Patent ID: 7478604

Claim:
A method to improve the fertility of a soil, to help detoxify hazardous chemicals in the soil, and to reduce erosion of the soil, comprising the steps of (a) providing worm cocoon injection apparatus comprising (i) a frame, (ii) at least one coulter mounted on the frame to form an opening in soil, (iii) a tank to hold water and earthworm cocoons, (iv) a mixer in said tank to prevent the earthworm cocoons from settling to the bottom of said tank, (v) a pump to dispense in the opening produced by said coulter a selected amount of water and cocoons, (vi) motive power to operate said mixer and said pump; (b) selecting a planting depth in the range of two to six inches; (c) determining if (i) the soil is sufficiently dry to inject worm cocoons, (ii) the temperature of the soil at said planting depth is in the range of soil temperature is in the range of about forty-two to eighty degrees F, and (iii) the ambient air temperature is in the range of thirty-three to one hundred degrees F; (d) if the soil is sufficiently dry to inject worm cocoons, if the temperature of the soil at said selected depth is in the range of soil temperature is in the range of about forty-two to eighty degrees F, and if the ambient air temperature is equal to or greater than forty two degrees F, (i) selecting a plurality of soil physical conditions; (ii) evaluating the soil to determine said selected soil physical conditions for the soil; (iii) selecting at least two species of worms to improve at least one of said selected soil conditions; (iv) determining for each of said selected species of worm the quantity of worm cocoons desired per acre of soil; (v) determining that pesticides, fertilizers, and other chemicals harmful to worms are not present in the soil in a concentration sufficient to kill said selected species of worms; (vi) providing a selected quantity of worm cocoons of said selected species of worms; (vii) providing a selected quantity of water having a temperature in the range of about forty-two to eighty degrees F; (vi) placing said quantity of worm cocoons and said quantity of water in said tank; (vii) utilizing said motive power to activate said mixer to prevent the worm cocoons from settling to the bottom of the tank; (viii) moving said worm cocoon injection apparatus over the soil such that said disc makes in the soil an opening having said selected depth; (ix) operating said a pump to dispense at selected positions along the slit, before the slit closes, a selected amount of water and cocoons; and, (e) avoiding use of pesticides, fertilizers, and other chemicals in a concentration sufficient to kill worms hatching from the cocoons.