Fluid sprinkling – spraying – and diffusing – Processes
Patent
1996-10-23
1998-11-24
Kashnikow, Andres
Fluid sprinkling, spraying, and diffusing
Processes
239145, 239201, 239542, B05B 1500, A01G 2506, A01G 2700
Patent
active
058396594
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to apparatus and methods for the irrigation of plants, in particular in one form to a subterranean system for supplying water, nutrient solutions and/or gases to the root zone of plants growing in the soil and in another form to a system for supplying water, nutrient solutions and the like to pot plants.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
Water resources are at a premium worldwide with governments budgeting substantial amounts towards water conservation both in residential areas and rural areas.
In response to this ongoing problem, systems have been developed to apply water directly to the soil surface around individual plants so as to minimise water loss. These systems involve sprays, micro-drips and the like. However, water is still lost through run off and through evaporation.
Other systems use capillary watering which is based on the supply of water into the subterranean soil. Water provided in this way moves upwardly in the soil by capillary action so as to enter the root zone of a plant.
Unlike surface watering, capillary watering does not suffer as much from loss due to run off or evaporation. Capillary watering is advantageous to the plant growth as the rate of water movement is slow enough to ensure that most of the water is absorbed by the roots. Furthermore, the majority of the evaporation that occurs will be by transpiration of the plant foliage thus facilitating a greater resistance to heat stress.
Attempts have been made to use capillary watering systems for even ground over relatively short distances of up to 50 m, examples of these systems are BI-WALL TUBING (Registered Trade Mark), T-TAPE (Registered Trade Mark) and LEAKY PIPE (Registered Trade Mark). However, all of these systems suffer from two problems. Firstly, the perforations and supply lines are prone too blockages from build up of algae, bacterial slime, soil colloids, particles and root penetration. Secondly, the water is supplied only to the soil in the immediate pipe or channel environment.
Other systems such as Netafim, have been used for longer runs. However, these systems still suffer from the problem of only supplying water to the roots in the soil area in proximity to the water supply pipe. Furthermore, these systems still have a tendency towards blockage in the outlet orifices.
The present inventor has recognized both the advantages of capillary watering while appreciating the difficulties inherent in the currently available systems. He has therefore sought to provide a capillary watering system which overcomes or at least ameliorates the difficulties of the prior art systems.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, in a first aspect, this invention consists in a capillary system for providing a fluid to the root zone of plants comprising one or more perforated conduits sandwiched between an upper layer of a capillary cloth and a lower layer of a capillary cloth and/or a water impermeable material and a connection means for one end of the conduit(s) so as to allow for the supply of fluids, including water, solutions and/or gases thereto and optionally a fluid flow control means for another end of the conduit(s) remote the one end.
In a second aspect, the invention further consists a method for providing a fluid to the root zone of plants comprising, disposing a system which comprises one or more perforated conduits sandwiched between an upper layer of a capillary cloth and a lower layer of a capillary cloth and/or a water impermeable material and a connection means for one end of the conduits(s) so as to allow for the supply of fluids including water, solutions and/or gases thereto, and optionally a fluid flow control means for another end of the conduit(s) remote the one end, within an area of soil below and in proximity to the root zone of plants growing in the soil; connection means so as to supply fluid to the conduit(s); and adjusting the flow of fluid, optionally by operating the fluid control means for the other end, so as to cause fluid to flow out of the perforations
REFERENCES:
patent: 1389319 (1921-08-01), Quigley
patent: 3205619 (1965-09-01), Henry
patent: 3361359 (1968-01-01), Chapin
patent: 3946762 (1976-03-01), Green
patent: 4062306 (1977-12-01), Wosmek
patent: 5246164 (1993-09-01), McCann et al.
patent: 5263791 (1993-11-01), Zeman
Evans Robin O.
Grain Security Foundation Ltd
Kashnikow Andres
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