NL2032101B1

NL2032101B1 - Cultivation plug

Info

Publication number: NL2032101B1
Application number: NL2032101A
Authority: NL
Inventors: Franciscus Johanna Maria Van Den Heuvel Johannes; Wilkin Collet Jurriën; Andreas Van Den Nieuwendijk Edwin
Original assignee: Profile Products Llc
Priority date: 2022-06-08
Filing date: 2022-06-08
Publication date: 2023-12-15

Abstract

Cultivation plug comprising a substrate for cultivating a plant, wherein the cultivation plug is substantially cylindrically shaped around a cylindrical axis and has a top surface, a side surface and 5 a bottom surface, wherein the cultivation plug is provided with an incision extending from the top surface and from the side surface towards the cylindrical axis, wherein the incision deﬁnes two facing incision surfaces, opposite to each other, characterised in that the incision extends from a starting point located on the top surface to an end point located on the side surface, wherein the end point is spaced from the bottom surface.

Description

Cultivation plug

The present invention relates to a cultivation plug comprising a substrate for cultivating a plant, wherein the cultivation plug is substantially cylindrically shaped around a cylindrical axis and has atop surface, a side surface and a bottom surface. wherein the cultivation plug is provided with an incision extending from the top surface and from the side surface towards the cylindrical axis, wherein the incision defines two facing incision surfaces, opposite to each other. The present invention further relates to a method of inserting at least part of a plant propagation material into a cultivation plug.

Such a plug is known from Dutch patent No. 2018818, wherein the incision extends from the cylindrical axis to the side surface and from the top surface to the bottom surface. By providing an incision extending from the cylindrical axis to the side surface, the plug can be opened for lateral insertion of a root structure of a plant into the plug and can be subsequently closed.

The known plug comprises for instance a substrate composition including particles joined by a binding agent. The joined particles may e.g. comprise organic or non-organic fibres and/or soil particles. However, when opening the plug, the plug may tear, break or damage otherwise. For instance, the fibres may tear, the binding agent may weaken and/or the particles may fall out.

Damage to the plug may affect its water retention capacity and/or its ability to assure close contact between the inserted plant part and the plug. Furthermore, the plant part may get damaged. when inserted, due to the pressure exerted. by the known plug, on the plant part.

A further disadvantage of the known plug is that, when manufacturing the plug (for instance using amould), providing the incision is laborious and/or inefficient.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved cultivation plug wherein the aforesaid drawbacks are at least partially alleviated.

Thereto, a cultivation plug according to the preamble is provided, wherein the incision extends from a starting point located on the top surface to an end point located on the side surface, wherein the end point is spaced from the bottom surface. Preferably, the incision does not extend through the bottom surface.

Accordingly, a cultivation plug is provided that is arranged to open, receive a plant part and close, in an enveloping manner. This way, the inserted plant part is enclosed from below, in addition to from the side. The plant part may be a root structure of a plant, or another plant propagation material such as a (synthetic) seed, a seedling or a plant cutting, such as a callused, rooted or unrooted cutting or a cutting with root primordia. The cutting may be from the leaf, the stem or the petiole of a plant.

By ending the incision at the side surface, tearing of the plug through the bottom surface can be prevented. Furthermore, the loss of soil particles through the bottom surface can be reduced, such that durability of the cultivation plug is enhanced.

A preferred embodiment of the cultivation plug is deformable from an open state, in which the two incision surfaces are remote from each other, to a closed state in which the two incision surfaces mainly abut each other. Preferably, in the open state the cultivation plug is arranged for receiving at least part of a plant propagation material. It is then further preferred if, in the closed state, the substrate encloses the received plant propagation material part.

Preferably, at least part of the cultivation plug is resilient, for instance for deforming the cultivation plug from the open state to the closed state or vice versa. By arranging the cultivation plug to be biased towards the open state, there is no need to force the cultivation plug open, such that the plant part can be inserted without having to force the incision surfaces apart. This way, insertion of the plant part is facilitated. Alternatively, the cultivation plug may be biased towards the closed state.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the cultivation plug, the substrate comprises plant fibre embedded in a matrix. Preferably, the plant fibre comprises coconut fibre, preferably at least 80 percent, more preferably at least 90 percent coconut fibre. Alternatively, or additionally, the plant fibre comprises another fibre such as sisal. bamboo, hemp. banana, flax, abaca, jute, kenaf, ramie, mengkuang, cotton, linen, silk or wool, or a composite thereof.

More generally, the substrate preferably comprises a matrix permeable to air, water and nutrients.

Further preferred fibre properties include flexibility, hydrophilicity, and water absorption and retention.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the cultivation plug, the incision extends in the side surface at an acute angle relative to the cylindrical axis. In other words, the incision extends in aplane arranged at an acute angle relative to the cylindrical axis as seen in the side surface.

Preferably, the incision intersects the cylindrical axis at an acute angle.

Such an oblique incision provides the plug with enlarged incision surfaces, thereby reducing the pressure exerted, by the plug, on the inserted plant part while maintaining the structural integrity of the plug. More in particular, on the one hand the oblique incision reduces damage to the inserted plant part while, on the other hand. the plant part can nevertheless be firmly secured in the plug.

Preferably. the cultivation plug is provided in a container. As such, according to another aspect. a container is provided with at least one cultivation plug according to any of the preceding embodiments.

According to yet another aspect, a method for inserting at least part of a plant propagation material into a cultivation plug according to any of the above embodiments is provided. The method comprises the steps of providing the cultivation plug. providing the plant propagation material, and inserting at least part of the plant propagation material into the cultivation plug, between the two incision surfaces towards the cylindrical axis, while maintaining the plug in an open state, in which the two incision surfaces are remote from each other.

The ratio between the height and the width of the plug may for instance be at least 0.2, 0.5 or 1, and/or less than 5 or 2.5, for instance 1.7.

The width of the plug may for instance be at least 0.3, 0.5, 1 or 2 centimetres, and/or less than 30, 20, 15 or 10 centimetres, for instance 5 centimetres.

The invention is hereinafter further elucidated with reference to the attached drawings, wherein: - Figure 1A shows a schematic perspective view of a cultivation plug according to a first embodiment in a closed state; - Figure 1B shows a schematic top view of the cultivation plug shown in Fig. 1A; - Figure 2A shows a schematic perspective view of the cultivation plug according to the first embodiment in an open state; - Figure 2B shows a schematic top view of the cultivation plug shown in Fig. 2A; - Figure 2C shows a schematic side view of the cultivation plug shown in Figs. 2A-B; - Figures 3A-B depict insertion of a root structure of a plant into the cultivation plug shown in Figs. 2A-C; - Figure 4A shows a schematic perspective view of a cultivation plug according to a second embodiment in a closed state; - Figure 4B shows a schematic side view of the cultivation plug shown in Fig. 4A;

- Figure 5A shows a schematic perspective view of a cultivation plug according to a third embodiment in a closed state; - Figures 5B-C schematically show orthogonal side views of the cultivation plug shown in

Fig. 5A; - Figure 5D shows a schematic top view of the cultivation plug shown in Figs. 5A-C.

The cultivation plug, or rooting plug 1, is integrally formed for cultivation of a plant 2. The plug 1 is substantially cylindrically shaped around a cylindrical axis C. The plug 1 has a top surface 4, a side surface 5 and a bottom surface 6. Although in the shown embodiments the plug 1 is substantially circular, the plug 1 may have another cylindrical shape, such as a polygon, an elliptic cylindrical shape, a cuboid, a cone, a pyramid or a prism.

The cultivation plug 1 comprises an incision 3 extending from the top surface 4 and from the side surface 5 towards the cylindrical axis C. The incision 3 extends from a starting point S located on the top surface 4 to an end point E located on the side surface 5. The end point E is spaced from the bottom surface 6, as represented by a distance D.

The cultivation plug 1 is manufactured for cultivating a plant 2, such as a young plant or a seedling, e.g. a bromeliad, an anthurium or an orchid. The cultivation plug 1 is made from a substrate including organic and/or non-organic material for cultivation of plants. The substrate may be formed as a composition. Preferably, the composition and/or material is spongy and/or penetrable to growing roots. Such and other suitable substrate materials and/or compositions are known in the art. For example, the substrate material or composition may comprise organic fibres, e.g. coconut fibre, peat and/or bark. Here, the plug 1 comprises for instance a substrate composition including particles joined by a binding agent, such as a non-toxic and/or organic glue.

The joined particles may e.g. comprise organic fibres and/or soil particles. Preferably, at least a part of the substrate material of the plug 1 is resilient.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 4A-B. the cylindrical axis C of the plug 1 bounds the incision 3 such that the incision 3 and the cylindrical axis C extend in the same plane. Depending on the state of the plug 1, the incision 3 extends in a plane, such as a flat or curved plane or in a volume, such as a circular sector of the cylindrically formed plug 1.

In the shown embodiments, the incision 3 defines two facing incision surfaces 31, 32. opposite to cach other. The plug 1 is deformable from an open state, as shown in Figs. 2A-C, wherein the two incision surfaces 31, 32 are remote from each other, to a closed state wherein the two incision surfaces 31, 32 mainly abut each other, as shown in Figs. 1A-B. The incision surfaces 31, 32 may be biased towards the open state, towards the closed state, or to a geometrical state between the open and the closed state. In case the cylindrical axis C bounds the incision 3, the incision surfaces 31, 32 coincide at the cylindrical axis C of the plug 1. 5

Generally, the plug 1 has a disc-shaped profile, when seen in a direction along the cylindrical axis

C. as shown e.g. in Figs. 1B and 2B. The side wall 5 defines the exterior contour of the disc.

Further, a circular sector may have been removed from the disc-shaped profile, the circular sector forming a gap 7 between the two opposing incision surfaces 31, 32 in the open state. The circular sector generally is a disc portion enclosed by the two incision surfaces 31, 32, and an arc in which the side wall 5 of the plug 1 extends. In the open state. the angle A between the incision surfaces 31, 32 can be in a range from circa 15° to circa 90°, preferably in a range from circa 45° to circa 60°, as seen m the top surface 4.

In the above-mentioned closed state shown in Figs. 1A-B, the two incision surfaces 31, 32 mainly abut each other. In this context, abutting of the incision surfaces 31, 32 has to be understood as at least including but not necessarily limited to a situation in which the incision surfaces 31, 32 are located so close to each other that they substantially close off any gap 7 between them. As an example, the incision surfaces 31, 32 should be understood to be also abutting when a protruding root of the plant 2 is jammed between said incision surfaces 31, 32. In the closed state, the plug 1 typically substantially fills a space enclosed by the side surface 5, leaving no passage, cavity or other interior space empty, thereby providing a massive cultivation plug geometry. Then, also relatively small root structures are brought into contact with the substrate material of the plug 1.

When deforming the plug 1 towards the open state or to the closed state, the incision surfaces 31. 32 move relative to each other along a tangential direction around the cylindrical axis C, i.e. towards each other or away from cach other.

In the open state, as shown in Figs. 2A-3A, the plug | is arranged for receiving at least a part of a root structure 8 of a plant 2. After inserting the root structure 8 along a lateral direction L towards the cylindrical axis C, the plug 1 can be brought in the closed state for cultivating the plant 2, as shown in Fig. 3B. Alternatively, the plant part may be inserted from above, i.¢., through the top surface 4.

The cultivation plug 1 can comprise fixation means (not shown) for substantially fixating the plug

I in the closed state. The fixation means may include a separate fixation element to be attached to the cultivation plug 1. For example. the fixation means can comprise a fixation strap, tape and/or rubber band. Preferably, the fixation means are made of a non-toxic and/or organic material, more preferably a biodegradable material. Additionally, or alternatively, at least a part of the fixation means may form an integral part of the cultivation plug. As an example, the fixation means can comprise a protrusion, e.g. located on a first incision surface 31 and a notch in a second incision surface 32, which protrusion and notch can cooperate to form a connection.

The cultivation plug 1 may be slightly tapered towards the bottom surface 6, as shown in Figs. 5A-

C. Said tapered shape may facilitate forming the cultivation plug in and/or removing the cultivation plug from a manufacturing mould. Besides, a tapered shape, especially a downwardly tapered shape, of the cultivation plug 1 may facilitate placement of the cultivation plug into a container, e.g. a receiving structure of a tray or pot. Alternatively, the cultivation plug 1 has constant cross- sectional dimensions, the plug 1 having a straight side wall 5.

Advantageously, a tray or pot can be provided with a multiple number of receiving structures or cups for receiving corresponding cultivation plugs 1. Upon receiving a cultivation plug 1, the receiving structure or cup of the tray or pot may exert an inwardly oriented force, radially towards the cylindrical axis C of the plug 1, thereby deforming the plug 1 towards the closed state. Then, in principle, the plug 1 can be maintained in the closed state, also without the fixation means described above.

When deforming the plug 1 from the open state to the closed state, the incision surfaces 31, 32 defining an opening, e.g. a wedge-shaped opening as shown in Fig. 2B, move to each other, e.g. in a pivoting movement relative to the cylindrical axis C, along the tangential direction.

The tray can be any tray capable of carrying one or a multiple number of cultivation plugs 1 by receiving said plugs | in corresponding receiving structures. The receiving structures have a geometry and dimensions in conformity with the geometry and dimensions of the side surface 5 though less tapered so that a compression force is exerted on the upper part of the plug 1 to bring the plug 1 into the closed state and maintain the plug 1 in said closed state.

The plug 1 in Figs. 4A-B has a different incision 3 for receiving a root structure 8 of a plant 2 in the open state. Here, the incision 3 extends in the side surface 5 at an acute angle B relative to the cylindrical axis C. In other words, the incision 3 extends in a plane arranged at an acute angle B relative to the cylindrical axis C as seen in the side surface 5. The incision 3 may be provided using a cutting device, for instance by axially rotating and axially translating the plug 1 relative to the cutting device. In the closed state, the plug 1 substantially fills the gap 7. In Figs. 4A-B, the incision 3 extends in a curved plane. The plug 1 in Figs. 5A-D has a straight incision 3, ie. an incision 3 extending in a flat plane, also exemplified in Figs. 1A-B. A straight incision can be provided more conveniently.

The figures and the above description serve to illustrate specific embodiments of the invention and do not limit the scope of protection defined by the following claims.

Claims

CONCLUSIESCONCLUSIONS

1. Teeltplug (1) omvattende een substraat voor het cultiveren van een plant (2), waarbij de teeltplug (1) in hoofdzaak cilindrisch om een cilindrische as (C) gevormd is en een bovenvlak (4), een zijvlak (3) en een ondervlak (6) heeft, waarbij de teeltplug (1) is voorzien van een msnijding (3) die zich uitstrekt vanaf het bovenvlak (4) en vanaf het zijvlak (5) richting de cilindrische as (C). waarbij de insnijding twee naar elkaar toegekeerde insnijdingsvlakken (31, 32) definieert, tegenover elkaar, met het kenmerk dat de insnijding (3) zich uitstrekt vanaf een op het bovenvlak (4) gelegen startpunt (S) tot een op het zijvlak (5) gelegen eindpunt (E). waarbij het eindpunt (E) op afstand van het ondervlak (6) ligt.1. Cultivation plug (1) comprising a substrate for cultivating a plant (2), wherein the cultivation plug (1) is formed essentially cylindrically about a cylindrical axis (C) and has an upper surface (4), a side surface (3) and has a bottom surface (6), wherein the cultivation plug (1) is provided with a cutting (3) that extends from the top surface (4) and from the side surface (5) towards the cylindrical axis (C). wherein the incision defines two incision surfaces (31, 32) facing each other, opposite each other, characterized in that the incision (3) extends from a starting point (S) located on the top surface (4) to a starting point (S) located on the side surface (5) located end point (E). wherein the end point (E) is at a distance from the bottom surface (6).

2. Teeltplug volgens conclusie 1, waarbij de teeltplug (1) vervormbaar is vanuit een open toestand, waarin de twee insnijdingsvlakken (31. 32) op afstand zijn van elkaar, naar een gesloten toestand waarin de twee insnijdingsvlakken (31, 32) in hoofdzaak tegen elkaar aanliggen.2. Cultivation plug according to claim 1, wherein the cultivation plug (1) is deformable from an open condition, in which the two incision surfaces (31, 32) are spaced apart, to a closed condition in which the two incision surfaces (31, 32) are substantially abut each other.

3. Teeltplug volgens conclusie 2, waarbij de teeltplug (1) in de open toestand is ingericht voor het opnemen van ten minste cen deel van cen teeltmateriaal.3. Cultivation plug according to claim 2, wherein the cultivation plug (1) in the open condition is designed to receive at least part of a cultivation material.

4. Teeltplug volgens conclusie 3, waarbij het substraat in de gesloten toestand het opgenomen teeltmateriaaldeel omsluit.4. Cultivation plug according to claim 3, wherein the substrate encloses the incorporated propagating material part in the closed condition.

5. Teeltplug volgens een van de voorgaande conclusies, waarbij het substraat in een matrix ingebedde plantvezel omvat.5. Cultivation plug according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the substrate comprises plant fiber embedded in a matrix.

6. Teeltplug volgens conclusie 5, waarbij de plantvezel kokosvezel omvat, bij voorkeur ten minste 80 procent, meer bij voorkeur ten minste 90 procent kokosvezel.6. Cultivation plug according to claim 5, wherein the plant fiber comprises coconut fiber, preferably at least 80 percent, more preferably at least 90 percent coconut fiber.

7. Teeltplug volgens een van de voorgaande conclusies, waarbij het substraat een voor lucht, water en voedingsstoffen permeabele matrix omvat.7. Cultivation plug according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the substrate comprises a matrix permeable to air, water and nutrients.

8. Teeltplug volgens een van de voorgaande conclusies, waarbij de msnijding zich in het zijvlak onder een scherpe hoek ten opzichte van de cilindrische as (C) uitstrekt.8. Cultivation plug according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the cutting extends in the side surface at an acute angle with respect to the cylindrical axis (C).

9. Teeltplug volgens een van de voorgaande conclusies, waarbij ten minste een deel van de teeltplug (1) veerkrachtig is.9. Cultivation plug according to any of the preceding claims, wherein at least part of the cultivation plug (1) is resilient.

10. Teeltplug volgens een van de voorgaande conclusies. waarbij de teeltplug (1) integraal gevormd is.10. Cultivation plug according to any of the preceding claims. wherein the cultivation plug (1) is integrally formed.

11. Houder, voorzien van ten minste één teeltplug volgens een van de voorgaande conclusies.11. Container, provided with at least one cultivation plug according to any of the preceding claims.

12. Werkwijze voor het invoeren van ten minste een deel (8) van een teeltmateriaal (2) in een teeltplug (1) volgens een van de voorgaande conclusies, waarbij de werkwijze de stappen omvat van: - het verschaffen van de teeltplug (1); - het verschaffen van het teeltmateriaaldeel (8); - het invoeren van ten minste een deel van de wortelstructuur (8) in de teeltplug (1), tussen de twee insnijdingsvlakken (31. 32) richting de cilindrische as (C), terwijl de plug (1) in een open toestand wordt gehouden, waarbij de twee insnijdingsvlakken (31. 32) zich op afstand van elkaar bevinden.12. Method for introducing at least a part (8) of a cultivation material (2) into a cultivation plug (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the method comprises the steps of: - providing the cultivation plug (1) ; - providing the propagating material part (8); - inserting at least part of the root structure (8) into the cultivation plug (1), between the two incision surfaces (31. 32) towards the cylindrical axis (C), while keeping the plug (1) in an open state , wherein the two cutting surfaces (31. 32) are spaced apart.