ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FOR PROTECTING AND NOURISHING CROPS IN SOIL

Abstract: A system is described for protecting plants cultivated in a plot of soil from microorganism and from infesting insects and for facilitating the growth and fructification of said plants without requiring the use of pesticides, fertilizers and/or other chemical products. This protection system is based on the combined effects of electrical fields created by means of electrodes (1) driven into the soil (2) along the perimeter of the plot, of electrodes (4, 5) buried at regular intervals in the soil (2), and of electrodes (6) located at a preset height above the soil (2); a voltage supply device (7) maintains preset differences of potential between the said electrodes (1).

Description: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FOR PROTECTING AND NOURISHING CROPS IN SOIL Scope of invention The present invention regards a system for protecting cultivated plants in a plot of soil from infesting micro-organisms and for facilitating the growth and fructification of said plants without requiring the use of pesticides, fertilizers and/or other chemical products. This system is based on the combined effect of electrical fields created using electrodes driven in the ground along the perimeter of the plot, buried at regular intervals in the soil, and located at a preset height above the soil; a voltage supply device maintains preset potential differences between said electrodes. Prior art In modern agriculture (both in the open field and in greenhouses) the need (or wish) to optimize and maximize production has led to the adoption of methods of intensive cultivation, with consequent reduction and/or disappearance of nutrient elements in the surface layers of the soil which can be reached by the roots of the plants grown, and to the need for eliminating (or at least reducing as far as possible) the economic damages caused by parasites and plant diseases. The so-called "crop rotation", employed in the past to restore acceptable concentrations of nutrient elements in the soil, appears incompatible with the methods of cultivation currently employed and in any case does not solve the problems deriving from parasites and diseases. In order to meet the aforesaid production needs, chemical products are increasingly used both to protect the crops from parasites (pesticides) and illnesses (plant protection products), and to supply the plants with the nutrient elements necessary for their growth (fertilizers). As is known, the use of such chemical products involves a series of harmful consequences for the environment, or in any case undesired consequences. For example, fertilizers, spread on the surface of the soil (or anyway laid in relatively shallow furrows) tend to concentrate in the top layers of the soil, thus "withholding" the roots of the plants within these top layers. To find nourishment the plants consequently tend to spread out their root systems horizontally, so inevitably coming into competition with the neighbouring plants. This limits (or may limit) the development and productivity of the plant and/or involves the need to increase the distance between adjacent plants, so reducing the productivity of the crop per unit surface cultivated. On the other hand, the pesticides and the plant protection products stimulate in parasites and in pathogenic agents, respectively, processes of genetic mutation which lead to the appearance of new strains that are resistant to the action of the aforesaid chemical products; these therefore must be replaced with new products (frequently more toxic and harmful for the environment than the previous ones), which in turn lead to the appearance of new strains that are resistant to the new products, and so forth. Furthermore, the (indiscriminate) use of pesticides has damaged and continues to damage living organisms (micro-organisms, insects, etc.) which are useful, if not necessary, for the plants, such as the insects responsible for pollination. Finally, all the aforementioned chemical products adversely affect (or may adversely affect) the environment, and enter (or may enter) the food chain by polluting the surface waters, penetrating into the ground until they reach and pollute groundwater at increasing depths, leaving harmful and/or toxic residue on the outer surface of the fruit and/or within the fruit, and so forth. We shall not dwell any longer on the problems, which are well known and evident, deriving from the use of chemical products in agriculture. In-depth studies and long and thorough researches, including experimental researches, have made it possible to note, surprisingly, that by "immersing" a crop in suitable electrical fields obtained by maintaining adequate differences of potential between electrodes or sets of electrodes suitably arranged, the plants are more luxuriant and immune from illnesses, are not attacked by parasites, and the fruits are more abundant and of higher quality. This method of cultivation thus does not entail the use of pesticides, plant protection products and/or fertilizers and, consequently, makes it possible to eliminate the problems connected to the use of such products. It has moreover been found that pathogenic micro-organisms, when immersed in an electrical field, present a behaviour that is similar to that of electrons; i.e., they migrate (or tend to migrate) towards the cathode, where they are annihilated. Particularly advantageous results have been obtained when at least one of such electrical fields is located in the soil, at least one is located just beneath the surface of the soil, and at least one is located above the soil. Even though the chemical, physical and biological mechanisms on which the system of protection and nourishment that is the subject of the present invention is based have not been fully clarified, it may reasonably be maintained that: - an electrical field located inside the soil causes (or facilitates) the migration (in ionic form) of nutrient substances from the deep layers of the soil towards the surface (where they are collected by the roots of the plants, thus making the use of fertilizers superfluous), as well as the destruction of pathogenic microorganisms. The roots of each plant, stretching out towards the nutrient substances that migrate towards the surface, develop in a substantially vertical direction without interfering or competing with the roots of the neighbouring plants; - an electrical field laid just beneath the surface of the soil "sterilizes" it from the pathogenic micro-organisms that attack (or might attack) both the plant's root system and (by being conveyed by the sap) the crown of the plant. This electrical field thus makes the use of the pesticides that are normally spread on the soil to "sterilize" it superfluous; - an electrical field which "surrounds" the crown of the plant helps nutrient elements and/or other useful substances carried by the sap to "rise" up to the stem and to reach the leaves and the fruits, stimulates plant metabolism, increases efficiency of the chlorophyll function, facilitating and increasing the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the leaves, and removes the pathogenic micro-organisms, which are drawn away from the plant because they are attracted towards the cathode. The larger quantity of oxygen present under the leaves and around the fruits has a fungicidal and antiparasitic effect which removes and/or destroys the parasites and prevents (or at least considerably hinders) the hatching of their eggs and the formation of moulds. The advantages that may be obtained by means of the invention will appear evident from the comparison between the results achieved from a crop grown in a greenhouse equipped with a system according to the present invention and those obtained growing the same species of vegetables in a traditional way in a second greenhouse, adjacent and altogether similar to the former one. Summary of the invention The subject of the present invention is an electrical system for protecting and nourishing crops in soil, which comprises a number of electrical fields in which the said crops are "immersed". Preferably, these electrical fields are created by applying (via a voltage supply device) preset differences of potential between electrodes driven into the soil, electrodes buried just beneath the surface of the soil, and electrodes located at a preset height above the soil. List of figures The invention will now be better described with reference to an embodiment which has the purpose of providing a non limiting example, illustrated in the attached figures, where - Fig. 1 shows a vertical, partially cross-sectional, view of a portion of a plot of soil equipped with a system according to the invention; - Fig. 2 shows a top view of the plot of soil partially shown in Fig. 1 , without the covering electrode 6 of Fig. 1 ; - Fig. 3 is a schematic representation of a voltage supply device, which forms part of the invention. In the attached figures, corresponding elements will be identified using the same numerical references. Detailed description Figure 1 shows a partially cross-sectional vertical view of a portion of a plot of soil equipped with a system according to the invention. Fig. 2 shows a top view of the said plot of soil shown in Fig. 1 , without the covering electrode 6. In this plot, the crops are "immersed" in a number of electrical fields generated by applying (by means of the voltage supply device 7 of Fig. 3) preset differences of potential between electrodes 1 driven in the soil 2, electrodes (4, 5) buried just beneath the surface of the soil 2, and electrodes 6 located at a preset height above the soil 2. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, these electrodes consist of: a) a number of stakes 1 (in Fig. 1 , only one of these is visible) made of copper or some other equivalent material, driven in the soil 2 and set along the perimeter of the plot of soil. Preferably, but not necessarily, the stakes 1 are set at regular intervals and are electrically connected together by a conductor 3, which is in turn electrically connected to the reference terminal MQ of the voltage supply device 7 of Fig. 3, which is omitted in Figs. 1 and 2 for reasons of simplicity of graphical representation. The stakes 1 are driven in the soil 2 to a depth of 1.5 - 4.5 metres, and the distance ό$ between the stakes 1 is between 3 and 6 metres. Preferably, but not necessarily, the stakes 1 are driven in the soil to a depth of approximately 3 m., and the distance d5 between the stakes 1 is approximately 5 metres; b) a number of conductors (4, 5), made of copper or other equivalent material, set parallel to one another, which (preferably but not necessarily) are buried in the soil 2 at a set distance d3 and at a set depth U2- These conductors (4, 5) are alternately connected together in parallel (thus obtaining the "double comb" structure that may be seen in Fig. 2) and are electrically connected, respectively, to a first output terminal M 1 and a second output terminal M2 of the voltage supply device 7. The outer conductors (4, 5) of said number of conductors are set at a distance d 4 with respect to the conductor 3 which connects the stakes 1 together. The depth 02 at which the conductors (4, 5) are buried is between 25 and 50 cm, the distance d3 between two adjacent conductors (4, 5) is between 1.5 and 2.5 m, whilst the distance d-\ between the outer conductors (4, 5) of said number of conductors (4, 5) and the conductor 3 which connects the stakes 1 together is between 0.75 and 1.8 metres. Preferably, but not necessarily, the depth -62 is 25 to 30 cm, the distance dβ between two adjacent conductors (4, 5) is approximately 1.5 metres, and the distance 64 between the outer conductors (4, 5) of said number of conductors (4, 5) and the conductor 3 that connects the stakes 1 together is 0.75 - 0.80 metres. c) a covering electrode 6, supported by support means (omitted in Figs. 1 and 2 for reasons of simplicity of graphical representation) at a height d-| of between 1.8 and 6 metres (preferably between 1.8 and 2.5 metres) above the soil 2 and electrically connected to a third output terminal M3 of the voltage supply device 7. Preferably the covering electrode 6 consists of a metal meshwork electrically insulated by the support means, the meshes of which measuring between 10x10 and 70x70 cm, which can be advantageously used in crops grown in the open field also to support possible hail-protection nets. Preferably, but not necessarily the dimensions of the meshes of the metal meshwork is 60x60 cm. Without departing from the scope of the present invention, it is possible to use as covering electrode 6 a sheet of one of the transparent materials (transparent, so as not to hinder the chlorophyll function of the plants) that are electrically conductive and are made available by modern technology. Figure 3 is a schematic representation of the voltage supply device 7 (which is not described in further detail herein because it is in itself known and in any case can readily be made by a technician skilled in the sector), which presents the reference terminal Mo (to which the stakes 1 are electrically connected), the first output terminal M-| (to which the conductors 4 are electrically connected in parallel together), the second output terminal M2 (to which the conductors 5 are electrically connected in parallel together), and the third output terminal M3 (to which the covering electrode 6 is electrically connected). The voltage supply device 7 may in turn be supplied by the main power supply RE and/or by a solar panel PS and/or by a battery B (possibly, but not necessarily consisting of a standby battery kept charged by the main power supply and/or by the solar panel PS), and/or by some other supply device that is functionally equivalent and suitable for the purpose. The voltage supply device 7 maintains a first preset positive potential difference V-| between the first output terminal M-| and the reference terminal MQ, a preset negative potential difference V2 between the second output terminal M2 and the reference terminal Mn, and a second preset positive potential difference V 3 , which is much higher than the first positive potential difference V-j , between the third output terminal M3 and the reference terminal MQ. The first positive potential difference V-j is between 25 and 48 Volt, the negative potential difference V2 is between -19 and -40 Volt, and the second positive potential difference V3 is between 1200 and 2600 Volt. Preferably, but not necessarily, the first positive potential difference V^ is approximately 35.5 Volt (and anyway between 35 and 36 Volt), the negative potential difference V2 is approximately -20 Volt, and the second positive potential difference V3 varies proportionally to the distance ό-] between the covering electrode 6 and the soil 2. To highlight the advantages obtained using the invention, there follows a comparison between the results of crops grown in 1996 in the area of Vittoria (Province of Ragusa) in two identical and adjacent greenhouses, one of which was equipped with a system according to the invention. Example 1 Greenhouse measuring 500 sq. m.; soil: sandy; crop; common tomato a) Greenhouse equipped with a device according to the invention, activated 25 days after the planting of the plants, which were watered with ordinary water without the use of any chemical products. The following results were obtained: - roots: developed in depth; - growth: fast; - harmful micro-organisms: absent; - moulds: absent; - height of plants: uniform; - state of leaves: bright green, broad; - visual and organoleptic characteristics of fruits (colour, taste, smell, appearance, consistency of skin and pulp, etc.): excellent; - mean weight at 20-25 days from ripening: at the plant base: approx. 230 grams; at mid-height: approx. 120 grams; at top of plant: 20 - 25 grams; - productivity: 6-7 clusters of fruits per plant. b) Comparison greenhouse By treating the crop with the traditional chemical products, the following results were obtained: - roots: developed horizontally and shallow; - growth: within the norm; - harmful micro-organisms: abundantly present; - moulds: abundant; - height of plants: variable according to the position in the greenhouse; - state of leaves: dull green; - visual and organoleptic characteristics of fruits (colour, taste, smell, appearance, consistency of skin and pulp, etc.): normal; - mean weight at 20-25 days from ripening: at the plant base: 62 - 110 grams; at mid-height: 60 - 62 grams; at top of plant: absent; - productivity: 5-6 clusters of fruits per plant. Example 2 Greenhouse measuring 100 sq. m.; soil: marine sand; cultures (already infested by micro-organisms): aubergines, tomatoes, French beans, salad, basil, endive a) Greenhouse equipped with a device according to the invention, activated on the day before the planting of the plants, which were watered with ordinary water without the use of any chemical products. The following results were obtained: - roots: developed in depth; - growth: fast; - parasites: deposits on leaf surfaces of totally non-vital larvae; red spider: total disappearance within 4 - 6 hours from appearance; - characteristics of produce obtained: aubergines (first crop): weight, approx. 750 grams; seeds absent; pulp firm; colour, dark purple; taste pleasant; tomatoes: weight, approx. 250 at plant base; seeds absent; pulp firm; pleasant taste; characteristic smell: French beans: length, approx. 22 cm; diameter, approx. 12 mm; salad: excessive development with production of seeds; basil: large, scented leaves; endive: green, abundant leaves; - productivity: twice that of the comparison greenhouse. b) Comparison greenhouse By treating the crop with traditional chemical products, the following results were obtained: - roots: developed horizontally and shallow; - growth: normal; - parasites: all parasites present, in spite of chemical treatment every 2-3 days; - characteristics of produce obtained: aubergines (first crop): weight, approx. 250 grams; pulp watery; tomatoes: low productivity; colour obtained chemically; French beans: length, 10 - 1 1 cm; diameter, approx. 6 mm; salad: sparse; basil: small leaves; endive: small leaves. In the examples given in the present description, the device according to the invention was used for crops in greenhouses, but the device may be used equally advantageously for crops in the open field, even though the yield is slightly lower, while still very interesting: 78% for fruit-bearing plants (99.9% if grown in a greenhouse); 85% for flowering plants (100% if grown in a greenhouse). In the examples given in the present description, the device according to the invention was used for crops in sandy soil, but said device may be advantageously used to protect and nourish crops having extremely different characteristics and growing under extremely different conditions (nature, humidity and permeability of the soil; type of plants grown - trees, vegetables, etc. ; arrangement of plants - in rows, uniformly distributed, etc. ; ambient temperature; and so forth). For example, it is evident that, for growing trees, the depth d 2 at which the conductors (4, 5) are buried must be greater than the one required when vegetables are cultivated. According to the specific characteristics and requirements of the particular crop to be nourished and protected, without departing from the scope of the present invention, - the dimensions of the meshes of the covering electrode 6 may range from 10x10 to 200x200 cm; - the depth d 2 at which the conductors (4, 5) are buried may range from 0.5 to 100 cm; - the distance d 3 between the conductors (4, 5) may range between 0.3 and 3 metres; - the distance d 5 between the stakes 1 may range between 2 and 25 metres. If the soil for cultivation rests on a stone substrate, it may be sufficient to drive a stake 1 at each corner of the plot; - the stakes 1 may be driven in the soil 2 to a depth of 0.5 - 6 metres. Without departing from the scope of the invention, it is possible for a skilled man to make all the additional modifications and further improvements suggested by normal experience and by the natural evolution of techniques to the electrical system for protecting and nourishing crops in soil, which is the subject of the present description.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Electrical system for protecting and nourishing crops in soil, characterized in that it generates a number of electrical fields, the said crops being "immersed" in the said electrical fields. 2. System according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the said electrical fields are created by preset potential differences (V^ , V2, V3), maintained by a voltage supply device (7) between electrodes (1 ) driven in the soil (2) where the said crops are grown, electrodes (4, 5) buried in the said soil (2) at a preset depth (d2), and electrodes (6) located at a preset height (d-) above said soil (2). 3. System according to Claim 2, characterized in that it comprises, in combination between them: - a number of stakes (1 ) made of electrically conductive material, driven in at intervals along the perimeter of the said plot of soil (2); - a number of conductors (4, 5), set parallel to one another, buried in the said soil (2) at said preset depth (d2), and at a preset distance (d3); - a covering electrode (6), kept by support means at the said preset height (d<| ) above the said soil (2); and - the said voltage supply device (7), which is provided with a reference terminal (MQ) electrically connected to the said stakes (1 ), with a first and a second output terminal (M-| , M2), electrically connected, alternately, to the said conductors (4, 5) belonging to the said number of conductors (4, 5), and with a third output terminal (M3), electrically connected to the said covering electrode (6); and in that the said voltage supply device (7) maintains a first preset positive potential difference (V-| ) between the said first output terminal (M-j ) and the said reference terminal (MQ), a preset negative potential difference (V2) between the said second output terminal (M2) and the said reference terminal (MQ), and a second preset positive potential difference (V3), which is much higher than the said first preset positive potential difference (V-| ), between the said third output terminal (M3) and the said reference terminal (MQ). 4. System according to Claim 3, characterized in that the said first positive potential difference (V-j) is between 25 and 48 Volt, the said negative potential difference (V2) is between -19 and -40 Volt, and the said second positive potential difference (V3) is between 1200 and 2600 Volt. 5. System according to Claim 4, characterized in that the said first positive potential difference (V-j ) is between 35 and 36 Volt, and the said negative potential difference (V2) is approximately -20 Volt. 6. System according to Claim 3, characterized in that the said stakes (1 ) are electrically connected together by a conductor (3) which is electrically connected to the said reference terminal (MQ) of said voltage supply device (7). 7. System according to Claim 3, characterized in that the said stakes (1 ) are driven in the said soil (2) to the depth of 0.5 - 6 metres. 8. System according to Claim 7, characterized in that the said stakes (1 ) are driven in the said soil (2) to the depth of 1.5 - 4.5 metres. 9. System according to Claim 8, characterized in that the said stakes (1 ) are driven in the said soil (2) to the depth of approximately 3 metres. 10. System according to Claim 3, characterized in that the distance (d 5 ) between the said stakes (1 ) is from 2 to 25 metres. 11. System according to Claim 10, characterized in that the said distance (dζ) between the said stakes (1 ) is from 3 to 6 metres. 12. System according to Claim 11 , characterized in that the said distance (d ) between the said stakes (1 ) is approximately 5 metres. 13. System according to Claim 3, characterized in that the said conductors (4, 5), electrically connected, respectively, to the said first output terminal (M-) ) and to the said second output terminal (M2) of said voltage supply device, are connected in parallel together. 14. System according to Claims 3 and 6, characterized in that the distance (d4) between the outer conductors (4, 5) of the said number of conductors (4, 5) and the said conductor (3) which connects the stakes (1) together is between 0.75 and 1.8 metres. 15. System according to Claim 14, characterized in that the said distance (d4) between the outer conductors (4, 5) of the said number of conductors (4, 5) and the said conductor (3) which connects the said stakes (1 ) together is between 0.75 and 0.80 metres. 16. System according to Claim 3, characterized in that the said preset depth (d2) at which the said conductors (4, 5) belonging to the said number of conductors (4, 5) are buried is between 0.5 and 100 cm. 17. System according to Claim 16, characterized in that the said depth (d2) is between 25 and 50 cm. 18. System according to Claim 17, characterized in that the said depth (d2) is 25 - 30 cm. 19. System according to Claim 3, characterized in that the said distance (d3) between two adjacent conductors (4, 5) belonging to said number of conductors (4, 5) is between 0.3 and 3 metres. 20. System according to Claim 19, characterized in that the said distance (d3) between said mutually adjacent conductors (4, 5) is between 1.5 and 2.5 metres. 21. System according to Claim 20, characterized in that the said distance (d3) between said mutually adjacent conductors (4, 5) is approx. 1.5 metres. 22. System according to Claim 3, characterized in that the said covering electrode (6) is electrically insulated by said support means. 23. System according to Claim 3, characterized in that the said covering electrode (6) consists of a metal meshwork. 24. System according to Claim 23, characterized in that the dimensions of the meshes of said metal meshwork are between 10x10 cm. and 200x200 cm. 25. System according to Claim 24, characterized in that the dimensions of the meshes of said metal meshwork are between 10x10 cm. and 70x70 cm. 26. System according to Claim 25, characterized in that the dimensions of the meshes of said metal meshwork are 60x60 cm. 27. System according to Claim 3, characterized in that the said height (d,) above the soil (2) at which said covering electrode (6) is set is between 1.8 and 6 metres. 28. System according to Claim 27, characterized in that the said height (d- | ) above the soil (2) at which said covering electrode (6) is set is between 1.8 and 2.5 metres.

Inventors: NAPOLITANO GIUSEPPE, NAPOLITANO, GIUSEPPE
Applicants: NAPOLITANO GIUSEPPE, S E D A S R L, NAPOLITANO, GIUSEPPE, S.E.D.A. S.R.L.
Application year: 1997
Main classification: A01G7
IPC codes: A01G7