim 9 wherein about 100 pounds of said medium is applied.
- 11. A method according to claim 8 wherein the fermented gin waste is characterized by containing antibiotic agents formed by such process and substantial freedom from insecticidal, herbicidal and plant growth regulants present in the cotton gin waste prior to said fermenting.
- 12. A method according to claim 8 wherein said water contains at least 250 parts of an inorganic water-soluble iron salt per million parts dry weight of the gin waste.
- 13. A method according to claim 12 wherein said iron salt is selected from the group consisting of ferric sulfate, ferric chloride and mixtures thereof and is present in an amount ranging from 250 to 1000 parts per million.
- 14. A method according to claim 8 wherein said horticultural medium has admixed thereto in an amount of from 50 to 90% by weight of a material selected from the group consisting of peat, perlite, vermiculite, sand, wood bark and mixtures thereof.
- 15. A method according to claim 8 wherein the horticultural medium also contains from about 50 to 90% by weight of clay or sandy soil.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This application is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 544,669, filed Jan. 27, 1975, and now abandoned.
Non-Patent Literature Citations (3)
Entry |
alberson et al., "Composting Cotton Gin Waste", USDA-ARS, 42-102 (1974), pp. 1-16. |
Willis, Wm., "Composting Cotton Gin Trash", La. Ag. Exp. Sta. Bull., No. 490 (1954), pp. 3-7. |
Boodley et al., Plant Sciences Info. Bulletin #43 (Jul. 1972), pp. 1-8, New York State College of Ag. & Life Sciences. |
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
544669 |
Jan 1975 |
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