GB2030434A - Sterilizing soil and mulching - Google Patents
Sterilizing soil and mulching Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2030434A GB2030434A GB7838549A GB7838549A GB2030434A GB 2030434 A GB2030434 A GB 2030434A GB 7838549 A GB7838549 A GB 7838549A GB 7838549 A GB7838549 A GB 7838549A GB 2030434 A GB2030434 A GB 2030434A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- crop
- soil
- sheet material
- plastics
- plastics sheet
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
- 239000002689 soil Substances 0.000 title claims abstract description 35
- 230000001954 sterilising effect Effects 0.000 title claims abstract description 17
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 49
- 229920003023 plastic Polymers 0.000 claims abstract description 49
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 41
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 38
- 239000002243 precursor Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 21
- 239000003795 chemical substances by application Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 7
- 238000011065 in-situ storage Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 5
- 230000000885 phytotoxic effect Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 5
- 241000196324 Embryophyta Species 0.000 claims description 10
- 239000004698 Polyethylene Substances 0.000 claims description 6
- 238000005553 drilling Methods 0.000 claims description 6
- -1 polyethylene Polymers 0.000 claims description 6
- 229920000573 polyethylene Polymers 0.000 claims description 6
- XFXPMWWXUTWYJX-UHFFFAOYSA-N Cyanide Chemical compound N#[C-] XFXPMWWXUTWYJX-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 4
- 238000005520 cutting process Methods 0.000 claims description 4
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 claims description 4
- 238000012423 maintenance Methods 0.000 claims description 4
- 230000037361 pathway Effects 0.000 claims description 4
- 230000005070 ripening Effects 0.000 claims description 4
- 239000003381 stabilizer Substances 0.000 claims description 4
- 239000000126 substance Substances 0.000 claims description 4
- 244000241257 Cucumis melo Species 0.000 claims description 3
- 235000015510 Cucumis melo subsp melo Nutrition 0.000 claims description 3
- 241000219122 Cucurbita Species 0.000 claims description 3
- 235000009804 Cucurbita pepo subsp pepo Nutrition 0.000 claims description 3
- 240000009088 Fragaria x ananassa Species 0.000 claims description 3
- 235000007688 Lycopersicon esculentum Nutrition 0.000 claims description 3
- 240000003768 Solanum lycopersicum Species 0.000 claims description 3
- 235000021012 strawberries Nutrition 0.000 claims description 3
- 241000195493 Cryptophyta Species 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000002250 absorbent Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 230000002745 absorbent Effects 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000011358 absorbing material Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 230000002411 adverse Effects 0.000 claims description 2
- 230000000844 anti-bacterial effect Effects 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000003899 bactericide agent Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000004020 conductor Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 208000015181 infectious disease Diseases 0.000 claims description 2
- 230000002401 inhibitory effect Effects 0.000 claims description 2
- 230000001737 promoting effect Effects 0.000 claims description 2
- 230000005855 radiation Effects 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000004659 sterilization and disinfection Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000012414 sterilization procedure Methods 0.000 claims description 2
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
- A01G—HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING
- A01G13/00—Protection of plants
- A01G13/30—Ground coverings
- A01G13/32—Mats; Nets; Sheets or films
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
- A01G—HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING
- A01G11/00—Sterilising soil by steam
Landscapes
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Environmental Sciences (AREA)
- Soil Sciences (AREA)
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Toxicology (AREA)
- Protection Of Plants (AREA)
Abstract
A method of growing a crop on arable land which comprises the steps of a) at least partially covering the land, before growing the crop therein, with an opaque plastics sheet material having a dark surface and a light surface, the dark surface being laid face downwards, b) sterilizing the soil beneath the plastics sheet material c) after any phytotoxic effects of the sterilizing step have dissipated, placing crop precursors in or on the soil through or adjacent the plastics sheet material and d) maintaining the plastics sheet material in situ as a mulching agent during growth to maturity of the crop.
Description
SPECIFICATION
Method of sterilizing and mulching
This invention relates to an improved method of growing a crop.
According to the present invention, there is provided a method of growing a crop on arable land which comprises the steps of a) at least partially covering the land, before growing the crop therein, with an opaque plastics sheet material having a dark surface and a light surface, the dark surface being laid face downwards, b) sterilizing the soil beneath the plastics sheet material c) after any phytotoxic effects of the sterilizing step have dissipated, placing crop precursors in or on the soil through or adjacent the plastics sheet material and d) maintaining the plastics sheet material in situ as a mulching agent during growth to maturity of the crop. The invention also embraces crops grown according to a method as defined above.
A suitable plastics sheet material for use in the present invention is a co-extruded polyethylene sheet, preferably arranged to have one white surface and one black surface. Such a black and white co-extruded polyethylene sheet is commercially available under the Registered Trade Mark TWILENE and the invention specifically includes such plastics sheet material when sold for or used in a method of growing crops as defined above. It is most desirable that the plastics sheeting should include stabilizing agents and ultra-violet radiation absorbing materials so that it will not become adversely degraded during any long exposure thereof to sunlight and atmospheric conditions. Such stabilizers and absorbents are well-known and may be selected as appropriate.
Any suitable way of sterilizing the soil beneath the plastics sheet material may be employed such as heating the soil by means of steam, which may be superheated, or heating the soil electrically, e.g. by means of buried conductors. Alternatively or additionally, there may be injected into the ground a chemical such as an inorganic or organic bactericide, e.g., a cyanide.
In the method of the present invention the crop precursors referred to may comprise one or more of seeds, seedlings, cuttings, rooted runners, pips, etc.
The plastics sheeting may be laid across the land upon which the crop is to be grown in one continuous piece or may be laid as a plurality of strips which may be either joined or fastened together to provide continuous coverage of the land upon which the crop is to be grown or which may be simply overlapped to provide said continuous coverage. It will be understood that access strips or areas may be left free of plastics sheeting to provide, for example, a series of parallel crop-growing, sheeting-covered strips with clear pathways between them to facilitate the planting of the said crop precursors and any subsequent cultivation and/or maintenance. Apparatus suitable for laying strips of plastics sheeting is described and claimed in our copending Patent
Application No. 21083/78 (serial No.
The crop precursors may be inserted into the soil
beneath the said sheets of plastics material by
sheet-puncturing and soil-drilling steps followed by
planting in the drills the plant precursors as referred to above.
The said puncturing, drilling and planting operations may be carried out manually, but preferably
are performed automatically by appropriately de
signed apparatus.
Preferred crops for growing by means of the
present invention are those which are particularly
susceptible to soil born infection and thus benefit
greatly from soil sterilization procedures. The
method of the present invention is thus particularly
suitable for growing strawberries, melons, marrows
and tomatoes.
The benefits of using a bi-coloured plastics sheet
material as defined hereinbefore as a mulching
agent are manifold: the soil is occuluded from light, thus inhibiting the growth of weeds, moulds and
algae; light is reflected from the light-coloured
surface onto the ripening crop thus promoting faster
and more uniform ripening; and crops for consumption remain clean and pleasing in appearance.
1. A method of growing a crop on arable land
which comprises the steps of a) at least partially
covering the land, before growing the crop therein,
with an opaque plastics sheet material having a dark
surface and a light surface, the dark surface being
laid face downwards, b) sterilizing the soil beneath
the plastics sheet material c) after any phytotoxic
effects of the sterilizing step have dissipated, placing
crop precursors in or on the soil through or adjacent
the plastics sheet material and d) maintaining the
plastics sheet material in situ as a mulching agent
during growth to maturity of the crop.
2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the
opaque plastics sheet material is a co-extruded
polyethylene sheet.
3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein
the opaque plastics sheet material has one white
surface and one black surface.
4. A method according to any preceding claim,
wherein sterilization of the soil is effected by a
chemical method.
5. A method according to claim 4 wherein a
cyanide is employed to sterilize the soil.
6. A method according to any preceding claim,
wherein the plant precursors are selected from
seeds, seedlings, cuttings and rooted runners.
7. A method according to any preceding claim,
wheren the crop precursors are inserted into the soil
beneath the said sheets of plastics material by
puncturing the sheet and drilling the soil followed by
planting the plant precursors in the drills so formed.
8. A method according to any preceding claim,
wherein a plurality of parallel strips of soil are so
covered with the plastics sheet material as to leave
clear pathways between the strips to facilitate plant
ing of the precursors and any subsequent cultivation 'and/or maintenance.
9. A method according to any preceding claim,
wherein the sheets of plastics material are laid as
contiguous or overlapping parallel strips and are
**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.
Claims (14)
1. A method of growing a crop on arable land
which comprises the steps of a) at least partially
covering the land, before growing the crop therein,
with an opaque plastics sheet material having a dark
surface and a light surface, the dark surface being
laid face downwards, b) sterilizing the soil beneath
the plastics sheet material c) after any phytotoxic
effects of the sterilizing step have dissipated, placing
crop precursors in or on the soil through or adjacent
the plastics sheet material and d) maintaining the
plastics sheet material in situ as a mulching agent
during growth to maturity of the crop.
2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the
opaque plastics sheet material is a co-extruded
polyethylene sheet.
3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein
the opaque plastics sheet material has one white
surface and one black surface.
4. A method according to any preceding claim,
wherein sterilization of the soil is effected by a
chemical method.
5. A method according to claim 4 wherein a
cyanide is employed to sterilize the soil.
6. A method according to any preceding claim,
wherein the plant precursors are selected from
seeds, seedlings, cuttings and rooted runners.
7. A method according to any preceding claim,
wheren the crop precursors are inserted into the soil
beneath the said sheets of plastics material by
puncturing the sheet and drilling the soil followed by
planting the plant precursors in the drills so formed.
8. A method according to any preceding claim,
wherein a plurality of parallel strips of soil are so
covered with the plastics sheet material as to leave
clear pathways between the strips to facilitate plant
ing of the precursors and any subsequent cultivation 'and/or maintenance.
9. A method according to any preceding claim,
wherein the sheets of plastics material are laid as
contiguous or overlapping parallel strips and are secured together.
10. A method according to claim 9, wherein the strips of plastics sheet material are welded together.
11. A method of growing a crop on arable land, substantially as hereinbefore described.
12. A crop when grown by a method as claimed in any preceding claim.
13. A crop according to claim 12 and comprising strawberries, tomatoes, melons or marrows.
14. Features hereinbefore disclosed, or their equivalents, in any novel selection.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB7838549A GB2030434A (en) | 1978-09-28 | 1978-09-28 | Sterilizing soil and mulching |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB7838549A GB2030434A (en) | 1978-09-28 | 1978-09-28 | Sterilizing soil and mulching |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB2030434A true GB2030434A (en) | 1980-04-10 |
Family
ID=10499973
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB7838549A Withdrawn GB2030434A (en) | 1978-09-28 | 1978-09-28 | Sterilizing soil and mulching |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2030434A (en) |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP0967861A4 (en) * | 1997-10-27 | 2000-12-13 | Claude E Brown | Agricultural apparatus and methods with superheated steam |
| WO2003099004A3 (en) * | 2002-05-17 | 2004-06-17 | Advanced Scient Technologies C | Systems and methods for in situ soil sterilization, insect extermination and weed killing |
-
1978
- 1978-09-28 GB GB7838549A patent/GB2030434A/en not_active Withdrawn
Cited By (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USRE39636E1 (en) | 1996-05-03 | 2007-05-22 | Claude Brown | Agricultural methods with superheated steam |
| EP0967861A4 (en) * | 1997-10-27 | 2000-12-13 | Claude E Brown | Agricultural apparatus and methods with superheated steam |
| AU754019B2 (en) * | 1997-10-27 | 2002-10-31 | Claude E. Brown | Agricultural apparatus and methods with superheated steam |
| AU754019C (en) * | 1997-10-27 | 2003-06-26 | Claude E. Brown | Agricultural apparatus and methods with superheated steam |
| WO2003099004A3 (en) * | 2002-05-17 | 2004-06-17 | Advanced Scient Technologies C | Systems and methods for in situ soil sterilization, insect extermination and weed killing |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |