Plant growth system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10342182-B2
Application number	US-201214367499-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 21, 2012
Priority date	Dec 22, 2011
Publication date	Jul 9, 2019
Grant date	Jul 9, 2019

Abstract

A plant growth system is provided, which includes: one or more plant growth substrates comprising an MMVF slab and a single MMVF block; one or more detectors arranged to monitor at least one of the water and nutrient levels of at least one of the plant growth substrates; at least one irrigation device arranged to supply water and nutrients to the plant growth substrates; and control mechanism connected to said detectors and said at least one irrigation device. The supply of water and nutrients by the at least one irrigation device is controlled by the control mechanism in dependence on the monitored water and/or nutrient levels. In this manner, the water and nutrient levels of the substrates can be accurately controlled.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A plant growth system comprising:
one or more plant growth substrates each comprising a man-made vitreous fibre (MMVF) slab having a volume in the range of 3 to 11 liters and a single man-made vitreous fibre (MMVF) block, wherein the MMVF slab comprises a water-impermeable covering, wherein the water-impermeable covering comprises at least one drain hole at a proximal end of the slab, wherein the at least one drain hole is located at or adjacent to an edge of a lower surface of the slab and wherein the MMVF block is positioned a distance of greater than 50% of the length of the slab from the at least one drain hole;
one or more detectors arranged to monitor a nutrient level of at least one of the one or more plant growth substrates;
at least one irrigation device located in the single MMVF block so that water and nutrients are directly supplied to the single MMVF block, the at least one irrigation device being positioned in the MMVF block at a distal side thereof relative to the at least one drain hole; and
control means connected to said one or more detectors and said at least one irrigation device,
wherein the supply of water and nutrients by the at least one irrigation device is controlled by the control means in dependence on the monitored nutrient level.

2. A plant growth system according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more detectors are further arranged to monitor the distribution of at least one of: the water level and/or the nutrient level within at least one of the one or more plant growth substrates.

3. A plant growth system according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more detectors are arranged to monitor the water and/or nutrient levels of at least one of the one or more plant growth substrates at regular intervals.

4. A plant growth system according to claim 1 , wherein the supply of water and nutrients by the at least one irrigation device is controlled by the control means in dependence on the nutrient levels.

5. A plant growth system according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more detectors are arranged to monitor the water and nutrient content of at least one of the one or more plant growth substrates.

6. A plant growth system according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more detectors are further arranged to monitor the temperature of at least one of the one or more plant growth substrates, and the supply of water and nutrients by the at least one irrigation device is further controlled by the control means in dependence on the monitored temperature.

7. A plant growth system according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the one or more detectors is arranged to determine a nutrient content from an electrical conductivity of a fluid in at least one plant growth substrate.

8. A plant growth system according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the slabs has a volume in the range of 3 to 8 liters.

9. A plant growth system according to claim 1 , wherein each plant growth substrate further comprises a single man-made vitreous fibre (MMVF) plug disposed within the man-made vitreous fibre (MMVF) block.

10. A plant growth system according to claim 1 , wherein each man-made vitreous fibre (MMVF) slab comprises a binding system comprising an organic binder selected from formaldehyde-free binders.

11. A plant growth system according to claim 1 , wherein each man-made vitreous fibre (MMVF) slab comprises a hydrophilic binding system.

12. A plant growth system according to claim 10 or 11 , wherein the binding system comprises an organic binder and a wetting agent.

13. A plant growth system according to claim 12 , wherein the wetting agent comprises an ionic surfactant.

14. A plant growth system according to claim 1 , wherein each MMVF slab comprises a first layer of MMVF in interfacial contact with a second layer of MMVF, the first layer having a greater density than the second layer.

15. A plant growth system according to claim 14 , wherein the first layer of MMVF has a density in the range 40 to 90 kg/m 3 and the second layer of MMVF has a density in the range 35 to 85 kg 3 .

16. A plant growth system according to claim 15 , wherein a ratio of first layer thickness to second layer thickness is in the range 1:(1-3).

17. A plant growth system according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more detectors are arranged to monitor a water level of at least one of the one or more plant growth substrates.

18. A plant growth system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one irrigation device is positioned in the MMVF block only.

19. A plant growth system according to claim 1 , wherein a vertical plane divides each of the MMVF block and the MMVF slab into distal and proximal ends, the at least one irrigation device being positioned in the distal end of the MMVF block and the drain hole being positioned in the proximal end of the MMVF slab.

20. A plant growth system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one irrigation device is located further than 50% of the length of the MMVF slab from the at least one drain hole.

21. A plant growth system comprising:
one or more plant growth substrates each comprising a man-made vitreous fibre (MMVF) slab having a volume in the range of 3 to 11 liters and a single man-made vitreous fibre (MMVF) block, wherein the MMVF slab includes a drain hole, wherein the drain hole is located at or adjacent to an edge of a lower surface of the slab and wherein the MMVF block is positioned a distance of greater than 50% of the length of the slab from the drain hole;
one or more detectors arranged to monitor a nutrient level of at least one of the one or more plant growth substrates, wherein the one or more detectors extends horizontally into the MMVF slab;
at least one irrigation device located in the single MMVF block so that water and nutrients are directly supplied to the single MMVF block, the at least one irrigation device being positioned in the MMVF block at a distal side thereof relative to the drain hole; and
control means connected to said one or more detectors and said at least one irrigation device;
wherein the supply of water and nutrients by the at least one irrigation device is controlled by the control means in dependence on the monitored nutrient level.

Assignees

• Rockwool Int

Inventors

• Hempenius Eelke Gjalt
• Janssen Frank Hendrikus Peter
• De Groot Jacob Frank

Classifications

• A01G24/18

  containing inorganic fibres, e.g. mineral wool · CPC title

• A01G31/00 Primary

  Soilless cultivation, e.g. hydroponics (growth substrates therefor A01G24/00; cultivation of seaweed A01G33/00) · CPC title

• A01G9/021 Primary

  Pots formed in one piece; Materials used therefor · CPC title