Sand or soil water retention improvement - by addn. of a vinyl acetate, methyl methacrylate or styrene copolymer

摘要

Sand or soil or particle size 10-700 microns (100 pts.) is treated with a water-insoluble vinyl acetate/vinyl ester of versatic acid, vinyl acetate/2-ethyl-hexyl acrylate, vinyl acetate/butyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate/2-ethyl-hexyl acrylate or styrene/2-ethyl-hexyl acrylate copolymer (about 0.02 pt.). The particles are rendered non-wetting and this property is retained even when the partices are not aggregated but are free flowing. The sand or soil is economically conditioned for germinaton of seeds or growth of seedlings or cuttings. Plant roots and gases easily penetrate through it, while liqs. only pass with difficulty. Marine sand is mixed with 0.02 wt. % vinyl acetate/vinyl ester of versatic acid copolymer, as a 20% emulsion, and dried at 60 degrees C. The prod. is used to provide a water-proof barrier in pots contg. sand and fertiliser. Maize seeds are successfully germinated and grown in the pots.