FR2906676A1 - Vegetative layer planting method for forming vegetative cover of e.g. shrubs, involves projecting vegetative materials e.g. cuttings and seeds, in association with different products/adjuvants to protect materials - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves projecting vegetative materials e.g. cuttings and seeds, in association with different products/adjuvants to protect the materials. The materials are associated to a fibrillar membrane for constituting a permeable flexible membrane to protect the cuttings and to stimulate rooting of the cuttings. The materials and the membrane are mixed by starter type phosphate enriched mineral fertilizer and organo-mineral fertilizer. The mixture is applied on a substrate with synthetic plant fiber or natural plant fiber e.g. wood fiber, and plant compost. The membrane contains binding agents e.g. alginic acid, and totally neutral growth activators e.g. humic acid extrat. The substrate is separated from a draining layer by a geotextile with polypropylene fibers, that permit passage of water.

Description

The present invention relates to a method for installing a stratum

  plant on a flat roof or low slope, or other sealed or mineral surfaces, using a technique of projection of cuttings and / or seeds through a specific machine composed of a tank, a mechanical or hydraulic stirrer, d a lobe pump with progressive or centrifugal cavities comprising fins 7.5 cm × 3.75 cm minimum at 12.7 cm to 6.4 cm driven by a heat engine, hydraulic motor, electric motor or by means of a power take-off. Currently, the greening of roofs is achieved by installing on this one pre-cultivated slabs, pre-seeded mats or plants, placed, planted or fixed on the roof by a system of staples. The cost of one or the other of these techniques is a serious obstacle to their implementation because they require in the first place, the manufacture (mat) and the culture (slab and plants), then in a second time the installation on the roof. Depending on the chosen method, the cost oscillates in a range estimated between 50 and 100 {/ m2 depending on whether certain finishes of the sealing layer are taken into account or not, and the plant species installed. For an extensive type system (without automatic irrigation) with ground cover plants such as Sedums, comparable to the process described below, the cost of the supply, excluding installation, is estimated between 40 to 60 {/ m2. For an equivalent result in a period of 4 to 8 months, the supply and the implementation of the greening by projection of cuttings or seeds is 1 to 2 times inferior. The process that is the subject of the patent makes it possible to dispense with the manufacturing or cultivation phase and to increase the treated surface from the same quantity of plant material. Its implementation is fast and inexpensive in manpower because it is a fully mechanized application, without installation or planting or fixing. The first step in the implementation of the invention is to install a draining layer on the sealing layer of the roof unless it already exists in various forms; the most common is a simple thickness of a few centimeters of gravel. In the absence of such a layer, a thickness of 5 to 10 cm of gravel 5/10 mm in size will be placed on the area to be planted.

The subsequent operations constitute the process in the strict sense, which is the subject of the patent. In order to avoid any risk of clogging the drains or the draining layer by infiltration of fine particles and plant roots, the gravel is covered by a geotextile whose unique structure of thermolated polypropylene fibers allows the passage of water (porosity : 79% - Tensile strength: 3.5 KN / m2 for a test width of 50 cm). The quality of this film depends to a large extent on the life of the system. The substrate, which is 5 to 15 cm thick depending on the abiotic characteristics of the system, is composed in large part of natural vegetable fibers (blonde peat, wood fibers, coconut fibers) or synthetic fibers and vegetable compost. Depending on the climatic zone where the process will be carried out, a crosslinked copolymer of acrylamide and of potassium acrylamide having the properties of a hydro-retentor is incorporated into the substrate in the proportions recommended by the manufacturer and taking into account the permissible load by the roof. The substrate, which is also treated with an anti-germinative if the mixture applied does not contain seeds, must meet the standards in force, particularly with regard to the presence of weed seeds. Prior to the application of the mixture described hereinafter, a slight rolling of the substrate will be carried out in order to obtain a perfectly flat surface without so much as compacting it. The mixture applied using the material described previously is prepared just before the projection. When the site requires the production of several mixing tanks, a rinse allowing the removal of any traces of it in the various elements of the machine used (bottom of tank, pump, pipe, etc.) 60 is made. The applied mixture contains the following elements: The membrane is based on wood fibers (density 235 Kg / m3 and water retention of 10 Lt / kg) combined with natural binding agents (alginic acid, guar or bentonite extract) and synthetic binders, as well as Germination and growth (extract of humic and fuivic acids). After spraying and drying, which originally constituted a paste is structured fibiillary membrane constituting a permeable and continuous cover, perfectly marrying the micro-relief of the substrate. The thickness and the quality of the membrane 2906676 3 must make it possible to avoid the formation of a gaseous interface between the substrate 70 and this one in order to eliminate any risk of drying which would be detrimental to the rooting of the cuttings or the germination seeds. The use of this permeable fibrous membrane allows watering and re-wetting of the substrate if necessary. . The plant material consists of cuttings or seeds, or even a mixture of the two, in proportions calculated to obtain rapid coverage without risk of competition when cuttings are associated with seeds. The cuttings must have a size consistent with the objective of rooting quickly without exceeding 4 to 5 cm in order to avoid clogging of the pump of the machine or their own grinding. For example, cuttings of 0.5 to 1.5 cm for Sedum sp. Will be used, whereas with a species such as Frankenia laevis, the size of the cuttings will be between 1.5 and 3 cm. . Two types of fertilizer complete the constitution of the projected mixture. An organic or organo-mineral base (N / P / K = 6/5/5), containing at least 50% of 85 organic matter with incorporation of algae and cake, is supplemented by a mineral starter fertilizer (N / P / K = 10/52/10) with a high proportion of phosphates which accelerate the rooting process of the cuttings. In the case of a seed-based projection or seed / cuttings mixture, the mineral fertilizer described above is not used.

The application of the mixture can be done manually but the use of a specific material is preferable because it guarantees a homogeneous application. The thickness of the projected mixture is of the order of 0.2 to 0.5 cm, but depends on the climatic conditions and the season during which the work is carried out. The implementation of the described method is imperatively preceded by a visit of the 95 places in order to establish the precise list and the dosage of the different inputs of which the species or plant varieties to use. This type of vegetation, called extensive, requires no special maintenance except an annual visit to eliminate all seedlings of the woody type (shrub or tree) that could have developed inadvertently because the 100 root system, generally rotating and powerful, could damage the anti-root film, and eventually the waterproofing layer of the roof.

2906676 4 This annual visit also allows for a preferentially organic fertilizer intake so that the release of nutrients is spread over time and that precipitation can not wash off this input.

In hot areas where significant evaporation can accelerate desiccation and consequently harm the rooting of cuttings or seeds, the incorporation of the hydro-retentor into the substrate may be supplemented by the temporary establishment of a sprinkler or swingarm type irrigation system for a duration of the order of 1 to 2 months. This system can be controlled manually or automatically. .5

Claims (7)

  1) A method for the implantation of a plant layer on a roof or other mineral-type surface from cuttings and I or seeds that are projected in association with various products and adjuvants for the protection of plant material.   2) Method according to claim 1 characterized in that all operations are performed mechanically or manually.   3) Method according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the plant material is associated with a fibrillary membrane containing binding agents as well as growth promoters completely neutral to the environment, constituting after wipe, a permeable flexible membrane allowing the protection of cuttings and the stimulation of the rooting of these.   4) Process according to claims 1 and 3 characterized in that the applied mixture containing the plant material and the fibrillar membrane is supplemented with a mineral fertilizer rich in phosphates, starter type, and an organo-mineral fertilizer.   5) Method according to claim 1 characterized in that the plant material applied consists of plant fragments (cuttings) associated or not with seeds.   6) Process according to claims 1,3,4 and 5 characterized in that the mixture is applied to a substrate composed of natural or synthetic plant fibers and vegetable compost.   7) Method according to claim 6 characterized in that the substrate is separated from the draining layer in place or to install, by a geotextile whose unique structure of thermolated polypropylene fibers only allows the passage of water.