Horticulture Tray With Angled Sidewalls And Support Peaks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Horticulture trays fail to promote proper root architecture and efficient water retention, leading to root girdling and uneven watering, which can result in plant uprooting, aesthetic and economic losses, especially in areas with limited water resources.
Innovation Solution
The design of horticulture trays with angled sidewalls and support peaks that force soil inward and outward, respectively, to compact and form a soil bridge, preventing soil passage and promoting air pruning, while arcuate chambers and drain holes facilitate water retention and drainage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional horticulture trays with small holes or vertical protrusions are used, then root girdling is partially mitigated, but proper linear root architecture is not achieved and spiraling root structure develops
Solution Approach 1:
The sidewall is divided into multiple arcuate chambers that segment the root growth path, forcing roots to navigate through curved spaces rather than following the sidewall contour, thereby preventing girdling and spiraling while promoting linear architecture
Solution Approach 2:
The arcuate chambers with curved geometries redirect root growth patterns from circular/spiraling paths to linear paths by providing curved barriers that roots must navigate around, transforming the root architecture from girdling to proper linear structure
2Quantity of substance
If water is applied to plants in horticulture trays, then plants receive necessary moisture, but water splashes off the canopy into unintended portions causing over, under, or uneven watering
Solution Approach 1:
The tray is divided into multiple growing cells with individual drainage control, segmenting the water distribution system so that each cell can be watered independently and uniformly without cross-contamination or runoff to adjacent cells
Solution Approach 2:
The arcuate chambers and drainage apertures act as intermediaries that control and redirect water flow, preventing direct splash from reaching unintended portions while ensuring uniform distribution to the intended plant zones
3Adaptability or versatility
If horticulture trays are placed outdoors on uneven ground, then trays can be positioned in various locations, but excessive water flows from one tray to another causing water wastage and uneven watering
Solution Approach 1:
Individual growing cells with independent drainage control create isolated water containment zones, preventing water from flowing between trays even when placed on uneven ground, thereby eliminating water wastage while maintaining placement flexibility
Solution Approach 2:
The drainage control mechanisms and arcuate chambers serve as intermediaries that regulate water flow within each cell, preventing uncontrolled runoff to adjacent trays and ensuring water remains where it is needed
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The trays effectively prevent root girdling by promoting a linear root structure and enhance water management, ensuring uniform plant growth and reducing the risk of uprooting and water wastage.
Implementation Method 1
A support peak of each cell is configured to protrude into a center of the stabilized growth plug and force soil of the stabilized growth plug outward and away from the support peak. A sidewall of each cell is angled to force soil of the stabilized growth plug inward and away from the sidewall.
Implementation Method 2
arcuate chambers and drain holes facilitate water retention and drainage
Data Source
AI summary
A horticulture tray including a plurality of growing cells each configured to accommodate a stabilized growth plug therein. A support peak of each cell is configured to protrude into a center of the stabilized growth plug and force soil of the stabilized growth plug outward and away from the support peak. A sidewall of each cell is angled to force soil of the stabilized growth plug inward and away from the sidewall. The support peak and the sidewall force soil of the stabilized growth plug together between the support peak and the sidewall to compact the soil to form a soil bridge that extends between the support peak and the sidewall, and prevents soil from passing through the growing cell.