DE2348512A1 - FILM COVER FOR AGRICULTURAL PLANTS - Google Patents

Description

Patenianwälie

Dr.-Ing. Wilhelm Reiciiel
Dipl-Ing. Wolfgang Reicliel

6 Frankfurt a. M. 1
Park street 13

7656

NORMAN J. SMITH, Vineland, N.J., VStA

Foil cover for agricultural plants

This invention relates to a film cover for agricultural plants and, therefore, relates to horticulture and, more particularly, to products and methods for controlling temperature, vapors and gases, weeds, light, nutrients and insects in the growing area.

Modern horticultural practices become many complicated and costly measures to increase growth parameters such as soil moisture and temperature and applied for optional control of weeds, noxious insects, plant viruses and fungi. It will E.g. special surface coverings are used, which are often made of plastic and called covers (mulches) to maintain moisture and reduce erosion. and leaching of fertilizers. If this is opaque they also prevent weed growth;

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■ ORIGINAL INSPECTED

and if they are light reflective, they can increase foliage growth and the occurrence of aphids and control plant viruses. If they are translucent, they can heat up the floor for a quick bring about early germination of the seed. Weed growth will be in the case of clear covers and soil insects both permeable and impermeable covers typically regulated by herbicidal and pesticidal agents, which are applied to the floor before covering.

When all of these resources are properly coordinated and regulated, there will be benefits in terms of improved yield and quality of the harvest, albeit with considerable expense and, in some cases, risk are. For example, the usefulness of this otherwise effective covering technique has been determined by the difficulty and accordingly limits the cost of arranging the foil cover over rows of seeds (either before or after planting) so ' that the film does not impede early growth and that rain or water from sprinklers prevent the way to the plant roots Find. It was also difficult to retrieve the plastic film after the harvest. E.g. with maize plants, that grow through a solid plastic cover, difficult to get the film back without the Wrap plant stalks in a useless, bulky plastic ball. Ecological factors also complicate the use of pesticidal and herbicidal agents. For example, drifting spray can reach unintended areas, and a lack of accuracy in staking out the areas can adversely affect the fruit, too there is also the emergence of possible long and short term contamination problems.

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Planting under cover films, be they transparent or opaque, leads to the problem that the plants must have access to the open air through openings in the film. At one extreme, when there are limited openings, plant growth and watering are hindered and excess heat is generated; at the other extreme, if many holes are punched out of the foil, the actual effect of the cover is lost, since too much soil is exposed. If the seed is placed in the earth before the foil is laid on, it is difficult to match the later growing plants to the openings. Planting or sowing through the sheets is also difficult and cannot easily be done with conventional sowing devices. Furthermore, ineffective film openings often arise when these are made in place.

It is therefore the object of the invention to create a film covering which is suitable for plants that are sown or planted and placed either before or after the sowing or planting of the soil. This foil cover for the Cultivated soil should allow the freshly germinating and growing plants to penetrate easily, but nevertheless protect against excessive evaporation of moisture from the soil, while still allowing that rainwater or water from sprinkler distributors reaches the critical planted areas. Furthermore should all or some of the following goals are achieved: weed control, plant growth stimulation, early Germination, wind protection, prevention of crust formation, regulation of erosion and leaching and planting represent inclinations, furthermore should be a combination of clear or translucent cover and soil chemistry Treatment can be achieved in which the complementary and desirable properties of both the cover and the

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chemical regulation are maintained in a coordinated, effective and economical manner. The foil cover should be used on grass and grain after sowing and before germination. You should be yielding upwards Have areas that can be oriented so that tall plants from cold wind and strong sun or Sky radiation can be protected.

The invention is also intended to provide a method of applying coverings, herbicides, insecticides and the like. chemical means can be created on the soil, "which does not require expensive agricultural machinery and contact prevented with airborne sprays.

According to one embodiment of the invention, in a sheet or film-like material, e.g. made of thin plastic or aluminum, a central band area is formed which extends over the growing row of plants and that of a pattern of flat, adjoining transversal ones Strips that together cover and protect the soil and the young plants, but which allow both that rainwater reaches the critical areas, as well as easy access for the germinating, ascending plants to allow the open air. The sheet-like material or film may after sowing regardless of the arrangement of the young plants are laid out lengthways with respect to specific locations in the sheet-like material or film will. It is only necessary that the relatively wide band formed by the slit pattern be in a lateral direction Towards the seed rows. In their resting state, the strips provide an effective evaporation and Erosion control, however, can also be designed to allow limited ventilation to prevent overheating To provide protection. Rain hitting the foil can in a band that is located exactly along the seed line and concentrates the water into the soil

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regulated amounts run off, the amounts being limited so that the fertilizer leaches out on the water surface or prevented in water currents. The slit pattern can take a variety of different shapes, with the transverse strips being either straight or non-straight such as sawtooth strips. For use over wider areas than the relatively narrow ones Rows of growing plants, the slit pattern can be designed in a zigzag shape and offset from one another at intervals be so that the strips on the continuous sheet material run in both directions, so that the film is not in the wrong place or is warped when it is in operation.

Agricultural chemicals such as herbicidal and pesticidal agents can, if desired, be added to the Surface of the plastic film can be applied in a water-soluble layer in amounts that are exactly those in the Soil has the desired chemical concentration. The chemicals can e.g. in liquid form on a> · continuous Plastic film can be applied in a slurry, with a carrier made of water or some other liquid is used together with a suitable wetting agent, such as a detergent, in order to achieve a uniform To achieve precipitation, and using a suitable binder or adhesive such as a milk-solid derivative or a synthetic compound, is used to hold the chemical agent on the film. the Carrier liquid is then evaporated and the film rolled back on itself to form a sealed package to build.

In the course of several weather cycles, which also include temperature changes, moisture rises from the ground as steam, condenses on the underside of the film, dissolves the chemical

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Active ingredients and brings them into the ground when they fall back into the earth. The foil material then serves as a cover, which serves the additional purpose of preventing the active ingredients brought into the soil from being lost through erosion or leaching or to protect against wind, which allows the use of smaller amounts of chemicals in the beginning. the Layer of water soluble material can also be used especially in cold climates or in early planting to keep the slots closed for a predetermined period of time, thereby maximizing the floor heating during germination, after which the slots become clear to allow the plants to pass through.

The sheeting is applied over the row of previously prepared soil, both to protect the sheeting and to protect it To close the gaps between the earth and the foil, the edges can be closed with a continuous earth wall covered or weighted down or fastened in any other suitable way. If the foil is see-through however is taut and the ground is flat, the weeds in the shoulder area tend to die off excessive heat without the use of herbicides, even when sunlight reaches the soil. Weed in the gap area, which is less hot, is shadowed and impaired in its existence when the growing Foliage is large-leaved.

In accordance with the present invention can highly active or non-selective herbicidal agents applied to the film on each side of the central band area and a selective herbicidal agent can be applied to the central area. The soil chemicals can be carried by carrier sheets made of absorbent material, which are then applied as sheets or layers the cover sheet can be applied, or they can be applied directly

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can be applied to the underside of the film. Various laminations can also be used, e.g. to a large extent degenerating black paper, in the strips next to the overgrown rows used to both chemicals to wear as well as to prevent light transmission. It can also be various reflective or partial reflective or filtering layers in selected areas be used.

In the following, the invention is explained in more detail using the example of embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figures 1A and 1B are plan views of portions of agriculturally used cover films, which is shown in Figure 1B in a position above a row covered.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view showing a planting assembly employing a sheet cover is used;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of an agriculturally used film cover having a modified slot pattern has and lies over two rows of vegetation, and

Fig. 4 is a plan view showing another modification of the slot arrangement.

In Fig. 1A, an agriculturally used film cover 10 is shown in strip form. Side parts 10a and 1OB the cover extends to lines which are not quite half the distance to the neighboring vegetated rows are sufficient. The foil cover 10 is preferably formed from an impermeable material such as aluminum foil or plastic film. The latter may, for example, be in the form of a polyethylene sheet material from 12.7 to 6.3 / rev

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(1-1 / 2 mils) thick, clear or opaque, reflective or non-reflective, or any combination these properties exist, as will be explained in detail below. As best seen in Figures 1B and as can be seen in FIG. 2, the cover 10 is centered over an overgrown row 11 on the floor, with the side edges pinned in the ground to hold the sheet in place. The application of the foil can be done manually or automatically. In the latter case, the laying can be done e.g. by a tractor be made, the two laterally spaced flattened Cutting knife pulls, scratching the hollow furrows that take up the edges of the plastic sheet when they do is unwound from a supply roll, followed by a pair of wheels that press the film into the furrows, and a Pair of spaced pusher knives that pour the earth back into the furrows over the plastic sheet. Such devices and methods are conventional to those skilled in the art and therefore do not need to be illustrated or described in greater detail will. If so desired, a seeding device can be placed directly in front of the filming device as part of the same Tractor unit can be arranged. For a typical film cover about 90 cm (3 foot) wide, about 23 cm (9 inches) on each edge and 46 cm (18 inches) in the center remain exposed.

A continuous, repeating slit pattern 12, by means of which a band width is determined, which is denoted by the reference symbol 12 a, is in the middle of the film 10 educated. The bandwidth is such that on both sides the planted row 11 with margins of a few centimeters (a few inches) covered on each side. In the embodiment shown in Figures 1A and 1B, there is Slot pattern from a sequence of substantially parallel and equally spaced slots 13, the length of which in each case

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corresponds to the band width 12a and of which two adjacent slits each define a transverse strip 14, which spreads over the overgrown row. A strip about 2.5 cm (1 inch) wide by a length of about 12.5 cm (5 inches) is preferred for crops such as corn, beans, peas, and potatoes, but narrower ones can be used or wider strips can be used, depending on the thickness of the film material on the one hand and the possibility the plants, on the other hand, push themselves through the foil as they grow by shifting the stripes. The transversal ones Strips 14 are connected to the side parts 10a and 10b and effect the lateral cohesion of the film, by exerting tension or forming some kind of bridge. When the flat strips in their place on the floor together they form a cover surface along the belt width 12a that is above the vegetated row lies. The crevices, however, leave irrigation holes free through which the rain or water spray that falls on the top the foil falls, can seep into the ground in concentrated quantities exactly along the vegetated row. You create also a controlled ventilation that prevents overheating, which is partly in the case of transparent foils can occur, which can kill maize on certain hot sunny days.

The transverse strips 14 can easily be divided laterally so that it is possible to plant through them or to plant seeds in the soil in the Case in which the film cover is applied before sowing or planting. However, it will in most In some cases it is preferred to apply the foil cover after sowing or planting. This can be done, for example, by that the sowing or transplanting device from the same tractor unit as the film laying device described above is borne, causing the seeds or the

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small plants are planted or sown in a row before the foil is laid, individually e.g. for beans, Corn and peas or in heaps such as for tomatoes. The arrangement of the overgrown row 11 essentially along the center line of the film is easily carried out within the width given by the belt width 12a. According to the invention, however, there is no need to register each individual planted or sown plant in relation to any position along the longitudinal axis of the film as the_seed or the plant can grow up at any point without the risk of obstruction by the film. As the seed emerges as small plants, the pliable strips part along the nearest slit and allow the plants P to grow, as best seen in FIGS. 1B and 2. Form during the period before the plants emerge from the ground the undisturbed strips provide a substantially continuous covering that protects the ground from the elements and thereby minimizing encrustation and erosion of the earth prior to plant growth. The shock of the rain and wind will be absorbed primarily through the plastic. In the case when the plants have lower growth characteristics Having the ability to spread, some of the strips can be easily loosened on one side of the planted row afterwards the growth has started to create enlarged openings that allow the plants to grow through the film facilitate.

The sheet material can be made of a polyethylene plastic that is slow in the presence of ultraviolet radiation is broken down by the sun, so at the end of the growing season it will break down into safe pieces has been. Alternatively, it can be made of a less degradable material and at the end of the wax

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collection season for reuse or reuse will. While the suggested width for the strips 14 is about 2.5 cm (1 inch) and for the suggested Length is about 12.5 cm (5 inches), it will be understood that the widths and lengths as a function of the The thickness and flexibility of the plastic film and also the strength of the germinating plants can be varied, i.e., depending on the ability of the plants to split the pliable strips as they grow up from the ground. It will also be appreciated that modifications of the slot mower may be used to aid in plant penetration can be made. In Fig. 3, for example, a modification of the invention is shown in which a plastic film 15 includes a slot pattern 16 defining transverse stripes that are slightly larger in width than the stripes in Figures 1 and 2 have. In this variation, each transverse slot 18 intersects with an or several shorter longitudinal slots 19, each of which over a very short distance a part of the two adjacent Strip 17 divides. In this way, each strip contains one or more narrow rectangular lobes along its edge, which lie above the overgrown row. The lobes can expand under the pressure of the plants Bend upwards and thereby facilitate the growth process when the plant is in the open air space upwards penetrates. This arrangement has the additional advantage that less soil is exposed than, in many cases, one less warping of the main body of the strip occurs. The arrangement of Fig. 3 also includes two parallel slit pattern strips, the film 15 being sufficiently wide to accommodate two parallel rows of vegetated plants plus to cover areas of the distances to the next overgrown rows. If desired, can the longitudinal slots 19 on one side of the overgrown Row are expanded so that they are very close to each other and "pull-out" areas or bridges 19a

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that divide under plant pressure and create an enlarged opening to accommodate certain types of plants to facilitate growth.

In Fig. 4, another modification of the slot pattern is shown. In the foil 20 there is a slit pattern in the middle. Area formed in which transverse wave-shaped slots 21 are spaced from one another by the desired strip width and in which the slots are in Phase formed wave-like pattern * In this way, small arc-shaped lobes are formed on the edges of the respective transversal stripes formed by the plant when penetrating the plastic film with a minimal Bending the whole strip will help. Each of these slots 21 thus determines laterally extending ones lobes lying in one plane on the basis of continuous strips.

It will therefore be understood that a wide variety of slot patterns are contemplated within the scope of the invention can, being both linear and non-linear, transverse or longitudinal or interrupted slots or different combinations of different slot patterns can be used. It is fundamentally necessary that the pattern provides an integrated structure in that there are continuous bridging strips with components along one or both axes of the film surface. In accordance with the invention one or both sides of the film may have an environmental degradable coating such as e.g. a water-soluble or ultraviolet-ray degradable material that leaves the slits for a period of time closes before the strips are released when the plants are in the presence of moisture and Sunlight germinate and grow.

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The cover sheets can have many other properties depending on the intended use. For example, the top surface of the sheets may contain indicia 22 (Fig. 4) which serve as a guide mark for spacing seeds and are useful in the case of plantings that are done by hand after the sheets have been laid on the ground. It is also possible to attach seeds to the foils or to paper tape that is laid down together with the foil.

In each embodiment of Figures 1 through 4, the slit patterns, in addition to the other noted advantages, provide a means by which the film cover can be easily removed after the waxing period. In the case of conventional film covers, in which a single opening is made according to the location of the underlying seed or plant, the plant becomes an attachment for the plastic film preventing it from being removed at the end of the growing season. For example, in a field of corn stalks, the plastic is difficult to remove and additional expense and labor is required to remove the corn stalks before attempting to roll up or crumple the plastic cover for disposal. Plant stems that become part of the plastic waste bundle cannot be used as fodder or as organic matter buried in the ground.

In accordance with the present invention it is because of the continuous slit pattern through the transverse Strips are formed, a relatively simple matter if it is desired to cover the area Remove the soil and the plastic film lengthways to one side of the plant stem but within the Bandwidth of the strips formed by the slit pattern

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to slit open. Knives, scissors and hot wires can be used as cutting tools.

The two sides of the plastic film can then easily be rolled up without being hindered by the plant stalks, because the divided strips allow easy removal from the stalks. It is therefore possible to cover the plastic film remove at any time before or after bringing in the crop without damaging the plants.

If desired, the top surface of the film can also contain animal repellants. The lower surface the film may contain agricultural chemicals in water-soluble form. Herbicidal agents, like Atrazine for corn and dyraid for tomatoes can be trapped Clear films and pesticides can be used in the case of both clear and opaque films will. The chemicals can e.g. be applied to the foils in the form of a liquid slurry, with water or other liquid as a carrier, together with a suitable wetting agent such as a Detergent, is used, which serves to support an even precipitation or coating, and this can be combined with a suitable binder or adhesive such as a derivative of milk solids or a synthetic material can be used to hold the precipitate on the film. The chemical coating can also serve the purpose of forming a water-soluble coating over the film that the cloths or Slits hold in place for a limited time after the foil has been placed in place on the floor, until cleared the coating dissolves.

According to the invention, herbicidal compositions can also be used in various forms and in various concentrations

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the film can be applied. For example, in the case of the embodiments according to Figures 1 to 4 with slots in the middle lower concentrations of selective herbicides on the middle strip area and stronger concentrations of non-selective herbicidal agents applied to the side margins or shoulder areas will.

During the invention above with reference to preferred Embodiments have been described, they can also in other forms and arrangements within the scope of the invention are executed. In the film 10 of Fig. 1, for example, opaque or partially opaque Weed control pages should be devoid of herbicidal products, and a clear central area allows sunlight to be transmitted to the soil prior to germination. Then at a later date the foliage of the crops excludes weed growth in this area. The opaque areas can black or green, reflective, partially reflective or white (with the latter three properties being added tend to maintain the coldest soil temperature and likewise the sunlight upwards towards the underside of the leaves to increase leaf growth and thus eliminate aphids). Coatings can be used for different properties in different areas of the sheet material. The strip-shaped The slit pattern is particularly useful for covering crops in small furrows to keep them protective To create greenhouse spaces for early season planting. When the plants mature, they can either find their way through the slit strips or, if necessary, the strips can be pushed aside in order for provide the plants with access openings or additional ventilation, or both. This procedure can be done by hand or

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carried out by agricultural machinery, the latter method employing one for the Plant-sensitive sensor, such as a test finger, that operates a switch, which in turn a cutting device such as a heated wire is operated. The one formed from successive strips Master enables the gardener or arable farmer to create openings of any desired size. In During the early waxing period, before climbing up through the foil, the slits let water into the furrow and prevent it Accumulations of mud and dirt on the film above the furrow, thus setting the passage of the necessary Sunlight away.

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Claims (6)

- 17 claims Π .J Foil covering for agricultural plants, which contains a normally flexible foil material without openings, to cover the seeds lying in the ground or young plants,
characterized in that this film (10, 15, 20) is provided with a repeating slit pattern (13, 18, 21), which. Extends at least over a portion of the film and along at least one axis of the film, since the slit pattern (13, 18, 21) forms a sequence of narrow, unbroken, flexible strips (14, 17) extending essentially over the portion Widths are smaller than the lengths of the slits which form the strips, so that the slotted area of the film forms a substantially continuous, aperture-free covering of the floor and that the flexible strips (14, 17) are designed so that they are underneath Dodging the pressure of emerging plants up and to the side to reveal both upward and side-facing openings through which the plants (P) can reach the overlying air space, whereby essentially all plants germinating under the slit pattern over the air space the film (10) can achieve without a predetermined arrangement of the inserted seeds with respect to the slots and the pattern formed by them is necessary. 4098 14/0510 2. Foil cover according to claim 1, characterized in that that at least a part of the narrow strips (18) each contains a series of flaps of sheet material, which extend laterally (at 19) from the strips (18) ' and lie in one plane with them and also bend upwards under the pressure of rising plants are. 3. Foil cover according to claim 1, characterized in that through the slot pattern (21) strips of uninterrupted Film material are formed, the components of which extend in the direction of both axes of the film (20). 4. Foil cover according to claim 1, characterized in that that the strips (14) are straight. 5. Foil cover according to claim 1, characterized in that at least some of the strips are wound is to bend under the influence of the tension exerted on the film in the direction of the strips and is adjustable Openings in the film before the plant hits the ground to accomplish. 6. Foil covering according to one or more of the preceding Expectations, characterized in that it has a coating on at least one side contains an environmental degradable material that the slots (13 *, 18, 21) for a time that is substantially is smaller than the growing season of the crop, keeps releasably closed. A 0 9 8 U / 0 5 1 0
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