Root-proof water-supply string and method for manufacturing root-proof water-supply string

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a gardening material used for allowing vegetables and fruits to grow and more particularly to a root-proof water-supply string which prevents penetration of crop roots while allowing the transmission of water (nutrient solution) therethrough and further to a manufacturing method of the root-proof water-supply string and also to a method for installing the root-proof water-supply string in a culture pot.

2. Description of the Related Art

In cultivation of vegetables and fruits (hereafter, “crops”), it is known that by controlling the spreading of roots, excessive growth of roots is suppressed, so that the transfer of nutrients to stems and fruit is promoted, thus making it possible to harvest fruit that has good flavor. Because of this, it has been generally practiced to restrict the size of culture beds by using pots or the like. On the other hand, it is also known that if nutrients or water is supplied in a managed manner, the growth efficiency of crops increases. In light of this, in one method, a capillary sheet exhibiting the capillary phenomenon and connected to a water-supply device is stretched in a culture bed, so that water (meaning nutrient solution, same hereafter) is efficiently supplied from the water-supply device to the capillary sheet. However, in this method, as the crops grow, the roots enter the capillary sheet and causes loss of capillary effect.

Because of this, in the Patent Reference 1 noted below, a method is proposed in which a capillary sheet is spread on the bottom of a pot, and over this, a root-proof sheet having fine holes through which water can pass but crop roots do not penetrate is spread, and then the pot is filled with culture soil, and crops are grown. In this method, since the roots are blocked by the root-proof sheet and do not penetrate inside the capillary sheet, there is no loss of the capillary effect for the capillary sheet. However, since the root-proof sheet and the capillary sheet are spread over the entire surface inside the pot, a large volume of these sheets is required, which causes waste; and in addition, a great deal of effort is required to do the spreading of the sheets. Furthermore, there is a problem that a large volume of water is supplied by the capillary sheet that is spread over the entire inside the pot, and so-called water stress does not occur with the crops; as a result, the flavor of the fruit is deteriorated.

In light of this, Patent Reference 2 noted below uses a method in which the crop culture soil is wrapped by a root-proof sheet, and another root-proof sheet is stretched over the outside of this wrapping root-proof sheet, so that the crop root extends between these two sheets. In this method, since the crop root is sandwiched between the two root-proof sheets and extend between these sheets, the root area is restricted. However, the gap between the two root-proof sheets is narrower naturally; and because of this, there occurs too much water stress; and thus the cultivation period becomes shorter, and there is a problem that the harvest is small. When tomatoes are taken as an example, only a few items can be harvested in a short period of time. In addition, the problem that a large volume of the root-proof sheet is required due to the full surface coverage and the problem that the work for spreading is complicated are exacerbated further by the fact that two root-proof sheets are required.

Furthermore, Patent Reference 3 discloses a water-conducting tube device comprised of a water-conducting section, in which both ends of the water-conducting section having a capillary function are exposed and the remaining part is wrapped by a watertight covering section, and a water-supply-covering section, which has a root-proof water-permeable function that wraps the exposed part of the water-conducting section. However, this device includes three components: the water-conducting section, the covering part, and the water-supply-covering section; as a result, the structure is complicated, and the cost is high. Also, since the length of the water-supply-covering section that is inserted in the culture pot is as short as 20 to 100 mm, such a problem is pointed out that the water supply to the crop in the pot is not sufficient. Furthermore, since it is necessary to do the work of fixing the water-conducting section and the covering water-supply-covering section in position, manufacturing is complex. In addition, Patent Reference 4 discloses a device in which the outer periphery of a string-type body having a capillary function placed inside the culture pot is covered by a cotton and resin net or hose having holes; however, for this device, no consideration is given to prevention of the penetration of the crop roots into the cotton and resin net or hose having holes (root-proofing). Accordingly, as the crop grows, the roots pierce and tear these components and penetrate into the string-type body, causing clogging.

[Patent Reference 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (Kokai) No. H10-127177

[Patent Reference 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (Kokai) No. 2004-201518

[Patent Reference 3] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (Kokai) No. H11-032602

[Patent Reference 4] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (Kokai) No. 2002-305981

The present invention is to resolve the problems noted above, wherein a capillary material is wrapped by a root-proof water-permeable material so as to form a string-type body, thus making it possible to secure a sufficient occupying area required inside a pot (or culture soil), to provide an appropriate water stress imposed on to the crop, and in addition, to reduce the work of spreading of soil as much as possible.

In light of the problems noted above, the present invention provides a root-proof water-supply string which is characterized in that a flexible string-shaped body is obtained by a capillary material having a capillary function on which a root-proof water-permeable material having a water permeability and a root-proof function is wrapped on its outer periphery for the entire length; and it further provides, for this root-proof water-supply string, a means in which the capillary material of the end surface of the string-shaped body is covered by the root-proof water-permeable material, a means in which the cross section of the string-shaped body is square, round, oval, or polygonal, and also a means in which the string-shaped body is a flat band shape having a width of 20 to 50 mm and a thickness of 2 to 6 mm.

Furthermore, the present invention provides, as a manufacturing method of the root-proof water-supply material noted above, a method in which a capillary material is wound by a root-proof water-permeable material, each one of the end parts is put on the other, and these part are fixed together, and it further provides, as a specific example of manner of this fixing, a method that uses adhesion, welding or attachment by sewing. Also, instead of this, the present invention provides a means in which the root-proof water-permeable material is wound in advance into a cylindrical shape and the capillary material is pulled into this. The present invention further provides a means in which a weaving machine or a knitting machine that can form woven cloth or knitted cloth in a round cylindrical shape around the outer periphery of the capillary material, and while a capillary material is being fed, weaving or knitting of the root-proof water-permeable material is performed around the circumference of the capillary material.

According to the present invention, since the root-proof water-supply string is comprised of a capillary material and a root-proof water-permeable material so as to form an integrated body, it saves work for individually spreading such materials; and since it is a string-shaped body, it is possible to install a sufficient amount thereof inside the pot and to avoid spreading across the entire surface and further to avoid waste. In addition, according to the present invention, roots do not penetrate into the capillary material even when the end surface of the string is inside the pot; and according to the present invention, the string has an excellent handleability, and it can impose appropriate water stress to the crops.

Meanwhile, according to the present invention, it is possible to easily manufacture a string-shaped body using a capillary material and a root-proof water-permeable material each of which is available on the market; and according to the present invention, it is possible to manufacture a product which is of excellent quality and has a length as desired.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a root-proof water-supply string according to the present invention;

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