BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the invention

This invention is directed to a textile fabric for use in controlling growth of plant roots, which fabric contains an insoluble copper salt bounded thereto.

Description of Related Art

U.S. patent 4,012,221 dated March 15, 1977, to WALKER et al., discloses a slow release copper toxicant composition. The composition contains a water soluble copper capable of producing ions in water, which is dispersed in an elastomer in which the copper salt is insoluble.

U.S. patent 3,891,423 dated June 24, 1975 to STANLEY et al., discloses a fabric containing an herbicide.

U.S. patent 3,864,114 dated February 4, 1975, to GREEN, discloses a fabric impregnated with an active chemical product.

U.S. patent 4,743,448 dated May 10, 1988, to BAHADIR et al, discloses a fabric containing active substances impregnated into an organic support. These active substances are slowly moving out of the organic support.

U.S. patent 3,384,993 dated May 28, 1968, to KANE, discloses a nutrient-hydrocarbon comixture.

U.S. patent 4,133,668 dated January 9, 1979, to YOUNG,

discloses a nutrient-hydrocarbon comixture.

U.S. patent 4,762,545 dated August 9, 1988, to YOUSSEF et al. , discloses a hydrophilic polymer with nutritive salts.

It is also known to grow a large variety of plants in containers in the form of pots or bags, before transplantation in normal soil, with the hope that roots will grow in a uniform manner and that the transplantation shock will be as small as possible.

Thus, bags for growing plants and trees are used, which are filled with soil and disposed on wire nettings which facilitate their transportation. Other bags are made of non-woven fabric and chemically untreated. Plastic containers are also used for growing plants.

In all cases where bags are used, the roots can pass through the bags and are proved to be destroyed during transplantation. The roots can also grow helically within the bags. In such a case, the roots are also destroyed during soil transplantation, and to that extent, plant growth is slowed down.

It has already been suggested to treat pots chemically with chemicals such as copper carbonate and copper sulphate applied by immersion or spray, without giving reproducible results. The proportion of these chemicals applied to the pots is not constant and as a consequence, death of plants occurs, especially when the proportion of these chemicals is to low.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Broadly stated, the invention is directed to a fabric for

growing plants, containing an insoluble copper product bounded to said fabric with a water insoluble polymeric binder.

More particularly, the invention is directed to a water insoluble textile fabric for use in growing plants, comprising a water insoluble polymeric binder and a water insoluble copper product, the copper product being dispersed in the binder and the binder being bounded to said fabric for retaining and confining the copper product to the water insoluble textile fabric, whereby the textile fabric stops the growth of undesirable rootlets or radicles which comes in contact thereto.

In another embodiment, the invention is also directed to a method to make a water insoluble textile fabric containing water insoluble copper, comprising: a) mixing a water insoluble binder with a water insoluble copper product to obtain a good dispersion of the copper in the binder; b) impregnating a water insoluble textile fabric with the mixture obtained in step (a); and c) drying and curing the impregnated fabric.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The polymeric binder used in accordance with the invention is preferably a latex, such as an acrylic nitrile, polyolefin or SBR latex, which is either crosslinked or self-crosslinking. This latex is mixed with the water insoluble copper product. This copper product may be copper hydroxide or, more preferably, copper carbonate in powder or dispersed form. The amount of carbonate that is used is preferably selected to obtain a textile fabric containing from 5 to 100 grams per square meter, preferably

15 to 30 grams per square meter, of copper carbonate.

The mixture of the copper carbonate with the latex is preferably carried out in a mixer having a high friction coefficient. Once a good dispersion of the copper carbonate in the polymeric latex is obtained, the mixture is used to impregnate the fabric.

The fabric must be a water insoluble textile fabric having fibers united together mechanically, thermically or chemically, by fusion binding, needle punching or water entanglement, the fabric being woven or non-woven.

Preferably, the textile fabric has a weight varying from

100 to 500 grams per square meter and more preferably 150 to 250 grams per square meter. Preferred textile fabrics are those made up of polyester, polypropylene polyethylene or nylon.

The impregnation of the fabric with the latex containing the water insoluble copper product in dispersion may be conducted by impregnation, padding or coating, with known apparatuses which are used in the textile field. Thereafter, the fabric is dried to remove the water from the latex.

The mixture of latex and copper product can be applied either on one side of the fabric or both sides thereof. It can also be applied to fully impregnate the fabric.

The drying step may be conducted in such a manner as to cause the polymeric latex to crosslink so as to more fully confine the insoluble copper to the textile fabric structure.

Preferably, the impregnated textile fabric can further be

processed to form sheets, rolls or bags, depending upon their end uses.

In accordance with the present invention, it is possible to obtain a fabric for controlling the growth plant roots which has the exact, well homogeneously distributed copper dosage necessary to prevent the formation of undesirable rootlets or radicles.

When rootlets or radicles are in contact with the water insoluble textile fabric described above, these rootlets or radicles become dormant. New roots are thus produced, strengthening the base of the plants, while the formation of helical roots is avoided.

When transplanted, the dormant roots are immediately starting their active role of feeding nutrients, thereby easing adaptation of the plant to a new milieu.

In nurseries, where pruning of trees is conducted, the tips of the roots do not experience drying as is generally encountered. Drying of the tips generally leads to a high rate of plant losses during soil transplantation.

The fabric described above can be used to form bags for growing of trees and shrubs or can be used as a lining in small size containers or baskets. The bags may of course be of any size commensurate with the end use, enabling plant growth outside the soil.

In the case of small plants, the fabric disclosed hereinabove can also be used in the form of sheets laid over the soil, thereby avoiding tedious steps. The pots are directly placed over the sheet and the ends of the roots that leave the pots became dormant when they contact

the sheet. This application is particularly useful in nurseries.

As aforesaid other latex such as styrene-butadiene-resin (S.B.R.) may be used, as well as other water emulsions of synthetic or natural rubber which are crosslinkable or self-crosslinking.

Other water insoluble copper products such as copper hydroxide may also be used if desired.

Other water insoluble textile fabrics susceptible to sustain the weight of plants may further be used whether or not they are made of natural or synthetic material.

Although the present invention has been explained hereinabove by way of preferred embodiments thereof, it should be pointed out that any modifications to these preferred embodiments, within the scope of the appended claims, is not deemed to change or alter the nature and scope of the invention.