FR2783396A1 - Device useful for slow release by diffusion of treatment products, especially phytotherapeutic products, into tree or surrounding soil - Google Patents

Abstract

A device for slow release by diffusion of treatment products, especially phytotherapeutic products, comprises: (1) a body (10), which can be directly introduced to the wood of a tree and/or its surrounding soil, comprising a stopper (12) and at least one diffusion area (20); and (2) a hydrophilic core (16) inside the body (10), and comprising the products to be diffused.

Description

SLOW DIFFUSION DEVICE OF TREATMENT PRODUCTS,

PARTICULARLY PHYTOSANITARY

  The present invention relates to a device for slow diffusion of treatment products, in particular phytosanitary products more particularly for

the treatment of trees.

  In particular, trees must undergo more and more treatments to resist the various attacks of diseases and other disease vectors.

  and / or degradation as some insects.

  We know how to treat these trees with products adapted to each aggression. These products must be brought into contact with the sap of the tree and the two known means to achieve this are: - the spraying on the leaves during foliar emergence which allows by absorption to penetrate the products, or

  - the spreading on the ground of products which are assimilated by the roots.

  The important disadvantage is the loss in both cases.

  In the case of spraying, special atmospheric conditions are required for the production because the product must remain a given time on the sheet before absorption. This limits treatment periods and may delay treatment. In addition, the yield is low because the losses both during the spraying and during the absorption are important, the quantities used product are important or often high costs. We also note that the treatment is long when the foliage is very dense. Finally, another disadvantage is that tall trees must be treated only by the roots because access to foliage

  is delicate and requires means of access too expensive.

  In the case of a root treatment, the yield is much

  lower on the order of 10 to 20% to give an order of magnitude.

  The disadvantage that results is the pollution of the soil by the lost products, pollution which can reach the water table, especially in very draining soils. The disadvantages of additional cost as indicated above are found

fully or even amplified.

  One solution is also to make holes in trees of sufficient size to introduce concentrated products but in this case, the tree or the treated plant having been injured is responsible for causing scarring and dissemination of the product is quickly interrupted. Moreover, in the case of an open wound, there is an opening that facilitates the proliferation of others.

  diseases or insects insensitive to the current treatment product.

  The device according to the invention aims to allow slow diffusion of products, either directly in the tree or the plant to be treated, which is the primary goal of the invention and the most suitable, either in the soil in which it is planted, keeping the layout and only changing the dimensions. This device is such that it is accepted by the tree or plant, without

  phenomenon of rejection and especially without sealing scarring.

  This device is rechargeable to facilitate the dissemination of large volumes of product over long periods and its implementation prohibited

  any external penetration of parasites.

  For this purpose, the device for the slow diffusion of treatment products, in particular of phytosanitary products for the trees, is characterized in that it comprises: a body intended to be introduced directly into the wood of the tree and / or into the surrounding soil, provided with a plug and at least one diffusion zone, and - a core of hydrophilic material disposed in said body, said core

  being in charge of a phytosanitary treatment product to diffuse.

  In an improved manner, the cap comprises filling means. The filling means comprise, according to a particular embodiment, an integral end cap, a connecting pipe with a product reservoir, a distribution tube disposed over the entire length of the core. The distribution tube is of slot type along its entire length located

in the kernel.

  In the case of an implantation in a tree, the body has a length adapted so that the diffusion zone remains in the sapwood of the tree and more

  exactly in the sapwood part close to the bark.

  The invention is now described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which the different figures represent: FIG. 1, a view of a tree with slow diffusion devices according to the invention, FIG. 2, an open perspective view of FIG. a device according to the invention, FIG. 3, a sectional view of a device introduced into a tree,

showing the diffusion scheme.

  The slow diffusion device according to the invention, represented in FIG. 1, comprises a diffusing body, a plug 12, means for

  reloading 14 and a retention core 16 disposed in the body.

  The body 1 O comprises an outer wall 18, provided with at least one diffusion zone 20 whose surface may extend over all or part of the body. This diffusion zone may comprise grids whose mesh is adapted to retain the core. A supplement may be provided in the form

of a membrane.

  The body has a length adapted to the needs like this

  will be explained later in the description of the implementation.

  The plug 12 serves to prevent the penetration of particles and other parasites but especially to ensure the confinement of the retention core 16 in the diffusing body, this despite the possible pressures

  generated by said retention product.

  The reloading means are of continuous or discontinuous type. They comprise a fixed end piece 22 integral with the plug, intended to be connected to a connection pipe 24, these various elements being represented

in Figure 3 alone.

  These means are completed by a distribution tube 26 which can advantageously be slotted, distributed over the length located in the core, this

  to ensure a homogeneous distribution.

  The distribution tube 26 is connected to the fixed end piece so as to ensure

a continuity of circulation.

  Advantageously, the endpiece is provided with a very simple non-return valve 28 such as a diaphragm flattened in duckbill, in order to avoid any

return by the tip.

  The diffusion core 16 is composed, in the embodiment according to the invention, of granules of a particularly hydrophilic material. The core could be cut in a block of very hydrophilic material also

but more rigid.

  An example of a material of this type, the granules or the powder marketed under the name "grain of water", is known.These granules are known for their capacity to absorb large quantities of water.

  and to release them in the dry period.

  The implementation of the device according to the invention is indicated below.

  The body 10 is filled with hydrophilic material and this material is loaded with a phytosanitary product powder or liquid. Note that this operation is relatively easy since the hydrophilic product is dry so

  occupies little volume. The cap is put in place.

  A hole is drilled in the trunk of the tree to allow the fitting introduction of the body, the cap and its tip flush with the bark of the tree,

referenced l /.

  Drilling is done at a suitable depth to reach

  sapwood It /, on at least part of its thickness avoiding the heart Ill /.

  Once in place, the core of hydrophilic material swells on contact with the sap and completely fills the inner volume of the body while remaining

  permeable because its porosity is necessarily open.

  Also, the sap that flows through the sapwood from bottom to top during the growing season and from top to bottom before winter passes through the body of the slow diffusion device without causing a healing reaction since there not

  interruption of the flow of sap.

  The treatment product is then driven with the sap as it goes

measurement, by slow diffusion.

  The ornamental trees can be treated in the course of life but it is very interesting to treat the lumber before cutting, with a sufficient time because because of this, after cutting the cut timber is treated at heart

  against the damage of insects including xylophagous or xylophagous larvae.

  In FIG. 2, a suitable but non-limiting disposition is shown for distributing the bodies along two crossed helicoids, over a height corresponding to a man's height. When it is desired to make the devices implanted in the tree appear as little as possible, it is possible to act by implanting the devices at the level of the collar and possibly in the main roots, taking care preferably to implant in

rings of different ages.

  When the phytosanitary product has spread, it is then possible either to carry out a second treatment with the same product, offset in time to clean the tree definitively or to carry out a treatment with another

  product with a different target.

  To do this, it is useless to remove the body. It is sufficient to connect a connecting pipe 24 connected to a syringe or any other dosing injection means and to load the hydrophilic core of this product. It is appropriate in this case to

put the powders in solution.

  The distribution tube 26 ensures good homogeneity of the lining of the core, avoiding the concentration of product likely to cause rejection. Another solution is to make single-use devices. In this case, the body is removed completely and immediately replaced by a new one. Therefore, it is possible to commercialize ready-to-use devices. In this same FIG. 2, it has also been shown another use of the device according to the invention which consists in spreading the products of phytosanitary treatment in the soil, in the zone of the roots of the tree, so as to allow said roots time to slowly absorb the products without the major part of the product seeping into the soil beyond this

root absorption zone.

  In this case, the absence of sap is compensated by the sufficient humidity which constitutes the slow vector of diffusion. During a rain, the diffusion can be accelerated somewhat but under no circumstances will the product be dispersed deeply in the soil and in large quantities as in the case

  spreading on the ground or landfill.

  In general, this use of the device according to the invention is reserved for additional treatment which also aims to clean the earth in the environment of the tree to limit new contamination as soon as possible.

  extinguishing the effects of chemicals released into the wood itself.

  Available products ensure extinction of xylophagous insects and larvae

over three generations.

  Thus, the hydrophilic product is saturated with sap as consumption of the product contained in the core and ensures the continuity of the sapwood circulation and especially near the bark, where the sap flow is maximum. So the tree does not tend to heal and reject the

foreign body.

  The device according to the invention can also be used continuously by connecting the nozzle 22 to a pipe 24 itself connected to a tank under slight pressure which forces the penetration of the liquid into the core which provides the

  continuous diffusion of a larger quantity of product.

  The device according to the invention is used in curative treatment, which simultaneously ensures prevention of attacks during a given period. The device can also be used on healthy trees as part of a prevention against possible actions of insects or diseases.

Claims (5)

REVEN DI CATIONS   1. Device for the slow diffusion of treatment products including pesticides for trees, characterized in that it comprises: - a body (10) intended to be introduced directly into the wood of the tree and / or into the surrounding soil, provided with a plug (12) and at least one diffusion zone (20), and - a core (16) of hydrophilic material disposed in said body, this core being loaded with a phytosanitary treatment product to diffuse. 2. Device for the slow diffusion of treatment products according to claim 1, characterized in that the plug comprises means for filling (22,24,26,28).   3. Device for the slow diffusion of treatment products according to claim 2, characterized in that the filling means comprise a nozzle (22) integral with the plug (12), a pipe (24) for connection with a product reservoir, a distribution tube (26) disposed on the whole length of the nucleus.   4. Device for the slow diffusion of treatment products according to claim 3, characterized in that the tube (26) of distribution is of type to   slots throughout its length located in the core (16).   5. Device for slow diffusion of treatment products according to one   any of the preceding claims, characterized in that, in the case   of implantation in a tree, the body has a length adapted so that the   Diffusion area remains in the sapwood of the tree.