JP2004000042A - Plant-rooting capsule - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To avoid a large amount of investment on soil improvement and sprinkler facilities for the vegetation of a poor water-holding soil. <P>SOLUTION: A shell 3 which is a hollow tetrahedral box is formed of a biodegradable paper material. Necessary plantation materials such as artificial or natural water-holding materials 23 and 25 and seeds 31 or seedlings are placed in the shell 3. A slit 15 is provided on the shell 3 for reasonably easy tearing. Lighting windows 11 covered with a transparent film 17 and rainwater-guiding grooves 13 for guiding rainwater to the windows 11 are also provided on the four walls 6-9 of the shell 3. A cross slit 17a is provided on the transparent film 17 so that seedlings, or the like, can easily sprout out by breaking the film. Thus, the culture soil for plants such as seedlings is kept moistured for a long period of time and the plants almost surely take root in a targeted soil without improving soil or installing sprinkler facilities. The cost is minimal and there is no undesirable influence on the soil. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a plant-activated capsule, and more particularly to a novel plant-activated capsule capable of activating a plant without soil improvement even in soil having poor water retention.
[0002]
[Prior art]
For example, when planting on soil with poor water retention such as sandy land, conventionally, soil should be improved by putting in soil with good water retention, installing watering equipment such as sprinklers, or mulching with litter. In addition, seedlings were planted or sown in seasons when rainfall was heavy.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the case of large-scale planting such as park construction, tree planting, and reclamation of farms, complete soil improvement and installation of a large number of watering facilities require enormous costs for construction and subsequent maintenance. However, in order to complete the mulching process, there is a problem that the water retention is limited to soil that is not so bad, or the vegetation is limited to plants that prefer to dry. In addition, planting and sowing seedlings in a season with a large amount of rainfall, because the landscaping and planting business concentrates on the time and place, deteriorates the management efficiency of this type of business However, as a result, if the rainfall is small, the planting may die.
[0004]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional problems, and can maintain the floor soil of planting materials such as seeds and seedlings for a long period of time without performing soil improvement or watering facilities, and can achieve the desired soil. To provide an epoch-making plant-invigorating capsule which can almost certainly invigorate plants, has very low cost, has no adverse effect on soil, and can easily perform sowing work. With the goal.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve this object, the plant-activated capsule according to claim 1 is formed in a hollow box shape mainly using a material that degrades in a natural environment such as a biodegradable paper material, and is formed of a transparent film. It is characterized by comprising a substantially closed type shell having a closed light collecting window, and a water retention material and a planting material housed in the shell.
[0006]
Therefore, according to this plant-activated capsule, the water contained in the water retention material continues to be stored for a long time by the closed shell, and sunlight is reliably inserted into the shell from the light-taking window, so that the seeds in the shell and Planting materials such as seedlings and bulbs can almost certainly emerge or grow in the shell. The growing buds and seedlings inevitably extend toward the light-gathering window, breaking through the film blocking this window and extending out of the shell. In addition, the shells eventually lose their shape due to corrosion, so the roots of the planting material that grows in the shells extend through the soil through the light window facing the ground, or at least the shells are corroded and softened. After that, it penetrates and extends into the soil, thus completing the survival of the plant.
[0007]
Thus, according to the present invention, planting materials such as seeds and seedlings can be almost surely activated on soil with poor water retention even without performing soil improvement or watering equipment, and furthermore, paper is a main material. The resulting husks can be manufactured at a low cost, so that the cost is extremely low.In addition, since the husks are eventually decomposed and buried in the soil, there is no danger of adversely affecting the soil. There is no need to pick up or dispose of them.
[0008]
In the present invention, as a water retention material to be put in the shell, an artificial material, for example, a granular rock fired material, a gel-like or fiber-like polymer absorbent material, or the like may be used. Depending on the type of planting material to be put into the plant, a natural water retaining material having high water retention such as compost or humus may be used. Of course, it is possible to use an artificial water retaining material and a natural water retaining material in combination, and it is more desirable to add a fertilizing component.
[0009]
Also, as the material of the shell, if the main material is a material that decomposes in the natural environment, the type is not selected, and the processing form may be selected according to the type of planting material, weather conditions, etc. Basically, the water in the shell can be maintained for about 1 to 3 months, corrosion starts or progresses sufficiently after that time, and it has appropriate strength to maintain its shape until corrosion progresses, etc. It is desirable to select in consideration of.
Specific examples include pulp molds made of relatively thick paperboard, cardboard base paper, waste paper, and the like, extremely thin wood boards, biodegradable polymer materials such as lactic acid-based polymers, and the like. In these cases, it is also effective to apply a waterproof treatment to the inner surface of the shell so that the water of the water retention material does not seep through the shell.
It is desirable to use a transparent film having a large number of fine holes and air permeability.
[0010]
The planting material to be put into the shell is basically a whole that fits inside the shell, such as plants, ground cover plants, vegetable seeds, seedlings, bulbs, and seed potatoes. It is also possible to provide only in a shell.
As for the seed, it may be put in a shell as it is, or may be stored in a shell in a state that does not hinder budding, such as a mesh sheet or a non-woven bag, together with a water retention material. . By doing so, it is possible to easily carry out germination management such that the bags are stored at a low temperature and germinated immediately after planting. Of course, it is also possible to store the seeds and the like in a shell at a low temperature.
[0011]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the plant-activated capsule according to the first embodiment, wherein the film covering the light-receiving window is subjected to an easy tearing process such as a broken line.
This makes it possible to almost certainly break the film and extend out of the shell even with a soft shoot.
[0012]
The plant-activated capsule according to claim 3 is the plant-activated capsule according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a rainwater inlet is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the light-taking window, and the outer surface of the shell faces the rainwater inlet. And a rainwater guiding means for guiding rainwater.
In this way, the rainwater that has fallen on the outer surface of the shell can be positively taken into the shell, so that the water retention inside the shell can be increased accordingly, and the rainwater intake also functions as a ventilation hole I do.
As the rainwater guiding means, for example, a groove or a ridge may be formed on the shell wall, and one end thereof may be connected to the rainwater intake.
[0013]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a plant-activated capsule according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the shell is subjected to an easy tearing treatment such as a thin portion or a perforated line. is there.
By applying such an easy tearing process, even if the seedlings growing in the shells extend in directions other than the light window, if the seedlings apply pressure to the shells from inside, the shells will corrode to some extent. In such a state, it is almost certainly torn at the thin portion or the perforation line to open the mouth.
[0014]
The plant-activated capsule according to claim 5 is the plant-activated capsule according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the shell has a regular tetrahedron shape, and light-receiving windows are provided on all four walls. It is a feature.
As the outer shape of the shell in the present invention, various shapes such as a square and a cylinder are conceivable. However, when this is made into a tetrahedron as in claim 5, one wall always sits on the ground and forms a pyramid. Since it is placed, the posture is stable, and since the surface area is small, absorption of solar heat is suppressed and evaporation of internal moisture can be suppressed.
[0015]
If the shell is made into a regular tetrahedron, the outer surface of the shell is inclined so as to spread all over the skirt, so that rainwater easily enters the groove or the like as the rainwater guide means according to claim 3, and the groove or the like. If the rainwater guide means is provided so as to extend radially from the light-gathering window, the at least one groove is inclined downward toward the light-gathering window regardless of the orientation of the shell. Rainwater will be more reliably taken into the interior.
[0016]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, a plant-activated capsule according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[A. Shell] (FIGS. 1 to 4, 7)
Reference numeral 3 indicates a shell of the plant-activated capsule 1. The shell 3 is formed in a hollow box shape having a regular tetrahedral outer shape using a paperboard having a thickness of about 5 mm made of natural pulp as a main raw material. Therefore, the four walls 6, 7, 8 and 9 of the shell 3 are equilateral triangles of the same size as one another, one of which is a lid, and the other three walls 6 to 8 have a bottom surface. A main body 5 in the shape of an open triangular pyramid is formed.
The wall 9 serving as a lid is water-tightly bonded to the opening of the main body 5 after storing a water retention material or a planting material in the main body 5. For this bonding, an adhesive having good water resistance is used.
[0017]
The shell 3 has a tetrahedral outer shape, so that it always stands in a pyramid shape when placed on almost flat ground. That is, any one of the four walls 6 to 9 sits on the ground, and the other three walls stand in an inclined posture with the common apex of all of them facing right above.
Several kinds of sizes of the shell 3 are prepared with a side length of about 80 mm to 200 mm, and are selected according to the type and amount of the water retention material or planting material to be stored.
[0018]
Each of the four walls 6 to 9 has a circular light-receiving window 11 formed at a substantially central portion thereof, and three rainwater guide grooves 13 formed on an outer surface thereof. Three score lines 15 are formed.
The cut line 15 is a deep groove in the form of a broken line interrupted at regular intervals, and extends radially from a position near the light extraction window 11 toward three vertices of the wall. Therefore, at the position where the cut line 15 is provided, the walls 6 to 9 only have a thin portion remaining on the outer surface portion. Open your mouth.
[0019]
The rainwater guide groove 13 is formed in a straight line with a U-shaped cross section by slightly projecting the walls 6 to 9 inward, and the light-gathering window 11 is formed near each intermediate position between three sides of the wall. , And its tip reaches the inner peripheral surface of the light extraction window 11. Accordingly, a rainwater inlet 11 a is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the light extraction window 11 and communicates with the rainwater guide groove 13. The width of the rainwater guide groove 13 becomes narrower toward the tip on the side of the light extraction window 11.
Since the rainwater guide groove 13 is provided in such a shape, when the shell 3 is placed on flat ground, two of the three rainwater guide grooves in each wall must be formed in an inverted C shape in the vertical direction. It is in an open position (see FIG. 1). Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, most of the rainwater 19 that has fallen on the outer surface of the wall is caught by the two rainwater guide grooves 13 having the inverted U-shape and is guided to the rainwater intake port 11a to form a shell. 3 is introduced.
[0020]
The light extraction window 11 is closed by a transparent film 17. The transparent film 17 is made of, for example, polyethylene, has a large number of minute holes, has air permeability, and has a rectangular shape slightly larger than the light collecting window 11, and its outer peripheral portion is formed of a light collecting window. 13 and is adhered on the outer surface side. Therefore, the entire light collecting window 11 except for the rainwater inlet 11 a is closed by the transparent film 17.
As a result, the shell 3 is formed in a form that is entirely water-tightly sealed except for the rainwater intake port 11a.
[0021]
The transparent film 17 is provided with a cutting line 17a as an easy tearing process. The cut line 17a is provided in a cross shape orthogonal to the center of the transparent film 17, and has a dashed shape except for the intersection. Therefore, the transparent film 17 can be easily torn even if it receives only the pressure when the plant seedlings and the like grow.
[0022]
[B. Storage of water retention material and planting material] (Figs. 4 to 7)
The form of storage of the water retention material in the shell 3 is as follows: a form in which the water retention material is stored in a rose as shown in FIG. 4, a form in which the water retention material is packed in bags 21 and 21 'as shown in FIGS. A desired form is selected from the combined forms.
The bag 21 is made of a material such as a nonwoven fabric made of natural pulp, which is biodegradable, has good water solubility, and is strong enough to be easily broken by the growth force of plant buds.
The bag 21 'is made of a mesh sheet.
[0023]
The water retention material shown in FIG. 4 is a combination of a gel-like polymer water retention material 23 which is an artificial material and a natural water retention material 25 such as compost, humus and moss, and in addition to these water retention materials 23 and 25, a fertilizer. Is mixed in an appropriate amount.
The water retention material shown in FIG. 5 also uses a fibrous polymer water retention material 27, which is an artificial material, and a natural water retention material 25 'to which straw is added, and also mixes an appropriate amount of fertilizer.
[0024]
The storage form of the planting material in the shell 3 is basically stored in a form in which the whole is contained in the shell 3, that is, in the form of a seed 31 (blacked out in the drawings) as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. One of a form (the same applies to roots such as bulbs) and a form in which seedlings 33 are budding and growing to some extent as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 7, the seedlings, the cuttings 35, and the young trees are stored in a state where a part thereof is out of the shell 3 as shown in FIG.
The plant-activated capsule 1 is configured as described above.
[0025]
[C. Usage method and function] (Fig. 4)
Next, an example of use and operation of the plant-activated capsule 1 will be described.
The shell 3 to be used is selected to have the most reasonable size according to the amount of water-retaining material to be stored therein and the shape of the planting material. Or pour an appropriate amount of water mixed with fertilizers such as liquid manure. When the water retention material has sufficiently absorbed the water, the wall 9 serving as the lid is bonded to the main body 5. Thereby, the water contained in the water retention material is confined in the shell 3 and transpiration can be suppressed.
[0026]
When the planting material is the seedling 33, it is stored in a posture in which the seedling 33 faces the closed vertex side of the main body 5.
When the planting material is a cutting tree seedling 35 or the like, the root portion is inserted into the main body 5 by penetrating the transparent film 17 from the outside, and the water retaining material is put into the main body 5 in a loose state or in a bagged state. Should be buried in the water retention material.
Thus, the plant-activated capsule 1 in which the water retention material and the planting material are stored in the shell 3 is formed.
[0027]
The capsule 1 is placed on the surface of the target planting soil or partially buried in the soil as shown in FIG.
When the stored plant material is the seed 31 or the root, it is not necessary to select the direction of the capsule 1 in particular, so the seeds are sown on the soil surface at a desired interval, or light is collected in a posture in which one surface is almost horizontal. The portion below the window 11 may be buried in the soil. Since the shell 3 has a regular tetrahedral outer shape, if the capsule 1 is merely sown, it will often stand up in a pyramid shape just by throwing it in the sense of sowing. When the posture of the capsule 1 is tilted due to unevenness on the soil surface, the surface of the capsule may be leveled and replaced.
When the stored plant material is the seedling 33, the cutting seedling 35, or the like, the plant is placed on the soil surface with the wall 9 serving as the lid as the bottom wall, or only the lower end is buried in the soil. Therefore, also in this case, the shell 3 is set in an upright posture in a pyramid shape.
[0028]
In the shell 3 placed on the target soil in such a posture, since any three of the four light collecting windows 11 face obliquely upward, sunlight enters the shell 3 from the light collecting window 11. Therefore, the planting material in the shell 3 grows due to the sunlight and the water contained in the water retaining material, fertilizer, and the like inserted through the window 11, and the seed 31 germinates. Most of the buds and seedlings that grow in the shell 3 naturally extend toward the window 11 and eventually strike the transparent film 17 as shown in FIG. .
The roots of the seedlings 33 and the roots extending downward from the seeds 31 reach the bottom wall, and break through the light window 11 of the wall and extend into the ground, or the shell 3 corrodes and expands. After softening, it penetrates the wall and extends underground.
When rain falls, the rain falling on the outer surface of the shell 3 enters the shell 3 from the rainwater inlet 11a through the rainwater guide groove 13, so that the rainwater replenishes the water retaining material with water.
[0029]
On the other hand, since the shell 3 is formed of a biodegradable paper material, corrosion gradually progresses when exposed to rainwater or sunlight, and eventually collapses and loses its shape. Therefore, the shoots, seedlings, and the like that have grown in the shell 3 will eventually become self-sustaining in the soil. Depending on the weather conditions at that time, the shell 3 may collapse before the seedlings and the like pierce the transparent film 17, but the roots are usually extended to the ground at that time, so that there is almost no effect on rooting. Even if the seedlings growing in the shell 3 extend in a direction other than the window 11, if the shell 3 is corroded and swelled to some extent, the growth pressure of the seedling is the weakest of the shell 3. It works on the part, that is, the part thinned by the score line 15, and almost certainly tears it, so that the seedlings and the like extend outside through the tears.
[0030]
If you want to enhance the heat absorption effect of the shell 3, make it easier to manage the type of water retention material or planting material that is stored, or if you want to increase the visibility after sowing in the soil, you need to color the shell 3. May be described.
The main body 5 and the lid 9 may be manufactured by connecting them with a thin hinge, or may be formed by pulp mold depending on the thickness of the walls 6 to 9.
If the material of the shell 3 is easily permeable to water, a waterproof coat may be applied to the inner surface of the shell 3.
[0031]
[D. Another form of shell] (Fig. 8)
FIG. 8 shows another form of the shell 3 '. The shell 3 'is made of, for example, a paperboard having a thickness of about 1 to 2 mm, and is suitable for, for example, sowing a large amount of small planting materials.
The shell 3 'is different from the shell 3 only in the thickness of the material, in that the four walls are formed integrally, and in that the shell 3' is provided with a glue allowance 41 for assembly. Since it is the same as the shell 3 described above, the description will be omitted by giving the same reference numerals to the same parts in the shell 3 for the respective parts in the drawing.
[0032]
Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the specific configuration of the present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and even if there is a design change or the like without departing from the gist of the present invention, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. Included in the invention.
For example, the easy tear processing provided on the shell may be a sewing wire.
[0033]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, planting materials such as seeds and seedlings can be almost certainly activated on soil having poor water retention without performing soil improvement or watering equipment, and furthermore, biodegradability The shell made of paper as the main material can be manufactured at low cost, so that the cost is extremely low.In addition, since it will be decomposed and buried in the soil, there is no risk of adversely affecting the soil, There is no need to pick up and dispose of the shells after the plants have settled.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an assembled state of a shell of a plant-activated capsule according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state before assembling the shell shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view showing a part of the shell shown in FIG. 1 together with a partially enlarged cross section.
FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing an example of a use state of the plant-activated capsule shown in FIG.
FIG. 5 is a view showing another example of a storage form of a water retention material and a planting material in the plant-activated capsule shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 6 is a view showing still another example of a storage form of a water retention material and a planting material in the plant-activated capsule shown in FIG. 1;
7 is a diagram showing an example in which cuttings are stored in the shell shown in FIG.
FIG. 8 is a view showing another form of the shell of the plant-activated capsule according to the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Plant activated capsule 3 ... Shell 11 ... Light extraction window 11a ... Rainwater intake 12 ... Water retention material 13 ... Rainwater guide 15 ... Easy tearing treatment (of shell) 17 ... Transparent film 17a ... Easy tearing of (film) Treatment 25: Water retention material 25 ': Water retention material 27: Water retention material 31: Planting material 33: Planting material 35: Planting material

Claims (5)

It is made of a material that decomposes in the natural environment, such as biodegradable paper, as a main material. It is formed in a hollow box shape and has a light-tight window that is closed with a transparent film. A plant-activated capsule comprising a stored water retention material and a planting material. 2. The plant-activated capsule according to claim 1, wherein the film covering the light-receiving window is subjected to an easy tearing process such as a cut line. The plant-activated capsule according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a rainwater inlet is provided on an inner peripheral surface of the light collecting window, and rainwater guide means for guiding rainwater toward the rainwater inlet is provided on an outer surface of the shell. A plant-activated capsule, characterized in that: The plant-activated capsule according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the shell is subjected to an easy tearing treatment such as a thin portion or a perforated line. The plant-activated capsule according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the shell has a regular tetrahedral shape, and all four walls are provided with light-receiving windows.

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