The present invention relates to a system for treating plant cuttings, comprising a carrier and a series of holders attached to said carrier, which holders are each designed for holding a plant cutting, said holders being attached to the carrier in such a manner that plant cuttings inserted into the holders extend substantially parallel to each other, and that the respective centres of each of the holders lie substantially in one and the same central plane. Such a system is described in WO 00/52996. Said system makes it possible to transport plant cuttings on a relatively small surface area and to subject them to an initial treatment, for example in a climate chamber.
Cutting is a method of vegetative reproduction of plants for the purpose of obtaining genetically identical culture material.
Plant parts are cut from existing plants and, after being subjected to a treatment, cultivated to fully-grown plants. The severed plant cuttings must be subjected to a precise temperature and humidity treatment so as to acquire sufficient roots to grow into fully fledged plants.
In the prior art the severed plant cuttings are placed in culture material, for instance soil, sand or substrate, after which the thus prepared plant cuttings are subjected to a temperature and humidity treatment.
This procedure has the drawback that the plant cuttings placed in culture material take up much space.
Another problem lies in transport of the plant cuttings; plant cuttings are usually taken in countries with a warm climate, after which they are transported to countries with a temperate climate where the plants are cultivated. Accordingly there is a need for holders for the plant cuttings in which the plant cuttings can be easily transported while taking up the least amount of space, for instance as air freight, and subsequently be cultivated into plants in as short a time as possible, using as few operations as possible and taking up as little space as possible.
These drawbacks are in part obviated by the system described in WO 00/52996. An advantage of the carrier described therein is that it enables mechanical processing, for instance striking, of the plant cuttings. The supply of the plant cuttings in individualized form and with defined position is of paramount importance in this connection; these measures first make it possible for a machine to take hold of the cuttings one by one and—after possible treatment—place them in a culture pot. Generally a culture pot is to that end provided with a hole. This application is particularly important in the case of chrysanthemums.
The object of the invention is to realise a further improvement of the system. The invention in particular aims at realising a further cost saving in the cultivation of plants, in particular chrysanthemums.
In order to accomplish that object, the system further comprises a watering device comprising at least one gutter in which the bottom sides of the plant cuttings can be placed, which gutter extends between a water supply side and a water discharge side, as well as a water inlet designed to supply water or on the water supply side and a water outlet designed to discharge water from the water discharge side. Tests have shown that the end result can be achieved within a shorter period of time and at lower cost if the plant cuttings—prior to being placed in earth—are first supplied with water until there is a beginning of root formation. Such a beginning of root formation is characterised by a small, just discernible thickening at the bottom side of the plant cutting. Another advantage of the invention is that the plant cuttings, on account of their stay in the watering device, can remain on a relatively small surface area for a longer period of time.
Preferably, a water outlet is provided on the water discharge side of the watering device, and a water inlet is preferably provided on the water supply side of the watering device.
A water threshold is disposed between the water supply side and the water discharge side of the watering device, preferably near the water discharge side, and preferably also near the water supply side, which water threshold determines the water level in the gutter in use.
The gutter preferably has a width such that the bottom side of the carrier with the bottom sides of the plant cuttings present therein can be placed therein. The gutter preferably has a narrowed portion near the bottom, the width of said narrow portion being such that the carrier does not fit therein, so that water can flow under the carrier.
The watering device preferably comprises a multitude of parallel gutters, the distance between the central axes of the gutters preferably being less than 5 cm, more preferably less than 3 cm. The spacing between the holders on a carrier is preferably also less than 5 cm, more preferably less than 3 cm. In this way a large number of plant cuttings can be placed on a relatively small surface area for starting the root formation.
The water threshold is preferably located some distance from the ends of the gutters, such that water can flow freely between said gutter ends. This helps to realise a uniform water level in all the gutters.
At least that part of the watering device which comprises the gutters is made of a bent plate in the preferred embodiment.
The invention also relates to a watering device as described above.
The invention further relates to a method for treating plant cuttings, comprising:
The present invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:
As
The clamping elements are made up of two substantially semi-cylindrical elements 7, which are each attached to the bridge elements 4, 5, respectively, by means of two bridges 8. The two semi-cylindrical elements 7, 8 are separated on both sides by gap 10 and 11, respectively. On account of the presence of the narrowed portions 6 of the bridge elements 4, 5, respectively, a force towards each other of the semicylindrical elements 7, 8 is set up when said semi cylindrical elements are moved apart. This is also a question of dimensioning, however, and said force also depends on the selected type of material, in particular the properties of the plastic material in question.
Inserting the plant cuttings 12 is facilitated by the presence of an upwardly converging part 14, 15, respectively, provided at the upper side of each of the semi-cylindrical elements 7, 8. As a result, a kind of funnel is formed. The strip 2 extends under the space between the semi-cylindrical elements 7, 8 to a certain extent, thus preventing plant cuttings 12 from falling through the bottom side.
The inner side of the semi-cylindrical elements 7, 8 may have a fairly random shape; it may have the shape of a circular cylinder, but it may also be slightly oval.
Other embodiments of carriers for plant cuttings suitable for use in the present invention are described in International patent publication WO 00/52996.
The gutters 22 may have a length of 1 m, for example, but a much greater length is also possible, for example 20 m. Present at the two ends of the gutters 22 is a water supply tank 24 and a water discharge tank 25, which are separated from the gutters 22 by water thresholds 26. Present in the water supply tank 24 are inlets 27, which can be connected to a water supply pipe, whilst water outlets 28 are present in the water discharge tank, which water outlets can be connected to a discharge pipe.
The water thresholds 26 are spaced from the ends of the gutters, so that the water can flow freely in the space between the ends. In this way a uniform water level in all the gutters is ensured, which water level is the same as the height of the water thresholds 26.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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NL2003165 | Jul 2009 | NL | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/NL2010/050435 | 7/7/2010 | WO | 00 | 2/10/2012 |