Agricultural fumigation using a multilayer film including a pvdc vapor barrier

• Main Authors: LANE DENNIS, WEISS ANTHONY, CARN CHARLES A, WHITE MICHAEL, VAN WESENBEECK IAN, BUSACCA JOHN D, HOWARD PHILLIP J
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 29.08.2014
• Subjects: AGRICULTURE; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPSOR SEAWEED; FERTILISING; FISHING; FORESTRY; HORTICULTURE; HUMAN NECESSITIES; HUNTING; PLANTING; SOWING; TRAPPING; WATERING

Disclosed herein is a method for fumigating soil, comprising: introducing a fumigant including at least one volatile substance (preferably selected from the group consisting of methyl bromide, chloropicrin, 1,3-dichloro-1-propene, methyl isothiocyanate, methyl iodide, sulfuryl fluoride and mixtures thereof) into or onto soil; and covering the soil with a multilayer polymeric film to at least partially contain the fumigant; wherein the film comprises a PVDC barrier layer, a first protecting layer on a first side of the PVDC barrier layer and a second protecting layer on a second side of the PVDC barrier layer; wherein the PVDC barrier layer comprises at least one alkyl acrylate vinylidene chloride interpolymer, wherein the acrylate is selected from the group consisting of methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, propyl acrylate, butyl acrylate and combinations thereof; and wherein the barrier layer comprises less than about 10% of the thickness of the multilayer polymeric film.