GB2592621A - Plant growth enhancing sheet material - Google Patents
Plant growth enhancing sheet material Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2592621A GB2592621A GB2003098.7A GB202003098A GB2592621A GB 2592621 A GB2592621 A GB 2592621A GB 202003098 A GB202003098 A GB 202003098A GB 2592621 A GB2592621 A GB 2592621A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- sheet material
- plant growth
- layer
- growth enhancing
- enhancing sheet
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Pending
Links
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
- A01G—HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING
- A01G13/00—Protecting plants
- A01G13/02—Protective coverings for plants; Coverings for the ground; Devices for laying-out or removing coverings
- A01G13/0256—Ground coverings
- A01G13/0268—Mats or sheets, e.g. nets or fabrics
- A01G13/0275—Films
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
- A01G—HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING
- A01G13/00—Protecting plants
- A01G13/02—Protective coverings for plants; Coverings for the ground; Devices for laying-out or removing coverings
- A01G13/0256—Ground coverings
- A01G13/0268—Mats or sheets, e.g. nets or fabrics
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
- A01G—HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING
- A01G7/00—Botany in general
- A01G7/04—Electric or magnetic or acoustic treatment of plants for promoting growth
- A01G7/045—Electric or magnetic or acoustic treatment of plants for promoting growth with electric lighting
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
- B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- B32B15/00—Layered products comprising a layer of metal
- B32B15/04—Layered products comprising a layer of metal comprising metal as the main or only constituent of a layer, which is next to another layer of the same or of a different material
- B32B15/08—Layered products comprising a layer of metal comprising metal as the main or only constituent of a layer, which is next to another layer of the same or of a different material of synthetic resin
- B32B15/085—Layered products comprising a layer of metal comprising metal as the main or only constituent of a layer, which is next to another layer of the same or of a different material of synthetic resin comprising polyolefins
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
- B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- B32B15/00—Layered products comprising a layer of metal
- B32B15/04—Layered products comprising a layer of metal comprising metal as the main or only constituent of a layer, which is next to another layer of the same or of a different material
- B32B15/08—Layered products comprising a layer of metal comprising metal as the main or only constituent of a layer, which is next to another layer of the same or of a different material of synthetic resin
- B32B15/09—Layered products comprising a layer of metal comprising metal as the main or only constituent of a layer, which is next to another layer of the same or of a different material of synthetic resin comprising polyesters
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
- B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- B32B15/00—Layered products comprising a layer of metal
- B32B15/20—Layered products comprising a layer of metal comprising aluminium or copper
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
- B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- B32B27/00—Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin
- B32B27/06—Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin as the main or only constituent of a layer, which is next to another layer of the same or of a different material
- B32B27/08—Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin as the main or only constituent of a layer, which is next to another layer of the same or of a different material of synthetic resin
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
- B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- B32B27/00—Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin
- B32B27/16—Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin specially treated, e.g. irradiated
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
- B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- B32B27/00—Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin
- B32B27/32—Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin comprising polyolefins
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
- B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- B32B27/00—Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin
- B32B27/34—Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin comprising polyamides
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
- B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- B32B27/00—Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin
- B32B27/36—Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin comprising polyesters
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
- B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- B32B7/00—Layered products characterised by the relation between layers; Layered products characterised by the relative orientation of features between layers, or by the relative values of a measurable parameter between layers, i.e. products comprising layers having different physical, chemical or physicochemical properties; Layered products characterised by the interconnection of layers
- B32B7/04—Interconnection of layers
- B32B7/12—Interconnection of layers using interposed adhesives or interposed materials with bonding properties
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
- B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- B32B2250/00—Layers arrangement
- B32B2250/05—5 or more layers
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
- B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- B32B2255/00—Coating on the layer surface
- B32B2255/10—Coating on the layer surface on synthetic resin layer or on natural or synthetic rubber layer
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
- B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- B32B2255/00—Coating on the layer surface
- B32B2255/20—Inorganic coating
- B32B2255/205—Metallic coating
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
- B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- B32B2307/00—Properties of the layers or laminate
- B32B2307/40—Properties of the layers or laminate having particular optical properties
- B32B2307/412—Transparent
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
- B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- B32B2307/00—Properties of the layers or laminate
- B32B2307/40—Properties of the layers or laminate having particular optical properties
- B32B2307/416—Reflective
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
- B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- B32B2307/00—Properties of the layers or laminate
- B32B2307/50—Properties of the layers or laminate having particular mechanical properties
- B32B2307/514—Oriented
- B32B2307/518—Oriented bi-axially
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
- B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- B32B2307/00—Properties of the layers or laminate
- B32B2307/70—Other properties
- B32B2307/732—Dimensional properties
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
- B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- B32B2410/00—Agriculture-related articles
Landscapes
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Environmental Sciences (AREA)
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Toxicology (AREA)
- Biodiversity & Conservation Biology (AREA)
- Botany (AREA)
- Ecology (AREA)
- Forests & Forestry (AREA)
- Protection Of Plants (AREA)
Abstract
A plant growth enhancing sheet material comprises a support layer 1-3 having on one face a light-reflective layer 4, the sheet material including a polyamide film layer 6. The polyamide film maybe a nylon film. The light reflective layer may comprise aluminium foil with a protective external layer 5 of a light transmitting polymer material such as a polyester material, for example polyethylene tetraphthalate (PET). The support layer may comprise three layers laminated together which may comprise a black layer 1 between two white layers 2, 3. The polyamide film layer may be transparent. The sheet material may have an embossed pattern to diffuse light.
Description
PLANT GROWTH ENHANCING SHEET MATERIAL
Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a plant growth enhancing sheet material for use as a light-reflecting mulch layer beneath or near plants.
Background to the Invention
It is known to enhance the growth of plants under cover, for example in greenhouses, by using a reflective material to concentrate more of the available light on to the plants. This is especially important where artificial light is used for growing plants, as it ensures efficient use of energy. The reflective material used is typically a polymer sheet material incorporating a metallic layer, such as aluminium. However, it has proved unsuitable for field use, because it is prone to ripping and is therefore readily damaged by wind. Creating holes to anchor the sheeting by pegs leads to points of weakness where ripping can occur. Using weights to anchor the sheeting without puncturing the material was found to give problems with wind lifting the sheets and projecting the weights.
Summary of the Invention
The present invention provides a plant growth enhancing sheet material suitable for field use, comprising a support layer having on one face a light-reflective layer, the sheet material including a polyamide film layer.
The polyamide film is suitably a nylon film, preferably of a thickness of at least 15 microns, which has been found to provide adequate tear resistance without excessive cost.
The support layer is preferably configured to inhibit the passage of light therethrough and suitably includes an opaque black layer, for example sand-wiched between two white layers. This structure stops light reaching the ground beneath the material, thereby preventing growth of weeds. It also helps retain heat in the ground and can help to reduce humidity when used in growing tunnels, for example, which can help more fruit to develop.
The sheet material of the invention can safely be used in the open with-out risk of wind damage through tearing, and can enhance the growth of plants, for example low-growing fruit such as blueberries, producing greater yields of ripe fruit as compared with fruit grown without the use of the sheet material. -2 -
The material provides weed control as well as reflecting light on to the crops to improve photosynthetic processes.
Brief Description of the Drawings In the drawings:
Figure 1 is an exploded diagrammatic representation of sheet material according to one embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a diagrammatic representation of a plant with conventional mulch; and Figure 3 is a view corresponding to Figure 2, but using the sheet material of Figure 1.
Detailed Description of the Illustrated Embodiment
The sheet material illustrated in Figure 1 is a laminated material having a support film consisting of a black low density polyethylene (LDPE) layer 1 with a thickness of 44 microns sandwiched between upper and lower white LDPE lay-ers 2 and 3, each with a thickness of 33 microns. The LDPE support layers 1, 2 and 3 are formed by co-extrusion and contain a stabiliser to reduce the rate of degradation of the material under the influence of ambient UV light. A metallised polyester (PET -polyethylene terephthalate) film is laminated by a solvent-less adhesive lamination process to the upper surface of the support film, thereby providing a light-reflective aluminium layer 4 of 2 micron thickness pro-tected by an overlying clear PET film 5 of 12 micron thickness. A clear nylon (OPA -oriented polyamide) film 6, having a thickness of 15 microns, is laminated to the lower face of the lower white layer 3 of the support film. A suitable film is the 15 micron 0A1 one-side corona treated nylon film sold by Montefiore Trading SA of Bioggio, Switzerland. The corona treated surface is laminated to the support layer 3. The lamination is carried out by applying adhesive to a surface of the LDPE material using a rubber pad roller and then bringing the substrate together with the additional layer (nylon) and passing the layers between two steel rollers.
Figure 2 illustrates the reflection of sunlight from a planar foil on to a plant 10. Because of the directional nature of reflection of the light, areas of shade occur, so while some increase in the rate of photosynthesis is achieved, -3 - the effect is not maximised. In the sheet material of the illustrated embodiment, the laminated sheet material is treated with an embossing roller to emboss a diamond pattern having 100 individual embossed peaks per square inch (25.4mm squared), with each peak having a minimum height of 2mm. This dif-fuses the light reflected from the sheet material 11, as illustrated in Figure 3, maximising the distribution of the reflected sunlight over the plants 10 and significantly reducing the shaded areas. This promotes increased photosynthesis in the plants during the growing and flowering period, resulting in increased yield at harvest time.
This nylon film 6 provides tear resistance, enabling holes to be punched at intervals, typically lm intervals along each edge of a 1.25m wide sheet and each hole being lOmm in diameter, to receive pegs to secure the sheet material to the ground.
In use, the sheet material is pegged to the ground, by passing pegs through the punched holes, between rows of plants, for example fruit bushes such as blueberries so as to reflect light on to the plants, improving the rate of growth of the plant, as well as accelerating the ripening of fruit. The sheet material further acts as a mulch, retaining moisture in the soil and inhibiting or preventing the growth of unwanted plants between the crop plants, reducing the need for weeding. -4 -
Claims (13)
- CLAIMS1. A plant growth enhancing sheet material comprising a support layer having on one face a light-reflective layer, the sheet material including a polyamide film layer.
- 2. A plant growth enhancing sheet material according to Claim 1, wherein the polyamide film is a nylon film.
- 3. A plant growth enhancing sheet material according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the polyamide film layer has a thickness of 15 microns.
- 4. A plant growth enhancing sheet material according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the light-reflective layer comprises aluminium foil with a protective external layer of a light-transmitting polymer material.
- 5. A plant growth enhancing sheet material according to Claim 4, wherein the external layer is a transparent polyester material.
- 6. A plant growth enhancing sheet material according to Claim 5, wherein the polyester material is polyethylene terephthalate (PET).
- 7. A plant growth enhancing sheet material according to any preced-ing claim, wherein the support comprises low density polyethylene.
- 8. A plant growth enhancing sheet material according to any preced-ing claim, wherein the support comprises three layers laminated together.
- 9. A plant growth enhancing sheet material according to Claim 8, comprising a black layer between two white layers.
- 10. A plant growth enhancing sheet material according to any preced-ing claim, wherein the polyamide film layer is a transparent layer.
- 11. A plant growth enhancing sheet material according to any preced-ing claim, wherein the support layer has a thickness of at least 100 microns.
- 12. A plant growth enhancing sheet material according to any preced-ing claim, having an embossed pattern to diffuse light reflected therefrom.
- 13. A plant growth enhancing sheet material according to Claim 12, wherein the embossed pattern provides 100 embossed peaks per square inch 30 of surface (per 25.4mm square) and with a peak height of at least 2mm.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB2003098.7A GB2592621A (en) | 2020-03-04 | 2020-03-04 | Plant growth enhancing sheet material |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB2003098.7A GB2592621A (en) | 2020-03-04 | 2020-03-04 | Plant growth enhancing sheet material |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
GB202003098D0 GB202003098D0 (en) | 2020-04-15 |
GB2592621A true GB2592621A (en) | 2021-09-08 |
Family
ID=70278664
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
GB2003098.7A Pending GB2592621A (en) | 2020-03-04 | 2020-03-04 | Plant growth enhancing sheet material |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
GB (1) | GB2592621A (en) |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
RU2810776C1 (en) * | 2022-11-03 | 2023-12-28 | Федеральное государственное бюджетное учреждение науки Главный ботанический сад им. Н.В. Цицина Российской академии наук (ГБС РАН) | Method for establishing highbush blueberry plantation with high infestation of sosnovsky's hogweed |
Citations (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JPH07100988A (en) * | 1992-10-06 | 1995-04-18 | Sankyo Kasei Kogyo Kk | Laminated tape and manufacture thereof |
CN201135064Y (en) * | 2007-11-28 | 2008-10-22 | 福州仕诚电器有限公司 | Outer cover structure of gardening tent |
US7866088B1 (en) * | 2006-10-02 | 2011-01-11 | Cadillac Products Packaging Company | Barrier mulch films |
CN102873942A (en) * | 2012-09-14 | 2013-01-16 | 武科金 | Sun protection nylon plastic paper |
US20170360023A1 (en) * | 2010-04-15 | 2017-12-21 | Dow Agrosciences Llc | Agricultural fumigation using a multilayer film including a pvdc vapor barrier |
WO2018145672A1 (en) * | 2017-02-13 | 2018-08-16 | 佛山安亿纳米材料有限公司 | Long-lasting light conversion film and preparation method therefor |
CN110268893A (en) * | 2019-07-19 | 2019-09-24 | 河南省银丰塑料有限公司 | A kind of degradable bicolor mulching film |
-
2020
- 2020-03-04 GB GB2003098.7A patent/GB2592621A/en active Pending
Patent Citations (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JPH07100988A (en) * | 1992-10-06 | 1995-04-18 | Sankyo Kasei Kogyo Kk | Laminated tape and manufacture thereof |
US7866088B1 (en) * | 2006-10-02 | 2011-01-11 | Cadillac Products Packaging Company | Barrier mulch films |
CN201135064Y (en) * | 2007-11-28 | 2008-10-22 | 福州仕诚电器有限公司 | Outer cover structure of gardening tent |
US20170360023A1 (en) * | 2010-04-15 | 2017-12-21 | Dow Agrosciences Llc | Agricultural fumigation using a multilayer film including a pvdc vapor barrier |
CN102873942A (en) * | 2012-09-14 | 2013-01-16 | 武科金 | Sun protection nylon plastic paper |
WO2018145672A1 (en) * | 2017-02-13 | 2018-08-16 | 佛山安亿纳米材料有限公司 | Long-lasting light conversion film and preparation method therefor |
CN110268893A (en) * | 2019-07-19 | 2019-09-24 | 河南省银丰塑料有限公司 | A kind of degradable bicolor mulching film |
Non-Patent Citations (1)
Title |
---|
https://www.easy-grow.co.uk/products/reflective-sheeting/lightite-sheeting/diamond-lightite/ * |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
RU2810776C1 (en) * | 2022-11-03 | 2023-12-28 | Федеральное государственное бюджетное учреждение науки Главный ботанический сад им. Н.В. Цицина Российской академии наук (ГБС РАН) | Method for establishing highbush blueberry plantation with high infestation of sosnovsky's hogweed |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
GB202003098D0 (en) | 2020-04-15 |
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