WO2021019578A1

WO2021019578A1 - A system for in-soil vertical farming

Info

Publication number: WO2021019578A1
Application number: PCT/IN2020/050682
Authority: WO
Inventors: Prashant ZADE
Original assignee: A S Agri And Aqua Llp
Priority date: 2019-08-01
Filing date: 2020-08-01
Publication date: 2021-02-04
Also published as: EP4007486A1; GB2599794A; EP4007486A4; GB202113168D0

Abstract

A system for in-soil vertical farming, said system comprising: a polyhouse comprising an array of vertically stacked trays (12), in that, each tray being spaced apart from a vertically adjacent tray, each tray comprising soil media which fills up to two-thirds the height of said tray, each tray comprising prepared soil media, a seeding template, associated drip irrigation outlets, and associated netting.

Description

A SYSTEM FOR IN-SOIL VERTICAL FARMING

FIELD OF THE INVENTION:

Particularly, this invention relates to the field of agriculture.

More particularly, this invention relates to vertical farming.

Specifically, this invention relates to a system for in-soil vertical farming.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:

Agriculture started thousands of years ago. Farming is a part of agriculture. Farming is growing crops or keeping animals by people for food and raw materials.

In today’s day and age, food security is a massive issue in developing countries. Food security is a measure of the availability of food and individuals' accessibility to it, where accessibility includes affordability.

Huge changes need to be made in order to feed the world’s projected 34% population growth over the next 30 years and to reduce the global impact of food production.

Agriculture is responsible for 70% of the world’s fresh water consumption. Agriculture is also responsible for massive irreversible deforestation directly resulting in global climate change. The UK currently uses 72% of its land area for agriculture and, yet, UK imports nearly half of its nation’s food and 90% of the UK’s fruits and vegetable are from overseas

According to prior art, vertical farming could be an important addition to food production as one acre of vertical farming can provide the produce equivalent to 10-20 acres of ground farming, according to an article by Business Wales. [https://businesswales.gov.wales/farmingconnect/posts/vertical-farming-new- future-food-production] .

However, this is not enough.

Prior art, in the field of agriculture, also relates to hydroponics and aquaponics. Hydroponics is a subset of hydroculture, which is a method of growing plants without soil by instead using mineral nutrient solutions in a water solvent. Aquaponics refers to any system that combines conventional aquaculture (raising aquatic animals such as snails, fish, crayfish or prawns in tanks) with hydroponics (cultivating plants in water) in a symbiotic environment.

One of the ways to provide food security is to provide yield of produce; not incrementally but rather exponentially without utilizing much resources.

Additionally, environment conditions play an important factor in farming and in its corresponding yield of crops.

Furthermore, in the cultivation of certain crops such as soya bean, there is rapid deforestation and displacement of small farmers and indigenous peoples around the globe. There have been recorded high rates of soil erosion associated with soya bean cultivation. Behind beef, soy is the second largest agricultural driver of deforestation worldwide. Soy cultivation is a major driver of deforestation in the Amazon basin

The challenge in coming years is to meet increased market demand for soy while continuing to reduce its deforestation impact.

There is a need for a system which overcomes the limitations mentioned above.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION:

An object of the invention is to provide a system for in-soil vertical farming.

Another object of the invention is to provide a system which increases yield; not incrementally but rather exponentially without utilizing much resources.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a system for in-soil vertical farming which is not dependent on location or soil conditions.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a system for in-soil vertical farming which is not dependent on availability of water.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a system for in-soil vertical farming which is not dependent on weather or season. Another additional object of the invention is to provide a system which increases scale of production; not incrementally but rather exponentially without utilizing much resources.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:

According to this invention, there is provided a system for in-soil vertical farming, said system comprising:

a polyhouse comprising an array of vertically stacked trays, in that, each tray being spaced apart from a vertically adjacent tray, each tray comprising soil media which fills up to two-thirds the height of said tray, each tray comprising prepared soil media, a seeding template, associated drip irrigation outlets, associated netting; wherein,

o said prepared soil media comprising about 95% soil, about 3% vermin, about 1% cocopeat, about 0.4% neem cake, and about 0.1% nutrition component comprising 30% Vermicompost concentrate, 40% cocopeat, and 30%NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) nutrients;

o said seeding template being a seeding zig-zag template;

o said netting being provided at the sides of each stack / array of trays so that support is provided to plants growing in said trays and so that said plants do not extend laterally but do grow vertically; and

o said drip irrigation outlets being provisioned by pipes such that there is an outlet per seed / plant of each tray.

Typically, said seeding template is a seeding zig-zag template, per tray, running the length of said tray, in that, each template comprising:

at least a first locus of points spaced apart, operatively left, from a medial line of each tray, at a first distance from the medial line; at least a second locus of points spaced apart, operatively left, from a medial line of each tray, at a second distance from the medial line;

at least a third locus of points spaced apart, operatively right, from a medial line of each tray, at a third distance from the medial line;

at least a fourth locus of points spaced apart, operatively right, from a medial line of each tray, at a fourth distance from the medial line;

wherein, each point is a hole where a seed can be planted.

Typically, said tray is of a trapezoidal width-wise cross-section, in that, the vertical length-wise sides of the tray are angled between 20 degrees to 80 degrees with respect to a horizontal plane - thereby, allowing easy / better access to sunlight for the crop(s) in the tray(s) even if the trays are stacked one above the other.

Preferably, said water is RO water at 7 ph.

Preferably, said system comprises a control mechanism being configured to control water supply to each pipe.

Preferably, said system comprises plants growing at an angle of about 20 degree to 80 degree and preferably at about 45 degrees with respect to the horizontal plane in an operatively outward direction of said tray.

Preferably, said polyhouse is configured with 40% ventilation.

Preferably, said polyhouse is configured with a fogger system, for humidification, said fogger system being kept operational for 5 to 10 minutes at intervals of 1 hour during summer season. Preferably, said polyhouse is configured with a fogger system, for humidification, said fogger system comprising 13 foggers being placed per 100 sq. metre area of the polyhouse.

Preferably, said tray is made of poly-carbonate sheets with high density reinforcement.

Preferably, said drip irrigation is at the rate of 2 litres per hour.

In at least an embodiment, an automated / semi-automated valve control mechanism is configured to control water supply to each of said pipes, in that, said valve mechanism is configured to release:

- a first pre-defined amount of water for a first pre-determined amount of time for the first 120 days;

- a second pre-defined amount of water for a second pre-determined amount of time for the next 90 days; and

- a third pre-defined amount of water for a third pre-determined amount of time for the next 60 days.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS:

The invention will now be described in relation to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 illustrates a length-wise side view schematic of the system of this invention; depicting one stack / arrays of trays; FIGURE 2 illustrates a width-wise side view schematic of the system of this invention; depicting one stack / arrays of trays; and

FIGURE 3 illustrates a top view of all such stacks / arrays of the system of this invention in a 1-acre plot.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS:

According to this invention, there is provided a system for in-soil vertical farming. Vertical farming is also known as controlled environment agriculture (CEA).

FIGURE 1 illustrates a length-wise side view schematic of the system (100) of this invention; depicting one stack / arrays of trays.

FIGURE 2 illustrates a width- wise side view schematic of the system (100) of this invention; depicting one stack / arrays of trays.

FIGURE 3 illustrates a top view of all such stacks / arrays of the system (200) of this invention in a 1-acre plot.

In at least an embodiment, the system comprises an array of vertically stacked trays (12), in that, each tray being spaced apart from a vertically adjacent tray. Each tray comprises soil which fills up to two-thirds the height of the tray. Additionally, nutrients along with coco peat may be added to the soil as and how required. In at least an embodiment, the prepared soil media, to be used with this invention comprises about 95% soil, 3% vermin, about 1% cocopeat, about 0.4% neem cake, and about 0.1% nutrition component comprising 30% Vermicompost concentrate, 40% cocopeat, and 30%NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) nutrients. This is organic soil media.

In at least an embodiment, the trays are pre-painted bare galvanized tray, with nickel and zinc coating, for crop having 0.5-0.6 mm thickness.

In at least another embodiment, preferably, these trays are made of poly-carbonate sheets with high density reinforcement.

The plants are first grown in a nursery and once sprouted, they are replanted into these trays.

In at least an embodiment, a seeding zig-zag template, per tray, running the length of the tray, in that, each template comprising:

- at least a first locus of points spaced apart, operatively left, from a medial line of each tray, at a first distance from the medial line;

- at least a second locus of points spaced apart, operatively left, from a medial line of each tray, at a second distance from the medial line;

- at least a third locus of points spaced apart, operatively right, from a medial line of each tray, at a third distance from the medial line; and

- at least a fourth locus of points spaced apart, operatively right, from a medial line of each tray, at a fourth distance from the medial line.

Each point is a hole where a seed can be planted. Using this template, the plants from the seeds are thus planted in a zig-zag fashion running the length of the tray and beyond the midline (medial line) of such trays; on either side of the mid- line of the trays - so that each tray comprises two length-wise rows of zig-zag planted plants.

These plants are planted such that they grow at an angle of about 20 degree to 80 degree and preferably at about 45 degrees with respect to the horizontal plane in an operatively outward direction of the tray.

In at least an embodiment, each tray is of a trapezoidal (12a) width-wise cross- section, in that, the vertical length-wise sides of the tray are angled between 20 degrees to 80 degrees with respect to a horizontal plane. This configuration allows for easy / better access to sunlight for the crop(s) in the tray(s) even if the trays are stacked one above the other.

In at least an embodiment, a plurality of such stacks are provided and horizontally spaced apart from each other inside a polyhouse. The polyhouse is configured with 40% ventilation.

In at least an embodiment, netting is provided at the sides of each stack / array of trays so that support is provided to plants growing in the trays and so that these plants do not extend laterally and grow vertically. These plants are planted such that they grow at an angle of about 20 degree to 80 degree and preferably at about 45 degrees with respect to the horizontal plane in an operatively outward direction of the tray. The angled side walls of the upper tray, therefore, do not hamper and provide adequate space for the plants of the lower tray to grow without impediment. In at least an embodiment, pipes are provided, advantageously, so as to provide drip irrigation to each tray and particularly to each seed. Drip irrigation is used for supply of water and nutrition to crops in high density crop management. Thus, there is an outlet from the pipe per point of the seeding template of each tray. Water is RO water at 7 ph. There may be a coupled RO plant to feed water to these stack / array of trays. Typically, drip irrigation operates at a capacity of 2 litre per hour discharge. Typically, this is a pressure controlled drip irrigation system so as to maintain water pressure the same from the bottom row of a stack to the top row of a stack. Preferably drip irrigation required per 100 sq mtr area/size of polyhouse is 213 running metre. This results in an enormous 85% savings in water usage.

In at least an embodiment, an automated / semi-automated valve control mechanism is configured to control water supply to each pipe.

According to a non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the following water schedule is followed in order to provide an improved yield quantity:

In at least an embodiment, a fogger is provided in the polyhouse or the purposes of humidification. Foggers are used to control the temperature and humidity inside the polyhouse. They are majorly used in summer season and post rainy season. The fogger is, typically, kept operational for 5 to 10 minutes at intervals of 1 hour during such seasons. With this, the system reduces the temperature by 5 deg C to 8 deg C and also controls humidity by 3% to 4%. Typically, these foggers bear capacity of water pressure up to 2.0 kg to 2.5 kg. Preferably, about 13 foggers are placed per 100 sq. metre area of the polyhouse.

According to a non-limiting exemplary embodiment, in an acre of land, 66 rows, each row comprising 12 layers, can be accommodated using this invention optimization of volume space adds to the Inventive Step of this invention.

The ECONOMIC SIGNIFICANCE of this invention is shown as follows in the following tabulated examples.

According to a non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the following table reveals various values while growing turmeric - wherein the left-hand- side column reveals values using prior art systems and methods whereas the right-hand-side column reveals values using the current invention’s systems and methods:

According to a non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the following table reveals various values while growing soya bean - wherein the left-hand-side column reveals values using prior art systems and methods whereas the right-hand-side column reveals values using the current invention’s systems and methods:

The exemplary embodiments, show staggering land savings and reduction in deforestation using the system of this invention. These savings are not linearly correlational; rather, they are compounded savings due to the various changes as defined in the claim limitations of this specification. The TECHNICAL ADVANCEMENT of this invention lies in providing a system for in- soil vertical farming which provides a drastically improved multi fold yield, in that, it provides an output equivalent to 100 times more than conventional farming. Thus, yield is improved not just incrementally but rather exponentially without utilizing many resources. Because of the polyhouse, soil, weather, climate, water; all can be controlled.

While this detailed description has disclosed certain specific embodiments for illustrative purposes, various modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims, and it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the invention and not as a limitation.

Claims

CLAIMS,

1. A system for in-soil vertical farming, said system comprising:

- a polyhouse comprising an array of vertically stacked trays (12), in that, each tray being spaced apart from a vertically adjacent tray, each tray comprising soil media which fills up to two-thirds the height of said tray, each tray comprising prepared soil media, a seeding template, associated drip irrigation outlets, associated netting;

wherein,

o said seeding template being a seeding zig-zag template;

o said netting being provided at the sides of each stack / array of trays so that support is provided to plants growing in said trays and so that said plants do not extend laterally but do grow vertically; and o said drip irrigation outlets being provisioned by pipes such that there is an outlet per seed / plant of each tray.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein, said seeding template is a seeding zig-zag template, per tray, running the length of said tray, in that, each template comprising:

- at least a first locus of points spaced apart, operatively left, from a medial line of each tray, at a first distance from the medial line; - at least a second locus of points spaced apart, operatively left, from a medial line of each tray, at a second distance from the medial line;

- at least a third locus of points spaced apart, operatively right, from a medial line of each tray, at a third distance from the medial line;

- at least a fourth locus of points spaced apart, operatively right, from a medial line of each tray, at a fourth distance from the medial line;

wherein, each point is a hole where a seed can be planted.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein, said tray is of a trapezoidal (12a) width-wise cross-section, in that, the vertical length-wise sides of the tray are angled between 20 degrees to 80 degrees with respect to a horizontal plane - thereby, allowing easy / better access to sunlight for the crop(s) in the tray(s) even if the trays are stacked one above the other.

4. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein, said water is RO water at 7 ph.

5. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein, said system comprising a control mechanism being configured to control water supply to each pipe.

6. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein, said system comprising plants growing at an angle of about 20 degree to 80 degree and preferably at about 45 degrees with respect to the horizontal plane in an operatively outward direction of said tray.

7. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein, said polyhouse being configured with 40% ventilation.

8. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein, said polyhouse being configured with a fogger system, for humidification, said fogger system being kept operational for 5 to 10 minutes at intervals of 1 hour during summer season.

9. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein, said polyhouse being configured with a fogger system, for humidification, said fogger system comprising 13 foggers being placed per 100 sq. metre area of the polyhouse.

10. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein, said tray is made of poly-carbonate sheets with high density reinforcement.

11. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein, said drip irrigation being at the rate of 2 litres per hour.

12. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein, an automated / semi-automated valve control mechanism is configured to control water supply to each of said pipes, in that, said valve mechanism being configured to release: