Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TITLE OF THE INVENTION
Fabric containing insoluble copper salts for use in
controlling growth of plant roots
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field! of the Invention
This invention is directed to a fabric for controlling
growth of plant roots, containing an insoluble copper salt
bounded to said fabric.
Description of Related Art ~9 O i~J
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U.S. patenlC4,012,221--~dated March 15, 1977, to
WALKER et al., discloses a slow release copper toxicant
composition. The composition contains a water soluble copper
capable of producing ions in water, which is dispersed in an
elastomer in which the copper salt is insoluble.
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U.S. patent (~891,42~) dated June 24, 1975, to
STANLEY et al., di~5~ a fabric containing an herbicide.
U.S. patent~3,1~ ~ ed February 4, 1975, to GREEN,
discloses a fabric impregnated with an active chemical
product. fJ Z ~ q /o6~ b
~ 4?~/~~
U.S. paten~Jdated May 10, 1988, to BAHADIR et al,
discloses a fabric containing active substances impregnated
into an organic support. These active substances are slowly
moving out of the organic support.
U.S. patent 3,384,993 dated May 28, 1968, to KANE, discloses
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a nutrient-hydrocarbon comixture.
U.S. patent 4,133,668 dated January 9, 1979, to YOUNG,
discloses a nutrient-hydrocarbon comixture.
U.S. patent 4,762,545 dated August 9, 1988, to YOUSSEF et
al., discloses a hydrophilic polymer with nutritive salts.
It is also known to grow a large variety of plants in
containers in the form of pots or bags, before transplanta-
tion in normal soil, with the hope that roots will grow in a
uniform manner and that the transplantation shock will be as
little as possible.
Thus, bags for growing plants and trees are used, which are
filled with soil and disposed on wire nettings which
facilitate their transportation. Other bags are made of non-
woven fabric and chemically untreated. Plastic containers
are also used for growing plants.
In all cases where bags are used, the roots can pass through
the bags and are proved to be destroyed during transplanta-
tion. The roots can also grow hilically within the bags. In
such a case, the roots are also destroyed during soil
transplantation, and to that extent, plant growth is slowed
down.
It has already been suggested to treat pots chemically with
chemicals such as copper carbonate and copper sulphate
applied by immersion or spray, without giving reproducible
results. The proportion of these chemicals applied to the
pots is not constant and as a consequence, death of plants
occurs, especially when the proportion of these chemicals is
too low.
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_ MMARY OF THE INVENTION
Broadly stated, the invention is directed to a fabric for
growing plants, containing an insoluble copper product
bounded to said fabric with a water insoluble polymeric
binder.
More particularly, the invention is directed to a water
insoluble textile fabric for use in growing plants,
comprising a water insoluble polymeric binder and a water
insoluble copper product, the copper product being dispersed
in the binder and the binder retaining and confining the
copper product to the water insoluble textile fabric,
whereby the textile fabric stops the growth of undesirable
rootlets or radicles which comes in contact thereto.
In another embodiment, the invention is also directed to a
method to make a water insoluble textile fabric containing
water insoluble copper comprising:
a) mixing a water insoluble binder with a water insoluble
copper product to obtain a good dispersion of the copper in
the binder
b) impregnating a water insoluble textile fabric with the
mixture obtained in step (a); and
c) drying and curring the impregnated fabric.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The polymeric binder used in accordance with the invention
is preferably a latex, such as an acrylic nitrile,
polyolefin or SBR latex, which is either crosslinked or
self-crosslinking. This latex is mixed with the water
insoluble copper product. This copper product may be copper
hydroxide or, more preferably, copper carbonate in powder or
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dispersed form. The amount of carbonate that is used is
preferably selected to obtain a textile fabric containing
from 5 to 100 grams per square meter preferably 15 to 30
grams per square meter of copper carbonate.
The mixture of the copper carbonate with the latex is
preferably carried out in a mixer having a high friction
coefficient. Once a good dispersion of the copper carbonate
in the polymeric latex is obtained, the mixture is used to
impregnate the fabric.
The fabric must be a water insoluble textile fabric having
fibers united together mechanically, thermically or
chemically, by fusion binding, needle punching or water
entanglement, the fabric being woven or non-woven.
Preferably, the textile fabric has a weight varying from 100
to 500 grams per square meter and more preferably 150 to 250
grams per square meter. Preferred textile fabrics are those
made up of polyester, polypropylene polyethylene or nylon.
The impregnation of the fabric with the latex containing the
water insoluble copper product in dispersion may be
conducted by impregnation, padding or coating, with known
apparatuses which are used in the textile field. Thereafter,
the fabric is dried to remove the water from the latex.
The mixture of latex and copper product can be applied
either on one side of the fabric or both sides thereof. It
can also be applied to fully impregnate the fabric.
The drying step may be conducted in such a manner as to
cause the polymeric latex to crosslink so as to more fully
confine the insoluble copper to the textile fabric
structure.
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Preferably, the impregnated textile fabric can further be
processed to form sheets, rolls or bags, depending upon
their end uses.
In accordance with the present invention, it is now possible
to obtain a fabric for controlling the growth plant roots
which has the exact, well homogeneously distributed copper
dosage necessary to prevent the formation of undesirable
rootlets or radicles.
When rootlets or radicles are in contact with the water
insoluble textile fabric described above, these rootlets or
radicles become dormant. New roots are thus produced ,
strengthening the base of the plants, while the formation of
helical roots is avoided.
When transplanted, the dormant roots are immediately
starting their active role of feeding nutrients, thereby
easing adaptation of the plant to a new milieu.
In nurseries, where pruning of trees is conducted, the tips
of the roots do not experience drying as is generally
encountered. Drying of the tips generally leads to a high
rate of plant losses during soil transplantation.
The fabric described above can be used to form bags for
growing of trees and shrubs or can be used as a lining in
small size containers or baskets. The bags may of course be
of any size commensurate with the end use, enabling plant
growth outside the soil.
In the case of small plants, the fabric disclosed
hereinabove can also be used in the form of sheets laid over
the soil, thereby avoiding tedious steps. The pots are
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directly placed over the sheet and the ends of the roots
that leave the pots became dormant when they contact the
sheet. This application is particularly useful in
nurseries.
As aforesaid other latex such as Styrene-butodiene-resin
(S.s.R.) may be used, as well as other water emulsions of
synthetic or natural rubber which are crosslinkable or self-
crosslinking.
Other water insoluble copper products such as copper
hydroxide may also be used if desired.
Other water insoluble textile fabrics susceptible to sustain
the weight of plants may further be used whether or not they
are made of natural or synthetic material.
Althou~h the present invention has been explained
hereinabove by way of preferred embodiments thereof, it
should be pointed out that any modifications to these
preferred embodiments, within the scope of the appended
claims, is not deemed to change or alter the nature and
scope of the invention.
