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A soil conditioning device having a series of peripheral ridge members having a leading and trailing prow shaped surface circumscribing a disc, wheel or drum. Optionally the prow shaped peripheral ridge members are joined by sub-ridge members forming a single ridge of varying heights circumscribing

A soil conditioning device having a series of peripheral ridge members having a leading and trailing prow shaped surface circumscribing a disc, wheel or drum. Optionally the prow shaped peripheral ridge members are joined by sub-ridge members forming a single ridge of varying heights circumscribing the disc, wheel or drum. The invention is also of a method for creating a permeable soil surface using the apparatus herein.

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What is claimed is: 1. A soil conditioning device, comprising a substantially hollow annular body, a plurality of substantially hollow peripheral ridge members extending from and in open communication with said substantially hollow annular body, said substantially hollow annular body and said plura

What is claimed is: 1. A soil conditioning device, comprising a substantially hollow annular body, a plurality of substantially hollow peripheral ridge members extending from and in open communication with said substantially hollow annular body, said substantially hollow annular body and said plurality of substantially hollow peripheral ridge members being formed of a flexible lightweight material, each of said peripheral ridge members having a first surface and a second surface curved about a first horizontal axis and a second horizontal axis, said first and second side surfaces having thicknesses which vary from an upper edge of said peripheral ridge member to said substantially hollow annular body, said peripheral ridge member further having a leading prow shaped end and a trailing prow shaped end, said leading prow shaped end and said trailing prow shaped end each curved about two substantially perpendicular axes, said soil conditioning device being suitable for consolidating soil. 2. The soil conditioning device of claim 1 wherein said substantially hollow peripheral ridge members are joined by substantially hollow sub-ridge members forming a single ridge of varying height circumscribing said hollow annular body. 3. The soil conditioning device of claim 1, said first and second side surfaces each having a first thickness near said upper edge of said peripheral member. 4. The soil conditioning device of claim 3, said first and second side surfaces each having a second thickness substantially centrally positioned between said upper edge and a peripheral surface of said substantially hollow annular body. 5. The soil conditioning device of claim 1 having at least one polymeric material forming said substantially hollow ridge members. 6. The soil conditioning device of claim 1, said first surface and said second surface of said peripheral ridge members being flexible and moving between a first relaxed position and a second loaded position during movement of the soil conditioning device through soil. 7. The soil conditioning device of claim 1, said peripheral ridge members movable from a first relaxed extended position to a second retracted loaded position. 8. The soil conditioning device of claim 1 wherein said substantially hollow peripheral ridge members and said hollow annular body are in fluid communication. 9. The soil conditioning device of claim 8 wherein said substantially hollow interior of said hollow annular body has a filler selected from the group consisting of compressed gases, liquids, gels, solids, foams, and combinations thereof. 10. The soil conditioning device of claim 9 further having a valve for introduction of said filler material. 11. The soil conditioning device of claim 10, said valve being permanently sealed for retaining fluid in said soil conditioning device at a consistent level. 12. The soil conditioning device of claim 1 further comprising a ceramic material disposed in said upper edge of said ridge member for improving wear. 13. The soil conditioning device of claim 1 further comprising a metallic material disposed in said upper edge of said ridge member for improving wear. 14. The soil conditioning device of claim 1 further comprising a hardening material having a hardness greater than that of said hollow annular body for improved wear in a leading edge of said leading prow shaped end and said upper edge. 15. The soil conditioning device of claim 12 wherein said substantially hollow continuous outer peripheral ridge has a plurality of sections of said second height, each of said sections being interposed with a ridge member of a height varying between said first and second heights, each of said plurality of sections of a second height having an arc length about said wheels circumferential surface in a range of about 5 inches to 10 inches. 16. The soil conditioning device of claim 15 wherein said second height exceeds said first height in a range of approximately 1.5 inches to 5 inches. 17. A soil conditioning device comprising a substantially hollow wheel member having an outer circumferential surface, a centrally disposed substantially hollow continuous flexible outer peripheral ridge extending radially from said circumferential surface, said substantially hollow peripheral ridge and said substantially hollow wheel being formed of lightweight flexible material and each in open communication with the other, said substantially hollow peripheral ridge varying between first and second heights about said substantially hollow wheel member's circumferential surface, said first height and said second height being above said circumferential surface, said first height being less than said second height, said peripheral ridges of said second height having first and second curved sidewalls curving from said upper edge of said peripheral ridge of said second height to said circumferential surface. 18. The soil conditioning device of claim 17, said first and second curved sidewalls of said peripheral ridges of said second height having a thickness which varies between a first decreased thickness and a second increased thickness. 19. The soil conditioning device of claim 17 wherein each of said ridge sections of said second height have a leading edge and a trailing edge, said leading and trailing edges sloping toward said outer circumferential surface and said ridge section of a varying height forming a leading and trailing prow shaped surface. 20. The soil conditioning device of claim 17 further comprising a hardening material having a hardness greater than that of said hollow annular body for improved wear in said leading edge and said upper edge. 21. The soil condition device of claim 20, said leading edge having a ceramic insert. 22. The soil conditioning device of claim 20, said ridge member having a ceramic material disposed in said leading edge and said upper edge of said ridge member for improving wear. 23. The soil conditioning device of claim 20 further comprising metallic material in said leading edge and said upper edge of said ridge member for improving wear. 24. A device for creating a permeable soil surface having an increased surface area, comprising a substantially hollow round device having a plurality of substantially hollow peripheral ridge members, said round device and peripheral ridge members formed of lightweight flexible material, said substantially hollow round device and said substantially hollow peripheral ridge members being in open communication and each of said substantially hollow peripheral ridge members having a leading and trailing prow shaped surface positioned about said substantially hollow round device, each of said substantially hollow peripheral ridge members having a first side wall surface and a second side wall surface, each of said first side wall surface and said second side wall surface being curved from an upper edge of said peripheral ridge member to an peripheral surface of said substantially hollow round device, each of said side wall surfaces also curving inwardly forming a rounded leading edge where said leading edge curves downward from a top of said substantially hollow peripheral ridge member to said substantially hollow round device. 25. The device for creating permeable soil surface of claim 24, said first and second side wall surfaces having a first thickness and a second thickness. 26. The device for creating a permeable soil surface of claim 24 wherein each of said plurality of substantially hollow ridge members are interposed with a substantially hollow subridge member forming weirs in said soil, said substantially hollow subridge members having said first and second surfaces. 27. The device for creating a permeable soil surface claim 24 wherein said device is comprised of a flexible material that imparts a substantially consistent lateral force within said surface soil. 28. The device of claim 27 wherein said flexible material is a polymeric material. 29. The device of claim 28 wherein said polymeric material is selected from the group consisting of polyurethane foam, rubber, silicon rubber, synthetic rubber, urethane, HDPE, and combinations thereof. 30. The device of claim 29 wherein said polymeric material is HDPE. 31. A soil consolidating device, comprising a substantially hollow wheel with a circumferential surface having a plurality of substantially hollow flexible ridge members each defined by a first side wall and a second side wall, said first side wall and said second side wall each having a thickness which varies through a height of each of said plurality of substantially flexible ridge members, said substantially hollow wheel being in open communication with said substantially hollow ridge members, said hollow wheel and said ridge members being formed of a lightweight flexible material, each of said substantially hollow ridge members further having a ridge including a rounded leading edge at one end of said substantially hollow ridge member and a rounded trailing edge at an opposite end of said substantially hollow ridge member, a longitudinal axis generally defined between said leading edge and trailing edge of each of said substantially hollow ridge members, said rounded leading edge curved about said longitudinal axis and from said ridge to said circumferential surface, said rounded trailing edge curved about said longitudinal axis and from said ridge to said circumferential surface, wherein said first side wall curves to said second side wall and said ridge curves from an uppermost height to said circumferential surface. 32. The soil consolidating device of claim 31, said first side wall and said second side wall being curved about a substantially horizontal axis extending from said leading edge to said trailing edge. 33. The soil consolidating device of claim 31 wherein each of said plurality of substantially hollow ridge members are spaced about said circumferential surface of said wheel. 34. The soil consolidating device of claim 31 wherein said leading edge of a first substantially hollow ridge member joins a trailing edge of an adjacent substantially hollow ridge member forming a substantially hollow subridge interposing each of said substantially hollow ridge members. 35. A soil conditioning device, comprising: a substantially hollow annular wheel member formed of a flexible lightweight material and having an outer surface; a plurality of substantially hollow peripheral ridge members formed of said flexible lightweight material extending from said outer surface, said substantially hollow annular wheel and said plurality of substantially hollow peripheral ridge members in open communication; each of said substantially hollow ridge members having a first surface and a second surface joining to form a ridge portion; said first surface and said second surface each having a thickness which varies between said ridge portion and said wheel member; said substantially hollow ridge members having a leading end curved from said outer surface to said ridge portion and from said first side to said second side; said substantially hollow ridge members having a trailing end curved from said outer surface to said ridge portion and from said first side to said second side. 36. The soil conditioning device of claim 35, said first surface and said second surface being curved between said ridge portion and said wheel member. 37. The soil conditioning device of claim 35 further comprising a ridge extending continuously about said outer surface. 38. The soil conditioning device of claim 37 wherein said ridge continuously extending around said outer surface comprises a plurality of portions having a first height and a plurality of portions having a second height disposed between said plurality of portions having said first height. 39. A soil conditioning device suitable for creating a water permeable soil surface, comprising: a substantially hollow annular wheel having an outer surface; a plurality of substantially hollow peripheral ridge members extending from said outer surface; said wheel and said peripheral ridge members being formed of a lightweight flexible material; each of said substantially hollow ridge members having a first side surface joining with a second side surface forming a leading edge, an outer edge, and a trailing edge, said edges being rounded; said first side surface and said second side surface each having variation in thickness and being curved from said outer surface of said annular wheel to said outer edge of said hollow ridge member; said leading edge and said trailing edge each being curved from said outer edge to said outer surface of said substantially hollow annular wheel and from said first side surface to said second side surface. 40. A process for consolidating soil, comprising the steps of: carrying out a process on a soil from the group consisting of: a) post harvest processing; b) spring pre-plant processing; c) planting processing; and, d) cultivation processing; tilling said soil following at least one of said carrying out of said process; consolidating said soil at least once with a soil conditioning device to increase aeration, pore space and decrease bulk density, said soil conditioning device comprising: a substantially hollow annular body, a plurality of substantially hollow peripheral ridge members extending from and in open communication with said substantially hollow annular body, said substantially hollow annular body and said plurality of substantially hollow peripheral ridge members being formed of a flexible lightweight material, each of said peripheral ridge members having a first surface and a second surface curved about a first horizontal axis and a second horizontal axis, said first and second side surfaces having thicknesses which vary from an upper edge of said peripheral ridge member to said substantially hollow annular body, said peripheral ridge member further having a leading prow shaped end and a trailing prow shaped end, said leading prow shaped end and said trailing prow shaped end each curved about two substantially perpendicular axes, said soil conditioning device being suitable for consolidating soil. 41. The process of claim 40 further comprising varying the pressure within said soil conditioning device. 42. The process of claim 41 further comprising increasing or decreasing a fluid amount within said soil conditioning device. 43. A process for consolidating soil, comprising the steps of: conducting a first processing step on a soil from the group consisting of: a) post harvest processing; b) spring pre-plant processing; c) planting processing; and, d) cultivation processing; tilling said soil following said conducting of said first processing step; consolidating said soil with said soil conditioning device to decrease clod sizes in said soil with a soil conditioning device, said soil conditioning device decreasing bulk density and increasing pore space, said soil conditioning device comprising: a substantially hollow wheel member having an outer circumferential surface, a centrally disposed substantially hollow continuous flexible outer peripheral ridge extending radially from said circumferential surface, said substantially hollow peripheral ridge and said substantially hollow wheel being formed of lightweight flexible material and each in open communication with the other, said substantially hollow peripheral ridge varying between first and second heights about said substantially hollow wheel member's circumferential surface, said first height and said second height being above said circumferential surface, said first height being less than said second height, said peripheral ridges of said second height having first and second curved sidewalls curving from said upper edge of said peripheral ridge of said second height to said circumferential surface.