IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,356,974
Granted Patent B2
US 10,356,974 · App. 14/914,486 · Granted Jul 23, 2019

Sowing unit and uses thereof

Inventors: Jonas Ohlund (Umea, SE); Asa Forsum (Eskilstuna, SE); Henrik Svennerstam (Umea, SE)
Assignee: SWETREE TECHNOLOGIES AB
A01C1/02A01C1/04A01C1/044A01G9/0293A01G17/005A01G23/00A01G27/04A01G31/02
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,356,974
App. No.
14/914,486
Granted
Jul 23, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A sowing unit including water-absorbing material, an enclosure and a seed, wherein the water-absorbing material includes a hygroscopic negatively-charged material capable of binding a positively charged nutrient ion selected from NH4+, L-arginine, L-lysine and L-histidine; and optionally a nutrient including a positively charged nutrient ion selected from K+, NH4+, L-arginine, L-lysine and L-histidine. Methods and uses of the sowing unit are described.

Claims (26)

1. A sowing unit comprising:

a top part and a bottom part, the bottom part being configured to be placed against the soil when sowing with the unit;

a water-absorbing material that after exposure to moisture allows for a germinating seedling to penetrate;

an enclosure substantially enclosing the water-absorbing material at least a part of the enclosure enclosing the bottom part of the sowing unit and being substantially made of a rapidly water decomposable material; and

at least one seed located in a cavity or in contact with or embedded within the water-absorbing material at the bottom part of the unit,

wherein the water-absorbing material forms a body that is of suitable size and shape such that when the unit is placed on the soil bottom part down, the soil is substantially covered by the water-absorbing material at 1 cm or more in radius from the seed, and

wherein the water-absorbing material comprises a hygroscopic negatively-charged material configured to bind a positively charged nutrient ion selected from K+, NH4+, L-arginine, L-lysine and L-histidine.

2. A sowing unit comprising:

a top part and a bottom part, the bottom part being configured to be placed against the soil when sowing with the unit;

a water-absorbing material that after exposure to moisture allows for a germinating seedling to penetrate;

an enclosure substantially enclosing the water-absorbing material, at least a part of the enclosure enclosing the bottom part of the sowing unit and being substantially made of a rapidly water decomposable material; and

at least one seed located in contact with or embedded within the water-absorbing material at the bottom part of the unit,

wherein the water-absorbing material forms a body that is of suitable size and shape such that when the unit is placed on the soil bottom part down, the soil is substantially covered by the water-absorbing material at 1 cm or more in radius from the seed when the water-absorbing material is exposed to humidity, and

wherein the water-absorbing material comprises a hygroscopic negatively-charged material configured to bind a positively charged nutrient ion selected from K+, NH4+, L-arginine, L-lysine and L-histidine.

3. The sowing unit according to claim 1 , wherein the hygroscopic negatively-charged material comprises silica, vermiculite or zeolite.

4. The sowing unit according to claim 1 , wherein the water-absorbing material is compressed.

5. The sowing unit according to claim 1 , wherein no positively charged nutrients are added.

6. The sowing unit according to claim 1 , wherein the sowing unit is configured such that the water-absorbing material forms a body that is of suitable size and shape such that when the unit is placed on the soil bottom part down, the seed and the soil are substantially covered by the water-absorbing material within at least 1 cm in radius of the seed.

7. The sowing unit according to claim 1 , wherein the nutrient ion comprises L-arginine.

8. The sowing unit according to claim 1 , wherein the seed is a pine tree seed or a spruce tree seed.

9. The sowing unit according to claim 2 , wherein the hygroscopic negatively-charged material comprises one of silica, vermiculite, and zeolite.

10. The sowing unit according to claim 2 , wherein the water-absorbing material is compressed.

11. The sowing unit according to claim 2 , wherein no positively charged nutrients are added.

12. The sowing unit according to claim 2 , wherein the sowing unit is configured such that the water-absorbing material forms a body that is of suitable size and shape such that when the unit is placed on the soil bottom part down, the seed and the soil are substantially covered by the water-absorbing material within at least 1 cm in radius of the seed.

13. The sowing unit according to claim 2 , wherein the nutrient ion comprises L-arginine.

14. The sowing unit according to claim 2 , wherein the seed is a pine tree seed or a spruce tree seed.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 26, 2017
From: OHLUND, JONAS; FORSUM, ASA; SVENNERSTAM, HENRIK
To: SWETREE TECHNOLOGIES AB
Reel/Frame 042515/0716 →
Priority Claims (1)
SE 1350978 · Aug 27, 2013 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20160198621A1 · Jul 14, 2016