Seaweed Mulching Composition for Soil Heat and Moisture Control

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional mulching films, such as vinyl and biodegradable polymer films, pose environmental pollution risks and are costly, while seaweed disposal methods are inefficient and harmful.

Innovation Solution

A liquid mulching agent composition comprising a seaweed extract, humic acid, fulvic acid, charcoal, sodium alginate, polyvinyl alcohol, keratin, sodium silicate, waste brewery yeast byproduct, coffee waste extract, citrus pomace extract, and carboxymethylcellulose, with specific weight percentages to enhance biodegradability, film formation, and light blocking efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If vinyl mulching films are used, then soil moistening and pest control are effective, but environmental pollution is serious and decomposition is difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesoil moistening effectivenessVSAvoidenvironmental pollution

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the material composition parameters from conventional vinyl to a biodegradable polymer blend containing starch, cellulose, and natural fibers, enabling the mulching film to maintain soil moistening effectiveness while achieving natural decomposition and eliminating long-term environmental pollution

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite mulching film by combining biodegradable polymers (starch, cellulose) with natural fibers (cotton, hemp, bamboo) and adding biodegradable plasticizers and crosslinking agents, resulting in a material that provides effective soil moistening while being easily decomposed by microorganisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Object-affected harmful factors

If biodegradable mulching films are manufactured, then environmental friendliness is improved, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenvironmental friendlinessVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs inexpensive biodegradable materials such as starch, cellulose, and natural fibers as the base polymers, using them as disposable single-use mulching films that are cheaper to manufacture than conventional vinyl films while being environmentally friendly and easily decomposed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent modifies the polymer composition parameters by incorporating natural plasticizers like glycerin and sorbitol, and crosslinking agents such as borax or polyaluminum chloride, which enhance the film's mechanical properties and soil moistening capability while maintaining low manufacturing costs and biodegradability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Object-affected harmful factors

If biodegradable mulching films are applied to fields, then environmental impact is reduced, but performance advantage over conventional films is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenvironmental impactVSAvoidperformance advantage

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent develops a composite mulching film combining biodegradable polymers with natural fibers and functional additives (crosslinking agents, plasticizers), creating a material that achieves both environmental friendliness and superior performance in soil moistening, pest control, and plant growth promotion

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent optimizes the film's physical and chemical parameters through crosslinking (using borax or polyaluminum chloride) and plasticization (using glycerin or sorbitol), enhancing the film's strength, flexibility, and soil moistening capability to provide clear performance advantages over conventional vinyl films while maintaining biodegradability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Object-affected harmful factors

If seaweed is used for mulching, then biodegradability is achieved, but light blocking efficiency and heat retention are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovebiodegradabilityVSAvoidheat retention

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a composite mulching film combining biodegradable polymers with natural fibers and functional additives, where the synergistic combination provides both biodegradability and enhanced light blocking efficiency, with the film structure and composition optimized for heat retention while maintaining environmental friendliness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The composition provides effective soil coating, high heat retention, controlled water content, and biodegradability, improving agricultural practices while reducing environmental impact.

Implementation Method 1

has high light blocking efficiency to thus increase heat retention and control water content in soil

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight blocking: Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 2

facilitates soil coating

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSoil coating: Adhesive

Implementation Method 3

increase heat retention and control water content in soil

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat retention: Thermal Insulation

Implementation Method 4

which is environmentally friendly due to use of seaweed

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBiodegradability: Decomposition (biological)

Data Source

PatentUS12565616B2Liquid mulching agent composition containing seaweed extract

Publication Date: 2026.03.03 CELLPACK CORP

AI summary

Disclosed is a liquid mulching agent composition, which is environmentally friendly due to use of seaweed, facilitates soil coating, and has high light blocking efficiency, making it possible to control heat retention and water content in the soil. The liquid mulching agent composition includes a seaweed extract, a first component including at least one selected from the group consisting of humic acid, fulvic acid, and charcoal, and a second component including at least one selected from the group consisting of sodium alginate, polyvinyl alcohol, keratin, and sodium silicate.