Method of cultivation and components for use therewith

• US 20060150492A1
• Filed: 12/20/2004
• Published: 07/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FW Enviro, LLC
• Original Assignee: FW Enviro, LLC
• Inventors: Kaprielian, Craig L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,243,459 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 47/58.1SC
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 13/0243 Protective shelters for young plants, e.g. tubular sleeves
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 17/06 Trellis-work
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/02 Watering arrangements located above the soil which make use of perforated pipe-lines or pipe-lines with dispensing fittings, e.g. for drip irrigation

Abstract

A method and components for cultivation of plant materials. The components include enhanced berms, a confined irrigation/fertigation system, field and plant sensors, a plant support system, overcovering structure and a protective collar. Each of these components used singularly or in combination with each other enhances the growth and yield of plant material decreases the associated costs of cultivation, and decreases adverse environmental impacts.

Claims

1. A method of cultivating plant material comprising the steps of:

providing a mound of raised soil with sufficient volume for a plant to develop roots above a level of underlying soil at which nematodes harmful to the plant occur; and

providing the roots of said plant within a top layer of soil of said mound.

2. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

providing said mound in an extended traversely extending direction to form berm; and

providing the roots of multiple plants within the top layer of soil of said berm to create a row of plants on top of said berm.

3. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of providing the mound with a substantially flat top surface.

4. The method according to claim 2 further comprising the step of providing the berm with a substantially flat top surface.

5. The method according to claim 3 further comprising the step of providing the top surface of said mound with a width approximately half the width of a base of said mound, and providing sides having a height approximately a third the width of the base.

6. The method according to claim 4 further comprising the step of providing the top surface of said mound with a width approximately half the width of a base of said mound, and providing sides having a height approximately a third the width of the base.

7. The method according to claim 5 wherein the width of the base is approximately 6 feet, the width of the top surface is approximately 3 feet and the height of the sides is approximately 2 feet.

8. The method according to claim 6 wherein the width of the base is approximately 6 feet, the width of the top surface is approximately 3 feet, and the height of the sides is approximately 2 feet.

9. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of providing said plant material selected from the group consisting of citrus trees, deciduous fruit trees, nut trees, vine crops, subtropical fruit trees, and berry producing bushes and shrubs.

10. The method according to claim 2 further comprising the step of providing said plant material selected from the group consisting of citrus trees, deciduous fruit trees, nut trees, vine crops, subtropical fruit trees, and berry producing bushes and shrubs.

11. A method of cultivating plant material comprising the steps of:

providing a row of cultivated plants in the ground;

providing an irrigation conduit along said row of plants;

providing a liquid emitter at intervals along said conduit;

providing water through said conduit at a predetermined schedule, said water providing irrigation to said row of plants through said emitters.

12. The method according to claim 11 further comprising the step of providing said emitter at the base of each of said plants.

13. The method according to claim 11 further comprising the step of providing said emitter a short distance to the side of each of said plants.

14. The method according to claim 11 further comprising the step of providing said emitter at the base and a short distance to the side of said plants.

15. The method according to claim 11 further comprising the step of providing a sub-soil moisture sensor below the row of plants.

16. The method according to claim 15 further comprising the step of providing multiple sub-soil moisture sensors at various levels below the row of plants.

17. The method according to claim 15 further comprising the step of providing an automated irrigation system that controls a supply of water through said conduits based upon moisture level inputs from said sub-soil moisture sensor.

18. The method according to claim 11 further comprising the step of providing a plant sensor on the plant to measure physiological changes in the plant.

19. The method according to claim 18 wherein said plant sensor also provides temperature and humidity readings.

20. The method according to claim 11 further comprising the step of providing an automated irrigation system that controls a supply of water through said conduits.

21. The method according to claim 11 further comprising the step of providing fertilizer and nutrient additives with the water during irrigation.

22. The method according to claim 21 further comprising an automated fertigation unit that premixes the water and additives according to predetermined ratios.

23. The method according to claim 11 further comprising the step of providing said row of plants in an elevated berm.

24. The method according to claim 23 further comprising the step of providing said berm with sufficient volume for said plants to develop roots above a level of underlying soil at which nematodes harmful to the plant occur.

25. The method according to claim 24 further comprising the step of providing said berm with a substantially flat top surface on which said conduit lays upon.

26. The method according to claim 23 further comprising the step of providing a plant support system.

27. The method according to claim 26 wherein said plant support system is an elevated trellis to which a portion of said plants is affixed.

28. The method according to claim 11 wherein said liquid emitter is a drip emitter.

29. The method according to claim 11 wherein said liquid emitter is a micro-spray emitter.

30. The method according to claim 11 further comprising the step of providing an overcovering structure above the plants.

31. The method according to claim 30 further comprising the step of providing water spraying misters.

32. A method of cultivating plant material comprising the steps of:

providing a protective hollow collar around a plant being cultivated in the ground; and

providing an opening near a base of the collar to allow air flow through said opening near the ground, and through an open top of the collar.

33. The method according to claim 32 further comprising the step of slightly elevating said collar to provide said opening.

34. The method according to claim 32 further comprising the step of removing a portion of the base of said collar to provide said opening.

35. The method according to claim 32 further comprising the step of providing at least one downwardly projecting spike at said base of the collar, said at least one spike provide support to elevate said base of the collar above the ground.

36. The method according to claim 32 further comprising the step of providing said collar with said opening in the summer, and covering said opening in the winter.

37. The method according to claim 35 further comprising the step of depressing said collar downward to insert said spikes into the ground, thus closing said opening, during the winter.

38. The method according to claim 32 further comprising the step of providing said plant material selected from the group consisting of citrus trees, deciduous fruit trees, nut trees, vine crops, subtropical fruit trees, and berry producing bushes and shrubs.

39. The method according to claim 32 further comprising the step of providing an overcovering structure above the plants.

40. The method according to claim 39 further comprising the step of providing water spraying misters.

41. A berm for the cultivation of plant material, the berm comprising:

a base;

a top; and

sloping sides;

wherein the base, top and sides define a volume for the development of roots of the plant material above a level of underlying soil at which nematodes harmful to the plan occur.

42. The berm according to claim 41 wherein the top of the berm is a substantial flat surface.

43. The berm according to claim 42 wherein a width of the top is approximately half a width of the base, and a height of the sides approximately a third the width of the base.

44. The berm according to claim 43 wherein the width of the top is approximately 3 feet, the width of the base is approximately 6 feet, and the height of the sides is approximately 2 feet.

45. A confined irrigation system for the cultivation of plant material, the system comprising:

an irrigation conduit placed along a row of plants; and

liquid emitters spaced a predetermined intervals along said conduit, the liquid emitters designed to deliver water at a very slow rate.

46. The confined irrigation system according to claim 45 wherein the liquid emitters are drip emitters.

47. The confined irrigation system according to claim 45 wherein the liquid emitters are micro-spray emitters.

48. The system according to claim 45 wherein said liquid emitters are provided adjacent to each of said plants.

49. The system according to claim 45 further comprising an automated irrigation control unit that delivers a supply of water through said conduits during predetermined times.

50. The system according to claim 45 further comprising sub-soil moisture sensors.

51. The system according to claim 50 further comprising an automated irrigation control unit that delivers a supply of water through said conduits based upon inputs from said sub-soil sensors.

52. The system according to claim 45 further comprising a plant sensor to measure physiological changes in a plant.

53. The system according to claim 52 wherein said plant sensor also measure temperature and humidity levels in the air.

54. The system according to claim 52 further comprising an automated irrigation control unit that delivers a supply of water through said conduits based upon inputs from said plant sensor.

55. The system according to claim 45 further comprising additives in said water.

56. The system according to claim 55 wherein said additives are plant fertilizer and nutrients.

57. The system according to claim 55 further comprising an automated ferigation unit that premixes the water and the additives according to predetermined ratios.

58. The system according to claim 45 further comprising an elevated berm in which said row of plants are planted.

59. The system according to claim 58 wherein said berm has a sufficient volume for root development above a level of underlying soil at which nematodes harmful to the plant occur.

60. The system according to claim 59 wherein said berm has a substantially flat top surface on which said conduit lays upon.

61. The system according to claim 45 further comprising a plant support system.

62. The system according to claim 61 wherein said plant support system is an elevated trellis to which a portion of said plants is affixed.

63. A collar for the cultivation of plant material, the collar comprising:

a hollow tube shaped to allow space between an inner surface of the tube and a plant the collar surrounds; and

an opening provided at a base of the collar.

64. The collar according to claim 63 wherein said opening is provided by removal of apportion of the base of the collar.

65. The collar according to claim 63 further comprising at least one downwardly projecting spike at said base of the collar.

66. The collar according to claim 63 wherein an upper lip of the collar is flared outward.

67. The collar according to claim 63 manufactured from biodegradable polyethylene.

68. The collar according to claim 63 further comprising a line of longitudinally extending perforation to facilitate easy splitting and removal of the collar from the plant.

69. The collar according to claim 63 further comprising a longitudinally extending split to facilitate removal and installation of the collar.