Active Polymer Material for Agricultural Use

Abstract

The present application teaches compositions and methods of using active polymer materials to manipulate solar radiation to improve or otherwise alter plant growth, development, health and/or production.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for improving plant growth, said method comprising:
 (a) placing an active polymer within 30 cm of the plant; and   (b) allowing said plant to grow;   wherein said active polymer comprises one or more minerals suspended, embedded or otherwise incorporated in a polymer matrix, and wherein an infrared radiation absorptance by said active polymer is greater than an infrared radiation absorptance by said polymer matrix alone provided the same source of a radiation; wherein said plant exhibits improved growth compared to a control plant grown without said active polymer.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the active polymer absorbs electromagnetic radiation between 400 nm to 14000 nm wavelength. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the active polymer polarizes electromagnetic radiation between 400 nm to 14000 nm wavelength. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the active polymer absorbs electromagnetic radiation and emits light between 200 and 1100 nm wavelength. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the active polymer comprises one or more mineral types selected from the group consisting of silicon carbide (SiC), calcium carbide (CaC 2 ), titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ), aluminum oxide (Al 2 O 3 ), and silicon dioxide (SiO 2 ). 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the active polymer comprises one or more polymer types selected from the group consisting of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyester, nylon, rayon, and spandex. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mineral suspended, embedded or otherwise incorporated in the polymer matrix comprises about 1% to about 2% of a total weight of the active polymer. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the active polymer is extruded into a form selected from the group consisting of a fiber, a staple fiber, a film, and a sheet. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the active polymer is placed in contact with the growth media for said plant. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the selected form of the active polymer is a fiber, and wherein said fiber is made into a textile using a technique selected from the group consisting of weaving, stitching, sewing, knitting, bonding, fusing, and felting. 
     
     
         11 . A kit comprising a plant and an active polymer, wherein said active polymer comprises one or more minerals suspended, embedded or otherwise incorporated in a polymer matrix, and wherein an infrared radiation absorptance by said active polymer is greater than an infrared radiation absorptance by said polymer matrix alone provided the same source of a radiation. 
     
     
         12 . The kit of  claim 11 , wherein the kit is in a form of a bagged or a potted plant. 
     
     
         13 . A kit comprising a plant growth media and an active polymer, wherein said active polymer comprises one or more minerals suspended, embedded or otherwise incorporated in a polymer matrix, and wherein an infrared radiation absorptance by said active polymer is greater than an infrared radiation absorptance by said polymer matrix alone provided the same source of a radiation. 
     
     
         14 . The kit of  claim 13 , wherein the kit is in a form of a bagged or potted growth media. 
     
     
         15 . An agricultural material comprising an active polymer wherein said active polymer comprises one or more minerals suspended, embedded or otherwise incorporated in a polymer matrix, and wherein an infrared radiation absorptance by said active polymer is greater than an infrared radiation absorptance by said polymer matrix alone provided the same source of a radiation. 
     
     
         16 . The agricultural material of  claim 15 , wherein the material comprising said active polymer covers a growth media. 
     
     
         17 . The agricultural material of  claim 15 , wherein the material comprising said active polymer is a bag. 
     
     
         18 . The agricultural material of  claim 15 , wherein the material comprising said active polymer is a non-woven textile.