EP4096384A1

EP4096384A1 - Device for deploying seeds into the soil of a cultivation field

Info

Publication number: EP4096384A1
Application number: EP21750974.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Bjørn REE
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: REE, BJOERN
Priority date: 2020-02-03
Filing date: 2021-02-02
Publication date: 2022-12-07
Also published as: EP4096384A4; NO346134B1; NO20200135A1; WO2021158120A1

Abstract

Device for deploying seeds into the soil of a cultivation field, exhibiting a cord (100) of biodegradable porous encapsulation (101) having seats to accommodate seeds (300). The encapsulation (101) serves a seed protection and contains plant nutrition. The encapsulation (100) further exhibits an elongate cavity (103) accommodating a water supply pipe (200) in fluid communication with a water source. The pipe (200) exhibits numerous apertures to eject water into the encapsulation (101). The encapsulation (101) further exhibits at least one elongate continuous slit (102), arranged along the longitudinal extension of the encapsulation (101) and extending in a radial direction in the encapsulation toward the cavity (103). The slit (102)serves as an access protection for one or more seeds (300).

Description

Device for deploying seeds into the soil of a cultivation field

The present invention concerns a device for deploying seeds, as described in the preamble of claim 1, and a system for cultivation of plants, as described in claim 7.

Background

The prior art describes numerous suggestions to provide a structure to accommodate seeds for germination and cultivation purposes.

An example from the prior art is JP 6051472 B2 which describes a seed holding device comprising a foldable intermediate sheet of paper exhibiting a compartment arranged to accommodate a number of seeds. When assembling the device a lower sheet of water soluble paper is applied to the underside of the intermediate sheet of paper, whereupon seed are added to the compartment, and an upper sheet of water soluble paper is applied on top of the intermediate sheet of paper. In the end, the laminate is folded and ready for deployment on the soil. Then, the device is watered, whereupon the seeds are dropped on the soil

US 7,650,715 B2 discloses a plant sheet comprising a base sheet and a top sheet, both having a mesh structure. Plant pieces are arranged between the two layers, and the laminate structure is placed on a desired surface for germination and cultivation. Water and nutrition is provided from the surface to be absorbed by the top sheet and the base sheet. The plant sheet laminate can be placed on a soil-less surface, such as concrete.

GB 2376402 A1 discloses multi layered seed mat consisting of a lowermost ground facing layer 101, an optional top layer 106, a water insoluble first intermediate layer 105, an optional adhesive second intermediate layer 104, and a water soluble substrate 102 containing seeds, attached to the underside of the lowermost ground layer 101. The seed mat is placed on the ground and watered. The seed containing water soluble substrate dissolved, depositing seeds on the ground. The water insoluble first intermediate layer serves to prevent excessive water loss. The object of the seed mat is to protect the seeds and simplify shipping, and deployment of seeds on the ground.

Other examples from the prior art within this field are DE 199 00 202 Al, JP H 11-220909 A2, CA 2,208,904 Al, FR 2718 321 Bl, JPH3262405, DE 89 14738 Ul, EP 0434900, JP H 03-11-5615 Al, DE 38 28843 Al, JP H 01-198922 A, JP S 64-20008 A, US 4,318,248, US 4,190,981, US 2,826,865, GB

867498 A. Object

An object of the present invention is to simplify planting of seeds in soil. Another object is to provide protection to the seeds and developing roots from being damaged or consumed by vermins. Yet another object is to provide in situ supply of water, nutrition and other supplementary substances with a minimum of effort by personnel. Yet another object is to provide a viable seed and root protection.

Invention

The objects above are achieved by a device in accordance with the characterizing part of claim 1, and a system for cultivation of plants according to claim 7. Additional advantageous features appear from the respective accompanying dependent claims.

The invention concerns a device for deploying seeds into the soil of a cultivation field, particularly seeds for nutritional crops, trees and bushes. The device exhibits a biodegradable protective encapsulation having at least one site arranged to accommodate at least one seed. In further details, the device exhibits a tubular elongate cord of a biodegradable elongate porous encapsulation having an elongate cavity accommodating a fluid supply pipe in fluid communication with a fluid source. The fluid supply pipe exhibits numerous apertures, arranged to eject water and optional additives from the internal of the supply pipe and into the encapsulation. The encapsulation further exhibits an elongate continuous slit or numerous discrete slits, arranged along the longitudinal extension of the encapsulation and extending in a radial direction in the encapsulation toward the cavity. The slit serves as an access point for inserting seeds and as a protecting seat for one or more seeds.

The cord preferably exhibits a biodegradable reinforcing stocking, wrapped around the periphery of the encapsulation, serving as a encapsulation reinforcement. The stocking prevents the encapsulation from expanding and disintegrating in a radial direction of the elongate encapsulation. The stocking is preferably made of a mesh shaped cellulose. A reinforcing elongate continuous reinforcing string can advantageously be arranged inside the encapsulation, arranged to prevent the encapsulation from being pulled apart along its longitudinal extension, thus exposing seeds and root systems to potential hazardous environments. The reinforcing string can be provided with a biocompatible pesticide, in particular solanine, to add additional protection to seeds and roots against vermins. The invention also concerns a system for cultivation of plants, wherein the system comprises numerous interconnected discrete cords described above, where each cord is in fluid communication with the fluid source.

In one embodiment, adjacent cords are interconnected by a flexible hose, each hose being connected to adjacent cords by means of a pipe coupling.

In another embodiment, numerous cords having a closed end and an opposite open end in fluid communication with a hose. Each cord and the accompanying hose are connected to a common fluid supply conduit and further to the fluid source.

Detailed description

The invention is in the following described in further detail with reference to drawings, where Fig. 1 is a cross-section through a plant seed cord in accordance with the invention,

Fig. 2 is a top view of one embodiment of numerous interconnected cords,

Fig. 3 is a top view of another embodiment of numerous interconnected cords,

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a cut cord, and

Figs. 5A and 5B are elevational view of a pipe connector attached to the end of a pipe.

Physical structure

Now with reference to Fig. 1, the device in accordance with the invention exhibits an elongate cord 100 comprising an encapsulation 101 of a biodegradable and flexible/bendable material, particularly an organic material such as cellulose or seaweed. The encapsulation 101 is porous and is prior to deployment provided with plant nutrition, evenly distributed throughout a pore system in the mass of the encapsulation 101. The cord 100 is further provided with a through elongate cavity 103 extending along the longitudinal extension of the cord 100. The cavity 103 accommodates a supply pipe 200, extending throughout the cavity 103. In the case of a continuous cord, the supply pipe 200 is a continuous pipe exhibiting a closed end and an opposite end which is open, the latter arranged to be connected to a fluid source (not shown in this figure). The wall of the supply pipe 200 is further provided with numerous apertures 202 along the longitudinal extension of the supply pipe 200. The supply pipe 200 is further arranged to be connected optional supplies (not shown) of nutrition and other additives useful for cultivation. The pipe 200 can be made of a practically non-degradable material, e.g. a bendable plastic tube, to be retrieved from the soil after an initial cultivation procedure has been completed and reused in preparation of a new cord 100.

The encapsulation 101 is provided with a seed insertion slit 102, extending along the longitudinal extension of the encapsulation 101 and from the periphery of the same, and into the cavity 103, thus defining a slit opening at the periphery of the encapsulation 101 and an inner slit end adjacent to the cavity 103. The slit 102 serves as an access point of the cord 100 for insertion of numerous plant seeds disposed at desired mutual distances along the longitudinal extension of the cord 100. The slit 102 may extend all the way down to the cavity 103 and be terminated with its inner slit end adjacent to the cavity 103. Alternatively, the slit 102 may extend into the cavity 103, where the internal slit end is in fluid communication with the cavity 103. The inner slit end is arranged to serve as a protective seat 108 for numerous seeds 300 disposed along the cord 100. The slit 102 does preferably exhibit a narrow width, where compressive force from the encapsulation 101 closes the slit 102 and protects seeds 300 accommodated therein from external entrance of vermins, such as insects, birds and rodents. However, the elastic nature of the encapsulation 101 material allows insertion of seeds 300 during production.

An optional cord encompassing stocking 104 can be applied around the outer periphery of the encapsulation 101, preferably also made of a biodegradable material, e.g. mesh shaped cellulose. The stocking 104 serves to prevent the plant seed encapsulation 101 from disintegrating and exposing the accommodated seeds 300 to less favorable environments.

The cord 100 is preferably provided with an elongate reinforcing string 107 (Fig. 4) to prevent the biodegradable encapsulation 101 from being pulled apart in the longitudinal direction and hence potentially release seeds 300 into surrounding soil with decreased protection and supply of nutrition and water as a result. The reinforcing string 107 may advantageously contain naturally occuring pesticide, such as solanine, to add further protection against vermins, which otherwise may enter and consume seeds and roots at an early stage of cultivation. Solanine is a naturally occurring compound present in potato sprouts.

Fig. 2 shows one embodiment of separate cords 100, each having one open end 105 and an opposite closed end 106, wherein the cords 100 are arranged in parallel at an appropriate mutual distance and with their open end 105 connected to a common fluid supply conduit 204 through an interconnecting hose 203. The respective interconnecting hose 203 is in this embodiment attached to the pipe (not shown) inside a cord 100 through a pipe coupling 206 (Fig. 5B), in this case a male- male pipe fitting. Moreover, the common fluid supply conduit 204 is at one end connected to a fluid source 205, e.g. a water distribution system or a water tank.

Another embodiment of an assembled device for deploying seeds into the soil of a cultivation field is shown in Fig. 3. Here, numerous cords 100 are arranged in parallel at a desired mutual distance, and interconnected by a hose 203. The ends of respective interconnecting hoses 203 are connected to the pipe (not shown in this figure) accommodated inside adjacent cords 100 through pipe couplings 206 as described above with respect to Fig. 2 (see Fig. 5A as well).

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of a cord 100, including an end view of the same.

Production

The elongate tubular biodegradable encapsulation 101 is produced from biodegradable porous substance containing nutrition, preferably cellulose or seaweed, e.g. by batchwise casting in a mold having a main cavity corresponding to the outer periphery of the desired encapsulation 101, a wedge shaped mold element, equivalent to the geometry of the slit 102, extending from an internal surface of the mold cavity and toward an elongate tubular element having a shape equivalent to the geometry of the cavity 103, extending centrally and coaxially with the main mold cavity. By providing a mold like this, the encapsulation 101 can be produced by allowing a curable fluid suspension of for example cellulose, introduced into the mold, to cure and form a discrete solid elongate encapsulation 101 described above. Then, a perforated discrete pipe 200 is inserted into the cavity 103 of the encapsulation 101. Alternatively, a continuous pipe 200 can be inserted into interconnected discrete sub cords.

However, it is also conceivable to produce a continuous flexible encapsulation 101 by injection of a fluid nutrition containing curable suspension of for example cellulose into a similarly shaped nozzle, whereupon cured continuous encapsulation 101 is winded onto a roll.

Then, a number of plant seeds 300 are inserted into the encapsulation 101 through the seed insertion slit 102 in the encapsulation 101, and left inside the slit 102 at some distance down toward the cavity 103, preferably adjacent to the cavity 103. Then, the optional tubular stocking 104 can be wrapped around the outer periphery of the encapsulation 101. The seeds 300 can be inserted before as well as after the optional stocking 104 has been applied. Details and illustration of the structure of the production equipment in question have been omitted here because the production means is expected to be within the reach of a person skilled in the art and the knowledge of the present description.

Deployment

A continuous plant seed cord 100 or a number of interconnected discrete plant seed cords 100 is/are preferably deployed from a cord deployment apparatus (not shown) exhibiting a roll, arranged to move upon the ground while unwinding plant seed cord(s) into the soil provided with troughs to receive the cord(s). The cord deployment apparatus can be of any known type suitable for the purpose, e.g. like a fiber cable deployment means. After having been deployed, one end of the supply pipe 200 is connected to a controllable water source (fluid source 205 in Fig. 2) or additional source(s) (not shown) of fluid nutrition or other additives desired in the cultivation process. The troughs in the soil are then covered by soil to protect the cords 100 from the environments above the ground.

Cultivation

A number of seed containing cords 100 submerged in the soil at a desired depth and connected to a controllable water source can now be left for cultivation with minimal additional efforts from production personnel. The respective seeds 300, are provided with water and optionally additional fluid utensils supplied by the supply pipe 200 and ejected into the cavity 103 and further penetrated into the body of the porous biodegradable nutrition containing encapsulation 101, where the seeds 300 grow and develop into a root system (not shown). After a certain period of time, the root system grown inside the encapsulation 101 burst the encapsulation 101 and the optional encompassing stocking 104. At this point in time, the respective plant roots have passed the vulnerable initial phase of a cultivation process. The encapsulation 101 and the optional stocking 104 will decompose and become a part of the soil as additional organic material, thus enriching the soil with respect to cultivation. In embodiments where the pipe 200 is made of a practically non-degradable material, the pipe 200 is retrieved from the soil and preferably prepared to re-use in the production of a new plant seed cord 100.

Technical effect

The present invention has several advantages. The pre-manufactured plant seed containing cord allows for a rapid deployment of a large number of seeds into the soil of a cultivation field. Moreover, the encapsulated seeds are protected from external detrimental affections, e.g. by vermins. Moreover, the seeds are provided with water and nutrition in a controlled manner, thus providing an optimal cultivation with respect to water and nutrition. The optional string provided with e.g. solanine improves the barrier against vermins. The present invention allows for cultivation with practically no supervision by personnel. The protective cord will over time decompose and become a part of the soil. Finally, the shielded supply of water within the cord prevents rapid evaporation and hence loss of water from the ground surrounding the seeds and roots.

Modifications

The cord can alternatively be provided in the form of a 2-layered coaxial cord or hose, with an intermediate annular interstice arranged to guide water along the longitudinal extension of the hoses. The innermost hose can secure capillary effect, and underpressure and overpressure in an optimal manner. It is conceivable to control supply of water into the interstice by means of electronic control of a valve means.

Other modifications that are conceivable are:

• Internal membrane to prevent roots to enter the pipe

• External membrane to prevent excessive evaporation

• Seeds can be deployed at any location in the growth medium, also inside umbilical cords in the form of hollow cords extending outside the growth medium, in order to obtain correct distance to the soil surface when deployed mechanically into the soil or sand

• The invention is applicable to horizontal as well as vertical cultivation

• The pipe(s) can be provided in the form of a polymer, such as PVC , waxed cardboard or an artificial material that transforms into soil ad degradation without polluting the environments.

• The outer membrane can also be paper, waxed paper or an artificial material that transforms into soil at degradation without polluting the environments

Reference numerals

100 (plant seed) cord

101 (plant seed) encapsulation, biodegradable

102 (seed insertion) slit

103 (seed encapsulation) cavity

104 stocking

105 (pipe 200) open end 106 (pipe 200) closed end

107 reinforcing string

108 (seed) seat 200 supply pipe 201 (supply pipe) cavity

202 pipe aperture

203 (cord) interconnecting hose

204 supply conduit

205 fluid source 206 pipe coupling

300 plant seed

Claims

1. Device for deploying seeds into the soil of a cultivation field, particularly seeds for nutritional crops, trees and bushes, said device exhibiting a biodegradable protective encapsulation having at least one site arranged to accommodate a seed (300), characterized in that the device exhibits a tubular elongate cord (100) comprising a biodegradable elongate porous encapsulation (101) having an elongate cavity (103) accommodating a fluid supply pipe (200) in fluid communication with a fluid source (205), said fluid supply pipe (200) exhibiting numerous apertures (202), arranged to eject water and optional additives from the internal of the supply pipe (200) and into the encapsulation

(101), wherein the encapsulation (101) further exhibits an elongate continuous slit (102) or numerous discrete slits, arranged along the longitudinal extension of the encapsulation (101) and extending in a radial direction in the encapsulation toward the cavity (103), wherein the slit/slits

(102) serves/serve as an access point for inserting seeds (300) and as a protecting seat (108) for one or more seeds (300).

2. The device of claim 1, wherein a biodegradable stocking (104) is wrapped around the periphery of the encapsulation (101), serving as a encapsulation reinforcement.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the stocking (104) is mesh shaped cellulose.

4. The device of any one of the claims above, wherein a reinforcing elongate continuous reinforcing string (107) is arranged inside the encapsulation (101), arranged to prevent the encapsulation (101) from being pulled apart along its longitudinal extension.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the reinforcing string (107) is provided with a biocompatible pesticide.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the pesticide is solanine.

7. System for cultivation of plants, wherein the system comprises numerous interconnected discrete cords (101) according to any one of the claims above, each cord (101) being in fluid communication with said fluid source (205).

8. The system of claim 7, wherein adjacent cords (100) are interconnected by a hose (203).

9. The system of claim 8, where a hose (203) is connected to a cord (100) by means of a pipe coupling (206).

10. The system of claim 7, wherein numerous cords (100) having a closed end (106), and an opposite open end (105) in fluid communication with a hose (203), each cord (100) and accompanying hose (203) being connected to a common fluid supply conduit (204) and said fluid source (205).