AU650566B2 - Creeping-stem grass vegetative sheet - Google Patents

Description

65056

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

S F Ref: 220707 ooo *r o, ft Name and Address of Applicant: Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: Invention Title: Fuji Planning Co., Ltd.

5-17 Dosan town Fukuyama city Hiroshima

JAPAN

Yoshitaka Miura Spruson Ferguson, Patent Attorneys Level 33 St Martins Tower, 31 Market Street Sydney, New South Wales, 2000, Australia Creeping-Stem Grass Vegetative Sheet The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:- 5845/6 CREEPING-STEM GRASS VEGETATIVE SHEET BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Industrial Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vegetative 6 sheet f grass with creeping stems for use in landscape gardening, golf link construction, river. bank protection works, slope protection works in road or railroad construction, and so forth.

Description of the Prior Art to Creeping-stem grass (Japanese grass and some kinds of grass of western origins) propagates in such a manner that seeds do not sprout but grow subterranean stems which creep and spread over the ground or into the soil while roots and shoots grow from nodes of the subterranean stems. In general, as a method of planting this type of grass, a sodding method and a grass-seeds eo.. *sowing method are employed. In these methods, sods or smali disentangled grass chips are uniformly spread over a target area, and gaps between them are filled with o soil and so forth. However, grass planting over a large area according to such a method requires much labor and time, thus increasing the personnel expenditures to a great extent. In order to solve this problem, there has already been developed a method in which disentar1geC grass free from soil are strung in lines and held between two cotton nets, and the two cotton nets are spread over the ground.

-In this conventional method, soil is removed from roots of the grass, and consequently, the grass is so weak to dryness that it will not take root unless it is watered often, thereby increasing the cost for considerably. Also, it is necessary tc preserve the nets with grass at a temperature of 10 °C or less so as not to deteriorate growing force of the grass until it is planted. However, when the nets are wound into a roll to be provided as a product, tensile stress is exerted on 10 them. Therefore, even if the nets are preserved in a refrigerated storehouse, the cooling air does not reach the grass in them, and growing force of the grass is weakened due to respiration heat of the grass itself and heat generated as a result of the accumulation. Thus, the conventional method involves a problem that the rooting ratio is unfavorably low. Further, application of fertilizer is required for growth of the grass.

However, non-uniformity of fertilizer application is induced in the case of large-area planting, which 2. results in another problem that the grass does not grow uniformly, thereby providing an uneven lawn.

As a result of various investigations to solve the above-described problems of the conventional method, the inventors of the present application developed a creeping-stem grass vegetative sheet and a grass planting method with it. This grass vegetative sheet is of a structure comprising a corrosive elongated net having a plurality of anchor pieces attached at certain intervals on the bottom surface thereof,,a corrosive elongated water-retentive slheet having creeping-stem grass runners provided at certain intervals on the top surface thereof, and a mulching film if necessary, and these layers are ,'laminated into a sheet, which is wound into a roll.

This grass vegetative sheet is advantageous in that the anchor pieces are firmly fixed in the ground in order to secure the nets on the ground closely, and that the nets preserved as a roll are bulky and well-ventilated 10so that the grass runners will take root without being heated. However, the entire cost is high, and the usage in a highly dry area involves some problems. In the case where a mulching film is employed, it is merely laminated with the other layers, and consequently, drops of Isprinkled water are not attached all over the film but scattered in several portions of it. Thus, this grass vegetative sheet involves a drawback that water can not be supplied to it uniformly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 2o The present invention solves the problems of the conventional methods described above while utilizing the advantages of the above-mentioned grass vegetative sheet, and provides a creeping-stem grass vegetative sheet of a structure characterized in that it comprises a 2dphotolytic and/or biolytic mulching film formed with a large number of vent holes and/or slits, a photolytic and/or biolytic porous moisture-retentive layer, and 3 disentangled grass runners, these component layers being laminated in this order from the surface side and shaped into an elongated sheet.

The photolytic and/or biolytic (hereinafter 6 simply expressed "decomposable") mulching film mentioned above means a film made of polyethylene resin or the like which will be decomposed by ultraviolet rays or microorganisms in one or two months, which film is formed with a large number of holes or slits for proper ventilation. These slits allow growing shoots and runners of the grass to extend out of the film, and they are groups of bores, cut grooves and so forth which the grass shoots and runners can break through. The decomposable mulching film should preferably be a film of la mixture of resin decomposable by ultraviolet rays and biolytic resin such that photolysis is caused in portions of the film which are exposed to the sunbeams, and that biolysis is caused in the other portions.

The decomposable porous moisture-retentive layer ts is provided beneath such a decomposable mulchinyc film, and it is, for example, cotton gauze, natural sphagnum moss or the like. By use of the decompcsabJe i-ulching film and the decomposable porous moisture-etentive layer, the disentangled grass runners are retailed on the Zsheet, and in some cases, it is necessary to effect this retention by quilting. The weight of grass runners in a unit area is about 10 to 30 of that of each sod. The grass runners are quilted with biolytic thread, e.g., cotton thread. A distance between stitch courses in quilting may be as large as about 10 to 15 cm.

The creeping-stem grass vegetative sheet described so far is suitable for soil in good conditions, soil which can retain moisture and fertilizer to some extent. In the case where soil conditions are unfavorable, however, the following structure is added to this grass vegetative sheet.

That is to say, the invention provides a t' creeping-stem grass vegetative sheet comprising a decomposable mulching film formed with a large number of vent holes and/or slits, a decomposable porous mQisture-retentive layer, disentangled grass runners, and a decomposable porous moisture-retentive layer, these 1' component layers being laminated in this order from the surface side and shaped into an elongated sheet.

Further, in the case where soil is in worse conditions, the invention provides a creeping-stem grass vegetative sheet comprising a decomposable mulching film formed with Z. a large number of vent holes and/or slits, a decomposable porous moisture-retentive layer, disentangled grass runners, a decomposable porous sheet, and a decomposable plastic sheet, these component layers being laminated in this order from the surface side and shaped into an £2elongated sheet.

The decomposable porous sheet mentioned above serves to retain more fertilizer, rooting agents and moisture than the decomposable porous moisture-retentive layer. Cotton residual, biolytic/photolytic non-woven fabric or residual of such fabric, acti-- carbon as an absorbent, and so forth are piled to be 2 to 3 mm thick and shaped into a sheet by bonding or quilting.

SAs the decomposable plastic sheet, a film made of biolytic resin such as polyolefine resin mixed with starch, fatty acid ester or >ne like is used, and preferably, the sheet should be formed with no bores.

The sheet is decomposed one to two months after the grass M runners take root.

Since the grass vegetative sheet is a laminated structure of the decomposable mulching film with a large number of holes or slits, the decomposable porous moisture-retentive layer and the grass runners, it will /4f not be heated so much when it is preserved in a roll.

9.

S. The grass vegetative sheet can be planted on the ground !imply by spreading the roll, and the decomposable mulching film serves to protect the grass runners from the frost when the temperature is low, to suppress 2 evaporation of the moisture, and to prevent weeds from creeping in. The composition of the mulching film is controlled to be decomposed by ultraviolet rays after it is exposed to outdoor light for about two months, and unexposed portions of it are also decomposed by N microorganisms so that the whole film can be decomposed and removed naturally after the grass runners take root.

Since the slits are formed in the mulching film, shoots and runners of the grass can grow and break through the film toward the outside from the slits, and also, only the grass shoots and runners can extend to the outside. Therefore, it is possible to keep the inside appropriately moistened and to prevent the grass from being heated when the temperature is high.

The decomposable porous moisture-retentive layer retains the disentangled grass runners by making them cling to it. It also serves to supply the moisture uniformly to the grass runners after the grass vegetative Ip sheet is planted, and to maintain the temperature of water drops attached to the grass at an optimum level for growth of the grass. After the grass takes root, the moisture-retentive layer corrodes and disappears in a similar manner to the decomposable mulching film.

f When the soil is removed from roots of the grass runners, weed seeds are also removed with the soil, and therefore, weeds can be prevented from entering into the sheet. Besides, since the runners are disentangled one by one, vegetative points are dispers,.d e P /so as to stimulate the grass, thus promoting its active a growth.

The decomposable porous sheet and the decomposable plastic sheet are effective when the grass vegetative sheet is planted in the soil which tends to be /dry and deficient in moisture and fertilizez. The decomposable porous sheet retains moisture and fertilizer, and the decomposable plastic sheet prevents the moisture from permeating through the soil. Because both of them are decomposable by ultraviolet rays or microorganisms, they will be decomposed and disappear after the grass runners take root. Moreover, when opaque materials are employed, the grass vegetative sheet completely shuts out 0 the sunbeams until it is decomposed so that weeds and the like in the soil can be prevented from shooting and growing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a creeping-stem *1 l grass vegetative sheet according to a first embodiment of the present invention, showing an end portion thereof in exploded state; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a creeping-stem grass vegetative sheet according to a second embodiment of the invention, showing an end portion thereof in exploded ate; Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the same embodiment; and Fig. 4 is a partial plan view of a decomposable )4 mulching film.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a creeping-stem grass vegetative sheet according to a first embodiment of the present invention, in which an end portion thereof is exploded for clarifying the illustration.

The creeping-stem grass vegetative sheet of the 8 first embodiment is an elongated sheot comprising a decomposable mulching film 1 formed with a large number of vent holes 6 and slits 7, a decomposable porous moisture-retentive layer 2, and disentangled grass runners S 3, and these component layers are laminated in this order from the surface side.

The decomposable mulching film 1 is a film made of "ECO Copolymer" which is a polyethylene material and includes carbonyl linkage in a part of its molecular O chain, a resin which contains transition metal to increase the photolysis degree, a resin which contains starch to be decomposable by microorganisms, or the like.

Also, as shown in Fig. 4, the mulching film 1 includes a large number of vent holes 6 and slits 7 so that the 1 film is well ventilated, and that sprouts and runners of the grass can grow.

*The decomposable porous moisture-retentive layer 2 in this embodiment is made of rayon and designed to carry the disentangled grass runners 3 easily by making 9* them cling to it. After about two months, the moistureretentive layer 2 is decomposed by microorganisms or light, and reduced to dust.

The grass runners 3 are runners of a well-grown sod which are disentangled one by one and have roots I from which the soil is removed.

Fig. 1 illustrates the above-described three layers, the mulching film 1 which can be decomposed by light or microorganisms, the decomposable porous moisture-retentive layer 2, and the grass runner I-yer 3, which are laminated, quilted by cotton thread 8, and wound into a roll.

Such a creeping-stem grass vegetative sheet was spread over a field in July in the summer. The sheet was observed in this condition. After about one month, the grass runners took root in the ground, and the decomposable mulching film 1 was substantially decomposed.

During this month, the daytime temperature was about 34 to 35 "C and it seldom rained. Nevertheless, the grass runners did not die. Then, the sheet was watered only in the morning and left as it was. About one week later, new runners grew. On the ninth day after that, a small amount of fertilizer was applied to the sheet and left as it was again. On the twelfth day, new runners grew 20 to 25 cm S. long. Thus, a favorable result was obtained.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a creeping-stem grass vegetative sheet according to a second embodiment of the invention, in which an end portion thereof is exploded for clarifying the illustration. Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross--sectional view of the same sheet.

A decomposable mulching film 1 is substantially the same as the mulching film in the first embodiment.

and it is photolytic and biolytic.

d" A decomposable porous moisture-retentive layer 2 in this embodiment is made of cotton and designed to carry the disentangled grass runners 3 easily by making them cling to it. After about two months, the 1 0 moisture-retenti2v layer 2 will be decomposed by microorganisms and reduced to dust in a similar manner to the first embodiment.

As grass runners 3, runners of a well-grown sod which are disentangled and have roots free from the soil are similarly used.

A decomposable porous sheet 4 comprises a medium-grain fertilizer containing nitrogen, phosphoric acid, potassium and :o forth (named MAGAMP-K and o available from Hyponex Japan a rooting agent (a root-growth promotion agent for plant cuttings produced by Soft Silica biolytic rayon non-woven fabric 0 residual to retain moisture, and active carbon, The porous sheet is made by piling this mixture to be 3 mm thick and bonding it lightly by an adhesive.

SA decomposable plastic sheet 5 is made of a biolytic resin containing polyethylene to which starch is added. The starch content is controlled in such a manner that the sheet will be decomposed one to two months after the grass runners take root.

Fic- 2 illustrates the above-diescribed layers which are laminated into a multi-layer creeping-stem grass vegetative sheet and wound into a roll.

A creeping-stem grass vegetative sheet of such a c\f structure is spread over the sufficiently watered ground directly or after immersing the sheet in water or sprinkling water on it, with the decomposable mulching film 1 facing upwards. The sheet is unrolled and planted 1 1 by applying a light pressure on it with a roller or the like.

Addition of the decomposable porous sheet 4 and the decomposable plastic sheet 5 is determined in b accordance with the conditions of soil and the climate.

In other words, the sheet shown in Fig. 2 is preferable for the soil which contains less moisture and tends to be dried easily, whereas the sheet shown in Fig. 1 is preferable for the soil which contains relatively much |o moisture and is fertile.

In a windy area, after a light pressure is applied on the surface of the sheet, anchors each comprising a pointed shaft and a plurality of holders extending radially from the shaft are inserted from the lsurface of the porous decomposable mulching film 1 into the ground at intervals of 20 cm to 1 m so as to fasten the periphery of the sheet on the ground. Thus, the sheet is prevented from being blown off by a strong wind.

The creeping-stem grass vegetative sheet 0 according to the present invention is of the abovedescribed structure in which the decomposable mulching film serves to protect the grass runners from the frost when the temperature is low, to suppress evaporation of the moisture, and to prevent weeds from creeping in, and d the decomposable porous plastic sheet is employed.

In consequence, the grass takes root with improved effectiveness under any crndition of soil, thereby forming an excellent green in which the grass is 1 2 uniformly rooted.

Since this grass vegetative sheet is a continuous sheet of the above-described structure and function, its planting and the subsequent maintenance can be performed so easily that the grass can be planted without fail even by unskilled perso.is. In grass planting over a large area, therefore, labor reduction leads to cost reduction by a great extent. Further, the grass vegetative sheet prevents agricultural chemicals from S to flowing out after application of them, and the sheet .4* completely shuts out the sunbeams until it is decomposed so that weeds and the like in the soil can be prevented 0 from shooting and growing, thereby enabling planting of the grass alone.

In consequence, grass of the creeping-stem type, which has conventionaly been planted only in a limited season, can be planted almost all the year round, and also, a beautiful green uniformly planted with grass can be produced with a small amount of grass runners S, Zo in a short period of time reliably without fail even by unskilled persons.

1 3

Claims (4)

1. A creeping-stem grass vegetative sheet comprising a photolytic and/or biolytic mulching film formed with a large number of vent holes and/or slits, a photolytic and/or biolytic porous moisture-retentive layer, and disentangled grass runners, said mulching film, said moisture-retentive layer and said grass runners being laminated in this order from the surface side and shaped into an elongated sheet.

2. A creeping-stem grass vegetative sheet comprising a photolytic and/or biolytic mulching film formed with a large number of vent holes and/or slits, a photolytic and/or biolytic porous moisture-retentive layer, disentangled grass runners, and a photolytic and/or biolytic S. porous moisture-retentive layer, said mulching film, said o moisture-retentive layer, said grass runners and said moisture-retentive layer being laminated in this order from the surface side and shaped into an elongated sheet.

3. A creeping-stem grass vegetative sheet comprising a photolytic and/or biolytic mulching film formed with a large number of vent holes and/or slits, a photolytic and/or biolytic porous moisture-retentive layer, disentangled grass runners, a photolytic and/or biolytic porous sheet, and a photolytic and/or biolytic plastic sheet, said mulching film, said moisture- retentive layer, said grass runners, said porous sheet and said plastic sheet being laminated in this order from the surface side and shaped into an elongated sheet. 1

4 I '3 -15 DATED this ELEVENTH day of SEPTEMBER 1992 Fuji Planning Co. Ltd. Patent Attorneys for the Applicant SPRUSON &FERGUSON so 0@0 0.. ag. 000@0 0 Creeping-Stem Grass Vegetative Sheet Abstract of the Disclosure The invention related to a vegetative sheet of grass with creeping stems for use in landscape gardening, golf link construction, river bank protection works, slope protection works in road or railroad construction, and so forth. It has a structure comprising a photolytic and/or biolytic mulching film formed with a large number of vent holes and/or slits a photolytic and/or biolytic porous moisture retentive layer and disentangled grass runners these component layers being laminated in this order from the surface side and shaped into an elongated sheet. (Fig. 1) o* C* jed/6401M