Agricultural composition and method

Abstract

An agricultural composition is provided in the form of a paint (112) for spraying onto the ground adjacent to one or more crops (20) in cropland (100), the paint comprising an aqueous carrier liquid, an oil, a first compound which is a water-insoluble pigment for adhering to a grass, stone, soil surface, or agricultural substrate, the water-insoluble pigment including activated carbon carried by the oil and the activated carbon being dispersed and suspended in the aqueous carrier liquid by the oil to provide a colloid, and the agricultural composition lacks any petroleum- based plastics.

Description

[0001] AGRICULTURAL COMPOSITION AND METHOD

[0002] The present invention relates to an agricultural composition in the form of a paint for spraying onto the ground adjacent to one or more crops in cropland, and to a method of cropland preparation and / or management for enhancing crop growth or yield using an agricultural composition.

[0003] BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

[0004] Food crops such as fruit, vegetables, and grains are typically grown or produced at a large scale using agricultural land (also referred to as cropland). For example, apples or olives are typically batch-produced or mass-produced in orchards, generally from a set of apple or olive trees planted some years prior. In another example, grapes may be grown on vines in a vineyard.

[0005] For other crops where the main plant is either harvested or does not survive to the next year, it is necessary to start from scratch. Sweetcorn, potatoes, carrots, rapeseed, wheat, barley and rye are non-limiting examples of such crops. Generally, seeds are planted (e.g. in a ploughed field), the seeds germinate, the germinated seeds grow into adult plants, which may then flower and, once pollinated, produce harvestable crops and / or fruit and vegetables.

[0006] Crops are typically harvested when the crop plants or their corresponding fruit / vegetables are sufficiently ripe for transport and subsequent sale. Typically, the crops or their corresponding fruit / vegetables will have a certain degree of colouration which is indicative of their ripeness. The amount of land available for growing crops is finite. To feed a growing population, it is important to minimise the time it takes to grow those crops and maximise the yield of crops produced in a given area of cropland.

[0007] It is known to put down plastic sheeting to aid crop growth. As can be seen from the plan view of conventional cropland 50 in Figure 1 , plastic sheeting 12 is typically provided on pathways 10 between rows of crops 20. Plastic sheeting is conventionally used because it is cost effective, durable and easy to cut to size.

[0008] However, plastic sheeting can be time consuming to roll out, anchor to the ground and then remove at a later date. Use of large amounts of plastic sheeting also has a significant environmental impact from both its production and disposal. The environmental impact of this plastic is expected to increase as more crops need to be produced for a growing population. Furthermore, plastic sheeting may break down in sunlight, particularly under ultraviolet light, and the breakdown products can leech into the soil in crop growing areas. The plastic in the soil may accumulate and impair the soil structure, making it harder for soil to hold water, thereby affecting crop growth and causing microplastics to enter the food chain. It is an object of the present invention to reduce or substantially obviate the aforementioned problems.

[0009] STATEMENT OF INVENTION

[0010] According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an agricultural composition in the form of a paint or colloid for spraying onto the ground adjacent to one or more crops in cropland, the agricultural composition comprising or consisting of: an aqueous carrier liquid, and a water-insoluble pigment for adhering to a grass, stone, soil surface or agricultural substrate, the water-insoluble pigment being dispersed and suspended in the aqueous carrier liquid, optionally in which the agricultural composition lacks any plastics. Optional features are set out in the dependent claims.

[0011] Advantageously, applying the agricultural composition to the ground (or painting the ground with the agricultural composition) adjacent to one or more crops in a cropland covers the ground with the pigment in the paint. The pigment may reflect or absorb incident sunlight to positively influence or promote the germination, growth, yield and / or colouration of at least some of the adjacent crops. For the avoidance of doubt, the paint or colloid is an outdoor paint or colloid. The term ‘paint’ is intended to mean that the composition is adapted for application as a covering to the ground outdoors, e.g. by spraying or some other painting means.

[0012] The term paint should not be construed as meaning that composition includes ingredients that are common ingredients of a conventional wall paint.

[0013] The agricultural composition may lack petroleum-based plastics. The term ‘petroleum-based plastics’ is intended to mean plastics which are derived from crude oil or natural gas.

[0014] The agricultural composition may not (once applied on the ground) dry to form a coating in the sense of a continuous sheet. Rather, once the aqueous carrier liquid or water dissipates into the ground and / or atmosphere, the pigment that is left on the ground is not held or bound in a matrix or other structure leftover from the agricultural composition. The pigment and other residual components of the agricultural composition may remain substantially on or near the surface of the ground for pigmenting the ground to improve crop growing conditions.

[0015] In particular, because the agricultural composition is for use outdoors in cropland, certain constituents of conventional paint may be excluded from the composition to avoid potential contamination of the cropland and / or crops grown therein. Thus, paint according to the invention may lack any independently selected one, some or all of: binder(s), plasticiser(s), paint additive(s), organic solvent(s). In particular, the paint may lack a synthetic binder and / or a synthetic plasticiser. The paint may lack a synthetic resin. The term synthetic is intended to mean that the binder / plasticiser / resin (as the case may be) is non-naturally-occurring, i.e. it is man-made or artificial.

[0016] More generally, the agricultural composition / paint may lack a synthetic binder for encapsulating the pigment and / or filler (if a filler is provided).

[0017] The paint may lack an anti-foaming agent. In other words, the agricultural composition or paint may be configured for application as a foam to the ground.

[0018] In conventional paint, a binder is used to prevent paint transference and / or prevent re-wetting of the paint after it has cured or dried. However, in the present invention, a synthetic binder is preferably not provided in the composition / paint to avoid potential uptake by (and possible contamination of) crops.

[0019] The terms ‘covers’ and ‘covering’ are intended to mean that the agricultural composition extends over a given area of ground. The pigment(s) in the covering are not bound together after application of the agricultural composition to the ground. The paint or colloid does not strictly form a coating because, once the aqueous carrier liquid has been absorbed into the ground and / or evaporated (or otherwise dispersed), the individual pigments of the composition are not held in place relative to each other.

[0020] A plant growth retardant may be provided in the composition for inhibiting the growth of plants adjacent to the cropland. This keeps plants (such as grass and weeds) from growing in the pathway, keeping it relatively clear and also meaning that non-crop plants use relatively fewer nutrients from the ground in the vicinity of the crop growing areas.

[0021] Preferably the plant growth retardant does not kill plants. This is partly to adverse effects in case of uptake by the crops being grown, and partly to avoid degradation of the pathway (e.g. into a muddy trail) where grass or other plants help to bind the pathway together and facilitate drainage.

[0022] The pigment is water-insoluble so that it does not wash away immediately during rainfall and / or during crop watering.

[0023] The term cropland is intended to mean an area including one or more crop growing areas. The term crop growing area is intended to mean an area in which crops are (to be) grown or allocated to crop growing, e.g. somewhere that crop seeds are (to be) planted. For example, a crop growing area may include a seeded or planted area. The cropland may be an orchard or vineyard or agricultural field, for example. The invention is particularly advantageous for growing fruit where increasing colouration is ideal. The orchard may be an apple orchard, for example. The first compound (the pigment) and the second compound (the plant growth retardant) may be different compounds. That is, the pigment may be a different chemical moiety to the plant growth retardant.

[0024] The water-insoluble pigment may be a white pigment. The white pigment may reflect incident sunlight to the crop plants to expose the leaves and crops to additional sunlight. This has been found to significantly improve plant growth and plant yield.

[0025] The white pigment may include calcium carbonate, such as crushed or pulverised calcium carbonate. Calcium carbonate is advantageous because it is relatively inert and is a low-cost material, and is naturally-occurring and safe for humans.

[0026] The white pigment may include titanium dioxide such as crushed or pulverised titanium dioxide. Titanium dioxide is also considered to be relatively inert and safe for humans.

[0027] The water-insoluble pigment may be a black pigment. The black pigment can absorb incident sunlight and raise the relative ground temperature. Raising the relative ground temperature in this manner can improve germination of planted seeds.

[0028] The black pigment may include carbon black. The black pigment may include charcoal, such as crushed or pulverised charcoal or a powder form of charcoal. Carbon black and charcoal are each insoluble in water, reflect very little light in the visible part of the spectrum and are low-cost materials that are widely available.

[0029] Where a black pigment is used, the composition may not include a plant growth retardant. For example, the agricultural composition may include a black pigment where the composition is for application to a ploughed field, such as a field where potato crops are to be grown.

[0030] It will be appreciated that a given pigment may be black or white or grey another colour. It will also be appreciated that the paint itself may be substantially the same colour as a given pigment, or that the paint may have a different overall colour to that of the pigment or pigments contained in the paint. For example, a black pigment in the paint may provide a black or grey paint. The colour of the paint is thus not necessarily identical to that of its pigment, although it can be in some examples.

[0031] The water-insoluble pigment may be an inorganic pigment.

[0032] The water-insoluble pigment may be a solid pigment.

[0033] The water-insoluble pigment may be a non-encapsulated pigment. The pigment may not be encapsulated by a binder. In any aspect, the water-insoluble pigment may be provided (or have been prepared) in dimensions suitable for remaining in suspension in the aqueous carrier liquid by ball milling, for example.

[0034] The water-insoluble pigment may have one or more particle sizes substantially in the range 0.1 microns to 10 microns. The water-insoluble pigment may have a particle size (or average particle size) substantially in the range 100 nm to 600 nm.

[0035] The water-soluble pigment may be or include activated carbon. The water-soluble pigment may be or include another porous pigment, such as a black or grey porous pigment I material. Activated carbon is intended to refer to carbon or carbonaceous material having a microscopic pore structure. Activated carbon may also be referred to as any of: active carbon, activated charcoal, and active charcoal.

[0036] The microscopic pore structure may have a surface area greater than about 500 m2 / g.

[0037] The applicant has found that activated carbon can absorb incident sunlight and raise the relative ground temperature of an area covered by the paint by up to several degrees Celsius, relative to the temperature of the surrounding ground not covered by the paint, when applied to the ground.

[0038] In an area covered by the paint, the activated carbon may (during the day) increase the temperature of the ground at a depth at which seeds have been planted for promoting seed germination.

[0039] Preferably, the surface area of the activated carbon is greater than about 1000 m2 / g.

[0040] The activated carbon may be prepared from one or more plant-based sources.

[0041] The activated carbon may be prepared from one or more food-grade sources. The term “foodgrade” is intended to mean the material is fit for human consumption or permitted to come into contact with food according to present regulations.

[0042] The activated carbon may be derived from bamboo. In other words, the food-grade source may be bamboo.

[0043] The agricultural composition may comprise between about 1 wt.% to about 30 wt.% activated carbon. Preferably, the agricultural composition may comprise between about 15 wt.% to about 25 wt.% activated carbon. A higher weight percentage may be provided in an undiluted form of the composition, for example.

[0044] The water-insoluble pigment may be carried by or suspended in a non-aqueous carrier. The water-insoluble pigment may be dispersed in the non-aqueous carrier. The water-insoluble pigment may have a greater affinity for the non-aqueous carrier than the aqueous carrier liquid. That is, the water-insoluble pigment may preferentially associate with or bond with the nonaqueous carrier (relative to the aqueous carrier liquid), or its intermolecular attraction to the non-aqueous carrier may typically exceed its intermolecular attraction to the aqueous carrier liquid.

[0045] Providing the activated carbon in a non-aqueous carrier mitigates the degree of runoff or leaching of the pigment, for example from rain or crop watering.

[0046] The non-aqueous carrier may be hydrophobic. The non-aqueous carrier may be or include an oil. The oil may be or include a plant-derived oil. The oil may be or include waste cooking oil. The term “plant-derived oil” is intended to mean an oil or oil composition which can be extracted from or refined from a plant. One non-limiting example of a plant-derived oil is olive oil. An oil which is synthesised from non-plant matter, i.e. from any starting material, but which nevertheless have a substantially similar composition to a plant-derived oil, are also intended to be encompassed by the term “plant-derived”.

[0047] The oil is intended to be suitable for use on crops, particularly food crops. That is, the oil should be an oil which is fit for consumption, if present in and / or on the eventual crops where the agricultural composition is used on a particular field or cropland.

[0048] The term ‘oil’ may thus be considered to refer to an organic oil. That is, the oil may be considered to be a hydrocarbon-based oil.

[0049] The agricultural composition may comprise fertiliser and / or pesticide. The fertiliser and / or the pesticide may be at least partly disposed inside pores of the activated carbon.

[0050] The aqueous carrier liquid may be tap water.

[0051] The average particle size may be around 200 nm, e.g. for TiC>2 particles (but optionally applicable to any pigment(s) in the composition).

[0052] The plant growth retardant may be a grass growth retardant for inhibiting grass growth. This can inhibit grass growth without killing the grass, so that soil below the grass in the pathway remains relatively stable and drains relatively well. This can mitigate the extent to which the pathway becomes muddy and / or more difficult to pass during prolonged or frequent rainy spells. The agricultural composition may include a filler. The filler may contribute to the colour and / or opacity of the composition.

[0053] The filler may optimise the spacing between the pigment particles when the composition has been applied to the ground. This can reduce the amount of pigment required per unit area of ground whilst still maximising the absorption or reflection of incident sunlight (for the amount of pigment present) to enhance crop growth or yield.

[0054] The filler may comprise particles discrete from the pigment particles. The filler may comprise inorganic particles. The filler may be a crushed or pulverised filler, such as crushed or pulverised rock (such as igneous or sedimentary rock).

[0055] The filler may be independently selected as any one, some or all of the following group: barium sulfate, calcium carbonate, clay (such as kaolin), diatomaceous earth, dolomite, feldspar, glass powder, mica, quartz, silica, talc.

[0056] In some embodiments, the filler may be calcium carbonate. The calcium carbonate may have a particle size (or size range) that has been reduced to an optimum size for spacing pigment particles.

[0057] In some embodiments, the filler may be a hydrated lime, which may also help to regulate the pH balance of the soil.

[0058] The paint or colloid may be a sol. That is, the water-insoluble pigment may be a dispersed phase provided in the aqueous carrier liquid as a bulk phase.

[0059] The particle sizes or particle size range of the pigment may be selected so that the sol is substantially stable. The particle sizes may be substantially in the range 1 nm to 100 nm. The particle sizes or size range may be selected so that the water-insoluble pigment remains substantially dispersed in the aqueous carrier liquid over a timescale of days, weeks, months or years.

[0060] The particle sizes or size range may be selected depending on the time period expected to elapse between production of the agricultural composition and subsequent application thereof to an agricultural area (or path thereof).

[0061] For example, if the agricultural composition may be applied within a few days or weeks of manufacture, then the particle sizes could be relatively larger, within the size range given. If the agricultural composition may be stored and subsequently applied on the order of months after manufacture, then the particle sizes could be relatively smaller, within the size range given, to minimise the extent to which the pigment settles out of suspension.

[0062] The composition may include a viscosity regulator. The composition may include a thixotropic substance. The viscosity regulator may be thixotropic. For example, the viscosity regulator may be (or include) xantham gum.

[0063] Xantham gum is advantageous because it is readily bio-degradable, and is generally stable across a range of pH values. The composition may not include a biocide.

[0064] The composition may not include a preservative.

[0065] The composition may not include a metal having a metal sulfide layer.

[0066] The paint may be provided in a container. The container may have a volume of at least 25L or at least 50 L. This may be a suitable amount for transporting by an applicator or spray machine for covering the ground.

[0067] The container may have a volume of at least 500 L. The container may have a volume of at least 1000 L. Providing paint in a container of this scale is advantageous for storage on site, to allow a smaller container (such as that of an applicator or spraying machine) to be refilled from the larger container.

[0068] The container may be a shipping container, or a container which is approximately the size or volume of a conventional shipping container, for example. This can make it easier to ship the agricultural composition in bulk.

[0069] According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a shipping container of agricultural composition, the shipping container comprising an internal chamber, an enclosure or liner for containing agricultural composition within the internal chamber, a tap or dispensing means connected to the enclosure or liner for dispensing or transferring agricultural composition therefrom, and at least 1m3or at least 1 tonne of the agricultural composition according to the first aspect or another aspect of the invention.

[0070] This is highly advantageous for transporting large quantities of the composition to an agricultural site. This may be particularly suitable for medium- and large-scale agricultural operations. It is also advantageous for storing large quantities of the agricultural composition on-site, since a separate warehouse space is not required. The shipping container can be kept outdoors without adversely affecting the agricultural composition.

[0071] There may be at least x tonnes of the agricultural composition in the shipping container, where x is selected from the following list: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11 , 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 , 22, 23, 24.

[0072] The agricultural composition may be provided in a single enclosure or liner in the shipping container, or may be divided between two or more enclosures or liners.

[0073] There may be a plurality of taps or dispensing means for dispensing or retrieving the composition from a plurality of enclosures / liners.

[0074] The tap(s) or dispensing means may be arranged at or near the base of the enclosure / linerfor allowing removal of substantially all of the composition. The enclosure or liner may not be completely filled with the agricultural composition. The enclosure or liner may have capacity to expand within the chamber of the shipping container. This is to accommodate potential expansion of the agricultural composition in the form of paint should the temperature of the composition drop low enough for the composition to freeze and expand or should the temperature of the composition rise high enough to cause substantial expansion, relative to the temperature at which the enclosure or liner was filled.

[0075] The agricultural composition contains an aqueous carrier liquid or water, which expands when freezing into ice. Similarly the aqueous carrier liquid or water can expand in volume as its temperature increases. Therefore, providing a partially filled enclosure / liner and / or some play / flexibility in the wall(s) of the enclosure / liner, for example, the enclosure / liner will not burst or break should the agricultural composition change in volume within temperature variations experienced by the shipping container whilst stored outside, such as in or near an agricultural site I cropland.

[0076] It will be appreciated that the enclosure / liner with the tap(s) or dispensing means may be provided for insertion into a shipping container. That is, the enclosure / liner may be installed into a shipping container and filled with agricultural composition.

[0077] It will also be appreciated that there may be provided a method of filling (or re-filling) the enclosure / liner with agricultural composition. The shipping container (or enclosure / liner therefor) can be provided, the tap(s) or dispensing means may be connected to a source of the agricultural composition, and the agricultural composition may be transferred or pumped through the taps and into the enclosure / liner.

[0078] Suitable venting means (e.g. provided in the tap(s) or dispensing means) may be used to allow air into and / or release / evacuate air from inside the enclosure / liner, if needed.

[0079] According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a kit comprising a first container of plant growth retardant for initial application to grass in cropland, and a second container of paint according to the first aspect or another aspect of the present invention for subsequent (or possibly simultaneous) application to the grass in cropland.

[0080] The second container of paint may have a volume of at least 25L or at least 50 L. The container may have a volume of at least 500 L. The container may have a volume of at least 1000 L. This may allow additional plant / grass growth retardant to be applied to the grass prior to covering the ground in pigment-containing paint where further plant / grass growth retardant is required.

[0081] The container of paint may have a greater volume than the volume of the container of plant growth retardant. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided use of a paint according to the first aspect of the present invention on an agricultural area.

[0082] The area may be on the order of acres or hectares, for example. The paint may only be applied to a relatively small fraction of the ground within the area, depending on the relative proportion of crop growing area to pathway (that is, ground intended to be walkable by a person).

[0083] The paint may be applied in an amount up to approximately 2000 L per hectare. The paint may be applied in an amount of at least about 100 L per hectare. Any suitable integer amount in that range may be used, and it will be appreciated that areas of smaller than a hectare may be covered, at a correspondingly lower amount of total paint applied.

[0084] The paint may be applied in an amount of preferably about 150 to about 250 litres per hectare, more preferably about 200 litres per hectare. In general, the greater the application amount, the greater the effect on local soil temperature. The amount of composition applied may be selected to correspond to the desired soil temperature.

[0085] Where the paint is applied via a nozzle, the application rate may be adjusted by changing a nozzle size and / or the time the nozzle is directed to the soil.

[0086] The paint may be applied as a foam.

[0087] The paint may be diluted with water prior to application to the agricultural area. This may be preferred where the paint is provided as a concentrate for shipping, to minimise transport costs and pollution from transporting excess water.

[0088] The paint may be applied in an amount suitable for the crop growing area to have a visibly darker colour than the initial colour of the crop growing area. That is, even once the aqueous carrier has evaporated, drained away or otherwise dispersed, the colour of the ground or soil covered by the paint may remain visibly darker than any surrounding ground or soil not covered by the paint.

[0089] According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of cropland preparation and / or cropland management for enhancing crop growth or yield therefrom, the cropland comprising at least one crop growing area and at least one pathway adjacent to or through the crop growing area, the method comprising the steps of:

[0090] a) providing or obtaining an agricultural composition in the form of a paint or colloid, the agricultural composition comprising an aqueous carrier liquid and a waterinsoluble pigment for adhering to a grass, stone or soil surface;

[0091] b) providing or obtaining an applicator for spraying the agricultural composition onto the at least one pathway;

[0092] c) applying (or painting), by the applicator, the agricultural composition onto a first area of the at least one pathway to cover a first width of the at least one pathway between a first side of the pathway proximal to the crop growing area to a second side of the pathway distal to the crop growing area; and

[0093] d) one or more instances of:

[0094] i) moving, transporting or otherwise displacing the applicator a distance along the at least one pathway, and

[0095] ii) before and / or during and / or after i), applying (or painting), by the applicator, the agricultural composition onto a second area of the pathway to cover a second width of the pathway from the first side of the pathway proximal to the crop growing area to the second side of the pathway distal to the crop growing area,

[0096] thereby providing a pigmented covering of the agricultural composition along a length of the at least one pathway for enhancing crop growth or yield in a corresponding length of the crop growing area adjacent to the pigmented covering.

[0097] The advantages are similar to those discussed above with respect to the first aspect of the present invention. The method may be considered as a method of growing crops, when including the step of planting and / or growing crops.

[0098] The term pathway is intended to mean an area in cropland which is available for a person to walk through or along. The pathway is not intended to be a crop growing area. A pathway may be used to allow movement of people or equipment or a vehicle (such as a tractor) between different crop growing areas or along the length of a given crop growing area.

[0099] A pathway may be an established path. The established path may be beaten by use ratherthan constructed. Preferably, a pathway is an established grass path. However, a pathway may be a soil path or a stony path or gravel path, for example. A pathway may be a region in a ploughed field, for example, along which a tractor can drive.

[0100] The one or more instances of step d) may include at least three instances. That is to say, the applicator may be moved, transported or otherwise displaced along the at least one pathway and pigmented covering may be applied to at least three widths at three different positions along the pathway to increase the length of the pathway that is covered in pigment.

[0101] The method may include the step of applying a plant growth retardant (e.g. grass growth retardant) to at least part of the at least one pathway a period of time before applying the pigment to the cropland. This may allow additional growth retardant to be applied to the grass where further growth retardant is required.

[0102] The method may include the step of applying plant growth retardant to at least part of the at least one pathway at substantially the same time as the step of applying the pigmented material. For example, the pigment, or composition comprising the pigment, may also include plant growth retardant. The method may not include the step of incorporating the agricultural composition into the ground. That is to say, while carrying out the method and for a period of up to 48 hours thereafter, at least 90 wt.% of the pigment may remain at the surface or within 1 mm from the surface.

[0103] The pigment may be or include a white pigment.

[0104] When the crops are in a vegetative and / or flowering growth stage, the pigment may reflect incident sunlight upwards towards leaves of the crops for improving growth of the crops. This can be more effective with a white pigment compared to other pigment colours.

[0105] When the crops have fruited, the pigment may reflect incident sunlight upwards towards the crops for ripening the crops. This can be more effective with a white pigment compared to other pigment colours.

[0106] The pigment may be or include a black pigment for absorbing sunlight to relatively increase local ground temperature and promote germination of seeds planted in the or each crop growing area.

[0107] The agricultural composition in this aspect may be an agricultural composition according to the first aspect or another aspect of the present invention.

[0108] According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of cropland preparation and / or cropland management for promoting seed and / or spore germination therefrom or therein, the cropland comprising at least one crop growing area, the method comprising the steps of:

[0109] a) providing or obtaining an agricultural composition according to the first aspect of the present invention;

[0110] b) providing or obtaining an applicator for spraying the agricultural composition onto the at least one crop growing area;

[0111] c) applying, by the applicator, the agricultural composition to a first area of the at least one crop growing area to cover a first width of the at least one crop growing area; and

[0112] d) one or more instances of:

[0113] i) moving, transporting or otherwise displacing the applicator a distance along the at least one crop growing area, and

[0114] ii) before and / or during and / or after i), applying, by the applicator, the agricultural composition to a second area of the crop growing area to cover a second width of the crop growing area. This provides a pigmented covering of the agricultural composition along a length of the at least one crop growing area for increasing relative ground temperature to promote seed and / or spore germination.

[0115] This is particularly advantageous when applied to a full area of cropland (e.g. a field), such as when combined with any one, some or all of ploughing, seed sowing, applying pesticides and / or applying fertilisers.

[0116] The method may be performed using a tractor, for example in which the applicator is connected to the tractor. The term tractor is intended to mean a vehicle specifically designed to deliver a high tractive effort (or torque) at slow speeds, for the purposes of hauling a trailer or machinery. The applicator may be incorporated into a vehicle.

[0117] The one or more instances of step d) may include at least three instances. That is to say, the applicator may be moved, transported or otherwise displaced along the at least one crop growing area and pigmented covering may be applied to at least three widths at three different positions along the crop growing area to increase the length of the crop growing area that is covered in paint (or pigment).

[0118] The method may include the step of applying the agricultural composition along a first length of a cropland. The method may include the step of applying the agricultural composition along a second length of a cropland.

[0119] The method may include the step of applying the agricultural composition along the first length of a cropland in a first direction. The method may include the step of applying the agricultural composition along the second length of a cropland in a second direction.

[0120] The second direction may be different from the first direction. The second direction may be substantially the opposite of the first direction.

[0121] The first and second lengths of the cropland may be substantially parallel to each other.

[0122] The method may include the step of planting seeds and / or spores in at least part of the at least one crop growing area a period of time before applying the paint or pigment to the cropland. The period of time may be between about 1 day and about 14 days, such as any integer value of days in that range.

[0123] The method may include the step of planting seeds and / or spores in at least part of the at least one crop growing area at substantially the same time as the step of applying the paint or pigmented material.

[0124] In any aspect, the agricultural composition may be applied during a ploughing process. That is, for a given area of ground, once that area has been ploughed then the agricultural composition may be applied immediately thereafter, optionally by the same tractor or machine that is performing the ploughing.

[0125] In any aspect, the agricultural composition may be applied to a ridge or ridges of the ploughed field.

[0126] This means that the tractor or machine may not need to change or lengthen its ploughing route in order to apply the agricultural composition to the ploughed area. That is, ploughing does not take substantially any longer than it would otherwise have without applying the composition. In any aspect, the pigment may be applied or sprayed behind the applicator or vehicle used for the application / spraying. This helps to avoid wheels or other ground-engaging elements of the applicator / vehicle from running over the agricultural composition that has just been applied to the ground.

[0127] There may be a second crop growing area adjacent to the second side of the at least one pathway. The two crop growing areas may be arranged in two substantially parallel rows on either side of the at least one pathway. This means that crops to both sides of the pathway can each receive light (e.g. sunlight) reflected by pigmented material applied along a given pathway. In any aspect, the cropland may comprise a plurality of crop growing areas and / or a plurality of approximately parallel pathways. Each pathway may be adjacent to one of the plurality of crop growing areas. Steps c) and d) of the methods may be performed for some or all of the pathways and / or crop growing areas. More particularly, the cropland may comprise a plurality of rows of substantially parallel crop growing areas and a plurality of rows of substantially parallel pathways, each pathway being adjacent to a crop growing area.

[0128] The width of the or each pathway may be at least 0.5 metres. The width of the or each pathway may be at least 1 metre, or at least 1.5 metres or at least 2 metres. This allows enough room for a person or people to walk down the pathway, for example for two people harvesting crops (optionally with a one or more carriages I containers for the harvested crops) on either side of a given pathway. It also provides enough room for an applicator or spray machine to be moved along the pathway to apply the pigmented material (such as paint). The method may be performed without putting or laying plastic sheeting on the or each pathway. Conventional methods of the cropland preparation involve using plastic sheeting. The method provides the advantages of using plastic sheeting without plastic sheeting being required.

[0129] The agricultural composition in this aspect may be an agricultural composition according to the first aspect or another aspect of the present invention.

[0130] According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided an agricultural composition in the form of a paint for spraying onto the ground adjacent to one or more crops in cropland, the agricultural composition comprising or consisting of: an aqueous carrier liquid; and a water- insoluble pigment for adhering to a grass, stone or soil surface, the water-insoluble pigment being dispersed and suspended in the aqueous carrier liquid to provide a colloid, in which the agricultural composition lacks either or both of: a synthetic binder and a plasticiser.

[0131] According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided use of an agricultural composition in the form of a paint on an agricultural area for covering the ground, the paint being suitable for spraying onto the ground adjacent to one or more crops in cropland, the agricultural composition comprising or consisting of: an aqueous carrier liquid; and a waterinsoluble pigment for adhering to a grass, stone or soil surface, the water-insoluble pigment being dispersed and suspended in the aqueous carrier liquid to provide a colloid; in which the agricultural composition lacks either or both of: a synthetic binder and a plasticiser.

[0132] According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of cropland preparation and / or cropland management for enhancing crop growth or yield therefrom, the cropland comprising at least one crop growing area and at least one pathway adjacent to or through the crop growing area, the method comprising the steps of:

[0133] a) providing or obtaining an agricultural composition in the form of a paint or colloid, the agricultural composition comprising an aqueous carrier liquid and a water-insoluble pigment for adhering to a grass, stone or soil surface;

[0134] b) providing or obtaining an applicator for spraying the agricultural composition onto the at least one pathway;

[0135] c) applying, by the applicator, the agricultural composition to a first area of the at least one pathway to cover a first width of the at least one pathway between a first side of the pathway proximal to the crop growing area to a second side of the pathway distal to the crop growing area; and

[0136] d) one or more instances of:

[0137] i) moving, transporting or otherwise displacing the applicator a distance along the at least one pathway, and

[0138] ii) before and / or during and / or after i), applying, by the applicator, the agricultural composition to a second area of the pathway to cover a second width of the pathway from the first side of the pathway proximal to the crop growing area to the second side of the pathway distal to the crop growing area;

[0139] thereby providing a pigmented covering of the agricultural composition along a length of the at least one pathway for enhancing crop growth or yield in a corresponding length of the crop growing area adjacent to the pigmented covering. Any aspect of the invention may include any feature or independently selected combination of features presented with respect to any one or more other aspects of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0140] For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made by way of example only to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0141] Figure 1 shows a plan view of a known method of preparing cropland;

[0142] Figure 2 shows a plan view of a first embodiment of cropland prepared according to the present disclosure;

[0143] Figure 3 shows a plan view of a second embodiment of cropland prepared according to the present disclosure;

[0144] Figure 4 shows a plan view of a third embodiment of cropland prepared according to the present disclosure; and

[0145] Figure 5 shows a schematic of a shipping container of agricultural composition.

[0146] DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0147] Figure 1 was discussed in the background section above.

[0148] Referring firstly to Figure 2, a first embodiment of cropland prepared according to the present invention is generally shown at 100. The cropland 100 is an area including a plurality of crop growing areas for growing crops 120. The area may be on the order of acres or hectares, for example.

[0149] The cropland includes one or more rows of the crops 120 each growing in one or more crop growing areas. Whilst there are multiple rows in the following embodiments, it will be appreciated that rows are not necessary and that the invention is also applicable to a more random distribution of crop plants where it is possible to walk adjacent to the plants.

[0150] In Figures 2 and 3 the number of plants is not representative of every embodiment. Only three rows of crop growing areas and two pathways 110 are depicted as an example of part of a cropland 100. It will be appreciated that there may be any number of rows, any number of crops 20 and any number of pathways 110, depending on what is being grown and where.

[0151] The dashed lines across the cropland 100, 200 in Figures 2 and 3 are indicative of indefinite length of the crop growing areas and pathways 110. In this embodiment, the cropland 100 is an apple orchard and the crops 120 are apple trees. However, it will be appreciated that other types of crop plants may be used in other embodiments, including (but not limited to) any of: olive trees, grape vines, sweetcorn plants, potato plants, carrot plants, rapeseed plants, wheat plants, barley plants and rye plants. One or more pathways 110 are provided adjacent to one or more rows of crops 120. The pathways 110 in this embodiment are established grass paths, but it will be appreciated that the term pathway is broader than this and does not require the path to be an established path nor a grass path. In other embodiments, a ploughed field may have one or more pathways along which a person can walk or a vehicle (such as a tractor) can travel.

[0152] In this embodiment, the pathways 110 are provided to allow workers to access the crops 120. This allows the workers) to tend the crops, such as watering the crops, feeding nutrients to the crops and / or harvesting the crops (or fruit / vegetable thereof) as needed. The rows of pathways 110 are substantially parallel to each other, although it will be appreciated that this does not need to be the case in every embodiment.

[0153] The pathways 110 may each have a length of 150 to 300 m, for example. The pathways 110 may each have a minimum width of around 1 or 1.5 m, for example. The pathway width may be at least 2m in some embodiments, e.g. when measured from one crop growing area at a first side of the pathway to a second crop growing area on the opposite side of the pathway. The rows of the crops 120 and pathways 110 are substantially parallel to each other. However, it will be appreciated that in other embodiments the crops 120 and pathways 110 may have a different arrangement in the cropland 100.

[0154] To aid crop growth, the pathways 110 are covered in paint 112 which includes a pigment and optionally a plant growth retardant. The paint 112 may also be considered to be a colloid (which may be a sol). The pigment (and optionally plant growth retardant) is evenly dispersed and / or suspended in water or another aqueous medium. In this embodiment, the pigment is a white pigment. The white pigment includes calcium carbonate. Calcium carbonate is relatively inert, a low-cost material, is naturally-occurring and safe for humans.

[0155] The pigment is a water-insoluble pigment so that it does not wash away immediately when rain falls on the covered ground, or if crop watering wets the pathway.

[0156] The pigment can have one or more particle sizes substantially in the range 0.1 microns to 10 microns. In some embodiments, the particle size is around 100 nm to 600 nm. In other embodiments, the particle size may be up to about 100 nm.

[0157] It has been found by the applicant during confidential testing that during crop growth (e.g. between germination and flowering), the pigment reflects light towards the plant leaves to improve plant growth and crop yield. It has been further found that once the crops 120 have produced fruit, the pigment reflects light towards the fruit and aids in improving colouration. This is particularly advantageous for fruit in shaded areas of the plant.

[0158] White pigment is preferable for reflecting light, however in other embodiments other colours may be used. For example, red and / or blue pigments may be used.

[0159] Where plant growth retardant is provided, the plant growth retardant can in some embodiments be a grass growth retardant. The grass growth retardant keeps plants (such as grass and weeds) from growing in the pathway 110, keeping it relatively clear and also meaning that noncrop plants use relatively fewer nutrients from the ground in the vicinity of the crop growing areas.

[0160] In other embodiments of the method, the grass growth retardant may not be present in the agricultural composition, and indeed may not be used at all such as if the method is applied in a field being ploughed or that has been ploughed.

[0161] The paint 112 can be provided in a first container and optionally grass growth retardant can be provided in a second container. The first and second containers may be provided together as a kit.

[0162] Grass growth retardant may (if desired) be applied to the pathway 110 before applying the paint 112. This allows additional grass growth retardant to be applied where necessary. The paint 112 may be applied to the pathway 110 a period of time after the grass growth retardant was applied to the pathway 110 (if grass growth retardant was applied).

[0163] To apply the agricultural composition as a paint 112 to the pathway 110, the paint 112 is provided in a container having a volume of 500 L for on-site storage. The container may be an enclosed or sealable container, for example having a paint-containing chamber about the volume of a shipping container.

[0164] A portion of the paint 112 can be transferred to a smaller container having a volume of 25L for transport by an applicator or spray machine for covering the ground.

[0165] The paint 112 is applied to one, some or all of the pathways 110 using the applicator or spray machine.

[0166] The paint 112 is applied to cover across a first width of the pathway 110. The first width extends between a first side of the pathway 110 proximal to a first crop growing area to a second side of the pathway 110 distal from the first crop growing area. The applicator or spray machine is then moved a distance along the pathway and paint 112 is covered across a second width of the pathway 110 between a first side of the pathway 110 proximal to a first crop growing area to a second side of the pathway 110 distal from the first crop growing area. This covers a length of the pathway 110 in the pigmented material, which in this embodiment is the paint 112. The application steps can be repeated across multiple widths along the pathway 110 to cover a longer length of the pathway 110 in paint 112. Preferably, the full length of the (or each) pathway is covered in the paint 112.

[0167] The method allows for advantages of conventional plastic sheeting to be achieved without the associated environmental drawbacks.

[0168] Referring now to Figure 3, a second embodiment of cropland prepared according to the present invention is generally shown at 200. Paint 212 has some features in common with the paint 112 discussed above, but has some differences as follows.

[0169] In this embodiment, the pigment in the paint 212 is a black pigment. The pigment is a waterinsoluble pigment. The black pigment includes carbon black.

[0170] It has been found by the applicant during confidential testing that the black pigment absorbs sunlight during the day, raising the relative temperature of the ground in the pathways 110 and crop growing areas. The raised relative ground temperature can aid in germination of the seeds and / or spores when planted. This may be preferred for aiding germination of potato plants, for example.

[0171] Referring now to Figure 4, in this embodiment paint 412 is applied to the crop growing area of the cropland 400. As above, in this embodiment the paint 412 includes a black pigment. The paint 412 has some features in common with the paint 212 discussed above, but has some differences as follows. In this embodiment, the black pigment includes activated carbon. The activated carbon is derived from bamboo. Activated carbon has been found to be particularly effective in increasing the relative temperature of the ground.

[0172] The paint 412 includes a non-aqueous carrier. The non-aqueous carrier can be a hydrophobic carrier. The hydrophobic carrier can be an oil. In a preferred embodiment, the hydrophobic carrier is a plant-derived oil or cooking oil.

[0173] The activated carbon has a porous structure. Fertiliser and / or pesticides can, where provided, be disposed within the porous structure. The fertiliser and / or pesticides can be slowly released from the pore structure, e.g. via rain or watering. Advantageously, providing fertiliser and / or pesticides in the pigment allows both or all of the pigment, fertiliser and / or pesticide to be applied in a single pass rather than applying each in separate passes.

[0174] In this embodiment, the entire cropland (i.e. field) has been coated in the paint 412.

[0175] The paint 412 is applied using an applicator. The applicator includes nozzles for releasing the paint 412. The applicator is carried by a tractor. The paint 412 is provided in an undiluted form. The paint 412 is diluted using water provided on site (i.e. on or substantially close to an area of cropland). The diluted paint 412 is inserted into the applicator.

[0176] A farmer or other person can drive the tractor (or the tractor may be driven autonomously or remote controlled, for example). The tractor carries the applicator along a first length of the cropland to cover a first length with the paint 412. The tractor can change directions and carry the applicator along a second length of the cropland to cover a second length with the paint 412. The tractor can pass up and down a plurality of lengths of the cropland to cover at least a portion of the cropland, or substantially all of the cropland, in the paint 412.

[0177] In some embodiments, the tractor carries a seed drill for simultaneous planting of seeds as the applicator applies the paint 412. The seed drill can be a conventional seed drill.

[0178] In other embodiments, the paint 412 can be initially provided in a diluted form.

[0179] Referring now to Figure 5, a shipping container is indicated generally at 300. The size and shape of the shipping container is conventional. For example, the container may be between about 2.4m to 12.2m long, corresponding to conventional Imperial measurement lengths (e.g. any of 8 ft, 10 ft, 20 ft, 30 ft or 40 ft).

[0180] The shipping container 300 has a container wall 302 which defines an internal chamber 304. An enclosure or liner 306 (which may be considered as a sub-container) is provided in the internal chamber 304. The enclosure is liquid-tight for containing the agricultural composition. Agricultural composition 308 is provided in the enclosure 306.

[0181] The size and shape of the enclosure 306 is not restricted to that depicted in Figure 4. The enclosure 306 may define a volume substantially the same as that of the internal chamber 304, or may define a volume which is a portion of the volume of the internal chamber 304. That portion may be a major portion or a minor portion (if multiple enclosures I liners 306 or one or more other containers of the composition are provided in the shipping container 300).

[0182] A tap or dispensing means is indicated generally at 310. The position of the tap / dispensing means 310 is not limited to the position depicted in Figure 4, and it may be provided in any suitable position. The position may be at or near a base of the enclosure 306, for example. The tap / dispensing means may allow the agricultural composition to be dispensed from the enclosure 306 with or without opening doors of the shipping container. That is, the tap may be provided on the outside of the container 300, or may be inside the container 300 and operated once the container 300 is open. If completely filled, the shipping container may container over a tonne of the agricultural composition. For example, 20 tonnes of agricultural composition may be provided in the shipping container 300, such as a 20 ft shipping container.

[0183] It will be appreciated that the agricultural compositions provided as paints in the above description are examples of suitable paints for covering areas of cropland to improve plant growth, e.g. by increasing ground temperature for seed germination or for reflecting an increased proportion of incident light back towards plant leaves.

[0184] In any embodiment, the composition may include a filler such as any of barium sulfate, clay, kaolin, diatomaceous earth, dolomite, feldspar, glass powder, mica, quartz, silica, talc, calcium carbonate, hydrated lime, crushed stone / rock or pulverised stone / rock. Calcium carbonate is preferred in some embodiments.

[0185] In any embodiment, the composition may lack any one or more of: an anti-foaming agent (so it can be sprayed onto ground as a foam); petroleum-based plastics; a synthetic binder; a plasticiser; a plant growth retardant; a biocide. This is because the agricultural composition is primarily intended to add pigment onto solid ground which is already suitable for growing crops. In any embodiment, the composition may include a viscosity regulator such as xantham gum. It will also be appreciated that the exact formulation or proportions of the agricultural compositions may vary according to the particular use case. The water, oil (where provided), and water-insoluble pigment - along with other components, if provided -can be provided in any relative amounts suitable for providing a colloid and suitable for achieving the desired effect, e.g. ground-warming for a black-pigmented composition, or light-reflectance for a white-pigmented composition.

[0186] The embodiments described above are provided byway of example only, and various changes and modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. An agricultural composition in the form of a paint for spraying onto the ground adjacent to one or more crops in cropland, the agricultural composition comprising:an aqueous carrier liquid;an oil; anda water-insoluble pigment for adhering to a grass, stone, soil surface or agricultural substrate, the water-insoluble pigment including activated carbon carried by the oil, the activated carbon being dispersed and suspended in the aqueous carrier liquid by the oil to provide a colloid,in which the agricultural composition lacks any petroleum-based plastics.

2. An agricultural composition as claimed in claim 1 , in which the agricultural composition lacks either or both of: a synthetic binder and a plasticiser.

3. An agricultural composition as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the agricultural composition lacks an anti-foaming agent, in use the paint being sprayable onto the ground as a foam.

4. An agricultural composition as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the oil is a hydrophobic hydrocarbon-based oil dispersed in the aqueous carrier liquid.

5. An agricultural composition as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the oil is a plant-derived oil.

6. An agricultural composition as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, in which the oil is waste cooking oil.

7. An agricultural composition as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the agricultural composition comprises fertiliser which is at least partly disposed inside pores of the activated carbon.

8. An agricultural composition as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the agricultural composition lacks a plant growth retardant.

9. An agricultural composition as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the agricultural composition lacks a biocide.

10. An agricultural composition as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the agricultural composition comprises from about 1 wt.% to about 30 wt.% activated carbon, or comprises from about 15 wt.% to about 25 wt.% activated carbon.

11. An agricultural composition as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the activated carbon is bamboo-derived activated carbon.

12. An agricultural composition as claimed in any preceding claim, including a filler for optimising spacing between pigment particles when the agricultural composition has been applied to the ground.

13. An agricultural composition as claimed in claim 12, in which the filler is independently selected as any one, some or all of the following group: barium sulfate, clay, kaolin, diatomaceous earth, dolomite, feldspar, glass powder, mica, quartz, silica, talc.

14. An agricultural composition as claimed in claim 12 or claim 13, in which the filler includes calcium carbonate.

15. An agricultural composition as claimed in claim 12, in which the filler is a hydrated lime.

16. An agricultural composition as claimed in any preceding claim, including xantham gum or another viscosity regulator.

17. An agricultural composition as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 or 6 to 11 , in which the water is tap water,the oil is a plant-derived oil or waste cooking oil,the activated carbon is derived from a plant-based source or bamboo, the agricultural composition includes xantham gum or another viscosity regulator, andthe agricultural composition includes a filler for optimising spacing between pigment particles when the agricultural composition has been applied to the ground, the filler being selected from the following group: calcium carbonate, barium sulfate, clay, kaolin, diatomaceous earth, dolomite, feldspar, glass powder, mica, quartz, silica, talc, hydrated lime, crushed or pulverised rock.

18. An agricultural composition as claimed in claim 16, when dependent on any of claims 12 to 15, consisting essentially of the aqueous carrier liquid, the oil, the activated carbon carried by the oil in the aqueous carrier liquid to provide the colloid, the xantham gum or the another viscosity regulator, and the filler.

19. An agricultural composition as claimed in any preceding claim, provided in a container having a volume of at least 50 L, preferably at least 500 L, more preferably at least 1000 L.

20. A shipping container of agricultural composition, the shipping container comprising an internal chamber, an enclosure or liner for containing agricultural composition within the internal chamber, a tap or dispensing means connected to the enclosure or liner for dispensing or transferring agricultural composition therefrom, and at least 1m3or at least 1 tonne of the agricultural composition as claimed in any of claims 1 to 19.

21. A kit comprising a first container of fertiliser and / or pesticide for initial application to ground in cropland, and one of: a second container of an agricultural composition as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 18, or an agricultural composition as claimed in claim 19, or a shipping container of agricultural composition as claimed in claim 20, for subsequent or simultaneous application to the ground in the cropland.

22. Use of an agricultural composition in the form of a paint on an agricultural area for covering the ground, the paint being suitable for spraying onto the ground in cropland, the agricultural composition comprising or consisting of: an aqueous carrier liquid; an oil; and a water-insoluble pigment for adhering to a grass, stone, soil surface or agricultural substrate, the water-insoluble pigment including activated carbon carried by the oil, the activated carbon being dispersed and suspended in the aqueous carrier liquid by the oil to provide a colloid; in which the agricultural composition lacks any petroleum-based plastics; optionally in which the agricultural composition comprises the features of any of claims 2 to 19.

23. A method of cropland preparation and / or cropland management for promoting seed and / or spore germination, the cropland comprising at least one crop growing area, the method comprising the steps of:a) providing or obtaining an agricultural composition according to any of claims 1 to 19;b) providing or obtaining an applicator for spraying the agricultural composition onto the at least one crop growing area;c) applying, by the applicator, the agricultural composition to a first area of the at least one crop growing area to cover a first width of the at least one crop growing area; andd) one or more instances of:i) moving, transporting or otherwise displacing the applicator a distance along the at least one crop growing area, andii) before and / or during and / or after i), applying, by the applicator, the agricultural composition to a second area of the crop growing area to cover a second width of the crop growing area.

24. A method as claimed in claim 23, comprising applying the agricultural composition along a first length of the cropland in a first direction and subsequently applying the agricultural composition along a second length of the cropland in a second direction, in which the second direction is different from the first direction.

25. A method as claimed in claim 24, in which the first and second lengths of the cropland are substantially parallel to each other.

26. A method as claimed in any of claims 23 to 25, in which the method includes the step of planting seeds or spores in at least part of the at least one crop growing area a period of time before applying the agricultural composition to the cropland.

27. A method as claimed in claim 26, in which the period of time is up to 14 days.

28. A method as claimed in any of claims 23 to 25, including the step of planting seeds or spores in at least part of the at least one crop growing area at substantially the same time as the step of applying the agricultural composition.

29. A method as claimed in any of claims 23 to 28, including the step of diluting the agricultural composition.

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