Abstract:
A method of enhancing the soil structure of land having a topsoil layer and a subsoil layer beneath the topsoil layer includes providing at least one subsoil tiller blade having a tilling surface and a bottom end, and a channel positioned behind the tilling surface of the subsoil tiller blade for injecting nutrients toward the bottom end of the subsoil tiller blade. The subsoil tiller blade is inserted into the land such that the bottom end extends into the subsoil layer. The subsoil tiller blade is driven through the land such that the tilling surface loosens the subsoil layer while the channel deposits nutrients into the subsoil layer.

Description:
[0001]    A method and apparatus for enhancing the soil structure of land 
       FIELD 
       [0002]    A method and apparatus for enhancing the soil structure of land. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Subsoil tillers are used to till the subsoil of land, which loosens the soil to a deeper depth, while also reducing the amount of soil erosion. An example of a subsoil tiller is the Paratill™ produced by Bigham Brothers Inc. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    There is provided a method of enhancing the soil structure of land having a topsoil layer and a subsoil layer beneath the topsoil layer. The method comprises the steps of providing at least one subsoil tiller blade having a tilling surface and a bottom end, and a channel positioned behind the tilling surface of the subsoil tiller blade for injecting nutrients toward the bottom end of the subsoil tiller blade. The subsoil tiller blade is inserted into the land such that the bottom end extends into the subsoil layer. The subsoil tiller blade is driven through the land such that the tilling surface loosens the subsoil layer while the channel deposits nutrients into the subsoil layer. 
         [0005]    According to another aspect, there is provided an apparatus for use in enhancing the soil structure of land having a topsoil layer and a subsoil layer. The apparatus comprises a support frame, and at least one subsoil tiller blade mounted below the support frame. The subsoil tiller blade has a tilling surface that loosens the subsoil when driven through the land, and a bottom end. A storage tank has a conveyor for conveying nutrients into an outlet of the storage tank. At least one channel has an inlet connected to the outlet of the storage tank and an outlet toward the bottom end of the at least one subsoil tiller for depositing the pellets into the subsoil layer. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    These and other features will become more apparent from the following description in which reference is made to the appended drawings, the drawings are for the purpose of illustration only and are not intended to be in any way limiting, wherein: 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  is a side elevation view of the subsoil tiller pulled through land to be reclaimed. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a subsoil tiller. 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a front elevation view of the subsoil tiller. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0010]    A method and apparatus for reclaiming land will now be described with reference to  FIG. 1 through 3 . 
         [0011]    In order to enhance the soil structure the land, tilling is used to loosen the soil and relieve the compaction. In reclamation projects, the area will be replanted in order to allow nature to reclaim the land. However, it is difficult for roots to grow through compacted land, and the roots have a tendency to remain close to the top where the soil is looser, which slows the recovery of the subsoil. 
         [0012]    It may be desirable to enhance the soil structure of various types of soil for different reasons, such as to reclaim the land after working, improve the soil structure in farmland, or enhance the structure in naturally occurring soils. For example, the soil structure of land at worksites is often damaged by heavy equipment. Sites typically damages may include along power lines, along oil and gas pipelines, and well site pads. This makes it difficult for plants to establish roots in the ground. Left to nature alone, recovery can take from 30 to 50 years. Other examples includes farm land, where repeatedly driving over land creates a hard “shell” under the topsoil that is tilled regularly, or soils that are naturally compacted, for a variety of reasons. 
         [0013]    The present method encourages the growth of root systems by loosening the compacted land, and injecting nutrients at an appropriate depth in the subsoil. The nutrients encourage the roots to grow downward to reach them, and the loosened soil makes it easier for the roots to reach them. The depth of injection will vary depending on soil conditions, however it is anticipated that a depth of between 20 cm and 50 cm is sufficient for most situations. As the roots grow deeper, more moisture and nutrients are available to them, and the plants become stronger and more productive. The land is reclaimed or enhanced as root systems are established. As the roots from previous years plant growth decays, the repair of soil structure is perpetuated. Some results have suggested that recovery of the land occurs using the method described herein within five years instead of 30 to 50 years. 
         [0014]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , a subsoil injector  10  has a support frame  12  with a storage tank  14 , such as a hopper as depicted, mounted above support frame  12  for holding the nutrients to be injected, and a subsoil tiller  16  attached below support frame  12  with a bottom end  17 . Instead of being mounted above support frame  12 , storage tank  14  may be on a trailer that is pulled behind support frame  12 , or mounted on or pulled by a separate vehicle altogether. The actual design of storage tank  14  relative to support frame  12  will at least partly depend on the form of nutrients and type of conveyor described below. As show, there are two subsoil tillers  16  that curve toward each other with bottom ends  17  about two feet apart. The subsoil tillers  16  depicted are similar to the Paratill™ produced by Bigham Brothers Inc. Two subsoil tillers  16  are shown with tilling ends  17  about two feet apart. The number and type of subsoil tillers  16  including their spacing will depend on the preferences of the user, however two is a convenient number as two injection channels  28  (described below) can be easily fed by the same auger  29 . Subsoil tillers  16  have tilling surfaces  19  that fracture the subsoil layer  26  with minimal disturbance to the topsoil layer  24 , which reduces erosion and mixing of topsoil and subsoil. As shown, tilling surfaces  19  curve along with subsoil tillers  16  to fracture the subsoil layer  26  at an almost horizontal angle toward bottom ends  17 . 
         [0015]    Subsoil injector  10  has a three-point hitch  18  to be attached to a prime mover, such as a tractor (not shown). The depth of subsoil injector  10  can then be controlled by the prime mover via the three point hitch. The prime mover pulls subsoil injector  10  through the land to be enhanced. While this is a common approach for operating tilling implements, it will be understood that depth control and motive forces may also be applied using other strategies. 
         [0016]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , subsoil injector  10  is used to enhance the soil structure of land  22  that has a topsoil layer  24  and a subsoil layer  26 . Nutrients  27  are injected into subsoil layer  26  via a channel  28 . Nutrients  27  are preferably in the form of pellets for ease of handling and depositing, but may also be in other forms, such as powder, liquid, etc. Channel  28  guides nutrients as they pass from hopper  14  into subsoil layer  26  toward tilling end  17  of subsoil tiller  16 . Channel  28  is preferably supported by subsoil tiller  16 , and may be connected to its trailing edge. Alternatively, channel  28  may be integrally formed in subsoil tiller  16 . Preferably, channel  28  is positioned relative to subsoil tiller  16  so that it does not unnecessarily impede its operation. There is preferably one channel  28  for each subsoil tiller  16  to obtain a better distribution of nutrients, but subsoil tillers  16  may be included that do not have channels  28 , or that have more than one channel  28 , such as channels that deposit nutrients at different depths. Hopper  14  feeds pellets  27  into channel  28  via a conveyor, such as an auger  29  as shown. Other conveyors may also be used, such as a driven belt, a pneumatic system, a pump, or a dispenser, such as a dispensing valve. The conveyors will depend on the form of nutrients. These conveyors preferably are controllable that allows the amount of nutrients  27  being deposited in subsoil layer  26  to be controlled. In one example, twenty tonnes per hectare of nutrients  27  were deposited, with the nutrients expected to provide sufficient nutrients to last approximately three years. Preferably, the tilling and injection will occur either in early spring or late fall, however the fall may be preferred as the land may be more vulnerable to compaction during spring. 
         [0017]    Preferably, nutrients  27  are in pellet form to make them easier to handle and inject. Nutrients  27  may be pellets of organic matter that has been dehydrated, sterilized and compacted, such as a pelletized version of the organic matter that is available from EarthRenew Organics Ltd. of Calgary, AB. Pellets may also be fertilizers, material containing carbon, or combinations. Pellets may be in granular form similar to traditional fertilizer, or have a larger diameter, and will depend on the final design of hopper  14 , channel  28  and conveyor  29 . 
         [0018]    As subsoil tillers  16  break up the compacted ground, this opens the ground for roots to establish themselves. Deep root action is encouraged as nutrients are injected in subsoil layer  26 , and facilitated by subsoil tiller  16  breaking up soil layers  24  and  26 . 
         [0019]    In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be one and only one of the elements. 
         [0020]    The following claims are to be understood to include what is specifically illustrated and described above, what is conceptually equivalent, and what can be obviously substituted. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various adaptations and modifications of the described embodiments can be configured without departing from the scope of the claims. The illustrated embodiments have been set forth only as examples and should not be taken as limiting the invention. It is to be understood that, within the scope of the following claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically illustrated and described.