GB2205723A

GB2205723A - Growing plants

Info

Publication number: GB2205723A
Application number: GB08813833A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Norman David Weiss
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1987-06-17
Filing date: 1988-06-10
Publication date: 1988-12-21
Anticipated expiration: 2008-06-10
Also published as: GB8813833D0; GB2205723B

Abstract

A supply of a material which will affect the growth of a young plant is located in a shelter housing the plant. In an example a yeast is located on a supply of a sugar solution and arranged to release CO2 according to ambient temperature. In a further example, a multi-ply bag containing a carbonate or bicarbonate provides the source of CO2.

Description

PLANT CONTROL The invention relates to a method and apparatus for use in enhancing the growth of a young tree or other plant. For convenience, I shall describe the invention first in relation to controlling the rate of growth of a young tree but, as indicated below, it can be applied to other plants.

It is known to place a so-called shelter about a transplanted small young tree which I shall call a sapling. Depending on species the sapling can range from about 15 cm to about 60 cm in height. The shelter is a vertical tubular box about 1.5 metres high and functions as a vertical cloche to protect the sapling from the effects of wind and frost, and to keep away deer, rabbits, squirrels and other creatures which would otherwise harm or eat it. The box is made of one or more layers of a clear or translucent plastics material, e.g. polypropylene which includes additives to reduce ultra violet light degradation so that the shelter will have a life of at least 5 years or more. A shelter will produce a greenhouse effect for 3 years, hold up the tree crown for 5 years and protect the sapling from deer for 8 years.

The benefits of using a shelter have been assessed and are impressive; for example in a comparative test a sessile oak sapling in a shelter showed a 75% increase in height and 50% increase in stem diameter compared to an unprotected one after 5 years.

I have discovered that within the shelter there is a microclimate and that by appropriate treatment the metabolism of the sapling within the microclimate can be altered to economic advantage. For example, the rate of growth can be increased so that for instance the shelter may be dispensed with more speedily and perhaps even be reused for another sapling.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a method of controlling the rate of metabolism of a young plant in a shelter therefor characterised by including within the shelter a material which will affect the rate of metabolism.

In general, the material will be one which will increase the metabolism, more particularly the rate of growth. A material for this purpose may be a growth regulating agent or a foodstuff for the plant.

It is a much preferred feature of the invention that the material be present in the shelter in a container adapted to release the material at the optimum time for the sapling to make use of the material. For example, if the material is carbon dioxide, the uptake of which will increase with temperature, it is preferred to locate within the shelter a donor of carbon dioxide gas in a container having a release mechanism arranged to release the C02 at elevated temperature. Such a container may be single or multi-ply wall pervious bag of paper or plastics or the like, containing a donor of C02 gas, such as a carbonate or bicarbonate. Suitable donors include bicarbonates, and carbonates of sodium, potassium, ammonium calcium and magnesium.

These may be used alone or in association with other chemicals eg. phosphates.

Other materials which may be included in the shelter in accordance with the invention include slow release nutrients and fertilisers.

In one specifically preferred embodiment the container contains a yeast and a sugar substrate therefor and is arranged to release carbon dioxide gas into the shelter. The yeast may be single yeast or a mixed culture.

The yeast may be selected from a wide range of such organisms, and is preferably a single yeast such as Saacharomyces cerevisiae, Zygosaccharomyces baillii or the like.

The sugar substrate may be a solid e.g. powder or liquid.

Preferred are glucose, sucrose molasses or the like. Where the substrate is in liquid form, this is preferably a solution which may be a concentrated solution, say 50% or more.

The yeast-containing container may be disposed within or outside the shelter. Preferably the container is of test tube like form, and contains say from 100 grams to a kilo of sugar solution. The yeast is located directly on the sugar solution or in gas permeable enclosure floating on the solution. The yeast will be exposed to the surface area of solution and the diameter of the tube may accordingly be adjusted to control the rate at which the yeast consumes the sugar and the carbon dioxide is generated. As the level of sugar falls, the yeast can follow it down. One advantage of the invention is that the rate of consumption of the sugar by the yeast is dependant on the ambient temperature; as the temperature rises so will the rate of generation of the carbon dioxide gas, and the demand for it by the growing plant.

In this way the availability of carbon dioxide will be related to the demand.

The concentration of the donor and the rate of release from the donor from the container is adjusted so that the level of released C02 gas is kept below the poisoning threshold.

The invention is useful in the control of broad leaved forest trees such as: Acer species e.g. Norway Maple, Sycamore Aesculus species e.g. Horsechestnut Alnus species e.g. Alder Betula species e.g. Silver birch Carpinus species e.g. Horn beam Castanea species e.g.Sweet chestnut Fagus species e.g. Beech Fraxinus species e.g. Ash Ilex species e.g. Holly Juglans species e.g. Walnuts Nothofagus species e.g. Coigne, Rauli Prunus species e.g. Gean Pterocarya species e.g.Wingnut Quercus species e.g. Oaks Sorbus species e.g. Rowan Tilia species e.g.Limes The invention is also of value for conifers such as Larches, Spruces, Pines and Firs.

By virtue of the invention, in particular the use of C02 released when the rate of uptake is high, the sapling grows quickly to head height i.e. over 1.2 or 1.5 metres high depending on species. The shelter may be used again for another sapling.

Where the invention is used for a tree shelter, the top of the shelter may be open to the atmosphere or a cover may be provided.

It is of importance that the lower end of the shelter be secure in the ground e.g. by being buried for a short distance, to prevent draughts etc. affecting the microclimate within the shelter.

The invention may be applied to a wide variety of plants other than young trees in forests, such as food or fruit or flower bearing plants in the garden or greenhouse, both for food or ornament. In a specific embodiment, the invention is applied to the growing of crops in polyethylene tunnels as by market gardeners or the growing of crops under polyethylene sheeting as by farmers. Specific crops include tomatoes, cucumbers and strawberries and the like. The rate of uptake of carbon dioxide gas varies according to the species, and the nature of the donor of carbon dioxide may be varied according to the plant to be treated.

The invention also includes: a container having a release mechanism and containing a carbonate or bicarbonate and arranged to release carbon dioxide gas evolved from the carbonate or bicarbonate at elevated temperature; and a container containing yeast and a sugar substrate and arranged to release carbon dioxide gas.

In an evaluation a number of cylinders were partially filled with a solution of sucrose containing small quantities of ammonium sulphate and like substances. Yeasts on yeast nitrogen base were added, and the cylinders were capped with bungs through which pipes extended to a collection of towers. The cylinders were kept at 200C and the quantity of C02 gas was collected and measured over time. It was noted that sufficient C02 gas was collected to exert a beneficial effect on the growth of young plants.

Claims

1. A method of controlling the rate of metabolism of a young plant in a shelter therefor characterised by including within the shelter a material which will affect the rate of metabolism.

2. A method according to Claim 1, characterised by including in the shelter a donor of carbon dioxide to control the rate of growth of the plant.

3. A method according to Claim 2 characterised in that a carbonate and/or bicarbonate is present in a container which has a release mechanism arranged to allow the release of carbon dioxide gas generated from the carbonate or bicarbonate at elevated temperature.

4. A method according to Claim 1 or 2 characterised in that a container containing a yeast and a sugar substrate therefor is arranged to release carbon dioxide gas into the shelter.

5. A method according to Claim 4, characterised in that the yeast is a single yeast or a culture of mixed yeasts.

6. A method according to Claim 5 characterised in that the yeast is Saccharomyces cerevisiae, zygosaccharomyces bailli or the like.

7. A method according to Claim 4, 5 or 6 characterised in that the sugar substrate is glucose, sucrose, molasses or the like.

8. A method according to Claim 7, characterised in that the sugar substrate is a solution of the sugar in water and there is an air space in the container above the solution.

9. A method according to any of Claims 4 to 8 characterised in that the container is located outside or inside the shelter.

10. A method according to any preceding Claim characterised in that the shelter contains a young tree and the shelter extends into the ground about the tree to prevent draughts entering the shelter.

11. A method according to Claim 10, characterised in that the young tree is selected from those specified herein.

12. A method according to any of Claims 1 to 9 characterised in - that the plant to be treated is a food or fruit or flower bearing plant.

13. A method according to Claim 12 characterised in that the shelter is a tunnel or sheet cover of polyethylene or the like or domestic or commercial greenhouse.

14. A method according to Claim 12 or 13 characterised in that the plants to be treated are tomatoes, cucumbers, chrysanthemums, strawberries or the like.

15. A method of controlling the rate of metabolism of a plant, substantially as described herein.

16. A container having a release mechanism and containing a carbonate or bicarbonate and arranged to release carbon dioxide gas evolved from the carbonate or bicarbonate at elevated temperature.

17. A container containing yeast and a sugar substrate and arranged to release carbon dioxide gas.

18. A container substantially as described herein.