Hardenable plant-seed-containing compositions and method for establishing plant growth

Claim 1

A method of establishing plant growth in a soil surface comprising the steps of thoroughly mixing together a major amount of weight by a hardenable binder material and a minor amount by weight of plant seeds to form a potentially hardenable composition, said binder material comprising gypsum stucco, substantially covering a soil surface with a layer of said potentially hardenable composition, applying a quantity of water to said layer, the ratio of solids to water permitting the hardening of said composition said ratio of solids to water being about 10:90 to about 60:40, said gypsum stucco forms a substantially continuous, thin, set gypsum layer containing said plant seeds, said set gypsum layer being of a thickness which allows said plant seeds to be accessible to moisture while substantially preventing their relative movement thereby leaving said plant seeds free to germinate and the soil surface is protected against erosion.

Claim 2

A method of establishing plant growth in a soil surface comprising the steps of thoroughly mixing together a major amount by weight of a hardenable binder material and minor amounts by weight of plant seeds, plant growth promoting materials and filler materials to form a potentially hardenable composition, said binder material comprising gypsum stucco, combining said potentially hardenable composition with a quantity of water and thoroughly mixing them to make a settable aqueous slurry therefrom of from about 10 percent to 60percent solids, the ratio of solids to water permitting the setting of said slurry, substantially covering a soil surface with a layer of said thoroughly mixed slurry, and hydrating said gypsum stucco binder whereby said gypsum stucco forms a substantially continuous, thin, set gypsum layer containing said plant seeds, said plant-growth-promoting materials and said filler materials, said set gypsum layer being of a thickness which allows said plant seeds, said plant-growth-promoting materials and said filler materials to be accessible to moisture while substantially preventing their relative movement thereby leaving said plant seeds free to germinate and the soil surface is protected against erosion.

Claim 7

A method of establishing plant growth in a soil surface comprising the steps of thoroughly mixing together a major amount by weight of a hardenable binder material and minor amounts by weight of plant seeds, plant-growth-promoting materials and filler materials to form a potentially hardenable composition, said binder material comprising gypsum stucco, substantially covering a soil surface with a layer of said potentially hardenable composition, applying a quantity of water to said layer, the ratio of solids to water permitting the hardening of said composition, said ratio of solids to water being from about 10:90 to about 60:40,whereby said gypsum stucco forms a substantially continuous, thin, set gypsum layer containing said plant seeds, said plant-growth-promoting materials and said filler materials, said set gypsum later being of a thickness which allows said plant seeds, said plant-growth-promoting materials and said filler materials to be accessible to moisture while substantially preventing their relative movement thereby leaving said plant seeds free to germinate and the soil surface is protected against erosion.

Claim 17

A method of establishing plant growth in a soil surface comprising the steps of substantially covering the surface of an area of soil with a composition comprising a hardenable gypsum stucco binder material which has plant seeds distributed substantially uniformly throughout by distributing an aqueous slurry which contains said gypsum stucco and plant seeds, said aqueous slurry having a solids content of from about 10 percent to 60 percent hardening said binder material thereby forming a substantially continuous, thin layer containing said plant seeds, said layer being of a thickness which allows said plant seeds to be accessible to moisture while substantially preventing their relative movement whereby said plant seeds are free to germinate and the soil surface is protected against erosion.

Claim 18

A method of establishing plant growth in a soil surface comprising the steps of substantially covering the surface of an area of soil with a composition comprising a hardenable gypsum stucco binder material which has plant seeds distributed substantially uniformly throughout, hardening said binder material thereby forming a substantially continuous, thin layer containing about 5 percent by weight of said plant seeds, said layer being of a thickness of about 1/16 inch which allows said plant seeds to be accessible to moisture while substantially preventing their relative movement whereby said plant seeds are free to germinate and the soil surface is protected against erosion.