CA2207227A1 - Plant seed germination mat - Google Patents
Plant seed germination matInfo
- Publication number
- CA2207227A1 CA2207227A1 CA002207227A CA2207227A CA2207227A1 CA 2207227 A1 CA2207227 A1 CA 2207227A1 CA 002207227 A CA002207227 A CA 002207227A CA 2207227 A CA2207227 A CA 2207227A CA 2207227 A1 CA2207227 A1 CA 2207227A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- mat
- seed germination
- plant
- cover layer
- substrate
- 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.)
- Abandoned
Links
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
- A01G—HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING
- A01G20/00—Cultivation of turf, lawn or the like; Apparatus or methods therefor
- A01G20/20—Cultivation on mats
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
- A01C—PLANTING; SOWING; FERTILISING
- A01C1/00—Apparatus, or methods of use thereof, for testing or treating seed, roots, or the like, prior to sowing or planting
- A01C1/04—Arranging seed on carriers, e.g. on tapes, on cords ; Carrier compositions
- A01C1/044—Sheets, multiple sheets or mats
Abstract
A plant germination mat comprising a substrate including a structurally integral layer comprising sphagnum moss particles, and a plurality of seeds situated on or incorporated into the substrate. The mat is stored dry and in use is cut to a desired shape and spread over the land and watered. The amount of effort to be expended in cultivating the plants is reduced over the prior art. A method of growing plants comprising the steps of placing an appropriate plant seed germination mat on the soil and watering. A method of growing a flower bed having a pattern comprising the steps of severing two or more plant seed germination mats in accordance with the pattern, placing them on the soil in accordance with the pattern, and watering.
Description
PLANT SEED GERMINATION MAT
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to plant seed germination mats.
s BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
For many centuries, h~lm~n~ have attempted to cultivate plants and control and regulate plant growth. Over the years there have been many objectives for such cultivation and control.
In present times, it might be desired to cultivate a lawn, a bed of flowers, a garden, or 10 commercial cash crops.
No matter what the final objective, however, as a general rule plant cultivation and control involves getting specific plants to grow in specific locations and preventing others from growing in other locations. It is not an easy task. Plant cultivation, and particularly plant seed 15 germination, requires that a number of variables including soil nutrient conditions, soil moisture content, and light and temperature levels all be within a suitable range. Such conditions are rarely optimal in nature, hence, in order to effect plant growth it is generally required that one must first prepare the soil through a variety of techniques, plant the seeds in the desired locations, fertilize the soil, and water as necessary depending on environmental conditions.
Each of these steps in and of itself is not simple. The soil must first be tilled and if necessary topsoil added. Depending on the size of the plot of land, machines might be available to aid in such work, otherwise such work might be time con~lming and physically difficult.
Hilly areas in particular may require an extreme amount of work for which machine assistance 25 may not be available.
Once the soil has been prepared, the seeds must be planted in the desired location.
Depending on the objective this task may require extreme and precise efforts. The seeds must be placed such that the mature plants have the desired spacing, and generally do not compete 30 with one another. Such spacing will differ depending on the objective in mind and the plants involved. For instance, grass seeds must be placed closer together (and randomly) as opposed to garden vegetables or commercial crops, which are generally planted in spaced apart rows.
Extreme examples include flowerbeds wherein the plants, when mature, will form a coloured pattern or design. Careful placement of the individual seeds, as well as the exclusion of all 35 other plants, is required in such an application.
Once the seeds have been planted, fertilizer may optionally be laid down over the soil where nutrient conditions are poor or where it is desired to accelerate plant growth. There are many dirrerenl types of conventional fertilizers available both in liquid and solid form 5 (generally pellets). Either form must be dispersed over the ground area in which the seeds are located. Basically, the fertilizer so dispersed will land across the ground area in a relatively random formation. Some areas may thus be over fertilized, others under fertilized, and some not fertilized at all. This process is inefficient and results in wasted fertilizer.
The ground area in which the plant seeds are located must also be kept wet, as the plant seeds will only germinate in relatively constant moisture conditions. Depending on the plants being grown the ground may be watered at either regular intervals or when it appears dry.
Neither are particularly accurate methods for measuring soil moisture content. As with the fertilizer, water is dispersed over the ground relatively randomly, and thus, some areas may be 15 overwatered, others underwatered, and still others not watered at all. In addition, water provided to the plants does not simply say in the topsoil where the seeds are located, but rather will seep into the layers below becoming unavailable to the seeds. The amount of watering done must take such waste into account. The entire watering process thus is ineff1cient and wasteful.
Even once all of the above steps have been accomplished, the work has not ended.Birds and other small ~nimAI.~ Iike to eat the seeds and continual efforts must be made to keep such ~nim~l~ away and to replace the seeds that have been eaten by them. Constant efforts must also be expended to m~int~in the area free of unwanted plant growth resl-lting from 25 natural seed placement in the area or from seeds already present in the spoil before the desired seeds were planted.
One way in which some of these difficulties have been previously attempted to have been overcome is through the production and use of sod. Sod is a small piece of a layer of turf 30 that has been cut from the earth. It contains both mature plants (including roots) and a small layer of soil underlying them. Sod is generally used as quick means of producing a lawn (of grass). In order to do this, a number of pieces of sod are placed side-by-side over an area of the ground in which it is desired that the grass grow. It is then watered, and optionally fertilized, and it is hoped that the desired end will be achieved. There are, however, many 35 problems with sod: As it must be grown as a crop, it takes a relatively long-time and large ground area to produce on a commercial scale. As it is a live plant, its soil component must be kept constantly moist in order to prevent it from dying before use. It is thus expensive and impractical to store for an extended period of time. Moreover, in use it is heavy, dirty, time-con~l~ming, and difficult to handle and requires lots of equipment. It often dies despite the best efforts of the user.
In sum, at present the plant cultivation, control, and regulation process is a difficult one.
Efforts made to alleviate these difficulties have not met with complete success. It would be desirable to devise a means, method and/or appa ~L~Is for red~lring the amount of work and 10 materials required to cultivate, control and regulate plant growth.
OBJECT AND STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a means and a method for 15 cultivating, controlling, and re~ ting plant growth requiring less work and materials than is conventionally required.
In a first aspect, as embodied and broadly described herein, the present invention provides a plant seed germination mat comprising a structurally integral layer of sph~gmlm 20 moss particles, said layer capable of being penetrated by a cotyledon. Preferably, a plurality of plant seeds affixed are to the underside of said layer (i.e. the soil-facing side of the mat when the mat is in use).
In another aspect, as embodied and broadly described herein, the present invention 25 provides a plant seed germination mat comprising:
(a) a substrate, said substrate including a structurally integral layer comprising sph~gn-~m moss particles;
(b) a plurality of plant seeds ~it~1~ted on said substrate; and (c) a cover layer affixed to said substrate at least partially covering said substrate and said plant seeds, said cover layer capable of being penetrated by a cotyledon.
The structurally integral sph~gnllm moss layers of the present invention have been m~mlf~ctured for some time for use in articles used to absorb bodily exudates (e.g. feminine sanitary napkins, tampons, medical bandages, Band-AidsTM). Sph~gnllm layers are employed 35 in such articles owning to their excellent liquid absorbent properties; they are capable of absorbing and ret~ining a significant amount of liquid over periods of time. They are, however, stored dry. Such layers and the m~nllf~cture thereof are described in the following patent documents, which are all incorporated herein by reference:
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_ S-A-' ,1. 0,'15 Ja ancette et a~. Octo ~er 9, 1979 US-A-4,215,692 Levesque August 5, 1980 US-A-4,226,237 Levesque October7, 1980 US-A-4,305,393 Nguyen December 15, 1981 US-A-4,473,440 Ovans September25, 1984 US-A- 4,507,122 Levesque March26, 1986 US-A-4,618,496 Brasseur October 21, 1986 US-A-4,676,871 Cadieuxetal. June30, 1987 US-A-4,992,324 Dubé February 12, 1991 US-A-5,053,029 Yang October 1, 1991 WO 97/13484 Roy et al. April 17, 1997 These properties of the sph~gmlm layers allow the present invention to be a significant improvement over conventional plant cultivation techniques. The present germination mats may be m~nllf~ctured on large scale as relatively large yet lightweight sheets, they may be 10 rolled into a roll and stored dry for çxten(led periods of time if necessary, enabling long-term storage while decreasing both storage and transportation costs (as co,l,paled with sod.) More significant benefits accrue to the end user of the present mats. In effect, the present invention allows the user to dispense with the steps of tilling the soil, positioning and 15 planting the seeds, and fertilizing. All that is necessary is that the user unroll the present germination mats, sever them to the desired shape and size (as necessary), place them on the soil and water. Depending on the mat, the seeds may have been precisely placed within the mat at desired locations, or may have been randomly placed, thus simplifying the seed placement process. Moreover, the amount of work necessary to m~int~in the seeds is also 20 decreased. The structurally integral sph~m-m layers of the present invention will absorb and retain a large amount of water, as opposed to simply allowing it to seep through to the ground underneath. The plant seeds of the present invention therefore effectively have water constantly available to them, presenting a more ideal situation for seed germination, and likely increasing S
the germination rate. The amount of weeding required is reduced as the present germination mats contain only the plant seeds which were intentionally placed in them during their manufacture. Other plant seeds present in the soil below are less likely to germinate, as the present mats will greatly decrease the amount of sunlight and water available to them.
5 Furthermore, as the present plant seeds are shielded by the cover layer of the present germination mat, they are much less likely to be disturbed by anim~l~ in the area. In addition, as the sph~gn~-m layers decay they will constitute a natural fertilizer and make nutrients available to the sprouting see(lling.~. The present germination mats are thus a significant development in plant cultivation.
Preferably, the cover layer includes a structurally integral layer comprising cellulose fibres, particularly wood pulp fibres. Such a cover layer would serve to secure the seeds within the mat, to protect the seeds during the primary stages of their growth and to impede their being eaten by birds and other animals.
Preferably, the cover layer includes a structurally integral layer comprising sph~gmlm moss particles. Such a layer would increase the aforementioned benefits conferred by the sph~p~n-lm moss particles, i.e. more water may be retained by the mat, less water and sllnlight pass through the mat, and more natural fertilizer is available as the sph~gnl1m decays. Such a 20 layer would also constitute a greater prevention from unwanted animal interference with the seeds below. The reason for this is that a sph~n-lm moss cover layer is generally thicker and denser than a simple cellulose fibre cover layer. Where such is the case, preferably, the cover layer includes a plurality of perforations. Depending on the type of plant seeds, the growing plant cotyledons may not be strong enough to penetrate the sph~gnllm cover layer. They will 25 thus grow sideways, in between the cover layer and the substrate and will exit the germination mat through one of the pel~ol~lions. For this reason, the perforations need not be aligned with plant seeds, and the seeds may be randomly situated in the mat. Moreover, the placement of the holes permits the selection of the position of the mature plants which develop from the seeds.
In some situations, e.g. a lawn, the perforations are preferably evenly spaced apart, generally in 30 rows and in columns. In other situations, it may be desired to produce a pattern out of the mature plants, and the holes may be placed so as to cause the mature plants to be of such a pattern.
Preferably, the mat is substantially free of synthetic material, and particularly polyester.
35 Polyester is present in structurally integral layers of sph~gnllm moss conventionally used in absorbent articles, for various reasons. In order to render the entire present germination mat biodegradable and thus more environmentally friendly, the mat should be free of polyester, and all other non-biodegradable synthetic materials.
Preferably, the mat further includes a fertilizer. Such may be necessary where soil conditions are particularly poor in the area. Any conventional fertilizer which will not harm the seeds may be used. Such fertilizer may be impregn~ted into either the substrate or the cover layer (or both) during the course of m~n~lf~chlre thereof, or alternatively, may be dispersed (either in solid or liquid form) along the substrate in a similar manner as with the plant seeds.
Preferably, the mat includes an indicator of the variety of the seeds, and all conventional indicators are within the scope of the present invention. Thus, for example, the name of the variety might appear on either the cover layer or the substrate. It is more prerelled that at least a zone of the cover layer be coloured to indicate a variety of the seeds.
Preferably, the mat includes an indicator of the in use position of the mat, and all conventional indicators are within the scope of the present invention. In this manner, the mat may be correctly positioned when in use, i.e. with the substrate in contact with the ground and the cover layer facing the environment. It is more p.er~.led that such indicator be a colour of at least a portion of the cover layer or of the substrate. The pe-ro~alions of the cover layer may also act as an indicator in this respect.
Preferably, the cover layer includes an indicator of the moisture content of the cover layer, and all conventional indicators are within the scope of the present invention. In this manner, it will be easier to discern when the mat (and thus the seeds) should be watered. Such an indicator may be a substance added to at least a portion of the cover layer which turns different colours when wet and when dry. Sph~gnllm itself is such a material (it being darker when wet and lighter when dry) and thus when the cover layer is a structurally integral sph~gn..m layer, it may not be necessary to add an additional material to the mat to serve as 30 such an indicator.
Preferably, at least a portion of the cover layer approxi---ates a colour of at least a flower of a plant grown from the seeds. In this manner a carpet or field effect may be created, such that, as an example, where the mature flowers are yellow, the cover layer of the mat is dyed 35 yellow so that the entire area appears yellow instead of having yellow flowers with brown patches in between. It should be understood whenever in the context of the present invention a dye is added to the mat or any layer thereof, the dye should be non-toxic to both the seeds and the mature plants.
Preferably, the cover layer includes a zone capable of ~suming at least a first colour at a first pH and at least a second colour at a second pH, for indicating the pH of the mat. In this respect, a material typically known as a pH indicator may be incorporated into the cover layer to allow for a simple means of determining the acidity/~lk~linity of the mat. (So that it may be determined whether same needs to be adjusted to enhance seed germination and plant growth.) Any conventional pH indicator may be so incorporated into the mat, provided it is not harmful to the seeds or the growing plants.
In yet another aspect, as embodied and broadly described herein, the present invention comprises a method of growing plants comprising the steps of placing a plant seed germination mat as previously recited on soil, and then watering the mat.
In still another aspect, as embodied and broadly described herein, the present invention comprises a plant seed germination mat comprising:
(a) a substrate, said substrate including a structurally integral layer comprising sph~gnl-m moss particles, said substrate capable of being penetrated by a cotyledon;
and (b) a plurality of plant seeds incorporated into said substrate.
In this embodiment the plant seeds are physically incorporated into the substrate, thus the substrate both supports and covers the seeds. In all other aspects, this embodiment is similar to that described above, including the colouring of the substrate for various purposes, and the addition of fertilizer thereto.
In still another aspect, as embodied and broadly described herein, the present invention still further comprises a method of making a plant seed germination mat comprising the steps of:
(a) providing a substrate including sph~gnllm moss particles;
(b) supporting a plurality of plant seeds by the substrate;
(c) providing a cover layer on the plant seeds, the cover layer capable of being penetrated by a cotyledon; and (d) ~fflxing the cover layer to the substrate.
The cover layer may be affixed to the substrate by any conventional means which are non-toxic to the plant seeds and mature plants. Preferably such means are biodegradable, glues are p~erelled. No particular sealing pattern is essenti~l to the present invention, however it should be noted that the cover layer and substrate should not be completely affixed to another to allow sideways plant cotyledon growth to a p~lrol~lion in the cover layer.
In still yet another aspect, as embodied and broadly described herein, the present 10 invention provides a method of producing a flower bed having a pattern comprising the steps of (a) providing a first seed germination mat having:
(i) a substrate, the substrate including a structurally integral layer of sph~gmlm moss;
(ii) a plurality of a first variety of flowering plant seeds .sitll~ted on the substrate;
(iii) a cover layer affixed to said substrate covering the substrate and the plant seeds, the cover layer capable of being penetrated by a cotyledon;
(b) providing a second seed germination mat having:
(i) a substrate, the substrate including a structurally integral layer of sph~gm-m moss;
(ii) a plurality of a second variety of flowering plant seeds sit~l~ted on the substrate;
(iii) a cover layer affixed to said substrate covering the substrate and the plant seeds, the cover layer capable of being penetrated by a cotyledon;
(c) severing the first seed germination mat in accordance with the pattern;
(d) severing the second seed germination mat in accordance with the pattern;
(e) positioning the severed first seed germination mat on the soil in accordance with the pattern; and (f) positioning the severed second seed germination mat on the soil in accordance with the pattern.
This aspect of the present invention allows the formation of complicated plant patterns (colour variations) more easily than is conventionally done. A desired pattern is selected and pieces of a germination mat of the present invention are severed and placed on the soil in accordance therewith. It should be noted that the number of dirrelel,l types of plants (i.e.
germination mats co~ ning different plant seeds) which may be used in this manner is not limited to two. Depending on the size of the area to be cultivated, a large number of different germination mats may be used.
Other objects and features of the invention will become apparenl by reference to the following description and the drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A detailed description of prerelled embodiments of the present invention is provided hereinbelow with reference to the following drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is perspective view of a plant seed germination mat;
Figure 2 is a top plan view of the mat of Figure 1, with a portion of the cover layer cut away to reveal the substrate;
Figure 3 is a cross-sectional side view of a plant seed germination mat including a 15 germin~ted seed;
Figure 4 is a perspective view of a plant seed germination mat including germin~ted seeds;
Figure 5 is a cross-sectional side elevational view of a plant seed germination mat including a germin~ted seed having roots;
Figure 6 is a cross-sectional side view of a second embodiment of a plant seed germination mat similar to Figure 5;
Figure 7 is a cross-sectional side view of a third embodiment of a plant seed germination mat similar to Figure 5;
Figure 8 is a pe-~l,ecli~e view of a flowerbed having a design having been formed 25 through the use of plant seed germination mats;
Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of the apparatus for the m~mlf~ctllre of a structurally integral sph~gnl.m moss layer; and Figure 10 is a schematic diagram of the appa ~ s for the m~nl-f~ct-lre of a plant seed germination mat of the present invention from the structurally integral sph~gn~lm moss layers 30 m~nllf~ct~lred as per Figure 7.
In the drawings, pr~relled embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example. It is to be expressly understood that the description and drawings are only for purposes of illustration and as aid to underst~n-ling and are not inten~1ed to be a definition of 35 the limits of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, in its pl~felled embodiment, the present invention comprises a plant seed germination mat 20. The mat may be of any shape and size as is feasible 5 to m~nllf~ctllre, manipulate, and store. It is illustrated in the drawings as a relatively small square merely for discussion purposes. The mat 20 is of a l~min~te construction and comprises two distinct layers, a substrate 22 and a cover layer 24. In its in use position the mat the substrate 22 will be in contact with the soil 36 and the cover layer 24 will face the environment.
Both the substrate 22 and the cover layer 24 comprise four different sublayers. With respect to the substrate 22, in order from soil cont~ctin~ sublayer up these are a first wood pulp sublayer 22a, a first structurally integral sph~gn~m layer 22b, a second structurally integral layer 22c, and a second wood pulp layer 22d. The overall thickness of the substrate 22 is approximately 0.043", its basic weight 308 g/m2. Similarly, the cover layer 24 comprises a first 15 wood pulp sublayer 24a, a first structurally integral sph~gn-lm sublayer 24b, a second structurally integral sph~gmlm sublayer 24c, and a second wood pulp sublayer 24d. The overall thickness ofthe cover layer 24 is approximately 0.030", its basic weight 175 g/m2.
The cover layer 24 includes a plurality of evenly-spaced apart perforations 30. The 20 pe~ro~lions 30 are in the shape of an X and are aligned along a grid 0.4" apart (as measured along a line 32 from perforation centre to perforation centre). The length of each of the bars 30a of the perforation 30 is 0.25" while the inter-bar distance 30b at the top of the perforation 30is0.2".
Situated between the substrate 22 and the cover layer 24 are a plurality of plant seeds 26. The plant seeds 26 are flowering plant seeds 26, preferably flowering plant seeds of mixed variety currently sold by White Swan Inc. of Beaverton, Oregon, USA under the trademark FIELD OF FLOWERSTM. The plant seeds 26 have been randomly dispersed along the substrate 22 with a seed density of 60 seeds/ft2. There is no particular relationship of the placement of the plant seeds to the perforations.
The substrate 22 and the cover layer 24 are afflxed with conventional hot melt type glue (not shown). No particularly gluing pattern is essential to the present invention, although the complete faces of either layer are not affixed together so as to allow for sideways cotyledon growth between the substrate and the cover layer.
The fabrication of the germination mat 20 first proceeds with the m~mlf~ctllre of the individual layers of which it is comprised. Referring to Figure 9, the m~nllf~cturing appa~ s, desi~n~ted comprehensively by the reference numeral 100, comprises an endless, fluid-pervious Fourdrinier wire 102 which is mounted on rollers 104 to provide a horizontally .xte.ntJing run 108 that is continuously advanced forward to support and convey a slurry of sph~gmlm moss and cellulosic fibers through various processing stations.
Headboxes 110, 112, 114 and 116 arranged in a spaced apart relationship along the path of 10 travel of the wire 102 are provided to lay on the wire 102 slurry in sheeted form. The headbox bank deposits on the wire 102 four (4) layers of slurry in a superposed relationship to form a l~min~ted slurry web. More specifically, the headboxes 112 and 114 lay slurries co~ ining sph~gn--m moss while the headboxes 110 and 116 deliver slurries of fibrous material such as Kraft wood pulp or any other suitable substance.
In the p.epal~lion of the sph~gnllm moss slurry layers supplied to headboxes 112 and 114 a mother slurry is prepared by dispersing raw sph~gnl1m moss material in water. The mother slurry is wet classified to retain only the particles having a size in the range from about 74 microns to about 2000 microns. The screened fraction is then diluted with water to render the slurry more 20 manageable.
It is ple~llt;d to add a fibrous component, such as Kraft wood pulp prior to supplying the slurry to headbox 114. Suitable fibrous components may include such materials as Kraft wood pulp, cross-linked cellulose fibers, meçh~nical wood pulp, natural textile fibers, and mixtures 25 thereo~ The fibrous components are generally added to the headbox in an amount from 2 to 20%
by weight ofthe sph~gn~lm layer to be m~nllf~ctllred, preferably from 2% to 6%. As used herein, the term mechanical wood pulp is meant to include ground wood pulp, thermo-mechanical pulp and refiner wood pulp. Ground wood pulp is essçnti~lly trees and branches which have been debarked, cleaned and ground into particulate matter. Refiner wood pulp differs from ground wood 30 pulp only in that the grinding step utilizes a refiner, i.e. a disc-like device well-known in the art and having metallic ribs at the peripheral sections thereof which last contact the wood particles and help separate the wood fibers without excessively d~m~ging them. Thermo-mechanical wood pulp is similar to refiner pulp with the exception that the wood particles are heated in the refiner, usually with steam, to aid in separating the wood fibers. The common characteristic of these mechanical 35 pulps is that no attempt has been made to sepalale the fibers by chemical means although they may later, after being reduced to fine particulate matter, be subjected to a desired chemical treatment, such as bleaching. Preferably, when mechanical wood pulp is used in a sph~n~lm moss slurry, such mechanical pulp has a Canadian Standard Freeness (TAPPI test method T-227), in a range of from about 60 to 750 and pr~r~l ~bly from about 400 to 600.
The Kraft wood pulp, also usable in combination with sph~gn-lm moss, is essenti~lly chemically treated, long fibred wood pulp such as sulphite and sulphate wood pulps.
As illustrated in Figure 3, a slurry of Kraft wood pulp layer having a consistency of about 0.2% by weight of solids is first laid down on the wire 102 from the headbox 110 in order to form the bottom Kraft reinrol~iing layer 22a. The slurry flow rate is selected to deliver on the wire 102, 15 grams of solids per square meter. The Kraft slurry passes under the headbox 110 which delivers on top of the Kraft layer a slurry of sph~gnl-m moss particles. The consistency of the sph~nllm moss slurry fraction is set at 0.5% by weight of solids. The flow rate of the slurry fraction is selected to deliver 142.5 grams of solids per square meter on the wire 102.
The headbox 114 delivers a second slurry fraction of sph~gnllm moss particles intermixed with cellulosic cross-linked fibers. This slurry fraction has a consistency of 0.5% by weight of solids, a flow rate to deliver 145.5 grams of solids per square meter on the wire 102.
20 The slurry contains sph~gnllm moss in the range from about 25% to 95% by weight of solids in the slurry, and cross-linked cellulosic fibers in the range from about 5% to about 75% by weight.
A final Kraft wood pulp slurry layer is laid from the headbox 116 on the sph~m-m25 moss slurry in order to form the reinforcing top layer 22d. This final layer was identical in terms of consistency and composition to the bottom Kraft wood pulp layer 22a previously deposited except that the flow rate was such as to deposit on a square meter of the wire 102 five grams of solids.
The resulting l~min~ted slurry layer Kraft/Sph~nllm/Sph~gnum/Kraft is then passed over a vacuum slot 118 to extract water under the influence of a pressure differential established across the slurry layer. It is necessary to regulate the residence time of the slurry layer over the vacuum slot 118 and the vacuum intensity in order to control the density of the final product. Generally, decreased vacuum and increased speed will result in a less dense product. Conversely, increased vacuum and decreased speed will produce a denser product.
The web leaving the vacuum slot 118 passed through a dryer 120 whose purpose is to elevate the temperature of the web to evaporate residual water. The dryer 120 is of a well-known construction and does not require a detailed description herein.
It may be envisaged to add between the dryer 120 and the vacuum slot 118 a presssection (not shown in the drawings) to mechanically express water from the web, as it is well-known to those skilled in the art, in order to reduce the water contents in the web as much as possible before it is processed in the dryer 120.
Downstream of the dryer 120 a calendering station 122 is provided which mechanically compresses the dried product in order to densify the sph~gn~1m moss material for enhancing its drying power. If desired, the calendering station 122 may be followed by a perf-embossing station (not shown in the drawings) provided to tenderize the web by mechanical working. This 15 treatment softens the sph~gnl-m moss structure for enhancing its comfort potential. The calendering operation is described in detail in the international application PCT/CA92/00308 filed on July 20, 1992 in the name of Johnson & Johnson Inc. The contents of this application is incorporated herein by reference.
An alternative to the perf-embossing technique is the micro-corrugating operation which is similar to the perf-embossing except that no pelîolalions are performed. The liquid-absorbent structure is solely subjected to an embossing operation to create closely spaced hinge lines. The micro-corrugating operation is described in US patents granted to Personal Products Company 4,596,567 and 4,559,050 issued on June 24, 1986 and December 17, 1988 respectively. The contents of these patents is incorporated herein by reference.
The fabrication of the cover layer 24 proceeds in a similar manner except that the material deposition rates have been suitably altered to provide a cover layer 24 with the correct thickness and basic weight. Additionally, at the end of the process, the cover layer 24, may optionally be perforated through conventional means, e.g. punching or die cutting. A grid-like perforation pattern as previously described is plefelled.
Referring to Figure 10, the germination mats 20 are m~mlf~ctllred by providing the dry substrate 22 on a endless belt 156 (Possibly, as shown in Figure 10, directly after their m~n~lf~ctllre.) As the belt 156 moves ~olward, the dry substrate 22 is first passed through a gluing stationing 158 where glue is applied thereto in the desired gluing pattern. Next, seeds (stored in a hopper 160) are ~itu~ted on the substrate 22, also in the desired pattern. Such pattern may be random or may be precise. In the preferred embodiment the seeds are random at a density of approxhllately 60 seeds/ft2. The cover layer 24 is then aligned with the substrate 22 and placed on top thereof 130. Optionally, the final product is then manipulated for storage and transport, which may include rolling or slicing into smaller pieces.
Referring to Figure 6, in an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the seeds 626 of the germination mat 620 have been incorporated into the substrate 622 in between the 10 first sph~gnum layer and the second sph~gnllm layer. Such mat 620 may be m~m~f~ct~red as previously described except that the seeds 626 would be deposited on the first sph~gmlm layer after headbox 112 (but before headbox 114) in Figure 9. If necessary, the seeds may be microencapsulated to prevent their becoming wet to prevent their premature germination during the m~mlf~cturing and storage of the mat 620. In addition, it may be necessary to alter the 15 temperature of the dryer 120 to prevent the seeds from being damaged by the heat thereof.
Referring to Figure 7, in another alternative embodiment of the present invention, the seeds 726 of the germination mat 720 have simply been affixed to the underside of a structurally integral sph~gm~m layer 722. (Illustrated as being of a reduced thickness as 20 compared with the substrates 22 and 622). Such layer 722 forms a cover layer over the seeds 726 and no substrate is present. Such mats may be m~nuf~ctured as previously described (in Figure 9) with the seeds being affixed to one side thereof with conventional non-toxic glue during the m~nuf~chlring process (such side will become the soil-facing side [underside] of the mat when the mat is in use.) The use of the germination mat 20 (or 620 or 720) is relatively simple. First, a plot of land on which the plants will be grown is selected. No particular amount or shape of land is necessary for the use of the present invention. Any plot of land will suffice as long as the soil thereof is capable of sust~ining plant life. It is plerelled that the topsoil thereof by lightly tilled 30 before the germination mat 20 be applied thereto, but such is not essçnti~l Next a germination mat having the desired characteristics must be selected. Suchcharacteristics are generally the following: type and arrangement of plant seeds present in the mat, presence and type of a fertilizer present in the mat, colour(s) of mat, watering requirements 35 of mat, etc. Each of these variables will be selected as a function of both the environment of the plants to be grown and the wishes of the cultivator. Primarily, the germination mat 20 must contain the plants seeds desired to be grown and have same be present in the appropliate layout.
For example, if it is desired to grow grass, a germination mat having grass seeds randomly dispersed throughout should be selected. Alternatively, if it is desired to grow marigolds in a 5 rows, then a germination mat having marigold seeds in that configuration should be selected.
Optionally, the germination mat 20 may contain additional ingredients such as a fertilizer.
Depending on the amount of land to be covered and the size of the germination mat, more than one mat may be necessary.
The mats are generally stored dry in rolls. If necessary, they must be unrolled and are then severed into the desired shape and size to cover the desired amount of land. Any conventional means such as garden shears or even scissors may be used to severe the mats 20.
They are placed on the soil with the substrate 22 in contact with the soil 36 and the cover layer 24 facing the environment. They are then watered until they are soaked full of water (absorbed 15 by the integral sph~gnum layers). The cover layer 24 will act as an indicator of the moisture content of the germination 20, as the sph~gnl1m thereof will turn dark when full of water.
The mats and the plants which grow therefrom are then cared for in the same manner as would be oldinaly seedling~. Generally this care will include periodic watering (the necessity 20 of which may be judged by the colour of the sph~gnl-m cover layer), weeding, and in some cases, the application of fertilizer.
Referring to Figures 3 and 5, after a short period of time the plant seeds 26 will begin to germinate and a plant cotyledon 28 will grow forth and exit the mat 20 either by simply 25 growing through the cover layer 24 or by growing out of one of the perforations 30. As time progresses, roots 34 will spring forth from the seeds 26 and will grow through (penetrate) the substrate 22 to the soil below.
Although the mats 20 are not adhered to the soil 36 below, first owning to their weight, 30 and later as a result of plant roots 34, they should not shift relative to the ground. In rare circum.et~nces, it may however be necessary to place a shifted germination mat 20 back into posltlon.
Finally, referring to Figure 8 there is illustrated an additional method of using the 35 present plant seeds germination mats 20. In this instance it is desired to have the mature plants form a pattern, in the present example the word ZONE. Thus germination mats were severed such they formed the letters Z 38, O 40, N 42, E 44. An unlimited number of patterns and shapes can be formed in this manner. Moreover, should it be so desired, germination mats could be severed to fit in the area 46 surrounding the letters ZONE, yielding an entire patterned S flower bed.
The above description of plerelled embodiments should not be interpreted in a limiting manner since other variations, modifications and refinements are possible within the spirit and scope of the present invention. The scope of the invention is defined in the appended claims 10 and their equivalents.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to plant seed germination mats.
s BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
For many centuries, h~lm~n~ have attempted to cultivate plants and control and regulate plant growth. Over the years there have been many objectives for such cultivation and control.
In present times, it might be desired to cultivate a lawn, a bed of flowers, a garden, or 10 commercial cash crops.
No matter what the final objective, however, as a general rule plant cultivation and control involves getting specific plants to grow in specific locations and preventing others from growing in other locations. It is not an easy task. Plant cultivation, and particularly plant seed 15 germination, requires that a number of variables including soil nutrient conditions, soil moisture content, and light and temperature levels all be within a suitable range. Such conditions are rarely optimal in nature, hence, in order to effect plant growth it is generally required that one must first prepare the soil through a variety of techniques, plant the seeds in the desired locations, fertilize the soil, and water as necessary depending on environmental conditions.
Each of these steps in and of itself is not simple. The soil must first be tilled and if necessary topsoil added. Depending on the size of the plot of land, machines might be available to aid in such work, otherwise such work might be time con~lming and physically difficult.
Hilly areas in particular may require an extreme amount of work for which machine assistance 25 may not be available.
Once the soil has been prepared, the seeds must be planted in the desired location.
Depending on the objective this task may require extreme and precise efforts. The seeds must be placed such that the mature plants have the desired spacing, and generally do not compete 30 with one another. Such spacing will differ depending on the objective in mind and the plants involved. For instance, grass seeds must be placed closer together (and randomly) as opposed to garden vegetables or commercial crops, which are generally planted in spaced apart rows.
Extreme examples include flowerbeds wherein the plants, when mature, will form a coloured pattern or design. Careful placement of the individual seeds, as well as the exclusion of all 35 other plants, is required in such an application.
Once the seeds have been planted, fertilizer may optionally be laid down over the soil where nutrient conditions are poor or where it is desired to accelerate plant growth. There are many dirrerenl types of conventional fertilizers available both in liquid and solid form 5 (generally pellets). Either form must be dispersed over the ground area in which the seeds are located. Basically, the fertilizer so dispersed will land across the ground area in a relatively random formation. Some areas may thus be over fertilized, others under fertilized, and some not fertilized at all. This process is inefficient and results in wasted fertilizer.
The ground area in which the plant seeds are located must also be kept wet, as the plant seeds will only germinate in relatively constant moisture conditions. Depending on the plants being grown the ground may be watered at either regular intervals or when it appears dry.
Neither are particularly accurate methods for measuring soil moisture content. As with the fertilizer, water is dispersed over the ground relatively randomly, and thus, some areas may be 15 overwatered, others underwatered, and still others not watered at all. In addition, water provided to the plants does not simply say in the topsoil where the seeds are located, but rather will seep into the layers below becoming unavailable to the seeds. The amount of watering done must take such waste into account. The entire watering process thus is ineff1cient and wasteful.
Even once all of the above steps have been accomplished, the work has not ended.Birds and other small ~nimAI.~ Iike to eat the seeds and continual efforts must be made to keep such ~nim~l~ away and to replace the seeds that have been eaten by them. Constant efforts must also be expended to m~int~in the area free of unwanted plant growth resl-lting from 25 natural seed placement in the area or from seeds already present in the spoil before the desired seeds were planted.
One way in which some of these difficulties have been previously attempted to have been overcome is through the production and use of sod. Sod is a small piece of a layer of turf 30 that has been cut from the earth. It contains both mature plants (including roots) and a small layer of soil underlying them. Sod is generally used as quick means of producing a lawn (of grass). In order to do this, a number of pieces of sod are placed side-by-side over an area of the ground in which it is desired that the grass grow. It is then watered, and optionally fertilized, and it is hoped that the desired end will be achieved. There are, however, many 35 problems with sod: As it must be grown as a crop, it takes a relatively long-time and large ground area to produce on a commercial scale. As it is a live plant, its soil component must be kept constantly moist in order to prevent it from dying before use. It is thus expensive and impractical to store for an extended period of time. Moreover, in use it is heavy, dirty, time-con~l~ming, and difficult to handle and requires lots of equipment. It often dies despite the best efforts of the user.
In sum, at present the plant cultivation, control, and regulation process is a difficult one.
Efforts made to alleviate these difficulties have not met with complete success. It would be desirable to devise a means, method and/or appa ~L~Is for red~lring the amount of work and 10 materials required to cultivate, control and regulate plant growth.
OBJECT AND STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a means and a method for 15 cultivating, controlling, and re~ ting plant growth requiring less work and materials than is conventionally required.
In a first aspect, as embodied and broadly described herein, the present invention provides a plant seed germination mat comprising a structurally integral layer of sph~gmlm 20 moss particles, said layer capable of being penetrated by a cotyledon. Preferably, a plurality of plant seeds affixed are to the underside of said layer (i.e. the soil-facing side of the mat when the mat is in use).
In another aspect, as embodied and broadly described herein, the present invention 25 provides a plant seed germination mat comprising:
(a) a substrate, said substrate including a structurally integral layer comprising sph~gn-~m moss particles;
(b) a plurality of plant seeds ~it~1~ted on said substrate; and (c) a cover layer affixed to said substrate at least partially covering said substrate and said plant seeds, said cover layer capable of being penetrated by a cotyledon.
The structurally integral sph~gnllm moss layers of the present invention have been m~mlf~ctured for some time for use in articles used to absorb bodily exudates (e.g. feminine sanitary napkins, tampons, medical bandages, Band-AidsTM). Sph~gnllm layers are employed 35 in such articles owning to their excellent liquid absorbent properties; they are capable of absorbing and ret~ining a significant amount of liquid over periods of time. They are, however, stored dry. Such layers and the m~nllf~cture thereof are described in the following patent documents, which are all incorporated herein by reference:
......................................................................................................... ......
_ S-A-' ,1. 0,'15 Ja ancette et a~. Octo ~er 9, 1979 US-A-4,215,692 Levesque August 5, 1980 US-A-4,226,237 Levesque October7, 1980 US-A-4,305,393 Nguyen December 15, 1981 US-A-4,473,440 Ovans September25, 1984 US-A- 4,507,122 Levesque March26, 1986 US-A-4,618,496 Brasseur October 21, 1986 US-A-4,676,871 Cadieuxetal. June30, 1987 US-A-4,992,324 Dubé February 12, 1991 US-A-5,053,029 Yang October 1, 1991 WO 97/13484 Roy et al. April 17, 1997 These properties of the sph~gmlm layers allow the present invention to be a significant improvement over conventional plant cultivation techniques. The present germination mats may be m~nllf~ctured on large scale as relatively large yet lightweight sheets, they may be 10 rolled into a roll and stored dry for çxten(led periods of time if necessary, enabling long-term storage while decreasing both storage and transportation costs (as co,l,paled with sod.) More significant benefits accrue to the end user of the present mats. In effect, the present invention allows the user to dispense with the steps of tilling the soil, positioning and 15 planting the seeds, and fertilizing. All that is necessary is that the user unroll the present germination mats, sever them to the desired shape and size (as necessary), place them on the soil and water. Depending on the mat, the seeds may have been precisely placed within the mat at desired locations, or may have been randomly placed, thus simplifying the seed placement process. Moreover, the amount of work necessary to m~int~in the seeds is also 20 decreased. The structurally integral sph~m-m layers of the present invention will absorb and retain a large amount of water, as opposed to simply allowing it to seep through to the ground underneath. The plant seeds of the present invention therefore effectively have water constantly available to them, presenting a more ideal situation for seed germination, and likely increasing S
the germination rate. The amount of weeding required is reduced as the present germination mats contain only the plant seeds which were intentionally placed in them during their manufacture. Other plant seeds present in the soil below are less likely to germinate, as the present mats will greatly decrease the amount of sunlight and water available to them.
5 Furthermore, as the present plant seeds are shielded by the cover layer of the present germination mat, they are much less likely to be disturbed by anim~l~ in the area. In addition, as the sph~gn~-m layers decay they will constitute a natural fertilizer and make nutrients available to the sprouting see(lling.~. The present germination mats are thus a significant development in plant cultivation.
Preferably, the cover layer includes a structurally integral layer comprising cellulose fibres, particularly wood pulp fibres. Such a cover layer would serve to secure the seeds within the mat, to protect the seeds during the primary stages of their growth and to impede their being eaten by birds and other animals.
Preferably, the cover layer includes a structurally integral layer comprising sph~gmlm moss particles. Such a layer would increase the aforementioned benefits conferred by the sph~p~n-lm moss particles, i.e. more water may be retained by the mat, less water and sllnlight pass through the mat, and more natural fertilizer is available as the sph~gnl1m decays. Such a 20 layer would also constitute a greater prevention from unwanted animal interference with the seeds below. The reason for this is that a sph~n-lm moss cover layer is generally thicker and denser than a simple cellulose fibre cover layer. Where such is the case, preferably, the cover layer includes a plurality of perforations. Depending on the type of plant seeds, the growing plant cotyledons may not be strong enough to penetrate the sph~gnllm cover layer. They will 25 thus grow sideways, in between the cover layer and the substrate and will exit the germination mat through one of the pel~ol~lions. For this reason, the perforations need not be aligned with plant seeds, and the seeds may be randomly situated in the mat. Moreover, the placement of the holes permits the selection of the position of the mature plants which develop from the seeds.
In some situations, e.g. a lawn, the perforations are preferably evenly spaced apart, generally in 30 rows and in columns. In other situations, it may be desired to produce a pattern out of the mature plants, and the holes may be placed so as to cause the mature plants to be of such a pattern.
Preferably, the mat is substantially free of synthetic material, and particularly polyester.
35 Polyester is present in structurally integral layers of sph~gnllm moss conventionally used in absorbent articles, for various reasons. In order to render the entire present germination mat biodegradable and thus more environmentally friendly, the mat should be free of polyester, and all other non-biodegradable synthetic materials.
Preferably, the mat further includes a fertilizer. Such may be necessary where soil conditions are particularly poor in the area. Any conventional fertilizer which will not harm the seeds may be used. Such fertilizer may be impregn~ted into either the substrate or the cover layer (or both) during the course of m~n~lf~chlre thereof, or alternatively, may be dispersed (either in solid or liquid form) along the substrate in a similar manner as with the plant seeds.
Preferably, the mat includes an indicator of the variety of the seeds, and all conventional indicators are within the scope of the present invention. Thus, for example, the name of the variety might appear on either the cover layer or the substrate. It is more prerelled that at least a zone of the cover layer be coloured to indicate a variety of the seeds.
Preferably, the mat includes an indicator of the in use position of the mat, and all conventional indicators are within the scope of the present invention. In this manner, the mat may be correctly positioned when in use, i.e. with the substrate in contact with the ground and the cover layer facing the environment. It is more p.er~.led that such indicator be a colour of at least a portion of the cover layer or of the substrate. The pe-ro~alions of the cover layer may also act as an indicator in this respect.
Preferably, the cover layer includes an indicator of the moisture content of the cover layer, and all conventional indicators are within the scope of the present invention. In this manner, it will be easier to discern when the mat (and thus the seeds) should be watered. Such an indicator may be a substance added to at least a portion of the cover layer which turns different colours when wet and when dry. Sph~gnllm itself is such a material (it being darker when wet and lighter when dry) and thus when the cover layer is a structurally integral sph~gn..m layer, it may not be necessary to add an additional material to the mat to serve as 30 such an indicator.
Preferably, at least a portion of the cover layer approxi---ates a colour of at least a flower of a plant grown from the seeds. In this manner a carpet or field effect may be created, such that, as an example, where the mature flowers are yellow, the cover layer of the mat is dyed 35 yellow so that the entire area appears yellow instead of having yellow flowers with brown patches in between. It should be understood whenever in the context of the present invention a dye is added to the mat or any layer thereof, the dye should be non-toxic to both the seeds and the mature plants.
Preferably, the cover layer includes a zone capable of ~suming at least a first colour at a first pH and at least a second colour at a second pH, for indicating the pH of the mat. In this respect, a material typically known as a pH indicator may be incorporated into the cover layer to allow for a simple means of determining the acidity/~lk~linity of the mat. (So that it may be determined whether same needs to be adjusted to enhance seed germination and plant growth.) Any conventional pH indicator may be so incorporated into the mat, provided it is not harmful to the seeds or the growing plants.
In yet another aspect, as embodied and broadly described herein, the present invention comprises a method of growing plants comprising the steps of placing a plant seed germination mat as previously recited on soil, and then watering the mat.
In still another aspect, as embodied and broadly described herein, the present invention comprises a plant seed germination mat comprising:
(a) a substrate, said substrate including a structurally integral layer comprising sph~gnl-m moss particles, said substrate capable of being penetrated by a cotyledon;
and (b) a plurality of plant seeds incorporated into said substrate.
In this embodiment the plant seeds are physically incorporated into the substrate, thus the substrate both supports and covers the seeds. In all other aspects, this embodiment is similar to that described above, including the colouring of the substrate for various purposes, and the addition of fertilizer thereto.
In still another aspect, as embodied and broadly described herein, the present invention still further comprises a method of making a plant seed germination mat comprising the steps of:
(a) providing a substrate including sph~gnllm moss particles;
(b) supporting a plurality of plant seeds by the substrate;
(c) providing a cover layer on the plant seeds, the cover layer capable of being penetrated by a cotyledon; and (d) ~fflxing the cover layer to the substrate.
The cover layer may be affixed to the substrate by any conventional means which are non-toxic to the plant seeds and mature plants. Preferably such means are biodegradable, glues are p~erelled. No particular sealing pattern is essenti~l to the present invention, however it should be noted that the cover layer and substrate should not be completely affixed to another to allow sideways plant cotyledon growth to a p~lrol~lion in the cover layer.
In still yet another aspect, as embodied and broadly described herein, the present 10 invention provides a method of producing a flower bed having a pattern comprising the steps of (a) providing a first seed germination mat having:
(i) a substrate, the substrate including a structurally integral layer of sph~gmlm moss;
(ii) a plurality of a first variety of flowering plant seeds .sitll~ted on the substrate;
(iii) a cover layer affixed to said substrate covering the substrate and the plant seeds, the cover layer capable of being penetrated by a cotyledon;
(b) providing a second seed germination mat having:
(i) a substrate, the substrate including a structurally integral layer of sph~gm-m moss;
(ii) a plurality of a second variety of flowering plant seeds sit~l~ted on the substrate;
(iii) a cover layer affixed to said substrate covering the substrate and the plant seeds, the cover layer capable of being penetrated by a cotyledon;
(c) severing the first seed germination mat in accordance with the pattern;
(d) severing the second seed germination mat in accordance with the pattern;
(e) positioning the severed first seed germination mat on the soil in accordance with the pattern; and (f) positioning the severed second seed germination mat on the soil in accordance with the pattern.
This aspect of the present invention allows the formation of complicated plant patterns (colour variations) more easily than is conventionally done. A desired pattern is selected and pieces of a germination mat of the present invention are severed and placed on the soil in accordance therewith. It should be noted that the number of dirrelel,l types of plants (i.e.
germination mats co~ ning different plant seeds) which may be used in this manner is not limited to two. Depending on the size of the area to be cultivated, a large number of different germination mats may be used.
Other objects and features of the invention will become apparenl by reference to the following description and the drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A detailed description of prerelled embodiments of the present invention is provided hereinbelow with reference to the following drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is perspective view of a plant seed germination mat;
Figure 2 is a top plan view of the mat of Figure 1, with a portion of the cover layer cut away to reveal the substrate;
Figure 3 is a cross-sectional side view of a plant seed germination mat including a 15 germin~ted seed;
Figure 4 is a perspective view of a plant seed germination mat including germin~ted seeds;
Figure 5 is a cross-sectional side elevational view of a plant seed germination mat including a germin~ted seed having roots;
Figure 6 is a cross-sectional side view of a second embodiment of a plant seed germination mat similar to Figure 5;
Figure 7 is a cross-sectional side view of a third embodiment of a plant seed germination mat similar to Figure 5;
Figure 8 is a pe-~l,ecli~e view of a flowerbed having a design having been formed 25 through the use of plant seed germination mats;
Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of the apparatus for the m~mlf~ctllre of a structurally integral sph~gnl.m moss layer; and Figure 10 is a schematic diagram of the appa ~ s for the m~nl-f~ct-lre of a plant seed germination mat of the present invention from the structurally integral sph~gn~lm moss layers 30 m~nllf~ct~lred as per Figure 7.
In the drawings, pr~relled embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example. It is to be expressly understood that the description and drawings are only for purposes of illustration and as aid to underst~n-ling and are not inten~1ed to be a definition of 35 the limits of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, in its pl~felled embodiment, the present invention comprises a plant seed germination mat 20. The mat may be of any shape and size as is feasible 5 to m~nllf~ctllre, manipulate, and store. It is illustrated in the drawings as a relatively small square merely for discussion purposes. The mat 20 is of a l~min~te construction and comprises two distinct layers, a substrate 22 and a cover layer 24. In its in use position the mat the substrate 22 will be in contact with the soil 36 and the cover layer 24 will face the environment.
Both the substrate 22 and the cover layer 24 comprise four different sublayers. With respect to the substrate 22, in order from soil cont~ctin~ sublayer up these are a first wood pulp sublayer 22a, a first structurally integral sph~gn~m layer 22b, a second structurally integral layer 22c, and a second wood pulp layer 22d. The overall thickness of the substrate 22 is approximately 0.043", its basic weight 308 g/m2. Similarly, the cover layer 24 comprises a first 15 wood pulp sublayer 24a, a first structurally integral sph~gn-lm sublayer 24b, a second structurally integral sph~gmlm sublayer 24c, and a second wood pulp sublayer 24d. The overall thickness ofthe cover layer 24 is approximately 0.030", its basic weight 175 g/m2.
The cover layer 24 includes a plurality of evenly-spaced apart perforations 30. The 20 pe~ro~lions 30 are in the shape of an X and are aligned along a grid 0.4" apart (as measured along a line 32 from perforation centre to perforation centre). The length of each of the bars 30a of the perforation 30 is 0.25" while the inter-bar distance 30b at the top of the perforation 30is0.2".
Situated between the substrate 22 and the cover layer 24 are a plurality of plant seeds 26. The plant seeds 26 are flowering plant seeds 26, preferably flowering plant seeds of mixed variety currently sold by White Swan Inc. of Beaverton, Oregon, USA under the trademark FIELD OF FLOWERSTM. The plant seeds 26 have been randomly dispersed along the substrate 22 with a seed density of 60 seeds/ft2. There is no particular relationship of the placement of the plant seeds to the perforations.
The substrate 22 and the cover layer 24 are afflxed with conventional hot melt type glue (not shown). No particularly gluing pattern is essential to the present invention, although the complete faces of either layer are not affixed together so as to allow for sideways cotyledon growth between the substrate and the cover layer.
The fabrication of the germination mat 20 first proceeds with the m~mlf~ctllre of the individual layers of which it is comprised. Referring to Figure 9, the m~nllf~cturing appa~ s, desi~n~ted comprehensively by the reference numeral 100, comprises an endless, fluid-pervious Fourdrinier wire 102 which is mounted on rollers 104 to provide a horizontally .xte.ntJing run 108 that is continuously advanced forward to support and convey a slurry of sph~gmlm moss and cellulosic fibers through various processing stations.
Headboxes 110, 112, 114 and 116 arranged in a spaced apart relationship along the path of 10 travel of the wire 102 are provided to lay on the wire 102 slurry in sheeted form. The headbox bank deposits on the wire 102 four (4) layers of slurry in a superposed relationship to form a l~min~ted slurry web. More specifically, the headboxes 112 and 114 lay slurries co~ ining sph~gn--m moss while the headboxes 110 and 116 deliver slurries of fibrous material such as Kraft wood pulp or any other suitable substance.
In the p.epal~lion of the sph~gnllm moss slurry layers supplied to headboxes 112 and 114 a mother slurry is prepared by dispersing raw sph~gnl1m moss material in water. The mother slurry is wet classified to retain only the particles having a size in the range from about 74 microns to about 2000 microns. The screened fraction is then diluted with water to render the slurry more 20 manageable.
It is ple~llt;d to add a fibrous component, such as Kraft wood pulp prior to supplying the slurry to headbox 114. Suitable fibrous components may include such materials as Kraft wood pulp, cross-linked cellulose fibers, meçh~nical wood pulp, natural textile fibers, and mixtures 25 thereo~ The fibrous components are generally added to the headbox in an amount from 2 to 20%
by weight ofthe sph~gn~lm layer to be m~nllf~ctllred, preferably from 2% to 6%. As used herein, the term mechanical wood pulp is meant to include ground wood pulp, thermo-mechanical pulp and refiner wood pulp. Ground wood pulp is essçnti~lly trees and branches which have been debarked, cleaned and ground into particulate matter. Refiner wood pulp differs from ground wood 30 pulp only in that the grinding step utilizes a refiner, i.e. a disc-like device well-known in the art and having metallic ribs at the peripheral sections thereof which last contact the wood particles and help separate the wood fibers without excessively d~m~ging them. Thermo-mechanical wood pulp is similar to refiner pulp with the exception that the wood particles are heated in the refiner, usually with steam, to aid in separating the wood fibers. The common characteristic of these mechanical 35 pulps is that no attempt has been made to sepalale the fibers by chemical means although they may later, after being reduced to fine particulate matter, be subjected to a desired chemical treatment, such as bleaching. Preferably, when mechanical wood pulp is used in a sph~n~lm moss slurry, such mechanical pulp has a Canadian Standard Freeness (TAPPI test method T-227), in a range of from about 60 to 750 and pr~r~l ~bly from about 400 to 600.
The Kraft wood pulp, also usable in combination with sph~gn-lm moss, is essenti~lly chemically treated, long fibred wood pulp such as sulphite and sulphate wood pulps.
As illustrated in Figure 3, a slurry of Kraft wood pulp layer having a consistency of about 0.2% by weight of solids is first laid down on the wire 102 from the headbox 110 in order to form the bottom Kraft reinrol~iing layer 22a. The slurry flow rate is selected to deliver on the wire 102, 15 grams of solids per square meter. The Kraft slurry passes under the headbox 110 which delivers on top of the Kraft layer a slurry of sph~gnl-m moss particles. The consistency of the sph~nllm moss slurry fraction is set at 0.5% by weight of solids. The flow rate of the slurry fraction is selected to deliver 142.5 grams of solids per square meter on the wire 102.
The headbox 114 delivers a second slurry fraction of sph~gnllm moss particles intermixed with cellulosic cross-linked fibers. This slurry fraction has a consistency of 0.5% by weight of solids, a flow rate to deliver 145.5 grams of solids per square meter on the wire 102.
20 The slurry contains sph~gnllm moss in the range from about 25% to 95% by weight of solids in the slurry, and cross-linked cellulosic fibers in the range from about 5% to about 75% by weight.
A final Kraft wood pulp slurry layer is laid from the headbox 116 on the sph~m-m25 moss slurry in order to form the reinforcing top layer 22d. This final layer was identical in terms of consistency and composition to the bottom Kraft wood pulp layer 22a previously deposited except that the flow rate was such as to deposit on a square meter of the wire 102 five grams of solids.
The resulting l~min~ted slurry layer Kraft/Sph~nllm/Sph~gnum/Kraft is then passed over a vacuum slot 118 to extract water under the influence of a pressure differential established across the slurry layer. It is necessary to regulate the residence time of the slurry layer over the vacuum slot 118 and the vacuum intensity in order to control the density of the final product. Generally, decreased vacuum and increased speed will result in a less dense product. Conversely, increased vacuum and decreased speed will produce a denser product.
The web leaving the vacuum slot 118 passed through a dryer 120 whose purpose is to elevate the temperature of the web to evaporate residual water. The dryer 120 is of a well-known construction and does not require a detailed description herein.
It may be envisaged to add between the dryer 120 and the vacuum slot 118 a presssection (not shown in the drawings) to mechanically express water from the web, as it is well-known to those skilled in the art, in order to reduce the water contents in the web as much as possible before it is processed in the dryer 120.
Downstream of the dryer 120 a calendering station 122 is provided which mechanically compresses the dried product in order to densify the sph~gn~1m moss material for enhancing its drying power. If desired, the calendering station 122 may be followed by a perf-embossing station (not shown in the drawings) provided to tenderize the web by mechanical working. This 15 treatment softens the sph~gnl-m moss structure for enhancing its comfort potential. The calendering operation is described in detail in the international application PCT/CA92/00308 filed on July 20, 1992 in the name of Johnson & Johnson Inc. The contents of this application is incorporated herein by reference.
An alternative to the perf-embossing technique is the micro-corrugating operation which is similar to the perf-embossing except that no pelîolalions are performed. The liquid-absorbent structure is solely subjected to an embossing operation to create closely spaced hinge lines. The micro-corrugating operation is described in US patents granted to Personal Products Company 4,596,567 and 4,559,050 issued on June 24, 1986 and December 17, 1988 respectively. The contents of these patents is incorporated herein by reference.
The fabrication of the cover layer 24 proceeds in a similar manner except that the material deposition rates have been suitably altered to provide a cover layer 24 with the correct thickness and basic weight. Additionally, at the end of the process, the cover layer 24, may optionally be perforated through conventional means, e.g. punching or die cutting. A grid-like perforation pattern as previously described is plefelled.
Referring to Figure 10, the germination mats 20 are m~mlf~ctllred by providing the dry substrate 22 on a endless belt 156 (Possibly, as shown in Figure 10, directly after their m~n~lf~ctllre.) As the belt 156 moves ~olward, the dry substrate 22 is first passed through a gluing stationing 158 where glue is applied thereto in the desired gluing pattern. Next, seeds (stored in a hopper 160) are ~itu~ted on the substrate 22, also in the desired pattern. Such pattern may be random or may be precise. In the preferred embodiment the seeds are random at a density of approxhllately 60 seeds/ft2. The cover layer 24 is then aligned with the substrate 22 and placed on top thereof 130. Optionally, the final product is then manipulated for storage and transport, which may include rolling or slicing into smaller pieces.
Referring to Figure 6, in an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the seeds 626 of the germination mat 620 have been incorporated into the substrate 622 in between the 10 first sph~gnum layer and the second sph~gnllm layer. Such mat 620 may be m~m~f~ct~red as previously described except that the seeds 626 would be deposited on the first sph~gmlm layer after headbox 112 (but before headbox 114) in Figure 9. If necessary, the seeds may be microencapsulated to prevent their becoming wet to prevent their premature germination during the m~mlf~cturing and storage of the mat 620. In addition, it may be necessary to alter the 15 temperature of the dryer 120 to prevent the seeds from being damaged by the heat thereof.
Referring to Figure 7, in another alternative embodiment of the present invention, the seeds 726 of the germination mat 720 have simply been affixed to the underside of a structurally integral sph~gm~m layer 722. (Illustrated as being of a reduced thickness as 20 compared with the substrates 22 and 622). Such layer 722 forms a cover layer over the seeds 726 and no substrate is present. Such mats may be m~nuf~ctured as previously described (in Figure 9) with the seeds being affixed to one side thereof with conventional non-toxic glue during the m~nuf~chlring process (such side will become the soil-facing side [underside] of the mat when the mat is in use.) The use of the germination mat 20 (or 620 or 720) is relatively simple. First, a plot of land on which the plants will be grown is selected. No particular amount or shape of land is necessary for the use of the present invention. Any plot of land will suffice as long as the soil thereof is capable of sust~ining plant life. It is plerelled that the topsoil thereof by lightly tilled 30 before the germination mat 20 be applied thereto, but such is not essçnti~l Next a germination mat having the desired characteristics must be selected. Suchcharacteristics are generally the following: type and arrangement of plant seeds present in the mat, presence and type of a fertilizer present in the mat, colour(s) of mat, watering requirements 35 of mat, etc. Each of these variables will be selected as a function of both the environment of the plants to be grown and the wishes of the cultivator. Primarily, the germination mat 20 must contain the plants seeds desired to be grown and have same be present in the appropliate layout.
For example, if it is desired to grow grass, a germination mat having grass seeds randomly dispersed throughout should be selected. Alternatively, if it is desired to grow marigolds in a 5 rows, then a germination mat having marigold seeds in that configuration should be selected.
Optionally, the germination mat 20 may contain additional ingredients such as a fertilizer.
Depending on the amount of land to be covered and the size of the germination mat, more than one mat may be necessary.
The mats are generally stored dry in rolls. If necessary, they must be unrolled and are then severed into the desired shape and size to cover the desired amount of land. Any conventional means such as garden shears or even scissors may be used to severe the mats 20.
They are placed on the soil with the substrate 22 in contact with the soil 36 and the cover layer 24 facing the environment. They are then watered until they are soaked full of water (absorbed 15 by the integral sph~gnum layers). The cover layer 24 will act as an indicator of the moisture content of the germination 20, as the sph~gnl1m thereof will turn dark when full of water.
The mats and the plants which grow therefrom are then cared for in the same manner as would be oldinaly seedling~. Generally this care will include periodic watering (the necessity 20 of which may be judged by the colour of the sph~gnl-m cover layer), weeding, and in some cases, the application of fertilizer.
Referring to Figures 3 and 5, after a short period of time the plant seeds 26 will begin to germinate and a plant cotyledon 28 will grow forth and exit the mat 20 either by simply 25 growing through the cover layer 24 or by growing out of one of the perforations 30. As time progresses, roots 34 will spring forth from the seeds 26 and will grow through (penetrate) the substrate 22 to the soil below.
Although the mats 20 are not adhered to the soil 36 below, first owning to their weight, 30 and later as a result of plant roots 34, they should not shift relative to the ground. In rare circum.et~nces, it may however be necessary to place a shifted germination mat 20 back into posltlon.
Finally, referring to Figure 8 there is illustrated an additional method of using the 35 present plant seeds germination mats 20. In this instance it is desired to have the mature plants form a pattern, in the present example the word ZONE. Thus germination mats were severed such they formed the letters Z 38, O 40, N 42, E 44. An unlimited number of patterns and shapes can be formed in this manner. Moreover, should it be so desired, germination mats could be severed to fit in the area 46 surrounding the letters ZONE, yielding an entire patterned S flower bed.
The above description of plerelled embodiments should not be interpreted in a limiting manner since other variations, modifications and refinements are possible within the spirit and scope of the present invention. The scope of the invention is defined in the appended claims 10 and their equivalents.
Claims (31)
1. A plant seed germination mat comprising a structurally integral layer of sphagnum moss particles, said layer capable of being penetrated by a cotyledon.
2. A plant seed germination mat as recited in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of plant seeds affixed to the underside of said layer.
3. A plant seed germination mat comprising:
(a) a substrate, said substrate including a structurally integral layer comprising sphagnum moss particles;
(b) a plurality of plant seeds situated on said substrate; and (c) a cover layer affixed to said substrate at least partially covering said substrate and said plant seeds, said cover layer capable of being penetrated by a cotyledon.
(a) a substrate, said substrate including a structurally integral layer comprising sphagnum moss particles;
(b) a plurality of plant seeds situated on said substrate; and (c) a cover layer affixed to said substrate at least partially covering said substrate and said plant seeds, said cover layer capable of being penetrated by a cotyledon.
4. A plant seed germination mat as recited in claim 3, wherein said cover layer includes a structurally integral layer comprising cellulose fibres.
5. A plant seed germination mat as recited in claim 3, wherein said cover layer includes a structurally integral layer comprising sphagnum moss particles.
6. A plant seed germination mat as recited in claim 5, wherein said cover layer includes in a plurality of perforations for assisting in the penetration of said cover layer by the cotyledon.
7. A plant seed germination mat as recited in claim 6, wherein said perforations are evenly spaced apart.
8. A plant seed germination mat as recited in claim 3, wherein a colour of at least portion of said cover layer approximates a colour of at least a portion of a flower of a plant grown from said seeds.
9. A plant seed germination mat as recited in claim 3, wherein said cover layer includes a zone capable of assuming at least a first colour when dry and at least a second colour when wet, for indicating the moisture content of the mat.
10. A plant seed germination mat as recited in claim 3, wherein said cover layer includes a zone capable of assuming at least a first colour at a first pH and at least a second colour at a second pH, for indicating the pH of the mat.
11. A plant seed germination mat comprising:
(a) a substrate, said substrate including a structurally integral layer comprising sphagnum moss particles, said substrate capable of being penetrated by a cotyledon;
and (b) a plurality of plant seeds incorporated into said substrate.
(a) a substrate, said substrate including a structurally integral layer comprising sphagnum moss particles, said substrate capable of being penetrated by a cotyledon;
and (b) a plurality of plant seeds incorporated into said substrate.
12. A plant seed germination mat as recited in claims 1, 3, 5 or 11, wherein the mat is substantially free of synthetic material.
13. A plant seed germination mat as recited in claims 1, 3, 5 or 11, wherein the mat is substantially free of polyester.
14. A plant seed germination mat as recited in claims 1, 3, 5 or 11, wherein the mat includes a fertilizer.
15. A plant seed germination mat as recited in claims 1, 3, 5 or 11, wherein the mat includes a coloured zone indicating a variety of said plant seeds.
16. A plant seed germination mat as recited in claims 1, 3, 5 or 11, wherein the mat includes a coloured zone indicating the in use orientation of the mat.
17. A plant seed germination mat as recited in claim 2, 3, 5 or 11, wherein said plants seeds are grass seeds.
18. A plant seed germination mat as recited in claim 2, 3, 5 or 11, wherein said plant seeds are flowering plant seeds.
19. A method of growing plants comprising the steps of:
(a) placing a plant seed germination mat as recited in any one of claims 2 to 18 on soil;
and (b) watering the mat.
(a) placing a plant seed germination mat as recited in any one of claims 2 to 18 on soil;
and (b) watering the mat.
20. A method of making a plant seed germination mat comprising the steps of:
(a) providing a substrate including sphagnum moss particles;
(b) supporting a plurality of plant seeds by the substrate;
(c) providing a cover layer on the plant seeds, the cover layer capable of being penetrated by a cotyledon;
(d) affixing the cover layer to the substrate.
(a) providing a substrate including sphagnum moss particles;
(b) supporting a plurality of plant seeds by the substrate;
(c) providing a cover layer on the plant seeds, the cover layer capable of being penetrated by a cotyledon;
(d) affixing the cover layer to the substrate.
21. A method of making a plant seed germination mat as recited in claim 20, wherein the cover layer includes a structurally integral layer comprising cellulose fibres.
22. A method of making a plant seed germination mat as recited in claim 20, wherein the cover layer includes a structurally integral layer comprising sphagnum moss particles.
23. A method of making a plant seed germination mat as recited in claim 22, further comprising the step of performing the cover layer to form a plurality of perforations for assisting in the penetration of the cover layer by the cotyledon.
24. A method of making a plant seed germination mat as recited in claim 23, wherein the perforations are equally spaced apart.
25. A method of making a plant seed germination mat as recited in claim 20, further comprising the step of colouring at least a portion of the mat for indicating a variety of the plant seeds.
26. A method of making a plant seed germination mat as recited in claim 20, further comprising the step of colouring at least a portion of the mat for indicating the in use position of the mat.
27. A method of making a plant seed germination mat as recited in claim 20, further comprising the step of colouring at least a portion of the cover layer such that the colour of the cover layer approximates a colour of at least portion of a flower of a plant grown from the plants seeds.
28. A method of making a plant seed germination mat as recited in claim 20, further comprising the step of incorporating into the cover layer an indicator capable of assuming at least a first colour at a first pH and at least a second colour at a second pH, for indicating the pH of the mat.
29. A method of making a plant seed germination mat comprising the step of incorporating plant seeds into a structurally integral layer comprising sphagnum moss particles.
30. A method of making a plant seed germination mat comprising the step of affixing plant seeds to the underside of a structurally integral layer comprising sphagnum mossparticles.
31. A method of producing a flower bed having a pattern comprising the steps of (a) providing a first seed germination mat having:
(i) a substrate, the substrate including a structurally integral layer of sphagnum moss;
(ii) a plurality of a first variety of flowering plant seeds situated on the substrate;
(iii) a cover layer affixed to said substrate covering the substrate and the plant seeds, the cover layer capable of being penetrated by a cotyledon;
(b) providing a second seed germination mat having:
(i) a substrate, the substrate including a structurally integral layer of sphagnum moss;
(ii) a plurality of a second variety of flowering plant seeds situated on the substrate;
(iii) a cover layer affixed to said substrate covering the substrate and the plant seeds, the cover layer capable of being penetrated by a cotyledon;
(c) severing the first seed germination mat in accordance with the pattern;
(d) severing the second seed germination mat in accordance with the pattern;
(e) positioning the severed first seed germination mat on the soil in accordance with the pattern; and (f) positioning the severed second seed germination mat on the soil in accordance with the pattern.
(i) a substrate, the substrate including a structurally integral layer of sphagnum moss;
(ii) a plurality of a first variety of flowering plant seeds situated on the substrate;
(iii) a cover layer affixed to said substrate covering the substrate and the plant seeds, the cover layer capable of being penetrated by a cotyledon;
(b) providing a second seed germination mat having:
(i) a substrate, the substrate including a structurally integral layer of sphagnum moss;
(ii) a plurality of a second variety of flowering plant seeds situated on the substrate;
(iii) a cover layer affixed to said substrate covering the substrate and the plant seeds, the cover layer capable of being penetrated by a cotyledon;
(c) severing the first seed germination mat in accordance with the pattern;
(d) severing the second seed germination mat in accordance with the pattern;
(e) positioning the severed first seed germination mat on the soil in accordance with the pattern; and (f) positioning the severed second seed germination mat on the soil in accordance with the pattern.
Priority Applications (3)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002207227A CA2207227A1 (en) | 1997-06-09 | 1997-06-09 | Plant seed germination mat |
| PCT/CA1998/000561 WO1998056232A1 (en) | 1997-06-09 | 1998-06-08 | Plant seed germination mat |
| AU77549/98A AU7754998A (en) | 1997-06-09 | 1998-06-08 | Plant seed germination mat |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002207227A CA2207227A1 (en) | 1997-06-09 | 1997-06-09 | Plant seed germination mat |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2207227A1 true CA2207227A1 (en) | 1998-12-09 |
Family
ID=4160846
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002207227A Abandoned CA2207227A1 (en) | 1997-06-09 | 1997-06-09 | Plant seed germination mat |
Country Status (3)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| AU (1) | AU7754998A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2207227A1 (en) |
| WO (1) | WO1998056232A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US11589577B2 (en) * | 2012-04-16 | 2023-02-28 | North Carolina State University | Nanotechnology system for agricultural applications |
Families Citing this family (13)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IT1309439B1 (en) * | 1999-02-24 | 2002-01-23 | Maximiliano Zenti | PLATE INCLUDING AGRICULTURAL COMPONENTS PARTICULARLY FOR THE TRAINING OF MEADOWS AND PROCEDURE FOR ITS PRODUCTION. |
| US20030114394A1 (en) * | 2001-10-29 | 2003-06-19 | Levine Howard L. | Vaginally administered anti-dysrhythmic agents for treating pelvic pain |
| FR2845563B1 (en) * | 2002-10-14 | 2004-12-24 | Sylvain Stephane Jean Conraud | CUSTOMIZABLE ABOVE GROUND CROP SUPPORT |
| US9206088B2 (en) | 2010-03-26 | 2015-12-08 | Cornell University | Plant propagation medium and methods of making and using it |
| FI125943B (en) * | 2013-09-26 | 2016-04-15 | Teknologian Tutkimuskeskus Vtt Oy | Substrate structures based on moss moss and a method for making them |
| US11083126B2 (en) * | 2016-09-12 | 2021-08-10 | Hamama, Inc. | Seed quilts |
| US11212956B2 (en) | 2016-09-12 | 2022-01-04 | Hamama, Inc. | Growing seed quilts |
| FI128301B (en) | 2017-05-08 | 2020-03-13 | Luonnonvarakeskus | Method for stimulating plant disease suppressive activity in sphagnum moss, related products and uses |
| FR3071381A1 (en) * | 2017-09-28 | 2019-03-29 | Pierre Duc | DEVICE FOR REALIZING A MESSAGE FROM PLANT SEEDS |
| EP3883361A4 (en) * | 2018-11-07 | 2022-10-19 | GTX Turf Farms LP | A seedmat for growing plants |
| AU2019400274A1 (en) * | 2018-12-21 | 2021-02-25 | Green's Green Co., Ltd. | Planting sheet |
| CN109792947B (en) * | 2019-03-12 | 2024-01-02 | 中国科学院南京地理与湖泊研究所 | Rolling blanket type submerged plant field planting device suitable for water carrying operation and installation method thereof |
| US11710308B1 (en) | 2019-10-10 | 2023-07-25 | Aerofarms, Inc. | Seed germination detection method and apparatus |
Family Cites Families (12)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BE428039A (en) * | 1938-05-11 | 1938-06-30 | ||
| US2976646A (en) * | 1958-04-01 | 1961-03-28 | Minnesota Mining & Mfg | Grass-growing fabric |
| US3257754A (en) * | 1964-05-14 | 1966-06-28 | Haveg Industries Inc | Planting seeds in a skin foam sheet |
| US3914901A (en) * | 1974-11-25 | 1975-10-28 | Muldner Lawrence Carl | Mat for growing lawns or other vegetation and process for producing same |
| GB2123663A (en) * | 1982-07-13 | 1984-02-08 | Itt Ind Ltd | Seed packaging |
| GB8302676D0 (en) * | 1983-02-01 | 1983-03-02 | Spontex Ltd | Protection and identification of bulbs & c |
| US4941282A (en) * | 1987-12-29 | 1990-07-17 | Gene Milstein | Wildflower sod mat and method of propagation |
| FR2632251B1 (en) * | 1988-06-02 | 1994-04-01 | Lanchier Jean Marc | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR GRAPHICS AND DRAWING IN HORTICULTURE |
| GB9014611D0 (en) * | 1990-06-30 | 1990-08-22 | Fisons Plc | Horticultural product |
| US5301466A (en) * | 1992-08-07 | 1994-04-12 | Egan Michael A | Production of sod using a soil-less sand based root zone medium |
| IT1268995B1 (en) * | 1994-09-02 | 1997-03-18 | Gastone Baggio Sas | PRE-PACKAGED MAT FOR PLACING PARTICULARLY HERBACEOUS CULTURES AND ITS PRODUCTION PROCEDURE. |
| AU6922096A (en) | 1995-10-12 | 1997-04-30 | Johnson & Johnson Inc. | Liquid-absorbent article and method and apparatus for manufacturing the absorbent article |
-
1997
- 1997-06-09 CA CA002207227A patent/CA2207227A1/en not_active Abandoned
-
1998
- 1998-06-08 AU AU77549/98A patent/AU7754998A/en not_active Abandoned
- 1998-06-08 WO PCT/CA1998/000561 patent/WO1998056232A1/en active Application Filing
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US11589577B2 (en) * | 2012-04-16 | 2023-02-28 | North Carolina State University | Nanotechnology system for agricultural applications |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| AU7754998A (en) | 1998-12-30 |
| WO1998056232A1 (en) | 1998-12-17 |
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| FZDE | Discontinued |