CA2986709A1 - Multi-seasonal storage of live plants - Google Patents
Multi-seasonal storage of live plants Download PDFInfo
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- CA2986709A1 CA2986709A1 CA2986709A CA2986709A CA2986709A1 CA 2986709 A1 CA2986709 A1 CA 2986709A1 CA 2986709 A CA2986709 A CA 2986709A CA 2986709 A CA2986709 A CA 2986709A CA 2986709 A1 CA2986709 A1 CA 2986709A1
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- Prior art keywords
- plants
- storage
- plant
- containment
- block
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Classifications
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- 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
- A01G9/00—Cultivation in receptacles, forcing-frames or greenhouses; Edging for beds, lawn or the like
- A01G9/02—Receptacles, e.g. flower-pots or boxes; Glasses for cultivating flowers
- A01G9/029—Receptacles for seedlings
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- 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
- A01G31/00—Soilless cultivation, e.g. hydroponics
- A01G31/02—Special apparatus therefor
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- 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
- A01G9/00—Cultivation in receptacles, forcing-frames or greenhouses; Edging for beds, lawn or the like
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- 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
- A01G9/00—Cultivation in receptacles, forcing-frames or greenhouses; Edging for beds, lawn or the like
- A01G9/02—Receptacles, e.g. flower-pots or boxes; Glasses for cultivating flowers
- A01G9/029—Receptacles for seedlings
- A01G9/0295—Units comprising two or more connected receptacles
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- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02P—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
- Y02P60/00—Technologies relating to agriculture, livestock or agroalimentary industries
- Y02P60/20—Reduction of greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions in agriculture, e.g. CO2
- Y02P60/21—Dinitrogen oxide [N2O], e.g. using aquaponics, hydroponics or efficiency measures
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- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Environmental Sciences (AREA)
- Cultivation Of Plants (AREA)
- Cultivation Receptacles Or Flower-Pots, Or Pots For Seedlings (AREA)
Abstract
A method of long term storage of plants in which plants can be stored over multiple seasons including in inclement weather in outdoor locations. A plant storage block with multiple storage apertures extending therethrough, from a top surface to a bottom surface is disclosed. Upon placement of plants in the storage apertures of the plant storage block, the block is placed in a container with water, such that water can access the storage apertures via bottom apertures in the bottom surface of the block. In some cases plant material can be harvested for consumption, acquisition of genetic material or for any other purpose. At the time the plants are required for planting they can be removed from the block. The plant storage block is made of material providing sufficient insulation to the plants stored therein to permit long-term storage in subzero temperatures. Multiple variants of the method are disclosed.
Description
MULTI-SEASONAL STORAGE OF LIVE PLANTS
This invention is in the field of silviculture and agriculture systems and plant production, and more specifically is in the field of live storage of plants for extended periods of time.
Background:
Northern hemisphere countries encounter very high costs in the live indoor storage of perennial plants such as trees, bedding plants, perennial forms and vegetables. As a result, most nurseries producing plants in indoor facilities typically attempt to sell all of their plants stock between the start and the end of a seasonal planting. What is not sold at regular price is discounted or discarded. If it were possible to create a method of long term live plant storage, costs could be saved and waste reduced.
In certain applications, some plant nurseries transfer seedlings and other plants into aboveground planting pots. This conventional system often requires daily top irrigation to each individually potted plant, especially during hot weather.
In alternate applications, outdoor bare root production of plants cannot typically be live stored for multiple years without the plants over growing, which makes older bear with plants cumbersome for handling and shipping. In addition, most bare rooted seedlings cannot be transplanted successfully during the growing season since they often experience transplant shock and die when transplanted in full leaf. Therefore in conventional applications, seedlings which are grown as bare root field plants can typically only be transplanted as bare root plants and the dormant seasons of early spring or fall, after photosynthesis has slowed or stopped.
The restrictions on bare root planting and transplantation i.e. that bare root plants once lifted must be replanted while the plant remains dormant, present a significant restriction. The general advantage of a container root plant system over a bare root system is that these plants can be field plant at any time during the growing season, so long as adequate field moisture conditions exist. If a system could be devised that would easily convert bare root seedlings to container root seedlings, end of season surplus stock of bare roots could take on all the advantages of container rooted plants including the ability to be live stored and not discarded.
One of the key problems in northern regions is the weathering of plants outdoors during the winter if stored outdoors ¨ the same nurseries that throw out excess plant material at the end of one season can suffer shortages of the same varieties by the end of subsequent seasons. In the context of tree nurseries for example, most North American tree nurseries which endure subzero winters typically run out of all or most of their seedling tree and perennial plant varieties for sale by mid July of each year, restricting their ability to make season-long sales if they under produce, and causing waste if they overproduce.
There have been no successful earlier attempts at the provision of low cost long term live storage systems for container root seedlings. If a low-cost system for the live storage of tree seedlings and other plants could be devised that would achieve many advantages for both industry and the public. Such a low-cost live storage system would have even more utility if it could be designed in a way that would require minimal irrigation or pumping equipment to be used. Sub-irrigated storage would be beneficial for this purpose.
If it were possible to design a low cost long term live storage system that could survive months of severe outdoor subzero temperatures, then excess perennial plant production could be stored for marketing or use in subsequent years. Nurseries would not only not have to discard excess plant production of the end of a planting season but could purposefully grow vast quantities of excess production to be placed in low-cost storage to serve the needs of their customers later in a growing season for summer and fall planting. Growing operations could be undertaken more strategically, without the need to restart with zero inventory on a myriad of plant species each and every year.
In many regions of the world, current practices include live storage of the majority of plants and trees in cumbersome containers which require immense land space, soil and large labour contentions to irrigate and maintain them. If a system could be devised that used significantly less soil and water than low-cost true supplier could catch up with demand for timber while lessening the environmental burden. Similarly, any type of a method for live storage of plants that reduce water requirements would be desirable since in many regions of the world including in desert climates desalinization programs are used to create fresh water supply.
Even in green houses, production of perennial plants and various climatic zones including those that do not experience freezing temperatures is limited based on the physical capacity of the greenhouse itself. If a system could be devised that allowed for long-term multiyear outdoor storage of plants with negligible maintenance and other costs this could multiply the plant holding capacities of many nurseries. This will result in lower cost plant production, greater profits and potentially lower plant costs.
A low cost long term live storage system would have a significant beneficial commercial impact on the logistics of plant production. If such a system could be devised that that would also allow for substantial water conservation savings in the production or maintenance of plant material this would have significant additional commercial benefit.
Summary of the Invention:
As outlined above, the invention intends to provide a method for the multi-seasonal storage of live plants, which will allow for the storage of live plant material through freezing and other weather seasons, either to allow repetitive harvesting of plant material, or before the eventual transplantation of those plants to their final growing locations.
The invention, a method of multi-seasonal storage of live plants comprises the step of placing plants for storage in the storage apertures of a multi-aperture plant storage block which has a plurality of storage apertures therein. Each plant storage aperture has a top opening on a top surface of the plant storage block and a bottom opening on a bottom surface of the plant storage block. In a next step once the plants are placed in the storage apertures, the multi-aperture plant storage block is placed in a containment holding water, such that the bottom openings of the storage apertures are in contact with the water in the containment. The plant storage block is made of material providing insulation to plant stored therein such that the root systems of the plants can survive extended storage in subzero temperatures.
Various containments can be used in association with the method of the present invention, including an aboveground manufactured containment, an inground manufactured containment, or an inground water body. Many different types of containments or water bodies could be used all of which will be understood to those skilled in the art and are all contemplated within the scope of the present invention.
During storage of the plants, the water level within the containment is maintained so that the bottom of the plant storage block and bottom apertures thereon continue contact with the water.
Harvesting of seeds, leaves or stands can occur as required within industry norms. When it is desired to use the stored plants for field planting, they are removed from their respective storage apertures in the plant storage block for permanent planting.
In certain embodiments of the method of the present invention the plant storage block might be buoyant, so it would float on the water in the containment. In other embodiments it may not be buoyant and it may simply be set on the bottom of the containment with a shallow water layer beneath or around it.
In certain embodiments of the method of the present invention the plants placed in the storage apertures could be a field ready seedling, such that they could simply be stored in the block until ready to be used or permanently planted. In other embodiments of the method of the present invention, the plants placed in the storage apertures could be placed as cuttings or micro seedlings in order to grow to field ready condition within the storage apertures. Finally, as in the case of more mature bare root seedlings, they can be placed within the storage apertures to convert over several weeks into container root plants with all the advantages thereof.
Plants might be stored in the storage apertures with or without soil media. If they are stored without soil media, the root ball of the plant could grow or expand within the plant storage aperture while stored in the plant storage block.
Certain embodiments of the method of the present invention might comprise the additional step of fertilizing the plants while in storage in the plant storage block when it is desired for example to hyper grow the seedlings to a greater size over a shorter period of time.
During storage of the plants in the plant storage block, the water or other contents of the containment might be cleaned or remediated by the presence of the plants and their consumption of water therein. As such the method of the present invention can be used as a phytoremediation method for water within a containment.
As will be understood to those skilled in the art, the method encompasses the use of one or more plant storage blocks within a containment to store plants. Each plant storage block consists of a plurality of storage apertures and it is explicitly contemplated that the plant storage blocks might individually each include several dozen to several hundreds of apertures. A
large number of these plant storage blocks can then be used within a water holding containment to store a large number of plants in a minimized surface area.
In certain embodiments, more than one plant could be stored within a particular plant storage aperture, where in other embodiments a single plant storage aperture in a plant storage block in accordance with the method may contain only a single plant.
In some embodiments of the method of the present invention where more than one plant storage block was used and the containment was a natural water body, the method of the present invention could incorporate anchoring of the plurality of plant storage blocks around the edge of the containment to provide shoreline erosion control to the natural water body. In other embodiments, in a large water containment holding a large number of plant storage blocks, a system of corral and anchor could be used to keep the plant storage blocks organized and reasonably stationary in a fixed location.
In certain embodiments of the method of the present invention, once the plants reach a predetermined size the plant storage blocks could be removed, rather than removing the plants from the storage blocks, leaving the full-sized plants in their positions to continue growth in the containment at an alternate location.
In addition to the method of the present invention there is also disclosed a multi-aperture plant storage block for the multi-seasonal storage of live plants, which has a plurality of storage apertures each having a top opening on a top surface of the block and a bottom opening on a bottom surface of the block. The plant storage block could be placed in a containment holding water such that the bottom openings of the storage apertures are in contact with the water contained therein, and the plant storage block would be made of the material providing insulation to plant stored therein such that the root systems of the plants can survive extended storage in subzero temperatures.
It will be understood to those skilled in the art that many changes can be made to the method and the apparatus, namely the multi-aperture plant storage block, disclosed herein, without departing from the scope and intention of the present invention and all such modifications are contemplated within the scope of the present invention.
Description of the Drawings:
To easily identify the discussion of any particular element or act, the most significant digit or digits in a reference number refer to the figure number in which that element is first introduced.
The drawings enclosed are:
Figure 1 is a flow chart demonstrating the steps of a first embodiment of the method of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a flow chart demonstrating the steps of a second embodiment of the method of the present invention, including a fertilization step;
Figure 3 is a flow chart demonstrating the steps of a third embodiment of the method of the present invention, where the plant storage blocks are destructively removed from the plants when permanent planting of the plants is desired;
Figure 4 is a flow chart demonstrating the steps of a further embodiment of the method of the present invention, in which a plurality of plant storage blocks is used for shoreline erosion control in a natural water body;
Figure 5 is a perspective view of a plant storage block in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 6 is a cutaway side view of the plant storage block of Figure 5, along line 5-5;
Figure 7 is a schematic view of one embodiment of the system of the method of the present invention; and Figure 8 is a schematic view of another embodiment of the system used to practice the method of the present invention comprising a plurality of plant storage blocks mounted in a shoreline erosion control configuration within a natural water body containment; and Figure 9 is a schematic view of a plurality of plant storage blocks corralled and anchored within a large water containment.
Detailed Description of Illustrated Embodiments:
As outlined herein, the present invention comprises a method for the streamlined long-term life storage of plant material in subzero temperatures. The ability to store plants in a sub-irrigated plant storage block, through all four seasons, will be particularly beneficial in the economics of plant and tree nurseries in northern climates encountering harsh winters of significant length.
Method overview:
The invention comprises a low cost long-term live storage method for plants, resulting in the ability to store containment root plants for up to many years in advance of the final planting of these plants in their final desired locations. Storage of the plants within the plant storage blocks and in accordance with the method of the present invention provides significant cost savings in economy for plant nurseries and will be found beneficial on this basis.
Figure 1 shows a flowchart of a first basic embodiment of the method of the present invention.
The first step in the method of the present invention, shown at 1-1, is the placement of plants or plant material in storage apertures within a plant storage block. As outlined in further detail elsewhere herein, the plant storage block comprises any block of material with sufficient insulation to permit for safe wintering of the root systems of plants, with a plurality of storage apertures each having a top opening in a bottom opening extending between a top surface and a bottom surface of the plant storage block.
Plants placed within the storage apertures of the plant storage block could be placed in the storage apertures either with soil medium or as bare root plants. Where bare root plants are placed into the storage apertures for life storage, the bare roots convert to highly fibrous containment roots after a number of weeks of growing conditions.
Following placement of the plants in the plant storage block, at 1-1, the plant storage block is placed in a containment which holds water. This is shown at step 1-2.
Placement of the plant storage block in a water holding containment effectively allows for subirrigation of the plants contained within the storage apertures while they are stored throughout the seasons.
Once the plant storage block is placed in a containment containing water, storage of the plants in the plant storage block is commenced and as outlined above the plants can be stored in such a fashion for up to many years. During the storage of the plant storage block within the containment, the water level in the containment needs to be monitored and maintained ¨ this is shown at step 1-3. As is outlined elsewhere herein, part of the attraction of the method of the present invention is that little water is required in the containment ¨ really only trace water below the bottom surface of the plant storage block or blocks is typically required.
During the winter season in northern climates, the plant filled plant storage blocks can be live-stored outdoors as dormant plants, with air temperatures dipping as low as -50 C in the same locations as outdoor summer production and summer life storage took place. During the first winter and subsequent winters, the plant storage blocks will in most embodiments be frozen in place in the containment, in the same water that they were floating or otherwise sub-irrigated in in the summertime.
Dependent upon the insulation value of the material of manufacture of the plant storage block, plant storage block can also be used to live stored dormant perennial plants out of the water of the containment on frozen or snow-covered landscapes during winter months.
Finally, at such time as it is desired to transplant the plants from the plant storage block into permanent planting locations, the plants are removed from the storage apertures in the plant storage block for transplantation or permanent planting. The removal/transplantation of the plants from storage to permanent locations is shown at step 1-4.
As outlined in further detail elsewhere herein, the plant storage block is manufactured of material that provides sufficient insulation to the root system of plants stored therein that they can survive seasonal weather extremes including freezing for long periods of time. Testing of the method of the present invention and the placement of plants for storage in a plant storage block such as outlined above has been conducted and has indicated the efficacy of the plant storage block approach and methodology outlined herein to provide for storage ability for the plants within the storage apertures for up to many years.
Plants that are grown and require only to be stored in advance of the eventual transplantation to permanent locations could be stored within the storage apertures of a plant storage block as outlined herein, or in other embodiments of the method, early-stage plants or plant material that require further growth could also be planted in the storage apertures of a plant storage block in accordance with the remainder of the present invention in anticipation of their growth to full-size before transplantation to permanent locations. Both such approaches are contemplated within the scope of the present invention.
Varying numbers or sizes of plants could be stored within individual storage apertures in a single plant storage block ¨ for example single plants might be placed in certain storage apertures, while in other cases multiple plants could be stored within the single apertures or plants of different sizes or levels of maturity could be stored within apertures within the same plant storage block. All such approaches are contemplated within the scope of the present invention.
As will be understood by those skilled in the art and is described elsewhere herein, the containment could comprise a manufactured containment in an aboveground or inground application, or might also constitute a natural or manufactured water body.
Any type of a containment capable of holding at least one plant storage block in accordance with the remainder of the method of the present invention is understood to be within the scope of the present invention.
As will also be understood, a plurality of plant storage blocks could be used in the practice of a larger implementation of the method of the present invention ¨ that is to say that multiple plant storage blocks could be used in a single water containment, to provide for a larger set of long-term plant storage. Any number of plant storage blocks are contemplated within the scope of the present invention.
Figure 2 is a flowchart demonstrating the steps in a further embodiment of the plant storage method of the present invention, in which fertilizer or other nutrients can be applied to plants during the storage process. As shown in Figure 1, plants are placed in storage apertures in the plant storage block shown at 2-1. Following the placement of the plants and the storage apertures of the plant storage block, the plant storage block would be placed in a containment with water, shown at 2-2. During the long-term storage of the plants within the plant storage block, shown at 2-3, the water level within the containment would be monitored and maintained, to ensure the continued availability to the roots of the plants contained within the storage apertures, through the bottom openings thereof, of sufficient water to maintain the growth or survival of the plants in question. In most cases, subirrigation of the plants contained within the plant storage blocks can require the presence of very little water in the containment.
As outlined elsewhere herein, in certain embodiments including the one of Figure 2, a fertilizer step is shown. Fertilizer or nutrients could be provided to plants stored within the plant storage block by direct application via the top surface of the plant storage block or by introduction of such fertilizer or nutrients to the water contained within the containment.
The application of fertilizer or other nutrients is shown at 2-4. In certain cases it will be desired to store plants within the plant storage blocks and in accordance with the method of the present invention in a preferred state of having a stable size i.e. without size increase, by practising the method without adding nutrients or fertilizer. If it is desired at any time during a growing season to create rapid growth of the plants stored within the plant storage block in accordance with the remainder of the present invention, the applications of nutrients can be used to do so. Another option, in place of introducing nutrients or fertilizer into the water within the containment, to provide nutrients to the plants within the plant storage block, would be to draw down the water level within the containment to allow the plant roots, through the bottom openings of the storage apertures, to come into contact with nutrients soils naturally found or placed in the bottom of the water containment.
Finally and as outlined above with respect to Figure 1, the plants can be removed from the storage apertures of the plant storage block for transplantation or permanent plantation is required, shown at step 2-5.
The method demonstrated in Figure 3 varies by the alteration of the permanent location are transplantation step at the end of the method, insofar as in this particular method the plants 7 when desired to be permanently located could be desired to be permanently located at the location of the plant storage block 1, and the plant storage block 1 could be destructively removed from the plants 7 to allow them to be left in location where originally stored. This is shown at Step 3-4.
Phytoremediation:
In certain cases the method of the present invention, namely the method of long-term live storage of plants, could be used in a phytoremediation context. Specifically, the water or other contents of the containment, along with the plant storage blocks, could benefit from the proximity or presence of the plants within the plant storage block either from the plants therein cleaning the water in the containment or otherwise. Plants stored in plant storage blocks in accordance with the plant storage method of the present invention could be used to remove nutrients or other materials from the water within the containment, such as nitrogen or phosphorus from the water etc. Heavy metals or other mobile elements can also be removed from the water or the soil below, in the context of a natural water body as the containment.
In some cases the plant storage method of the present invention might even be practised in a containment area in which soil or other materials containing contaminants all such as hydrocarbon saturated soils requiring removal or delivered to a containment of plant storage blocks filled with plants having phytoremediation ability similarly, plant storage blocks containing such plants can be delivered to a containment already containing contaminants to be remediated, such as municipal lagoons or factory effluent ponds. R.
Phytoremediation could be conducted where plants of any variety would remove certain impurities or desired materials from the containment or the water, or the plants to be stored within the plant storage block might also be selected based upon the materials or impurities they are known to absorb or remove from the containment or the water therein. Any approach to the use of the method of the present invention not only as a means of long-term storage of selected plants before their eventual transplantation to permanent planting locations, but also during the storage timeframe to use those plants to remove the purities or materials of some variety from the containment soil or water will all be understood to those skilled in the art and are contemplated within the scope of the present invention. Any modifications to the general method hereof for the purpose of optimizing the method for use in this context are contemplated within the scope of the present invention.
Shoreline erosion control:
Insofar as one of the key anticipated implementations of the method of the present invention is the use of a large natural body of water as the containment 8 within which the plant storage blocks 1 would be used, it is explicitly contemplated that one of the ancillary benefits or aspects of the long-term live storage method of the present invention is that the actual storage of the plant storage blocks 1 could be used as a shoreline erosion control method.
The plant storage blocks 1 could be anchored in place around the perimeter of the containment 8, being a natural water body, such that dependent upon the type of plants contained within the plant storage blocks 1, freshwater and saltwater environments could be used to establish or store freshwater or saltwater trees and plants. An anchoring system which would allow for buoyant plant storage blocks 1 to go up and down with tides or with water levels in the containment 8 while maintaining a reasonably stationary horizontal positions will be understood.
In some cases, once the plants stored within the plant storage blocks 1 were properly anchored to the floor of the shoreline of the containment 8 with supportive root structures and strong enough stands, the buoyant plant storage blocks could be removed or cutaway to result in freestanding trees or plants. Alternatively, the plants might be removed for transplantation to other locations but the presence of the plant storage blocks. One could be used as erosion control buffers along the shoreline of the containment 8, such that they would be barriers to wave action that would otherwise affect the shoreline.
Decreasing evaporation:
General evaporation from the containment 8 could also be significantly minimized by the placement of sufficient plant storage blocks 1 of sufficient size to cover the majority of the surface of the water 9 contained therein.
Aquaculture:
Where containment 8 of sufficient size was used, fish, turtles or other marine animals or plants could be cultured in the water 9 in the containment 8 along with the holding of the plant storage blocks 1.
Plant storage block:
As will be understood from the remainder of the disclosure herein, the plant storage block contemplated for use in the method of present invention could take a number of different shapes and sizes, so long as it was constructed of material having the necessary insulating qualities outlined. The plant storage block would contain a plurality of storage apertures, effectively being in aperture extending from a top surface through to a bottom surface of the plant storage block. Each plant storage aperture would include a top opening, through the top surface of the plant storage block and through which the leaves are the upper body of a plant in storage in the block would extend, as well as a bottom opening through the bottom surface of the plant storage block through which the root system of plants stored within the aperture could be sub-irrigated by accessing the water below the bottom surface of the plant storage block.
Figures 5 and 6 show an example of a plant storage block 1 in accordance with the method of the present invention. In this case, the plant storage block 1 is a rectangular block of buoyant material such as polystyrene or the like, with a plurality of storage apertures 2 extending therethrough. The plant storage block 1 has a top surface 3 and a bottom surface 4, and each of the storage apertures 2 has a top opening 5 in the top surface 3 of the block 1, and bottom opening 6 in the bottom surface 4 of the block 1. The storage apertures, in cross-section, might either be columnar in shape, with top and bottom openings of the same size, or in other embodiments of the plant storage block, the storage apertures might be tapered from a larger top opening to a smaller bottom opening. Any interior profile or shape of the storage apertures within the plant storage block is contemplated within the scope of the present invention.
Plants 7 are inserted in the storage apertures 2 for long-term live storage in accordance with the method.
The number and size of the storage apertures could vary depending upon the type or number of plants that it was desired to store in accordance with the long-term live storage method of the present invention within a particular plant storage block and it will be understood that any type of a plant storage block having the insulating qualities outlined herein and having a plurality of storage apertures of sufficient size to conduct live storage of plants in accordance with the remainder of the present invention are contemplated within the scope hereof.
As outlined herein, certain embodiments of the plant storage block in accordance with the method and the remainder of the present invention could be made of a buoyant material such that they would float in water within the containment of the method. In other embodiments, the plant storage block might be manufactured of non-buoyant material such that it would settle to the bottom of the containment with the water in the containment therearound. Both such approaches is contemplated within the scope of the present invention.
Dependent on the size or nature of the system which was intended to be used to practice the method of the present invention a plurality of plant storage blocks could be used in a single containment, to practice the remainder of the invention and the method.
Containment:
As outlined in more detail elsewhere herein, the containment 8 in which the plant storage block 1 will be placed can either be a manufactured containment 8, which could either be used above ground or in ground, or might be a natural groundwater reservoir or water body such as a pond, slough, or even a man-made inground reservoir. Any containment 8 capable of containing a layer of water 9 which can engage the bottom surface 4 of the plant storage blocks 1 is contemplated within the scope of the present invention. Insofar as the method of the present invention is anticipated to be used for large-scale long-term live storage of plants in an outdoor setting through multiple seasons including through freezing in the winter, it is contemplated that in many cases the containment 8 might be a natural water body of significant size such that multiple plant storage blocks 1 could be used to store large numbers of plants. Any type of an aboveground report in the ground natural or manufactured containment capable of accomplishing the objectives of containing a water layer 9 in the base thereof as well as one or more plant storage blocks 1 in accordance with the remainder of the present invention is contemplated within the scope of the present invention.
Figures 7 and 8 show two embodiments of the system for the practice the method of the present invention with one or more plant storage blocks 1 placed within a containment 8, which containment 8 contains water 9 in the base thereof. The embodiment of Figure 7 shows a single plant storage block 1 in an aboveground manufactured containment 8, in the embodiment of Figure 8 shows a plurality of plant storage blocks 1 anchored in a natural water body 8 in a shoreline erosion control application as outlined elsewhere herein. These are two basic embodiments demonstrating some of the options of how the method of the present invention can be practised ¨ it will be understood that there are many other physical configurations of the containment and the plant storage blocks that would not depart from the intended scope of the invention outlined herein and any such modifications as are obvious to those skilled in the art are intended to be within the scope of the present invention as claimed.
Figure 9 shows a further embodiment of the system of the present invention in which a plurality of plant storage blocks 1 are corralled in the center of a containment 8.
It will be apparent to those of skill in the art that by routine modification the present invention can be optimized for use in a wide range of conditions and application. It will also be obvious to those of skill in the art that there are various ways and designs with which to produce the apparatus and methods of the present invention. The illustrated embodiments are therefore not intended to limit the scope of the invention, but to provide examples of the apparatus and method to enable those of skill in the art to appreciate the inventive concept.
Those skilled in the art will recognize that many more modifications besides those already described are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein.
The inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the scope of the appended claims.
Moreover, in interpreting both the specification and the claims, all terms should be interpreted in the broadest possible manner consistent with the context. In particular, the terms "comprises"
and "comprising" should be interpreted as referring to elements, components, or steps in a non-exclusive manner, indicating that the referenced elements, components, or steps may be present, or utilized, or combined with other elements, components, or steps that are not expressly referenced.
Claims:
1. A method for multi-seasonal storage of live plants, said method comprising:
a. placing plants for storage in storage apertures of a multi-aperture plant storage block having a plurality of storage apertures, each plant storage aperture having a top opening on the top surface of the block and a bottom opening on the bottom surface of the block;
b. placing said multi-aperture plant storage block in a containment holding water such that the bottom openings of the storage apertures are in contact with the water;
c. maintaining the water level within the containment while the plant storage block is maintained therein; and d. when it is desired to use the stored plants, removing them from their respective storage apertures in the plant storage block for permanent planting elsewhere;
wherein plant storage block is made of a material providing insulation to plants stored therein such that the root systems of said plants can survive extended storage in all climates including subzero temperatures.
This invention is in the field of silviculture and agriculture systems and plant production, and more specifically is in the field of live storage of plants for extended periods of time.
Background:
Northern hemisphere countries encounter very high costs in the live indoor storage of perennial plants such as trees, bedding plants, perennial forms and vegetables. As a result, most nurseries producing plants in indoor facilities typically attempt to sell all of their plants stock between the start and the end of a seasonal planting. What is not sold at regular price is discounted or discarded. If it were possible to create a method of long term live plant storage, costs could be saved and waste reduced.
In certain applications, some plant nurseries transfer seedlings and other plants into aboveground planting pots. This conventional system often requires daily top irrigation to each individually potted plant, especially during hot weather.
In alternate applications, outdoor bare root production of plants cannot typically be live stored for multiple years without the plants over growing, which makes older bear with plants cumbersome for handling and shipping. In addition, most bare rooted seedlings cannot be transplanted successfully during the growing season since they often experience transplant shock and die when transplanted in full leaf. Therefore in conventional applications, seedlings which are grown as bare root field plants can typically only be transplanted as bare root plants and the dormant seasons of early spring or fall, after photosynthesis has slowed or stopped.
The restrictions on bare root planting and transplantation i.e. that bare root plants once lifted must be replanted while the plant remains dormant, present a significant restriction. The general advantage of a container root plant system over a bare root system is that these plants can be field plant at any time during the growing season, so long as adequate field moisture conditions exist. If a system could be devised that would easily convert bare root seedlings to container root seedlings, end of season surplus stock of bare roots could take on all the advantages of container rooted plants including the ability to be live stored and not discarded.
One of the key problems in northern regions is the weathering of plants outdoors during the winter if stored outdoors ¨ the same nurseries that throw out excess plant material at the end of one season can suffer shortages of the same varieties by the end of subsequent seasons. In the context of tree nurseries for example, most North American tree nurseries which endure subzero winters typically run out of all or most of their seedling tree and perennial plant varieties for sale by mid July of each year, restricting their ability to make season-long sales if they under produce, and causing waste if they overproduce.
There have been no successful earlier attempts at the provision of low cost long term live storage systems for container root seedlings. If a low-cost system for the live storage of tree seedlings and other plants could be devised that would achieve many advantages for both industry and the public. Such a low-cost live storage system would have even more utility if it could be designed in a way that would require minimal irrigation or pumping equipment to be used. Sub-irrigated storage would be beneficial for this purpose.
If it were possible to design a low cost long term live storage system that could survive months of severe outdoor subzero temperatures, then excess perennial plant production could be stored for marketing or use in subsequent years. Nurseries would not only not have to discard excess plant production of the end of a planting season but could purposefully grow vast quantities of excess production to be placed in low-cost storage to serve the needs of their customers later in a growing season for summer and fall planting. Growing operations could be undertaken more strategically, without the need to restart with zero inventory on a myriad of plant species each and every year.
In many regions of the world, current practices include live storage of the majority of plants and trees in cumbersome containers which require immense land space, soil and large labour contentions to irrigate and maintain them. If a system could be devised that used significantly less soil and water than low-cost true supplier could catch up with demand for timber while lessening the environmental burden. Similarly, any type of a method for live storage of plants that reduce water requirements would be desirable since in many regions of the world including in desert climates desalinization programs are used to create fresh water supply.
Even in green houses, production of perennial plants and various climatic zones including those that do not experience freezing temperatures is limited based on the physical capacity of the greenhouse itself. If a system could be devised that allowed for long-term multiyear outdoor storage of plants with negligible maintenance and other costs this could multiply the plant holding capacities of many nurseries. This will result in lower cost plant production, greater profits and potentially lower plant costs.
A low cost long term live storage system would have a significant beneficial commercial impact on the logistics of plant production. If such a system could be devised that that would also allow for substantial water conservation savings in the production or maintenance of plant material this would have significant additional commercial benefit.
Summary of the Invention:
As outlined above, the invention intends to provide a method for the multi-seasonal storage of live plants, which will allow for the storage of live plant material through freezing and other weather seasons, either to allow repetitive harvesting of plant material, or before the eventual transplantation of those plants to their final growing locations.
The invention, a method of multi-seasonal storage of live plants comprises the step of placing plants for storage in the storage apertures of a multi-aperture plant storage block which has a plurality of storage apertures therein. Each plant storage aperture has a top opening on a top surface of the plant storage block and a bottom opening on a bottom surface of the plant storage block. In a next step once the plants are placed in the storage apertures, the multi-aperture plant storage block is placed in a containment holding water, such that the bottom openings of the storage apertures are in contact with the water in the containment. The plant storage block is made of material providing insulation to plant stored therein such that the root systems of the plants can survive extended storage in subzero temperatures.
Various containments can be used in association with the method of the present invention, including an aboveground manufactured containment, an inground manufactured containment, or an inground water body. Many different types of containments or water bodies could be used all of which will be understood to those skilled in the art and are all contemplated within the scope of the present invention.
During storage of the plants, the water level within the containment is maintained so that the bottom of the plant storage block and bottom apertures thereon continue contact with the water.
Harvesting of seeds, leaves or stands can occur as required within industry norms. When it is desired to use the stored plants for field planting, they are removed from their respective storage apertures in the plant storage block for permanent planting.
In certain embodiments of the method of the present invention the plant storage block might be buoyant, so it would float on the water in the containment. In other embodiments it may not be buoyant and it may simply be set on the bottom of the containment with a shallow water layer beneath or around it.
In certain embodiments of the method of the present invention the plants placed in the storage apertures could be a field ready seedling, such that they could simply be stored in the block until ready to be used or permanently planted. In other embodiments of the method of the present invention, the plants placed in the storage apertures could be placed as cuttings or micro seedlings in order to grow to field ready condition within the storage apertures. Finally, as in the case of more mature bare root seedlings, they can be placed within the storage apertures to convert over several weeks into container root plants with all the advantages thereof.
Plants might be stored in the storage apertures with or without soil media. If they are stored without soil media, the root ball of the plant could grow or expand within the plant storage aperture while stored in the plant storage block.
Certain embodiments of the method of the present invention might comprise the additional step of fertilizing the plants while in storage in the plant storage block when it is desired for example to hyper grow the seedlings to a greater size over a shorter period of time.
During storage of the plants in the plant storage block, the water or other contents of the containment might be cleaned or remediated by the presence of the plants and their consumption of water therein. As such the method of the present invention can be used as a phytoremediation method for water within a containment.
As will be understood to those skilled in the art, the method encompasses the use of one or more plant storage blocks within a containment to store plants. Each plant storage block consists of a plurality of storage apertures and it is explicitly contemplated that the plant storage blocks might individually each include several dozen to several hundreds of apertures. A
large number of these plant storage blocks can then be used within a water holding containment to store a large number of plants in a minimized surface area.
In certain embodiments, more than one plant could be stored within a particular plant storage aperture, where in other embodiments a single plant storage aperture in a plant storage block in accordance with the method may contain only a single plant.
In some embodiments of the method of the present invention where more than one plant storage block was used and the containment was a natural water body, the method of the present invention could incorporate anchoring of the plurality of plant storage blocks around the edge of the containment to provide shoreline erosion control to the natural water body. In other embodiments, in a large water containment holding a large number of plant storage blocks, a system of corral and anchor could be used to keep the plant storage blocks organized and reasonably stationary in a fixed location.
In certain embodiments of the method of the present invention, once the plants reach a predetermined size the plant storage blocks could be removed, rather than removing the plants from the storage blocks, leaving the full-sized plants in their positions to continue growth in the containment at an alternate location.
In addition to the method of the present invention there is also disclosed a multi-aperture plant storage block for the multi-seasonal storage of live plants, which has a plurality of storage apertures each having a top opening on a top surface of the block and a bottom opening on a bottom surface of the block. The plant storage block could be placed in a containment holding water such that the bottom openings of the storage apertures are in contact with the water contained therein, and the plant storage block would be made of the material providing insulation to plant stored therein such that the root systems of the plants can survive extended storage in subzero temperatures.
It will be understood to those skilled in the art that many changes can be made to the method and the apparatus, namely the multi-aperture plant storage block, disclosed herein, without departing from the scope and intention of the present invention and all such modifications are contemplated within the scope of the present invention.
Description of the Drawings:
To easily identify the discussion of any particular element or act, the most significant digit or digits in a reference number refer to the figure number in which that element is first introduced.
The drawings enclosed are:
Figure 1 is a flow chart demonstrating the steps of a first embodiment of the method of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a flow chart demonstrating the steps of a second embodiment of the method of the present invention, including a fertilization step;
Figure 3 is a flow chart demonstrating the steps of a third embodiment of the method of the present invention, where the plant storage blocks are destructively removed from the plants when permanent planting of the plants is desired;
Figure 4 is a flow chart demonstrating the steps of a further embodiment of the method of the present invention, in which a plurality of plant storage blocks is used for shoreline erosion control in a natural water body;
Figure 5 is a perspective view of a plant storage block in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 6 is a cutaway side view of the plant storage block of Figure 5, along line 5-5;
Figure 7 is a schematic view of one embodiment of the system of the method of the present invention; and Figure 8 is a schematic view of another embodiment of the system used to practice the method of the present invention comprising a plurality of plant storage blocks mounted in a shoreline erosion control configuration within a natural water body containment; and Figure 9 is a schematic view of a plurality of plant storage blocks corralled and anchored within a large water containment.
Detailed Description of Illustrated Embodiments:
As outlined herein, the present invention comprises a method for the streamlined long-term life storage of plant material in subzero temperatures. The ability to store plants in a sub-irrigated plant storage block, through all four seasons, will be particularly beneficial in the economics of plant and tree nurseries in northern climates encountering harsh winters of significant length.
Method overview:
The invention comprises a low cost long-term live storage method for plants, resulting in the ability to store containment root plants for up to many years in advance of the final planting of these plants in their final desired locations. Storage of the plants within the plant storage blocks and in accordance with the method of the present invention provides significant cost savings in economy for plant nurseries and will be found beneficial on this basis.
Figure 1 shows a flowchart of a first basic embodiment of the method of the present invention.
The first step in the method of the present invention, shown at 1-1, is the placement of plants or plant material in storage apertures within a plant storage block. As outlined in further detail elsewhere herein, the plant storage block comprises any block of material with sufficient insulation to permit for safe wintering of the root systems of plants, with a plurality of storage apertures each having a top opening in a bottom opening extending between a top surface and a bottom surface of the plant storage block.
Plants placed within the storage apertures of the plant storage block could be placed in the storage apertures either with soil medium or as bare root plants. Where bare root plants are placed into the storage apertures for life storage, the bare roots convert to highly fibrous containment roots after a number of weeks of growing conditions.
Following placement of the plants in the plant storage block, at 1-1, the plant storage block is placed in a containment which holds water. This is shown at step 1-2.
Placement of the plant storage block in a water holding containment effectively allows for subirrigation of the plants contained within the storage apertures while they are stored throughout the seasons.
Once the plant storage block is placed in a containment containing water, storage of the plants in the plant storage block is commenced and as outlined above the plants can be stored in such a fashion for up to many years. During the storage of the plant storage block within the containment, the water level in the containment needs to be monitored and maintained ¨ this is shown at step 1-3. As is outlined elsewhere herein, part of the attraction of the method of the present invention is that little water is required in the containment ¨ really only trace water below the bottom surface of the plant storage block or blocks is typically required.
During the winter season in northern climates, the plant filled plant storage blocks can be live-stored outdoors as dormant plants, with air temperatures dipping as low as -50 C in the same locations as outdoor summer production and summer life storage took place. During the first winter and subsequent winters, the plant storage blocks will in most embodiments be frozen in place in the containment, in the same water that they were floating or otherwise sub-irrigated in in the summertime.
Dependent upon the insulation value of the material of manufacture of the plant storage block, plant storage block can also be used to live stored dormant perennial plants out of the water of the containment on frozen or snow-covered landscapes during winter months.
Finally, at such time as it is desired to transplant the plants from the plant storage block into permanent planting locations, the plants are removed from the storage apertures in the plant storage block for transplantation or permanent planting. The removal/transplantation of the plants from storage to permanent locations is shown at step 1-4.
As outlined in further detail elsewhere herein, the plant storage block is manufactured of material that provides sufficient insulation to the root system of plants stored therein that they can survive seasonal weather extremes including freezing for long periods of time. Testing of the method of the present invention and the placement of plants for storage in a plant storage block such as outlined above has been conducted and has indicated the efficacy of the plant storage block approach and methodology outlined herein to provide for storage ability for the plants within the storage apertures for up to many years.
Plants that are grown and require only to be stored in advance of the eventual transplantation to permanent locations could be stored within the storage apertures of a plant storage block as outlined herein, or in other embodiments of the method, early-stage plants or plant material that require further growth could also be planted in the storage apertures of a plant storage block in accordance with the remainder of the present invention in anticipation of their growth to full-size before transplantation to permanent locations. Both such approaches are contemplated within the scope of the present invention.
Varying numbers or sizes of plants could be stored within individual storage apertures in a single plant storage block ¨ for example single plants might be placed in certain storage apertures, while in other cases multiple plants could be stored within the single apertures or plants of different sizes or levels of maturity could be stored within apertures within the same plant storage block. All such approaches are contemplated within the scope of the present invention.
As will be understood by those skilled in the art and is described elsewhere herein, the containment could comprise a manufactured containment in an aboveground or inground application, or might also constitute a natural or manufactured water body.
Any type of a containment capable of holding at least one plant storage block in accordance with the remainder of the method of the present invention is understood to be within the scope of the present invention.
As will also be understood, a plurality of plant storage blocks could be used in the practice of a larger implementation of the method of the present invention ¨ that is to say that multiple plant storage blocks could be used in a single water containment, to provide for a larger set of long-term plant storage. Any number of plant storage blocks are contemplated within the scope of the present invention.
Figure 2 is a flowchart demonstrating the steps in a further embodiment of the plant storage method of the present invention, in which fertilizer or other nutrients can be applied to plants during the storage process. As shown in Figure 1, plants are placed in storage apertures in the plant storage block shown at 2-1. Following the placement of the plants and the storage apertures of the plant storage block, the plant storage block would be placed in a containment with water, shown at 2-2. During the long-term storage of the plants within the plant storage block, shown at 2-3, the water level within the containment would be monitored and maintained, to ensure the continued availability to the roots of the plants contained within the storage apertures, through the bottom openings thereof, of sufficient water to maintain the growth or survival of the plants in question. In most cases, subirrigation of the plants contained within the plant storage blocks can require the presence of very little water in the containment.
As outlined elsewhere herein, in certain embodiments including the one of Figure 2, a fertilizer step is shown. Fertilizer or nutrients could be provided to plants stored within the plant storage block by direct application via the top surface of the plant storage block or by introduction of such fertilizer or nutrients to the water contained within the containment.
The application of fertilizer or other nutrients is shown at 2-4. In certain cases it will be desired to store plants within the plant storage blocks and in accordance with the method of the present invention in a preferred state of having a stable size i.e. without size increase, by practising the method without adding nutrients or fertilizer. If it is desired at any time during a growing season to create rapid growth of the plants stored within the plant storage block in accordance with the remainder of the present invention, the applications of nutrients can be used to do so. Another option, in place of introducing nutrients or fertilizer into the water within the containment, to provide nutrients to the plants within the plant storage block, would be to draw down the water level within the containment to allow the plant roots, through the bottom openings of the storage apertures, to come into contact with nutrients soils naturally found or placed in the bottom of the water containment.
Finally and as outlined above with respect to Figure 1, the plants can be removed from the storage apertures of the plant storage block for transplantation or permanent plantation is required, shown at step 2-5.
The method demonstrated in Figure 3 varies by the alteration of the permanent location are transplantation step at the end of the method, insofar as in this particular method the plants 7 when desired to be permanently located could be desired to be permanently located at the location of the plant storage block 1, and the plant storage block 1 could be destructively removed from the plants 7 to allow them to be left in location where originally stored. This is shown at Step 3-4.
Phytoremediation:
In certain cases the method of the present invention, namely the method of long-term live storage of plants, could be used in a phytoremediation context. Specifically, the water or other contents of the containment, along with the plant storage blocks, could benefit from the proximity or presence of the plants within the plant storage block either from the plants therein cleaning the water in the containment or otherwise. Plants stored in plant storage blocks in accordance with the plant storage method of the present invention could be used to remove nutrients or other materials from the water within the containment, such as nitrogen or phosphorus from the water etc. Heavy metals or other mobile elements can also be removed from the water or the soil below, in the context of a natural water body as the containment.
In some cases the plant storage method of the present invention might even be practised in a containment area in which soil or other materials containing contaminants all such as hydrocarbon saturated soils requiring removal or delivered to a containment of plant storage blocks filled with plants having phytoremediation ability similarly, plant storage blocks containing such plants can be delivered to a containment already containing contaminants to be remediated, such as municipal lagoons or factory effluent ponds. R.
Phytoremediation could be conducted where plants of any variety would remove certain impurities or desired materials from the containment or the water, or the plants to be stored within the plant storage block might also be selected based upon the materials or impurities they are known to absorb or remove from the containment or the water therein. Any approach to the use of the method of the present invention not only as a means of long-term storage of selected plants before their eventual transplantation to permanent planting locations, but also during the storage timeframe to use those plants to remove the purities or materials of some variety from the containment soil or water will all be understood to those skilled in the art and are contemplated within the scope of the present invention. Any modifications to the general method hereof for the purpose of optimizing the method for use in this context are contemplated within the scope of the present invention.
Shoreline erosion control:
Insofar as one of the key anticipated implementations of the method of the present invention is the use of a large natural body of water as the containment 8 within which the plant storage blocks 1 would be used, it is explicitly contemplated that one of the ancillary benefits or aspects of the long-term live storage method of the present invention is that the actual storage of the plant storage blocks 1 could be used as a shoreline erosion control method.
The plant storage blocks 1 could be anchored in place around the perimeter of the containment 8, being a natural water body, such that dependent upon the type of plants contained within the plant storage blocks 1, freshwater and saltwater environments could be used to establish or store freshwater or saltwater trees and plants. An anchoring system which would allow for buoyant plant storage blocks 1 to go up and down with tides or with water levels in the containment 8 while maintaining a reasonably stationary horizontal positions will be understood.
In some cases, once the plants stored within the plant storage blocks 1 were properly anchored to the floor of the shoreline of the containment 8 with supportive root structures and strong enough stands, the buoyant plant storage blocks could be removed or cutaway to result in freestanding trees or plants. Alternatively, the plants might be removed for transplantation to other locations but the presence of the plant storage blocks. One could be used as erosion control buffers along the shoreline of the containment 8, such that they would be barriers to wave action that would otherwise affect the shoreline.
Decreasing evaporation:
General evaporation from the containment 8 could also be significantly minimized by the placement of sufficient plant storage blocks 1 of sufficient size to cover the majority of the surface of the water 9 contained therein.
Aquaculture:
Where containment 8 of sufficient size was used, fish, turtles or other marine animals or plants could be cultured in the water 9 in the containment 8 along with the holding of the plant storage blocks 1.
Plant storage block:
As will be understood from the remainder of the disclosure herein, the plant storage block contemplated for use in the method of present invention could take a number of different shapes and sizes, so long as it was constructed of material having the necessary insulating qualities outlined. The plant storage block would contain a plurality of storage apertures, effectively being in aperture extending from a top surface through to a bottom surface of the plant storage block. Each plant storage aperture would include a top opening, through the top surface of the plant storage block and through which the leaves are the upper body of a plant in storage in the block would extend, as well as a bottom opening through the bottom surface of the plant storage block through which the root system of plants stored within the aperture could be sub-irrigated by accessing the water below the bottom surface of the plant storage block.
Figures 5 and 6 show an example of a plant storage block 1 in accordance with the method of the present invention. In this case, the plant storage block 1 is a rectangular block of buoyant material such as polystyrene or the like, with a plurality of storage apertures 2 extending therethrough. The plant storage block 1 has a top surface 3 and a bottom surface 4, and each of the storage apertures 2 has a top opening 5 in the top surface 3 of the block 1, and bottom opening 6 in the bottom surface 4 of the block 1. The storage apertures, in cross-section, might either be columnar in shape, with top and bottom openings of the same size, or in other embodiments of the plant storage block, the storage apertures might be tapered from a larger top opening to a smaller bottom opening. Any interior profile or shape of the storage apertures within the plant storage block is contemplated within the scope of the present invention.
Plants 7 are inserted in the storage apertures 2 for long-term live storage in accordance with the method.
The number and size of the storage apertures could vary depending upon the type or number of plants that it was desired to store in accordance with the long-term live storage method of the present invention within a particular plant storage block and it will be understood that any type of a plant storage block having the insulating qualities outlined herein and having a plurality of storage apertures of sufficient size to conduct live storage of plants in accordance with the remainder of the present invention are contemplated within the scope hereof.
As outlined herein, certain embodiments of the plant storage block in accordance with the method and the remainder of the present invention could be made of a buoyant material such that they would float in water within the containment of the method. In other embodiments, the plant storage block might be manufactured of non-buoyant material such that it would settle to the bottom of the containment with the water in the containment therearound. Both such approaches is contemplated within the scope of the present invention.
Dependent on the size or nature of the system which was intended to be used to practice the method of the present invention a plurality of plant storage blocks could be used in a single containment, to practice the remainder of the invention and the method.
Containment:
As outlined in more detail elsewhere herein, the containment 8 in which the plant storage block 1 will be placed can either be a manufactured containment 8, which could either be used above ground or in ground, or might be a natural groundwater reservoir or water body such as a pond, slough, or even a man-made inground reservoir. Any containment 8 capable of containing a layer of water 9 which can engage the bottom surface 4 of the plant storage blocks 1 is contemplated within the scope of the present invention. Insofar as the method of the present invention is anticipated to be used for large-scale long-term live storage of plants in an outdoor setting through multiple seasons including through freezing in the winter, it is contemplated that in many cases the containment 8 might be a natural water body of significant size such that multiple plant storage blocks 1 could be used to store large numbers of plants. Any type of an aboveground report in the ground natural or manufactured containment capable of accomplishing the objectives of containing a water layer 9 in the base thereof as well as one or more plant storage blocks 1 in accordance with the remainder of the present invention is contemplated within the scope of the present invention.
Figures 7 and 8 show two embodiments of the system for the practice the method of the present invention with one or more plant storage blocks 1 placed within a containment 8, which containment 8 contains water 9 in the base thereof. The embodiment of Figure 7 shows a single plant storage block 1 in an aboveground manufactured containment 8, in the embodiment of Figure 8 shows a plurality of plant storage blocks 1 anchored in a natural water body 8 in a shoreline erosion control application as outlined elsewhere herein. These are two basic embodiments demonstrating some of the options of how the method of the present invention can be practised ¨ it will be understood that there are many other physical configurations of the containment and the plant storage blocks that would not depart from the intended scope of the invention outlined herein and any such modifications as are obvious to those skilled in the art are intended to be within the scope of the present invention as claimed.
Figure 9 shows a further embodiment of the system of the present invention in which a plurality of plant storage blocks 1 are corralled in the center of a containment 8.
It will be apparent to those of skill in the art that by routine modification the present invention can be optimized for use in a wide range of conditions and application. It will also be obvious to those of skill in the art that there are various ways and designs with which to produce the apparatus and methods of the present invention. The illustrated embodiments are therefore not intended to limit the scope of the invention, but to provide examples of the apparatus and method to enable those of skill in the art to appreciate the inventive concept.
Those skilled in the art will recognize that many more modifications besides those already described are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein.
The inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the scope of the appended claims.
Moreover, in interpreting both the specification and the claims, all terms should be interpreted in the broadest possible manner consistent with the context. In particular, the terms "comprises"
and "comprising" should be interpreted as referring to elements, components, or steps in a non-exclusive manner, indicating that the referenced elements, components, or steps may be present, or utilized, or combined with other elements, components, or steps that are not expressly referenced.
Claims:
1. A method for multi-seasonal storage of live plants, said method comprising:
a. placing plants for storage in storage apertures of a multi-aperture plant storage block having a plurality of storage apertures, each plant storage aperture having a top opening on the top surface of the block and a bottom opening on the bottom surface of the block;
b. placing said multi-aperture plant storage block in a containment holding water such that the bottom openings of the storage apertures are in contact with the water;
c. maintaining the water level within the containment while the plant storage block is maintained therein; and d. when it is desired to use the stored plants, removing them from their respective storage apertures in the plant storage block for permanent planting elsewhere;
wherein plant storage block is made of a material providing insulation to plants stored therein such that the root systems of said plants can survive extended storage in all climates including subzero temperatures.
2. The method of Claim further comprising the harvesting of plant material from plants contained within the plant storage block.
3. The method of Claim 1 wherein the plants are placed in the storage apertures in a field-ready condition.
4. The method of Claim 1 wherein the plants are placed in the storage apertures in order to grow to field-ready condition within the storage apertures.
5. The method of Claim 1 wherein the containment is selected from the list of:
a. an above-ground manufactured containment;
b. an in-ground manufactured containment; or c. an inground water body.
a. an above-ground manufactured containment;
b. an in-ground manufactured containment; or c. an inground water body.
6. The method of Claim 1 wherein the plants are stored in the storage apertures with soil media.
7. The method of Claim 1 wherein the plants are stored in the storage apertures without soil media.
8. The method of Claim 1 wherein the plants are stored in the storage apertures with bare roots.
9. The method of Claim8 wherein the bare roots convert over time to container roots.
10. The method of Claim 1 wherein the plant storage block is buoyant, to float on the water in the containment.
11. The method of Claim 1 further comprising fertilizing the plants while stored in the plant storage block.
12. The method of Claim 1 wherein the during storage of the plants in the plant storage block, the water or other contents of the containment are remediated by the presence of the plants and their consumption of water therefrom.
13. The method of Claim 1 wherein more than one plant storage block is used to store plants within the containment.
14. The method of Claim 10 wherein the containment is a natural water body.
15. The method of Claim 14 wherein a plurality of plant storage blocks are corralled and anchored in the containment by a corralling element therearound.
16. The method of Claim 14 wherein a plurality of plant storage blocks are anchored around the edge of the containment to provide shoreline erosion control.
17. The method of Claim 16 wherein once the plants stored therein reach a predetermined size the plant storage blocks are removed, leaving full-size plants to continue growth in the containment.
18. A multi-aperture plant storage block for multi-seasonal storage of live plants, said plant storage block having a plurality of storage apertures, each plant storage aperture having a top opening on the top surface of the block and a bottom opening on the bottom surface of the block;
wherein the plant storage block can be placed in a containment holding water such that the bottom openings of the storage apertures are in contact with the water;
and wherein the plant storage block is made of a material providing insulation to plants stored therein such that the root systems of said plants can survive extended storage in subzero temperatures.
wherein the plant storage block can be placed in a containment holding water such that the bottom openings of the storage apertures are in contact with the water;
and wherein the plant storage block is made of a material providing insulation to plants stored therein such that the root systems of said plants can survive extended storage in subzero temperatures.
Claims (18)
Claims:
1. A method for multi-seasonal storage of live plants, said method comprising:
a. placing plants for storage in storage apertures of a multi-aperture plant storage block having a plurality of storage apertures, each plant storage aperture having a top opening on the top surface of the block and a bottom opening on the bottom surface of the block;
b. placing said multi-aperture plant storage block in a containment holding water such that the bottom openings of the storage apertures are in contact with the water;
c. maintaining the water level within the containment while the plant storage block is maintained therein; and d. when it is desired to use the stored plants, removing them from their respective storage apertures in the plant storage block for permanent planting elsewhere;
wherein plant storage block is made of a material providing insulation to plants stored therein such that the root systems of said plants can survive extended storage in all climates including subzero temperatures.
a. placing plants for storage in storage apertures of a multi-aperture plant storage block having a plurality of storage apertures, each plant storage aperture having a top opening on the top surface of the block and a bottom opening on the bottom surface of the block;
b. placing said multi-aperture plant storage block in a containment holding water such that the bottom openings of the storage apertures are in contact with the water;
c. maintaining the water level within the containment while the plant storage block is maintained therein; and d. when it is desired to use the stored plants, removing them from their respective storage apertures in the plant storage block for permanent planting elsewhere;
wherein plant storage block is made of a material providing insulation to plants stored therein such that the root systems of said plants can survive extended storage in all climates including subzero temperatures.
2. The method of Claim further comprising the harvesting of plant material from plants contained within the plant storage block.
3. The method of Claim 1 wherein the plants are placed in the storage apertures in a field-ready condition.
4. The method of Claim 1 wherein the plants are placed in the storage apertures in order to grow to field-ready condition within the storage apertures.
5. The method of Claim 1 wherein the containment is selected from the list of:
a. an above-ground manufactured containment;
b. an in-ground manufactured containment; or c. an inground water body.
a. an above-ground manufactured containment;
b. an in-ground manufactured containment; or c. an inground water body.
6. The method of Claim 1 wherein the plants are stored in the storage apertures with soil media.
7. The method of Claim 1 wherein the plants are stored in the storage apertures without soil media.
8. The method of Claim 1 wherein the plants are stored in the storage apertures with bare roots.
9. The method of C1aim8 wherein the bare roots convert over time to container roots.
10. The method of Claim 1 wherein the plant storage block is buoyant, to float on the water in the containment.
11. The method of Claim 1 further comprising fertilizing the plants while stored in the plant storage block.
12. The method of Claim 1 wherein the during storage of the plants in the plant storage block, the water or other contents of the containment are remediated by the presence of the plants and their consumption of water therefrom.
13. The method of Claim 1 wherein more than one plant storage block is used to store plants within the containment.
14. The method of Claim 10 wherein the containment is a natural water body.
15. The method of Claim 14 wherein a plurality of plant storage blocks are corralled and anchored in the containment by a corralling element therearound.
16. The method of Claim 14 wherein a plurality of plant storage blocks are anchored around the edge of the containment to provide shoreline erosion control.
17. The method of Claim 16 wherein once the plants stored therein reach a predetermined size the plant storage blocks are removed, leaving full-size plants to continue growth in the containment.
18. A multi-aperture plant storage block for multi-seasonal storage of live plants, said plant storage block having a plurality of storage apertures, each plant storage aperture having a top opening on the top surface of the block and a bottom opening on the bottom surface of the block;
wherein the plant storage block can be placed in a containment holding water such that the bottom openings of the storage apertures are in contact with the water;
and wherein the plant storage block is made of a material providing insulation to plants stored therein such that the root systems of said plants can survive extended storage in subzero temperatures.
wherein the plant storage block can be placed in a containment holding water such that the bottom openings of the storage apertures are in contact with the water;
and wherein the plant storage block is made of a material providing insulation to plants stored therein such that the root systems of said plants can survive extended storage in subzero temperatures.
Priority Applications (6)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA2986709A CA2986709A1 (en) | 2017-11-27 | 2017-11-27 | Multi-seasonal storage of live plants |
| EP18880255.7A EP3716754A4 (en) | 2017-11-27 | 2018-03-02 | Multi-seasonal storage of live plants |
| PCT/CA2018/050251 WO2019100144A1 (en) | 2017-11-27 | 2018-03-02 | Multi-seasonal storage of live plants |
| AU2018373502A AU2018373502A1 (en) | 2017-11-27 | 2018-03-02 | Multi-seasonal storage of live plants |
| IL274049A IL274049A (en) | 2017-11-27 | 2020-04-19 | Multi-seasonal storage of live plants |
| AU2024202786A AU2024202786A1 (en) | 2017-11-27 | 2024-04-29 | Plant nursery and storage system for use in the growth of field-ready plants |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA2986709A CA2986709A1 (en) | 2017-11-27 | 2017-11-27 | Multi-seasonal storage of live plants |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2986709A1 true CA2986709A1 (en) | 2019-05-27 |
Family
ID=66631255
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA2986709A Abandoned CA2986709A1 (en) | 2017-11-27 | 2017-11-27 | Multi-seasonal storage of live plants |
Country Status (5)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP3716754A4 (en) |
| AU (2) | AU2018373502A1 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2986709A1 (en) |
| IL (1) | IL274049A (en) |
| WO (1) | WO2019100144A1 (en) |
Family Cites Families (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CA2041082A1 (en) * | 1991-03-08 | 1992-09-09 | Koshi Koide | Apparatus and method of water culture and plant handling method |
| NL1011347C2 (en) * | 1999-02-19 | 2000-08-22 | B & B Bulbs & Flowers B V | Grow carrier. |
| JP2004076307A (en) * | 2002-08-12 | 2004-03-11 | Yoshihiro Asano | High functional greening block and greening wall structure |
| MY148324A (en) * | 2009-11-18 | 2013-03-29 | Khoo Khay Chong | A floatable plant growth system and a floatation tray for use with the system |
| CN201602038U (en) * | 2010-03-15 | 2010-10-13 | 孟翔麟 | Hydrophilous plant water culture device |
| CA2853147C (en) * | 2014-06-25 | 2017-05-30 | Rodney P. Sidloski | Plant nursery and storage system for use in the growth of field ready plants |
| NL2013161B1 (en) * | 2014-07-10 | 2016-09-20 | Cultivation Systems B V | Method for the cultivation of plants using a carrier with a removable side support structure arranged thereon. |
-
2017
- 2017-11-27 CA CA2986709A patent/CA2986709A1/en not_active Abandoned
-
2018
- 2018-03-02 WO PCT/CA2018/050251 patent/WO2019100144A1/en unknown
- 2018-03-02 EP EP18880255.7A patent/EP3716754A4/en active Pending
- 2018-03-02 AU AU2018373502A patent/AU2018373502A1/en not_active Abandoned
-
2020
- 2020-04-19 IL IL274049A patent/IL274049A/en unknown
-
2024
- 2024-04-29 AU AU2024202786A patent/AU2024202786A1/en not_active Abandoned
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| EP3716754A1 (en) | 2020-10-07 |
| AU2018373502A1 (en) | 2020-03-19 |
| IL274049A (en) | 2020-06-30 |
| EP3716754A4 (en) | 2021-11-03 |
| WO2019100144A1 (en) | 2019-05-31 |
| AU2024202786A1 (en) | 2024-05-16 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FZDE | Discontinued |
Effective date: 20210831 |
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| FZDE | Discontinued |
Effective date: 20210831 |