CROP GROWTH ENHANCEMENT TECHNOLOGY

Abstract

A system, apparatus and method of enhancing the growth of crops using gaseous media with deprived Oxygen content. A plant growth apparatus is disclosed including a source of Nitrogen gas (N2); a source of Carbon Dioxide gas (CO2 gas); a compressor connected to the source of Nitrogen gas and to the source of CO2 gas; and one or more gas emitters connected to the compressor and adapted to be disposed near plants in a greenhouse or other enclosure. During use, the gas emitters emit a predetermined amount of Nitrogen gas and a predetermined amount of CO2 gas, in a mixture, to the plants, whereby a diffusion gradient is created in each plant moving Oxygen gas (O2) out of the plant and enhancing photosynthesis in the plant.

Claims

1. A plant growth apparatus, comprising; a source of Nitrogen gas (N2); a source of Carbon Dioxide gas (CO2 gas); a compressor connected to the source of Nitrogen gas and to the source of CO2 gas; and at least one gas emitter connected to the compressor and adapted to be disposed near the at least one plant.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein during use, the gas emitter emits a predetermined amount of Nitrogen gas and a predetermined amount of CO2 gas, in a mixture, to the at least one plant, whereby a diffusion gradient is created in the at least one plant moving Oxygen gas (O2) out of the at least one plant and enhancing photosynthesis in the at least one plant.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the mixture of Nitrogen gas and CO2 gas is such that, when emitted into ambient air surrounding the at least one plant, creates a Minus O2 condition.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the Minus O2 condition is approximately 1.0% less than ambient O2 concentration.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the Minus O2 condition is less than or equal to 200,000 ppm O2

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a niter connected to the input of the compressor, prior to the Nitrogen gas source and the CO2 source.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a CO2 storage connected to the output of the compressor.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one valve disposed between the compressor and the at least one emitter.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the at least one valve includes a venturi valve and a flow control valve.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a pressure regulator connected between the venturi valve and the flow control valve.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising an electronic control communicatively connected to the flow control valve.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising at least one CO2 sensor disposed proximate the at least one plant and at least one O2 sensor disposed proximate the plant, the at least one CO2 sensor and the at least one O2 sensor being communicatively connected to the electronic control.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, further Comprising at least one temperature sensor connected to the electronic control.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising at least one PAR connected to the electronic control.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising at least one wind sensor connected to the electronic control.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one emitter is a plurality of emitters connected to a manifold which is connected to the output of the compressor.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein apparatus of adapted to emit Nitrogen gas and CO2 gas to a plurality of plants disposed in a greenhouse, hoop house, field, orchard, or vineyard.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an O2 gas storage container, and wherein O2 gas generated by the at least one plant during nighttime, is drawn into the at least one emitter and transferred through the compressor to the O2 gas storage.

19. A system for enhancing the growth of plants growing in a green house, hoop house, or other enclosure, comprising: a. a source of Nitrogen gas (N2); b. a source of Carbon Dioxide gas (CO2 gas); c. a compressor connected to the source of Nitrogen gas and to the source of CO2 gas; d. a plurality of gas emitters connected to the compressor and adapted to be disposed near the plants, whereby during use, the gas emitter emits a predetermined amount of Nitrogen gas and a predetermined amount of CO2 gas, in a mixture, to the plants, whereby a diffusion gradient is created in the plants moving Oxygen gas (O2) out of the plants and enhancing photosynthesis in the plants; e. a gas flow control valve disposed between the compressor and the gas emitters; f. at least one CO2 sensor and at least one O2 sensor disposed near the plants; and g. an electronic control communicatively interconnected to the gas flow control valve, the at least one CO2 sensor, and the at least one O2 sensor, the electronic control provides a mixture of Nitrogen gas and CO2 gas to the plants such that, when emitted into ambient air surrounding the plants, creates a Minus O2 condition.

20. A method of enhancing the growth of plants growing in a green house, hoop house, or other enclosure by removing or reducing O2 in the ambient air surrounding the plants thereby creating a diffusion gradient in the plants, moving Oxygen gas (O2) out of the plants and enhancing photosynthesis in the plants.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

[0042] FIG. 1 is a graph illustrating the constituents of ambient air.

[0043] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the basic physiological function of a plant leaf.

[0044] FIG. 3 is a diagram of the diffusion of gases in plant chemistry.

[0045] FIG. 4 is a further diagram illustrating gas diffusion.

[0046] FIGS. 5A and 5B are photographs of plant stoma, in a group and individually, both open and closed.

[0047] FIG. 6 is a diagram of an embodiment of a system of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

1. The Preferred Embodiments of the System and Method.

[0048] FIG. 6 shows embodiments of a Minos O2 system 10 of the present invention. CO.sub.2 is a known aerial gaseous growth enhancer for crops. CO.sub.2 and a Minus O.sub.2 mix. (Nitrogen gas and CO.sub.2 gas) are applied during daylight hours to further improve photosynthesis. O.sub.2 deficient media and a higher than normal concentration of CO.sub.2 provides optimal plant growth. Additionally, removal of O.sub.2 from ambient air still further increases CO.sub.2 concentration.

[0049] A basic embodiment includes a Nitrogen gas source 12 A, a CO2 gas source 30, a compressor 14, and interconnecting lines and manifolds to distribute N.sub.2 (or deplete O.sub.2) to a group of plants 16 based upon photosynthetic activity rates of the plants, via one or more emitters 18. Where more than one emitter 18 is deployed, the emitter may be connected to a manifold 60 which is interconnected to the output of the compressor 14. The Nitrogen gas (N2) source 12A may be a tank, either fixed or semi-portable. The CO2 gas source 30 may also be a tank. Alternatively, it may be a Pressure Swing Absorption Device (PSA). The plant group 16 includes a plurality of individual plants, which may be disposed in a greenhouse, hoop house or the like. Alternatively, the group may be disposed outside in a field, orchard, vineyard or the like.

[0050] In a more preferred embodiment, one or more sensors are preferably connected to a controller 20 to prescriptively add Minus () O.sub.2 at a rate to accelerate the O.sub.2 discharge from the leafy area of plant group 16.

[0051] The system 10 preferably provides a prescription of less than 20% O.sub.2. This concentration is at least 1% lower than ambient air. Oxygen with a higher ambient concentration in the surrounding pool of air will diffuse inwardly rapidly towards the emitters 18. More preferably, the prescription rate is higher and matches the photosynthetic activity rate associated with photochemical reaction during high sunlight, at which time the plants' stomata opening are at their most open state therein buildup of unwanted O.sub.2 gas byproduct in the interior leaf space and resulting reduction of photosynthesis.

[0052] The system introduces the prescriptive level or levels of O.sub.2 gas, with the balance composed of other nonreactive non-toxic gases. The other gases are not harmful to crops, but will increase the O.sub.2 gradient across the inner and out leaf surface and immediately adjacent and surrounding the crops' leafy canopy. The flow rates of the distribution emitter array 18 is set so that just enough O.sub.2 is introduced so as to maintain an ongoing chemical gradient increase, occupies the leafy crop canopy and the immediately adjacent area so that O.sub.2 is moving info the leafy area by diffusion or dispersion across the chemical gradient deficit created in the sphere by the neutralization process.

[0053] The application can be reversed at night to accommodate respiration from the plant group 16. In this case, O2 is stored in an O2 storage tank 12B. Nighttime application of stored O.sub.2 enriched gas further facilitates improved respiration of plants.

[0054] Still referring to FIG. 6, a most preferred embodiment of the system 10 includes a CO2 source 30 input along with the N2 source 12, preferably to a filter 32. The output of the filter 32 is connected to the compressor 14. The compressor 14 output is connected to a CO2 storage 34. A valve 36 is interconnected between the output of the CO2 storage to a Venturi valve 38. The output of the venturi valve 38 is connected to a pressure regulator 40. The pressure regulator 40 is connected to a flow control valve 42, which controls flow to the emitter array 18. The flow control valve 42 is communicatively connected to the electronic controller 20. The sensors are also connected to the controller 20, The sensors preferably include a one or more CO2 sensors 50 and O2 sensors 52 disposed within the plant group 16, preferably closely proximate to the plant canopy. Sensors 50 and 52 may be disposed so that their position may be adjusted to remain close to the plant canopy and the plants 16 grow and mature. The sensors may also include a temperature sensor(s) 54, a PAR sensor(s) 56 and a wind sensor(s) 58.

[0055] CO2 sources 30 include ethanol plants, hydrogen fuel cells, natural gas fueled electric plaits, oil and gas refineries, and the like. N2 gas sources 12 include pressure swing absorption, industrial gases, non-cryogenic air separation systems, and the like.

[0056] When the system and method of the invention is employed in and enclosed space, the delivery systems would include audible alarms and visual warning lights to protect works from a deprived oxygen environment.

2. Other Embodiments of the System and Method.

[0057] Another way of achieving the lower percentage of O.sub.2 in the system includes a PSA type hi-grade of nitrogen gas taking the N.sub.2 concentration from 78% upwards of 79-99% and then adding CO.sub.2. The Hi-grade gaseous media may be hooked to compression source, grid of tubes in a field of crops, to prescriptively distribute an O.sub.2 deficient gaseous media into the atmosphere immersing a field of crops. The Hi-graded gaseous media may also be introduced into a greenhouse or indoor crop growing warehouse using lights such as medical and other marijuana growing facilities.

[0058] Deprived oxygen O.sub.2 gas is delivered in the distribution grid at a diluted ratio not to exceed 20% and desirably less than 5%. The delivering actuation and rate of delivery of the reagent is determined by the level of O.sub.2 in the inner leaf space, so that the rate of O.sub.2 release from the plant's leaves is accelerated, but does not vastly exceed the space occupied by the crops' foliar canopy. O.sub.2 deprived delivery may be an aerial application as an airborne stimulator of carbohydrate formation in the leaves of plants.

[0059] An Air Separation Unit (ASU) may be used in opposing output during daytime and night time hours, with the O.sub.2 gas is delivered during the day (photosynthesis) and the exhaust of the system is utilized at night +O.sub.2 to enhance crop respiration. And where the derived oxygen is stored during daylight hours of segregation in compressed tanks, underground voids or other storage media, and then delivered to the crops at night through the same delivery systems when the crops are respiring (i.e. not photosynthesis). One source of non-toxic gas is a compressed tank.

[0060] For over forty years, industry has used oxygen in vast quantities as an industrial chemical, in medicine, and additive for fuel combustion for space exploration. During that time, industry has developed an infrastructure to produce, store, and transport and utilize oxygen safely. Likewise, for over 40 years, industry has used nitrogen in vast quantities as an industrial chemical for enhanced oil recovery, and other purposes. During that time, industry has developed an infrastructure to produce, store, and transport and utilize nitrogen safely. Odorless, colorless, tasteless, gas that makes up 78% of ambient air that we breath. Nitrogen safety concerns are not cause for alarm; they simply very inert and too high of concentration could cause asphyxiation (lack of oxygen). Nitrogen is inert but in too high of concentrations is dangerous under specific conditions. Nitrogen can be handled safely when simple guidelines are observed and the user has an understanding of its behavior.

[0061] Meanwhile, plants require hydrogen to form carbohydrates and sugars. CO2 enrichment can be costly, while creating a (minus) O.sub.2 media is less expensive. And the O.sub.2 media is super conductive in use with CO.sub.2 enrichment and the delivery systems and points of utilization.

[0062] The embodiments above are chosen, described and illustrated so that persons skilled in the art will be able to understand the invention and the manner and process of making and using it. The descriptions and the accompanying drawings should be interpreted in the illustrative and not the exhaustive or limited sense. The invention is not intended to be limited to the exact forms disclosed. While the application attempts to disclose all of the embodiments of the invention that are reasonably foreseeable, there may be unforeseeable insubstantial modifications that remain as equivalents. It should be understood by persons skilled in the art that there may be other embodiments than those disclosed which fall within the scope of the invention as defined by the claims. Where a claim, if any, is expressed as a means or step for performing a specified function it is intended that such claim be construed to cover the corresponding structure, material, or acts described in the specification and equivalents thereof, including both structural equivalents and equivalent structures, material-based equivalents and equivalent materials, and act-based equivalents and equivalent acts.