AU2019204665A1 - Plant growing material - Google Patents

Abstract

A plant growing material having a combination of novel 5 materials is described in which the plant growing material includes an amount of humate, an amount of a component derived from a first source of vegetation and a component derived from a second source of vegetation. The first source of vegetation is aged or composted bark whereas the 10 second source of vegetation is coir obtained from coconut trees, or coconuts. The advantage of the plant growing material is that the potting mix made from the plant growing material has advantages over existing similar products by improving the growth and development of plants 15 grown in the potting mix and additionally the components of the potting mix are derived from naturally occurring materials. Not only are increased amounts of carbon returned to the soil by incorporating the humate into the potting mix thereby remediating or rejuvenating the soil, 20 but also the use of the components derived from vegetation such as the composted or aged bark and coir pieces improve the quality of the soil 11478012 1 (GHMatters) P80768.AU.3 28/06/19

Description

PLANT GROWING MATERIAL

This application is a divisional application of Australian Application No. 2017203513, the original disclosure of which is incorporated herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to plant growing materials for enhancing the growth and development of growing plants, including plant growing materials in the form of, compositions, formulated products and mixtures and to methods of use and manufacture of such materials.

In one form, the present invention relates to materials containing one or more plant growth promoters for increasing the rate of growth and/or yield of plants being grown in the plant growing materials.

In one form the present invention relates to soil substitutes or enhanced soils for enhancing the growth and/or development of plants that are being grown in the plant growing materials in which the soil substitutes or enhanced soils contain one or more growth promoters, or other materials to increase the rate of growth of the plants, the yield of the plants, the root development of the plants, the growth of foliage of the plants and similar.

The present invention finds particular application as a growing medium in the form of a potting mixture or soil activator mixture containing one or more growth promoters in which the potting mixtures and/or soil activators are

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2019204665 28 Jun 2019 formulated in accordance with the particular type of plant being grown in the mixtures and the nature of the improvement desired in the plant.

Although the present invention will be described with particular reference to selected forms of the plant growing materials, incorporating growth promoters and other materials , it is to be noted that the scope of the present invention is not limited to the forms of the compositions or formulations being specifically described but rather the scope of the present invention is more extensive so as to include other forms of the plant growing material, other constituents of the various compositions and to other methods of making and/or using the various forms of the plant growing materials.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Even with careful management, soils degrade over time and are depleted of the nutrients and minerals essential for healthy plant growth and development. The increasing use of chemical compounds in the environment, particularly in the soil, such as for example, some types of fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, heavy metal compounds, mutagenic substances, carcinogenic substances and the like, all contribute to the degradation of soil and pose a danger to living organisms today and their progeny into the future. Lengthy periods of excessive use in agricultural regions of mineral fertilisers, pesticides, herbicides and other potentially toxic substances in order to improve growth, yield, development and maturity of plants have lead to a deterioration in soil quality and to the accumulation of excessive amounts of potentially dangerous chemicals in

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2019204665 28 Jun 2019 soils which prevent plants realising their maximum potential, particularly as regards to growth of the plants. Therefore, there is a need to provide more natural alternatives to existing chemical based growing media formulations for use in improving the quality of soils so as to promote improved growth and development of plants grown in the improved soils with more natural alternatives that are less harmful to the plants and the environment in which they are used.

One way of providing a more natural alternative is to provide a growing medium which is less deleterious to plants than existing chemical based materials and which is more conducive to enhanced plant growth and development as 15 well as having a less harmful effect on the environment and the soil.

Even if chemicals are not used to assist plant growth or to improve agricultural processes, soils become depleted 20 of nutrients and carbon containing compounds through the repeated use of the soils in which to grow plants, particularly repeatedly growing the same type of plants at the same location. Thus, there is a need to replenish nutrients and carbon containing compounds in soils used for agriculture so as to maintain well balanced soils.

Accordingly, it is an aim of the present invention to use naturally derived materials for incorporation into improved plant growing materials for use in growing plants 30 so as to improve the growth of the plants by increasing such growing factors as the rate of growth, the yield, root development, foliage development and similar.

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Accordingly, it is one aim of the present invention to provide plant growing materials containing one or more plant growth promoters in which the plant growing materials and at least some of the components of the plant growing materials are based on naturally occurring substances and materials or are derived or obtained from naturally occurring materials .

It is an aim of the present invention to provide a potting mix and a method of using the potting mix to enhance the growth and/or development of plants grown in the potting mix in which the potting mix contains one or more materials derived from naturally occurring material that can be used to promote improved growth characteristics in plants grown in the potting mix.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a plant growing material for promoting the growth and/or development of a plant growing in the plant growing material comprising at least one plant growth promoter comprising an organic humate derived from at least one of lignite or leonardite and at least one component derived from vegetation in which the at least one growth promoter and the at least one component derived from vegetation are, or are derived from, naturally occurring materials, wherein a particle size of the humate is in a range up to 20 mm.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a plant growing material for promoting the growth and/or development of a plant when grown in the plant

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2019204665 28 Jun 2019 growing material comprising at least one plant growth promoter comprising an organic humate derived from at least one of lignite or leonardite and at least two different components, both derived from vegetation, in which the at least one plant growth promoter material and the at least two components derived from vegetation are, or are derived from, naturally occurring materials, wherein a particle size of the humate is in a range up to 20 mm.

According to the present invention, there is provided a method of growing plants using a plant growing material to provide enhanced growth and/or development of the plant when grown in the plant growing material including the 15 steps of providing the plant growing material, planting the plant in the plant growing material, and allowing the plant to grow and/or develop in the plant growing material wherein the plant growing material comprises at least one growth promoter comprising an organic humate derived from 20 at least one of lignite or leonardite, and at least one component derived from vegetation wherein the at least one growth promoter and the at least one component derived from vegetation are, or are derived from, naturally occurring materials, wherein a particle size of the humate 25 is in a range up to 20 mm.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a plant grown in a plant growing material that enhances the growth and/or development of the plant wherein the plant growing material comprises at least one plant growth promoter comprising an organic humate derived from at least one of lignite or leonardite, and at least one component derived from vegetation in which the at

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2019204665 28 Jun 2019 least one growth promoter and the at least one component derived from vegetation are or are derived from naturally occurring materials, wherein a particle size of humate is in a range up to 20 mm.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a potting mixture for enhancing the growth and/or development of a plant when growing in the potting mixture wherein the potting mixture comprises from about 40% to 10 about 95% by volume of composted or aged bark in the form of pieces or particles from about 5% to about 30% by volume of pieces or particles of coir and from about 5% to about 40% by volume of an organic humate derived from at least one of lignite or leonardite, wherein a particle 15 size of the humate is in a range up to 20mm.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a soil activator material for addition to soil or other plant growing medium for enhancing the growth of plants growing in the soil to which the soil activator is added, wherein the soil activator material comprises from about 50 to 99.8% of at least one growth promoter comprising an organix humate derived from at least one of lignite or leonardite, wherein a particle size of the humate is in a range up to 20mm, from about 0.1% to about 50% by weight of at least one component derived from a vegetation material, and up to about 1% by weight of wetting agent in which the at least one plant growth promoter and the at least one component derived from a vegetation material are or are derived from naturally occurring materials .

According to one aspect of the present invention there is

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2019204665 28 Jun 2019 provided a material or method in which the plant growing material in the form of a potting mix including a granulated humate derived from at least one of lignite or leonardite, wheren a particle size of the humate is in a range up to 20mm, the plant growing material having the following formulation:

Granulated humate greater than

0%

Composted bark

Mineral Wetting Agent

Mineral fertiliser

Coir

Sand

Grit

Zeolite

Woodchip

Lime

Gypsum

- 100%

- 0.5%

- 1.0%

- 50%

- 40%

- 25%

- 10%

- 50%

0-5%

- 10%

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a material or method in which the plant growing material in the form of a potting mix including a granulated humate derived from at least one of lignite or leonardite, wherein a particle size of the humate is in a range up to 20 mm, the plant growing material having the following formulation:

Granulated humate derived from at least one of lignite or leonardite

Composted bark

- 40%

- 50%

Mineral Wetting Agent

0.1 - 0.3%

Mineral fertiliser

0.2 - 0.5%

Coir

- 20%

Sand

- 20%

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Grit

Zeolite

Woodchip

Lime

Gypsum

- 10%

0.1 - 5%

- 30%

0.1 - 2%

0.05 - 5%

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a material or method in which the plant growing material in the form of a potting mix including a granulated humate derived from at least one of lignite or leonardite, wherein a size of the humate is in a range up to 20mm, the plant growing material having the following formulation:

Granulated humate derived from at least one of

15	lignite or leonardite	30%
	Composted bark	47%
	Mineral Wetting Agent	0.2%
	Mineral fertiliser	0.2%
	Coir	10%
20	Sand	1%
	Grit	0%
	Zeolite	0.1%
	Woodchip	5%
	Lime	0.2%
25	Gypsum	0.05%

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a material or method in which the plant growing material in the form of a potting mix including a granulated humate derived from at least one of lignite or leonardite, wherein a particle size of the humate is in a range up to 20mm, the plant growing material having the following formulation:

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Granulated humate derived from at least one of lignite or leonardite

Composted bark

Mineral Wetting Agent

Mineral fertiliser

Coir

Sand

Grit

Zeolite

Woodchip

Lime

Gypsum

- 40%

- 60%

0.1 - 0.3%

0.1 - 0.8%

- 35%

- 30%

0.5 - 10%

0.1 - 5%

- 20%

0.1 - 3%

0.01 - 5%

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a material or method in which the plant growing material in the form of a potting mix including a granulated humate derived from at least one of lignite or leonardite, wherein a particle size of the humate is in a range up to 20mm, the plant growing following formulation:

Granulated humate derived lignite or leonardite

Composted bark

Mineral Wetting Agent

Mineral fertiliser

Coir

Sand

Grit

Zeolite

Woodchip

Lime

Gypsum material having the from at least one of

- 40%

- 60%

0.1

0.1

0.5

0.1

0.1

0.3%

0.8%

35%

30%

10%

5%

20%

3%

0.01 - 5%

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According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a material or method in which the plant growing material is in the form of a potting mix including a granulated humate derived from at least one of lignite or 5 leonardite, wherein a particle size of the humate is in a range up to 20mm, the plant growing material having the following formulation:

Granulated humate derived from at least one of lignite of or leonardite 15%

Composted bark 54%

Mineral Wetting Agent 0.2%

Mineral fertiliser 0.4%

Coir 8%

Sand 10%

Grit 1%

Zeolite 0.1%

Woodchip 10%

Lime 0.5%

Gypsum 0.01%

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a material or method in which the plant growing material is in the form of a potting mix including a granulated humate derived from at least one of lignite or 25 leonardite, wherein a particle size of the humate is in a range up to 20 mm, the plant growing material having the following formulation:

Granulated humate derived from at least one of

lignite of or leonardite	5 - 50%
Composted bark	40 - 95%
Mineral Wetting Agent	0.1 - 0.3%
Mineral fertiliser	0.1 - 0.5%
Coir	5 - 30%

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Sand	1 - 10%
Grit	0 - 10%
Zeolite	0.1 - 5
Woodchip	1 - 20%
Lime	0.1 - 3
Gypsum	0.05 -

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a material or method in which the plant growing 10 material is in the form of a potting mix including a granulated humate derived from at least one of lignite or leonardite, wherein a particle size of the humate is in a range up to 20mm, the plant growing material having the following formulation:

15	Granulated humate derived from at	least one of
	lignite or leonardite	20 - 40%
	Composted bark	40 - 80%
	Mineral Wetting Agent	0.2%
	Mineral fertiliser	0.2%
20	Coir	10 - 20%
	Sand	1%
	Grit	0%
	Zeolite	0.1%
	Woodchip	5%
25	Lime	0.2%
	Gypsum	0.05%

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

PLANT GROWING MATERIAL

In one form, the plant growing material is or includes a potting mix or mixtures in which plants are to be grown.

In one form the potting mix is a potting mix suitable as

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2019204665 28 Jun 2019 the growing medium of or for use in a domestic garden. In another form the potting mix is for commercial or industrial applications, such as for example for use in a nursery, tree farm, show garden, botanical garden or the 5 like.

In one form the potting mixture includes a compost material, typically an organic compost material. In one form, the potting mix includes a compost containing bark.

More preferably, the potting mixture includes at least two materials derived from vegetation, such as for example, coir, composted or aged bark, or similar. Applications of the plant growing medium include providing ready to use potting mixtures in which the plants may be inserted directly, potting mixtures which can be mixed with other materials, such as soils, artificial soils or the like to form a growing medium. The plants include seeds, seedlings, plant plugs, plant tubes, established plants, developing plants and the like.

GROWTH PROMOTER

One form of the growth promoter used in the formulations, compositions and mixtures of the present invention, particularly in potting mixes, is organic humate. Humate is a general term used to describe a range of materials which are essentially carbon based and are used to increase the amount of organic matter in soils and plant growing materials. Typically, organic humates are used to replace minerals and nutrients that have been depleted from the soil. Humates are derived from humus. Humus is a transformational product of the remains of animal and vegetable organisms, which remain are more resistant to

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2019204665 28 Jun 2019 decay than the initial biomass containing the remains or the materials surrounding the remains. Humus is a partial decomposition product which occurs in nature. Humus is a general term relating to decomposition of products found 5 in nature, and are naturally occurring materials. Humus is a mixture of complex materials and compounds including the many humic acids. The humic acids have a very complex structure.

In one form, humic substances are derived from brown coal (lignite) and are a rich source of naturally occurring acidic, carboxylic and phenolic groups which can provide reactive sites in nature for a range of reactions and functions, such as for example, reactive sites for cation exchange, reactive sites that bind and sequester phytotoxic elements, reactive sites that provide increased pH buffering of soils and promote the penetration of water and the retention of calcium in the soil as well as improve nutrient transport from the soil to plants.

Humic substances, generally referred to as humates, include humic acids and their salts. One source of humic acids and their salts is brown coal. The humic substances include humic acid, fulvic acid, humin and similar materials. The incorporation of humic fractions into compost or other soil substitutes including, potting mixtures or mixes of artificial or enhanced soils or soil substitutes improves the amount of organic matter in the soil which in turn is responsible for the generic improvement of soil fertility and improved productivity.

Overall, the incorporation of humates in the soil is beneficial to the soil.

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Humates are one example of the growth promoters used in the various formulations and/or compositions of the present invention. The humates can be used alone or in mixtures of different sources of humates, or can be used in combination with other growth promoters, additives or the like to form plant growing materials or are one component of plant growing materials.

Typically the humate is a low salt humate which contains little or minimal salt.

Typically, the amount of growth promoter in the form of humate material included in some embodiments of the plant growing material is up to about 40% by volume, more typically, up to about 35% by volume, even more typically from about 5 to 30% by volume based on the total volume of the plant growing material. In some embodiments, the amount of humate is from about 0% to about 20% by volume. However, in some compositions, such as for example, in one or more of the soil activator formulations forming examples of the plant growing materials in accordance with the present invention, which soil activator formulations are added to existing plant growing media, such as soils, soil substitutes or similar, as distinct from being the plant growing material itself, the amount of humates can be up to about 99.8% of the weight of the composition when it is desired to increase the carbon content of existing soils having a depleted carbon content.

In one form, the humate includes brown coal, lignite, peat, leonardites or similar materials containing decayed matter or mixtures of two or more such materials or the like. One of the better sources of humates and other

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2019204665 28 Jun 2019 humic substances is leonardites which is a highly oxidized low grade lignite that contains a relatively high concentration of the small molecular units found in humates, such as the fulvic acids. Another form of humate 5 are the so called 'regenerated humic acids' or 'ulmins' which have characteristics that are similar to humic acids derived from low grade lignites.

In one form the humate, particularly in the form of brown 10 coal is used as quarried or supplied from the supplier.

However, it is preferable that the brown coal or lignite be used in the form as mined, quarried, or as supplied.

In one form, the quarried organic humate is supplied as large pieces, sometimes in the form of clumps or aggregates. In some embodiments, the humate is used as supplied whereas in other embodiments, the humate is worked and/or treated prior to use, optionally after first ageing the humates, such as by storing the humates in the open. In one embodiment, treating or working the humate includes milling, screening, comminuting, or similar including combinations of operations to reduce the size of the pieces to particles, typically particles of a more uniform size distribution and/or homogenous mix having a granular texture and to screen the particles into different sized batches. Typically, the humate is worked and/or treated to form a size that can be homogenously worked through or with the other components being added to, or to form the plant growing material so as to enable a more or less homogenous mixture to be produced as the plant growing material itself or for adding to the existing soil.

In one form, the humate pieces or particles are reduced in

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2019204665 28 Jun 2019 size to a particle size profile which facilitates the reduction and/or prevention of leaching of the particles, such as for example, to prevent or reduce excess water runoff from the humate particles and/or plant growing material particles that carries particulates, particularly fine particulates away from the humate and/or mixture.

Properties and characteristics of the plant growth promoter in the form of humates include the following:

Properties

FEATURES	PROPERTIES
High Water Holding Capacity	Greater than 200% of its dry weight
High Cation Exchange Capacity	200 - 250 meq /100g
Good Chemical Buffer	Maintains pH range between 5 to 7
High Porosity (Air filled porosity)	Up to 30% by volume
High Organic Carbon Content	Up to 70% organic carbon
High Natural Humic and Fulvic Acids content	20% humic acid, slow release form

In one form, the humate pieces or particles are screened using a suitable screening device such as for example a 15 separator, a sieve, trommel or similar to produce batches of particles having different defined sized ranges. In one form the screening device is a separation device in the form of a trommel having a variety of different sized

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2019204665 28 Jun 2019 screens, including individual screens having a range of apertures, such as for example, individual sizes from 0 to 6mm, 6 to 10mm, and greater than 10mm. It is preferred that the humate used in accordance with the present invention have particle sizes less than 10mm which is to say that the particles not be retained on the 10+mm screen. However, it is to be noted that other sizes of particles and other distributions of size ranges are possible, such as sizes ranging up to 10mm, up to 12mm, up to 15mm, up to 20mm or the like depending upon the requirements of the particular use to which the plant growing material is to be used.

Typically, the screened and sized humate particles are optionally readmitted to the screening device to be remilled and/or recomminuted so as to provide a more uniform particle size distribution. Additionally, particles too large to fall through the screen size of 10mm are readmitted for resizing to a desired particle size range.

Typically, the treatment of or working operations conducted on the humate produce a combination of particle sizes which result in the humate being of a granular texture, and having a sufficiently small size so as to be able to be worked through the soil when applied directly to the soil to improve the organic content of the soil or when being mixed with composted bark or being added to form a potting mix, such as for example, a fully formulated potting mix, but not so fine a particle size so as to produce a dust which is easily removed from the soil or plant growing material by being wind blown, or being carried away in the water run off so as to be leached out

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2019204665 28 Jun 2019 of the compost or potting mix.

Typically, the treatment or pretreatment of the humate material optionally includes moisture control in which the amount of moisture within the humate is controlled to allow ease of subsequent processing and/or mixture with other components and/or incorporation into the plant growing material. Typically, the moisture content of the humate is in the range of about 40% to about 70% w/w, more 10 typically being maintained in the range of from about 45% to about 65% w/w. In some embodiments, water is added to the humate to maintain the humate moist which is the preferred form of the humate which is used in formulations of the present invention. Preferably, the moisture content of the humate as supplied is sufficient for the humate to be used in the potting mix.

MATERIAL DERIVED FROM VEGETATION (i) COMPOSTED OR AGED BARK

Typically, the plant growing material of the present invention, particularly in the form of a potting mixture, includes at least one material containing, obtained from 25 or derived from a vegetation source. More typically, the plant growing material includes two or more vegetation materials or materials derived from vegetation.

Typically, the first material derived from vegetation is a 30 material derived from a tree or shrub, such as for example, bark that has been composted or aged. The bark prior to composting or ageing, can be obtained from any suitable source. In one form the bark is a pine bark

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2019204665 28 Jun 2019 obtained from trees of a pine plantation, preferably from pinus radiata trees. Alternatively, or additionally, the bark can be obtained from hoop pine (Araucaria Cunningham!i), Slash Pine (pinus elliotii), or similar.

Typically, the bark pieces are treated or worked in a working operation prior to use. More typically, the working includes sizing, such as for example, reduction in size, comminuting or the like. Even more typically, the bark pieces are reduced to particles having a predetermined size, distribution of sizes, or a range or ranges of sizes. Typically, there are separate batches of composted bark in which each batch has a different size range or particle size distribution. Typical particle size ranges of the individual batches are up to 5mm, from to 10mm and above 10mm. However, other particle size ranges are possible and other numbers of batches are possible.

Within the one particle size range or batch, such as for example, in the 5 to 10mm size range or batch, there is a distribution of sizes, typically a normal distribution range extending from 5mm to 10mm. Similarly, there is a normal distribution of sizes within other particle size ranges or batches so that in some embodiments, each particle size range has a normal distribution within the overall size distribution, which adds to the uniformity of the particle sizes of the particles within the bark pieces being used, which in turn produces a more homogeneous mixture and product containing the mixture, such as the potting mix.

In other forms, the particle size range is from about up

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2019204665 28 Jun 2019 to 3mm to 5mm, whilst in other forms, the particle size is up to 7mm and from 7mm to 12mm. It is to be noted that any suitable size range or any number of different batches of different size ranges can be used in the present invention.

(ii) PEAT/PITH

Typically, the second material derived from vegetation is derived from a tree, bush or shrub, more typically from a 10 coconut tree. Preferably, the second material is peat pith, coir or like material obtained from coconuts. In one form, the coir is in the form of chips, ranging in size of up to about 50mm, typically up to about 40mm, more typically from about 4mm to 40mm, even more typically 20mm 15 to 25mm. Alternatively or additionally, the coir can be supplied and/or used in the form of pith, typically up to about 5mm in size and/or length, preferably about 2mm to 3mm in length. In one embodiment, the coir is sized in the range of particle sizes, having particle size distributions the same as or similar to the particle size distribution of the humate and/or composted or aged bark. Typically, the peat pith derived from coir is in the form of a mash or similar.

Typical properties of the peat pith coir or the like includes the following:

Electrical Conductivity (EC) of from about 1 to about 600 S/m²;

pH of from about 5 to about 8.

Typically, the coir pieces, when used, have a high water

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2019204665 28 Jun 2019 content such as for example, when hydrated can have up to about 80% w/w in the form as used to make the potting mixes .

ADDITIVES

Typically, different forms of the plant growing materials include one or more of different types of additives or auxiliaries which are included in the formulation or composition of the plant growing material, to further improve the growth and/or development of plants grown in 10 such materials depending upon the type of plant being grown in the material. Typical examples of additives include fillers, bulking agents, wetting agents, moisture retention agents, grits, sand, pH adjustment agents, surfactants, fertilizers, fungicides, buffering agents or 15 the like.

One particularly preferred wetting agent is SATURAID® made and sold by Debco which is a flowable granular carrier of a water dispersible substance.

WETTING AGENTS

One example of a wetting agent will now be described. Expanded coir and zeolite granules are added to and mixed in a 2 M³ blender with surfactant being added during the 25 mixing process. Typical formulations for the wetting agent include the following:

Organic Wetting Agent Formulations

	Possible (w/w%)	Typical (w/w%)	Preferable (w/w%)
Expanded Coir	5% - 75%	10% - 50%	30%

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Zeolite Granules	15% - 85%	20% - 70%	55%
Surfactant	5% - 30%	10% - 20%	15%

Typically, one or more vegetation materials and/or additives are also included in the various potting mix formulations. Examples of additives include wetting agents, other soil enhancing materials, other vegetation 5 derived materials, fertilizers, fillers, pH adjustment agents or the like. Typically, all of the components, of the potting mix, including the additives, are naturally derived and/or are suitable for addition to formulations regarded as being 'natural' or 'organic' or the like.

A typical formulation of the plant growing material is as follows :

Packaged Potting Mix Formulations containing

Organic Humate

	Possible (v/v%)	Typical (v/v%)	Preferable (v/v%)
Granularised Humate	0% -100%	25% - 40%	30%
Composted Bark	0% - 100%	47% - 50%	47%
Mineral Wetting Agent - Saturaid	0% - 0.5%	0.1% - 0.3%	0.2%
Mineral Fertiliser	0% - 1.0%	0.2% - 0.5%	0.2%
Coir	0% - 50%	5% - 20%	10%
Sand	0% - 40%	0% - 20%	1%
Grit	0% - 25%	0% - 10%	0%
Zeolite	0% - 10%	0.1% - 5%	0.1%
Woodchip	0% - 50%	5% - 30%	5%
Lime	0% - 5%	0.1% - 2%	0.2%
Gypsum	0% - 10%	0.05% - 5%	0.05%

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Bulk Potting Mix Formulations containing

Organic Humate

	Possible (v/v%)	Typical (v/v%)	Preferable (v/v%)
Granularised Humate	0% -100%	7% - 40%	15%
Composted Bark	0% - 100%	40% - 60%	54%
Mineral Wetting Agent - Saturaid	0% - 0.5%	0.1% - .3%	0.2%
Mineral Fertiliser	0% - 1.0%	0.1% - 0.8%	0.4%
Coir	0% - 50%	5% - 35%	8%
Sand	0% - 40%	5% - 30%	10%
Grit	0% - 25%	0.5% - 10%%	1%
Zeolite	0% - 10%	0.1% - 5%	0.1%
Woodchip	0% - 50%	5% - 20%	10%
Lime	0% - 5%	0.1% - 3%	0.5%
Gypsum	0% - 10%	0.01% - 5%	0.01%

Another group of typical formulations include formulations relating to the soil activator form of the invention which include the following:

Soil Constructor Formulations

	Possible (v/v%)	Typical (v/v%)	Preferable (v/v%)
Granularised Humate	15% -100%	99.0% - 99.8%	99.7%
Organic Wetting Agent	0% - 2.0%	0.1% - 1%	0.3%
Coir	0% - 80%	Optional	Optional

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Other Soil Constructor Formulations include the following:

Granularised Humate

Coir

Organic Wetting Agent

Mineral Wetting Agent

Saturaid

Organic Fertiliser

Mineral Fertiliser

Lime

Gypsum (v/v%)

15% -100%

0% - 80%

0% - 2%

0% - 1%

0% - 80%

0% - 80%

0% - 60%

0% - 80%

It is to be noted that in some embodiments, formulations of the potting mix are to be used as the plant growing media so that plants are directly planted in such formulations, such as for example, pots containing the potting mix, whereas in other formulations, such as for example, the various soil constructor formulations are added to existing plant growing media, such as existing soils or the like to form the material in which the plants are planted.

In one form, the plant growing material is a potting mix whereas in another form, it is a soil activator. Soil activator compositions or formulations contain a very high amount of humate. In one form, the soil activator contains 99.5%, preferably 99.7% of the growth promoter and about 0.5%, preferably about 0.3% of an organic wetting agent.

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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments illustrating aspects of the present invention will now be described with reference to the following examples which are to be regarded as illustrative of the invention only and not restrictive of the scope of the invention.

EXAMPLE 1

Initial trial with composted bark and Organic Humate

The results obtained in this trial relates to the use of one form of Organic Humate. In the initial trials the effect of adding increasing amounts of Organic Humate to bark were investigated. The bark used was composted to be in the particle size range of <5mm. There were two fertilizer levels one which consisted only of starter fertiliser and the other which consisted of starter fertiliser together with another fertilizer which is Green Jacket No. 2.® added at 4 grams per litre of mix. Green Jacket 2 is a Registered Trademark of Debco and is a tough, durable, non-porous thermostat polyurethane membrane having controlled release of fertiliser.

The idea of using starter fertiliser only was to test the value of high cation exchange capacity of the Organic Humate.

The make up of the treatments was as follows: The composted bark and Organic Humate combinations were proportions of one with the other. The fertiliser rates were in grams per litre of mix (equivalent to kg per cubic metre).

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	Composted Bark %	Organic Humate %	GJ 2	Sal-an	D. Super	Lime	Saturaid
A	100	0		0.5	0.25	2.0	1.5
B	90	10		0.5	0.25	2.0	1.5
C	80	20		0.5	0.25	2.0	1.5
D	70	30		0.5	0.25	2.0	1.5
E	100	0	4	0.5	0.25	2.0	1.5
F	90	10	4	0.5	0.25	2.0	1.5
G	80	20	4	0.5	0.25	2.0	1.5
H	70	30	4	0.5	0.25	2.0	1.5

Petunias and dahlias were used as test plants. The results without Green Jacket (Samples A to D above) showed 5 that the higher the quantity of Organic Humate in the mix the greater the plant growth. Where Green Jacket was added (Samples E to H above) there were again good responses to the Organic Humate. This was more noticeable with the petunias although there was a slight drop off in 10 growth at the highest proportion of Organic Humate.

In the foregoing table of results GJ 2 refer to the use of

Green Jacket 2 which was added as a controlled release fertiliser.

Sal-an is a form of mineral nitrogen which is added as a quick release fertiliser.

D.Super is added as a controlled release fertiliser.

Lime is added as a controlled release fertiliser.

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Saturaid is added as a granular soil wetting agent.

EXAMPLE 2

Second Trial with composted bark, Organic Humate and coir

This trial tested different quantities of Organic Humane in combination with composted bark, both with and without coir. The make up of the treatments were as follows. The effect of using the Organic Humate at 50% of the mix was included in the trial.

	Composted Bark	Humate	Coir	GJ No. 2	Sal-an	D. Super	Lime	Saturaid
A	100	0		5	0.5	0.25	2	1.5
B	75	25		5	0.5	0.25	2	1.5
C	50	50		5	0.5	0.25	2	1.5
D	85	0	15	5	0.5	0.25	2	1.5
E	60	25	15	5	0.5	0.25	2	1.5
F	35	50	15	5	0.5	0.25	2	1.5

Lettuce, tomatoes, eucalypts and lavender were used as test plants. Lettuce and lavender very much favoured the humate treatments. The tomatoes, while responding to Organic Humate without coir in the mix, showed negative responses to high rates of Organic Humate when coir was

0 present in the mix. The eucalypt showed no preference.

EXAMPLE 3

One example illustrating the manufacture of one formulation will now be described.

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Organic humate in the form of low salt content brown coal (lignite) is obtained from a suitable source, such as for example, quarried from a suitable site and transported in coarse lumps to a manufacturing facility. The humate as supplied is subjected to a first treatment or working step in which the size of large lumps of the lignite are reduced in size by rolling the lumps to reduce their size to a more manageable size. The reduced size pieces are then further treated or worked to further reduce their size by passage through a separator. One form of the separator is a trommel having a multitude of different sized screens or sieves to resize the pieces into particles. The screens are arranged in sizes to form separate lots of similarly sized particles. The first screen of sieve forms a lot of particles from 0 to 6mm, the second lot has a particle size of from about 6 to 10mm and a further lot has a particle size greater than 10mm. The further lot of oversize particles having a particle size of greater than 10mm is reworked by further passage through the trommel to further reduce the size to less than 10mm which is a more useful size. The screening process results in the organic humate having a range of particle sizes within each broad particle size range, such as for example, each of the particle size range from the individual screens has a normal distribution of sizes having a more or less bell shaped curve, and the combinations of the different particle sizes results in the mixture having a granular texture in which the particles are sufficiently fine to be worked into and through the soil in the event the plant growing mixture is added to the soil, or into and through the remaining components of the potting mix, but not so fine that the

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2019204665 28 Jun 2019 smaller particles form a dust which has a tendency to be blown away in the wind or be leached from the soil by being washed away which water run off from the soil or plant growing material, i.e. potting mix. After sizing the organic humate is ready for incorporation into various formulations depending upon the use to which the formulation is to be put.

In one formulation peat pith, or coconut pith or coconut mash obtained from coconuts being one form of the vegetation material or material derived from vegetation is used in the formulation. This material is often referred to as coir.

In these embodiments, the pith or similar having a moderately high water content, is formed into a mash or similar when treated or worked to reduce the particle size of the pith pieces. Optionally, the mash of pith is heated so as to expand the individual pieces to a more useable size.

In formulations containing composted bark, as another example of vegetation derived material, the bark is obtained from a suitable source and delivered to the manufacturing site. The bark is comminuted from relatively large sized pieces or clumps to usable sized particles having a desirable size distribution in a similar manner to that employed for the organic humate and coir. After resizing the bark particles are composted until sufficiently aged so as to be ready for mixing with the organic humate and/or coir to form the plant growing material.

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In some examples of the potting mixture made in accordance with the present invention, other additives are added to the mixture of organic humate and composted bark optionally containing coir. Such additives include (i) organic wetting agents, such as SATURAID®, (ii) mineral fertilizers, such as Green Jacket™ (iii) filler materials (iv) drainage materials and the like.

Suitable formulations include the following:

Potting Mix containing Organic Humate

	Possible (v/v%)	Typical (v/v%)	Preferable (v/v%)
Granularised Humate	0% -100%	5% - 50%	20% - 40%
Composted Bark	0% - 100%	40% - 95%	40% - 80%
Mineral Wetting Agent e.g. Saturaid	0% - 0.5%	0.1% - 0.3%	0.2%
Mineral Fertiliser	0% - 1.0%	0.1% - 0.5%	0.2%
Coir	0% - 50%	5% - 30%	10% - 20%
Sand	0% - 40%	1% - 10%	1%
Grit	0% - 25%	0% - 10%	0%
Zeolite	0% - 10%	0.1% - 5%	0.1%
Woodchip	0% - 50%	1% - 20%	5%
Lime	0% - 5%	0.1% - 3%	0.2%
Gypsum	0% - 10%	0.05% - 5%	0.05%

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ADVANTAGES OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

Growing trials using the compositions of the present invention have demonstrated that the inclusion of organic humate material, particularly in an amount of up to about 30% of the total weight of the plant growing material, optimises plant growth and development of the plants, both in respect of the time taken to flower, ripen, reach productivity and the yield of the plant with increased fruit, flowers, and the like.

Some forms of the compositions in accordance with the present invention provide the following benefits:

Soil Constructor

Soil Constructor produces better soil. High organic carbon content, balancing PH levels, clay breaking & promoting micro-organisms will provide a better soil structure which means better water holding capacity.

Trace minerals and fertilisers will be better utilised to improve plant growth.

Formulations through cation exchange will trap trace minerals and fertilisers, making more available to plants when they need it, thus providing savings.

Plants of all kinds will be naturally healthier, stronger, more nutritious, and more resistant to pests, drought, disease and poisons.

The use of the present invention provides a reduction in the impact on the environment, by improving the condition

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2019204665 28 Jun 2019 of the soil so that reliance on chemical fertilisers, chemical pesticides is reduced whilst still producing more healthy, productive plants.

In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word comprise or variations such as comprises or comprising is used in an inclusive sense,

i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.

It is to be understood that, if any prior art publication is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country.

The described arrangement has been advanced by explanation and many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention which includes every novel feature and novel combination of features herein disclosed.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention described herein is susceptible to variations and modifications other than those specifically described. It is understood that the invention includes all such variations and modifications which fall within the spirit and scope.

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Claims (6)

1. THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:

   1. A plant growing material for promoting the growth and/or development of a plant growing in the plant

   5 growing material comprising at least one plant growth promoter comprising an organic humate derived from at least one lignite or leonardite and at least one component derived from vegetation in which the at least one growth promoter and the at least one

   10 component derived from vegetation are, or are derived from, naturally occurring materials, wherein a particle size of the humate is in a range up to 20mm.
2. 2. A plant growing material for promoting the growth

   15 and/or development of a plant when grown in the plant growing material comprising at least one plant growth promoter comprising an organic humate derived from at least one of lignite or leonardite and at least two different components, both derived from vegetation,

   20 in which the at least one plant growth promoter material and the least two components derived from vegetation are, or are derived from, naturally occurring materials, wherein a particle size of the humate is in a range up to 20mm.
3. 3. A method of growing plants using a plant growing material to provide enhanced growth and/or development of the plant when grown in the plant growing material including the steps of providing the

   3 0 plant growing material, planting the plant in the plant growing material, and allowing the plant to grow and/or develop in the plant growing material wherein the plant growing material comprises at least

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   2019204665 28 Jun 2019 one growth promoter comprising an organic humate derived from at least one of lignite or leonardite, and at least one component derived from vegetation wherein the at least one growth promoter and the at
4. 5 least one component derived from vegetation are, or are derived from, naturally occurring materials, wherein a particle size of the humate is in a range up to 20mm.

   10 4. A plant grown in a plant growing material that enhances the growth and/or development of the plant wherein the plant growing material comprises at least one growth promoter comprising an organic humate derived from at least one of lignite or leonardite,

   15 and at least one component derived from vegetation in which the at least one growth promoter and the at least one component derived from vegetation are or are derived from naturally occurring materials, wherein a particle size of the humate is in a range

   20 up to 20mm.

   5. A potting mixture for enhancing the growth and/or development of a plant when growing in the potting mixture wherein the potting mixture comprises from

   25 about 40% to about 95% by volume of composted or aged bark in the form of pieces or particles from about 5% to about 30% by volume of pieces or particles of coir and from about 5% to about 40% by volume of an organic humate derived from at least one of lignite

   30 or leonardite, wherein a particle size of the humate is in a range up to 20mm.
5. 6. A soil activator material for addition to soil or

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   2019204665 28 Jun 2019 other plant growing medium for enhancing the growth of plants growing in the soil activator, wherein the soil activator material comprises from about 50 to 99.8% of at least one growth promoter comprising an

   5 organic humate derived from at least one of lignite or leonardite, wherein a particle size of the humate is in a range up to 20mm, from about 0.1% to about 50% by weight of at least one component derived from a vegetation material, and up to about 1% by weight

   10 of an organic wetting agent in which the at least one plant growth promoter and the least one component derived from a vegetation material are or are derived from naturally occurring materials.

   15 7. A material or method according to any preceding claim in which the plant growing material is a potting mix or mixtures of two or more potting mixes.

   8. A material or method according to any preceding claim

   20 in which the potting mix includes a compost material such as an organic compost material.

   9. A material or method according to any preceding claim in which the potting mix further includes a bark

   25 containing compost.

   10. A material or method according to any preceding claim in which the potting mix includes at least two materials derived from vegetation.

   11. A material or method according to any preceding claim in which the material derived from vegetation includes coir and composted or aged bark.

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   12. A material or method according to any preceding claim in which the organic humate includes a precursor for and a derivative of the organic humate.

   13. A material or method according to any preceding claim in which the humate is in the form of humic acid and the humic acid is derived from the lignite.

   10 14. A material or method according to any preceding claim in which the humate is a humic substance including humic acid, fulvic acid, humin and other materials.

   15. A material or method according to any preceding claim

   15 in which the humate is derived from a single source or from two or more sources mixed together to provide desired properties .

   16. A material or method according to any preceding claim

   20 in which the humate is a low salt humate containing little or minimal salt so as not to adversely affect unduly the growth and development of plants grown in a potting mix having the humate.

   25 17. A material or method according to any preceding claim in which the humate is present in the plant growing material in an amount up to about 40% by volume, preferably up to about 30% by volume, more preferably in an amount from about 5 to 30% by volume based on

   30 the total volume of the plant growing material.

   18. A material or method according to any preceding claim in which the plant growing material is or includes a

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   - 37 soil activator.

   19. A material or method according to any preceding claim in which the plant growing material is in the form of

   5 a soil activator in which the soil activator contains up to about 99.8% by weight of humate based on the total weight of the plant growing material.

   20. A material or method according to any preceding claim

   10 in which the humate is incorporated into the plant growing material in the form as mined, quarried or supplied.

   21. A material or method according to any preceding claim

   15 in which the humate is treated or worked so as to result in a more or less even distribution of particle sizes.

   22. A material or method according to any preceding claim

   20 in which the treating or working of the humate includes milling, screening, comminuting, sizing or combinations of two or more different operations to reduce the size of the pieces of humate as supplied to more uniform particle size distributions in order 25 to form more or less a homogenous mix having a granular texture suitable for use as a potting mix.

   23. A material or method according to any preceding claim in which the humate is worked and/or treated to form

   30 a size that can be homogenously worked through or with the other components being added to or to form the plant growing material so as to enable a more or less homogenous mixture to be produced either as the

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   2019204665 28 Jun 2019 plant growing material itself or for adding to other plant growing medium as one component.

   24. A material or method according to any preceding claim

   5 in which the size of the humate pieces are reduced to particle size profile which facilitates the reduction and/or prevention of leaching of the particles such as to prevent or reduce excess water runoff from the humate particles and/or plant growing material.

   25. A material or method according to any preceding claim in which the humate pieces or particles are screened using a suitable screening device to form individual batches of particle size ranges including a first

   15 batch having a size up to 6 mm, a second batch having a size from 6 to 10 mm, and a third batch having a particle size of greater than 10 mm.

   26. A material or method according to any preceding claim

   20 in which the particle size distribution of the humate particles after treatment are arranged to have batch sizes of at least a first, second, third and fourth batch in which the first batch is up to 10 mm, the second batch is up to 12 mm, the third batch is up to 25 15 mm and the fourth batch up to 20 mm.

   27. A material or method according to any preceding claim in which the treatment, or pre-treatment for working of the humate includes moisture control in which the

   30 amount of moisture within the humate is controlled to allow ease of and subsequent processing and/or mixture with other components or for incorporation into the plant growing material.

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   28. A material or method according to any preceding claim in which the moisture content of the humate is in the range of from about 40% to about 70% w/w, preferably

   5 in the range from about 45% to about 65% w/w.

   29. A material or method according to any preceding claim in which the first material derived from vegetation is a material derived from a tree or shrub including

   10 a bark that has been composted or aged.

   30. A material or method according to any preceding claim in which the composted or aged bark is obtained from a pine plantation including pinus radiata, hoop pine

   15 (Araucaria Cunningham!i) or other pine (pinus elliotii).

   31. A material or method according to any preceding claim in which the composted or aged bark pieces are sized

   20 so as to be compatible in size with the humate particles for incorporation into the plant growing material.

   32. A material or method according to any preceding claim

   25 in which the particle size ranges of the composted or aged bark is arranged in batches in which at least a first batch has a particle size up to 5 mm, a second batch has a particle size from 5 to 10 mm, and a third batch has a particle size of above 10 mm.

   33. A material or method according to any preceding claim in which the second material derived from vegetation is derived from a tree, bush, shrub, or similar in

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   2019204665 28 Jun 2019 the form of peat pith, coir or other similar material obtained from coconuts .

   34. A material or method according to any preceding claim 5 in which the coir is in the form of chips, ranging in size of up to about 50 mm, typically up to about 40 mm, more typically from about 4 mm to about 40 mm and even more typically from about 20 mm to about 25 mm.

   35.

   A material or method according to any preceding claim in which the coir has a size of about

   5 mm in length, preferably from about 2 mm to 3 mm in length.

   36.

   37.

   38.

   A material or method according to any preceding claim in which the plant growing material further includes an additive.

   A material or method according to any preceding claim in which the additive includes fillers, bulking agents, wetting agents, moisture retention agents, grits, sand, pH adjustment agents, surfactants, fertilisers, fungicides, buffering agents and the like.

   A material or method according to any preceding claim in which the plant growing material includes a wetting agent which wetting agent is a flowable carrier of a water dispersible granular substance.

   39.

   A material or method in which the plant growing material in the form of a potting mix including a granulated humate derived from at least one of lignite or leonardite, wherein a particle size of the

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   humate is in a range up to 20mm, the plant growing material having the following formulation: Granulated humate Greater than 0% Composted bark 0 - 100% 5 Mineral Wetting Agent 0 -0.5% Mineral fertiliser 0 - 1.0% Coir 0 - 50% Sand 0 - 40% Grit 0 - 25% 10 Zeolite 0 - 10% Woodchip 0 - 50% Lime 0 - 5% Gypsum 0 - 10% 15 40. A material or method in which the plant growing

   material in the form of a potting mix including a

   granulated humate derived from at least one of lignite or leonardite, wherein a particle size of t humate is in a range up to 20mm, the plant growing 20 material having the following : formulation: Granulated humate derived from at least one of lignite or leonardite 25 - 40% Composted bark 47 - 50% Mineral Wetting Agent 0.1 - 0.3% 25 Mineral fertiliser 0.2 - 0.5% Coir 5 - 20% Sand 0 - 20% Grit 0 - 10% Zeolite 0.1 - 5% 30 Woodchip 5 - 30% Lime 0.1 - 2% Gypsum 0.05 - 5%

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   41.

   A material or method in which the material in the form of a potting granulated humate derived from at plant growing mix including a least one of lignite or leonardite, wherein a particle size of the humate is in a range up to 20 mm, the plant growing material having the following formulation:

   Granulated humate derived from at least one of lignite

   ? leonardite 30% Composted bark 47% Mineral Wetting Agent 0.2% Mineral fertiliser 0.2% Coir 10% Sand 1% Grit 0% Zeolite 0.1% Woodchip 5% Lime 0.2% Gypsum 0.05%

   20 42. A material or method in which the plant growing material in the form of a potting mix including a granulated humate derived from at least one of lignite or leonardite, wherein a particle size of the humate is in a range up to 20mm, the plant growing

   25 material having the following formulation:

   Granulated humate derived from at least one of lignite or leonardite 7 - 40%

   Composted bark 40 - 60% Mineral Wetting Agent 0.1 - 0.3% Mineral fertiliser 0.1 - 0.8% Coir 5 - 35% Sand 5 - 30% Grit 0.5 - 10%

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   Zeolite

   Woodchip

   Lime

   Gypsum

   0.1 - 5%

   5 - 20%

   0.1 - 3%

   0.01 - 5%

   43. A material or method in which the plant growing material is in the form of a potting mix including a granulated humate derived from at least one of lignite or leonardite, wherein a particle size of the 10 humate is in a range up to 20mm, the plant growing material having the following formulation:

   Granulated humate derived from at least one of lignite or leonardite

   Composted bark

   15 Mineral Wetting Agent

   Mineral fertiliser

   Coir

   Sand

   Grit

   20 Zeolite

   Woodchip

   Lime

   Gypsum
6. 7 - 40%

   40 - 60%

   0.1 - 0.3%

   0.1 - 0.8%

   5 - 35%

   5 - 30%

   0.5 - 10%

   0.1 - 5%

   5 - 20%

   0.1 - 3%

   0.01 - 5%

   25 44. A material or method in which the plant growing material is in the form of a potting mix including a granulated humate derived from at least one of lignite or leonardite, wherein a particle size of the humate is in a range up to 20 mm, the plant growing

   30 material having the following formulation:

   Granulated humate derived from at least one of lignite or leonardite

   Composted bark

   15%

   54%

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   Mineral Wetting Agent 0.2% Mineral fertiliser 0.4% Coir 8% Sand 10% Grit 1% Zeolite 0.1% Woodchip 10% Lime 0.5% Gypsum 0.01%

   45. A material or method in which the plant growing material is in the form of a potting mix including a granulated humate derived from at least one of lignite or leonardite, wherein a particle size of the 15 humate is in a range up to 20 mm, the plant growing material having the following formulation:

   Granulated humate derived from at least one of lignite or leonardite

   Composted bark

   20 Mineral Wetting Agent

   Mineral fertiliser

   Coir

   Sand

   Grit

   25 Zeolite

   Woodchip

   Lime

   Gypsum

   5 - 50%

   40 - 95%

   0.1 - 0.3%

   0.1 - 0.5%

   5 - 30%

   1 - 10%

   0 - 10%

   0.1 - 5%

   1 - 20%

   0.1 - 3%

   0.05 - 5%

   30 46. A material or method in which the plant growing material is in the form of a potting mix including a granulated humate derived from at least one of lignite or leonardite, wherein a particle size of the humate is in a

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   2019204665 28 Jun 2019 range up to 20 mm, the plant growing material having the following formulation:

   Granulated humate derived from at least one of lignite or leonardite 20 - 40% 5 Composted bark 40 - 80% Mineral Wetting Agent 0.2% Mineral fertiliser 0.2% Coir 10 - 20% Sand 1% 10 Grit 0% Zeolite 0.1% Woodchip 5% Lime 0.2% Gypsum 0.05' %

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