AU734129B1 - Microclimate cone - Google Patents

Description

TRUE COPY MICROCLIMATE CONE This invention relates to improvements in devices to improve the growth and survival of plant seedlings.

Professional market gardeners and horticulturists -routinely germinate large numbers of plant seeds in propagation trays prior to transplanting in the field.

Transplanted seedlings suffer water stress since their root systems have yet to grow into the soil. Depending on climate conditions over the first few weeks, many seedlings may die or have their growth severely stunted. For tree plantings, large plastic tubes supported by wooden stakes are used, however such an approach is costly, impractical and actuallycounter productive in spray irrigated fields or gardens, since water supply is inhibited by the large tube. After performing a series of controlled, randomised field tests I have refined the design of a practical device which improves seedling growth by up to 40% in the first four weeks after transplanting and can reduce seedling losses by up to 50% in adverse conditions.

The Microclimate Cone is new in that it is specifically designed for the purpose of protecting any small transplanted seedlings. The Microclimate Cone is innovative since it combines several features not previously seen in this application thereby making the device cheap, effective, and practical to use.

The Microclimate Cone is self supporting and therefore requires no stakes, a major saving in cost and time.. The cone may be made of any ultra violet resistant plastic or composite material capable of maintaining its own shape. The material is opaque as opposed to transparent tree tubes. Tests have shown that transparent material leads to higher temperatures within the device which increases water demand by the seedling and consequently less growth.

The conical shape of the device also means it is stackable into columns which are easily handled and stored. It is envisioned that professional market gardeners would need to easily move and use thousands of the Microclimate Cones on a single transplanting day.

The device creates a microclimate by creating a small area of still air undisturbed by any lateral ventillation appertures. Plants lose water by transpiration from the leaves. Air flow, air temperature and sunlight all increase plant transpiration rates and therefore water demand. My tests have shown that air:flow is the predominant factor affecting moisture loss and hence seedling growth in the early weeks. The device minimises air flow, controls sunlight access and restricts condensation losses.

Small seedlings require regular watering in the weeks after transplanting. Tall plastic tubes actually inhibit water reaching the seedling in spray irigation situations. The Microclimate Cone has several features which facilitate spray irrigation. Being less than 50cm tall the Microclimate Cone does not substantially

AF

2.

TRUE COPY block lateral sprays reaching plants in other rows. Importantly, the rigid sides protect the seedling from heavy lateral droplets which can force leaves to the ground and cause rotting from "lie down". Since the device has an upper opening only slightly smaller than the base, much of the water spray may enter cone to be collected on the interior wall and delivered to the soil. The outer trough at the base of the cone collects lateral spray and delivers the water to the interior of the cone by way of drain holes.

The Microclimate Cone also provides some protection to the seedlings from birds, insects and herbicide spray drift. The seedling grows rapidly in the cone until its leaves begin to emerge from the top opening. At this stage the cones are removed and stacked, ready for the next transplanting.

A common error in large agroforestry plantings is to use advanced tree seedlings already pot bound. This error arises from a reluctance to use small unprotected seedlings even though tests show these form much better trees. The Microclimate Cone an effective, cost efficient solution to this problem.

Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which show one example of the invention. A plan view and a side section view are shown. As can be seen from the drawings the Microclimate Cone is an invention consisting of a self supporting material formed into the shape of a squat, truncated cone. While in this case the crossection shape of the cone is circular, square or other polygonal cross sections are possible.The broad end of the cone is flared and turned to form an outer gutter or trough. Drain holes pierce the gutter. The device functions by simply placing it over a newly transplanted seedling.

For open field plantings modifications can include elongated spikes at the base to firmly anchor the device and short crown spikes at the top to discourage herbivores such as wallabies and rabbits. The crown spikes have curved asymptotic sides to form broad circular valleys which minimise foliage damage when the device is removed.

U)~

-o '.NT

Claims (1)

1. 3. TRUE COPY The claims defining the invention are as follows: 1. A one piece, self supporting device, conical in shape for stackable storage, which conserves moisture in transplanted seedlings by creating a body of still air undisturbed by lateral ventillation appertures, which reduces transpiration rates by restricting sunlight entry to an aperture at the apex, which collects rainfall striking the outer surface into a soil level gutter with drain holes to return the water close to the root zone, which requires no separate stakes for anchorage, which protects foliage from lateral herbicide spray applied below the height of the device and which deters animal pests by surrounding the plant within a shield. uI NAITC 1