WO2010042960A1

WO2010042960A1 - A seed sowing aid

Info

Publication number: WO2010042960A1
Application number: PCT/ZA2009/000087
Authority: WO
Inventors: Claire Reid
Original assignee: Claire Reid
Priority date: 2008-10-06
Filing date: 2009-10-06
Publication date: 2010-04-15
Also published as: AP3875A; AP2011005630A0; ZA201101675B

Abstract

A seed sowing aid (10) which includes a strip of material (11) of a predetermined width, having a first edge (28) and an opposing second edge (32) and a plurality of seeds (20), each of which is at least partly enclosed by the strip (11) to lie adjacent the first edge (28), longitudinally spaced from one another at predetermined intervals and wherein, when the strip (11) is placed in a furrow (26) in the ground, the second edge (32) lies at or above the ground surface.

Description

A SEED SOWING AID

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates generally to a seed sowing aid.

[0002] Each variety of plant has a set of unique seed sowing factors for a maximal germination rate. Chief amongst these factors are the sowing depth and the sowing interval.

[0003] Problems often experienced when sowing seed, especially in a noncommercial, garden setting, are random and uneven furrow heights, which translate to irregular sowing depths, and random and irregular sowing intervals. These problems can lead to poor germination rates.

[0004] The present invention at least partially addresses the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0005] The invention provides a seed sowing aid which includes a strip of material of a predetermined width, having a first edge and an opposing second edge and a plurality of seeds, each of which is at least partly enclosed by the strip to lie adjacent the first edge, longitudinally spaced from one another at predetermined intervals and wherein, when the strip is placed in a furrow in the ground, the second edge lies at or above the ground surface.

[0006] The strip may be decomposable or biodegradable.

[0007] The strip may be impregnated with any one of the following: a fertilizer, a growth enhancer and a nematicide.

[0008] Preferably a fertilizer composition is encased with each seed in the strip.

[0009] The strip may include a plurality of spaced perforations adjacent the first edge, to assist egress and ingress of fluids between the encased seeds and the exterior environment.

[0010] Alternatively or additionally the strip may be a permeable or semi-permeable material.

[0011] The strip may include a seed type identifier. The identifier may be placed adjacent the second edge so as to remain visible when the aid is in use, i.e. when placed in the furrow, to allow identification of the variety of the seed encased therein.

[0012] The identifier may be a coloured identifier.

[0013] Preferably the colour of the identifier has an association with a plant or fruit of the particular variety of the seed, or a symbolic identifier. [0014] The invention further provides a method of sowing seed which includes the steps of:

(a) encasing each of a plurality of seeds in a strip of material in longitudinally spaced relationship to each other; (b) placing the strip vertically in a furrow prepared in the ground;

(c) filling the furrow with soil thereby to at least partly cover the strip to leave a top edge of the strip at or slightly above the ground surface.

[0015] Each seed may be longitudinally spaced from another at a predetermined interval.

[0016] The seeds may be encased within the strip adjacent a first edge thereof. The first edge may be formed by folding the strip along a longitudinal line which may be centrally located on the strip.

[0017] The strip of material may be of a width predetermined by the variety of plant the seeds, encased within the strip, represent.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] The invention is further described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a strip of material according to the invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of the strip with a plurality of seeds placed thereon; Figure 3 is a view in elevation of the strip folded upon itself to encase the seeds; Figure 4 is an isometric view of the strip of Figure 3, about to be placed in a furrow; and Figure 5 is an isometric view of the strip of Figure 3, placed in the furrow, illustrating a plurality of seedlings each of which arises from a germinated seed.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0019] Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings illustrates a seed sowing aid 10 which includes a strip of biodegradable material 11 , with an inner surface 12, which has a plurality of perforations 14 defining a longitudinal medial line 18.

[0020] Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings illustrates the strip 11 with a plurality of seeds 20 placed on the inner surface 12. Each of the seeds is spaced from another, along the line 18, at a predetermined interval (an interval is illustrated as the distance between a pair of transverse dotted lines). The intervals are regular and are predetermined, with the variety of seed in mind, to optimize germination rates.

[0021] A sprinkling of a suitable fertilizer composition 22 is placed around each seed to aid in the germination and growth of the seeds.

[0022] The strip 11 is then folded inwardly, along the line 18, to bring respective inner surfaces of longitudinal strip half sections (24A and 24B) together (see Figure 3 and 4). At least part of the inner surface 12 can be provided with an adhesive coating to aid in adherence of the inner surfaces to each other. [0023] The width of a strip section (24A, 24B) is predetermined, according to at least the variety of seed included and optimization of germination rates, as the width substantially translates to the depth at which the seeds are sown when the strip is placed in a furrow 26 in the ground (see Figure 4).

[0024] By folding the strip 11 in the manner described above, the seeds are encapsulated within the strip to lie adjacent the perforated line 18, which now defines a first, or bottom, edge 28.

[0025] A coloured stripe, appropriately coloured to identify the variety of seed encapsulated in the strip 11 , is provided adjacent a second, or top, edge 32, which opposes the bottom edge 28.

[0026] With reference to Figure 4, the folded strip 11 is placed in a furrow 26, prepared in the ground, with the bottom edge 28 leading entry of the strip therein. Before soil is filled around the strip in the furrow, a gardener (not shown) ensures that at least part of the coloured stripe is visible above the ground thus ensuring that the seeds are at an optimal and uniform sowing depth and the seeds thus sown can be later identified.

Claims

1. A seed sowing aid which includes a strip of material of a predetermined width, having a first edge and an opposing second edge and a plurality of seeds, each of which is at least partly enclosed by the strip to lie adjacent the first edge, longitudinally spaced from one another at predetermined intervals and wherein, when the strip is placed in a furrow in the ground, the second edge lies at or above the ground surface.

2. A seed sowing aid according to claim 1 wherein the strip is decomposable or biodegradable.

3. A seed sowing aid according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the strip is impregnated with at least one of the following: a fertilizer, a growth enhancer and a nematicide.

4. A seed sowing aid according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein a fertilizer composition is encased with each seed in the strip.

5. A seed sowing aid according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the strip includes a plurality of spaced perforations adjacent the first edge, to assist egress and ingress of fluids between the encased seeds and the exterior environment.

6. A seed sowing aid according to claims 1 to 5 wherein the strip is a permeable or semi-permeable material.

7. A seed sowing aid according to any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the strip includes a seed type identifier, adjacent the second edge, which remains visible when the strip is in use to identify the seed encased therein.

8. A seed sowing aid according to claim 7 wherein the identifier is a coloured identifier or a symbolic identifier.

9. A method of sowing seed which includes the steps of:

(a) encasing each of a plurality of seeds in a strip of material in longitudinally spaced relationship to each other;

(b) placing the strip vertically in a furrow prepared in the ground; (c) filling the furrow with soil thereby to at least partly cover the strip to leave a top edge at or slightly above the ground surface.

10. A method according to claim 9 wherein the seeds are encased within the strip adjacent a bottom edge thereof.

11. A method according to claim 9 or 10 wherein the strip of material is of a width predetermined by the variety of plant the seeds, encased within the strip, represent.

12. A method according to any one of claims 9 to 11 wherein each seed is longitudinally spaced from another at a predetermined interval.