SPRAYING

FIELD OF INVENTION

[1] This invention relates to gardening implements, and more particularly to a hose attachment for foliar spraying.

BACKGROUND

[2] Photosynthesis is the process by which photosynthetic plants utilize solar energy to build carbohydrates and other organic molecules from carbon dioxide and water. The conversion of carbon dioxide to such organic molecules is generally referred to as carbon fixation.

[3] In conditions of relatively abundant nutrients, sun and water, plants primarily absorb and lose water and gases, such as CO2, through their stomata. Under such conditions, cuticular conductance of CO2 is a relatively small fraction compared to the cuticular conductance of water vapor, which is smaller than CO2. The net result is that the diffusion path for CO2 is strongly stomatal, while the path for water vapor involves both the stomata and the cuticle. However, as leaves become darkened or dehydrated, their stomatal apertures begin to close, such that water loss and exchange of CO2 becomes increasingly dependent upon the cuticle. Boyer et al. (1997) Plant Physiol. 114: 185-191.

[4] Fertilizers for higher plants generally include nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, which are referred to as primary nutrients or macronutrients. Fertilizers often further include certain secondary nutrients, such as iron, sulfur, calcium, and magnesium, as well as various minerals and micronutrients. Heretofore, little attention has been paid to providing formulations which act directly to enhance carbon fixation in higher plants. Conventional fertilizer formulations have generally been directed at the delivery of the recognized primary, secondary, and micronutrients, but have usually not included a carbon source and, in particular, have not included a carbon source intended to enhance carbon fixation. [5] Foliar feeding is a method of feeding plants by applying liquid fertilizer directly to their leaves rather than through their roots. Plants are able to absorb essential elements through their leaves. The absorption takes place through their stomata and also through their epidermis. Transport is usually faster through the stomata, but total absorption may be as great through the epidermis. Foliar feeding was earlier thought to damage tomatoes, but has now become standard practice. Addition of a spray enhancer can help nutrients stick to the leaf and then penetrate the leaves.

[6] It would be desirable to provide improved methods and devices for promoting plant growth by enhancing the rate of carbon fixation within the plant. It would be desirable for such methods and devices to be relatively convenient, safe and simple to apply. It would be particularly desirable for such methods and devices to be effective with most or all higher leafy plants. Additionally, it would be desirable for such methods and devices to promote rapid growth and maturing of the treated plant.

[7] It would be desirable to provide improved methods, apparatuses, compositions and formulation for promoting plant growth by enhancing the leaf conductance of gases, such as carbon dioxide, in plants, and in particular, the cuticular conductance, the stomatal conductance, or both. It would be desirable if such methods, apparatuses, compositions and formulations could be used with minimal loss of CO2 gas into the atmosphere.

SUMMARY

[8] The present invention provides novel and effective methods and devices for promoting the growth of green photosynthetic plants, particularly higher plants. The devices allow water to be infused with carbon dioxide, and this compound can then easily be applied to plants as a foliar spray to the plant and its leaves, where the compound increases intracellular carbon dioxide levels in an amount sufficient to inhibit photorespiration within the plant cells and thus enhance plant growth.

[9] The methods and devices of the present invention are effective with virtually all photosynthetic plant species having leaves or other surfaces capable of receiving foliar sprays, particularly higher plants. "Higher" plants include all plant species having true stems, roots, and leaves, and thus exclude lower plants, e.g. yeasts, algae and molds.

[10] The present invention provides substantial benefits in increasing the growth of plants, especially leafy vegetables and flowers. With increased growth, a shorter growing season, or shorter time to harvest, may be required. The present invention provides multiple additional advantages including increased control of pathogens, mold, slime and algae, as well as providing a degree of protection against insects and pests, and greatly reducing or preventing spoilage and crop loss due to wilting, desiccation and dry rot. Each of these advantages provides the opportunity for significant cost savings and increased productivity.

[11] The methods and devices of the present invention may be used to promote growth in tissues of either juvenile or mature plants. Generally, however, it is desirable that the plants include at least two true leaves beyond the cotyledon or cotyledon pair (i.e. the "seed leaves"). Improved growth occurs as a result of several pathways for the metabolism of CC -infused water which benefit from reduced photorespiration. In addition to such enhanced growth, foliar spraying using the devices of the present invention may result in an enhanced turgidity.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[12] The features and advantages of embodiments of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment(s) with reference to the attached figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows the hose attachment attached to a hose according to one embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[13] Referring to FIG. 1, a hose attachment, along with a portion of a hose, according to one embodiment of the invention is shown. A hose 10, such as a garden hose, is attached to a hose attachment 12. The hose attachment 12 includes a main body 13 and a detachable cannister 18. The main body 13 includes an actuator 14 and a mixing chamber 16. The mixing chamber 16 has a cannister attachment (hidden in Fig. 1) to which the cannister 18 can be attached. The cannister attachment can be of any form which allows the cannister 18 to be attached securely but detachably to the mixing chamber 16, non-exclusive examples being thread screws, deformable snaps, clips, or magnets. The cannister 18 is suitable for holding CO2 gas at greater than atmospheric pressure. The main body 13 also includes an outlet 20, through which water leaving the mixing chamber 16 can pass, preferably into the atmosphere. The outlet 20 is preferably an adjustable spray nozzle. In this way, the hose attachment can be used to spray water onto plants.

[14] In its full state the cannister 18 contains CO2 gas at greater than atmospheric pressure, but as the device of the invention is used the amount of CO2 gas in the cannister 18 decreases, and eventually the cannister may be depleted of CO2 gas or the pressure of the CO2 gas in the cannister may fall below a threshold sufficient for normal operation of the device, as explained in greater detail below.

[15] Water is within the hose 10 at pressure. If the hose 10 is connected to a source of water at the other end of the hose 10, then while the actuator 14 is actuated water enters the mixing chamber 16. CO2 gas within the cannister 18 enters the mixing chamber 16 where it is mixed with the water entering the mixing chamber 16. The CO2- infused water then passes out of the outlet 20 due to additional water entering the mixing chamber from the hose 10.

[16] The actuator 14 is shown in FIG. 1 as a button. More broadly, the actuator 14 may be any mechanical device, the actuation of which causes water to flow from the hose 10 into the mixing chamber 12. Non-exclusive examples of possible actuators are a biased button, a toggle button, a trigger, a toggle switch, or a slider.

[17] CO2 gas within the cannister 18 enters the mixing chamber 12 if (1) the pressure of CO2 gas within the cannister 18 is above a threshold and (2) if the actuator 14 is actuated. The second condition may be detected either directly by actuation of the actuator 14, or indirectly by flow of water through the mixing chamber 12. The C02 gas enters the mixing chamber 12 under such conditions by means of a valve or a membrane. The valve or membrane allows CO2 gas within the cannister 18 to enter the mixing chamber 12 in the form of nano-bubbles, which causes the CO2 gas to stay more infused in the water when exposed to the atmosphere than would normal microbubbles, the latter of which more easily escape the water into the atmosphere.

[18] The cannister 18 is attached to the mixing chamber 12 in a detachable manner, such that when the cannister 18 is low or empty, a user of the device may detach the cannister 18 from the mixing chamber 12. The cannister 18 can then be partially or fully refdled with CO2 gas and reattached to the mixing chamber 12, or a different cannister containing CO2 gas can be attached to the mixing chamber 12.

[19] In one embodiment, the hose attachment 12 does not include the cannister 18, but is suitable for attachment of a cannister of CO2 gas provided separately by a user of the device. In this embodiment, the hose attachment 12 still includes the cannister attachment and means by which actuation of the actuator 14 allows CO2 gas in a cannister attached to the hose attachment 12 to enter the mixing chamber.

[20] Using the device, CC -infused water may be sprayed or misted in a manner so as to cover an entire leaf or plant, or planted area. If desired, spraying or misting can be designed so that the CC -infused water additionally covers the underside of the leaf, plant or planted area.

[21] The water is infused with CO2 under conditions sufficient to result in CO2 concentrations in water in excess of atmospheric concentration (typically expressed as 250-350 milligrams CO2 per liter air (mg/1)). Accordingly, in certain embodiments of the invention, water is infused with CO2 in the mixing chamber 12 under conditions sufficient to result in CO2 concentrations of greater than about 0.37 mg CCU/liter water; greater than about 0.4 mg CCU/liter; greater than about 0.5 mg CCU/liter; greater than about 0.6 mg CC /liter; greater than about 0.7 mg CC /liter; greater than about 0.8 mg CC /liter; greater than about 0.9 mg CC /liter; greater than about 1.0 mg CC /liter; greater than about 1.2 mg CCU/liter; greater than about 1.5 mg CCU/liter; greater than about 1.8 mg CC /liter; or greater than about 2.0 mg CCU/liter (aq.). In certain embodiments, the concentration of CO2 is controlled so as to fall within a desired range. Accordingly, in certain embodiments of the invention, water is infused with CO2 under conditions sufficient to result in CO2 concentrations falling within the range of about 0.37 mg/1 to about 2400 mg/1; about 0.6 mg/1 to about 2200 mg/1; about 0.7 mg/1 to about 2000 mg/1; about 0.8 mg/1 to about 2000 mg/1; or within the range of about 1.0 mg/1 to about 2000 mg/1. [22] In an earlier test setting, not using the device but determining the efficacy of foliar spraying with water infused with carbon dioxide, an instantaneous increases of CO2 transfer occurred, as shown by measurable observations. For example, the use of C02-infused water in foliar spraying resulted in increased CO2 conductance, as measured through a porometer, which provides the most direct measurement of CO2 uptake. Additionally, the use of CCh-infused water in foliar spraying resulted in increases in chlorophyll A, which are consistent with the plant’s increased ability to process more CO2 into carbohydrate, meeting the increased physiological needs for plant or leaf growth, because of its (CO2 S) increased availability. The use of C02- infused water in foliar spraying produced surprising and unexpected enhancements in vegetation and leaf biomass, consistent with the availability of increased carbohydrate reserves to the meristematic tissue of the plant. Each of the above results has been identified in short term and long term (to harvest) testing, and demonstrates that foliar spraying with C02-infused water, as allowed by the device of the present invention, produces unexpectedly substantial, surprising, and significant increases in CO2 uptake, which can significantly enhance the growth and health of plants.

[23] By coupling CO2 infusion technology with foliar misting, the present invention allows a surprisingly rich microenvironment to be targeted to the leaf. This allows higher CO2 concentrations locally to be experienced by the plants, which cannot otherwise be achieved atmospherically without potentially endangering animal and human health. The present invention further allows more efficient delivery of CO2, as the water vapor infused with CO2 can be applied in a targeted fashion across the entire plant leaf surface area, rather than the entire atmosphere.

[24] The embodiments presented are exemplary only and persons skilled in the art would appreciate that variations to the embodiments described above may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. The scope of the invention is solely defined by the appended claims.