Method and apparatus for use in plant growth promotion and flower development

• US 5,022,181 A
• Filed: 12/14/1989
• Issued: 06/11/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: B. V. Interlad
• Original Assignee: R E I Incorporated
• Inventors: Longstaff, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): Hafer, Robert A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ROONEY, KEVIN
• Application Number:
  US07/450,593
• Time in Patent Office: 544 Days
• Field of Search: 97/58, 97/DIG. 6, 97/1 R, 97/26, 97/28.1, 97/29, 97/31
• US Class Current: 47/31
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 9/1438 Covering materials therefor; Materials for protective coverings used for soil and plants, e.g. films, canopies, tunnels or cloches
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 40/25 Greenhouse technology, e.g. cooling systems therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 47/06 Plant growth regulation by control of light thereon

Abstract

Method and apparatus for encouraging maximal plant growth which method and apparatus comprise a light filter which prevents the natural decay of plant growth stimulating materials by absorption of UV radiation while permitting photosynthesis to occur with blue light in the absence of attendant heat generating and dehydrating radiations caused by green, yellow and infra-red light. The objective is made possible according to the preferred embodiment of the invention by interposing separately, continuously, or discontinuously, a combination of filters made of solid material between the sun and the growing plants which block out radiation in those wave lengths which are either physiologically harmful or which retard growth, but do not inhibit those wavelengths which are necessary for photosynthesis, metabolism, differentiation and development.

Claims

1. A sunscreening article for the growth promotion of green plants, comprising a plurality of separate screens, a first of said screens comprising first agent means for absorbing at least 80% of the naturally occurring auxin inactivating UV radiation of wavelengths in the range 290-340 nm, and a second of said screens comprising second agent means for preventing transmittal through said second of said screens of at least 50% of the non-photosynthetically useful and growth retarding green/yellow and infra-red light of wavelengths in the ranges 510 to 610 nm and 800 to 2500 nm, respectively, said first screen and said second screen each allowing transmittal therethrough of at least 80% of wavelengths in the range 340-510 nm, said second screen allowing transmittal therethrough of at least 50% of wavelengths in the range 610-710 nm.

2. An article according to claim 1, wherein said screens are constructed of flexible sheet or film, 100-300 microns in thickness.

3. An article according to claim 2, wherein said screens are constructed of a thermoplastic material.

4. An article according to claim 3, wherein the plastic material is a resin chosen from the group of polyvinyl chloride, polyolefin, polyester and an acrylic resin.

5. An article according to claim 1, wherein said first agent means forms between 0.01 and 0.5% by weight of the said first of said screens.

6. An article according to claim 2, wherein said first agent means forms between 0.01 and 0.5% by weight of the said first of said screens.

7. An article to claim 3, wherein said first agent means forms between 0.01 and 0.5% by weight of the said first of said screens.

8. An article according to claim 4, wherein said first agent means forms between 0.01 and 0.5% by weight of the said first of said screens.

9. An article according to claim 1, wherein said second agent means comprises a heat and light stable dye or pigment.

10. An article according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of separate screens comprises a third screen comprising third agent means for preventing transmittal of at least 50% of the available solar radiation within the range 610-710 nm.

11. An article according to claim 10, wherein said third agent means forms less than 1% by weight of said third screen.

12. An article according to claim 10, wherein the third agent means comprises a heat and light stable dye or pigment.

13. An article according to claim 11, wherein the third agent means comprises a heat and light stable dye or pigment.

14. An article according to claim 10, further comprising means for moving said second and third screens relative to one another and relative to said first screen, wherein each screen of said plurality of separate screens can be selectively used in isolation or in combination to create a desirable plant growth or plant development environment.

18. An article according to claim 1, wherein said first screen of said plurality of separate screens is finished in an unpolished matte or taffeta surface to provide a light diffusion effect.

15. A sunscreening apparatus for growth promotion of green plants, comprising:

first screen means for absorbing at least some UV radiations of at least some wavelengths in the range of 290 to 340 nm, said first screen means acting upon radiation between the source of radiation and the subject green plants;

a second screen means for absorbing at least some radiation of at least some wavelengths in the range of 510 to 610 nm and at least some radiation of wavelengths in the range of 710 to 2500 nm; and

control means for selectively imposing the radiation absorbing action of said second screen means upon radiations between the source of radiation and the subject green plants, while said first screen means is acting upon radiation between the source of radiation and the subject plants.

16. Apparatus of claim 15, wherein said first screen means comprises a sheet of material displaying said absorption qualities and a frame member supporting said sheet of material in an orientation between the sun and the subject plants;

and wherein said second screen means comprises a sheet material displaying said absorption qualities; and

wherein said control means comprises a roller and rope assembly to which said sheet material of said second screen means is mounted, said roller and rope assembly and said mounted sheet material functioning as a curtain assembly whereby the sheet material is alternately pulled from the roller to a blocking position between the sun and the subject green plants and rolled back onto the roller out of the blocking position.

17. Apparatus of claim 15, further comprising:

a third screen means for absorbing at least some radiation of at least some wavelengths in the range of 610 to 710 nm; and

second control means for selectively imposing the radiation absorbing action of said third screen means between the source of radiation and the subject green plants.

19. A sunscreening apparatus for growth promotion of green plants, comprising a plurality of independent screens, each of said screens comprising means for absorbing radiation in a wavelength range different from the wavelength ranges absorbed by each of the other said screens, and means for moving said screens of said plurality of screens relative to one another, wherein each screen is used selectively, either alone or in combination with another screen, to affect specific wavelength radiation levels in the growing environment, through manipulation of said screens.

20. A sunscreening apparatus for growth promotion of green plants, comprising:

first screen means for absorbing at least some UV radiations of at least some wavelengths in the range of 290 to 330 nm, said first screen means acting upon radiation between the source of radiation and the subject green plants;

second screen means for absorbing at least some radiation of at least some wavelengths in the range of 610 to 710 nm; and

control means for selectively imposing the radiation absorbing action of said second screen means upon radiations between the source of radiation and the subject green plants.

21. Apparatus of claim 20, further comprising:

a third screen means for absorbing at least some radiation of at least some wavelengths in the range of 510 to 610 nm and at least radiation of at least some wavelengths in the range of 800 to 2500 nm; and

second control means for selectively imposing the radiation absorbing action of said third screen means between the source of radiation and the subject green plants.

22. A sunscreening apparatus for growth promotion of green plants, comprising:

first screen means for absorbing at least some UV radiations of at least some wavelengths in the range of 290 to 340 nm, said first screen means acting upon radiation between the source of radiation and the subject green plants;

second screen means for absorbing at least some radiations of at least some wavelengths in the range of 610 to 710 nm;

at least one screen means for absorbing at least some radiation of at least some wavelengths in the range of 510 to 610 nm and at least some radiation of at least some wavelengths in the range of 800 to 2500 nm, said one screen means being said first screen means or said second screen means or a third screen means; and

control means for selectively imposing the radiation absorbing action of said second screen means upon radiations between the source of radiation and the subject green plants.

23. Apparatus of claim 22, wherein said one screen means comprises a third screen means;

and wherein said apparatus further comprises second control means for selectively imposing the radiation absorbing action of said third screen means between the source of radiation and the subject green plants.

24. Method of promoting growth of green plants, said method comprising the steps of:

continually preventing exposure of the green plants to at least some UV radiation of at least some wavelengths in the range of 290 to 340 nm; and

selectively preventing exposure of the green plants to at least some radiation of at least some wavelengths in the range of 510 to 710 nm and in the range of 800 to 2500 nm.

25. Method of claim 24, further comprising the step of selectively preventing exposure of the green plants to at least some radiation of at least some wavelengths in the range of 610 to 710 nm.

26. Method of promoting growth of green plants, said method comprising the steps of:

continually preventing exposure of the green plants to at least some UV radiation of at least some wavelengths in the range of 290 to 340 nm; and

selectively preventing exposure of the green plants to at least some radiation of at least some wavelengths in the range of 610 to 710 nm.

27. Method of claim 26, further comprising the step of selectively preventing exposure of the green plants to at least some radiation of wavelengths in the range of 510 to 710 nm.

28. Method of claim 26, further comprising the step of continually preventing exposure of the green plants to at least some radiation of at least some wavelengths in the range of 510 to 710 nm.