Process and apparatus for commercial farming of marine and freshwater hydrophytes
First Claim
1. The method of cultivating freshwater and marine macrophytes of the type naturally growing in water comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a controlled atmospheric environment;
(b) exposing said environment to light sufficient to support growth of said macrophytes;
(c) placing live macrophytes in said environment in a position exposed to said light; and
(d) wetting said macrophytes with water of the type in which they naturally grow to maintain only a film of water on said macrophytes substantially throughout their growth period.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The disclosure relates to the propagation and cultivation of freshwater and marine plants. These freshwater or marine plants are found naturally in underwater, floating or air-water interface habitats where sufficient illumination, nutrients and moisture are available to sustain life. A process is disclosed in which freshwater and marine macrophytes are cultivated in a water charged atmosphere, rather than in their native freshwater or marine environments, under precise control of such critical growing conditions as light, temperature, nutrient supply and disease control. Carbon dioxide, a plant nutrient is introduced into the atmosphere or into the water while other nutrients are provided through the use of controlled mists or sprays arranged to maintain a film of nutrient containing freshwater or seawater on the growing plants. Natural waters may be periodically enriched with organic or inorganic nutrients. Significant improvement in harvest efficiency is realized by water charged atmospheric culturing of the marine and freshwater macrophytes, such that harvesting of the hydrophytes on a commercial basis is feasible.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. The method of cultivating freshwater and marine macrophytes of the type naturally growing in water comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a controlled atmospheric environment; (b) exposing said environment to light sufficient to support growth of said macrophytes; (c) placing live macrophytes in said environment in a position exposed to said light; and (d) wetting said macrophytes with water of the type in which they naturally grow to maintain only a film of water on said macrophytes substantially throughout their growth period. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. The method of cultivating macroalgae propagates, which comprises:
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(a) providing a clean, grease-free core of a plastic material; (b) inserting the core within an expandable netting; (c) loosely packing mature, reproductive macroalgae within the space surrounding the core and bounded by the netting; (d) placing the packaged macroalgae in an environment conducive for growth to establish propagates of said macroalgae on said core; and (e) removing the adult plants and cultivating the remaining propagates in an environment conducive to growth. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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17. Apparatus for cultivating freshwater and marine macrophytes of the type naturally growing in water comprising:
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(a) means providing a controlled atmospheric environment; (b) means for exposing said environment to light; (c) support means for supporting said macrophytes in said environment said support means being adapted to loosely support said macrophytes and being further adapted to permit light, air and water to pass therethrough; (d) wetting means for wetting said macrophytes with water of the type in which they naturally grow to maintain only a film of water on said macrophytes substantially throughout their growth period; and (e) tumbling means for tumbling said macrophytes in air to periodically expose all of them to said light. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification