Liquid material supply method
By cutting off true leaves and attaching a deformable cap-type container to the petiole, the method efficiently supplies liquid materials to plants, addressing absorption inefficiencies and enhancing yield and quality.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- NAT FEDERATION OF AGRI COOP ASSOCS
- Filing Date
- 2020-08-28
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-16
AI Technical Summary
Existing methods for supplying fertilizer components through the leaf surface of plants are inefficient, leading to insufficient absorption into the plant body, which can cause physiological disorders and affect yield and quality.
The method involves cutting off the true leaves at the petiole and attaching a cap-type container filled with liquid material, such as a calcium chloride solution, to the cut end of the petiole, ensuring watertight fixation and using a deformable flexible resin material.
This method efficiently supplies the desired components to the plant, preventing disorders and diseases, improving yield and quality, and is visually confirmable for supply efficiency.
Smart Images
Figure 0007874291000003 
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Figure 0007874291000005
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to a method for supplying liquid materials, and more particularly to a method for supplying liquid materials such as liquid fertilizers and agricultural chemicals to plants.
Background Art
[0002] When agricultural crops develop physiological disorders, the yield and quality of the harvested products decrease, so preventive management of physiological disorders is very important. Some of these physiological disorders are caused by deficiencies of fertilizer components (for example, calcium, boron, manganese, zinc, iron, etc.) that have poor mobility in the plant body.
[0003] In contrast, as an emergency measure, a method of spraying a liquid containing a fertilizer component on the leaf surface is known (for example, see Patent Document 1).
Prior Art Documents
Patent Documents
[0004]
Patent Document 1
Summary of the Invention
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0005] However, there is also a finding that in fertilizer supply through the leaf surface, the components are not sufficiently absorbed into the plant body, and a method for more efficiently supplying fertilizer components has been demanded.
[0006] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a method for supplying liquid materials that can efficiently supply a target component to a plant body.
Means for Solving the Problems
[0007] To achieve the above objective, the liquid material supply method of the present invention is characterized by cutting off the true leaves of a plant at the position of the petiole, placing a cap-type container filled with liquid material over the cut end of the petiole, and fixing the opening of the cap-type container to the cut end of the petiole in a watertight manner.
[0008] Furthermore, the cap-type container is characterized by being easily deformable, being formed from a flexible, soft resin material.
[0009] Furthermore, the liquid material is characterized in that it is a liquid fertilizer, a calcium chloride aqueous solution, or a mixture of a calcium chloride aqueous solution and a boric acid aqueous solution; the plant is a tomato; the timing of supplying the liquid material is during the flowering period of the plant; and the true leaves are the true leaves growing on the first or second lower tier of the flower cluster of the plant. [Effects of the Invention]
[0010] According to the liquid material supply method of the present invention, a predetermined amount of liquid material filled in a cap-type container can be reliably supplied to a plant through the cut end of the leaf stalk, thereby efficiently supplying the desired components to the plant. This makes it easier to prevent and manage physiological disorders and diseases in plants, and to improve the yield and quality of harvested products obtained from the plants.
[0011] Furthermore, the cap-type container is watertightly fixed to the cut end of the leaf stalk it is placed over, and because it is easily deformable, it deforms inward as the liquid material is supplied to the plant, making it easy to see the degree of liquid material supply and improving work efficiency. [Brief explanation of the drawing]
[0012] [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram showing one embodiment of the liquid material supply method of the present invention applied to a plant. [Figure 2] This is a close-up view of the main part showing the deformation of the cap-type container when liquid material is supplied using the method shown in Figure 1. [Figure 3]This graph shows the analysis results of liquid material supply in a foliage analysis test. [Figure 4] This graph shows the Ca concentration of the liquid material supplied through a cap-type container during the efficacy test. [Figure 5] This graph compares the harvest results of plants in efficacy tests for each method of supplying liquid materials. [Figure 6] This is a schematic diagram showing another example of the liquid material supply method of the present invention applied to a plant. [Figure 7] This graph shows the analysis results of liquid material supply in fruit analysis tests. [Modes for carrying out the invention]
[0013] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing one embodiment of the liquid material supply method of the present invention applied to a plant 11. In this embodiment, the plant 11 is a tomato.
[0014] As shown in Figure 1, the plant body 11 comprises a stem 12, a flowering inflorescence 13, and true leaves 14 consisting of a leaf blade 14a and a petiole 14b.
[0015] In this example, the true leaf 14 located on the second lower tier of the flower cluster 13 was cut off at the position of the petiole 14b, and a cap-type container 16 filled with liquid material was attached to the cut end 15 of the petiole 14b.
[0016] Here, liquid materials refer to liquid fertilizers, pesticides, soil conditioners, and other liquids containing functional components that can impart specific effects to plants. In this example, a calcium chloride aqueous solution was used. The calcium chloride aqueous solution has the effect of preventing blossom-end rot in tomatoes.
[0017] The cap-type container 16 is easily formed by a flexible soft resin material (e.g., polyethylene), has a neck portion 17 with a reduced inner diameter at the container entrance, and is watertightly fixed to the cut 15 of the leaf stalk 14b by a binding band 18 at the position of the neck portion 17. Also, the capacity of the cap-type container 16 can be appropriately changed according to the target supply amount, and for example, those with a capacity of 7 ml to 40 ml can be selected.
[0018] FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the main part showing the deformation state of the cap-type container 16 accompanying the supply of the liquid material by the method of FIG. 1.
[0019] As shown in FIG. 2, the liquid material inside the cap-type container 16 attached to the plant body 11 is supplied from the cut 15 of the leaf stalk 14b into the plant body 11, thereby reducing the volume. At this time, since the cap-type container 16 is watertightly fixed to the cut 15 of the leaf stalk 14b, there is no inflow of air from the outside, so the soft cap-type container 16 is deformed so as to be recessed by the reduced volume.
[0020] In this way, the components of the liquid material supplied to the plant body 11 by the cap-type container 16 have been confirmed by the stem and leaf analysis test to be sent to the tissue above the supply position. The test will be described below.
[0021] The method of the stem and leaf analysis test is as follows. Target crop: Tomato (using those at the seedling stage) Liquid material: Aqueous calcium chloride solution Cultivation outline: Sowing on January 7, 2019 Transplanting on January 21 Supplying liquid material etc. on February 25 Sampling on February 26
[0022] For comparison, the test area was divided into four sections: an untreated section where no liquid material was supplied from the cap-type container 16; a section where 5 ml of distilled water was supplied from the cap-type container 16 instead of the liquid material; a section where 5 ml of a 0.5% calcium chloride aqueous solution was supplied from the cap-type container 16; a section where 5 ml of a 1.0% calcium chloride aqueous solution was supplied from the cap-type container 16; and a section where 5 ml of a 1.5% calcium chloride aqueous solution was supplied from the cap-type container 16.
[0023] Liquid materials (calcium chloride aqueous solutions or distilled water of various concentrations) were supplied in each plot by cutting off the true leaves 14 located on the second tier below the first flower cluster 13 of the tomato plant when the first flower cluster 13 had bloomed, and then attaching a cap-type container 16 to the cut end 15 of the resulting petiole 14b (see Figure 1).
[0024] After supply, it was visually confirmed from the state of the cap-type container 16 that sufficient calcium chloride solution and distilled water had been supplied to the plant body 11 (see Figure 2). A sample was taken from the entire upper part of the plant body 11, from the first lower section of true leaves 14 on the flower cluster 13, and the Ca content was measured from the collected sample.
[0025] Furthermore, by supplying the liquid material to the second set of true leaves 14 below the flower cluster 13, a sufficient amount of stem and leaf samples for analysis can be secured.
[0026] The analysis results of the liquid material supply in the above foliage analysis tests are shown in Table 1 and Figure 3. Figure 3 is a graph of Table 1.
[0027] [Table 1]
[0028] As shown in Table 1 and Figure 3, when a calcium chloride solution is supplied from the cut end 15 of the petiole 14b, the Ca content in the stem and leaves above the supply point increases in proportion to the concentration of the calcium chloride solution, compared to the untreated sample and the sample supplied with distilled water.
[0029] This indicates that, after flowering, when liquid material is supplied to the plant body 11 using the liquid material supply method of the present invention, the components of the liquid material are sent to the tissue above the supply point.
[0030] Furthermore, efficacy tests have confirmed that the components of the liquid material supplied to the plant body 11 by the cap-type container 16 in this manner have the effect of preventing nutrient deficiency disorders in the plant body 11. The tests are described below.
[0031] The method for the efficacy test is as follows: Target crop: Tomato Liquid material: Calcium chloride aqueous solution Cultivation overview: April 20, 2018 sowing May 24th: Planting June 6th - July 18th: Apply liquid fertilizer as a foliar spray. June 12th, June 26th: Liquid materials supplied with caps.
[0032] For comparison, the test plots were divided into three sections: an untreated section where no liquid material was supplied from the cap-type container 16; a foliar spray treatment section where calcium chloride aqueous solution was supplied via foliar spraying; and a cap-supply treatment section where 15 ml of 0.5% calcium chloride aqueous solution was supplied from the cap-type container 16.
[0033] In the foliar spray treatment area, a calcium chloride solution was applied to the leaves weekly from June 6th to July 18th.
[0034] In the cap-supply treatment plot, calcium chloride solution was supplied during the flowering period of the second flower cluster of the tomato plant (June 12th) and the fourth flower cluster (June 26th). During each flowering period, the second-lowest true leaves of the flowered flower cluster were removed, and a cap-type container 16 was attached to the cut end of the resulting petiole 14b (see Figure 1).
[0035] Then, the day after installation, we collected the first set of true leaves from the bottom of the flower cluster and analyzed the Ca concentration in the petiole sap.
[0036] Furthermore, the number of harvested fruits in each plot was investigated at harvest time, and the proportion of normal fruits, unset fruits, and blossom-end rotted fruits in each plot was calculated.
[0037] Figure 4 is a graph showing the Ca concentration of tomatoes supplied with the liquid material via a cap-type container 16 during the efficacy test, and Figure 5 is a graph comparing the tomato harvest results in the efficacy test for each method of supplying the liquid material.
[0038] As shown in Figure 4, the Ca concentration in the tomato petiole sap was higher when using the cap-type container 16 than when foliar spraying, both during the flowering period of the second and fourth flower clusters.
[0039] As shown in Figure 5, the rates of unset tomatoes and blossom-end rot were both lower when using the cap-type container 16 compared to when foliar spraying was performed.
[0040] The above test results showed that when the true leaves of tomato plants are cut off at the petiole and a calcium chloride solution is supplied through the cut end of the petiole, the components of the supplied calcium chloride solution migrate to the upper part of the plant, suppressing the occurrence of blossom-end rot caused by calcium deficiency. Furthermore, it was found that this method is more effective than conventional foliar spraying with calcium chloride solution.
[0041] Thus, according to the liquid material supply method of the present invention, a predetermined amount of liquid material filled in a cap-type container 16 can be reliably supplied to the plant body 11 through the cut end 15 of the petiole 14b. This allows for efficient supply of the desired components to the plant body 11, making it easier to prevent and manage physiological disorders and diseases of the plant body 11, and to improve the yield and quality of the harvested produce obtained from the plant body 11.
[0042] Furthermore, the cap-type container 16 is watertightly fixed to the cut end 15 of the petiole 14b that is placed over it, and is formed to be easily deformable. As the liquid material is supplied to the plant body 11, it deforms in a concave manner, making it easy to see the degree of liquid material supply and improving work efficiency.
[0043] Furthermore, by supplying liquid material to the plant body 11 during the flowering period of the flower cluster 13, physiological disorders and diseases that may occur in the fruit after flowering can be prevented, making it easier to improve the yield and quality of the fruit obtained from the plant body 11.
[0044] Furthermore, by selecting the true leaves 14 to be removed from the plant body 11 that are growing close to the lower part of the flower cluster 13, the components of the supplied liquid material can be efficiently delivered to the flower cluster 13, making it easier to improve the yield and quality of the crops obtained from the plant body 11.
[0045] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram showing another example of the liquid material supply method of the present invention applied to a plant 11 (tomato).
[0046] As shown in Figure 6, in this morphological example, the plant body 11 has fruited from the inflorescence 13 in Figure 1, and the fruit 19 has formed. The difference from the morphological example in Figure 1 is that the first row of true leaves 14 below the fruit 19 has been removed at the position of the petiole 14b.
[0047] Furthermore, in this example, similar to the example in Figure 1, a cap-type container 16 filled with a liquid material is attached to the cut end 15 of the petiole 14b that has been removed, but the liquid material filled is a mixture of calcium chloride aqueous solution and boric acid aqueous solution.
[0048] In this morphological example, fruit analysis tests have confirmed that the components of the liquid material are absorbed into the fruit 19 of the plant body 11. The tests are described below.
[0049] The method for fruit analysis testing is as follows: Target crop: Tomato (using tomatoes after transplanting) Liquid material: A mixture of calcium chloride aqueous solution and boric acid aqueous solution. Cultivation overview: August 27, 2019 sowing September 24th: Repotting October 4th Planting October 30th, October 31st: Supply of liquid materials, etc. Harvest the fruit after November 1st when it has grown to the size of a ping-pong ball.
[0050] For comparison, the test area was divided into three sections: an untreated section where no liquid material was supplied from the cap-type container 16; a section where 19 ml of distilled water was supplied from the cap-type container 16 instead of the liquid material; a section where 19 ml of a mixture of 0.5% calcium chloride aqueous solution and 0.02% boric acid aqueous solution (B+ low Ca) was supplied from the cap-type container 16; a section where 19 ml of a mixture of 1.0% calcium chloride aqueous solution and 0.02% boric acid aqueous solution (B+ medium Ca) was supplied from the cap-type container 16; and a section where 19 ml of a mixture of 1.5% calcium chloride aqueous solution and 0.02% boric acid aqueous solution (B+ high Ca) was supplied from the cap-type container 16.
[0051] In the fruit analysis test, when a fruit 19 had formed on plant body 11 (tomato) and entered the enlargement stage (October 30), the first lower leaf 14 of the fruit 19 was cut off at the position of the petiole 14b. A cap-type container 16 filled with a liquid material (a mixture of calcium chloride solution and boric acid solution) was then attached to the cut end 15 of the petiole 14b to supply the material, and the same procedure was performed the following day (October 31).
[0052] Subsequently, each fruit 19 was collected when it had grown to the size of a ping-pong ball, and the Ca and B content was measured from the collected fruits.
[0053] The analysis results of the liquid material supply in the fruit analysis tests described above are shown in Table 2 and Figure 7. Figure 7 is a graph of Table 2.
[0054] [Table 2]
[0055] As shown in Table 2 and Figure 7, when a mixture of calcium chloride solution and boric acid solution is supplied through the cut surface 15 of the petiole 14b, the Ca and B content in the fruit 19 increases compared to the untreated fruit and the fruit supplied with distilled water.
[0056] This shows that when liquid material is supplied to the plant body 11 by the liquid material supply method of the present invention after the fruit 19 has formed, the components of the liquid material are sent to the fruit 19 above the supply point. Furthermore, even if the liquid material contains multiple components, it can be seen that all of the components are sent to the fruit above the supply point.
[0057] Thus, according to the liquid material supply method of the present invention, a predetermined amount of liquid material filled in a cap-type container 16 can be supplied to the fruit 19 of the plant body 11 through the cut end 15 of the petiole 14b. This allows for efficient supply of the desired components to the plant body 11, making it easier to prevent and manage physiological disorders and diseases of the plant body 11, and to improve the yield and quality of the harvested products obtained from the plant body 11.
[0058] Furthermore, by selecting the true leaves 14 to be removed from the plant body 11 that are growing close to the lower side of the fruit 19, the components of the supplied liquid material can be efficiently delivered to the fruit 19, making it easier to improve the yield and quality of the fruit 19 obtained from the plant body 11.
[0059] It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention. For example, in these embodiments, the plant to which the present invention is applied is a tomato, but it is not limited to tomatoes, and other agricultural crops may be selected as the plant.
[0060] In particular, for fruit-bearing plants, the true leaves to be removed in order to supply the liquid material can be those growing on the first or second tier below the flower cluster. This method can be used for plants other than tomatoes, such as cucumbers and melons.
[0061] Furthermore, in this example, the second lower section of the flower cluster is removed during the flowering period and the first lower section during the fruit enlargement period in order to supply the liquid material. However, the location of the cut for supplying the liquid material is not limited by the time of year; at any time, a true leaf growing close to the flower cluster can be removed to create the cut.
[0062] Furthermore, while calcium chloride aqueous solution and boric acid aqueous solution are used as liquid materials in this embodiment, any liquid containing functional components that can impart a predetermined effect to plants, such as liquid fertilizers, pesticides, soil conditioners, or other liquids, may be used as liquid materials. Liquids containing components such as zinc, manganese, and iron may also be used as liquid materials. [Explanation of Symbols]
[0063] 11...Plant body, 12...Stem, 13...Flower cluster, 14...True leaf, 14a...Leaf blade, 14b...Petiole, 15...Cut end, 16...Cap-shaped container, 17...Neck, 18...Cable tie, 19...Fruit
Claims
1. The true leaves that have grown on the stem of a fruit-bearing plant are cut off at the petiole, and a cap-type container filled with liquid material is placed over the cut end of the petiole, and the opening of the cap-type container is sealed watertight to the cut end of the petiole. The aforementioned true leaves are those growing on the first or second lower tier of the flower cluster that has formed on the stem of the plant. The timing of supplying the liquid material is during the flowering period or fruit enlargement period of the plant. A method for supplying liquid materials characterized by the following features.
2. The liquid material supply method according to claim 1, characterized in that the cap-type container is formed of a flexible, soft resin material that is easily deformable so as the liquid material is supplied to the plant.
3. The liquid material supply method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the liquid material is liquid fertilizer.
4. The liquid material supply method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the liquid material is an aqueous solution of calcium chloride.
5. The liquid material supply method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the liquid material is a mixture of an aqueous solution of calcium chloride and an aqueous solution of boric acid.