Vertical Shade Structures for Plant Dormancy Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for controlling plant dormancy, such as evaporative cooling and chemical/hormone sprays, are ineffective in providing optimal chilling units for fruit trees and berry bushes in warm areas, leading to delayed or inadequate foliation, flowering, and reduced fruit production, especially for low-chill varieties.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of vertical shade structures that absorb and reflect solar radiation, combined with evaporative cooling and chemical/hormone sprays, to regulate bud temperatures and induce dormancy, allowing for controlled harvest timing and increased crop yields.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If horizontal overhead net/shade structures are used to protect orchards from direct solar radiation, then solar radiation protection is provided, but heat and infrared light are trapped beneath the structure causing bud temperature to increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from horizontal overhead shading to vertical side-shade structures. This dimensional change allows the shading function to be provided without trapping heat beneath a horizontal surface, as the vertical orientation enables heat dissipation while still blocking solar radiation from reaching the buds during critical periods.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of placing shade structures overhead (conventional approach), the patent inverts the approach by positioning vertical shade structures at the sides of the orchard rows. This inversion provides solar radiation protection while avoiding the heat trapping effect of horizontal structures, as demonstrated by the temperature control results in warm growing areas.
2Temperature
If evaporative cooling systems are used to keep plant bud temperatures at or below required minimum chill temperature, then cooling effect is achieved, but the system complexity and water consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces vertical shade structures as an intermediary element that passively reduces solar radiation before it reaches the buds. This intermediary approach decreases the thermal load on the evaporative cooling system, allowing it to operate more efficiently with reduced complexity and water consumption while maintaining effective bud temperature control.
Solution Approach 2:
The vertical shade structures perform preliminary action by blocking solar radiation during the day, preventing excessive heat buildup before the evaporative cooling system needs to activate. This preliminary shading reduces the overall cooling demand, enabling simpler cooling system design and lower operational complexity.
3Reliability
If chemical or hormone based sprays are used to induce or maintain plant bud dormancy, then dormancy control is improved, but environmental contamination and health concerns arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of excess solar radiation (which prevents proper dormancy) into a beneficial outcome by using vertical shade structures to block the radiation. This physical approach creates natural chilling conditions that induce dormancy without requiring chemical sprays, thereby maintaining reliable dormancy control while eliminating environmental contamination and health concerns associated with chemicals.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the chemical-based dormancy induction system with a physical/m mechanical system (vertical shade structures). This substitution maintains reliable dormancy control through physical temperature manipulation while eliminating the harmful effects of chemical and hormone-based sprays on the environment and human health.
4Adaptability or versatility
If low-chill plant varieties are planted in warm areas, then adaptation to warm climate is achieved, but insufficient chilling units are still obtained for healthy dormancy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the thermal parameters of the growing environment by introducing vertical shade structures that modify solar radiation exposure. This parameter change creates artificial chilling conditions that supplement the naturally insufficient chilling units in warm areas, enabling low-chill varieties to achieve healthy dormancy despite the warm climate, thereby maintaining both climate adaptation and sufficient chilling unit accumulation.
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 use of vertical shade structures significantly enhances dormancy control, resulting in a 300% to 600% increase in cherry crop yield by inducing high chill accumulation and maintaining commercial quantities and quality, even in warm locations lacking natural chilling units.
Implementation Method 1
The plant dormancy control system includes a vertical shade structure that absorbs and reflects a portion of the solar radiation produced by the sun
Implementation Method 2
The plant dormancy control system includes a vertical shade structure that absorbs and reflects a portion of the solar radiation produced by the sun
Implementation Method 3
growers of fruit trees, nut trees, and perennial berries use evaporative cooling systems (including overhead water sprinklers as one example) in their orchards and fields to help keep plant bud temperatures at or below the required minimum chill temperature
Data Source
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AI summary
A dormancy control system for use with plants such as fruit trees, nut trees, and perennial berry bushes planted in commercial settings. The dormancy control system employs vertical shade structures to control the dormancy of plants such as fruit trees, nut trees, and perennial berry bush crops. The dormancy control system results in dramatic increases in crop yield, and may be coupled with orchard planting directional orientation, evaporative cooling systems, and chemical and hormone based spray applications.