JP2002541868A - Improving plant growth for modular plant equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

SUMMARY An improved growth pan for modular plant unit ventilation is formed having a network of air passages in fluid communication with a plurality of ventilation orifices at the bottom of the pan. The optimal gas mixture is fed through the growth medium to provide an evenly distributed air pocket through the plant root system. Alternatively, gas may be drawn from the growth medium. The present invention provides soil aeration for all types of growth media and promotes stronger and deeper root growth. The air circulation is formed to remove carbon dioxide, methane, hydrogen sulfide and other noxious gases from the root system and the surrounding plant environment.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to improvements in transportable plant growth units. Aeration of the modular growth pan and the plant growth medium contained therein is provided.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Lawn and other plant growth devices (systems) are known that cooperate so that the growth bread forms a natural plant surface for diverse environments such as sports stadiums. Have been. Maintenance and growth requires proper drainage and ventilation techniques. For drainage techniques, see Ripley et al., U.S. Patent No. 5,187,894, Re. No35,
006, wherein the integral pan comprises a bottom area having a drainage orifice formed therein or separately drilled for proper drainage of water below the surface. While these drainage orifices allow some exchange of gas, they are insufficient to provide adequate ventilation needed to control the temperature of the roots and areas, said temperatures being limited to snow and ice. It allows delaying sedimentation and preventing plants from entering dormancy.

[0003] In all weather environments, frozen water can deform and swell the growth pan. R
No. 5,187,894 to Rep. No. 35,006 is
Disclosed are lightweight, expandable polymer growth media in which frozen water deforms the polymer rather than a growth pan containing the polymer. U.S. Pat. No. 4,067,716 to Sterrett et al. Discloses a growth medium comprising baked bark particles having improved wet properties.

[0004] Plant growth media sometimes require surface aeration. Conventional means of aeration for plants have been carefully selected with less tendency to pack tightly than hollow branches or coring and regular soil to maintain a healthy root system. With surface ventilation with artificial growth medium. These methods may not be suitable for ventilation if the expanded polymer can be tightly packed in heavy duty applications. Furthermore, surface aeration requires manual work and can often produce unsightly plant and soil debris.

[0005] There is a need to provide a plant growth bread with a universal modification, said modification improving soil properties and furthermore almost all of the plant growth media including normal soil. Provide improved aeration techniques that promote healthier plants for use in different types of plants.

One object of the present invention is to provide a plant growth medium in a modular growth pan to promote plant growth and maintenance under selected optimal conditions. To provide subsurface ventilation.

Another object may be to eliminate the need for surface aeration and carefully selected growth media, while pulling the roots deep into the soil and removing potentially harmful gases. To provide an improved growth pan for plants, which provides air circulation to the plant and also provides adequate drainage of water.

[0008] Further objects are stadiums, guarding (gardens), landscaping (landscaps)
to provide a means for easy transport and installation of a modified growing pan for use in forming plant surfaces (eg, ing).

[0009] These and other objects will become apparent upon consideration of the present specification and the appended claims.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0010] A growth bread according to the present invention is provided for plant growth media and improved ventilation of the plant. Each transportable growth unit comprises a growth pan adapted to contain a plant growth medium with the plant, the growth pan having a bottom having a network of air passages formed therein, A plurality of side walls extending upwardly from the periphery of the bottom and having a top edge; and a plurality of evenly spaced ventilation orifices comprising at least about 0.3% of the surface area of the bottom. The vent orifice is in fluid communication with the air passage and allows for sufficient gas exchange. In another embodiment, the orifice occupies at least about 0.4% of the bottom surface area. In a preferred embodiment, the vent orifice has a bottom surface area of about 0.5 mm.
It accounts for from 5% to about 4%, most preferably 0.5%.

In another embodiment of the present invention, a method comprises providing a growing bread adapted to include a plant growth medium with a plant, and disclosed to improve plant growth. Is done. The growth pan has a network of air passages in fluid communication with a plurality of equally spaced vent orifices, through which pressurized gas is supplied to vent the growth medium and the plants. You. Means are provided for cooperating with the growth medium and the orifice for supplying gas through the plant to provide sufficient aeration.

[0012] The growth pan is a device similar to the devices (systems) previously described for modular plant growth, ie, the Re of Ripley et al., US Pat. No. 5,187,894, each of which is incorporated herein by reference. . No. 35,006 and U.S. Pat.
No. 67,555, transport and modular installation are possible. The growing breads cooperate with each other to provide a plant surface in stadiums, gardening, landscaping, and the like. The breads may be interlocked, but this is not a required form.

The modification of the plant growing bread may be either a remote point of plant growth and maintenance or a main point of plant use, which is a rotation between the two places.
Frequency and setting of soil that may result from work on plants or lawn surfaces
) And the ease with which the growing bread can be modified in the field.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Soil aeration has been found to be critical for healthy plant growth and maintenance. This is especially true for dense soil packing from high impact applications.
This is especially true for modular lawns and other plant units that pose a risk.

According to the present invention, it is possible to allow a mixture of gases, including harmful gases, to flow out of the growth medium through the bottom of the plant growth pan and to be evenly suitable throughout the growth medium Air can be introduced. In the present invention, a growth pan for containing a plant growth medium includes a bottom having a network of formed air passages (channels) therein, and a plurality of roots extending from a periphery of the bottom and having a top edge. A side wall and a plurality of evenly spaced vent orifices having at least about 0.3% of the bottom surface area, the vent orifices being in fluid communication with the air passage. In another embodiment, the ventilation orifice comprises at least about 0.4% of the bottom surface area. In a preferred embodiment, the ventilation orifice comprises from about 0.5% to about 4% of the bottom surface area, with 0.5%
Is most preferred.

In some embodiments, the present invention provides a method for improving plant growth, thereby providing a growth bread adapted to include a plant growth medium with the plant. The growth pan forms therein a network of air passages in fluid communication with a plurality of equally spaced vent orifices. The pressurized gas forces the growth medium and plants through the orifice.

Referring to the drawings, the networks 10 and 18 of air passages in the growth pan 24 include:
At the bottom of the growth pan is in fluid communication with the vent orifice 22. A drain hole 30 is shown. The bottom of the growth pan also has a stretcher 20 that lifts the lawn unit from the underlying surface to allow for improved drainage of water and also allows for improved ventilation of the entire growth medium 14. May be. The stretcher can also be modified to provide assistance in transporting the unit and level out the entire modular plant growth surface with a non-planar subsurface.

FIG. 3 shows one end 26 that cooperates with the geometry of the growth pan 24 to effectively block the air passage around the bread assembly. Thereby, the pressure in the air passages 10 and 18 is maintained. Obviously, it is preferable to block the entire perimeter to improve gas flow through the growth pan.

Pressurized air is supplied either positively or negatively through the growth medium
If this is desired, it is necessary to provide suitable fittings for introducing the pressurized gas into the network of air passages. Fittings such as screw fittings, nipples, friction fittings, etc., are conventional and well known to those skilled in the art. The means for supplying pressurized air or another gas may be a vacuum pump,
It can be any conventional source such as a compressor, blower, fan, etc. It is also common to add elements to a gas mixture such as air to increase the proportion of components attributable to a particular gas such as carbon dioxide or oxygen.

[0020] The growth pan prevents soil leaching via drainage orifices, while allowing the removal of carbon dioxide, methane, hydrogen sulfide and other possible harmful gases from the plant environment. It may be preferable to provide a gas permeable mesh or another liner. This helps to pull the roots more down into the soil to give turfgrass or another plant more resistance to disease, abrasion, drought damage, and saturation damage.

In one embodiment of the invention, the growing pan is provided with venting means at a remote location similar to a greenhouse, which is particularly adapted for growing and maintaining. Plants benefit from specialized conditions that are optimal for plant development for a maximum period of time before exposure to activity. Further, the changing plant or plant unit may be
In order to maintain the actual main use position in the optimal condition, it is replaced (substi
Tuted) is also good. Alternatively, the modular plant growth bread in the primary use position is aerated to eliminate the need for frequent replacement by plant units from a remote location.

The gas mixture fed through the soil rises into the environment around the stems and leaves of the plant, where photosynthesis and respiratory action take place mainly. The mixture may be optimized for growing modular plant units. For example, when plants are exposed to light, photosynthesis generally exceeds respiratory action. Plants consume more carbon dioxide than they release, and release more oxygen during this period than they consume. The mixture of gases introduced when plants are irradiated with light increases carbon dioxide and depletes oxygen in the air to promote photosynthesis (deplete).
d) may be preferred. For example, when a plant is illuminated with light, the gas contains about 15 to 20% oxygen by volume, about 80 to 85% nitrogen, and about 0.03 to 0.1% carbon dioxide. Have.

Similarly, respiration is dominant while the plant is in a dark environment, and the plant may benefit from a mixture of gases that are enriched with oxygen and depleted of carbon dioxide to drive this process. It is possible. Preferably, while the plant is in a dark environment, the gas comprises about 20 to 30% oxygen by volume, about 70 to 80% nitrogen, and about 0 to 0.03% carbon dioxide. May be.

In urban areas, plants are generally exposed to higher levels of carbon dioxide and other possible harmful gases, depleting gaseous mixtures of carbon dioxide with respect to the background air to which the plants are normally exposed. Is preferred.

It will be appreciated that a relatively large surface is formed when multiple growth units are assembled together. The air passages between and within the units preferably cooperate to form a network of the passages. In some embodiments, the passageway includes a source of a pressurized air mixture, such as provided by a blower, or a source for introducing a negative pressure, such as a vacuum pump. The perimeter of the growth pan assembly may be closed in any consistent manner so that air is forced into the pan further through the growth medium. Such closure may be through the application of walls, films and other barriers around its perimeter, or by any other convenient method.

The pressure, frequency and duration of subsurface aeration are optimized with respect to the type of plant, the growth medium and the degree of soil packing that may result from use. Growth media with a high degree of swellable polymer require less aeration than normal soil. Plant roots may be fortified in response to frequent aeration and the resulting disturbance of the growth medium. The power and duration of aeration should be adjusted according to the degree of beneficial response for each plant. For example, in some embodiments, the present invention provides about 6.8.
Claims the range of net gas vent pressure to be supplied via the growth medium of 9 to 689.5 kPa (about 1 to 100 psi). The gas is grown for one hour at the beginning of every other hour, one hour in each period in which the plants are exposed to light or in the dark, or as adjusted to the most favorable plant response. May be continuously supplied via the.

As is evident, the lawn surface, eg for athletic events and gardens, etc., has a plurality of growing surfaces connected together along a suitable soil section so that the network of air passages can be pressurized by gas. It may be formed from bread. Improved growth is formed.

Preferably, the plant growth medium comprises an artificial soil having a relatively light weight for transportation. The soil may comprise a swelling polymer having a very light specific weight selected to be substantially inert to plant growth chemicals. The elaborate finishing of a substantially continuous plant surface for exercise, decoration and other uses
It is also preferred to provide modular transportable plant units designed to cooperate with each other to facilitate on).

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many changes and modifications can be made to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, and that such changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. Is understood. It is therefore intended that the appended claims cover all such equivalent variations as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 illustrates a growth pan having vent and drain orifices and vent air passages. Embodiments are shown having a stretcher that lifts the pan from the underlying surface.

FIG. 2 illustrates a cross section of a growth pan having a ventilation and drainage orifice and containing growth medium and plants.

FIG. 3 three-dimensionally illustrates a partial row of growth units showing the air passages and end pieces for closing the network of air passages around the assembly or row.

FIG. 4 is a top view of a growth pan.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of front page (81) Designated country EP (AT, BE, CH, CY, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, IE, IT, LU, MC, NL, PT, SE ), OA (BF, BJ, CF, CG, CI, CM, GA, GN, GW, ML, MR, NE, SN, TD, TG), AP (GH, GM, KE, LS, MW, SD, SL, SZ, TZ, UG, ZW), EA (AM, AZ, BY, KG, KZ, MD, RU, TJ, TM), AE, AG, AL, AM, AT, AU, AZ, BA, BB, BG, BR, BY, CA, CH, CN, CR, CU, CZ, DE, DK, DM, DZ, EE, ES, FI, GB, GD, GE, GH, GM, HR , HU, ID, IL, IN, IS, JP, KE, KG, KP, KR, KZ, LC, LK, LR, LS, LT, LU, LV, MA, MD, MG, MK, MN, MW, MX, NO, NZ, PL, PT, RO, RU, SD, SE, SG, SI, SK, SL, TJ, TM, TR, TT, TZ, UA, UG, UZ, VN, YU, ZA, ZW (72) Inventor Scott, Christopher United States 23229, Virginia, Richmond, Wetham Parkway 212 F-term (reference) 2B027 ND01 NE02 NE10 QB04 QB14 QB23 QC11 QC22 QC28 QC32 QC36 RC12 RC23 UB22

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. A growth pan for containing a plant growth medium, comprising: a bottom having a network of air passages formed therein; and a top extending from a periphery of the bottom to a top. A plurality of evenly spaced ventilation orifices comprising at least about 0.3% of the surface area of the bottom, the ventilation orifices in fluid communication with the air passage; A growth pan comprising: 2. The growth pan of claim 1, wherein said vent orifice comprises at least about 0.4% of said surface area. 3. The growth pan of claim 1, wherein said vent orifice comprises from about 0.5% to about 4% of said surface area. 4. The growth pan of claim 1, wherein said vent orifice comprises about 0.5% of said surface area. 5. A method for improving plant growth, the method comprising: providing a growth pan adapted to include a plant growth medium with the plant; Providing the growth pan having a network of air passages in fluid communication with a ventilation orifice; and supplying pressurized gas through the orifice to aerate the growth medium and the plant. how to. 6. The method of claim 5, wherein said gas is supplied through said growth medium by applying a positive pressure to said vent orifice. 7. The method of claim 5, wherein said gas is provided through said growth medium by applying a negative pressure to said vent orifice. 8. When the plant is illuminated with light, the gas is supplied through the growth medium, the gas comprising from about 15 to about 20% by volume of oxygen; 7. The method of claim 6, comprising: from about 80 to about 85% nitrogen and from about 0.03 to about 0.1% by volume carbon dioxide. 9. When the plant is exposed to darkness, said gas is being supplied through said growth medium, said gas comprising from about 20 to about 30% by volume of oxygen and 7. The method of claim 6, comprising about 70 to about 80% nitrogen and about 0 to about 0.03% by volume carbon dioxide. 10. The gas may have a pressure of about 6.89 kPa to 689.5 kPa (about 1
6. The method of claim 5, wherein said method is provided via said growth medium at a net pressure above atmospheric pressure of from about 1 to about 100 psi). 11. The method of claim 5, wherein said gas is provided through said growth medium substantially continuously. 12. The method of claim 5, wherein said gas is supplied through said growth medium for one hour for every two hours each. 13. A lawn or garden comprising a plurality of plant growth units according to claim 1, further comprising means for supplying pressurized gas through a plurality of orifices.