Device and method for soil moisture stabilization and tree or plant protection

Abstract

A tree or plant protection mat is provided, comprising: a top layer, having a first perimeter edge; a water-permeable bottom layer, having a second perimeter edge affixed either directly to the first perimeter edge, or indirectly to the first perimeter edge via an intervening sidewall; and a water-absorbing and releasing center layer disposed between the top and bottom layers, and comprising a section having superabsorbent particles and a section not having superabsorbent particles. Other mats and methods are provided.

1 . A tree or plant protection mat, comprising:
 a top layer, having a first perimeter edge;   a water-permeable bottom layer, having a second perimeter edge affixed either directly to the first perimeter edge, or indirectly to the first perimeter edge via an intervening sidewall; and   a water-absorbing and releasing center layer disposed between the top and bottom layers, and comprising a section having superabsorbent particles and a section not having superabsorbent particles.   
     
     
         2 . The mat of  claim 1 , wherein the superabsorbent particles are free to move within the section having superabsorbent particles, or are not free to move within the section having superabsorbent particles. 
     
     
         3 . The mat of  claim 1 , which further comprises a hole through the top, bottom, and center layers through which a tree or plant can grow, the hole being defined by an interior perimeter edge at which the top and bottom layers are affixed directly to one another, or affixed indirectly to one another via an intervening interior perimeter sidewall. 
     
     
         4 . The mat of  claim 3 , which further comprises an access slit extending from the hole to the first and second perimeter edges, the access slit being defined by access slit perimeter edges at which the top and bottom layers are affixed directly to one another, or affixed indirectly to one another via intervening access slit perimeter edges sidewalls. 
     
     
         5 . The mat of  claim 4 , which further comprises one or more connections between the access slit perimeter edges. 
     
     
         6 . The mat of  claim 5 , wherein the connections are selected from the group consisting of ties, grommets, Velcro, Velcro tabs, zipper, buttons, snaps, hooks, string, cord, or any combination of two or more thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The mat of  claim 1 , which does not comprise a hole through the top, bottom, and center layers. 
     
     
         8 . The mat of  claim 1 , wherein the top layer reduces or prevents evaporative water loss from the center layer. 
     
     
         9 . The mat of  claim 1 , wherein the top layer is permeable to one or more of water, atmospheric water, dew, rainwater, applied water, or a combination of two or more thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The mat of  claim 1 , wherein the top layer further comprises one or more perforations, funnel, hole, opening, channel, seam, or a combination of two or more thereof, to permit one or more of atmospheric water, dew, rainwater, applied water, or a combination of two or more thereof to penetrate into the center layer. 
     
     
         11 . The mat of  claim 1 , wherein the top layer is flexible. 
     
     
         12 . The mat of  claim 1 , wherein the top layer is flexible and is made of fabric, woven material, non-woven material, film, plastic, laminate, sheeting, polymer, or a combination of two or more thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The mat of  claim 1 , wherein the top layer is polypropylene, polyethylene, polyvinylchloride, polyester, polyurethane, polylactic acid, acrylic, rubber, rayon, cellulose, cotton, burlap, canvas, hemp, paper, biodegradable, biomaterial, bio-based plastic, processed bio-based material, reclaimed plastic, recycled plastic, recycled diaper, recycled rubber, wood, bamboo, agricultural residue, natural weed control fabric, mulch film, WeedGuardPlus® mulch film, biodegradable paper weed barrier, biodegradable natural weed barrier fabric, biodegradable mulch weed barrier, weed barrier film, weed barrier fabric, polylactic acid fabric, plant-based fiber, seed hairs, cotton, stem fiber, bast fiber, flax, straw, hemp, leaf fiber, sisal, husk fiber, coconut fiber, corn fiber, animal-based fiber, wool, hair, secretion fiber, silk, aspen wood fiber, linen, wool, cashmere, jute, abaca, coir, flax, ramie, sisal, mohair, camel hair, angora wool, alpaca wool, straw, or a combination of two or more thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The mat of  claim 1 , wherein the top layer further comprises one or more containers with raised rim that can be in form of a funnel, tray, pan, dish, channel, slot, or a combination of two or more thereof, to collect one or more of atmospheric water, dew, rainwater, applied water, or a combination of two or more thereof before it penetrates into the center layer through the perforations. 
     
     
         15 . The mat of  claim 1 , further comprising animal repellent. 
     
     
         16 . The mat of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more insect-, bacteria-, and fungi-control agent. 
     
     
         17 . The mat of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more endophytic microbe or mycorrhiza spore. 
     
     
         18 . The mat of  claim 1 , wherein the sections are separated by stitching lines, heat sealing lines, adhesive lines, or a combination of two or more thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The mat of  claim 1 , wherein the superabsorbent particles comprise polyacrylic acid polymer, polyacrylate polymer, starch-grafted polymer, polyacrylamide, ethylene maleic anhydride polymer, carboxymethylcellulose, polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene oxide, starch grafted copolymer of polyacrylonitrile, Group IA salt of polyacrylic acid, copolymer of two or more thereof, bio-based super absorbent polymer TryEco Agrisorb™, starch-based super absorbent polymer, cellulose-based super absorbent polymer, biodegradable superabsorbent polymer, superabsorbent cellulosic hydrogel, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The mat of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the sections having superabsorbent particles or not having superabsorbent particles comprise one or more of fertilizer, slow release fertilizer, inorganic fertilizer, organic fertilizer, compost, sludge from waste water treatment plant, sewage sludge, anaerobically digested sludge, biomass by-product from brewery, manure, anaerobically digested animal manure, anaerobically digested biomass, pulp and paper waste, animal repellent, insect repellent, pesticide, fungicide, insecticide, herbicide, microbe, fungus, spore, or a combination of two or more thereof. 
     
     
         21 . The mat of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second perimeter edges are affixed via sewing, heat-sealing, friction-welding, laser-welding, ultrasonic-welding, induction-welding, radio-frequency-welding, heat-bonding, adhesive, solvent-welding, stapling, or a combination of two or more thereof. 
     
     
         22 . The mat of  claim 1 , wherein sections of soaker hose, drip emitters or micro-spray emitters are inserted in between of the top and bottom layers and the soaker hose and the emitters can be connected to an irrigation system via connections such as a hose connector. 
     
     
         23 . The mat of  claim 22 , wherein the hose connector is attached to the top, bottom layer or the side wall with via sewing, heat-sealing, friction-welding, laser-welding, ultrasonic-welding, induction-welding, radio-frequency-welding, heat-bonding, adhesive, solvent-welding, stapling, or a combination of two or more thereof. 
     
     
         24 . A method of protecting or encouraging the growth of a tree or plant, comprising placing the tree or plant protection mat of  claim 1  on soil near which the tree or plant is planted. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24  used in combination with an irrigation system, wherein sections of soaker hose, drip emitters or micro-spray emitters can be placed on top of the plant protection mat. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , where the irrigation system is an automatic system that are electronically controlled based on the soil moisture level, which is determined using a soil moisture sensor buried underneath the mat. 
     
     
         27 . A tree or plant fertilization mat, comprising:
 a top layer, having a first perimeter edge;   a water-permeable bottom layer, having a second perimeter edge affixed either directly to the first perimeter edge, or indirectly to the first perimeter edge via an intervening sidewall; and   a fertilizing center layer disposed between the top and bottom layers, and comprising fertilizer.   
     
     
         28 . A soil moisture stabilization mat for infrastructure located in or on the ground, comprising:
 a top layer, having a first perimeter edge;   a water-permeable bottom layer, having a second perimeter edge affixed either directly to the first perimeter edge, or indirectly to the first perimeter edge via an intervening sidewall; and   a water-absorbing and releasing center layer disposed between the top and bottom layers, and comprising a section having superabsorbent particles and a section not having superabsorbent particles.   
     
     
         29 . The mat of  claim 28 , wherein the infrastructure comprises one or more of a foundation, building, dwelling, house, road, roadbed, street, highway, pavement, sidewalk, railway, subway, runway, bridge, dam, pier, utility, utility pole, utility tunnel, tunnel, pipeline, buried conduit, tower, airport, sewage line, gas line, water pipe, storage tank, or a combination of two or more thereof. 
     
     
         30 . The mat of  claim 28 , further comprising one or more insect-, bacteria- and fungi-control agents 
     
     
         31 . A method of reducing the occurrence of damage to infrastructure located in or on the ground, comprising placing the soil moisture stabilization mat of  claim 28  on the ground near, around or above the infrastructure. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the infrastructure comprises one or more of a foundation, building, dwelling, house, road, roadbed, street, highway, pavement, sidewalk, railway, subway, runway, bridge, dam, pier, utility, utility pole, utility tunnel, tunnel, pipeline, buried conduit, tower, airport, sewage line, gas line, water pipe, storage tank, or a combination of two or more thereof. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the damage comprises one or more of a crack, buckling, sinking, lifting, shifting, translocation, upheaval, collapse, or a combination of two or more thereof. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 31 , which reduces the occurrence of cracks appearing in a building's foundation. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 31 , with combination of existing irrigation system such as soaker hoses, drip emitters and micro-spray emitters. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , where the irrigation system is an automatic system that are electronically controlled based on soil moisture level, which is determined using a soil moisture sensor buried underneath the mat or based on the stress level exerted on the foundation wall, which is determined by a sensor placed in between the foundation wall and the soil. 
     
     
         37 . A method of using a soil moisture stabilization mat for both plant protection and foundation protection with plants grown around outer perimeters of the mat. 
     
     
         38 . The mat of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom layer further comprises one or more perforations, hole, opening, channel, seam, or a combination of two or more thereof, to permit the release of water from the center layer. 
     
     
         39 . The mat of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom layer is flexible. 
     
     
         40 . The mat of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom layer is flexible and is made of fabric, woven material, non-woven material, film, plastic, laminate, sheeting, polymer, or a combination of two or more thereof. 
     
     
         41 . The mat of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom layer is polypropylene, polyethylene, polyvinylchloride, polyester, polyurethane, polylactic acid, acrylic, rubber, rayon, cellulose, cotton, burlap, canvas, hemp, paper, biodegradable, biomaterial, bio-based plastic, processed bio-based material, reclaimed plastic, recycled plastic, recycled diaper, recycled rubber, wood, bamboo, agricultural residue, natural weed control fabric, mulch film, WeedGuardPlus® mulch film, biodegradable paper weed barrier, biodegradable natural weed barrier fabric, biodegradable mulch weed barrier, weed barrier film, weed barrier fabric, polylactic acid fabric, plant-based fiber, seed hairs, cotton, stem fiber, bast fiber, flax, straw, hemp, leaf fiber, sisal, husk fiber, coconut fiber, corn fiber, animal-based fiber, wool, hair, secretion fiber, silk, aspen wood fiber, linen, wool, cashmere, jute, abaca, coir, flax, ramie, sisal, mohair, camel hair, angora wool, alpaca wool, straw, or a combination of two or more thereof. 
     
     
         42 . The mat of  claim 1 , further comprising the sidewall. 
     
     
         43 . A method of stabilizing soil moisture in expansive or other soil, comprising placing a soil moisture stabilization mat on the soil, wherein the soil moisture stabilization mat comprises:
 a top layer, having a first perimeter edge;   a water-permeable bottom layer, having a second perimeter edge affixed either directly to the first perimeter edge, or indirectly to the first perimeter edge via an intervening sidewall; and   a water-absorbing and releasing center layer disposed between the top and bottom layers, and comprising superabsorbent particles.   
     
     
         44 . A method of reducing the occurrence of damage to infrastructure located in or on the ground, comprising placing a soil moisture stabilization mat on the ground near, around or above the infrastructure, wherein the soil moisture stabilization mat comprises:
 a top layer, having a first perimeter edge;   a water-permeable bottom layer, having a second perimeter edge affixed either directly to the first perimeter edge, or indirectly to the first perimeter edge via an intervening sidewall; and   a water-absorbing and releasing center layer disposed between the top and bottom layers, and comprising superabsorbent particles.