Fertilizer and watering tools

Abstract

This invention provides a soil fertilization and irrigation device for vegetables that aims to conserve water and improve efficiency in watering and fertilizing vegetable watering operations, as well as to promote vegetable growth, increase yield, and enhance the taste of the vegetables. [Solution] The underground fertilizer irrigation device (1) consists of a main body (2) made of a hollow pipe having an above-ground portion (2a) and an underground buried portion (2b), a water inlet (3) opening at the upper end of the main body (2), a fertilizer chamber (4) provided to close the lower end of the main body (2), a plurality of water passage holes (5) provided in the underground buried portion (2b), and a permeable sheet member (6) that covers at least part or all of the underground buried portion (2b) including the water passage holes (5).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a fertilizer and irrigation device for vegetables that is buried in the ground to save labor in watering and fertilizing vegetables and to effectively utilize water.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, watering has been carried out from the ground surface at the base of vegetables. As a result, most of the water has evaporated as water vapor from the hot ground surface or has spread over a wide area and been wasted. As a result, only a very small part of the water reaches and is absorbed by the roots in the ground, and the efficiency of water supply and irrigation cannot be said to be good. The same poor efficiency also existed with respect to fertilization during the growth of vegetables. That is, when liquid fertilizer or solid fertilizer is spread near the roots of plants, it is usually applied in a slightly larger amount over a wide area.

[0003] In order to solve such problems, a water supply device for vegetables has been disclosed in which a plurality of water outlet pipes are connected to a water injection pipe and buried in the ground, and seedlings are planted on top of this (Patent Document 1). Also, a water supply device for trees has been disclosed in which a water supply device consisting of a container having a plurality of holes and a lid connected thereto is buried in the ground so that the lid portion is exposed, and fertilization and irrigation are performed through a net-like water injection port provided on a part or the entire surface of the lid (Patent Document 2). Further, an outer cylindrical member filled with soil containing a water retention material and an inner cylindrical member filled with soil for vegetation containing a water retention material are arranged in a space formed in the central portion thereof, irrigation is performed on each soil, and after sufficient moisture is retained in the water retention material therein, sowing or planting of seedlings is performed in the soil in the inner cylindrical member, and a structure for greening sandy land or the like has been disclosed (Patent Document 3).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

[0005] However, when any of the above watering devices are used for watering vegetables, significant water leakage from the outlet pipe or multiple holes in the watering device requires a relatively large amount of water. On the other hand, these multiple holes are easily blocked by vegetable roots or pebbles, making it difficult to supply sufficient water. Furthermore, the above-mentioned structures for greening sandy areas are unsuitable for general vegetable cultivation. Therefore, the objective of this invention is to provide a soil fertilization and watering device for vegetables that allows vegetable roots to be set to a desired depth, improves water conservation and efficiency in watering and fertilizing vegetables, can be used stably and continuously throughout the vegetable cultivation period, and as a result enables the promotion of vegetable growth, increased yield, and improved taste. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In other words, the present invention is an underground fertilizer irrigation device (1) characterized by comprising: a main body (2) made of a hollow pipe having an above-ground portion (2a) and an underground buried portion (2b); a water inlet (3) opening at the upper end of the main body (2); a fertilizer chamber (4) provided to close the lower end of the main body (2); a plurality of water passage holes (5) provided in the underground buried portion (2b); and a permeable sheet member (6) that covers at least part or all of the underground buried portion (2b) including the water passage holes (5).

[0007] Furthermore, this invention is an underground fertilizer irrigation device (1) further equipped with an openable and closable lid (7) on the water inlet (3). [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] The underground fertilizer and irrigation device of this invention can be independently and individually installed near the roots of the plants being cultivated, allowing the roots of vegetables to be set to a desired depth, while also improving water conservation and efficiency in watering and fertilizing vegetables. Furthermore, by providing a permeable sheet member that covers the underground buried part (2b) including the water passage holes (5), it can be used stably and continuously throughout the vegetable cultivation period, resulting in improved vegetable growth, increased yield, and enhanced flavor. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This shows an overall perspective view of the underground fertilization and irrigation device of the present invention. [Figure 2] This shows an enlarged view of the cross-section (horizontal section) along line AA in Figure 1. [Figure 3] Figure 1 shows a cross-sectional view (longitudinal section) along line BB. [Figure 4] This shows an example of dimensions in one embodiment of the underground fertilization and irrigation device of the present invention. [Figure 5] This is an elevation view illustrating the methods (a) to (c) of using the underground fertilization and irrigation device of the present invention in tomato cultivation. [Figure 6] This is a plan view illustrating the method of using the underground fertilization and irrigation device of the present invention in tomato cultivation. [Figure 7] This is an elevation view illustrating the method of using the underground fertilization and irrigation device of the present invention in the cultivation of vegetables other than tomatoes. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] The following describes embodiments for implementing the present invention. These embodiments are merely illustrative examples for explanatory purposes, and the present invention is not limited in any sense to these embodiments. [Examples]

[0011] As shown in Figure 1, the present invention is an underground fertilizer irrigation device (1) characterized by comprising: a main body (2) made of a hollow pipe having an above-ground portion (2a) and an underground buried portion (2b); a water inlet (3) opening at the upper end of the main body (2); a fertilizer chamber (4) provided to close the lower end of the main body (2); a plurality of water passage holes (5) provided in the underground buried portion (2b); and a permeable sheet member (6) covering the underground buried portion (2b) including at least the water passage holes (5).

[0012] The main body (2) is a hollow tube, and its cross-sectional shape may be circular, elliptical, polygonal, arched, or a combination thereof, but a circular one is particularly readily available and suitable for use. The material can be plastic, metal, ceramic, wood, or bamboo, but plastic, especially polyvinyl chloride, is readily available and has excellent durability, making it suitable. For example, in the case of a hollow tube with a circular cross-section made of polyvinyl chloride, an outer diameter of approximately 30 mm and an inner diameter of approximately 25 mm is suitable for use.

[0013] When the main body (2) is a circular hollow tube made of polyvinyl chloride as described above, the upper opening is designated as the water inlet (3), the upper end portion including the water inlet (3) is designated as the above-ground portion (2a) by approximately 50 mm or more, and the lower end portion continuous with the upper end portion is designated as the underground buried portion (2b).

[0014] The shape and dimensions of the above-ground portion (2a) may be modified as appropriate to facilitate watering and fertilization, but a height of approximately 150-200 mm above ground is preferable. When watering, water can be saved by using a hose connected to a water tap or a watering can to pour water into the water inlet (3). Furthermore, as shown in Figure 1, a funnel can also be inserted and used. In addition, to prevent foreign objects and insects from entering through the water inlet (3), it is preferable to attach a lid or cap (7) to the water inlet (3) so that it can be opened and closed. A cap made of polyvinyl chloride with an inner diameter that matches the outer diameter of the main body (2) is preferably used.

[0015] The dimensions of the underground buried part (2b) can be set to an appropriate length according to the depth of the roots of the cultivated plants, but about 250 to 300 mm is preferred. A plurality of water permeable holes (5) that communicate the outside and the inside of the hollow tube are provided in the underground buried part (2b), and a water permeable sheet member (6) is provided so as to cover the plurality of water permeable holes (5). Further, a fertilizer chamber (4) is provided at the lower end of the underground buried part (2b) so as to block the bottom opening of the hollow tube. As the dimensions of the fertilizer chamber (4), a height of about 40 mm and an outer diameter of about 40 mm are preferred. A vinyl chloride cap having an inner diameter dimension corresponding to the outer diameter of the main body (2) can be preferably used, and it is fitted only by fitting or fitted and fixed using an adhesive.

[0016] To form the water permeable holes (5) in the main body (2), a manual or electric saw or drill is used, and the opening diameter thereof is preferably about 3 mm. If the diameter is smaller than that, it takes time for water to permeate, and conversely, if the diameter is larger than that, the amount of water permeated tends to be too large. Further, the water permeable holes (5) are provided in four directions perpendicular to the horizontal, the upper and lower intervals are about 50 mm, and the total number thereof is preferably about 20, but is not limited thereto.

[0017] The water permeable sheet member (6) is important not only to prevent the water permeable holes (5) from being blocked by roots of vegetables or small stones, etc., but also to control the speed at which water seeps out from the inside of the main body through the water permeable holes (5). By covering the water permeable holes (5) with the water permeable sheet member (6), the water poured into the inside of the main body and the fertilizer dissolved therein are prevented from being discharged only from the mainly lower water permeable holes (5) of the underground buried part (2b) of the main body (2) in a short time, and by the water permeable sheet member (6) blocking the water permeable holes (5), the water poured into the inside of the main body (2) of the underground buried part (2b) and the fertilizer dissolved therein are temporarily stored, and it becomes possible to control so that they gradually penetrate and drain into the ground from all the water permeable holes (5).

[0018] As the water permeable sheet member (6), a commercially available weed control sheet can be preferably used. However, those with ultra-high density and no water permeability are not suitable for use. When covering the underground embedding part (2b) of the main body (2) with the water-permeable sheet member (6) to include the water-permeable holes (5), it may only cover the water-permeable holes (5), but it is more preferable to cover the entire underground embedding part (2b). When covering the entire underground embedding part (2b), the water-permeable sheet member (6) is stacked in one or multiple layers. The water-permeable sheet member (6) can be fixedly adhered to the main body using an adhesive, or wound and fixed with a wire, a plastic binding band, a rubber band, etc. From the perspective of durability, winding and fixing with a wire is preferred.

[0019] The actual method of cultivating vegetables using the underground fertilization and irrigation device (1) of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7. First, the underground fertilization and irrigation device (1) of the present invention is buried at approximately the middle position between the seedlings of the vegetables (such as tomatoes) to be cultivated. The burial depth is set to about 300 mm so that the underground embedding part (2b) is completely buried. In order to effectively utilize the underground fertilization and irrigation device (1) of the present invention, it is important to plant the seedlings as deep as possible in the ground when planting the seedlings. To achieve this, holes slightly deeper than the ground surface of the seedbed or ridge are provided to plant the seedlings, and while watering with the underground fertilization and irrigation device (1) of the present invention, the root system is gradually covered with soil as the seedlings grow. By doing so, compared with the case where the seedlings are shallowly planted near the above-ground part of the seedbed or ridge, longer and stronger roots can be grown, promoting the growth of vegetables, enabling the vegetables to taste better, extending the cultivation life and cultivation period of the vegetables, and as a result, increasing the yield.

[0020] Regarding the frequency of watering and fertilization, it is adjusted while observing the dryness of the soil surface of the seedbed or ridge where the vegetables are planted and in accordance with the growth stage of the vegetables. In particular, it is good to manage so that the water and fertilizer applied penetrate while rising from the deep part of the ground toward the ground through the water-permeable holes (5). By operating and managing in this way, water conservation and efficiency in the watering and fertilization operations of vegetables can be improved, and it can be continuously used stably throughout the cultivation period of the vegetables. As a result, it is possible to promote the growth of vegetables, increase the yield, and improve the taste.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0021] 1 Underground fertilization irrigation equipment 2 Main unit 2a Aboveground part 2b Underground section 3. Water inlet 4 Fertilizer room 5 Water passage holes 6. Permeable sheet 7 Lid 8. Sheet fasteners

Claims

1. An underground fertilizer irrigation device (1) is characterized by comprising: a main body (2) made of a hollow pipe having an above-ground portion (2a) and an underground buried portion (2b); a water inlet (3) opening at the upper end of the main body (2); a fertilizer chamber (4) provided to close the lower end of the main body (2); a plurality of water passage holes (5) provided in the underground buried portion (2b); and a permeable sheet member (6) that covers at least part or all of the underground buried portion (2b) including the water passage holes (5).

2. Furthermore, the underground fertilizer irrigation device (1) according to claim 1 is provided with an openable and closable lid (7) on the water inlet (3).

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