George P. Nottingham, managing director of Boynton Beach, FL-based Ecotreat International, has recently received notices of allowance on two U.S. patents covering his work creating soil free root system encasements for mature nursery stock.

The patents allowed to Nottingham cover a method of soil removal and mature root system re-encasement. The EcoTreat method utilizes a finely ground, nearly sterile fiber in a flowable (aqueous) state injected into the naked root system under hydraulic pressure. After treatment, the material dries down and self binds creating the encasement. Via this method, the entire root system is encased down to the tiniest capillary roots creating a finished root system encasement that is soil free and phytosanitary. The subject plant material and root system is sanitized during the process and the finished product requires no special handling or special re-planting procedures.

According to Nottingham, this new method creates a phytosanitary pathway for exports into “soil free” destinations and also has been utilized to create lighter weight nursery stock that is more easily handled and that is transported at a reduced cost because of its decreased weight.

Ecotreat International is the exclusive licensee for this technology and operates a pilot treatment facility that is currently performing further testing on a wide variety nursery stock species.

Ecotreat is seeking investment partners to assist in its creation of a regional treatment facility and to capitalize the commercialization of Ecotreat in the retail and plant rental sectors. Interested parties will find more information at www.ecotreat.net.

Click here to read the June 2009 Ornamental Outlook feature on EcoTreat.

Source: Ecotreat International