GB2591517A

GB2591517A - Increased irrigation reduced weeding farming apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2591517A
Application number: GB2001425.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Desmond Lewis Stephen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2020-02-02
Filing date: 2020-02-03
Publication date: 2021-08-04
Also published as: GB202001415D0; GB202001425D0

Abstract

Weed control apparatus comprises at least one opaque plastic half-pipe 1 laid on the ground 2 with the convex side facing up to create an outer dome. Seeds and/or plants 3 are grown in rows parallel to at least one convex side of the half-pipe. The pipe may be black. There may be two or more half-pipes and seeds and/or plants may be grown parallel to two or more convex sides of the half pipes.

Description

Increased irrigation reduced weeding farming apparatus This invention relates to apparatus that enables the growing of crops and/or produce with improved weed and pest control and reduced watering and heating requirements.

The requirement to be able to grow enough food to feed a population is vital and this has led to many attempts at weed and pest control with varied success which has led to the use of toxic chemicals. The problem with toxic control of weeds and pests inevitably have many shortcomings such as sustainability, health hazards, indiscriminate hazards to wildlife and cost. One method to control weeds is to use black plastic sheeting which prevents weeds from obtaining sunlight while heating the ground and potentially killing any weed seeds underneath. The issue with this is that to grow high density crops the black plastic needs to be removed which exposes the ground to airborne seeds as well as any that remained under the plastic sheeting. To overcome this, the present invention proposes weed control apparatus comprising at least one opaque plastic half-pipe wherein a concave side of said half-pipe is in contact with the ground wherein crops and/or seeds and/or plants are grown parallel to a convex side of said half-pipe.

The plastic half pipe will prevent any weed seeds from growing underneath by preventing light and rainfall, only exposing the crop rows running parallel to sunlight and rain, the rows having a higher seed density of crops to weeds.

Preferably, there are two or more half-pipes.

Preferably, crops and/or seeds and/or plants are grown parallel to two or more convex sides of said half pipe.

Preferably, said plastic half-pipe is coloured black.

An example of the invention will now be described by referring to the accompanying drawings: - figure 1 shows an end view of an increased irrigation reduced weeding farming apparatus and; - figure 2 shows a top view of an increased irrigation reduced weeding farming apparatus according to the invention.

At least one opaque plastic half-pipe 1 is laid on the ground 2 with the convex side facing up creating an outer dome. Seeds and/or plants 3 are grown in rows parallel to at least one convex side of the half-pipe. The pipe may be black and there may be two or more half-pipes and seeds and/or plants may be grown parallel to two or more convex sides of the half pipe.

The half-pipe prevents sunlight and rain reaching the ground between crop/seed rows which prevents weeds. The heat that is generated from sunlight on the black plastic half-pipe heats the ground underneath which also helps kill weeds. This heat then dissipates to the surrounding soil where the crop rows are which is then beneficial to the crops and seeds.

When it rains the rain automatically flows down the sides of the half-pipe and helps to irrigate the crops. Otherwise the rain would fall onto the bare ground and would then either evaporate or be wasted on weeds.

The rows of half-pipes also make it a difficult surface for cats or rabbits or birds to negotiate which helps to protect the crops.

When the crops are beginning to mature, or when the season is over the pipes are easily removed by lifting or sliding to allow ploughing or soil maintenance/harvesting etc. The black pipe also radiates heat outwards in the sunshine providing extra warmth for the plants which helps them to grow similar to being in a greenhouse but without the structure and cost of a greenhouse.

The omission of weeds between rows also allows the nutrients in the soil to be focused on the crops without being wasted on weeds.

The black plastic half-pipe is low cost and re-useable and can also be made of recycled plastic or any material considered the most environmentally friendly and non-toxic and then recycled itself after a long life or after damage.

This farming apparatus can potentially be used domestically or industrially in a range of situations as required.

There is also the opportunity to lay pipes under the half-pipes for irrigation purposes or to extract excess heat in hot weather or for heating or electrical generation purposes.

Claims

Claims 1 Weed control apparatus comprising at least one opaque plastic half-pipe wherein a concave side of said half-pipe is in contact with the ground wherein crops and/or seeds and/or plants are grown parallel to at least one convex side of said half-pipe.
2 Weed control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein there are two or more half-pipes.
3 Weed control apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein crops and/or seeds and/or plants are grown parallel to two or more convex sides of said half pipe.
4 Weed control apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said plastic half-pipe is coloured black.