Applicants claim that
this invention has the following original features:
The invention eliminates all three forms of osmotic resistance given above in section 3.2, thereby greatly stimulating plant growth. These three forms are (1) static osmotic resistance, (2) dynamic osmotic resistance, and (3) developmental osmotic resistance.
The
invention introduces the Water Well, which is a separate container for plain
water that admits plant roots. This
Water Well is an original mechanism for giving plain water to plants growing in
either soil or hydroponic solution.
The invention enhances the absorption of water by plants as compared to either soil or hydroponic medium alone. It does this by the direct application of plain water to the roots of plants at the same time that it is receiving nutrients from soil or hydroponic solution.
The invention causes the plant to develop two or more distinct root systems, which are also referred to as absorption systems. By these absorption systems, the plant absorbs both plain water and either soil solution or hydroponic solution containing dissolved nutrients.
The invention eliminates the burden of thermodynamic work required by the plant to desorb water from the soil, and then to separate pure water from the soil solution or hydroponic nutrient solution. It does this by affording plants plain water free of added nutrients and thereby permitting free water uptake without separation from the dissolved nutrients by osmosis. This unrestricted free water uptake permits plants to acquire additional necessary water without wasting some of the water flushing away excess nutrients.
This invention saves irrigation water by affording nearly all the water directly to the plant and protecting this water from contact with soil and the consequent losses of water by evaporation from soil, percolation to water table, etc.
This invention provides the growing plant with 100% of its water needs at all times, independent of the natural or artificial cycle of intermittent watering because the plant roots are always immersed in plain water 24 hours per day.
This invention introduces the Fertilizer Well, which permits fertilizer to be absorbed by roots directly from solution while the other roots of a plant are in plain water in a Water Well and possibly in soil as well. This permits the application of fertilizer directly to the plant roots.
The application of the Fertilizer Well
induces the growth of a tertiary root system
for the absorption of fertilizer in the cases indicated above in section 7.2.
The invention saves fertilizer by preventing its loss into the soil and water table. Moreover, the invention prevents the subsequent pollution and eutrophication of ground and stream water and the consequent growth of undesirable organisms.
The use of the Fertilizer Well permits plants to absorb nutrients from fertilizer solutions without reducing the root absorption of water by the dissolved nutrients. This permits both fertilizer and water absorption to be independently optimized instead of being trade off against each other.
The invention reduces the production of soda and salt by intermittent irrigation by action on clay minerals.
The invention reduces the accumulation in the topsoil of solutes found in irrigation water.
The invention reduces the lifting of soda and salt to the topsoil by evaporation of irrigation water and deposition of dissolved minerals.
The introduction of micronutrients into the Water Well enhances the absorption of micronutrients by plants without reducing water absorption significantly.
This invention permits the widespread use of growth stimulants such as indole acids and gibberellic acid in agro cultures by protecting the stimulants from soil bacteria.
The mechanisms for implementing Direct Irrigation are unique and unprecedented.
The proof is that the process described herein is nowhere in use, and nowhere described in the literature.
The proof is the fact that such a process for producing multiple root systems growing concurrently in separate media is nowhere mentioned in the literature.