A root-limiting container for raising seedlings of fruit trees

Abstract

The application relates to the technical field of fruit tree seedling raising, in particular to a fruit tree seedling raising root-limiting container, which comprises a seedling raising container, a non-woven fabric planting inner cylinder and a moisturizing cover body. The seedling raising container is in a cylindrical shape, the bottom of the seedling raising container is provided with a circular-truncated-cone-shaped supporting part, the non-woven fabric planting inner cylinder is arranged in the inside of the seedling raising container and located on the supporting part, the moisturizing cover body is detachably arranged on the top opening of the seedling raising container, and the moisturizing cover body is provided with a seedling passage in the center. A flow guide groove is formed between the supporting part and the sidewall of the seedling raising container, and the supporting part and the sidewall of the flow guide groove are both provided with water seepage holes. The application combines the ventilation at the bottom of the seedling raising container and the moisturizing at the top of the seedling raising container, reduces soil water evaporation, improves water utilization rate, reduces water supplement frequency, guarantees the ventilation at the bottom of the non-woven fabric planting inner cylinder, avoids root system oxygen deficiency and reduces the risk of root rot.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of fruit tree seedling technology, and in particular to a root-limiting container for fruit tree seedlings. Background Technology

[0002] In tree cultivation, nonwoven root restrictors are widely used to effectively promote lateral root development and form a dense fibrous root system, thereby improving nutrient absorption efficiency and overall growth performance. Their working principle is based on the root contact inhibition effect: when the taproot grows to the edge of the nonwoven fabric, its longitudinal extension is physically restricted, triggering the plant to produce more lateral roots. This not only increases the root surface area but also forms a more developed fibrous root network, enabling the plant to absorb water and nutrients more efficiently, ultimately improving its growth rate and stress resistance.

[0003] However, non-woven fabric root restrictors present the following problems in practical applications. First, while the excellent breathability of non-woven fabric is beneficial for root respiration, it also accelerates the evaporation of moisture from the growing medium, leading to a significant increase in soil drying. This necessitates increased irrigation frequency to maintain the water balance required for plant growth. Second, traditional non-woven fabric root restrictors typically employ an open-top design, directly exposing the soil above the container to the air, further exacerbating moisture loss. This loss is particularly pronounced under high temperature and low humidity conditions, increasing the difficulty of maintenance and management. Utility Model Content

[0004] Therefore, it is necessary to address the problem that the open design of the top of the non-woven root restrictor in the existing technology causes the soil to lose water quickly, increasing the difficulty of maintenance and management.

[0005] It is necessary to provide a root-limiting container for fruit tree seedlings that can solve the above-mentioned problems in the prior art.

[0006] A root-limiting container for fruit tree seedlings includes a seedling container, a non-woven fabric planting inner tube, and a moisture-retaining cover. The seedling container is cylindrical and has a frustum-shaped support at its bottom. The non-woven fabric planting inner tube is disposed inside the seedling container and located on the support. The moisture-retaining cover is detachably placed over the top opening of the seedling container and has a seedling channel at its center. A flow-guiding groove is formed between the support and the side wall of the seedling container, and both the support and the side wall of the flow-guiding groove are provided with drainage holes.

[0007] Preferably, the moisture-retaining cover includes a frustum top cover, a flexible connecting cover, and a retractable opening. The frustum top cover has a through opening at the top. The flexible connecting cover is a hollow cylindrical structure with both ends through it. One end of the flexible connecting cover is connected to the opening of the frustum top cover, and the other end is connected to the retractable opening. The retractable opening is used to form the seedling channel.

[0008] Preferably, the opening of the seedling container is symmetrically provided with a first connecting part on both sides, the top of the first connecting part is provided with a slot, the truncated cone top cover is provided with a corresponding second connecting part, and the bottom of the second connecting part extends out with a buckle that cooperates with the slot.

[0009] Preferably, the retractable opening includes an adjusting rope passing through the other end of the flexible connecting cover. By pulling the adjusting rope, the opening diameter of the retractable opening can be changed, thereby changing the aperture size of the seedling channel.

[0010] Preferably, the adjusting rope is a thin iron wire or a nylon cable tie.

[0011] Preferably, the truncated cone top cover has a drip irrigation tape limiting hole parallel to its radial direction.

[0012] Preferably, a mesh-like support disc is provided between the support portion and the non-woven planting inner cylinder.

[0013] The technical solution adopted in this application achieves the following beneficial effects: This application forms a ventilation and drainage system through the support and drainage grooves at the bottom of the seedling container. The support firmly supports the bottom of the non-woven fabric planting inner cylinder, maintaining a distance between it and the bottom of the container to form an air circulation channel, effectively enhancing bottom ventilation performance. The drainage grooves, in conjunction with the seepage holes, collect and store excess seepage water, while the seepage holes allow excess water to drain promptly, achieving water balance. The moisture-retaining cover, positioned above the seedling container, transforms the top of the container into a semi-enclosed environment. This physical barrier prevents direct contact between the cultivation substrate and air, reducing water loss due to airflow. Furthermore, the light-blocking effect of the moisture-retaining cover effectively inhibits weed seed germination, reducing labor costs for weeding and the use of herbicides, thus lowering the management burden. Therefore, this application, through the combination of bottom ventilation and top moisture retention in the seedling container, reduces soil moisture evaporation, improves water use efficiency, reduces watering frequency, and ensures ventilation at the bottom of the non-woven fabric planting inner cylinder, preventing root hypoxia and reducing the risk of root rot. Attached Figure Description

[0014] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the root-limiting container for fruit tree seedlings disclosed in an embodiment of this application;

[0015] Figure 2This is a cross-sectional view of the root-limiting container for fruit tree seedlings disclosed in the embodiments of this application;

[0016] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the moisturizing cover disclosed in the embodiments of this application;

[0017] Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional view of the moisturizing cover disclosed in the embodiments of this application;

[0018] The components include: seedling container 100, support part 110, flow guide groove 120, seepage hole 130, first connection part 140, slot 141, non-woven planting inner cylinder 200, moisturizing cover 300, seedling channel 310, second connection part 320, buckle 321, truncated cone top cover 330, flexible connecting cover 340, retractable drawstring part 350, adjusting pull rope 351, drip irrigation tape limiting hole 360, and support disc 400. Detailed Implementation

[0019] To facilitate understanding of this application, a more complete description will be provided below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Preferred embodiments of this application are shown in the drawings. However, this application can be implemented in many different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided to provide a more thorough and complete understanding of the disclosure of this application.

[0020] It should be noted that when an element is referred to as being "set on" another element, it can be directly on the other element or there may be an intervening element. When an element is referred to as being "connected to" another element, it can be directly connected to the other element or there may be an intervening element. The terms "vertical," "horizontal," "left," "right," "top," "bottom," "end," "top," and similar expressions used herein are for illustrative purposes only and do not represent the only possible implementation.

[0021] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this application belongs. The terminology used herein in the specification of this application is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the application. The term "and / or" as used herein includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0022] Please refer to Figures 1 to 4The root-limiting container for fruit tree seedlings disclosed in this application includes a seedling container 100, a non-woven fabric planting inner cylinder 200, and a moisture-retaining cover 300. The seedling container 100 is cylindrical and has a frustum-shaped support part 110 at its bottom. The non-woven fabric planting inner cylinder 200 is disposed inside the seedling container 100 and located on the support part 110. The moisture-retaining cover 300 is detachably covered on the top opening of the seedling container 100 and has a seedling channel 310 at its center. A flow-guiding groove 120 is formed between the support part 110 and the side wall of the seedling container 100, and both the support part 110 and the side wall of the flow-guiding groove 120 are provided with seepage holes 130.

[0023] Specifically, the non-woven fabric itself is soft, while the seedling container 100 (usually a metal, plastic, or wooden frame) provides a rigid structure for the planter, distributing the weight of the soil and plants within the non-woven fabric and preventing deformation or collapse due to pressure from the soil, water, or plant roots. The support section 110 divides the seedling container 100 into upper and lower functional areas. The upper area is specifically designed to stably support the non-woven planting inner cylinder 200; the lower area, through a lifting design, maintains an appropriate distance between the non-woven planting inner cylinder 200 and the bottom of the seedling container 100, allowing for good air circulation at the bottom of the container and ensuring the bottom of the non-woven planting inner cylinder 200 is fully exposed to air, effectively preventing root rot caused by water accumulation. The drainage groove 120 serves two purposes: firstly, it acts as a water collection trough, catching and storing excess water seeping from the non-woven planting inner cylinder 200, preventing water accumulation from harming the seedlings (such as root rot, yellowing leaves, and stunted growth); secondly, the stored water can provide a suitable humidity environment for the seedlings as needed. The drainage holes 130 further optimize the drainage function, ensuring that excess water can be discharged in a timely manner to achieve moisture balance. The moisture-retaining cover 300 is placed on top of the seedling container 100, forming an integrated structure with the main body of the container. This transforms the top of the container 100 into a semi-enclosed environment, using a physical barrier to prevent direct contact between the cultivation substrate and air, reducing moisture loss due to airflow. The semi-enclosed environment also physically isolates most direct sunlight, preventing rapid dehydration of the surface soil caused by strong light. Furthermore, the shading effect of the moisture-retaining cover 300 makes it difficult for weed seeds to obtain the necessary light conditions, thereby blocking the photosynthetic pathway of weeds, effectively inhibiting weed seed germination, reducing labor costs and herbicide use, and lowering the management burden.

[0024] When using the above device, first, select a non-woven fabric planting inner tube 200 that matches the size of the standard seedling container 100, ensuring a perfect fit. Place the non-woven fabric planting inner tube 200 flat into the seedling container 100, ensuring its bottom and sidewalls are tightly fitted to the support 110 and the sidewalls of the seedling container 100, with the edge of the inner tube aligned with the container opening. Next, fill the non-woven fabric planting inner tube 200 with approximately one-third of its volume of seedling substrate, gently compacting it to distribute the soil evenly. Use your finger to gently press a small indentation in the center to reserve space for the seedling. Then, place the seedling vertically in the center of the non-woven fabric planting inner tube 200, ensuring the roots are naturally spread out and avoiding tangling or bending. Adjust the seedling's position to keep its main stem upright, then continue filling with a second layer of nutrient soil (approximately one-third of the container's total volume), covering the roots and gently pressing to secure it. During the filling process, ensure the soil is in full contact with the roots, avoiding gaps that could hinder water and nutrient absorption. Use a fine mist sprayer or low-pressure watering equipment to slowly water the seedlings until the soil is completely moist but without standing water. After the water has penetrated, gently lift the seedling to further adjust its upright position and ensure stable planting. Finally, after planting, place the moisture-retaining cover 300 over the seedling container 100, ensuring the edges of the cover fit tightly against the container to create a sealed moisture-retaining environment. When installing the moisture-retaining cover 300, pass the seedling trunk through the pre-designed seedling channel 310 to avoid friction or pressure damage to the bark. Additionally, if the substrate surface is dry, water can be added through the seedling channel 310 to keep the soil moist. Once the seedlings have sprouted new roots and are growing steadily, the moisture-retaining cover 300 can be gradually uncovered to enhance ventilation and promote the seedlings' adaptation to the natural environment.

[0025] Using the root-limiting container for fruit tree seedlings in this embodiment has at least the following beneficial effects: This application forms a ventilation and drainage system through the support portion 110 and the guide groove 120 at the bottom of the seedling container 100. The support portion 110 firmly supports the bottom of the non-woven planting inner cylinder 200, maintaining a distance between it and the bottom of the container, forming an air circulation channel and effectively enhancing bottom ventilation performance. The guide groove 120, in conjunction with the seepage hole 130, collects and stores excess seepage water, while the seepage hole 130 allows excess water to drain in a timely manner, achieving water balance. The moisture-retaining cover 300 covers the top of the seedling container 100, transforming the top of the seedling container 100 into a semi-enclosed environment. This physical barrier prevents direct contact between the cultivation substrate and air, reducing water loss due to airflow. Furthermore, the light-blocking effect of the moisture-retaining cover 300 effectively inhibits weed seed germination, reducing labor costs for weeding and the use of herbicides, thus lowering the management burden. Therefore, this application combines bottom ventilation of the seedling container 100 with top moisture retention, which reduces soil moisture evaporation, improves water utilization, reduces watering frequency, and ensures ventilation at the bottom of the non-woven planting inner tube 200, avoiding root hypoxia and reducing the risk of root rot.

[0026] In the above description, the seedling channel 310 pre-designed on the moisture-retaining cover 300 has a fixed aperture. During the seedling cultivation process, as the plants continue to grow and develop, they need to be transplanted when they reach a certain size. If the moisture-retaining cover 300 is forcibly removed at this time, the channel size cannot be adjusted with the growth of the seedlings, which can easily damage the plant leaves and affect the transplant survival rate. Therefore, to prevent damage to the leaves and trunk when removing the moisture-retaining cover 300, the moisture-retaining cover 300 specifically includes a frustum top cover 330, a flexible connecting cover 340, and a retractable constricting opening 350. The frustum top cover 330 has a through opening at the top, and the flexible connecting cover 340 is a hollow cylindrical structure with both ends through. One end of the flexible connecting cover 340 is connected to the opening of the frustum top cover 330, and the other end is connected to the retractable constricting opening 350, which forms the seedling channel 310.

[0027] Specifically, the truncated cone top cover 330 is mainly used to connect with the seedling container 100, the flexible connecting cover 340 is used to cover the top of the seedling container 100, and the retractable opening 350 is used to adjust the aperture size of the seedling channel 310. When installing or removing the moisture-retaining cover 300, the operator can expand the seedling channel 310 at the upper end of the flexible connecting cover 340 to its maximum diameter through the retractable opening 350, ensuring that the operation will not cause any damage to the seedling stem. As the seedling grows and develops, the user can adjust the aperture of the seedling channel 310 by adjusting the retractable opening 350 according to the change in the trunk diameter, achieving dynamic adaptation to the growth of the seedling. In addition, when the soil moisture in the seedling container 100 is too high, the user can expand the seedling channel 310 by adjusting the retractable opening 350, so that the top of the container is moderately exposed, which not only ensures air circulation but also allows sunlight to directly hit the soil surface, accelerating the evaporation of excess water in the soil through a dual effect. When the soil moisture in the seedling container 100 returns to normal, the opening can be readjusted to restore the optimal moisture level, effectively preventing root rot and other problems caused by excessive moisture.

[0028] In the above text, the moisturizing cover 300 is detachably installed on the top of the seedling container 100. To facilitate the installation and removal of the moisturizing cover 300, specifically, the seedling container 100 has symmetrically arranged first connecting parts 140 on both sides of the opening. The top of the first connecting part 140 is provided with a slot 141. The frustum top cover 330 is provided with a corresponding second connecting part 320. The bottom of the second connecting part 320 extends out a buckle 321 that cooperates with the slot 141.

[0029] Specifically, the first connecting part 140 and the second connecting part 320 adopt the same size specifications, ensuring that the outer diameter of the moisturizing cover 300 is consistent with the diameter of the seedling container 100, so that the two parts can be fitted together to form a tight closed system. The buckle 321 set in the first connecting part 140 and the slot 141 of the second connecting part form an interlocking engagement. When the two are connected, the buckle 321 precisely engages into the slot 141, so that the two independent parts are combined into an integrated structure. This ensures that the seedling container 100 and the moisturizing cover 300 can maintain a stable connection during transportation, effectively preventing damage to the seedlings due to accidental separation.

[0030] Furthermore, the retractable opening portion 350 includes an adjusting pull rope 351 passing through the other end of the flexible connecting cover 340. By pulling the adjusting pull rope 351, the opening diameter of the retractable opening portion 350 can be changed, thereby changing the aperture size of the seedling channel 310.

[0031] In addition, the adjusting pull rope 351 is a thin iron wire or a nylon cable tie.

[0032] Furthermore, due to the excellent breathability of non-woven fabric, while it facilitates root respiration, it also accelerates the evaporation of moisture in the cultivation substrate, leading to a significant increase in soil drying speed. In existing technologies, drip irrigation tape is typically laid above the non-woven fabric root restrictor. Therefore, to facilitate the placement of drip irrigation tape above the seedling container 100, specifically, the frustum top cover 330 has drip irrigation tape limiting holes 360 parallel to its radial direction.

[0033] Specifically, the drip irrigation tape limiting hole 360 ​​provides space for the drip irrigation tape and restricts its position, ensuring it stays away from the seedling roots to prevent friction and hinder seedling development. The limiting hole 360 ​​is located at the bottom of the frustum-shaped top cover 330. During seedling cultivation, the drip irrigation tape is first laid on the surface of the seedling container 100, and then the frustum-shaped top cover 330 is placed on top. During operation, the limiting hole 360 ​​must be adjusted to perfectly align with the drip irrigation tape, ensuring it fits smoothly into the hole. Finally, the frustum-shaped top cover 330 is tightly closed to the seedling container 100, completing the drip irrigation tape installation.

[0034] As described above, due to the frustum-shaped structure of the support part 110, its contact area with the non-woven planting inner cylinder 200 is relatively limited, mainly providing effective support for the central area. This results in the non-woven fabric area surrounding the support part 110 being suspended and unable to obtain sufficient mechanical support. During long-term use, the unsupported edges of the non-woven fabric will continuously bear pressure from the soil, water, or plant roots, causing deformation or collapse, thereby reducing the service life of the non-woven planting inner cylinder 200. Specifically, a mesh-like support disc 400 is provided between the support part 110 and the non-woven planting inner cylinder 200.

[0035] Specifically, the support disc 400 is made of stainless steel, which can completely support the bottom of the non-woven fabric planting inner cylinder 200, preventing deformation or collapse of the unsupported parts of the bottom of the non-woven fabric planting inner cylinder 200, thereby reducing the service life of the non-woven fabric planting inner cylinder 200.

[0036] The technical features of the above embodiments can be combined in any way. For the sake of brevity, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.

[0037] The embodiments described above are merely illustrative of several implementation methods of this application, and while the descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the patent application. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of this application, and these all fall within the protection scope of this application. Therefore, the protection scope of this patent application should be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A root-limiting container for fruit tree seedlings, characterized in that, The device includes a seedling container, a non-woven fabric planting inner tube, and a moisture-retaining cover. The seedling container is cylindrical and has a frustum-shaped support at its bottom. The non-woven fabric planting inner tube is located inside the seedling container and on the support. The moisture-retaining cover is detachably placed over the top opening of the seedling container and has a seedling channel at its center. A flow-guiding groove is formed between the support and the side wall of the seedling container, and both the support and the side wall of the flow-guiding groove have drainage holes.

2. The root-limiting container for fruit tree seedlings according to claim 1, characterized in that, The moisture-retaining cover includes a frustum top cover, a flexible connecting cover, and a retractable opening. The top of the frustum top cover has a through opening. The flexible connecting cover is a hollow cylindrical structure with both ends through it. One end of the flexible connecting cover is connected to the opening of the frustum top cover, and the other end is connected to the retractable opening. The retractable opening is used to form the seedling channel.

3. The root-limiting container for fruit tree seedlings according to claim 2, characterized in that, The seedling container has symmetrical first connecting parts on both sides of the opening. The top of the first connecting part is provided with a slot. The truncated cone top cover is provided with a corresponding second connecting part. The bottom of the second connecting part extends out with a buckle that cooperates with the slot.

4. The root-limiting container for fruit tree seedlings according to claim 2, characterized in that, The retractable opening includes an adjustable pull rope that passes through the other end of the flexible connecting cover. By pulling the adjustable pull rope, the opening diameter of the retractable opening can be changed, thereby changing the aperture size of the seedling channel.

5. The root-limiting container for fruit tree seedlings according to claim 4, characterized in that, The adjusting rope is made of thin iron wire or nylon cable tie.

6. The root-limiting container for fruit tree seedlings according to claim 2, characterized in that, The truncated cone top cover has drip irrigation tape limiting holes parallel to its radial direction.

7. The root-limiting container for fruit tree seedlings according to claim 1, characterized in that, A mesh-like support disc is provided between the support part and the non-woven planting inner cylinder.

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