CA1258977A - Container for growing and subsequent transplanting of seedlings - Google Patents
Container for growing and subsequent transplanting of seedlingsInfo
- Publication number
- CA1258977A CA1258977A CA000535485A CA535485A CA1258977A CA 1258977 A CA1258977 A CA 1258977A CA 000535485 A CA000535485 A CA 000535485A CA 535485 A CA535485 A CA 535485A CA 1258977 A CA1258977 A CA 1258977A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- container
- container according
- cavities
- cavity
- seedlings
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Landscapes
- Cultivation Receptacles Or Flower-Pots, Or Pots For Seedlings (AREA)
Abstract
Abstract A container for growing seedlings in the form of a moulded plastics tray with a horizontal upper side formed with a series if closely-packed uniform and regular hexagonal openings bounded by walls which define a cavity tapering downwardly from each opening, and terminating at an aperture on the lower side.
As compared with prior seedling containers of similar size formed with circular openings, the container exposes a larger surface area of the soil or other growing medium, providing for better aeration and facilitating the application of treatment liquids, and can provide an increased volume of the growing medium adjacent the upper end of the cavity, whereby seedlings of increased stem diameter can be grown.
As compared with prior seedling containers of similar size formed with circular openings, the container exposes a larger surface area of the soil or other growing medium, providing for better aeration and facilitating the application of treatment liquids, and can provide an increased volume of the growing medium adjacent the upper end of the cavity, whereby seedlings of increased stem diameter can be grown.
Description
~'25~97~
The present invention relates to a container ~or growing and subsequent transplanting of seedlings, more specifically although not exclusively for growing and plan~lng of tree seedlings.
In accordance with the invention there is provided a container for growiny and subsequently transplanting of seedlings comprising a moulded plastic tray with a horizontal upper side formed with a series of cavities composed by a series of closely-packed upper openings which at least at the uppermost portions thereof are uniformly regularly hexagonal and which are bounded by substantially vertical walls defining a honeycomb formation said upper openings continuing in lower openings which taper downwardly and are substantially circular in cross section, the walls bounding said tapering openings forming shells distinct from the shells of adjacent cavities. Preferably, the taper of said tapering openings is the least that allows the harmless removal of the plugs of growth medium from the cavities to~ether with the grown seedlings. Such taper provides maximu~. volume for each cavit~.
The arrangement has numerous advantages over prior seedlings containers of the kind referred to.
The main advantage is that the effective volume of the cavities as related to the total volume of the container is maximized while taking into account all the requirements which have to be fulfilled for creating a container suitable for growing and transplanting of tree seedlings.
Such a container should for instance have a rigidity sufficient for handling the container when transported or used for the transplantation, preferably suspended in a holder carried by the plan~er. It should further be light in weight and as inexpensive as possible.
A still further reguirement is that several containers can be stacked upon each other in a space-...................
saving manner and of co~rse the plugs of growth medium with the grown seedlings have to be easy to remove from the cavities.
For instance- as compared with containers of similar size formed with circular openings, the present container exposes a larger surface area of the soil or other growing medium when Eilled into the cavities, providing for better aeration of the growing medium, and also facilitating the application of treatment liquids such as fertilizers, fungicides, pesticides etc. The risk for formation of moss at the upper side of the container is also minimized due to the minor exposed upper surface.
It has been found that the present arrangement results in seedlings growing to a larger stem diameter at equal seedling heights. It is suggested that this is because of the larger volume of the cavity especially in the upper portion thereof. It is known that the stem diameter at the time of planting is an important indicator o the survivability of the seedling.
Other advantages of the present arrangement will become apparent from the following detailed description, with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show by way of example one form of container in accordance with the invention.
In the accompanying drawings:
Figure 1 shows a plan view of a container in accordance with the invention;
Figure 2 shows a vertical cross-section through a cavity of the container taken on the line 11-11 in figure 1;
Figure 3 shows a vertical section through a cavity of the container, taken on the line 111-111 in figure 1;
Figure 4 shows a partial plan view of the container of figure 1.
The present invention relates to a container ~or growing and subsequent transplanting of seedlings, more specifically although not exclusively for growing and plan~lng of tree seedlings.
In accordance with the invention there is provided a container for growiny and subsequently transplanting of seedlings comprising a moulded plastic tray with a horizontal upper side formed with a series of cavities composed by a series of closely-packed upper openings which at least at the uppermost portions thereof are uniformly regularly hexagonal and which are bounded by substantially vertical walls defining a honeycomb formation said upper openings continuing in lower openings which taper downwardly and are substantially circular in cross section, the walls bounding said tapering openings forming shells distinct from the shells of adjacent cavities. Preferably, the taper of said tapering openings is the least that allows the harmless removal of the plugs of growth medium from the cavities to~ether with the grown seedlings. Such taper provides maximu~. volume for each cavit~.
The arrangement has numerous advantages over prior seedlings containers of the kind referred to.
The main advantage is that the effective volume of the cavities as related to the total volume of the container is maximized while taking into account all the requirements which have to be fulfilled for creating a container suitable for growing and transplanting of tree seedlings.
Such a container should for instance have a rigidity sufficient for handling the container when transported or used for the transplantation, preferably suspended in a holder carried by the plan~er. It should further be light in weight and as inexpensive as possible.
A still further reguirement is that several containers can be stacked upon each other in a space-...................
saving manner and of co~rse the plugs of growth medium with the grown seedlings have to be easy to remove from the cavities.
For instance- as compared with containers of similar size formed with circular openings, the present container exposes a larger surface area of the soil or other growing medium when Eilled into the cavities, providing for better aeration of the growing medium, and also facilitating the application of treatment liquids such as fertilizers, fungicides, pesticides etc. The risk for formation of moss at the upper side of the container is also minimized due to the minor exposed upper surface.
It has been found that the present arrangement results in seedlings growing to a larger stem diameter at equal seedling heights. It is suggested that this is because of the larger volume of the cavity especially in the upper portion thereof. It is known that the stem diameter at the time of planting is an important indicator o the survivability of the seedling.
Other advantages of the present arrangement will become apparent from the following detailed description, with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show by way of example one form of container in accordance with the invention.
In the accompanying drawings:
Figure 1 shows a plan view of a container in accordance with the invention;
Figure 2 shows a vertical cross-section through a cavity of the container taken on the line 11-11 in figure 1;
Figure 3 shows a vertical section through a cavity of the container, taken on the line 111-111 in figure 1;
Figure 4 shows a partial plan view of the container of figure 1.
- 2 -J~77 The illustrated container 1 consists of a single piece moulding of plastics having an upper~ planar wall 2. This planar wall is interrupted by a series of closely-packed cavities generally designated as 3. Each cavity comprises -as can be seen in figures 2-4 inclusive-an upper opening 4 having a hexagonal cross section. This upper opening 4 is bounded by substantially vertical walls 5 having a height of at least 1/4 of the total height of each cavity. As can be seen these walls are relatively thin and form a honeycomb formation where each of the cavities has one vertical wall 5 thereof integral with a vertical wall of an adjacent cavity. The hexagons are regular and the openings are uniform in size. As best seen in figure 4 each hexagonal opening is bordered by an upper thin edge of the side walls 5. Each upper opening continues in a lower opening 6 which tapers downwardly and is circular in cross section. This lower opening is bounded by a tapering side wall 7 which extends upwardly in upwardly peaked portions 8 to the vertices of the hexagonal opening ~ adjacent the upper side of the container. Thus, on either side of the peaked portions 8 the vertical side walls 5 merge with the conical side wall 7 along parabolas 9, of which the vertical axes coincide with the midpoints of the sides of the hexagon. The lower opening 6 terminates in a more steeply inwardly inclined conical frustum 10 bounded by a side wall 11 and said conical frustum terminates at a circular opening 12.
Thus, each cavity will have a first section which is hexagonal in cross section, a second section bounded by alternating planar and curved surfaces and a third section in the shape of a circular and tapering surface terminating in a more steeply inwardly inclined conical surface ending in a cylindrical opening.
In order to facilitate the stacking of the containers a number of ribs 13 (see figs. 3 and 4) are ~5 1;.~ . . : `' `
~:5~3~7~
provided. Said ribs bridge the distance between two adjacent conical side walls 7, and provide support surfaces 13a enabling a series of containers to be stacked one on another with the upper ends of walls 5 of each lower container enga~ing the sur~aces 13a of the container thereabove.
In order to deter the growth of roots in a transverse direction, which would tend to encircle and eventually strangulate the roots, preferably the inner side of the side wall of each cavity 3 is formed with a series of downwardly extending raised ribs 14 which serve to guide the root growth. Desirably, these extend down-wardly from each vertex of the hexagon adjacent its upper side, as shown.
The planar portion ~ has a downwardly-turned lip or rim 15 which as seen in fig. 1 extends along each short side of the container and also extends around the corners to meet the walls 5 of the outermost cavlties.
This lip or rim 15 increases the rigidity of the container and the ribs 13 and 14 also add rigidity ~o the container which owing to the relatively high vertical walls 5 forming the honeycomb structure in itself has a considerable rigidity allowing the container fully loaded with growing medium and seedlings to be carried by hand or carried by a planter using a holder which may comprise a rail connected to a belly-strap whereas a strap attached to the side of the container which is most remote from the planter is worn by the planter for instance over his shoulders. A plurality of holes 16 arranged in the long upper sides of the container serve to releasably connect the container to a holder of the described character.
Since the volume of the upper portion of the cavity 3 is relatively large seedlings growing from a seed planted centrally of the cavity adjacent its upper end tend to grow to form seedlings of increased stem diameter, for a given seedling height. The circular cross section of the lower portion of the plug thus moulded by the cavity facilitates the planting of the growing medium plugs using conventional seedling-planting equipment. The more steeply inwardly inclined portion 11 assists in retaining the normally particulate growing material within the cavity during the germination and seedling growing process. The aperture 12 at the bottom provides for the required drainage of the cavity, and when exposed to free air, prevents growth of the roots beyond the bottom of the cavity and encourages active growth of roots from points within the growth medium.
Since the cavity and hence also the plug of growing medium when disposed therein, has rounded corners, prob]ems of moisture loss from sharp corner portions of the transplanted growing medium are reduced or avoided and the plug will be easy to remove from the cavity in question.
The somewhat prismatic shape of the upper portion of the cavity leads to formation of a growth medium plug which holds together well and is well penetrated by roots since the corners of the hexagonal portions are not excessively remote diagonally from the seed which is the centre of root growth.
Desirably, in order to reduce the quantity of plastic required for the moulding, each cavity is defined by a side wall which is in the form of a thin tubular shell.
Preferably, the container is moulded, e.g. by injection moulding from a thermoplastic material, preferably polyethylene which is filled with a black ultraviolet resistant pigment.
A further advantage of the present arrangement is that the closely packed hexagonal array reduces the amount of infrared-absorbing plastic exposed 1~5~3~377 at the upper surface of the container. This reduces the quantity of solar energy absorbed by the container and reduces the amount of heat energy transferred to the roots of the seedling, thus reducing solar heat-induced root damage.
The container is well adapted for use in mechanized procedures wherein quantities of growth medium are dispensed automatically into each cavity, and a seed may likewise be introduced automatically into the growth medium. The container may then be maintained under carefully regulated temperature and humidity conditions, in order to promote germination and growth of the seedling. After a period of growth the container with the seedlings in it can be taken to the site where planting is to be conducted.
The container is especially well adapted for use in the germination and growth of tree seedlings for use in the planting of forests, for example for forest regeneration purposes.
Thus, each cavity will have a first section which is hexagonal in cross section, a second section bounded by alternating planar and curved surfaces and a third section in the shape of a circular and tapering surface terminating in a more steeply inwardly inclined conical surface ending in a cylindrical opening.
In order to facilitate the stacking of the containers a number of ribs 13 (see figs. 3 and 4) are ~5 1;.~ . . : `' `
~:5~3~7~
provided. Said ribs bridge the distance between two adjacent conical side walls 7, and provide support surfaces 13a enabling a series of containers to be stacked one on another with the upper ends of walls 5 of each lower container enga~ing the sur~aces 13a of the container thereabove.
In order to deter the growth of roots in a transverse direction, which would tend to encircle and eventually strangulate the roots, preferably the inner side of the side wall of each cavity 3 is formed with a series of downwardly extending raised ribs 14 which serve to guide the root growth. Desirably, these extend down-wardly from each vertex of the hexagon adjacent its upper side, as shown.
The planar portion ~ has a downwardly-turned lip or rim 15 which as seen in fig. 1 extends along each short side of the container and also extends around the corners to meet the walls 5 of the outermost cavlties.
This lip or rim 15 increases the rigidity of the container and the ribs 13 and 14 also add rigidity ~o the container which owing to the relatively high vertical walls 5 forming the honeycomb structure in itself has a considerable rigidity allowing the container fully loaded with growing medium and seedlings to be carried by hand or carried by a planter using a holder which may comprise a rail connected to a belly-strap whereas a strap attached to the side of the container which is most remote from the planter is worn by the planter for instance over his shoulders. A plurality of holes 16 arranged in the long upper sides of the container serve to releasably connect the container to a holder of the described character.
Since the volume of the upper portion of the cavity 3 is relatively large seedlings growing from a seed planted centrally of the cavity adjacent its upper end tend to grow to form seedlings of increased stem diameter, for a given seedling height. The circular cross section of the lower portion of the plug thus moulded by the cavity facilitates the planting of the growing medium plugs using conventional seedling-planting equipment. The more steeply inwardly inclined portion 11 assists in retaining the normally particulate growing material within the cavity during the germination and seedling growing process. The aperture 12 at the bottom provides for the required drainage of the cavity, and when exposed to free air, prevents growth of the roots beyond the bottom of the cavity and encourages active growth of roots from points within the growth medium.
Since the cavity and hence also the plug of growing medium when disposed therein, has rounded corners, prob]ems of moisture loss from sharp corner portions of the transplanted growing medium are reduced or avoided and the plug will be easy to remove from the cavity in question.
The somewhat prismatic shape of the upper portion of the cavity leads to formation of a growth medium plug which holds together well and is well penetrated by roots since the corners of the hexagonal portions are not excessively remote diagonally from the seed which is the centre of root growth.
Desirably, in order to reduce the quantity of plastic required for the moulding, each cavity is defined by a side wall which is in the form of a thin tubular shell.
Preferably, the container is moulded, e.g. by injection moulding from a thermoplastic material, preferably polyethylene which is filled with a black ultraviolet resistant pigment.
A further advantage of the present arrangement is that the closely packed hexagonal array reduces the amount of infrared-absorbing plastic exposed 1~5~3~377 at the upper surface of the container. This reduces the quantity of solar energy absorbed by the container and reduces the amount of heat energy transferred to the roots of the seedling, thus reducing solar heat-induced root damage.
The container is well adapted for use in mechanized procedures wherein quantities of growth medium are dispensed automatically into each cavity, and a seed may likewise be introduced automatically into the growth medium. The container may then be maintained under carefully regulated temperature and humidity conditions, in order to promote germination and growth of the seedling. After a period of growth the container with the seedlings in it can be taken to the site where planting is to be conducted.
The container is especially well adapted for use in the germination and growth of tree seedlings for use in the planting of forests, for example for forest regeneration purposes.
Claims (11)
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A container for growing and subsequently transplanting of seedlings comprising a moulded plastic tray with a horizontal upper side formed with a series of cavities composed by a series of closely-packed upper openings which at least at the uppermost portions thereof are uniformly regularly hexagonal and which are bounded by substantially vertical walls defining a honeycomb formation, said upper openings continuing in lower openings which taper downwardly and are substantially circular in cross section, the walls bounding said tapering openings forming shells distinct from the shells of adjacent cavities.
2. A container according to claim 1 wherein the taper of said tapering openings is the least that allows the harmless removal of the plugs of growth medium from the cavities together with the grown seedlings.
3. A container according to claim 1 wherein each cavity terminates in a more sharply inwardly inclined conical frustum terminating at a circular bottom aperture.
4. A container according to claim 1 wherein the substantially vertical walls have a height exceeding 25%
of the total height of each cavity.
of the total height of each cavity.
5. A container according to claim 1 wherein the cavities have an inner shape composed by an upper portion having a hexagonal cross section, an intermediate portion having a cross section with planar portions alternating with arcuate portions and a lower tapering portion having a circular cross section said intermediate portion being generated by intersection between said hexagonal and said circular tapering portions such that said circular tapering portion extends upwardly in upwardly peaked portions to the vertices of the hexagonal opening adjacent the upper side of the container whereby the cavity has rounded corners along substantially its entire depth.
6. A container according to claim 5 wherein the upper portions of the side walls intermediate said rounded corners comprise vertical walls merging with the conical side walls along parabolas of which the vertical axes coincide with the midpoint of the side of the hexagon.
7. A container according to claim 1 wherein each of the cavities has one vertical wall thereof integral with a vertical wall of an adjacent cavity.
8. A container according to claim 1 having raised ribs extending downwardly on the inner side walls of the cavities.
9. A container according to claim 8 wherein a rib extends downwardly from each vertex of the hexagon adjacent the upper side.
10. A container according to claim 1 wherein the upper side of the container is rectangular in shape and in two opposite sides thereof has downwardly directed ribs whereas a series of holes are provided in the remaining two sides.
11. A container according to claim 1 wherein ribs bridging the conical side walls of neighbouring cavities are provided to define support surfaces enabling a series of containers to be stacked upon each other.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000535485A CA1258977A (en) | 1987-04-24 | 1987-04-24 | Container for growing and subsequent transplanting of seedlings |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000535485A CA1258977A (en) | 1987-04-24 | 1987-04-24 | Container for growing and subsequent transplanting of seedlings |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1258977A true CA1258977A (en) | 1989-09-05 |
Family
ID=4135490
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000535485A Expired CA1258977A (en) | 1987-04-24 | 1987-04-24 | Container for growing and subsequent transplanting of seedlings |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1258977A (en) |
-
1987
- 1987-04-24 CA CA000535485A patent/CA1258977A/en not_active Expired
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |