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WO1987003167A1 - Procede et dispositif de chauffage de plantes pour en stimuler la croissance et emballage de graines indique pour l'application dudit procede - Google Patents

Procede et dispositif de chauffage de plantes pour en stimuler la croissance et emballage de graines indique pour l'application dudit procede Download PDF

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Publication number
WO1987003167A1
WO1987003167A1 PCT/GB1986/000716 GB8600716W WO8703167A1 WO 1987003167 A1 WO1987003167 A1 WO 1987003167A1 GB 8600716 W GB8600716 W GB 8600716W WO 8703167 A1 WO8703167 A1 WO 8703167A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
seed
plants
enclosure
compartment
microwave
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.)
Ceased
Application number
PCT/GB1986/000716
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
William Nevil Heaton Johnson
Noel Robertson Mckenzie
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
APPLIED AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH Ltd
Original Assignee
APPLIED AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH Ltd
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from GB858528692A external-priority patent/GB8528692D0/en
Priority claimed from GB858528970A external-priority patent/GB8528970D0/en
Application filed by APPLIED AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH Ltd filed Critical APPLIED AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH Ltd
Publication of WO1987003167A1 publication Critical patent/WO1987003167A1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01C—PLANTING; SOWING; FERTILISING
    • A01C1/00—Apparatus, or methods of use thereof, for testing or treating seed, roots, or the like, prior to sowing or planting
    • A01C1/04—Arranging seed on carriers, e.g. on tapes, on cords ; Carrier compositions
    • A01C1/042—Tapes, bands or cords
    • 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
    • A01G7/00—Botany in general
    • A01G7/04—Electric or magnetic or acoustic treatment of plants for promoting growth

Definitions

  • THIS INVENTION relates to a method of heating plants to promote growth and or to protect plants from low-temperature damage and to a seed package which is of particular utility in relation to the growing of plants using the method.
  • the invention also relates to apparatus for use in carrying out the method.
  • a method of heating plants to encourage growth and/or protect the plants from damage due to low temperatures comprising generating microwave electromagnetic radiation and directing the same at the plants.
  • the method preferably includes accommodating the plants within an enclosure rendered reflective to microwave energy, and disposing an emitter of said microwave radiation so as to direct the same at the plants, the reflectivity of the enclosure to microwave energy serving to mimimise the loss of microwave energy from the enclosure.
  • apparatus for encouraging the growth of plants, or protecting the plants from damage by cold including an enclosure which is at least partly reflective to microwave electromagnetic radiation, a plant-growing medium within said enclosure, and means in said enclosure for emitting and directing microwave electromagnetic radiation to the space within the enclosure.
  • the present invention adapts the techniques known for cooking purposes to provide extended but much more gentle heating of living plants to promote the growth of the plants, or at least to protect plants from frost damage, for example.
  • the plants are heated directly and whilst the plants will, of course, lose heat to the surrounding air, which will, in turn, lose heat through the walls of the greenhouse or other enclosure to the outside, this heat loss is substantially less than in a case where the air is heated directly.
  • a seed package comprising a plastics envelope defining two adjacent compartments and a communication between said compartments, a temporary seal sealing off said communication, one of said compartments containing at least one seed in a dry environment and the other of said compartments containing a dose of water, the arrangement being such that when said package is subjected to microwave radiation, said temporary seal is ruptured and the water passes from said other compartment into the compartment containing the seed, in order to initiate germination thereof.
  • the envelope preferably comprises bio-degradable plastics and is so designed as to be sufficiently degraded as not to impede growth of plant from the seed originally contained in the package by the time that the plant has outgrown the space afforded by the respective compartment.
  • the seed-containing compartment may also contain a growing medium such as sterile dry compost or synthetic loam, together with, if desired, a fertiliser.
  • a growing medium such as sterile dry compost or synthetic loam, together with, if desired, a fertiliser.
  • the envelope may be contrived as a so-called “bubble pack” with each seed and the respective water dose being provided in adjacent "bubbles" of a respective pair of such bubbles.
  • FIGURE 1 is a sectional view of apparatus embodying the invention including a greenhouse in the form of a barn-like structure clad in rigid light- transmitting sheeting,
  • FIGURE 2 is a sectional view of a variant apparatus including a greenhouse in the form of a tunnel or extended arch clad in light-transmitting flexible plastic sheeting,
  • FIGURE 3 is a plan view showing part of a plant pack embodying the invention.
  • FIGURE 4 is a view in section along the lines IV-IV of Figure 3.
  • a greenhouse 2 which is of substantially con ⁇ ventional construction (except in the respects noted below) is clad in a rigid sheet material such as sheet glass or a rigid plastics sheeting.
  • a growing medium 3 such as soil or compost is provided in the greenhouse.
  • a microwave emitter 5 is located centrally within the greenhouse and the walls, at least, of the greenhouse are rendered reflective to microwave radiation, for example by being lined with metal net or mesh or with ⁇ emi-light-transmissive and semi- reflective material such as polyester film, coated with a metal such as aluminium, or alternatively the glass or plastics panels forming the cladding of the side walls of the greenhouse may themselves be rendered semi-reflective by metallisation, for example by sputter-coating such cladding with metal.
  • the emitter 5 is arranged to emit microwave radiation substantially transversely as indicated by arrows 7 to heat gently the plants growing between the emitter 5 and the lining 6.
  • the emitter 5 may, of course, be arranged to emit microwave radiation to either side of the greenhouse, although only emission to one side is illustrated).
  • the emitter 5 may itself incorporate means, such as a magnetron, for generating microwave energy and in this case, where the greenhouse is of extended length, similar emitters 5 are disposed at intervals therealong.
  • microwave energy from a single generator of such radiation may be lead, by way of suitable wave guides or the like, to microwave emitters or radiators disposed at intervals along the length of the greenhouse.
  • the greenhouse takes the form of a tunnel or extended arch clad in flexible plastics film 8, for example draped over and secured to hoop-shaped cross members arranged at intervals along the length of the greenhouse.
  • Greenhouses of this general type are known per se.
  • the cross members are so shaped that the flexible plastics cladding has a substantially parabolic or quasi-parabolic shape in cross-section as shown and the or each microwave emitter 5 is located substantially at the focus of the parabola and arranged to direct radiation upwardly as well as horizontally.
  • the plastics material cladding the greenhouse is rendered reflective to microwave radiation by sputter-coating the plastics film with metal such as aluminium, gold or the like.
  • the sputter- coating of the plastics film 8 is such as to render the latter part light transmissive and part light reflective while still being reflective to microwaves. Becau ⁇ e of the parabolic form of the tunnel, microwave energy radiated from the emitter 5 and impinging upon the internal surface of the cladding is reflected back, substantially uniformly onto the plants within the greenhouse. In this arrangement a substantial part of the microwave energy reflected towards the plants by the film 8 penetrates the soil or other growing medium in which the plants are growing to promote growth.
  • the cladding material may be as disclosed in greater detail in our co-pending U.K. Patent Application No. 8526157.
  • the seed pack shown is in the form of a strip 10 comprising two superimposed layers of plastics film which, except in the region of "bubbles" 12, 14 and connecting bridges 16 are bonded together, for example by welding, adhesive or the like.
  • One of the layers of plastics film is formed with depressions, which form the bubbles 12, 14, whilst the other layer is sub ⁇ stantially flat.
  • the "bubbles" are arranged in pairs, successive pairs being spaced apart at predetermined intervals along the length of the strip, each pair comprising a bubble 12 and an adjoining bubble 14.
  • the connecting bridge 16 between the bubbles 12, 14, of each pair preferably comprises a region where both the upper and lower layers are flat and are in contact with one another or separated by only a very thin layer of an interposed temporary sealant, 18.
  • the bridge 18 may simply comprise a region where the superimposed layers have been pressed together to provide this "clinging" action.
  • the seal 18 may comprise a temporary and easily displaceable sealant, such as a non- toxic wax or grease. A more permanent bond is provided between the superimposed layers of the strip around the entire periphery of the composite formation defined jointly by the bubbles 12, 14 of each pair and the connecting bridge 16.
  • Each bubble 14 contains a seed 20 in a dry state, surrounded by a dry growing medium, for example dry, sterile, natural or synthetic compost with, for example, if desired, an appropriate fertiliser.
  • a dry growing medium for example dry, sterile, natural or synthetic compost with, for example, if desired, an appropriate fertiliser.
  • Each compartment 12 contains a quantity of water.
  • the bubbles 12 are made transparent to microwave radiation, whereas the bubbles 14 may be treated, for example by metalisation, to render them reflective to microwaves or, alternatively, the encapsulation of the seeds 20 may have a water-permeable but microwave- reflecting coating.
  • such coating may be provided on the exterior of a pellet of the compost or compost/fertiliser mixture in which the seed is embedded.
  • the strip 10 is extended over the growing bed within a cloche, greenhouse, or the like, such as disclosed in our co-pending U.K. Patent Application No. 8528692 incorporating means for irradiating the interior of the cloche or the like and/or the growing medium therein, with microwave electromagnetic radiation.
  • the strip 10 may be left on the surface of the growing medium or may be lightly covered with further growing medium.
  • the seals 18 will remain intact, and the seeds 20 dormant, until such time as the microwave generating means is activated to subject the strip 10 and the surrounding or adjacent growing medium to microwave radiation, whereupon the doses of water in the bubbles 12 are heated and in turn heat the air included in the bubbles 12, causing a rise of pressure thereof, thereby separating the superimposed layers in the region of the bridge 16, breaking the seal 18 and allowing water to pass into the bubbles 14 to moisten the growing medium around the seeds 20.
  • the temporary seal 18 may be made of a material particularly susceptible to heating by microwaves and arranged to melt, soften, or break down when subjected to microwaves, to allow water to enter the bubbles 14.
  • the material of the strip 10 is preferably of bio-degradable plastics and is of such a thickness and nature that, by the time that the seedlings which develop within the bubbles 14 from the seeds 20 have become sufficiently developed to require more space than afforded by the bubbles 14, the material of the bubbles has substantially disintegrated allowing the roots and growing shoots of the seedlings to rupture the degraded plastics material readily, to extend into the surrounding growing medium.

Landscapes

  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Environmental Sciences (AREA)
  • Biodiversity & Conservation Biology (AREA)
  • Botany (AREA)
  • Ecology (AREA)
  • Forests & Forestry (AREA)
  • Soil Sciences (AREA)
  • Pretreatment Of Seeds And Plants (AREA)
  • Cultivation Receptacles Or Flower-Pots, Or Pots For Seedlings (AREA)
  • Cultivation Of Plants (AREA)

Abstract

Procédé de stimulation de la croissance des plantes et de protection desdites plantes contre les dégâts provoqués par les basses températures, consistant à chauffer les plantes à l'aide d'une radiation à micro-ondes. Un emballage de graines destiné à être utilisé pour faire pousser des plantes exposées à une radiation à micro-ondes comprend une enveloppe en plastique définissant deux compartiments adjacents (12, 14) et un pont ou passage (16) communiquant entre les compartiments (12, 14). Le pont ou passage (16) est interrompu par un obturateur temporaire (18). L'un des compartiments (14) contient au moins une graine dans un milieu de croissance sec et l'autre compartiment (12) contient une dose d'eau. Lorsque l'emballage est exposé à une radiation à micro-ondes, l'obturateur temporaire (18) est cassé et l'eau du compartiment (12) passe dans le compartiment (14) contenant la graine, afin de stimuler la germination de cette dernière. L'enveloppe comprend du plastique bio-dégradable et est conçue de manière à être suffisament dégradée pour ne pas entraver le développement d'une plante produite par la graine contenue à l'origine dans l'emballage, lorsque les dimensions dépassent celles de l'espace délimité par le compartiment respectif.
PCT/GB1986/000716 1985-11-21 1986-11-21 Procede et dispositif de chauffage de plantes pour en stimuler la croissance et emballage de graines indique pour l'application dudit procede Ceased WO1987003167A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB8528692 1985-11-21
GB858528692A GB8528692D0 (en) 1985-11-21 1985-11-21 Growing of plants
GB858528970A GB8528970D0 (en) 1985-11-25 1985-11-25 Seed pack
GB8528970 1985-11-25

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1987003167A1 true WO1987003167A1 (fr) 1987-06-04

Family

ID=26290028

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/GB1986/000716 Ceased WO1987003167A1 (fr) 1985-11-21 1986-11-21 Procede et dispositif de chauffage de plantes pour en stimuler la croissance et emballage de graines indique pour l'application dudit procede

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0245420A1 (fr)
AU (1) AU6727987A (fr)
WO (1) WO1987003167A1 (fr)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2291328A (en) * 1994-07-12 1996-01-24 Desert Bloom Foundation Protective enclosures for seeds
KR20020067172A (ko) * 2001-02-15 2002-08-22 주식회사 올앤풀 종자의 파종특성을 개량하기 위한 마이크로파 조사방법 및설비
ES2221540A1 (es) * 2002-10-23 2004-12-16 Universidad Politecnica De Madrid Procedimiento de irradiacion electromagnetica de la hierba y sus usos para el cuidado y mantenimiento de la hierba.
WO2009042828A3 (fr) * 2007-09-26 2009-06-04 Raytheon Co Système et appareil pour empêcher le gel de cultures
US7963068B2 (en) 2007-09-26 2011-06-21 Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. Apparatus and method to package articles for storage and identification
US10849278B2 (en) * 2015-08-05 2020-12-01 Sophia School Corporation Plant cultivation method

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1198837A (en) * 1967-10-05 1970-07-15 Jegco Inc Plant Cultivating Means
EP0035906A2 (fr) * 1980-03-10 1981-09-16 Teijin Limited Structure stratifiée transmettant sélectivement la lumière
GB2120065A (en) * 1982-04-27 1983-11-30 Michael Frederick Huber Heating plants
DE3244428A1 (de) * 1982-12-01 1984-06-07 Peter Dipl.-Phys. 7000 Stuttgart Hoffmann Verfahren und vorrichtung zur erwaermung von lebenden pflanzen mit mikrowellen

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1198837A (en) * 1967-10-05 1970-07-15 Jegco Inc Plant Cultivating Means
EP0035906A2 (fr) * 1980-03-10 1981-09-16 Teijin Limited Structure stratifiée transmettant sélectivement la lumière
GB2120065A (en) * 1982-04-27 1983-11-30 Michael Frederick Huber Heating plants
DE3244428A1 (de) * 1982-12-01 1984-06-07 Peter Dipl.-Phys. 7000 Stuttgart Hoffmann Verfahren und vorrichtung zur erwaermung von lebenden pflanzen mit mikrowellen

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2291328A (en) * 1994-07-12 1996-01-24 Desert Bloom Foundation Protective enclosures for seeds
GB2291328B (en) * 1994-07-12 1998-05-06 Desert Bloom Foundation Protective enclosures for seeds
US5799439A (en) * 1994-07-12 1998-09-01 Desert Bloom Foundation Protective enclosures for seeds
KR20020067172A (ko) * 2001-02-15 2002-08-22 주식회사 올앤풀 종자의 파종특성을 개량하기 위한 마이크로파 조사방법 및설비
ES2221540A1 (es) * 2002-10-23 2004-12-16 Universidad Politecnica De Madrid Procedimiento de irradiacion electromagnetica de la hierba y sus usos para el cuidado y mantenimiento de la hierba.
WO2009042828A3 (fr) * 2007-09-26 2009-06-04 Raytheon Co Système et appareil pour empêcher le gel de cultures
US7963068B2 (en) 2007-09-26 2011-06-21 Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. Apparatus and method to package articles for storage and identification
US7966769B2 (en) 2007-09-26 2011-06-28 Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. Apparatus and method to package articles for storage and identification
US8240084B2 (en) 2007-09-26 2012-08-14 Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. Apparatus and method to package articles for storage and identification
US10849278B2 (en) * 2015-08-05 2020-12-01 Sophia School Corporation Plant cultivation method

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU6727987A (en) 1987-07-01
EP0245420A1 (fr) 1987-11-19

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