GB2447926A - Cultivation system - Google Patents

Abstract

A cultivation system for supporting growing medium in which a crop can be grown. The system comprises an elongate flexible member 10 held in tension between first and second supports (12, fig 2). The first and second supports are shaped to form the flexible member into at least one elongate channel 14. Intermediate supports 16 can be provided to maintain the shape of the channels. Divider members (20, fig 2) may be provided in each channel to ensure that the channels are of uniform cross section and to divide the channels into sections. The divider members may include a retaining channel (24, fig 2) for an irrigation pipe.

Description

I

Cultivation System This invention relates to a cultivation system for supporting the growing medium or substrate in which a crop is grown.

It has become common, in order to optimise growing conditions for a crop, to plant crops into special, typically non-soil based, growing compositions. The compositions used include a number of different mixes of organic and non-organic matter, and are commonly described or referred to as substrates.

One form of substrate in common use is supplied in the form of grow bags. The grow bags are often arranged, in an end-to-end configuration, in a number of rows, either on the ground or upon support tables, and the plants are planted into the substrate through holes formed in the upper wall of the grow bag. Buying and handling large numbers of grow bags is inconvenient and, at the end of the life of the substrate, a large number of bags have to be disposed of which is undesirable.

Rather than use grow bags, it is known to fill trays or other rigid containers with substrate and then locate the trays or containers either on support tables or at ground level. Due to their shape, the filled trays or containers are often top-heavy and so tend to be unstable. This compromises the layout of the trays or containers and may result in additional support brackets having to be used.

A further technique involves the use of rigid, steel gutter-like channels in which the substrate is located. However, these systems tend to be expensive and require levelled ground or additional supporting structures between them and the ground.

According to the present invention there is provided a cultivation system comprising an elongate flexible member held in tension between first and second supports, wherein the first and second supports are shaped to form the flexible member into at least one elongate channel.

Conveniently at least one intermediate support is provided between the first and second supports to assist in maintaining the elongate flexible member in a substantially uniform cross-sectional shape.

The shapes of the supports can be chosen to form the channel to a desired shape or profile. For example, the channel may be of a re-entrant cross-section if the crop being grown is liable to damage if its fruit or leaves are in contact with the substrate material contained in the channel, in use. Alternatively, if it is beneficial to have a large area of the substrate material surface area open to the air relative to the total volume thereof, a channel of generally trapezoidal section having a larger width towards its upper edge than towards its base may be formed using appropriated shaped supports.

Another feature of the invention is that the cross-sectional area of the profile may be manufactured to differing dimensions to enable the optimum volume of substrate for a given plant and number of plants per channel and/or series of channels to be used A divider member may co-operate with the intermediate support to divide the channel in a plurality of sections The divider member may include a retaining channel for use in retaining an irrigation tube or pipe in position.

The invention will fw-ther be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view illustrating a system in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a sectional view of the system of Figure 1; and Figure 3 illustrates a divider member of the system.

The cultivation system illustrated in the accompanying drawings comprises an elongate sheet of a flexible membrane material 10 held under tension between opposing brackets at each end of the membrane material 10, referred to herein as supports 12 (only one of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings). The supports 12 are shaped so as to form the membrane 10 held under tension therebetween into a series of elongate channels 14. In the arrangement illustrated, the supports 12 form the membrane into three elongate, parallel channels, but it will be appreciated that the invention is also applicable to arrangements in which more or fewer channels 14 are formed. In between the channels 14, the membrane 10 forms a support surface which is angled so as to assist in drainage of water therefrom.

Between the first and second supports 12, a series of intermediate supports 16 are provided. These supports, like the supports 12, are shaped to assist in maintaining the cross-sectional profile of the membrane 10. Each intermediate support 16 is in the form of a length of rod which has been bent or otherwise formed to take on the desired shape. Alternatively, the supports 12 could be moulded, for example injection moulded, to form, for example, a solid profile of the desired shape. Conveniently, the intermediate supports 16 are shaped to include support legs 18 adapted to be pushed into the ground, and thereby hold the intermediate supports 16 in their desired positions.

However, it will be appreciated that a range of other supporting techniques may be used to secure the intermediate supports 16 in position.

Receivable within each channel 14 at the point at which the channel 14 is supported by one of the intermediate supports 16 is a divider member 20. The divider member 20 is of generally trapezoidal shape, conforming to the internal shape of the channel 14 so as to divide the channel 14 into separate, axially spaced, channel regions.

As illustrated in Figure 3, the divider member 20 is formed, on three of its outer sides, with a channel-shaped recess 22 which is arranged to co-operate, through the membrane 10, with the associated intermediate support 16 to secure the divider member 20 in position. The divider member 20 is conveniently of plastics moulded form, but could take other forms.

Each divider member 20 is provided, on its upper surface, with a channel or indent 24 arranged such that, in use, an irrigation tape or pipe extending along the length of the channel 14 can be retained against lateral movement within the channel 14 by being located within the indent 24. In the absence of the indents 24 to locale such an irrigation tape or pipe, it is found that irrigation tapes or pipes tend to move significantly as, in hot weather conditions, thermal expansion of the irrigation tape or pipe tends to result in the tape or pipe becoming displaced, and even escaping from, the channel 14. Obviously, such displacement of the irrigation tape or pipe is undesirable.

In use, the cultivation system is installed upon ground with a natural degree of slope so as to ensure that any water within the channels 14 will tend to run along the channels until exiting therefrom through drainage holes formed in the membrane 10. If the ground upon which the cultivation system is to be used does not naturally slope, then during installation of the cultivation system, the first and second supports 12, and intermediate supports 16 will need to be positioned to generate a degree of slope along the length of the channels 14. The divider members 20 are located within the channels 14 to divide the channels into discrete, but interlinked, containers which are then filled with a substrate material and the plants are planted into the substrate material. The secondary supports 16 hold the membrane 10 above the natural ground level so that, any roots which grow through the membrane 10, for example through the drain holes formed therein, will tend to stop growing before reaching ground level or a surface upon which water draining from further up the cultivation system is running, and so are effectively air-pruned.

The shape of the channels 14, in the illustrated embodiment, are such that they a are of re-entrant form, being relatively narrow adjacent their upper edges and of relatively large width adjacent their bases. Such geometry is advantageous in that a relatively small surface area of the substrate material is open to the air. Consequently, if plants are being grown with substrate which will be affected by contact with the substrate, for example, when the plant growing in the substrate produces fruit, if there is a risk that the produced fruit will be damaged by sitting upon the substrate material, the risk is reduced or minimised. Similarly, leaf damage may be reduced. Further, at the end of the growing season, if the substrate needs to be renewed, even though the channels 14 are shaped to be of re-entrant form, removal of the substrate material from the channels 14 is relatively simple as the membrane has sufficient flex along its length to allow it to spring open when the plants and substrate are lifted out. In the existing container or steel gutter-type systems, the channels 14 need to be of relatively large width adjacent their upper ends, being of smaller width adjacent their lower ends in order to allow complete removal of the substrate material therefrom, and this gives rise to the risk of those systems being of poor stability and running the risk of increased crop damage due to moisture.

The shapes of the channels 14 further maximises the efficient use of the substrate material, avoiding having to provide significant volumes of substrate material into which plants cannot be planted whilst mastering the required spacing thereof.

Although one specific profile for the channels 14 is shown, it will be appreciated that other profiles could be used. For example, the channels 14 may be of generally trapezoidal form with the upper regions thereof wider than the lower regions thereof Such arrangements may be advantageous where it is required to have a relatively large surface area of the substrate open to the air. Where one or more dividers are provided, it will be appreciated that their shape may be modified to conform with the desired section or profile of the channel.

By using divider members 20 to divide the channels 14 into separate sections, the flow of water along the channels 14 is reduced, thus the risk of water borne diseases being transmitted from one part of a channel 14 to another part thereof is reduced Many existing gutter-type systems tend to be prone to water borne diseases spreading along the entire length of the gutter which is obviously undesirable.

Additional lightweight formers may also be used, between the supports 16, to assist in maintaining the membrane 10 in the desired shape and to maintain the clearance under the membrane for efficient air pruning.

In arrangements in which at least two channels 14 are formed, the void beneath the membrane 10 and between the adjacent channels 14 can be used for heating purposes, hot water or air pipes being located in these voids. The pipes are conveniently clipped to the secondary supports 16 to ensure that the pipes are held clear of the ground. Such heating will increase the root temperature of the crops being cultivated, and therefore improve growing conditions. With crops where the roots can withstand contact with higher temperature heating pipes, these pipes may be positioned internally of the channel 14 containing the growing medium. Where this approach is used, the internal dividers (where used) may be modified to accommodate the passage of the pipes.

As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, drainage and recycling of water from the cultivation system is can be achieved by providing an impermeable drainage sheet 26.

The drainage sheet 26 is supported, at its edges, by the first and second supports 12 and by the intermediate supports 16. This sheet 26 catches any drainage water passing through the drainage holes of the membrane malenal 10. Water caught by the sheet 26 flows to a central channel 28 thereof from where it can enter a central drain pipe 30 The water can then be conducted to a suitable drain or recycling station.

Where the cultivation system is used on or over a relatively low permeability soil, then the sheet 26 may not be required, drainage water draining directly to the channel.

It will be appreciated that a range of modifications and alterations may be made to the cultivation system described hereinbefore without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (10)

1. A cultivation system comprising an elongate flexible member held in tension between first and second supports, wherein the first and second supports are shaped to form the flexible member into at least one elongate channel

2. A system according to Claim 1, wherein at least one intermediate support is provided between the first and second supports to assist in maintaining the elongate flexible member in a substantially uniform cross-sectional shape.

3. A system according to Claim I or Claim 2, wherein the shape of the supports is chosen to form the channel to a desired shape or profile.

4. A system according to Claim 3, wherein the channel is of a re-entrant cross-section.

5. A system according to Claim 3, wherein the channel is of generally trapezoidal section having a larger width towards its upper edge than towards its base.

6. A system according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising at least one divider member arranged to divide the channel in a plurality of sections.

7. A system according to Claim 6 when dependent directly or indirectly upon Claim 2, wherein the divider member co-operates with a respective intermediate support.

8. A system according to Claim 6 or Claim 7, wherein the divider member includes a retaining channel for use in retaining an irrigation tube or pipe in positioa

9. A system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the supports support the channel above the ground.

10. A cultivation system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.