Mixing steam with soil increases heating rate compared to steam applied to still soil

Before development of a new field steam applicator, this study was done to determine whether the application of steam from a source that is mixed with the soil is more efficient than application from a source that does not mix the soil, to aid in the machines' design. A cement mixer, either in motion or still, was used to contain soil or sand as it was treated with steam, and the heat profile of the soil or sand after the steam application was measured. The results indicated that the soil and sand were heated more thoroughly and rapidly from surface to deeper layers when steam was mixed compared to steam applied to the surface of still soil or sand.