Trellis system for cultivating crops, especially hops

Abstract

A trellis system with at least one column trellis (1) for cultivating crops, spanned by a flat, flexible and / or pliable protective layer (15) that acts as hail and / or sun protection, wherein the protective layer (15) is a protective net or a closed-surface film, wherein the column trellis (1) forms a high trellis with high trellis columns (3) and with a large high trellis height (z1), characterized in that the high trellis (1) additionally has a low trellis (41) with a reduced low trellis height (z2), that the low trellis (41) is structurally integrated into the high trellis (1), and that in the vertical direction (z) the upper surface of the low trellis is spaced from the upper surface of the high trellis (1) by a clearance (Δz), that the high trellis (1) primarily forms a supporting structure for the protective layer (15) and is largely decoupled from the hop cultivation.and that the low frame (41) is used for cultivating crops and is completely decoupled from the high frame (1), and that the low frame (41) has low columns (43) which are braced independently of the high columns (3) of the high frame (1) by means of ropes (45), and that guide wires (13) for guiding plant shoots (47) are attached to the ropes (45) of the low frame (41), while the high frame (1) is free of guide wires (13).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a trellis system according to the preamble of claim 1. The trellis system is generally suitable for the cultivation of crops, but is particularly suitable for hop cultivation.

[0002] Hailstorms cause crop failures and increased labor in hop-growing regions every year. Excessive sunlight can also lead to yield losses, as hops have a relatively low light requirement compared to other crops. Such hail protection measures are used in fruit crops, as demonstrated by DE 19 18 300 A, EP 287 5721 A1, and especially EP 3 138 390 A1.

[0003] In agriculture, the use of agrophotovoltaics is generally known, where land is used for dual purposes, both for farming and for generating electricity. For this, the agricultural land is equipped with a photovoltaic system, where a framework supports photovoltaic modules. These modules are spaced apart. The module spacing and / or the orientation of the photovoltaic modules can be adjusted electronically to ensure both uniform solar irradiance on the underlying agricultural land and a high solar yield.

[0004] However, due to the free spacing between the photovoltaic modules, there is only limited hail protection for the crops underneath.

[0005] A trellis system of this type is known from CH 706 132 A2. A trellis system for cultivated plants is known from the publication "Cornerstones for a tender design for photovoltaic open-field systems. Agrophotovoltaics (APV) as resource-efficient land use. Wuppertal Institute; Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE. Freiburg 2014". A profile rail for use as a ridge element for a weather protection device is known from DE 103 49 243 A1. Further trellis systems for cultivating cultivated plants are known from DE 1 918 300 A, FR 2 848 063 A1, WO 2017 193 916 A1 and DE 34 27 574 A1.

[0006] The object of the invention is to provide a scaffolding system which, in comparison to the above prior art, guarantees perfect hail protection and / or sun protection.

[0007] The problem is solved by the features of claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims.

[0008] The trellis system according to the invention is suitable for cultivating any crop. It is particularly suitable for hop cultivation. Therefore, the following aspects of the invention relate to hop cultivation by way of example, but are not specifically limited to hop cultivation.

[0009] The invention is based on the understanding that hops have relatively low light requirements and that reduced sunlight does not lead to any yield losses. Against this background, the hop trellis system according to the invention comprises at least one column structure covered on its upper side with a flat, flexible, and / or pliable protective layer that acts as hail and / or sun protection. The protective layer can be designed as a photovoltaic film, which is a component of a photovoltaic system for generating electrical energy and can contain crystalline silicon solar cells. The photovoltaic film allows the column structure to be completely covered and, at the same time, generates electrical energy in a dual-purpose manner.In contrast, such a completely closed surface covering of the column framework is not possible with conventional plate-shaped and rigid photovoltaic modules, which are usually spaced apart from each other by larger module distances.

[0010] In one technical implementation, the column framework can consist of columns spaced apart from one another in a manner known per se. These columns are anchored in the ground at their base and their upper ends are braced together by cables upon which the protective layer is laid. The upper ends of the columns can be braced together by transverse and longitudinal cables that cross each other at nodes. The flexible protective layer can cover the respective cable gaps by forming a downward-sagging arch. In this case, the protective layer can have a base that curves downwards by the depth of the arch, from which walls of the protective layer extend up to the cables (especially the longitudinal cables).

[0011] The two protective layer walls can be connected to each other at the base of the arch via at least one elastically flexible connecting element. This serves as a measure to reduce the load-bearing capacity in the event of hail or snow. When a load, such as hail or snow, is applied, the elastically flexible connecting element expands, generating a restoring elastic force. This creates a gap between the two protective layer walls. Hail or snow on the protective layer can then be channeled downwards, thus reducing the load-bearing capacity of the protective layer.

[0012] In a first embodiment, the protective layer can be constructed from a number of separate protective layer segments. Each protective layer segment can completely cover exactly one cable gap. The protective layer segment can be guided along the cables (preferably longitudinal cables) so that its edges can be moved. In this case, the respective protective layer segment can be moved between a spread-out working layer, in which the cable gap is covered, and a gathered stowage layer, in which the cable gap is at least partially open.

[0013] For ease of adjustment, it is preferable if the respective protective layer segment is attached to the longitudinal cables only at its longitudinal edges, allowing for movement. In contrast, the protective layer segment can be secured to the transverse cables at its transverse edges using releasable fixings. To move the protective layer segment from its extended working position to its stowed position, the fixings are first released. The protective layer segment, guided lengthwise along the longitudinal cables, can then be gathered lengthwise into its stowed position.

[0014] The transverse cables can act as load-bearing cables and have a larger diameter compared to the longitudinal cables. In contrast, the longitudinal cables are laid on the transverse cables tensioned between the columns.

[0015] In a second embodiment, the protective layer can be constructed not from separate segments, but rather as a single, elongated sheet of material. In this case, the protective layer can be laid on the longitudinal and / or transverse cables in one direction of the track's extension. The sheet material can preferably extend in a single piece and / or uniformly across a plurality of cable gaps.

[0016] For example, the track material can be at least partially constructed from a photovoltaic film that is part of a photovoltaic system. The photovoltaic film can have a three-layer structure, consisting of an upper film cover layer, a lower film cover layer, and an intermediate photovoltaic active layer. The photovoltaic active layer can be offset from the longitudinal edges of the track. In this case, edge connection areas are created that are free of the photovoltaic active layer and serve for connection to a cable and / or to an adjacent protective layer track material. Alternatively and / or additionally, the track material can have further connection areas that are not positioned at the longitudinal edges of the track, but rather in the center of the track.

[0017] In common practice, hops are cultivated on high trellises, whose uprights reach a height of approximately 7 meters. Alternatively, dwarf hops are also grown on low trellises, whose uprights reach a height of approximately 3 meters. Once breeding efforts have succeeded in increasing yields in low-trellis systems, these will become widespread due to the significant reduction in labor and the smoothing of peak workloads, particularly in May when training the hops, as well as the considerable improvement in environmental protection. Recycling sprayers and tractor-drawn harvesters can be used in low-trellis systems. In contrast, hop-growing regions are currently still dominated by the 7-meter-high high-trellis systems. This cultivation method involves high peak workloads in maintenance and carries the risk of spray drift during plant protection measures.Intensive research is currently being conducted on hop cultivation in low-trellis systems.

[0018] Growing hops in a low-trellis system offers the following advantages: The annual installation of training wires to guide the hop shoots is eliminated. Furthermore, the labor required for hop maintenance is reduced due to simplified training or self-guided hop cultivation, thus mitigating the peak workload in May. Additionally, the use of recyclable sprayers in a low-trellis system largely eliminates spray drift. Consequently, pesticide use is reduced compared to high-trellis systems due to the return of untreated spray solution. Harvesting is carried out using a mobile picking machine that removes only the cones and leaves from the standing plants, leaving the hop vines attached to the training wire. Finally, the lower height of the low-trellis system reduces construction costs.

[0019] Low trellises still lead to yield losses compared to high trellises, so they have not yet been of significant importance in hop cultivation. Against this background, the following are measures according to the invention that enable the cultivation of dwarf hops on an existing high trellis without resulting in overall yield losses: Consequently, an additional low scaffold with a reduced height is integrated into the high scaffold. In this case, the top of the low scaffold is set back from the top of the high scaffold by a clearance walkway in the vertical direction. This clearance walkway can be located within a range of approximately 4 meters.

[0020] The high trellis primarily serves as a supporting structure for the protective layer and is largely completely decoupled from the actual hop cultivation. In contrast, hop cultivation takes place primarily on the low trellis, which is completely decoupled from the protective layer's supporting function and from the high trellis.

[0021] The low trellis is constructed from low columns that are braced independently of the high columns of the main trellis by means of cables, in particular exclusively longitudinal cables. Guide wires for directing the hop shoots are attached to the longitudinal cables.

[0022] In a technical implementation, the upright columns of the high-level scaffold can be spaced apart from each other in both a transverse and a longitudinal direction, and arranged in a row and / or in line with one another. The low-level columns can be positioned between the upright columns. This results in a hop trellis system in which the longitudinal cables of the low-level scaffold run parallel to the longitudinal cables of the high-level scaffold. The low-level columns of the low-level scaffold and the upright columns of the high-level scaffold can be positioned in a line or in a row behind one another in the transverse direction of the scaffold. Furthermore, in the longitudinal direction of the scaffold, only the low-level columns (i.e., without the upright columns) can be arranged in a row or in a line behind one another, and adjacent to these, only the high-level columns (i.e., without the low-level columns) can be arranged in a line or in a row behind one another.The longitudinal rows of low columns and the rows of high columns can run parallel to each other in the longitudinal direction of the scaffolding.

[0023] An embodiment of the invention is described below with reference to the accompanying figures.

[0024] They show: Fig. 1 a perspective partial view of a hop trellis system according to a comparative example not covered by the invention; Fig. 2, Fig. 3 to Fig. 4 different views of the [unclear] in the Fig. 1 hop trellis system shown; Fig. 5, Fig. 6 to Fig. 7 further views according to a comparative example not covered by the invention; Fig. 8 and Fig. 9 views each of a hop trellis system according to an exemplary embodiment; Fig. 10, Fig. 11 to Fig. 12 views each, illustrating the conversion measures to transform a conventional hop trellis system with a high trellis for hop cultivation onto a low trellis.

[0025] In the Fig. Figure 1 shows a hop trellis system with a column trellis 1, which has spaced-apart columns 3. The columns 3 are arranged in rows at intervals along the longitudinal direction x of the trellis. These are spaced apart from each other in a transverse direction y of the trellis and run parallel. The columns 3 at the edges and corners are inclined obliquely outwards, while the inner columns 3 project vertically upwards. Fig. 1. The upper ends of the columns are braced together by means of transverse and longitudinal cables 5, 7. The transverse cables 5 act as load-bearing cables on which the longitudinal cables 7 are laid. The transverse and longitudinal cables 5, 7 cross each other at nodes K ( Fig. 2), resulting in right-angled rope gaps 9 ( Fig. 2 or Fig. 5). The inclined columns 3 at the edges and corners are also supported by guy wires 11 ( Fig. 8, Fig. 9, Fig. 10, Fig. 11 to Fig. 12) on bottom-side screw anchors 12 ( Fig. 9) tensioned. In addition, 7 guide wires (not shown) are attached to the longitudinal cables to guide the hop shoots.

[0026] In the Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 3 to Fig. 4 The top of the column framework 1 is covered with a flat, flexible protective layer 15, which acts as a hail and / or sun protection and completely covers the column framework 1.

[0027] Protection level 15 is in the Fig. 2, Fig. 3 or Fig. 4 is constructed from a mesh or film material and consists of a plurality of separate protective layer segments 17. Each of these protective layer segments 17 completely covers exactly one rope gap 9. As can be seen from the Fig. As can be seen from 3, the respective protective layer segment 17 is located at its longitudinal edges 19 ( Fig. 2, Fig. 3 or Fig. 5) guided slidably on the longitudinal cables 7, for example by means of eyelets 22 ( Fig. 6 or Fig. 7) In this way, each of the protection layer segments 17 can be selected between one in the Fig. The 4 shown extended working position W and a gathered storage position S can be adjusted. In contrast, in the Fig. 2 Each of the protective layer segments 17 is attached at its transverse edges 20 to the transverse cables 5 via (only roughly schematically indicated) detachable fixing means 18. To separate the protective layer segment 17 from its extended effective position W ( Fig. 4) into its storage position S ( Fig. 4) To bring it into position, the fixing means 18 are first released. Subsequently, the protective layer segment 17, which is guided longitudinally along the longitudinal cables 7, can be gathered in the longitudinal direction x into its stowage position S.

[0028] The protective layer elements 17 should not be taut, but rather sag slightly in order to be able to absorb even larger quantities of hailstones. Therefore, they are covered in the Fig. 3 each protective layer segment 17 forming a downward sagging bulge 21 ( Fig. 6) the respective rope gap 9. Accordingly, each protective layer segment 17 has a curvature depth Δt ( Fig. 6) downwardly curved vaulted floor 23, from which protective layer walls 25 are raised to the longitudinal cables 7, on which the respective protective layer segment 17 is slidably held by means of the eyelets 22.

[0029] The arched base 23 is located approximately in the middle between two longitudinal cables 7. The two protective layer walls 25 are not connected to each other in one piece directly at the arched base 23, but rather by means of elastically compliant connecting elements 29.

[0030] The elastically compliant connecting elements 29 expand when a load acts on the protective layer 15, for example by hail 24 ( Fig. 7) or snow, building up an elastically yielding restoring force. This creates a gap 27 between the two protective layer walls 25 ( Fig. 7) released, thereby directing hail 24 or snow downwards and thus reducing the load-bearing capacity of the protective layer 15.

[0031] In the Fig. 5, Fig. 6 to Fig. Figure 7 shows another comparative example not covered by the invention, in which the protective layer 15 is not made of a mesh material, but rather is designed as a photovoltaic film that is part of a photovoltaic system for generating electrical energy. According to the Fig. 6 or Fig. 7 a three-layer structure, namely with an upper foil cover layer 31, a lower foil cover layer 33 and a middle, intermediate photovoltaic active layer 35. The photovoltaic foil 15 is manufactured as a continuous web material, which runs in a web extension direction in the scaffold longitudinal direction x and is laid in a single piece and in a single material over a plurality of cable intersecting spaces 9.

[0032] As from the Fig. As further shown in Figure 6, the photovoltaic active layer 35 is spaced from the respective longitudinal edge 37 of the web by an edge offset r. This results in edge-side connection areas 39 where the photovoltaic film 15 can be connected to the longitudinal and / or transverse cables 5, 7 or to adjacent films 15 without damaging the photovoltaic active layer 15.

[0033] As from the Fig. As further shown in Figure 5, adjacent photovoltaic films 15 are connected to each other via elastic connecting elements 29, which act as overload protection in case of excessively high load-bearing capacity, as shown in the Fig. Figure 7 illustrates this.

[0034] The following will be based on the Fig. 8, Fig. 9, Fig. 10, Fig. 11 to Fig. 12 describes a hop trellis system according to an exemplary embodiment. Accordingly, the hop trellis system in the Fig. Figure 8 combines both a high scaffold 1, which is constructed identically to the comparative examples, and a low scaffold 41. The high scaffold 1 with its high scaffold columns 3 exhibits in the Fig. 9 a high scaffold construction height z1. In contrast, the low scaffold 41 is designed with low columns 43, whose construction height z2 is reduced by a clearance Δz ( Fig. 9) is reduced in the vertical direction of the scaffolding z. In the Fig. 8 or Fig. 9 The high-level framework 1 forms a supporting structure for the protective layer 15. This can preferably be designed as a photovoltaic film, as already shown by the Fig. 5, Fig. 6 to Fig. 7 is described. The trellis 1 is largely decoupled from the actual hop cultivation. Hop cultivation takes place in the Fig. 8 or Fig. 9 mainly on the low scaffold 41. The low scaffold 41 is in turn functionally independent of the high scaffold 1, which acts as a supporting structure for the protective layer 15.

[0035] In the Fig. 8 and Fig. 9 The low columns 43 are independently braced to each other by means of longitudinal cables 45 from the high columns 3. Vertical guide wires 13 are attached to the longitudinal cables 45 for guiding the hop shoots 47 ( Fig. 9) connected. Additionally, in the Fig. 8 and Fig. 9 also on the high columns 3 longitudinal cables 47 are tensioned, to which guide wires 13 can also be attached.

[0036] According to the Fig. 8 are the high columns 3 of the high scaffold 1 in a scaffold transverse direction y and in a scaffold longitudinal direction x over transverse and longitudinal distances Δx, Δy ( Fig. 10) spaced apart from each other and arranged in a row and in line behind one another. In the scaffold's transverse direction x, two low columns 43 are positioned between each of the high columns 3, with the low columns 43 and the high columns 3 being arranged together in a line or in a row behind one another in the scaffold's transverse direction y. Viewed in the scaffold's longitudinal direction x, the following arrangement results: Accordingly, rows of low columns N running in the scaffold's longitudinal direction x ( Fig. 11) and high column rows H ( Fig. 11) positioned parallel to each other. Every third row is a high column row H, followed by two low column rows N.

[0037] Based on the Fig. 10, Fig. 11 to Fig. 12 measures are described to address the issues in the Fig. 10. To convert the hop trellis system shown with a high trellis 1 so that dwarf hop cultivation with a low trellis 41 is possible without any economic losses: Therefore, in a first conversion step, the low scaffold 41 will be integrated into the high scaffold 1 ( Fig. 11), as shown above based on the Fig. 8 and Fig. 9 is described. This allows hop cultivation in the low trellis 41. In a second conversion step, the top of the high trellis 1 is completely and extensively covered with a photovoltaic film 15. In this way, the high trellis 1 forms a supporting structure for the photovoltaic film 15. Harvest losses due to hop cultivation in the low trellis 41 are compensated for by the energy generated by the photovoltaic film 15. Reference symbol list 1 Column scaffold / High scaffold 3 pillars 5 cross ropes 7 longitudinal cables 9 rope spaces 11 guy wires 12 bottom-side screw anchors 13 guide wires 15 Protective position 17 protective layer segments 18 Fixatives 19 longitudinal edges 20 transverse edges 21 Curvature 22 eyelets 23 Curved floor 24 hailstones 25 vaulted walls 27 Passage gap 29 elastically compliant connecting element 31 upper cover layer 33 lower cover layer 35 Photovoltaic active layer 37 Lane-long edge 39 connection areas 41 Low scaffold 43 low columns 45 low-level scaffolding longitudinal cables 47 hops K nodes R Edge offset W Effective action S storage area x Scaffolding longitudinal direction y Scaffold cross-direction z Scaffolding erection N Low-column series H high-column series Δt bulge depth r edge offset

Claims

[1] Scaffolding system with at least one column scaffold (1) for cultivating crops, which is spanned with a flat, flexible and / or pliable protective layer (15) that acts as hail and / or sun protection, wherein the protective layer (15) is a protective net or a closed-surface film, wherein the column scaffold (1) forms a high scaffold with high scaffold columns (3) and with a large high scaffold height (z1), characterized by, that the high trellis (1) additionally has a low trellis (41) with a reduced low trellis height (z2), that the low trellis (41) is structurally integrated into the high trellis (1), and that in the vertical direction (z) the top of the low trellis is spaced from the top of the high trellis (1) by a clearance (Δz), that the high trellis (1) primarily forms a supporting structure for the protective layer (15) and is largely decoupled from the hop cultivation, and that the low trellis (41) is used for crop cultivation and is completely decoupled from the high trellis (1), and that the low trellis (41) has low columns (43) which are braced independently of the high columns (3) of the high trellis (1) by means of cables (45), and that guide wires (13) for guiding plant shoots (47) are attached to the cables (45) of the low trellis (41), while the The scaffold (1) is free of guide wires (13). [2] Scaffolding system according to claim 1, characterized by, that the protective layer (15) is made of a railway material. [3] Scaffolding system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by , that the scaffold (1) has columns (3) spaced apart from each other, which are anchored in the ground on the ground side and are braced together at their upper column ends by means of ropes (5, 7), on which the protective layer (15) is laid and / or which define at least a space (9). [4] Scaffolding system according to claim 3, characterized by, that the upper column ends are braced together by means of transverse and longitudinal cables (5, 7) which cross each other at nodes (K), and / or that the longitudinal cables (7) are laid on the transverse cables (5) which act as load-bearing cables, and / or that the protective layer (15) covers the cable space (9) by forming a downwardly sagging arch (21), and that the protective layer (15) has a vault base (23) that is arched downwards by an arch depth (Δt), from which vault walls (25) are raised up to the longitudinal cables (7). [5] Scaffolding system according to claim 4, characterized by, that the two arch walls (25) of the protective layer (15) are connected to each other via at least one elastically flexible connecting element at the arch base (23), and that the elastically flexible connecting element (29) expands under the influence of a load, such as hail or snow, building up an elastically flexible restoring force and releases a gap (27) between the two profile walls (25), so that hail (24) or snow can be discharged downwards to relieve the protective layer (15). [6] Scaffolding system according to one of claims 3 to 5, characterized by, that the protective layer (15) is composed of a plurality of separate protective layer segments (17), each of which covers exactly one rope gap (9) completely, and / or that the protective layer segment (17) is guided so as to be displaceable at its edges on the ropes (5, 7), and / or that the protective layer segment (17) is adjustable between an extended working layer (W) and a gathered stowable layer (S), and / or that the protective layer segment (17) is guided so as to be displaceable at its longitudinal edges (19) on the longitudinal ropes (7), and / or that the protective layer segment (17) can be fastened at its transverse edges (20) to the transverse ropes (5) by means of releasable fixing means (18). [7] Scaffolding system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the protective layer (15) is formed from at least one track material laid on the ropes (5, 7) in a track extension direction (x, y), and that the track material extends in a uniform material and / or in one piece over a plurality of rope gaps (9). [8] Scaffolding system according to claim 7, characterized by , that the protective layer (15) is a photovoltaic film which is part of a photovoltaic system for generating electricity, and that the railway material has a three-layer structure with an upper and lower film cover layer (31, 33) as well as an intermediate photovoltaic layer (35), and that the photovoltaic layer (35) is spaced from the longitudinal edge of the railway by a transverse offset (r) of the railway, forming an edge-side connection area (39) for connection to a cable (5, 7) or for connection to an adjacent protective layer railway material. [9] Scaffolding system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the high columns (3) of the high scaffold (1) are spaced apart from each other in a scaffold transverse direction (y) and in a scaffold longitudinal direction (x) by transverse and longitudinal distances (Δx, Δy) and are arranged in a row and / or in line, and that the low columns (43) are positioned within the transverse and / or longitudinal distances (Δx, Δy). [10] Scaffolding system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the longitudinal cables (45) of the low columns (43) run parallel to the longitudinal cables (7) of the high columns (3), and / or that the low columns (43) are positioned in line or in series in the scaffold transverse direction (y). [11] Scaffolding system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the low columns (43) and the high columns (3) are arranged in line or in a row behind each other in the scaffold transverse direction (y), and / or in the scaffold longitudinal direction (x) the low column rows (N) and the high column rows (H) are arranged parallel to each other.

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