WO2015163760A1

WO2015163760A1 - Assembly of substrate and wire rack

Info

Publication number: WO2015163760A1
Application number: PCT/NL2015/050267
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jan Roger Henri De Smet
Original assignee: Forteco B.V.
Priority date: 2014-04-23
Filing date: 2015-04-22
Publication date: 2015-10-29
Also published as: MX2014014807A; CN106455498A; MX353474B

Abstract

An assembly of substrate and an elongated wire rack configured as a carrier for the substrate for cultivating plants therein, comprising spaced-apart support elements extending transversely to the longitudinal direction of the elongated wire rack, said support elements comprising a carrying part, which extends substantially horizontally, at least in use, and a supporting part configured for supporting the elongated wire rack on a base. The elongated wire rack further comprises an inner longitudinal girder construction comprising at least one inner longitudinal girder and at least two outer longitudinal girders positioned on either side of the inner longitudinal girder construction, which inner longitudinal girder construction and outer longitudinal girders extend substantially parallel to each other in the longitudinal direction of the wire rack and which are connected to the carrying part of the support elements as substrate carriers

Description

Title: Assembly of substrate and wire rack

Description

The present invention, according to a first aspect thereof, relates to an assembly of a substrate for cultivating plants therein and an elongated wire rack configured as a carrier for substrate for cultivating plants therein, comprising spaced- apart support elements extending transversely to the longitudinal direction of the elongated wire rack, said support elements comprising a carrying part, which extends substantially horizontally, at least in use, and a supporting part configured for supporting the elongated wire rack on a base, the elongated wire rack further comprising an inner longitudinal girder construction comprising at least one inner longitudinal girder and at least two outer longitudinal girders positioned on either side of the inner longitudinal girder construction, which inner longitudinal girder construction and outer longitudinal girders extend substantially parallel to each other in the longitudinal direction of the wire rack and which are connected to the carrying part of the support elements as substrate carriers.

Wire racks are already being used for carrying substrate, which wire racks can of course be of much lighter construction than cultivation gutters made of sheet steel. In use, the substrate is laid on the wire rack as a bale, usually in a package of, for example, plastic material. A known wire rack for placing a substrate thereon has support elements of metal wire, and at least a projection thereof has the cross-sectional shape of a trapezoid whose long base is missing. The short base extends at the upper side of the trapezoidal shape and, together with other support elements, supports elongated girders of metal wire, which, in use, carry a substrate contained in a package. Thus it is possible to support the substrate at a desired (working) height while using a relatively simple and light construction. A drawback of the relatively open construction of a wire rack in comparison with cultivation gutters made of sheet steel as a substrate carrier, however, is that moisture can accumulate on the bottom of a package of the substrate, with the risk of the growth of fungi or other substances that are harmful to the plant roots. Even if drainage holes are provided in the bottom side of the package, moisture can accumulate in "sags" between such holes. When cultivation gutters made of sheet steel are used, the risk of the accumulation of moisture at the bottom of the substrate is non-existent, because there is no risk of "sags" occurring. Such cultivation gutters are a costly purchase, however.

EP 1 658 770 A1 discloses such a cultivation gutter made of sheet steel.

EP 891 701 A1 discloses a wire panel for supporting flower pots, comprising a panel of welded wire netting made of welded-together longitudinal wires and cross wires, wherein the wire netting panel is folded in order to provide the wire panel with a first set of longitudinal channels or heating channels in which heating pipes can fit. The wire panel is further provided with a second set of longitudinal channels or water channels in which a plastic film is to be fit for the drainage of excess water. The flower pots are supported by longitudinal wires that lie in one and the same plane, such that the flower pots are horizontally supported by the wire panel. The second set of longitudinal channels or water channels is provided centrally below the flower pots for the drainage of excess water.

It is therefore an object of the first aspect of the present invention to provide an assembly as described in the introduction by means of which a cultivation system can be provided in which the risk of accumulation of moisture on the bottom of a substrate package present on the wire rack is reduced in comparison with the use of the known wire rack, whilst the device is lighter in weight than the known sheet steel cultivation gutter. This object is accomplished with the assembly according to the present invention in that the inner longitudinal girder construction is positioned higher or lower than the at least two outer longitudinal girders in use of the elongated wire rack, such that a first substrate carrying surface defined by the inner longitudinal girder construction and one of the outer longitudinal girders extends at an obtuse angle relative to a second substrate carrying surface defined by the inner longitudinal girder construction and the other of the outer longitudinal girders.

An advantage of the assembly according to the present invention is that substrate placed on the elongated wire rack is positioned at an angle relative to the base. This angle enables the substrate to drain at a lower longitudinal line, which drained moisture can be collected in a relatively simple manner, if desired, wherein the longitudinal line is formed by the plane of intersection of two lateral surfaces of the substrate. In the case of substrate contained in a package, excess moisture will flow over the bottom of the substrate to the lowest point of the bottom, where drainage holes may be provided. As a result of the slope of the bottom, the risk of accumulation of moisture is also significantly reduced. Moisture draining from the substrate can now be collected in a simple manner under the relatively low part of the substrate, so that it will not be lost, for example in that it is received in a base under the cultivation device.

The inventor has found that in particular coconut fibre is very suitable for use as a substrate material in the assembly according to the present invention. Coconut fibre is quite capable of retaining moisture in the case of the relatively strong drainage that takes place in the present invention due to the placement at an angle of the substrate, this in contrast to the frequently used rock wool, whose moisture retaining capacity is relatively low and which exhibits a strong gradient of the moisture content in vertical direction.

The invention further relates to an elongated wire rack configured for use in such an assembly, comprising spaced-apart support elements extending transversely to the longitudinal direction of the elongated wire rack, said support elements comprising a carrying part which extends substantially horizontally, at least in use, and a supporting part configured for supporting the elongated wire rack on a base, the elongated wire rack further comprising an inner longitudinal girder construction, which comprises at least one inner longitudinal girder, and at least two outer longitudinal girders positioned on either side of the inner longitudinal girder construction, which inner longitudinal girder construction and outer longitudinal girders extend substantially parallel to each other in the longitudinal direction of the wire rack and which are connected to the carrying part of the support elements as substrate carriers, characterised in that the inner longitudinal girder construction is positioned higher or lower than the at least two outer longitudinal girders in use of the elongated wire rack, such that a first substrate carrying surface defined by the inner longitudinal girder construction and one of the outer longitudinal girders extends at an obtuse angle relative to a second substrate carrying surface defined by the inner longitudinal girder construction and the other of the outer longitudinal girders.

Preferably, the inner longitudinal girder construction comprises two inner longitudinal girders extending in the longitudinal direction of the wire rack, which inner longitudinal girders are positioned on either side of the middle of the carrying part of a support element. The presence of two inner longitudinal girders is advantageous with a view to placing two packages containing substrate beside each other on the wire rack. The presence of two inner longitudinal girders is furthermore advantageous because the spacing between two longitudinal girders is smaller, so that the risk of sags forming in the bottom of a substrate package is reduced.

Furthermore preferably, at least one further longitudinal girder extending in the longitudinal direction of the wire rack is provided between an inner longitudinal girder and a nearest outer longitudinal girder. The use of at least one further longitudinal girder makes it possible to reduce the spacing between adjacent longitudinal girders. As a result, the risk of accumulation of moisture on the bottom of a substrate package present on the wire rack is further reduced.

Preferably, the carrying part of a support element exhibits a kink near the middle thereof. By providing a kink in the carrying part, two carrying surfaces are formed in a simple manner, which carrying surfaces extend at an angle relative to the base on which the elongated wire rack is supported in use.

Preferably, the angle included between the first and the second substrate carrying surface ranges between 140 and 170 degrees, more preferably between 150 and 160 degrees. Thus a substrate carrying surface is on the one hand sufficiently inclined for causing moisture to flow downwards over the bottom of a substrate package whilst on the other hand the substrate is prevented from sliding over the substrate carrying surface.

It is conceivable within the scope of the present invention that the supporting part of a support element comprises at least two supports provided at the both ends of the carrying part. It is advantageous to provide supports at the ends of the carrying part for placing the substrates at a desired height. By placing the substrate at a desired height, work such as tending to the plants can be carried out at a pleasant working height.

It is advantageous in that regard if the at least two supports diverge away from the carrying part. It is advantageous to the stability of the elongated wire rack if the supports diverge away from each other.

The supporting parts of support elements are preferably interconnected by means of a connecting element on the respective sides of the elongated wire rack. The use of this connecting element enhances the stability in the longitudinal direction of the elongated wire rack. Preferably, a support element extends at least substantially in a, preferably vertically oriented, flat plane. A support element that extends in a flat plane is advantageous with a view to realising a simple construction. It is conceivable to transport the elongated wire rack in an entirely flat condition and bend it to the correct shape at the location of the user.

A support element preferably extends perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the elongated wire rack. It is conceivable albeit not preferable within the scope of the present invention that a support element extends at an angle ranging between 30 and 90 degrees relative to the longitudinal direction of the elongated wire rack. By providing the support elements at an angle relative to the longitudinal direction, the space under the carrying parts is more easily accessible.

In an alternative embodiment, a support element is configured as a compound support element. A compound support element is advantageous with a view to placing substrates having larger or smaller dimensions. In the case of compound support elements, the longitudinal girders may be divided over two or more support elements. Thus a narrow or a relatively wide wire rack can be composed as desired.

Preferably, a support element configured as a compound support element is provided with at least one further support near the middle of the compound support element. It is advantageous if a further support is provided in order to enhance the stability of the elongated wire rack and obtain a higher load- bearing capacity.

It is conceivable within the scope of the present invention that the longitudinal girders, the connecting elements and the support elements are made of metal, preferably metal wire. Metal is an advantageous material with a view to forming an elongated wire rack, since it has a high stiffness, so that little material is needed for forming an elongated wire rack. It is also conceivable to form an elongated wire rack of another material, for example plastic or wood such as bamboo, provided that the elements thus provided are sufficiently stiff for carrying the substrate without bending through to such an extent that sags can form in the substrate package yet, in which sags moisture can accumulate to an undesirable extent. Furthermore preferably, the metal wire is a steel wire having a diameter ranging between 2 and 6 mm, preferably between 3 and 4 mm. Steel wire having such a diameter provides a relatively lightweight construction with sufficient load-bearing capacity. The skilled person will understand that a comparative assessment is made between the weight and the load-bearing capacity of the elongated wire rack. Larger diameters are conceivable for increasing the load- bearing capacity and enhancing the stability. It is conceivable to use smaller diameters if smaller load-bearing capacities are required.

Preferably, an elongated wall element is connected to the elongated wire rack, which wall element, together with substrate present on the wire rack, forms a tunnel in use, which tunnel is substantially closed all around and which is designed to carry a gas, preferably C02, to the substrate. The wall element may be a substantially shape-retaining wall element, but it is also possible that the wall element is made up of a flexible film, for example of plastic material. Forming a tunnel in this way is advantageous with a view to supplying a gas in a simple manner for the purpose of stimulating the plant growth.

According to a further aspect, the invention relates to an elongated cultivation device wherein an elongated wire rack is supported on a base with the ends of the supporting parts of the support elements remote from the carrying surfaces, and on which wire rack substrate is carried. Such a cultivation device is known in the form of a known wire rack as discussed in the introduction of the present document, which is placed on a base. As also discussed in the introduction, it is a drawback of the known cultivation device that water can accumulate on the bottom of the substrate.

The object of the present invention according to the further aspect thereof is to provide a cultivation device according to the first sentence of the preceding paragraph, by means of which water drained from the substrate can be collected in a simple manner. This object is according to the invention achieved by a cultivation device comprising an elongated wire rack according to the present invention and a drainage system which comprises a discharge channel, for example made of plastic film, which extends under the wire rack, in the longitudinal direction thereof, for collecting and discharging, in use of the elongated wire rack, liquid drained from the substrate, wherein the discharge channel is positioned under the lowest longitudinal line of the, preferably packaged, substrate. An advantage of this cultivation device is that the liquid that is drained or being drained from a substrate is collected and can be reused, so that the total water consumption can be reduced. In the case of unpackaged substrate, moisture will nevertheless tend to sink to the lowest point of the substrate and drain from the substrate at that location. In the case of packaged substrate, drainage holes can be provided (only) at the lower longitudinal line of the package, which drainage holes ensure that the moisture will leak from the package at the correct location, i.e. above the discharge channel. It is also conceivable that moisture will exit the package at a higher point, for example through higher drainage holes, and flow to the lowest point of the package via the bottom side (the outer side) of the package and drop down at that location to be discharged in the discharge channel.

According to another further aspect thereof, the invention relates to the use of an elongated wire rack according to the present invention as a carrying device, wherein the elongated wire rack is supported on a base with the supporting parts and the substrate on the elongated wire rack is provided at a certain height relative to the base on the substrate carrying surfaces for cultivating plants therein. The advantages of such use have already been discussed in the foregoing.

According to yet another further aspect thereof, the invention relates to an alternative use of an elongated wire rack, for example, but not necessarily limited thereto, the elongated wire rack of the present invention. The inventor has hit on the novel and innovative idea that a wire rack could also be used as a cultivation gutter. Namely as a cultivation gutter configured as a carrier for loose substrate material for cultivating plants therein, wherein the supporting parts extend upward from the carrying part and an elongated wall element, for example a plastic film, which extends on the inner side of the supporting parts and the carrying part, forming a gutter in which loose substrate is present, or at least can be deposited, for cultivating plants therein. A cultivation gutter formed in this manner is advantageous because of the limited investment needed to make it possible to cultivate plants using substrate material such as coconut fibre. The skilled person will immediately see that also the previously discussed known wire rack, i.e. a wire rack having a substrate carrying surface extending in one plane, can be used as a cultivation gutter in an embodiment turned 180 degrees, i.e. upside-down. According to the another further aspect, the scope thus extends to the use of a wire rack configured as a carrier for substrate for cultivating plants therein, comprising spaced-apart support elements extending transversely to the longitudinal direction of the elongated wire rack, said support elements comprising a carrying part which extends substantially horizontally, at least in use, and a supporting part configured for supporting the elongated wire rack on a base, the elongated wire rack further comprising an inner longitudinal girder construction comprising at least one inner longitudinal girder and at least two outer longitudinal girders positioned on either side of the inner longitudinal girder construction, which inner longitudinal girder construction and outer longitudinal girders extend substantially parallel to each other in the longitudinal direction of the wire rack and which are connected to the carrying part of the support elements as substrate carriers, wherein the wire rack is turned 180 degrees in comparison with the known use about an axis that extends parallel to the longitudinal direction of the wire rack and the supporting parts thus extend upward from the carrying part, and wherein the wire rack comprises an elongated wall element which extends on the inner side of the supporting parts and the carrying part, forming a gutter in which loose substrate is present, or at least can be deposited, for cultivating plants therein.

Finally, the invention relates to a method for cultivating plants, comprising the steps of

a) providing an assembly according to the present invention, b) supporting the elongated wire rack on a base with the supporting parts thereof,

c) placing the substrate on the elongated wire rack at a certain height relative to the base on the first substrate carrying surface and the second substrate carrying surface, and

d) cultivating plants in the substrate.

The present invention will now be explained below by means of a description of various preferred embodiments of an elongated wire rack and a cultivation device according to the invention and of uses according to the present invention of an elongated wire rack, in which reference is made to the following schematic figures, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a preferred embodiment of an elongated wire rack according to the present invention;

Figure 1 a is a schematic cross-sectional view perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the elongated wire rack shown in figure 1 ; Figure 2 is a perspective schematic view of the preferred embodiment shown in figure 1 of an elongated wire rack with substrates placed thereon;

Figure 2a is a schematic cross-sectional view perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the elongated wire rack with substrates placed thereon as shown in figure 2;

Figure 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of an alternative preferred embodiment of an elongated wire rack according to the invention;

Figure 3a is a schematic cross-sectional view perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of a further alternative preferred embodiment of an elongated wire rack provided with compound support elements according to the invention;

Figure 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of another alternative preferred embodiment of an elongated wire rack according to the invention;

Figure 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of another alternative preferred embodiment of an elongated wire rack according to the invention;

Figure 6 is a schematic perspective view of another alternative preferred embodiment of an elongated wire rack used as a cultivation gutter;

Figure 6a is a schematic cross-sectional view perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the elongated wire rack of figure 6 used as a cultivation gutter;

Figure 7 is a schematic perspective view of a cultivation device comprising an elongated wire rack provided with an elongated wall element according to the present invention;

Figure 7a is a schematic cross-sectional view perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of a cultivation device provided with an elongated wall element according to the present invention;

Figure 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of an alternative preferred embodiment of an elongated wire rack according to the invention.

A preferred embodiment of an elongated wire rack 1 according to the invention as shown in figure 1 and figure 1 a comprises support elements 3 extending transversely to the longitudinal direction, indicated by the arrow 2, of the elongated wire rack 1 . The support elements 3 extend in a flat plane and comprise a carrying part 4 and two support parts 5 on either side of the carrying part, which are supported on a base 12. The supporting parts 5 of the support elements 3 on one long side are interconnected by means of a connecting element 6. The carrying part 5 has a kink in the middle, indicated as angle 15. Connected to the carrying part 4 are two outer longitudinal girders 7 and two longitudinal girders 8 which together form an inner longitudinal girder construction. In this embodiment, the support elements 3, the connecting elements 6 as well as the carrying elements 7, 8 are made of steel wire having a diameter of 4 mm. The thickness of the steel wire can vary for the various elements in dependence on their function.

In figure 1 a, the substrate carrying surfaces 13 and 14 formed by the longitudinal girders 7 and 8 are shown. The carrying surfaces define an angle 15 between them, so that the substrates 9 (see figure 2) are placed at an angle relative to the horizontal, in this case corresponding to the base 12. This angle included by the carrying surfaces 13, 14 is 160 degrees. Due to the placement at an angle of the substrates 9, the discharge of moisture from the substrates 9 takes place at the lower longitudinal line. This will be discussed in more detail hereinafter.

In figures 2 and 2a, the elongated wire rack of figure 1 is shown as an assembly with substrate placed thereon. The substrate 1 1 is packaged in bales 9 of a plastic material 10 containing the substrate material 1 1. A bale filled with substrate usually has a length between 1 m and 1 .20 m and a width of 12 to 25 cm. The substrate material preferably consists at least substantially of coconut fibre or peat.

The spacing between adjacent longitudinal girders 7 and 8 ranges between 3 and 10 cm so as to prevent undesirable sagging of the bales 9 between the adjacent longitudinal girders 7 and 8. The total width of the wire rack essentially corresponds to that of the substrate, in this exemplary embodiment it is 26 cm. When two bales 9 are placed side by side, the width of the rack substantially equals the width of the two adjacent bales. The height of the wire rack is 14 cm. To obtain a strong construction, the wire rack is made of steel wire having a diameter of 4 mm.

In figures 3, 3a, 4, 5, 6, 6a, 7, 7a and 8, respectively, further preferred embodiments of an elongated wire rack 21 , 41 , 61 , 81 , 101 , 121 and 161 , respectively, are shown. The embodiments are different from each other mainly as regards the orientation of support elements and longitudinal girders relative to each other. In these figures, the reference numerals used to indicate components comparable to the components shown in figures 1 and 1 a are incremented by 20, 40, 60 and 80, 100, 100, 120, 120 and 160, respectively.

The supporting parts 25 shown in the cross-sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the wire rack 21 shown in figure 3 are placed such that the supporting parts 25 are supported on the base at an angle thereto so as to obtain improved stability in the transverse direction of the wire rack 21.

In figure 3a an embodiment is shown in which the support element is a compound support element 43 provided with a support 49 near the middle of the compound support element 43 and a support 45.

The support element 63 of the wire rack 61 shown in figure 4 comprises a horizontal carrying part 64. In this embodiment, the angle between the carrying surfaces 73 and 74 has been obtained by providing the inner longitudinal girders 68 on the underside of the carrying part 64 and providing the outer longitudinal girders 67 on the upper side of the carrying part 64.

Figure 5 shows an embodiment of a wire rack 81 in which the carrying part 84 exhibits an angle 95 in the middle, so that the carrying part 84 is higher in the middle than near the supports 85. The wire rack 81 is placed in gutters 89 provided in the base 92. Alternatively, prefabricated gutters, for example made of a plastic material or a metal, can be placed on a base, on which the supports 85 can be supported in that case. Because the carrying part 84 is higher in the middle, bales 9 placed on the longitudinal girders 87 and 88 will drain on the side near the supports 85. The moisture being drained is collected and discharged in the gutters 89.

Figure 8 shows a practical embodiment of a wire rack 161. The substrate carrying surfaces 173 and 174 are made up of longitudinal girders 167, inner longitudinal girders 168 and further longitudinal girders 170. The further longitudinal girders 170 provide additional support for substrate supported by the wire rack 161 between an outer longitudinal girder 167 and the nearest inner longitudinal girder 168. As a result, substrate contained in a package will sag less, so that the risk of moisture accumulating in a sagging part of the package is reduced even further. If may of course be considered to provide two or more further longitudinal girders between an inner longitudinal girder 168 and an outer longitudinal girder 167 so as to reduce the spacing between two adjacent longitudinal girders even further. The skilled person will know how to find the correct optimum between the cost and the weight of a wire rack on the one hand and an optimum reduction of the risk of undesirable accumulation of moisture on the bottom of the package on the other hand.

Using an elongated wire rack 101 in combination with a wall element 147 as shown in figures 6 and 6a, a cultivation gutter according to the invention is realised. The elongated wire rack 101 is placed so that the supports 105 extend upward. The wall element 147 is connected to the connecting elements 106. The cultivation gutter formed in this way can be filled with loose substrate material 1 1 1 such as coconut fibre, peat or other loose material suitable for cultivating plants. Subsequently plants can be cultivated in the substrate thus obtained, which is enclosed by the wall element 147 at the bottom side. Drainage of liquid from the substrate takes place in a manner analogous to the manner described above for packaged material.

Figure 7 shows a wire rack 121 to which a wall element 137 is connected. The wall element 137 is connected to the longitudinal girders 127. A gutter 136 is placed in the gutter formed by the wall element for discharging moisture drained from substrates that can be placed on the longitudinal girders 127 and 128. Alternatively, the wall element itself can also function as a gutter for discharging drained moisture. Together with substrates placed on the wire rack 121 , the wall element 137 also forms a tunnel through which C02 can be supplied to the bottom side of substrates.

In the figures and the above description, the present invention has been illustrated and discussed with reference to a few exemplary embodiments of an elongated wire rack according to the present invention. It will be understood that the scope of the present invention is not limited to these exemplary embodiments, and that other variants, which may or may not be obvious to the skilled person, are conceivable within the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. An assembly of substrate for cultivating plants therein and an elongated wire rack, wherein the elongated wire rack is configured as a carrier for the substrate, comprising spaced-apart support elements extending transversely to the longitudinal direction of the elongated wire rack, said support elements comprising a carrying part, which extends substantially horizontally, at least in use, and a supporting part configured for supporting the elongated wire rack on a base, the elongated wire rack further comprising an inner longitudinal girder construction comprising at least one inner longitudinal girder and at least two outer longitudinal girders positioned on either side of the inner longitudinal girder construction, which inner longitudinal girder construction and outer longitudinal girders extend substantially parallel to each other in the longitudinal direction of the wire rack and which are connected to the carrying part of the support elements as substrate carriers, wherein the inner longitudinal girder construction is positioned higher or lower than the at least two outer longitudinal girders in use of the elongated wire rack, such that a first substrate carrying surface defined by the inner longitudinal girder construction and one of the outer longitudinal girders extends at an obtuse angle relative to a second substrate carrying surface defined by the inner longitudinal girder construction and the other of the outer longitudinal girders.

2. An assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the substrate is configured as an elongated bale, wherein a package of the bale is provided with drainage holes at a longitudinal line.

3. An assembly according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the substrate material is coconut fibre.

4. An assembly according to claim 1 , 2 or 3, further comprising a drainage system which comprises a discharge channel which extends under the wire rack, in the longitudinal direction thereof, for collecting and discharging, in use of the elongated wire rack, liquid drained from the substrate, wherein the discharge channel is positioned under the lowest longitudinal line of the substrate.

5. An elongated wire rack for an assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, configured as a carrier for substrate for cultivating plants therein, comprising spaced-apart support elements extending transversely to the longitudinal direction of the elongated wire rack, said support elements comprising a carrying part which extends substantially horizontally, at least in use, and a supporting part configured for supporting the elongated wire rack on a base, the elongated wire rack further comprising an inner longitudinal girder construction, which comprises at least one inner longitudinal girder, and at least two outer longitudinal girders positioned on either side of the inner longitudinal girder construction, which inner longitudinal girder construction and outer longitudinal girders extend substantially parallel to each other in the longitudinal direction of the wire rack and which are connected to the carrying part of the support elements as substrate carriers, characterised in that the inner longitudinal girder construction is positioned higher or lower than the at least two outer longitudinal girders in use of the elongated wire rack, such that a first substrate carrying surface defined by the inner longitudinal girder construction and one of the outer longitudinal girders extends at an obtuse angle relative to a second substrate carrying surface defined by the inner longitudinal girder construction and the other of the outer longitudinal girders.

6. An elongated wire rack according to claim 5, characterised in that the inner longitudinal girder construction comprises at least two inner longitudinal girders extending in the longitudinal direction of the wire rack, which inner longitudinal girders are positioned on either side of the middle of the carrying part of a support element.

7. An elongated wire rack according to claim 5 or 6, characterised in that at least one further longitudinal girder extending in the longitudinal direction of the wire rack is provided between an inner longitudinal girder and a nearest outer longitudinal girder.

8. An elongated wire rack according to claim 5, 6 or 7, characterised in that the carrying part of a support element exhibits a kink near the middle thereof.

9. An elongated wire rack according to claims 5-8, characterised in that the angle included between the first and the second substrate carrying surface ranges between 140 and 170 degrees.

10. An elongated wire rack according to any one of claims 5-9, characterised in that the supporting part of a support element comprises at least two supports provided at the two ends of the carrying part.

1 1. An elongated wire rack according to claim 10, characterised in that the at least two supports diverge away from the carrying part.

12. An elongated wire rack according to any one of claims 5-1 1 , characterised in that the supporting parts of support elements are interconnected by means of a connecting element on the respective sides of the elongated wire rack.

13. An elongated wire rack according to any one of claims 5-12, characterised in that a support element extends at least substantially in a, preferably vertically oriented, flat plane.

14. An elongated wire rack according to any one of claims 5-13, characterised in that a support element preferably extends perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the elongated wire rack.

15. An elongated wire rack according to any one of claims 5-14, characterised in that a support element is configured as a compound support element.

16. An elongated wire rack according to claim 10 or 1 1 in dependence on claim 15, characterised in that a support element is configured as a compound support element provided with at least one further support near the middle of the compound support element.

17. An elongated wire rack according to any one of claims 5-16, characterised in that the longitudinal girders, the connecting elements and the support elements are made of metal, preferably metal wire.

18. An elongated wire rack according to claim 17, characterised in that the metal wire is a steel wire having a diameter ranging between 2 and 6 mm, preferably between 3 and 4 mm.

19. An elongated wire rack according to any one of claims 5-18, characterised in that an elongated wall element is connected to the elongated wire rack, which elongated wall element, together with substrate present on the wire rack, forms a tunnel in use, which tunnel is substantially closed all around and which is designed to carry a gas, preferably C02, to the substrate.

20. Use of an elongated wire rack according to any one of claims 5-19 as a carrying device with substrate, characterised in that the elongated wire rack is supported on a base with the supporting parts and that the substrate on the elongated wire rack is provided at a certain height relative to the base on the substrate carrying surfaces for cultivating plants in the substrate.

21. Use of an elongated wire rack according to any one of claims 5-18 as a cultivation gutter configured as a carrier for loose substrate material for cultivating plants therein, characterised in that the supporting parts extend upward from the carrying part and in that an elongated wall element extends on the inner side of the supporting parts and the carrying part, forming a gutter in which loose substrate is present, or at least can be deposited, for cultivating plants therein.

22. A method for cultivating plants, comprising the steps of

a) providing an assembly according to any one of the claims 1 -4, b) supporting the elongated wire rack on a base with the supporting parts thereof,

d) cultivating plants in the substrate.