1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a protective composition and its method of application to a variety of plants particularly, but not exclusively, fruit and vegetable plants, wherein the plants are protected from damage due to exposure to frost during conditions of reduced temperatures conditions. The composition is applied by forming a coating over the exterior surfaces of the plant, such as by spraying or other applicable means, thereby assuring that the frost will form on the protective coating rather than come into direct contact with the exterior surface portions of the plant which have been coated. Cellular degeneration of the coated parts of the plant is thereby prevented or significantly reduced. Removal of the coating is easily accomplished by natural rainfall or by sprinkling the plant utilizing conventional irrigation methods.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the agricultural industry it is well recognized that the growing or cultivation of certain crops is generally limited to those areas of the country which enjoy a moderate climate. For example, the production of citrus in the United States is primarily conducted in Florida and certain parts of Southern California, where temperatures infrequently reach the freezing point of 32xc2x0 Fahrenheit. In addition, on the occasions when the temperature drops to the freezing point, the fruit and vegetable crops are not usually damaged, by being frozen, since temperatures in these areas of the country do not normally stay in the critical range of approximately 28 to 32 degrees Fahrenheit for extended periods. However, citrus plants as well as other fruits and vegetable plants are occasionally subjected to destructive damage due to frost which typically is caused by a rapid drop in ambient air temperature. Damage from frost is the result of ice crystals directly contacting and being able to physically invade the plant cells. The ice crystals can damage the invaded cell membrane to a sufficient degree that the cell is physically destroyed. Accordingly, it is well recognized that exposure to frost causes the loss of a significant percentage of citrus crops, as well as other tree fruit and vegetable crops, almost every year.
Susceptibility to frost damage depends not only on the ambient temperature but, at least to a certain extent, on a tree""s stage of development, plant variety, physical location, etc. In order to prevent or at least lessen the loss of crops due to frost damage, a number of preventative measures have been developed. However, only a few frost protection methods have been consistently effective over the years. Accordingly, while conventional or known methods of frost protection are currently being practiced, such known methods vary considerably in cost, management time and effectiveness. The inefficiency and/or excessive cost of known technics is evidenced by the fact that their implementation may be more expensive and/or time consuming then the actual economic loss caused by frost damage to the various corps in question. Therefore, the average annual loss of crops to a grower or farmer due to frost damage, while significant, may not justify the time and money required in implementing one or more of the conventional frost protection systems currently available.
The various protection systems or methods undertaken largely depend on the variety of crops, location, etc. This is due to the fact that temperatures at which fruit buds are typically damaged, depends primarily on their stage of development. Naturally, as flowers began to swell and expand into blossoms, they become less resistant to damage from frost contact. However, it is also known that not all blossoms on a tree are equally susceptible. Resistance to frost damage varies within trees as it does between orchids, cultivators and crops. Buds that develop slowly tend to be more resistant. Therefore, it has been known for sometime that some trees or crops suffer weather damage at higher temperatures, while others are resistant at much lower temperatures. While prolonged cool weather tends to increase the hardiness of the plant, depending upon the type of fruit or vegetable plant involved, damage caused by the actual freezing of the plant is limited to the relatively unusual situations where temperatures remain below freezing, such as from 10xc2x0 Fahrenheit to 28xc2x0 Fahrenheit, for prolonged periods of at least 3 to 4 days.
One well recognized and often utilized method of protection is the application of water to both fruit and vegetable plants. Water, when appropriately applied, serves to xe2x80x9cblanketxe2x80x9d the plant thereby protecting the cell walls of the plant. Farmers and agriculturists, while using this method particularly on citrus crops, as well as other fruit and vegetable crops, understand that some damage may still occur. However, such damage is normally considered to be xe2x80x9cacceptablexe2x80x9d in comparison to the resulting damage when no protection system is used at all. While not completely effective, the use of water to protect plants from cold has increased over the last twenty years, apparently due to the cost, management and labor required in the use of heaters or other known methods, especially when attempting to protect an extended agricultural area, such as a citrus grove. Therefore, while the use of water lowers expenses and reduces environmental damage, when compared to heating or other methods, the proper application of water is important to its effectiveness. For example, the over use of water often times involves a risk of additional damage to the crop being protected. Extended water use may saturate soils and thereby increase the likelihood of diseases. Water over use may also cause the build up of ice on citrus trees or other plants to the extent where the trees are physically damaged.
Therefore, while water may be a preferred means of protection, it must be applied with proper care. Accordantly, xe2x80x9covertree sprinklingxe2x80x9d has gained popularity, particularly in the citrus industry, wherein water is applied by a sprinkler network or system over the tops of the trees. Water is then allowed to freeze on the trees causing the heat released from the freezing water to maintain the temperature of certain portions of the tree near freezing, but not at or below the temperature where significant damage from freezing occurs. Also, successful overtree sprinkling depends to a great extent on the rate at which water is applied being balanced against the rate at which the water freezes, so that the temperature of the protected portions of the tree will remain at least a few degrees above the critical temperature at which damage occurs. Also, other significant problems exist with the use of overtree sprinkling in that the amount of water utilized depends on temperature, wind speed and a variety of other factors.
Another method of protection is known as xe2x80x9cundertreexe2x80x9d sprinkling and is gaining acceptance in the protection of fruit trees from frost. While considered to be at least partially effective, the reasons why undertree sprinkling works is not completely understood. It is believed that heat released as water vapor is condensed on leafs and blossom keeps temperature above the critical level, at which frost will not form. This approach uses less water and there is little or no chance of damage to the tree, as a result of ice built-up. However, certain blossoms or portions of the tree, especially those at the top of the tree, may not receive adequate protection.
Other methods commonly utilized in the protection of fruit and vegetable plants from frost involve the use of wind machines. The effectiveness of this method is based on the fact that the lowest several hundred feet of the atmosphere become stratified during calm, clear, frost prevalent conditions. An inversion condition thereby exists, meaning that temperature increases as it rises to the top of an inversion layer. The use of a plurality or network of wind machines serves to mix the warmer air from the upper portion of the inversion layer with the colder air near the ground. This has the effect of raising the overall air temperature around trees, at least by a few degrees and hopefully above the critical, damaging temperature levels. However, wind machines are motor driven and therefore consume fuel, although nearly not as much as xe2x80x9cstack heatersxe2x80x9d. Also wind machines are only effective during calm, clear conditions and when frost conditions are not severe. Wind machines have been found to be ineffective under cold, windy conditions because the wind usually mixes the atmosphere enough to prevent an inversion layer from developing.
Based on the above, it is obvious that there is a need in the agricultural industry for a system which efficiently, adequately and inexpensively provides frost protection to a variety of different fruit and vegetable plants in a manner which will significantly reduce, if not completely eliminate, loss of crops during reduced temperature conditions. In addition, such an improved protection system should be relatively easy to apply, when compared to current protection systems, and effective in protecting a variety of plants from frost damage.
The present invention is directed to a composition for the prevention of frost damage to plants, such as citrus trees but which is sufficiently versatile to be applied to a variety of fruit and vegetable plants, without causing damage to the plant or the surrounding soil in which they are grown. The protective composition of the present invention and the method of its application significantly reduce the destruction of cells resulting from frost coming into direct contact with various exposed surfaces of the plant, including the leafs, branches, fruit, buds, etc.
It is well accepted that frost which is typically caused by a rapid drop in ambient air temperature, is a relatively common occurrence, even in various geographical areas throughout the world which enjoy mild to moderate climates. The protective composition of the present invention provides a unique method of protection by effectively xe2x80x9ccoatingxe2x80x9d exterior surfaces of various portions of the plant, in a manner which prevents or significantly reduces the possibility of frost coming into direct contact with the coated exterior surfaces. Cellular destruction of the plant is thereby significantly reduced. In addition, the protective composition, as well as its method of application, are designed to allow easy removal of the protective coating from the exterior surfaces of the plant to which it is temporarily adhered. Therefore, interference with photosynthesis or the other natural processes of the plant, is prevented.
More specifically, in order to effectively protect the exterior surfaces of the plant, the composition of the present invention incorporates a viscosity regulating ingredient specifically included in the formulation to facilitate the xe2x80x9ccoatingxe2x80x9d aspect of applying the composition. Accordingly, the viscosity of the composition is such that the coating applied to the exterior surface of the plant provides a protective xe2x80x9cblanketxe2x80x9d which, as set forth above, eliminates or significantly reduces the possibility of frost engaging the exterior surfaces of the plant which are coated. Instead, the formation of frost occurs in overlying relation to the protective coating of the composition. The viscosity regulating ingredient is also formulated into the protective composition, so as to facilitate the removal of the applied coating simply by exposure to natural rainfall. Alternatively, the protective coating can be easily removed by xe2x80x9covertreexe2x80x9d sprinkling or other conventional methods of irrigation used in citrus groves, as well as other agricultural facilities involved with the production of a large variety of fruit and vegetables, other then citrus. The natural or intentional removal of the coating of the protective composition in a timely fashion eliminates the possibility of interfering with the normal biological processes of the plant such as photosynthesis.
The viscosity regulating agent preferably comprises a lignen sulfonate in predetermined quantities, to be described in greater detail hereinafter, properly formulated with the other ingredients of the protective composition to provide the proper viscosity to the composition without rendering it overly xe2x80x9ctackeyxe2x80x9d. Excessive viscosity of the composition would render it significantly more difficult to remove, especially when primarily relying on the natural occurrence of rainfall.
The protective composition of the present invention further includes an ingredient which serves to reduce the temperature at which freezing will occur. Preferably, the freezing temperature reducing ingredient comprises a chloride salt brine such as, but not necessarily limited to, magnesium chloride. The chloride salt brine is formulated into the composition in sufficient quantities to reduce the temperature at which freezing occurs. However, the quantity utilized should be limited and maintained within predetermined parameters, which would not damage the plant due to over exposure to a salt based ingredient.
The protective composition of the present invention further includes a sufficient quantity of at least one bulk ingredient, which is preselected from a group of organic by-products. Each of the preselected organic by-products are characterized by being environmentally friendly, biodegradable, cost competitive and readily available in large quantities. In addition, when properly formulated into the protective composition of the present invention, any one of these by-products may serve as a nutritional additive to the plant and/or surrounding soil in which the plant is grown, when the coating of the composition is removed from the plant.
The preselected group of organic by-products comprises steepwater solubles, vintners, condensed solubles, brewers, condensed solubles, distillers I condensed solubles, and whey. When formulated, the protective composition of the present invention therefore comprises at least one by-product selected from this group.
In one embodiment, the protective composition of the present invention may include the viscosity regulating agent and the freeze temperature reducing agent blended in a mixture of steepwater solubles. Steepwater solubles are by-products of a milling process of grains, such as in the wet milling of corn or other grains including rice, barely, oats, etc.
In another embodiment of the present invention the above set forth ingredients are combined with the organic by-product comprising vintners"" condensed solubles which are by-products from the formation and production of wine from grapes and other fruits as well as from grains including, for example rice.
In yet another embodiment of the present invention, one of the preselected organic by-products includes brewers"" condensed solubles which are a by-product of the brewing process of the grains used to create brewed beverages, such as beer.
In yet another embodiment of the present invention, a preselected organic by-product capable of being used in the formulation of the protective composition of the present invention includes distillers"" condensed solubles which are by-products from the distillation and production of alcohol from starches and sugars, including molasses, cane sugar, beet sugar as well as wet and dry grains including corn, milo, barley, rye and, rice.
Also, in yet another embodiment of the protective composition of the present invention in the included preselected organic by-product is whey. Whey is a by-product from the process of cheese making.
Each of the above set forth organic by-products also have common characteristics which facilitate their individual or combined use in the formulation of the protective composition. Such preferred characteristics include being water soluble, inexpensive, widely available in large quantities, biodegradable, environmentally safe and nutritionally beneficial, when deposited into the soil in which the plants being protected are grown. The nutritional benefits of these by products are attributable to their containment of sufficient quantities of nitrates.
These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more clear when the detailed description is taken into consideration.