Animal husbandry – Worm culture
Reexamination Certificate
2004-02-26
2004-12-28
Swiatek, Robert P. (Department: 3643)
Animal husbandry
Worm culture
C111S200000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06834614
ABSTRACT:
This invention pertains to earthworms.
More particularly, the invention pertains to a method and apparatus for encapsulating earthworm cocoons that reduces the mortality rate of the worm eggs in the cocoons.
In another respect, the invention pertain to a method and apparatus for encapsulating earthworm cocoons that facilitates both the integration of encapsulated cocoons with seeds and the implanting in the ground of the encapsulated cocoons.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,127,186, a system is described for encapsulating and implanting earthworm cocoons. The system encapsulates earthworm cocoons in gel capsules along with a supplemental material that gives the capsule a density approximately equal to that of the seed being planted. Since earthworm cocoons are lighter in weight than many common seed crops, the supplemental material added to the gel capsule is typically relatively dense and can comprise, for example, seeds, pesticides, fertilizers, energy sources, growth promoters, growth regulators, microorganisms, propylene glycol, sodium alginate, guar gum, and gels. Such supplemental materials also function to protect the cocoon. The encapsulation system in U.S. Pat. No. 5,127,186 does, however, have particular disadvantages.
First, obtaining gel capsules of a size comparable to that of corn or soybean is practical. Obtaining gel capsules of a size comparable to that of smaller seeds is difficult, if not impossible.
Second, even if a small gel capsule is obtained, fitting both the earthworm cocoon and the supplemental material in the capsule can be impractical.
Third, gel capsules usually have a smooth outer surface that promotes undesirably separation of the gel capsules from seed that is intermixed with the gel capsules.
Fourth, it now appears that it is not the combination of size and density that is critical in intermixing encapsulated cocoons with seeds, it is the combination of size and weight.
Accordingly, it would be highly desirable to provide an improved earthworm cocoon encapsulating method and apparatus that could be readily adapted to produce different sized encapsulated cocoons, that would not require the intermixing of a supplemental material and an earthworm cocoon, that would not require cocoons and supplemental material to be loaded into a capsule, that would retard the separation from seed of the encapsulated cocoons, and that would permit ready alteration of the weight and size of encapsulated cocoons.
Therefore, it is a principal object of the invention to provide an improved method and apparatus for encapsulating earthworm cocoons.
Another object of the invention is to provide encapsulated earthworm cocoons that are shaped and dimensioned and textured to retard separation of the encapsulated cocoons from seed intermixed with the encapsulated cocoons.
A further object of the invention is to provide an improved earthworm cocoon encapsulation method that facilitates the production of encapsulated cocoons having varying sizes, weights, and textures.
Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved earthworm cocoon encapsulation method that prolongs the period of time the encapsulated cocoons can be stored with viable eggs prior to being buried in the ground to hatch the eggs.
These and other, further and more specific objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description thereof, taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which
FIG. 1
is a block flow diagram illustrating the cocoon encapsulating method of the invention.
Briefly, in accordance with the invention, I provide an improved method for encapsulating an earthworm cocoon. The method includes the steps of obtaining a histosol soil; drying the soil to form a histosol soil powder; moistening the earthworm cocoon; rolling the moistened earthworm cocoon at least once in the histosol soil powder to produce an encapsulated cocoon coated at least in part by histosol soil powder.
In another embodiment of the invention, I provide an improved system for planting simultaneously in a field crop seed and a plurality of earthworm cocoons. The system includes the steps of encapsulating each of the plurality of earthworm cocoons separately in a coating including soil to form soil encapsulated cocoons. The coating has an irregularly shaped surface. The method also includes the steps of admixing the encapsulated cocoons with crop seed; and, planting simultaneously the crop seed and the admixed encapsulated cocoons.
In a further embodiment of the invention, I provide an improved system for planting simultaneously in a field crop seed and a plurality of earthworm cocoons. The system includes the steps of encapsulating each of the plurality of earthworm cocoons separately in a coating including soil to form soil encapsulated cocoons. Each of the soil encapsulated cocoons has substantially the same size and weight as one of the crop seed. The method also includes the steps of admixing the encapsulated cocoons with crop seed; and, planting simultaneously the crop seed and the admixed encapsulated cocoons.
Turning now to the drawings, which depict the presently preferred embodiments of the invention for the purpose of illustrating the practice thereof and not by way of limitation of the scope of the invention and in which like reference characters refer to corresponding elements throughout the several views,
FIG. 1
is a block diagram illustrating a cocoon encapsulation system in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.
As used herein, the size of a crop seed or of an encapsulated cocoon is defined as its greatest width, and term soil refers to the solid components (minerals, plant parts etc.) of a particular soil order and not to moisture normally found in the soil order. The twelve soil orders are Alfisols, Entisols, Inceptisols, Mollisols, Spodosols, Histosols, Ultisols, Andisols, Aridisols, Oxisole, Vertisols, and Gelisols.
The Histosol soil order includes most of the worlds' organic soils. A soil typically is classified as a Histosol soil when at least half of the upper eighty centimeters of the soil is highly organic. If the soil is a shallow soil, it is a Histosol if organic material of any thickness is above bedrock or is within material that contains voids filled with organic materials. The soil order Histosol includes the suborders Folists, Fibrists, Hemists, and Saprists.
Folists are organic soils that formed under non-flooded conditions. Such soils include leaf litter and decaying wood fragment that gather on bedrock.
Fibrists, Hemists, and Saprists form under flooded conditions. Of these three suborders, Fibrists evidence the least amount of decay and typically include three-fourths or more by volume of fibers that are captured on a 100 mesh screen. Hemists have a decomposition that is intermediate the less decomposed Fibrists and the Saprists, which are more thoroughly decomposed. Saprists normally are black. Black organic “muck” soils consist of highly decomposed organic materials, and are Saprists. Saprists generally have greater ash content than the other Histosol suborders. Histosols typically have from 0.5 to 4.0% total nitrogen; have from 0.01 to 0.3% phosphorous, most of which is in the organic form and must be mineralized to be utilized by a plant; have from 0.5 to 2.0% potassium; and, have up to 32% by weight silicon. The Histosol silicon content can also be quite low, less than 4%. Histosols can also contain calcium, magnesium, sulfur and other soil nutrients.
While it is possible to use any soil order in the practice of the invention, Histosols are preferred in the practice of the invention; particularly the Saprists because of their mineral content and lower fiber content and because they tend to readily form a coating on earthworm cocoons when moistened.
The Histosol soil used in the practice of the invention is presently dried, and is ground or pulverized to produce a powder. Grinding the soil to a powder is preferred because it facilitates coating earthworm cocoons. The powder can be sprayed or otherwise ap
Swiatek Robert P.
Tod R. Nissle P.C.
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