Methods and compositions useful for bryophyte remediation to improve forest health and growth

Abstract

The present invention provides a novel composition and method for controlling, killing or inhibiting the growth of bryophytes (e.g. mosses and liverworts). It is applicable to the remediation of these organisms in, gardens, orchards or agricultural land, or forests and upon higher plants without substantial detriment to grasses, trees or most broad leaf plants. The novel composition is a combination of an effective amount of finely ground calcium-rich compound suspended in a horticulturally or agriculturally acceptable diluent, and/or binder/carrier. In addition to being a carrier for the calcium-rich compound the binder also acts to bind fine soil particles, helping to conserve irrigation water and to reduce soil erosion. The binder can further incorporate further components such as wetting agents and penetration agents (both of which are broadly referred to as surfactants), and translocation agents, adhesives, emulsifiers, suspending agents, thickeners, synergists other moss killers or biocides, such as herbicides, fungicides, bactericides, insecticides and weed killers, hormones, plant growth regulators or plant nutrients.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:  
     
         1 . A composition for remediation of bryophytes comprising a bryocidal formulation comprising a non-water soluble binding agent and a calcium-rich compound, wherein said calcium-rich compound is incorporated into said bryocidal formulation in sufficient quantity to deleteriously impact the growth of bryophytes.  
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said calcium-rich compound comprises at least one of the following: micronized hydrated sodium calcium aluminosilicate, crushed hydrated sodium calcium aluminosilicate, micronized limestone, crushed limestone, micronized dolomite, crushed dolomite, micronized lime pulp, crushed lime pulp, micronized seashells, crushed seashells, or a solution of calcium ions.  
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said calcium-rich compound is hydrated sodium calcium aluminosilicate.  
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said calcium-rich compound has a particle size between about 30 microns and about 5 millimeters.  
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said calcium-rich compound is present in said soil treatment in concentrations between about 0.5 percent by weight and about 10.0 percent by weight.  
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said binding agent maintains said calcium-rich compound on the soil surface.  
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said binding agent is non-water soluble micronized polyacrylamide.  
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said binding agent has a particle size between about 30 microns and about 700 microns.  
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said binding agent is incorporated into said soil treatment in concentrations between about 1.0 percent by weight and about 10.0 percent by weight.  
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said bryocidal formulation further comprises at least one of the following: broadleaf litter, fabric mulch, a wetting agent, or a penetrating agent.  
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said bryocidal formulation further comprises surfactants, wetting agents or other binding agents, penetration agents, translocating agents, adhesives, emulsifiers, suspending agents, thickeners, synergists other moss killers or biocides, such as herbicides, fungicides, bactericides, insecticides and weed killers, hormones, plant growth regulators or plant nutrients.  
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said bryophytes to be treated occur around trees or crop plants.  
     
     
         13 . The composition of  claim 12 , wherein said bryocidal formulation improves the health and productivity of said trees or said crop plants.  
     
     
         14 . A bryocidal formulation comprising: 
 a solvent;    a non-water soluble binding agent; and    a calcium-rich compound is present in sufficient quantities to deleteriously impact the growth of bryophytes.    
     
     
         15 . The bryocidal formulation of  claim 14 , wherein said calcium-rich compound is at least one of the following substances: hydrated sodium calcium aluminosilicate, crushed or micronized limestone, including rock dust, lime pulp, crushed or micronized seashells, crushed or micronized dolomite, and/or calcium ions in solution having a pH less than 7.  
     
     
         16 . The bryocidal formulation of  claim 14 , wherein said binding agent is an inert non-toxic agent that binds calcium.  
     
     
         17 . The bryocidal formulation of  claim 16 , wherein said inert non-toxic agent that binds calcium is an anionic polyacrylamide.  
     
     
         18 . The bryocidal formulation of  claim 17 , wherein said anionic polyacrylamide is polyacrylamide.  
     
     
         19 . The bryocidal formulation of  claim 17 , wherein said anionic polyacrylamide has a particle size ranging from about 1 micron to about 5 millimeters.  
     
     
         20 . The bryocidal formulation of  claim 19 , wherein said anionic polyacrylamide has a particle size ranging from about 30 microns to about 700 microns.  
     
     
         21 . The bryocidal formulation of  claim 19 , wherein said anionic polyacrylamide has a particle size ranging from about 100 microns to about 300 microns.  
     
     
         22 . The bryocidal formulation of  claim 14 , wherein said calcium rich compound is hydrated sodium calcium aluminosilicate.  
     
     
         23 . The bryocidal formulation of  claim 14 , wherein said calcium-rich compound is present in a concentration between about 0.5 percent by weight and about 10.0 percent by weight and said non-water soluble binding agent is present in a concentration between about 1.0 percent by weight and about 10.0 percent by weight and said solvent is present in a concentration between about 80.0 percent by weight and about 98.5 percent by weight.  
     
     
         24 . The bryocidal formulation of  claim 14 , wherein said calcium-rich compound is present in a concentration of about 2.0 percent by weight and said binding agent is present in a concentration of about 3.0 percent by weight and said solvent is present in a concentration of about 95.0 percent by weight.  
     
     
         25 . The bryocidal formulation of  claim 14 , wherein the bryocidal formulation further comprises a broadleaf litter.  
     
     
         26 . The bryocidal formulation of  claim 14 , wherein the bryocidal formulation further comprises a broadleaf mulch.  
     
     
         27 . The bryocidal formulation of  claim 14 , wherein the bryocidal formulation further comprises at least one of the following: 
 surfactants, wetting agents or other binding agents, penetration agents, translocating agents, adhesives, emulsifiers, suspending agents, thickeners, synergists other moss killers or biocides, such as herbicides, fungicides, bactericides, insecticides and weed killers, hormones, plant growth regulators or plant nutrients.    
     
     
         28 . A composition comprising: 
 a non-water soluble polyacrylamide in a concentration of about 3.0 percent by weight;    hydrated sodium calcium aluminosilicate in a concentration of about 2.0 percent by weight;    a solvent in a concentration of about 95.0 percent by weight.