WO1997024917A1

WO1997024917A1 - A product for use in agriculture or horticulture

Info

Publication number: WO1997024917A1
Application number: PCT/US1997/000334
Authority: WO
Inventors: Peter A. C. Chown
Original assignee: Monsanto Company
Priority date: 1996-01-12
Filing date: 1997-01-13
Publication date: 1997-07-17
Also published as: GB9600619D0; AU1694597A

Abstract

A product (2) for use in at least one of agriculture and horticulture, which product (2) comprises at least one of plant life (4) to be grown and development-enhancing material (6) for enhancing at least one of germination and growth of the plant life (4), and sheet material (12) which contains the said at least one of the plant life (4) and the development-enhancing material (6), the sheet material (12) being a water-soluble sheet material (12) which is dissolvable after sowing for enhancing at least one of the germination and the growth of the plant life (4).

Description

A PRODUCT FOR USE IN AGRICULTURE OR HORTICULTURE

FIELD OF INVENTION This invention relates to a product for use in agriculture or horticulture and, more especially, this invention relates to a product for use in agriculture or horticulture and which comprises plant life to be grown and/or development-enhancing material for enhancing germination and/or growth ofthe plant life. The plant life may be any suitable and appropriate type of plant life such for example as seeds, bulbs, shoots, shrubs or trees.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Traditionally, plant life to be grown has been sown or planted direct into a growing medium such for example as soil or compost. If the plant life is seeds, then the sowing ofthe seeds direct into the soil is often wasteful of seeds with too many seeds being sown in a given area. Apart from the initial wastage ofthe sown seeds, pricking out of young plants may later be required which is further wasteful of time and energy. Other types of plant life such for example as vegetables ideally need to be planted such that there is a correct spacing between each seed, bulb or other type of plant life. A problem sometimes occurs with known methods of sowing and planting in achieving the required spacing between seeds, bulbs and the like.

A further problem that often occurs is the problem of providing development- enhancing material in the right place adjacent the plant life, and such that the development-enhancing material becomes available at the correct time when the plant life wants the development-enhancing material and can make the maximum use ofthe development-enhancing material. Hitherto, much development-enhancing material is wasted by being leached into the soil by rain and other moisture prior to the plant life being ready to accept the development-enhancing material.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an aim ofthe present invention to obviate or reduce the above mentioned problems.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a product for use in at least one of agriculture and horticulture, which product comprises at least one of plant life to be grown and development-enhancing material for enhancing at least one of germination and growth of the plant life, and sheet material which contains the said at least one of the plant life and the development-enhancing material, the sheet material being a water- soluble sheet material which is dissolveable after sowing for enhancing at least one of the germination and the growth ofthe plant life. The water-soluble sheet material may enable the plant life easily to be handled, for example in the case of seeds or small bulbs. The water-soluble sheet material may help to avoid the secondary handling of development-enhancing material that may be harmful to human and/or animal life, such for example as synthetic fertilizers, nutrients, pesticides and insecticides The development-enhancing material can be made available to the plant life at the right time by controlling the time that the water-soluble sheet material takes to dissolve This may be achieved by the use of appropriate slow release agents for controlling the rate of dissolving ofthe water-soluble sheet material. The slow release agents may be tallow or polymers.

Where the product ofthe invention is used in large scale agriculture, then the compacting of land by tractors may be considerably reduced. Handling costs may also be reduced Where the product ofthe invention is used in glass houses and seed trays, ease of sowing can be achieved with equal planting space and no pricking out of plants being required The correct spacing between plants can be achieved, irrespective of whether the product ofthe invention is used for small scale horticulture or large scale agriculture The correct spacing is especially important for vegetable plant life such for example as sugar beet and cabbage

The product ofthe invention may be sold flat, rolled or folded Generally, the product ofthe invention can be of any suitable size and shape.

The product ofthe invention may be packaged in packaging selected from the group consisting of foil packaging and vacuum packaging, for providing the product with an extended storage life This makes the product ofthe invention suitable for sending to foreign countries, for example under developed countries where storage conditions are not normally conducive to plant germination and growth The water-soluble sheet material is preferably hessian, a cotton-based material, or paper. Ideally, the chosen water-soluble sheet material should be relatively inexpensive and biodegradable. Generally, the water-soluble sheet material may be any suitable and appropriate material that supports the development-enhancing material. The water-soluble sheet material may be in single sheet form or in composite form. Where the water-soluble sheet material is in composite form, then the development-enhancing material may be sandwiched between two layers ofthe water- soluble sheet material. In this case, the development-enhancing material may be provided on one layer ofthe water-soluble sheet material and then the second layer can be placed on top ofthe first layer. Alternatively, the development-enhancing material can be laid on one half of a sheet of water-soluble material which can then be folded in half on top ofthe development-enhancing material.

Where the product ofthe invention is sold in sheet form, then the sheets can be of square or rectangular shape, or they can be in simple strip form. The development-enhancing material is preferably stuck to the water-soluble sheet material. Any suitable and appropriate type of adhesive may be employed. Usually the adhesive will be water-soluble and biodegradable. The adhesive may also be used to stick layers ofthe water-soluble sheet material together. Thus the adhesive may be employed to produce a composite product which handles well. The plant life may be any suitable and appropriate type of plant life. Thus, for example, the plant life may be seeds such for example as grass seeds, vegetable seeds or flower seeds. Examples of vegetable seeds are those for sugar beet, carrots, cabbage and parsnip. Examples of flower seeds are those for pansies, marigolds and begonias. The plant life may also be root crops such for example as potatoes. The plant life may still further be shrubs, trees or plants in which case the water-soluble sheet material may be wrapped around roots or a root ball ofthe shrub, tree or plant in order to provide the development-enhancing material where it is required and where it is best used.

The development-enhancing material may be any suitable single chemical or mixture of chemicals. Thus, for example, the development-enhancing material may be at least one ofa fertilizer, a trace element, a pesticide and an insecticide. These chemicals may be employed in any suitable and appropriate combination, and in any suitable and appropriate concentrations. Any ofthe known fertilizers, trace elements, pesticides and insecticides may be used. Examples of known fertilizers are powdered chalk and potash. Examples of trace elements are iron, zinc and magnesium.

The use ofthe water-soluble sheet material may be effective to prevent the plant life being eaten prior to germination and early growth in the case of plant life such for example as seeds and bulbs. The water-soluble sheet material may be provided with a substance which deters animals such for example as mice or slugs from eating the plant life prior to germination or growth of the plant life. The substance can be impregnated into or coated on the water-soluble sheet material.

If desired, the product ofthe invention can be sown such that water is able to be applied to the product just prior to the sowing. The water may then facilitate the germination and/or development ofthe plant life. Preferably, the water is sprayed on to the products but the water may be applied to the product in any suitable and appropriate way.

If desired, development-enhancing material can be added to the water prior to the application ofthe water to the product ofthe invention.

With certain types of plant life such for example as seeds, the product ofthe invention can be arranged such that the development-enhancing material is released after germination so that development-enhancing material is not wasted by being leached into the soil by moisture such as rain or dew prior to germination ofthe plant life.

If desired, the plant life only may be supported by the water-soluble sheet material. Alternatively, only the development-enhancing material may be supported by the water-soluble sheet material. Still further, if desired, one product ofthe invention containing only the plant life may be sown alongside another product ofthe invention containing only the development-enhancing material. Usually, the product ofthe invention will contain both the plant life and the development-enhancing material. If desired, the product ofthe invention can comprise two layers, one layer containing the plant life, and the other layer containing the development-enhancing material. The layers may be in the form of strips. The layers may be wider than strips if desired. Where different types of development-enhancing material are employed, then they can be mixed together or they can be employed separately. Where the different types of development-enhancing material are employed separately, then each separate development-enhancing material may be in a separate layer or strip in the product ofthe invention. Different types of development-enhancing material can be arranged to be released in a timed sequence. The use ofthe water-soluble sheet material helps to protect plant life such for example as seeds from the environment, for example from excessively damp conditions or excessively dry conditions, during the initial germination period ofthe seeds. Still further, the use ofthe water-soluble sheet material helps to prevent possibly noxious development-enhancing materials from coming into direct contact with a user, for example by hand or by being inhaled.

The development-enhancing material will usually be in solid form but it may be in power, liquid or gel form if desired.

When the product ofthe invention contains both the plant life and the development-enhancing material, then the plant life and the development-enhancing material may be in contact with each other or they may be kept separate from each other as may be desired.

The use ofthe water-soluble sheet material may enable planting ofthe plant life to be carried out earlier than would otherwise be possible with unprotected plant life, for example because the plant life in the product ofthe present invention will be protected by the water-soluble sheet material from the effects of frost and cold weather.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Embodiments ofthe invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side section showing a first product ofthe invention; Figure 2 is a top section showing a second product ofthe invention;

Figure 3 illustrates how the product of Figure 2 is provided with plant life in the form of seeds;

Figure 4 shows a third product ofthe invention in the form of a roll; Figure 5 shows how the product of Figure 4 may be sown from the back of a tractor;

Figure 6 shows how the product of Figure 4 may be sown from the back ofa tractor and provided with water; and

Figure 7 shows how a fourth product ofthe invention may be provided around a root or root ball of plant life in the form ofa tree, shrub or plant.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to Figure 1 , there is shown a product 2 for use in agriculture or horticulture. The product 2 comprises plant life in the form of grass seeds 4 and development-enhancing material 6. The development-enhancing material 6 is for enhancing the germination and/or growth ofthe seeds 4.

The product 2 is such that the seeds 4 and the development-enhancing material 6 are sandwiched between two layers 8, 10 ofthe water-soluble sheet material 12.

The water-soluble sheet material 12 is such that it is dissolveable over a predetermined period after sowing for enhancing the germination and/or the growth of the seeds 4.

The seeds 4 and the development-enhancing material 6, for example fertilizer and nutrients, are glued to the layer 10. The top layer 8 is then positioned as shown in Figure 1 and the longitudinal edges 14, 16 are then sealed by an adhesive or other sealing means. As can be appreciated from Figure 1, the seeds 4 can be evenly spaced from each other on the layer 10. The development-enhancing material 6 can also be evenly spread on the layer 10.

Figure 2 illustrates how development-enhancing material in the form of insecticide 18 and fertilizer 20 can be provided in two strips on the layer 10. Figure 2 also illustrates how the layer 10 can be provided simply with seeds 4 or with pellets 22 of one or more seeds 4 encompassed in a coating of development-enhancing material such for example as insecticide and/or fertilizer.

Figure 3 illustrates how the seeds 4 can be dispensed from a drum 24 on to the layer 10. The drum 24 has circumferential apertures which each receive the seeds 4 as shown, the seeds 4 being provided from a hopper 26. When the seeds 4 are in position on the layer 10, then the layer 8 can be laid in position as illustrated in Figure 3.

Figure 4 shows how the product 2 can be in the form ofa roll 28. The seeds 4 are shown and development-enhancing material (not shown) may be provided as desired.

Figure 5 shows how the roll 28 is able to be mounted in a dispensing container 30 on the back o a tractor 32. The tractor 32 enables the product 2 to be sown into soil 34 as shown. A cutter 36 is employed to cut the product 2 at the end of a row.

Figure 6 is similar to Figure 5. Figure 6 shows the use of a water tank 38 for spraying water 30 via a pipe 32 on to the product 2 as it is sown in the soil 34. The water 30 helps seed germination in hot weather. Because the water is sprayed on to the product 2 just prior to the product 2 being sown, loss of the water by evaporation is minimized. Loss of water by evaporation is especially minimized when the product 2 is sown under the soil 34 so that the soil 34 covers the product 2. This may be effected by a plough member 40 attached to the tractor 32.

Where development-enhancing material such for example as insecticides and/or pesticides and/or fertilizers and/or nutrients are employed, these can be slow released into the soil 34 by the use of a slow release agent, thereby making the entire product 2 environmentally friendly with the avoidance of wastage ofthe development-enhancing material.

Figure 7 illustrates how the product 2 with development-enhancing material 6 may be wrapped around the roots 42 ofa tree 44. The tree 44 may alternatively be a bush or a plant. The product 2 can be formed as a ball or cylinder with a slit 46 to enable the product 2 to be placed around the root 42 or a root ball (not shown).

Although Figure 7 shows the development-enhancing material 6 in the form of pellets, the development-enhancing material may alternatively be a liquid or powder which has been sprayed on to the water-soluble sheet material forming part ofthe product 2.

During use, the development-enhancing material 6 will rot down over a period of, for example, two-three months, depending upon weather conditions. It is to be appreciated that the embodiments ofthe invention described above with reference to the accompanying drawings have been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected. Thus, for example, the product 2 can be in wider or narrower strips than shown in the drawings.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A product for use in at least one of agriculture and horticulture, which product comprises at least one of plant life to be grown and development-enhancing material for enhancing at least one of germination and growth ofthe plant life, and sheet material which contains the said at least one ofthe plant life and the development- enhancing material, the sheet material being a water-soluble sheet material which is dissolveable after sowing for enhancing at least one ofthe germination and the growth ofthe plant life.

2. A product according to claim 1 in which the product is packaged in packaging selected from the group consisting of foil packaging and vacuum packaging, for providing the product with an extended storage life.

3. A product according to claim 1 in which the water-soluble sheet material is selected from the group consisting of hessian, a cotton-based material and paper.

4. A product according to claim 1 in which the water-soluble sheet material is in single sheet form.

5. A product according to claim 1 in which the water-soluble sheet material is in composite form, with the development-enhancing material being sandwiched between two layers ofthe water-soluble sheet material.

6 A product according to claim 5 in which the development-enhancing material is provided on one layer ofthe water-soluble sheet material and then a second layer is placed on top of the first layer.

7. A product according to claim 5 in which the development-enhancing material is laid on one half of a sheet of water-soluble material which is then folded in half on top ofthe development-enhancing material in order to form the water-soluble sheet material into the composite form.

8. A product according to claim 1 in which the development-enhancing material is stuck to the water-soluble sheet material.

9. A product according to claim 1 in which the development-enhancing material is at least one of a fertilizer, a trace element, a pesticide, and an insecticide.

10. A product according to claim 1 in which the water-soluble sheet material is provided with a substance which deters animals from eating the plant life prior to at least one of germination or growth ofthe plant life.

1 1. A product according to claim 1 and which is such that water is able to be applied to the product just prior to the sowing.

12. A product according to claim 1 in which the development-enhancing material is released after germination so that the development-enhancing is not wasted by being leaked into the soil by moisture prior to germination ofthe plant life.

13. A product according to claim 1 and comprising two layers, one layer containing the plant life and the other layer containing the development-enhancing material.