WO2002000809A1 - Plant and/or soil substrate and method for producing the same - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a plant and/or soil substrate and to a method for producing the same. The inventive substrate comprises at least one water-binding agent in the form of polyacrylate and/or water-storing silicate. The inventive method is characterized by mixing the water-binding agent in the form of polyacrylate with the water-storing silicate.

Description

Be sibung

Plant and / or soil substrate and process for its production

The invention relates to a plant and / or soil substrate, which is intended in particular to save water during plant irrigation, and a method for its production. Treatments of the soil before planting by distributing water-insoluble polyolefin pellets under the surface of the earth are known from US Pat. No. 3,713,253. This is said to improve plant germination, accelerate plant growth, improve the use of moisture and nutrients, reduce erosion and crusting, and increase crop yield.

Furthermore, according to US Pat. No. 4,759,151, plant pellets are known, the core of which consists of seed, organic substrate, loess, organic fertilizer, fungicide, possibly pesticide and a wetting agent. The core is covered by a jacket made of starch and / or latex, the jacket being semi-permeable to control the water balance in the core. Common to these known pellets is that their production is relatively expensive. In particular, the use of plastics, artificial fertilizers, pesticides and fungicides is required a relatively high financial stake. Special processes for the production of the pellets are also necessary since they either consist of plastics themselves or have, for example, a plastic-coated core.

In countries in which plastics, fertilizers, fungicides and pesticides and the plants for the production of the corresponding pellets are not available, plant pellets can only be produced with great effort as protection against erosion and / or for greening, or they have to be imported at great expense. Furthermore, when using known plant substrates, the pellets or the soil must be regularly watered so that the seeds germinate or the plants grow. It was therefore the task to develop a plant and / or soil substrate and a method for its production, which requires little irrigation and consists of materials that are available inexpensively and especially in or for countries for the erosion protection and / or greening is particularly important and their often sparse vegetation suffers from extreme conditions such as enormous heat.

The object could be achieved by means of the features of the first and thirtieth claims. The plant and / or soil substrate according to the invention consists of at least one water binder in the form of polyacrylate and / or water-storing silicate.

The water binder consists of 70 to 100% of polyacrylate and 0 to 30% of water-storing silicate and preferably 90 to 95% of polyacrylate and 5 to 10% of water-storing silicate.

The water-storing silicate is especially amorphous silica (diatomaceous earth) or crystalline silica. The preferred polyacrylate is sodium polyacrylate (sodium carbomer),

- potassium polyacrylate,

- Ammσnium polyacrylate or a mixture of these applications. Furthermore, the planting and / or soil substrate can also be a mixture of water binder in the form of polyacrylate and / or water-storing silicate with fiber material and / or fertilizer and / or being plant seeds.

After mixing, the planting and / or soil substrate can be used directly for planting or added to the soil.

This mixture of sodium polyacrylate (Sodiu Carbomer) and / or the water-storing silicate with fiber material and / or fertilizer and / or plant seeds can also be pressed into pellets and added to the soil.

Renewable raw materials in the form of natural fibers, for example ko os-, bamboo fibers, hay or straw, are preferably used as the fiber material, while the fertilizer is preferably dried sewage sludge. The mixture according to the invention or the pellets pressed therefrom consist of at least 1% by volume of seeds and 1% by volume of water binder in the form of sodium polyacrylate (sodium carbomer) and / or water-storing silicate and the remaining 98% by volume of dried sewage sludge and natural fibers. The pellets preferably contain 50% by volume, preferably 80% by volume of dried sewage sludge, 10% by volume, preferably 15% by volume of fibers, 1% by volume, preferably 2% by volume of plants, and 1% by volume, preferably 3% by volume % Water binder in the form of sodium polyacrylate (sodium carbomer) and / or water-storing silicate. The pellets contain more Sewage sludge and less natural fibers, the harder the seeds are. The size of the pellets is adapted to the seed size. Furthermore, the mixture or the pellets can be incorporated into a mat-shaped nonwoven or between two nonwoven layers. The substrate or the pellets produced therefrom can also be moistened before being introduced into the soil.

The substrate or pellets serve as protection against erosion or to save water when irrigating plants. It is also possible for the substrate to be used as a flower plug-in, and for this to be decoratively colored. The present invention is preferably suitable for planting useful plants in countries with high daytime temperature and nightly high air humidity. The substrate or the pellets according to the invention consist of a mixture of small-tailed natural fibers, such as bamboo, ko os, straw or hay, which have been crushed, for example, in a hammer mill. A fiber length of 2-3 mm has proven to be particularly suitable; with longer fibers, matting occurs very easily when the components are mixed. The fiber length also depends on the pellet size used later. Therefore at least 10% by volume, preferably 15% by volume, of natural fibers are used in the mixture. The natural fibers cause better rooting of the future plant. The natural fibers are mixed with at least 50% by volume, in particular with 80% by volume of dried sewage sludge as a fertilizer, since this contains nitrogen compounds and other nature-identical components. It must be ensured that the sewage sludge is not contaminated and that it has been dried to powder form. Furthermore, 1% by volume, in particular 3% by volume, of a water binder in the form of polyacrylate, preferably sodium polyacrylate, and in the case of a water binder in the form of silicates, preferably diatomaceous earth, are added.

The purpose of the water binder is to store water at the beginning after the first and only watering and later at night, which then during the day, at high temperatures,

for example, 25 ° C or more is returned to the seed or to the plant. Sodium polyacrylate and diatomaceous earth are organic substances and have no harmful effects on the future plant or on the environment.

1% by volume, preferably 2% by volume, of plant seeds is added to the mixture of seeds, and seeds of any useful plant can be used. It is of course particularly suitable that seed has also proven itself in the country in which the pellets according to the invention are to be used. After making the mixture, it is possible to use it directly for planting or to work it into the soil. However, it is also possible to press them into pellets with a diameter of approximately 10 to 15 mm in a pelletizing plant, taking care that the plant seeds are not crushed.

The pellets largely prevent or restrict the seeds from moving away or drifting away, as is often the case in areas with little vegetation. Areas with little vegetation can therefore be greened more easily than was previously the case. This prevents erosion.

The substrate or pellets can be incorporated in a mat-shaped nonwoven, e.g. between two flow layers or other thin layers of fabric. It is possible to glue, sew in, act on or weave in the pellets. These mats can be rolled up for transport. The fleece or the fabric layer provides additional protection against the blowing of the substrate or the 'pellets in strong wind conditions.

The invention is explained in more detail using an exemplary embodiment. Out : 80 vol.% Dried sewage sludge 15 vol.% Straw

2 vol.% Grass plants and

3 vol.% Water binder in the form of sodium polyacrylate (sodium carbomer) and / or water-storing silicate

(Kieselguhr)

the substrate is mixed. In a pelleting plant, this can be converted into pellets with a diameter of e.g. 15 mm to be pressed.

The substrate or pellets are thoroughly moistened once before, during or after sowing on a suitable soil. By moistening the water binder in the form of sodium polyacrylate (sodium carbomer) and / or water-storing silicate is saturated with water, which is released back to the plants during the day. The substrate or the pellets are introduced into the soil approx. 3 to 5 cm using suitable machines. Further moistening of the substrate or the pellets is not necessary or is only necessary to a limited extent with low night moisture.

At high daytime temperatures above 25 ° C, the water binder releases the stored water in the form of sodium polyacrylate (sodium carbomer) and / or water-storing silicate, causing the seeds to germinate. During the night ni mt the water binder in the form of sodium polyacrylate (sodium carbomer) and / or water-storing silicate in high humidity again water to give it back during the day. This enables the plant to grow in extremely hot and dry areas.

After just a few days, plant growth can be determined wherever substrate or pellets are in the

Soil were introduced. In the trainer could

extreme temperatures up to approx. 55 ° C and at a

Soil temperature of 5 ° C a plant growth can be determined after 10 days. The plants thrived without further direct irrigation.

With the present invention, a good possibility for financially less strong countries with high daytime temperatures and possibly more frequent water shortages was created, to use plant pellets made from inexpensive natural materials as erosion protection and / or for greening, and to restrict or limit irrigation to a single time.

Furthermore, in various tests, only sodium polyacrylate (sodium carbomer) was introduced into the soil, and seeds were sown, which after a short time Time has sprouted and a good plant growth has set in without further irrigation.

Sodium polyacrylate (sodium carbomer)

Acrylic acid polymer and sodium salt. In the initial state, it is a white, free-flowing powder, which absorbs large amounts of moisture and thereby thickens

(gel-like).

Surprisingly, it has been shown that this polyacrylate, which is currently used, for example, in the cosmetics industry, is outstandingly suitable for storing water for watering plants. If this polyacrylate is mixed into the soil and irrigated, it swells many times over its original volume and loosens the soil, which improves the soil quality, increases the oxygen and nutrient supply and additionally promotes plant growth. In numerous tests, even under extreme conditions, it has surprisingly been found that plants which have been used in appropriately treated soils no longer need to be watered for several weeks after initial irrigation. Surprisingly, it was also found that excellent growth was also observed in plants which were only planted in water-saturated sodium polyacrylate (sodium carbomer). Furthermore, sodium polyacrylate swollen with water was poured into a vessel and cut flowers were placed therein. These flowers had the same durability as when using conventional floral stock. A decorative effect could be achieved if the gel, which consisted of swollen sodium polyacrylate, was filled into transparent containers in the initial state or colored. The swollen sodium polyacrylate appears crystalline through the glass, which creates an interesting optical effect. It looks as if the water has frozen in the vessel and as if numerous ice crystals have formed. If the flower container falls over, no water runs out, because the gel adheres to the water stored in the container. Commercial sodium fertilizer can of course be added to the sodium polyacrylate.

Claims

claims 1. Plant and / or soil substrate, characterized in that it consists of at least one water binder in the form of polyacrylate and / or water-storing silicate. 2. Plant and / or soil substrate, characterized in that the water binder consists of 90 to 95% of polyacrylate and 5 to 10% of water-storing silicate. 3. Plant and / or soil substrate according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the water-storing silicate is amorphous or crystalline silica. 4. planting and / or soil substrate according to claim 3, characterized in that the water-storing silicate is diatomaceous earth. 5. planting and / or soil substrate according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that as polyacrylate - sodium polyacrylate (sodium carbomer), - potassium polyacrylate, - ammonium polyacrylate or - a mixture of these Application. 6. planting and / or soil substrate according to one or more of claims to 5, characterized in that it is a mixture - From water binder in the form of polyacrylate and / or water-storing silicate with fiber material and / or - fertilizers and / or plant seeds. 7. plant and / or soil substrate according to claim 6, characterized in that the mixture is pressed into pellets. 8. planting and / or soil substrate according to one of claims 6 and 7, characterized in that the fiber material consists of fibers of renewable raw materials. 9. planting and / or soil substrate according to claim 8, characterized in that the fiber material consists of coconut, bamboo fiber, hay or straw. 10. planting and / or soil substrate according to one or more of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that the fertilizer is dried sewage sludge. 11. Plant and / or soil substrate according to one or more of claims 6 to 10, characterized in that the mixture contains at least 1% by volume of polyacrylate and / or water-storing silicate. 12. Plant and / or soil substrate according to one or more of claims 6 to 11, characterized in that the mixture contains at least 1% by volume of seeds and 1% by volume of polyacrylate and / or water-storing silicate. 13. plant and / or soil substrate according to one or more of claims 6 to 12, characterized in that the mixture of at least 50% by volume of fertilizer, 10% by volume of fibers, 1% by volume of plants or plant seeds and 1% by volume Polyacrylate and / or water-storing silicate exists. 1 . Plant and / or soil substrate according to one or more of claims 6 to 13, characterized in that the mixture of 80 vol.% fertilizer, 15 vol.% fibers, 2 % By volume of plants or plant seeds and 3% by volume of polyacrylate and / or water-storing silicate. 15. planting and / or soil substrate according to one or more of claims 6 to 14, characterized in that the Mixture or the pellets made from it more Sewage sludge and less natural fibers, the harder the seeds are. 16. Plant and / or soil substrate according to one or more of claims 7 to 15, characterized in that the size of the pellets is adapted to the seed size. 17. Plant and / or soil substrate according to one or more of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that it is incorporated in a mat-shaped nonwoven. 18. planting and / or soil substrate according to claim 17, characterized in that one or more pellets is incorporated into a mat-shaped nonwoven. 19. Plant and / or soil substrate according to claim 16 or 18, characterized in that it is glued, sewn, knitted or woven in between two flow layers or other thin fabric layers. 20. planting and / or soil substrate according to one or more of claims 17 to 19, characterized in that the pellets are glued, sewn, knitted or woven between two flow layers or other thin fabric layers. 21. Plant and / or soil substrate according to one or more of claims 1 to 20, characterized in that it is mixed with soil or sand or a mixture of soil and sand. 22. Planting and / or soil substrate according to one or more of claims 1 to 21, characterized in that it serves to save water when watering the plants. 23. Planting and / or soil substrate according to one or more of claims 1 to 22, characterized in that it is used for sticking flowers. 24. Plant and / or soil substrate according to one or more of claims 1 to 23, characterized in that its color can be changed by color additives. 25. Process for the production of plant and / or soil substrate, characterized in that a water binder in the form of polyacrylate is mixed with water-storing silicate. 26. The method according to claim 25, characterized in that the water binder with with fiber material and / or - Fertilizers and / or plant seeds are mixed. 27. The method according to claim 25 and 26, characterized in that the mixture is pressed into pellets. 28. The method according to one or more of claims 25 to 27, characterized in that a mixture with at least 1% by volume of polyacrylate and / or water-storing silicate is produced. 9. plant and / or soil substrate according to one or more of claims 25 to 28, characterized in that a mixture of at least 1% by volume of seeds and 1% by volume Polyacrylate and / or water-storing silicate is produced. 30 method according to one or more of claims 25 to 29, characterized in that a mixture of at least 50% by volume of fertilizer, 10% by volume of fibers, 1% by volume of plants or plant seeds and 1% by volume of polyacrylate and / or water-storing Silicate is produced. 31.The method according to one or more of claims 25 to 30, characterized in that a mixture of 80 % By volume of fertilizer, 15% by volume of fibers, 2% by volume of plants or plant seeds and 3% by volume of polyacrylate and / or water-storing silicate is produced. 32.Method according to one or more of claims 25 to 31, characterized in that more sewage sludge and less natural fibers are added to the mixture or the pellets produced therefrom, the harder the seed. 33.Method according to one or more of claims 25 to 32, characterized in that the substrate or the pellets produced therefrom is incorporated into a mat-shaped flow or between two flow layers or other thin layers after their production. 34. Experience according to claim 33, characterized in that the substrate or the pellets produced therefrom are glued in, sewn in, knitted in or woven in. 35. Experience according to one or more of claims 25 to 32, characterized in that it is mixed with soil or sand or a mixture of soil and sand. 36.Method according to one or more of claims 25 to 35, characterized in that the substrate or the pellets produced therefrom are moistened before or after introduction into the soil.