Production of sod using a soil-less and based root zone medium

Abstract

The present invention relates to a soil-less sand based root zone medium for the production of sod. The present invention is also directed to a method for the production of sod using a soil-less sand based root zone medium and a sod mat produced by the method of the present invention.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A transportable turf manufactured to be planted at a transplant site having a sand soil with a predetermined grain size and distribution profile comprising: 
 a root-impermeable barrier and    a soil-less sand based root zone medium useful in the production of turf grasses in sod form, the soil-less sand based root zone medium comprising: 
 (a) from about 60% by weight to about 100% by weight sand wherein the grains of sand have a size ranging from about 0.05 mm to about 1 mm and wherein the grains of sand have a grain size substantially matching the grain size of sand at the transplant site;  
 (b) from about 40% by weight to about 0% by weight organic amendment; and  
 (c) an effective amount of fertilizer.  
   
     
     
         2 . The transportable turf according to  claim 1  wherein the organic amendment is selected from the group consisting of peat mosses, rice hull compost, milorganite, processed sludge, fibrous plant materials, or organic polymers.  
     
     
         3 . The transportable turf according to  claim 1  wherein the organic amendment is Canadian sphagnum peat moss.  
     
     
         4 . The transportable turf according to  claim 1  wherein the root zone medium contains about 80% by weight sand and about 20% by weight organic amendment.  
     
     
         5 . The transportable turf according to  claim 4  wherein the organic amendment is Canadian sphagnum peat moss.  
     
     
         6 . The transportable turf according to  claim 1  wherein the root zone medium contains about 70% by weight sand and about 30% by weight organic amendment.  
     
     
         7 . The transportable turf according to  claim 6  wherein the organic amendment is Canadian sphagnum peat moss.  
     
     
         8 . The transportable turf according to  claim 1  wherein the grains of sand have a uniform size ranging from about 0.18 mm to about 0.84 mm.  
     
     
         9 . The transportable turf according to  claim 1  wherein the fertilizer has a 1:1:1 ratio of nitrogen:phosphorous:potassium.  
     
     
         10 . The transportable turf according to  claim 1  wherein the fertilizer has a 0:1:1 ratio of nitrogen:phosphorous:potassium.  
     
     
         11 . A method of cultivating, developing and growing turf grass in sod form, the method comprising the steps of 
 a) determining the grain size and distribution of sand at a transplant site;    b) blending a soil-less sand based root zone material to form a soil-less blend that has a grain size and distribution of sand that substantially matches the grain size and distribution of the grain size and distribution at the transplant site;    c) laying down a root impermeable barrier;    d) depositing a layer of said soil-less blend sufficient for production of turf grass on top of said root impermeable-barrier;    e) introducing seeds, stolons, sprigs or plugs of a turf grass into the soil-less sand based root zone medium;    f) propogating said seeds, stolons, sprigs or plugs into a harvestable mat of combined turf grass sod and root zone medium characterized by having a grain size and distribution of sand that substantially matches the grain size and distribution of sand at said transplant site;    g) wherein said root zone medium comprises: 
 (i) from about 60% by weight to about 100% by weight sand;  
 (ii) from about 40% by weight to about 0% by weight organic amendment; and  
 (iii) an-affective amount of fertilizer.  
   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said organic amendments are selected from the group consisting of peats, processed sludge, rice hulls, fibrous plant materials, or organic polymers.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the organic amendment is Canadian sphagnum peat moss.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the root zone medium contains about 80% by weight sand and about 20% by weight organic amendment.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the organic amendment is Canadian sphagnum peat moss.  
     
     
         16 . The soil-less sand based root zone medium of  claim 11  wherein the root zone medium contains about 70% by weight sand and about 30% by weight organic amendment.  
     
     
         17 . The soil-less sand based root zone medium of  claim 16  wherein the organic amendment is Canadian sphagnum peat moss.  
     
     
         18 . The soil-less sand based root zone medium of  claim 11  wherein the sand grains have a uniform size ranging from about 0.05 mm to about 1 mm.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising blending grass seed with the soil-less sand based root zone medium prior to deposition on the root impermeable layer.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the root impermeable layer is a synthetic material.  
     
     
         21 . The root impermeable layer of  claim 20  wherein the synthetic material is polyethylene.  
     
     
         22 . A sod mat produced by the method of  claim 11  comprising a mat of turf grass and a layer of soil-less sand based root zone medium.  
     
     
         23 . A sod mat according to  claim 22  wherein the grass is a Bermuda grass.  
     
     
         24 . A sod mat according to  claim 11  wherein the grass is a Zoysia grass.  
     
     
         25 . A sod mat according to  claim 11  wherein the grass is a bent grass.  
     
     
         26 . A sod mat according to  claim 11  wherein the grass is selected from the group consisting of Fescues, Rye or. Buffalo grass.  
     
     
         27 . A method of cultivating, developing and growing turf grass in sod form, the method comprising the steps of 
 a) determining the grain size and distribution of sand at a transplant site;    b) blending a soil-less sand based root zone material to form a soil-less blend that has a grain size and distribution of sand that substantially matches the grain size and distribution of the grain size and distribution at the transplant site;    c) laying down a root impermeable barrier;    d) depositing a layer of said soil-less blend sufficient for production of turf grass on top of said root impermeable barrier;    e) introducing seeds, stolons, sprigs or plugs of a turf grass into the soil-less sand based root zone medium;    f) propagating said seeds, stolons, sprigs or plugs into a harvestable mat of combined turf grass sod and root zone medium characterized by having a grain size and distribution of sand that substantially matches the grain size and distribution of sand at said transplant site;    g) wherein said root zone medium comprises: 
 (i) from about 60% by weight to about 100% by weight sand;  
 (ii) from about 40% by weight to about 0% by weight organic amendment; and  
 (iii) an affective amount of fertilizer.