Plant husbandry – Seed tape or mat – method or apparatus
Reexamination Certificate
2002-08-01
2004-03-09
Poon, Peter M (Department: 3643)
Plant husbandry
Seed tape or mat, method or apparatus
C111S199000, C053S467000, C047S015000, C047S009000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06701664
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention relates to a seed tape for a controlled germinating process and comprising successively arranged germinating units, where said germinating units, if desired, can be cut off one by one, said seed tape being made of at least two paper layers and intended to be used while arranged edgewise, and where each germinating unit includes a seed, additives and a carrier.
BACKGROUND ART
The term “paper layer” is here to be construed not only as a layer of paper; this layer can be made of a multitude of materials.
The additives may in principle comprise all substances compatible with the remaining selected materials and agents having a favourable effect on the storage, germination, and growth of the seed and the subsequent sprout. The additives may for instance comprise: pesticides, including herbicides, insecticides, especially systemic insecticides, fungicides, virae, cultures of bacteria, cultures of fungi, such as Trichoderma, fungus spores, microencapsulated fungicides, eggs from useful insects, such as predatory nematodes, insect eggs, fertilizers, hormones, enzymes, animal repellants, pH-adjusting agents, carbon, clay particles, trace elements, such as molybdenum, wood fibres or wood powder, kieselguhr, surfactants, silica and other additives with favourable effects on the germination and the growth of plants, where several substances are available in microencapsulated form with the result that they are protected against biodegradation and a controlled release thereof can be carried out. The additives can also include potassium nitrate and sodium chloride.
The term “carrier” is here to be construed as one or more of the substances: silica, vermiculite, perlite, zeolite, cellulose materials, such as wood fibres, sphagnum, clay, optionally burned clay, mineral fibres, such as rock wool or the like substances, whereby it is possible to obtain a desired degree of water retaining capacity, water conveying capacity, ion exchanging properties etc.
It is known to subject the seeds to priming before they are positioned in a seed tape.
A seed tape is known which comprises sleeves arranged at regular intervals and formed by two opposed wall-forming layers of paper, where one layer of paper on the outside is provided with a coating, and where the sleeves include seeds and various agents, such as growth-adjusting agents. However, this tape is not particularly suited for a two-step germinating process, viz. initially a step involving a priming of the seeds where just enough water is fed for starting the life process of the seed followed by a stop for a period, and then a step involving the germination where the seed leaves and the radicles appear and where a controlled moist microclimate simultaneously surrounds the seed. The latter is not totally satisfactory.
BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is to provide a seed tape of the above type which is of a particularly simple structure and consequently easy to manufacture, and which is particularly suited for providing a controlled moist microclimate around the seeds during a two-step germinating process and especially for providing sufficient air around said seeds and the developing radicles during said process.
The seed tape according to the invention is characterised in that each germinating unit is formed as a planar member, the longitudinal axis of which extends substantially transverse to or inclined relative to the longitudinal direction of the seed tape, and that the additives and the carrier are present in form of a granulate and are arranged in discrete positions around the seed, air applying between said seed and the additives and the carrier, and that the seed, the additives and the carrier are adhered to the per se rather air-permeable paper layer by means of a layer of adhesive on the inner side of at least one paper layer, and that at least one, optionally rather broad stripe of water-absorbing, super-absorbing polymer (SAP) is placed on said adhesive layer inside each planar member, said polymer (SAP) extending across the seed or past said seed at a short distance therefrom and such that it at least reaches one end of the planar member when seen in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the seed tape. As a result, a high structural simplicity and an easy manufacture of the seed tape are obtained. In addition it is ensured that as the seeds are arranged in the tape it is possible during the first step of the germinating process, viz. during the priming, to provide a controlled moist climate around the seeds adjusted to said germinating process with a suitable amount of air (oxygen) inter alia because the paper layer is air-permeable, and during the second step of said germinating process it is possible to ensure sufficient air in the area around the developing radicles. The seed can be subjected to an efficient priming inside the tape by feeding of a first small amount of water to the SAP. During the second germinating step where additional water is fed to the seed tape, it is also ensured that the developing radicle of the germinating unit can be correctly orientated because said seed is fixed in the germinating unit and the user always knows which side of said germinating unit, i.e. the seed, is facing up or downwards. The seed tape is particularly suited for a wide range of vegetables, such as lettuce, cabbage and carrots, spinach and onions as well as industrial crops, such as sugar beets, tobacco, tomatoes and corn.
When the seed is placed in the uppermost portion, preferably the uppermost fourth part of the germinating unit, the stripe of SAP-material, especially the portion of the stripe being above the seed in the bedded out state of said germinating unit, may according to the invention be admixed a hydrophilic material, such as silica powder, clay particles, vermiculite or perlite with the result that a capillary effect is obtained between the SAP-grains and the seed, and accordingly an improved fluid transfer from the SAP-grains to the seed is obtained. As a result an improved control of the microclimate around the seed is obtained at the same time as it is possible to supply a predetermined amount of light.
According to the invention the size and amount of the SAP-grains are selected such that the SAP can at least hold {fraction (1/20)} of the amount of water which is necessary for provoking the completing germinating process in the seed. In this manner it is ensured that at least the priming of the seeds can be carried out.
The layer of adhesive may according to the invention advantageously cover the entire inner side of at least one paper layer, and the adhesive layer may preferably be made of many substantially very narrow and abutting lines of adhesive, said lines of adhesive extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the seed tape or perpendicular thereto or in both directions.
Moreover the substantially parallel adhesive lines of the adhesive layer may according to the invention form an angle with the longitudinal direction of the seed tape of 45 to 70°, preferably 50 to 60°, whereby it is ensured that the radicle resulting from the seed can be controlled to a predetermined degree in a specific direction relative to grains of depot substances, such as clinical and biological pesticides.
In addition, the said adhesive layer may according to the invention be formed by many closely juxtaposed adhesive drops. As a result each planar member in the seed tape discloses a high form stability.
Moreover the adhesiveness of the used adhesive may according to the invention be slightly weaker than the expansion force exerted by the polymer material when it is caused to absorb water, said adhesive preferably presenting an adhesiveness of less than approximately 28 g*/cm, preferably 20 g*/cm measured by the method indicated in the present description. In this manner it is ensured that during the watering of the seed tape sufficient room is provided for allowing the swelling polymer grains to press portions of the paper layers slight
Bentle Products AG
Cooper & Dunham LLP
Dowden Donald S.
Poon Peter M
Valenti Andrea M.
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