Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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PLANT NURSERY AND STORAGE SYSTEM FOR USE IN THE GROWTH OF
FIELD-READY PLANTS
Sidloski
FIELD OF THE INVENTION:
This invention is in the field of indoor and outdoor plant production, and
more
specifically discloses a novel system and method for the growth of field ready
plants
from plant material using a novel sub-irrigation method.
BACKGROUND:
Western countries suffer high capital infrastructure and high labour costs in
indoor tree
production and horticulture production due in part to requiring specialized
highly trained
personnel to operate complex nursery equipment and processes. Tree production
operations in southern hemisphere countries, typically suffer from extremely
high labour
requirements, large land spaces for nurseries and very high soil requirements
and high
transport costs. Cost of labour, machinery and chemical associated with
mechanized and
manual cultivation and herbicide and fertilizer application in conventional
bare root tree
seedling field nurseries and for vegetable seedling and food production is a
significant
cost. If these costs could be reduced or eliminated then the cost of tree
production would
likewise be greatly reduced.
Container plant production systems in countries with sub-zero climates require
costly
greenhouse buildings and irrigation/water quality control technology, nutrient
control and
often PH balancing processes, and sometimes hydroponic infrastructure. In the
case of
outdoor field nurseries, costly irrigation, and intensive machinery and/or
labour for
weeding and cultivation or costly mulching to achieve the same end is
required.
Conventional outdoor nurseries require significant land space that is costly
and more so
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when outdoor nurseries are in the vicinity of urban centers where real estate
values are
higher. Container plant production methods that relied upon the highest
planting density
possible to minimize land and requirements and cost and equipment necessities
would be
positively accepted in industry.
Vast amounts of global forests have been cut down for farmland expansion,
timber
industry or consumed for fuel, and reforestation programs are significantly
limited by the
high cost of tree production. Methods of producing high volumes of seedlings
for the
reseeding of forests and other consumed crops and natural resources at the
lowest
possible cost would be a desirable outcome. Many Asian countries are now in a
panic to
reforest ocean margins to protect against extreme ocean events. However they
lack
upscale tree production capability to meet the need. In some Asian countries
such as
Malaysia, tree availability is so scarce that government often acquires trees
for
reforestation by hiring personnel to dig up seedlings one by one from the
forest for this
purpose.
The harsh and sometimes highly variable climate of northern latitude countries
such as
Canada, the northern U.S. and many parts of Europe have prompted many tree
production
centers to build costly indoor green houses and supporting technologies to
start tree
seedlings in the winter months for marketing and distribution in the spring
and summer
period. While some of these nurseries run year-round, others close down for
the winter
months due to high cost of maintaining plants indoors during the harshest
winter months.
These and even year round indoor nurseries often dispose of excess container
plants due
to the high cost of year round maintenance or due to lack of space for new
green house
crops.
Efforts to minimize the cost of labor often involve high cost capital
acquisition of
computerized watering and shading systems, water purification, nutrient
feeding and PH
balancing operations. Examples of complex nursery systems can be seen in
Canadian
patents 2216735 (Takayuanagi),1122803 (Da Vitoria lobo), 2119043 (Ynohara),
and
2382585 (Hessel & Bar-On). In Patent 1122803, Da Vitoria Lobo uses an advanced
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hydroponics method, but it requires an intensive amount of machinery and
micromanagement in addition to the requirement of highly skilled operators.
Hessel and
Bar-On take this a step further, almost completely automating plant production
with
robotics. This requires significant capital as well as considerable
infrastructure.
Container rooted trees, also known as tree plugs use polystyrene blocks,
commonly used
in the industry as outlined in Canadian patent 2328151 (Pe1ton), have been
primarily used
in indoor nurseries using overhead irrigation with water draining capability
out the
bottom of the polystyrene blocks. While the polystyrene block system utilized
indoors
can create savings in labor and space relative to conventional field
nurseries, the building
and technology involved in this practice are extremely expensive relative to
the almost
zero infrastructure requirements of outdoor nurseries using the bagged tree
system in
southern continents. If it were possible to come up with an alternate plant
nursery system
and method to allow for economical production of field ready plants from plant
material,
it is believed that this would be widely commercially accepted.
One of the key concepts which it is believed could provide economic efficiency
in
container plant production of field ready plants would be to find an alternate
method of
irrigation, rather than top-down irrigation into the containers in which plant
material is
planted. Top-down irrigation require significant labour, or technology in its
place, and
results in a reasonable amount of water wastage as well. If there were a way
to eliminate
or minimize labour or technology costs and minimize water waste this would be
widely
commercially accepted in the commercial nursery business. The concept which
the
inventor has chosen as an alternate approach of irrigation of container
gardened plants is
to sub-irrigate them, rather than irrigating them from the top down. Passive
sub-irrigation
will result in the minimization of water waste and labour.
Even in the field of sub-irrigation past attempts in the prior art involved
significant
investments in technology and in our view overly complicated methodology. For
example, Canadian patent 24448782 (Rejean) describes a Hydroponic Growing Unit
in
which water is supplied to a growing unit in which "water is pumped from the
base to the
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top of each block ...". However, that system involves a relatively complex
planting
block that is enclosed in a complex structure.
Tree seedlings grown in most large scale tree nurseries in cold climate
countries with
defined seasons have a limited shelf life. That is, most large scale tree
production
nurseries cater exclusively to the traditional spring and summer planting
season after
which they discard for composting unsold seedling stock. The trees are
discarded,
sometimes in the tens of thousands, in part because the nursery's expensive
greenhouses
have no space for new tree crops in their high cost buildings if the old crops
were kept.
Solutions are required that create low-cost live tree storage so that end of
season tree
seedlings do not have to be discarded but kept to be sold in subsequent
seasons
sometimes as extra value larger tree stock for additional marketing
opportunities. At a
time when access to low cost trees is at its most critical, some would suggest
it wise to
create a low cost means of preserving end of season tree stock.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:
As outlined above, the invention is a sub-irrigation plant nursery and storage
system, for
use in the growth of field ready plants, and a method of growing field ready
plants using
such a system, which represents an advantage over many aspects of current
practices and
prior art approaches.
In a first embodiment, the invention comprises a sub-irrigation plant nursery
and storage
system for use in the growth of field ready plants which comprises two key
components.
The first key component of the sub-irrigation plant nursery and storage system
is a
container holding water, and the second component is at least one planting
block within
the container, each planting block having a top surface and a bottom surface
and a
plurality of planting cells extending therethrough from the top surface to the
bottom
surface, wherein each planting cell is tapered from the top aperture at the
top surface to a
bottom aperture on the bottom surface so that the top aperture of each
planting cell is
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larger than the bottom aperture thereof. The number of planting blocks can be
one or it
could be more than one, as will be understood in the context of the remainder
of the
disclosure outlined herein.
The at least one planting block is positioned in the container such that the
bottom surface
thereof is in contact with water in the container, so that plants growing
within the
planting block are completely irrigated from the bottom surface of the block
without the
need for top irrigation ¨ the root system of the plant material within the
planting cells will
access the water in the container through the bottom aperture of the planting
cell. Plant
growth material is placed within a planting cell to grow into at least one
field ready plant
with in the planting cell. The concept of sub-irrigation is used insofar as
the only thing
that needs to be done to water all of the plants within the system is to
ensure the presence
of a sufficient quantity of water within the container, which can be absorbed
by the plant
material and plants within the planting blocks via their bottom surfaces which
are
immersed in or floating on the water within the container.
As outlined above, the sub-irrigation plant nursery and storage system might
consist of a
single planting block within a container, or there may be more than one
planting block
used in a single water container without departing from the scope and
intention of the
present invention. In fact it is contemplated that the most desirable
embodiments of the
system of the present invention will include a plurality of planting blocks,
since large
quantities of plant material can be grown into large quantities of field ready
plants by the
use of more than one planting block in a water container.
At least one planting block may be made of a non-buoyant material i.e. such
that it would
sit on the bottom of the water container with the bottom surface thereof in
contact or in
proximity to the interior surface of the water container. In such a case, the
bottom
aperture of the planting cells would still permit access of water into the
planting cells to
provide some irrigation to the plant material contained therein. Alternatively
at least one
planting block might be made of buoyant material such that the planting block
would
float on or in the water contained within the container. Both buoyant and non-
buoyant
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planting blocks are contemplated within the scope of the present invention.
Where at least one planting block is made of a non-buoyant material, it may be
desired to
suspend the non-buoyant planting block or planting blocks within the container
by at least
one block support, such that they were suspended above the interior surface of
the water
container and allow for easier access of water to the bottom of the planting
cells
extending therethrough. The at least one block support might consist of legs
or similar
structure placed beneath the at least one non-buoyant planting block, or in
other
embodiments might consist of a plurality of ropes or similar rods or
extensions across the
top of the water container which engaged the non-buoyant planting blocks in a
way to
hold them in position above the bottom of the interior of the water container.
Where the at least one planting block is made of a buoyant material it can
float in the
water within the container. In some instances, at least one buoyant planting
block might,
in addition to the planting cells therethrough, further comprise additional
holes within or
through the planting block. These holes might be present in the planting block
to alter the
buoyancy of the article, or for other unrelated purpose.
The at least one planting block of the system of the present invention could
be many
different shapes in terms of the top and bottom surface thereof. From the
perspective of
time and packing as many planting blocks as possible into the container, it is
explicitly
contemplated that the sub-irrigation plant nursery and storage system might
use at least
one planting block that has a rectangular top surface ¨ with the planting
cells would likely
be arranged in a linear grid pattern thereon. Other top surface shapes and
placement
patterns or matrices for the planting cells within the at least one planting
block can also
be used and any such arrangement will be understood to be contemplated within
the
scope of the present invention.
In the use of the sub-irrigation plant nursery and storage system, plant
growth material
can be placed within a planting cell without planting medium, such that at
least one field
ready plant which grows therefrom grows in air within the planting cell,
without growing
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media. Alternatively in other instances, where it is desired to grow the field
ready plants
within the planting cells of at least one planting block within a growth media
such as soil
or the like, and plant growth material would be placed in a planting cell
along with such
planting media. The growth of plant growth material and field ready plants
either in
planting media such as soil, or in air, are both approaches which are
contemplated within
the scope of the present invention.
It will be understood to those skilled in the art that the at least one
planting block can
have varying dimensions as to the planting cells. The at least one planting
block, if
traditional planting block material is used might be a block of a thickness
between 2
inches and 9 inches, although it will be understood that any different type of
material and
dimensions could be used without departing from the scope of the present
invention.
Similarly, planting cells could be of varying sizes in a planting block
depending on the
nature of the finished plants it was desired to produce ¨ the planting cells
could for
example have a volume in the range of 8 mL to 3200 mL, or any other size
depending
upon the desired outcome and all such sizes and dimensions will again be
understood to
be contemplated within the scope of the present invention.
Planting blocks of different material or different characteristics and
dimensions can all be
used within the same water container without departing from the scope of the
present
invention as well. For example buoyant and non-buoyant planting blocks can be
used,
planting blocks with cells of more than one size could be used or any number
of other
different parameters can be varied without departing from the scope of the
present
invention.
The container of the sub-irrigation plant nursery and storage system is a
container capable
of holding water and retaining the at least one planting block therein. It
might consist of
purpose built or a natural in-ground water reservoir, or in other
implementations it could
be an above ground or in-ground manufactured container. If it is a
manufactured
container that might be portable or permanently installed.
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One or more field ready plants can be grown in a single planting cell of a
single planting
block in accordance with the remainder of the system and method of the present
invention, depending upon the desired outcome and the nature of plant material
placed in
a cell. Plant material placed in the growth cells of the planting blocks of
the present
invention would be selected from at least the group of trees, shrubs, forbs,
perennials,
vegetables and grasses. Really any type of a plant which it is desired to
produce for a
field ready planting status and which can be grown from initial plant material
could be
produced using the system of present invention provide that proper plant
material was
available.
Once the field ready plants are grown within the planting cells on a planting
block in
accordance with the remainder of the sub-irrigation plant nursery and storage
system of
the present invention, the field ready plants can be stored within their
respective cells in a
planting block until they are ready to be deployed for field planting. The
planting block
can simply be stored in water within the water container until the
transplanting of plants
to the field is desired.
It will be understood that many variations on the sub-irrigation plant nursery
and storage
system of the present invention will be clear to those skilled in the art of
horticulture,
agriculture and similar product design and all such obvious modifications and
enhancements are contemplated to be within the scope of the claims in the
present
invention.
In addition to a sub-irrigation plant nursery and storage system, the present
invention also
comprises a method of growing field ready plants. The method comprises
providing a
sub-irrigation plant nursery and storage system which comprises a container
capable of
holding water and at least one planting block placed in the container and
having a top
surface and a bottom surface and a plurality of planting cells extending
therethrough from
the top surface to the bottom surface. Each planting cell is tapered from the
top aperture
on the top surface of the block to the bottom aperture on the bottom surface
of the block
with the top aperture of the planting cell being larger than the bottom
aperture thereof for
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the purpose of making it easier to retain plant growth media within the
planting cell that
is desired to be used. The system provided would include the at least one
planting block
being in contact with water in the container via the bottom surface, so the
plants growing
within the planting block are completely irrigated from the bottom surface of
the block
and without the need for top irrigation. Plant growth material placed within a
planting cell
would grow into at least one field ready plant as desired within the planting
cell and
accesses water in the container through the bottom aperture of its planting
cell.
Using the provided system, the method comprises a planting step in which plant
growth
material is placed within planting cells in the at least one planting block,
followed by a
sub-irrigation step which comprises ensuring the placement and maintenance of
water
within the container such that plant growth material within planting cells in
the at least
one planting block can access water through the bottom aperture of planting
cells. The
water level would be monitored and maintained within the container until feel
gritty
plants are ready to be harvested from the planting cells. This simple method
of planting
and growth of field ready plants from plant material, using a sub-irrigation
method,
represents a significant enhancement over the current state-of-the-art in this
area both in
terms of simplicity of equipment and methods employment as well as the overall
cost of
production of the field right plants in question.
As outlined about with respect to the system of the present invention, the
method might
use a system which had at least one non-buoyant or at least one buoyant
planting block
within the water container. The non-buoyant planting blocks could potentially
sit on the
bottom surface interior of the container and access by osmosis water through
their bottom
edges of the planting cells therein, or could be suspended above the bottom
surface of the
container using one or more planting block supports. Where the planting block
is buoyant
it could float in the water within the container.
Field ready plants can be grown in planting blocks and their planting cells in
accordance
with the method of the present invention with or without planting medium such
as soil
within the planting cells. It is explicitly contemplated that the method could
grow field
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ready plants in air within the planting cells, or within soil or growing
media.
The method could use planting blocks which have planting cells of more than
one size in
a particular planting block. One or more planting blocks can be used in the
container of
the system which is used in the method of the present invention and in fact is
contemplated that the best embodiments would comprise a plurality of planting
blocks
allowing for dense growth of large quantities of field ready plants in the
smallest possible
water container space.
The method could either use an in-ground water reservoir as the water
container, or a
manufactured container on or in the ground surface can be used.
The method of the present invention can be used to grow field ready plants
from plant
material selected from the group of trees, shrubs, forbs, perennials,
vegetables and
grasses.
One or more field ready plants can be grown within a plant cell.
Nutritional supplements may or may not be provided to plants within the
planting cells
beyond those contained in the water. Nutritional supplements can be provided
to field
ready plants or plant material within the planting cells either by addition of
the nutritional
supplements to the water within the container, or by application of the
nutritional
supplements over the top surface of the planting block.
As outlined above, the system and method of the present invention provides for
many
different embodiments and variance on the core method and approach, of growing
field
ready plants from plant material in at least one planting block within a water
container
which allows for the plants growing within the planting cells of the planting
block to
access water for irrigation purposes using a sub-irrigation method, via bottom
apertures in
the planting cells therein. Many embodiments of the invention could be
envisioned as
modest enhancements or changes to the underlying method without departing from
the
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scope and intent hereof and it will be understood that all such changes are
intended within
the scope of the present invention by the inventor.
A sub-irrigation nursery disclosed herein is a low cost indoor or outdoor
method of
culturing, growing and maintaining container root plants and providing long
term live
storage of these plants until they are required for sale or use. The
innovation utilizes
either buoyant or non-buoyant planting blocks ¨ including industry standard
polystyrene
planting blocks - filled with typical nursery sound mixes to set irrigate
plants growing
therein. This replaces the industry standard of top irrigation and bottom
aeration per
planting blocks, for a wide range of plants.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:
To easily identify the discussion of any particular element or act, the most
significant
digit or digits in a reference number refer to the figure number in which that
element is
first introduced:
Figure 1 is a flowchart demonstrating the steps involved in one embodiment of
the
method of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a flowchart demonstrating the steps involved in an alternate
embodiment of the method of the present invention;
Figure 3 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the system of the present
invention, in which the container is a small scale surface container holding a
single planting block;
Figure 4 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a planting block in
accordance with the present invention;
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Figure 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of the planting block of Figure 1,
demonstrating the tapered shape of the planting cells therein;
Figure 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the system of the
present
invention, in which the container is a manufactured large scale water pan;
Figure 7 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the system of the
present
invention, in which the container is a manufactured water pan with planting
blocks deployed in a high density lane system therein;
Figure 8 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the system of the
present
invention in which the container comprises a series of continuous semi-
independent segments of sub-irrigation trough of any length that can be used
on
the level or downslope in a manner that the entire series of segments can be
filled
with water from one end even if the series of trough segments is on tending
down
a slope;
Figure 9 is a top view of the embodiment of Figure 8; and
Figure 10 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the system of the
present invention, in which the container is a natural pond.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS:
As outlined above, the general concept of the present invention is a sub-
irrigation nursery
system for use in the expedited and low cost production of field ready plants
from
planting material. Input costs and labour costs for irrigation and periodic
attendance on
the plants during the growth timeframe is minimized using the system and
method
outlined herein. It will be obvious to those skilled in the art reviewing this
document that
there are certain enhancements or modifications that could be made to certain
elements of
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the method without departing from the scope of the intended coverage of this
document
and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are
contemplated
within the scope of the present invention.
Method overview:
As outlined, the present invention consists of a system and method for the
growth of field
ready plants from plant material in a sub-irrigation nursery and storage
system. Many
different types of plants which are ready for field plant can be grown in
accordance with
the system and method outlined herein. The general concept of sub-irrigation
of
containerized plant growth material be used to produce field ready plants is a
distinct and
enhanced method over top irrigation methods currently used in the prior art.
The first step in the method of the present invention is the provision of a
sub-irrigation
plant nursery and storage system which comprises a container capable of
holding water,
and at least one planting block placed within the container and having a top
surface and a
bottom surface and a plurality of planting cells extending therethrough from
the top
surface to the bottom surface, wherein each planting cell is tapered from the
top aperture
on the top surface to the bottom apertures on the bottom surface, the top
aperture of the
planting so being larger than the bottom aperture thereof. The bottom surface
of the at
least one planting block is capable of contact with water within the
container, such that
plants growing within the planting block are completely irrigated from the
bottom surface
of the block and without the need for top irrigation. Plant growth material
placed within a
planting cell grows into at least one field ready plants within planting cell
and accesses
water in the container through the bottom aperture of the planting cell.
Using this system, the physical steps of the method of plant production in
accordance
with the invention outlined herein can now be discussed in further detail. We
refer first to
Figure 1 which is a flow chart demonstrating the steps involved in a first
embodiment of
the method of the present invention. Shown at 1-1, plant growth material is
placed within
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the planting cells in the at least one planting block, in a planting step.
Following the
planting step, in a sub-irrigation step water is placed within the container,
such that plant
growth material within the planting cells in the planting blocks can access
the water
through the bottom aperture of the planting cells. This step is shown at 1-2.
Once water is placed in the container, the water level within the container
can be
monitored and maintained until field ready plants are ready to be harvested
from the
planting cells. The monitoring and maintenance of the water level within the
container is
shown in step 1-3 in this flowchart. Once field ready plants are present in
one or more of
the planting cells in the at least one planting blocks, they can be harvested
at the
appropriate time by simply removing said field ready plants or plants
potentially with a
soil or growing media all around their roots, from the respective planting
cells ¨ new
plant growing material can be planted in the planting cells and further field
ready plants
prepared. Harvesting of the completed field ready plants and shown at step 1-
4.
Labour and maintenance cost of the system used in this method is significantly
minimized over prior art approaches, since all that needs to be done to
irrigate all of the
plants that are growing in the planting cells of the at least one planting
block within the
container is to simply ensure that there is enough water present within the
container.
Individual plants need not be watered as they passively obtain water through
the sub-
irrigation method.
The sub-irrigation plant nursery and storage system which is used in the
method of the
present invention could be the system of any embodiment demonstrated or
enabled., And
discussed in further detail below. For example, at least one planting block
used within the
container could be made of a non-buoyant material, and at least one planting
block could
be made of a buoyant material. In certain embodiments of the system used in
the method,
both buoyant and non-buoyant planting blocks could be used within the same
container
and system and all such approaches are contemplated within the scope of the
invention as
outlined herein.
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Beyond providing an ability for the sub-irrigation of plant growing material
to grow field
ready plants, as is also outlined and enabled herein, the system and method of
the present
invention allows for the storage of the grown field ready plants until they
are ready to be
deployed, sold or used. The field ready plants can be stored in a live format,
by simply
leaving them in their respective planting cells in the planting blocks in
question and
continuing to maintain the water level within the container. Referring to the
flowchart of
Figure 2 there is shown a flowchart of an alternate method in accordance with
the present
invention, wherein the basic steps of the plant growth method as shown in
Figure 1 are
shown, but a storage step with respect to the field ready classes shown at
step 2-1, where
the grown field ready plants are stored within their planting cells in the
planting blocks
until they are required for use. It will be understood that there are
modifications which
could be made to the overall method disclosed, none of which will depart from
the
obvious and intended scope of the invention disclosure contained herein and
all such
modifications to the method or system of the present invention are intended to
be
considered within the scope hereof.
There are many variations on the method which are contemplated ¨ for example
in
addition to the possibility that both buoyant and non-buoyant planting blocks
could be
used in a single system in accordance with the method of the present invention
will also
be understood that in some cases plant growth material which is placed in a
planting cell
would be placed in the planting cell along with planting media. The
planting media could be soil or some other type of a nursery mix as would be
known to
those skilled in the art of greenhouse plant production and all such
modifications or
enhancements are contemplated within the scope of the present invention. It
will be also
understood that in certain cases, plant growing material could be placed
within planting
cells without any growing media and effectively grown in air. The growth of
field ready
plants either with or without growing media, or in some cases with some plant
material
being placed in planting cells in a planting block with growing media and
others without,
are all approaches which are contemplated within the scope of the present
invention.
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It will also be understood that one or more field ready plants could be grown
within a
single planting cell in a planting block, depend upon the nature or type of
the plant, the
size of the planting cell etc. Again all such approaches and modifications as
will be
understood to those skilled in the art of plant production are contemplated
within the
scope hereof.
Having reviewed the method of the present invention in detail as to its steps
and
execution, we will now review the actual sub-irrigation nursery and storage
system and
its components in further detail.
Sub-irrigation nursery system:
The sub-irrigation plant nursery and storage system of the present invention
comprises
two key components. The first key component of the system is a container
capable of
holding water. The container could either be an inground water container
reservoir, or a
manufactured container which could be on or in the ground surface. In the case
of an
inground water container the ground water container which could be used might
actually
be a pre-existing or manufactured to purpose water pond or ground reservoir,
or else an
inground reservoir with walls such as a pool or the like could also be used.
Any container capable of holding water during the irrigation and plant
production method
of the present invention, and holding the at least one planting block as
outlined in further
detail herein, is contemplated within the scope of the present invention.
The second component of the system of the present invention is at least one
planting
block which can be placed within the water holding container. The at least one
planting
block will each have a top surface of the bottom surface with a plurality of
planting cells
extending therethrough, from the top surface to the bottom surface. Planting
cells are
tapered from a wider top aperture at the top surface to a narrower bottom
aperture at the
CA 02853147 2016-10-03
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bottom surface. Plants growing within the planting cells can access water
within the
container via the bottom aperture of their planting cell.
The most likely embodiments of the system of the present invention would
comprise a
plurality of planting blocks used within a larger water holding container.
Planting blocks
might be held in place in vertical relation to the bottom surface of the
container and
within the water in the container, or in relation to the entire container
capacity, by
supports, guides or the like. The addition of such supports or guides to hold
the planting
blocks in place either within the larger water holding container, to hold them
in position
in relation to the walls of the container, or to hold one or more of the
planting blocks in a
particular vertical position above the bottom of the container so that water
access to the
bottom apertures of the planting cells was enhanced, are all contemplated
within the
scope hereof.
Figure 3 shows one basic embodiment of the sub-irrigation plant nursery and
storage
system of the present invention. There is shown a container 1 which can hold
water, with
one planting block 2 therein. Planting block 2 includes a rectilinear grid
pattern planting
cells 3 thereon. If the planting block 2 was buoyant, as water was placed in
the container
1 planting block 2 would float on top of or near the surface of the water.
Alternatively, if
the planting block 2 was not buoyant it may stay near the bottom surface of
the container
1 and water placed in the container would need to access the bottom apertures
of the
planting cells 3 by osmosis under the outer edges of the planting block 2, or
the planting
block may also be manufactured in such a way that channels would be allowed
for the
flow of water thereunder.
Water is placed in the container 1, once plant growing material is placed in
the planting
cells 3. The plant growing material or plants growing within the planting
cells 3 access
the water in the container 1 through the bottom apertures of their respective
planting
cells. Water is maintained within the container 1. Individual plants need not
be watered.
Once the plants within the planting cells are field ready they can either be
immediately
removed for planting or deployment, or they can be stored indefinitely within
the planting
CA 02853147 2016-10-03
Page 19
blocks, so long as they do not outgrow the planting cells, so long as water is
maintained
within the container 1.
The system of the present invention will allow for the densification of the
production of
field ready plants in reasonably compact land footprints. Labour cost is
minimized during
plant production, since the only irrigation labour which is required is to
intermittently top
up the water level within the container rather than needing to water
individual plants in
planting cells in the planting blocks in question.
Planting block:
Figures 4 and 5 demonstrate one embodiment of the planting block in accordance
with
the present invention. The planting block 2 is contemplated to be any type of
a block of
material which planting cells 3 can be made or machined in accordance with the
remainder of the design. As outlined elsewhere herein, the planting block 2
could either
be a buoyant material which would float in the water within the container 1 of
the system,
or alternatively the planting block 2 could be a non-buoyant material.
For the purpose of the description of many of the other parameters of the
planting block
2, the top surface 8 and the bottom surface 9 of the planting block 2 are also
marked in
this Figure.
As outlined throughout this document, the planting block 2 contains a
plurality of
planting cells 3. The planting cells 3 are each an aperture extending through
the planting
block 2, from the top surface 8 to the bottom surface 9, within which field
ready plants
can be grown. Each planting cell 3 consists of an approximately tubular
aperture, with a
larger top aperture that a bottom aperture, resulting in a narrowing taper
from the top
surface 8 to the bottom surface 9. The planting cells 3 as are shown in this
Figure are
arranged in a grid pattern allowing for the dance planting of a large number
of quantities
CA 02853147 2016-10-03
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of plant growing material in the planting block 2, for the dance production of
a large
number of field ready plants therein.
Shown in the planting block 2 of this figure are also three plants, at various
stages of
growth, in three of the planting cells 3. These plants are shown at 4A, 4B and
4C, from
smallest to most complete growth.
Referring to Figure 5 there is shown a cutaway detail of two planting cells 3
within the
planting block 2 as shown in Figure 4. The planting cells 3 are shown. The top
aperture 6
is shown along with the bottom aperture 7, demonstrating the narrowing taper
of the
planting cell 3. Also shown is a plant 4, growing within growing media 5
within the other
planting cell 3 shown in this Figure.
As outlined elsewhere herein, the planting block 2 could be buoyant in which
case it
would float in the water within a container of the system of the present
invention, or
could also be non-buoyant. In the case of a non-buoyant planting block 2 it
may be
desired to place a frame or support of some kind beneath the non-buoyant
planting block
to elevate it above the lower surface and interior of the container to allow
for easier
access of water from the container to the bottom apertures of the planting
cells therein.
Alternatively the water may be simply like to see or creep under the outer
edges of the
bottom surface 9 of the planting block in a non-buoyant arrangement.
Where the planting block 2 was buoyant it would float in the water within a
container in
accordance with the system of the present invention. Both buoyant and non-
buoyant
planting blocks 2 are contemplated within the scope of the present invention.
The planting block 2 could be of many shapes and sizes. Most of the planting
blocks 2
which are shown in the Figures and which are anticipated would be used would
likely be
rectangular in shape, on the top surface, since rectangular or at least
rectilinear shaped
planting blocks would be the easiest shape to use the most dense population of
planting
blocks within a container in the system of the present invention. However,
beyond the
CA 02853147 2016-10-03
Page 21
rectangular planting blocks which are shown really any shape of planting block
could be
used. More than one shape of planting block could also be used in one system
of the
present invention.
In addition to the outer circumference or shape of the planting block, the
planting block
could be of varying thicknesses. The thickness of the planting block would be
dictated
primarily by the type of field ready plants which it was desired to grow in
accordance
with that particular planting block in the system. For example, smaller plants
grown from
smaller samples of plant growth material could be grown in a thinner planting
block
which would mean that the planting cells themselves would be shallower. As in
the case
of planting blocks of various shapes, planting blocks of varying thicknesses
could be used
in the system of the present invention where more than one planting block was
used. It is
specifically contemplated that at least one planting block in the system might
have a
thickness between 2 inches and 9 inches although it will be understood
dependent upon
the type of plant material being used or the field-ready plants it is sought
to produce that
thicknesses even outside of this range could also be used without departing
from the
scope and intention of the present invention.
In addition to the overall shape, and the thickness, there are other
parameters of the at
least one planting block which should also be varied dependent upon the use or
desired
outcome with the system and method of the present invention. For example, the
planting
cells could be of varying diameters. Planting cells within even a single
planting block will
be of the same diameter and shape, or they could vary such that there were
some smaller
and some larger planting cells within a particular planting block. In addition
to the
diameter or as a result of the diameter of round planting cells ¨ there could
also be
planting cells in a particular planting block which are not round that were
desired so long
as the taper from the top to the bottom was achieved - the volume of the
planting cells
could vary depending upon the amount of growing media that it was desired to
place into
a cell, the size of the plant growth material which will be used to start the
field ready
plants produced, or the size of the root ball it is desired to accommodate
within the
planting cell once the field ready plant is completed. In the most desirable
currently
CA 02853147 2016-10-03
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conceived embodiments, planting cells would have a volume in the range of 8 mL
to
3200 mL, although it will be understood that a planting cell with virtually
any volume
will be contemplated to be within the scope of the present invention and
related the
volume of the planting cell is primarily driven by the parameters of the
growing operation
it is desired to conduct within that particular planting block. Planting cells
of more than
one size or internal volume could be used in a single planting block if it
were desired to
provide the ability to grow multiple types of plants in a single planting
block or for other
purposes. It will be understood that either using a planting block that has
consistent and
identical planting cells throughout, or multiple sites planting cells, are
both contemplated
within the scope of the present invention.
In terms of the taper of the planting cells from the top surface to the bottom
surface of the
planting block, the inner walls of the planting cell could taper down
consistently all the
way from the top surface of the bottom surface, or as shown in the embodiment
of Figure
4 the taper could be introduced to restrict the bottom of the planting cell by
simply
placing a tapered closure towards the bottom surface. Any such approach, so
long as it
relies upon a larger top aperture than a bottom aperture to a planting cell is
contemplated
to be within the scope of the present invention.
As outlined herein, the planting cells could be aligned in any number of
different types of
brand are more organized patterns on the surface of at least one planting
block. It is
specifically contemplated that for the purpose of generating the capability
for the most
dense planting pattern, a linear grid pattern for the planting cells would be
the likely best
approach, but any type of the arrangement or pattern of the planting cells on
the surface
of the planting block will be understood to be within the scope of the present
invention.
Conventional polystyrene planting blocks could be used within the system of
the present
invention, or a custom manufactured planting block can also be created for use
in
accordance with the system outlined herein. In addition to the system and the
method
outlined herein, it is also expressly contemplated that the at least one
planting block itself,
CA 02853147 2016-10-03
Page 23
as described herein for use in the system and method is also a patentable and
distinct
freestanding aspect of the present invention.
Container:
The second key element of the system of the present invention is a container
capable of
holding water. The container capable of holding water will be used to define
the location
of the at least one planting block used in accordance with the system of the
present
invention as well as to provide a water reservoir into which the at least one
planting block
of the system can be placed and from which sub-irrigation can be achieved of
the various
plants being grown in planting cells, through their bottom apertures. In the
simple single
planting block embodiment of the system of the present invention shown in
Figure 3 a
container us shown. Any type of a container capable of retaining water for use
in the
remainder of the system and method of the present invention is contemplated to
be within
the scope of the present invention, including inground or naturally occurring
containers,
or alternatively manufactured containers.
A manufactured container might be manufactured by excavation, in the context
of an
inground water container reservoir, or might also be a container for placement
on or
within a ground surface ¨ for example which could be assembled on site and be
portable
or permanently installed. Any type of a container which can hold a sufficient
quantity of
water in its base to allow for the sub-irrigation method of the present
invention to
function when at least one planting block in accordance with the remainder of
the present
invention is placed therein is contemplated within the scope hereof. The next
series of
Figures disclose a number of different embodiments of the system of the
present
invention which are now discussed in further detail.
Referring to Figure 6, the system is shown in which the container comprises a
manufactured about ground container which is a larger scale water patent and
the single
block container shown in the embodiment of Figure 3. The container 1 in this
CA 02853147 2016-10-03
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embodiment is an aboveground frame 1A with a waterproof liner 1B showing
therein.
Five planting blocks 2 are shown. Only the first planting block 2 has the
planting cells 3
demonstrated therein, but as will be understood in accordance with the
remainder of the
specification, each of the planting blocks 2 would include a plurality of
planting cells 3
therein in which field ready plants could be produced. The bottom surface 9 of
the
planting blocks 2 can also be seen, as is the bottom surface of the container
10. In this
case, given the stationing of the bottom surface 9 of the planting blocks 2
above the
bottom surface 10 of the container 1, it can be inferred from this Figure that
the planting
blocks 2 which are shown in this embodiment are buoyant, floating within the
water 11
which is shown.
Figure 7 shows another embodiment of the system of the present invention ¨ in
which
actually four containers 1 are shown. The embodiment of the system shown in
this Figure
is intended to show a high density installation in which lanes for access are
created
between the containers.
Four containers 1 are shown, and in the first container 1 a sample of a
planting block 2
with a plurality of planting cells therein is demonstrated. The grid patterns
drawn on the
containers 1 demonstrate all of the planting blocks 2 which could be placed in
a single
container 1. Given that they mention of the grid shown in each container 1
namely 40 x 8,
320 planting blocks 2 could be deployed in a single container 1 of this
nature. The
gridlines shown in the container 1 might also comprise ropes or other supports
which
could be used to retain the planting blocks 2 in question in their desired
positions within
the container 1.
While the system of the present invention eliminates the need for very much
access by
operators to individual planting blocks during the production cycle, the
placement of
lanes between containers of this size would enhance the ability to access the
growth
surface of the container as might be required. Three lanes 12 are shown, the
centre one of
which demonstrates a truck therein, and the top and bottom ones of which show
an
individual walking down the lane.
CA 02853147 2016-10-03
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Each container 1 being waterproof in its interior, the only thing that needs
to be done to
irrigate all of the plants and all 320 planting blocks is to simply pour water
into the
container of a sufficient level to allow for the bottom apertures and bottom
surfaces of the
planting blocks 2 to access the water within the container 1.
Figure 8 demonstrates another embodiment of the system of the present
invention in
which the container 1 comprises four individual containers, or a four-part
container,
which can be used on a slope or terrace. It can be seen that a single water
spigot 14 can be
used to fill the water level you and in all four containers by simply pouring
the water 11
into the top container 1-1 from where it can cascade down into the other three
containers
1-2, 1-3 and 1-4. This further simplifies the process of filling the water 11
within the
container 1 in accordance with the remainder of the method of the present
invention.
Each of the four sub-containers shown in this Figure includes four planting
blocks 2. The
planting cells are again only diagrammed in the first planting block but it
will be
understood that there would be similar planting cells in each planting block
2. Similar to
the embodiment of Figure 7, the embodiment shown in this Figure could also be
executed
in a larger scale such that more than one row of planting blocks 2 or a longer
row of
planting blocks 2, could be deployed within a particular portion of the
container 1.
Figure 9 is a top view of the embodiment of the system of Figure 8.
A system in accordance with the present invention could even in certain
embodiments
comprise a plurality a planting blocks positioned or restrained in position
within a
naturally occurring water reservoir or container. For example buoyant planting
blocks
could be deployed, in a grid or other pattern, within a naturally occurring
water container
such as a pond or the like, which would allow for one of the simplest
deployments of a
system in accordance with the method outlined herein. Even a naturally
occurring or an
excavated ground depression capable of holding a sufficient quantity of water
for the sub-
irrigation to be effective could be a desirable approach to be taken and the
deployment of
CA 02853147 2016-10-03
Page 26
a plurality of planting blocks in accordance with the remainder of the present
invention in
this type of a naturally occurring or minimal requirements ground reservoir is
explicitly
contemplated to be within the intended scope of the system and the present
invention
outlined herein.
Figure 10 demonstrates an embodiment of the system of the present invention
such as
this, in which the planting blocks 2 are deployed in a pattern within a
container 1 which is
a natural pond. The pond 1 is the container as outlined in the claims in the
remainder of
the description herein. A plurality of planting blocks 2 is shown on the
surface of the
pond 1. It is explicitly contemplated in the context of this type of container
1 that
supports or ropes or the like would be used, regardless of whether the
planting blocks 2
were buoyant or non-buoyant, to either replace or retain in position the
planting blocks 2
on the surface of the container 1. In this case of plurality of ropes are
contemplated to be
used in conjunction with buoyant planting blocks. The ropes or supports 15 are
shown in
two horizontal positions across the pond container 1 ¨ the planting blocks 2
could simply
be placed into the pond 1 such that they would float and be retained between
those
supports 15 in one direction. It is also possible that the gridlines down each
side of each
row of planting blocks 2 might also comprise additional ropes or supports 15
for the sake
of retaining the planting blocks 2 even more closely in the desired position.
Retention of
the planting blocks 2 in only one direction by a unidirectional set of
supports 15 is likely
in most embodiments sufficient since beyond retaining the planting blocks 2
and general
position, it likely is not necessary to maintain them in a precise floating
pattern on the
surface of the container 1.
It is explicitly contemplated that the deployment of the system and method of
the present
invention using a plurality of buoyant planting blocks within a natural pond
or water
body, retained in one or both directions on the surface of the water with the
water body
by one or more supports, comprises a complete system embodiment of the present
invention which is patentable in accordance with the remainder of the
disclosure herein.
CA 02853147 2016-10-03
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Supports:
Supports could be used to support the at least one planting block in position
within the
container of the present invention. For example, if the at least one planting
block was
non-buoyant, it may be desired to provide a support that would support the at
least one
planting block above the bottom surface of the container to allow for easier
access of
water into the bottom apertures of planting cells therein. The supports could
either consist
of a frame or legs or the like placed below the planting blocks, or depending
upon the
nature of the container the supports for positioning the planting blocks
within the
container might also be frame members of the like which hung down or in
proximity
from the top of the container such that the planting blocks were defined in
their positions
by hanging down from this type of support rather than being supported from
their base.
Top-down supports such as this can also be used to define the position of
buoyant
planting blocks within the water container ¨ for example defining ratings of
planting
blocks between which operator access to be insured or the like. The use of
supports
below the bottom surface of the planting blocks, or top-down "hanging"
supports which
either defined the vertical position of the planting blocks within the
container or the
positioning of the planting blocks in relation to others within the container
are all
contemplated within the scope hereof.
It will be apparent to those of skill in the art that by routine modification
the present
invention can be optimized for use in a wide range of conditions and
application. It will
also be obvious to those of skill in the art that there are various ways and
designs with
which to produce the apparatus and methods of the present invention. The
illustrated
embodiments are therefore not intended to limit the scope of the invention,
but to provide
examples of the apparatus and method to enable those of skill in the art to
appreciate the
inventive concept.
Those skilled in the art will recognize that many more modifications besides
those
already described are possible without departing from the inventive concepts
herein. The
inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the
scope of the
CA 02853147 2016-10-03
Page 28
appended claims. Moreover, in interpreting both the specification and the
claims, all
terms should be interpreted in the broadest possible manner consistent with
the context.
In particular, the terms "comprises" and "comprising" should be interpreted as
referring
to elements, components, or steps in a non-exclusive manner, indicating that
the
referenced elements, components, or steps may be present, or utilized, or
combined with
other elements, components, or steps that are not expressly referenced.
