CA1159668A - Cultivatable soil with foam fragments - Google Patents
Cultivatable soil with foam fragmentsInfo
- Publication number
- CA1159668A CA1159668A CA000384804A CA384804A CA1159668A CA 1159668 A CA1159668 A CA 1159668A CA 000384804 A CA000384804 A CA 000384804A CA 384804 A CA384804 A CA 384804A CA 1159668 A CA1159668 A CA 1159668A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- soil
- cultivation
- additive material
- foam
- volume
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C09—DYES; PAINTS; POLISHES; NATURAL RESINS; ADHESIVES; COMPOSITIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; APPLICATIONS OF MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- C09K—MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
- C09K17/00—Soil-conditioning materials or soil-stabilising materials
- C09K17/14—Soil-conditioning materials or soil-stabilising materials containing organic compounds only
- C09K17/16—Soil-conditioning materials or soil-stabilising materials containing organic compounds only applied in a physical form other than a solution or a grout, e.g. as platelets or granules
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C05—FERTILISERS; MANUFACTURE THEREOF
- C05G—MIXTURES OF FERTILISERS COVERED INDIVIDUALLY BY DIFFERENT SUBCLASSES OF CLASS C05; MIXTURES OF ONE OR MORE FERTILISERS WITH MATERIALS NOT HAVING A SPECIFIC FERTILISING ACTIVITY, e.g. PESTICIDES, SOIL-CONDITIONERS, WETTING AGENTS; FERTILISERS CHARACTERISED BY THEIR FORM
- C05G3/00—Mixtures of one or more fertilisers with additives not having a specially fertilising activity
- C05G3/80—Soil conditioners
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C09—DYES; PAINTS; POLISHES; NATURAL RESINS; ADHESIVES; COMPOSITIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; APPLICATIONS OF MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- C09K—MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
- C09K17/00—Soil-conditioning materials or soil-stabilising materials
- C09K17/40—Soil-conditioning materials or soil-stabilising materials containing mixtures of inorganic and organic compounds
- C09K17/48—Organic compounds mixed with inorganic active ingredients, e.g. polymerisation catalysts
Landscapes
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Soil Sciences (AREA)
- Organic Chemistry (AREA)
- General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Materials Engineering (AREA)
- Inorganic Chemistry (AREA)
- Pest Control & Pesticides (AREA)
- Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
- Cultivation Of Plants (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE:
The present invention relatives to soil for cultivation, in which the water and air balance is improved by addition of light and absorptive substances, characterized by an effective content of an additive material selected from the group consisting of open pore phenolic resin foams in the form of fragments, said open pore phenolic resins possessing a density between 9 and 25 kg/m2, a propantion of open pores of more than 80% and a cross-sectional cell diameter between 0.15 and 0.5 mm.
The present invention relatives to soil for cultivation, in which the water and air balance is improved by addition of light and absorptive substances, characterized by an effective content of an additive material selected from the group consisting of open pore phenolic resin foams in the form of fragments, said open pore phenolic resins possessing a density between 9 and 25 kg/m2, a propantion of open pores of more than 80% and a cross-sectional cell diameter between 0.15 and 0.5 mm.
Description
q~
The present in~ention is concerned with the improvement of the air and water balance of soil for cultivation with the aid of light and absorptive substances.
It is known to improve soil for cultivation by addition of light and absorptive materials in such manner that the roots of the plants growing therein are supplied better with air and water. Naturally occurring materials, such as for example peat or also synthetically produced substances, such as for example urea-formaldehyde foams are used with lo the soil improving substances.
These known additives to soil for cultivation absorb the water available to them within a definite time, with this water uptake speed not being sufficiently quick for many purposes so that, for example with a summer thunder-storm (downpour) the water can be trickled away into deeper substrate and not absorbed by the soil for cultivation and supplied to the plant as required. This applies particularly to very sandy soils for cultivation. The additives to soils for cultivation should however not only possess a rapid water uptake character but also a high water capacity which makes it possible for the plants to be able to be provided with the stored water over a longer period of time. Water up-take speed and water capacity determine essentially the water balance of ground for cultivation.
Furthermore, the additive materials have the job of loosening the ground for cultivation. In this way it is made possible for sufficient oxygen, which is likewise necessary fro growth, to be made available to the plant roots.
There exists accordingly the task to find substances which improve the water uptake speed of ground for cultivation, which simultaneously however also possesses a high water capacity and a low density. Furthermore, these substances should however also not hinder the growth of the plants and be physiologically undesirable.
The present invention provides a soil for cultivation, in which the water and air balance is improved by addition of light and absorptive substances, characterized by an effective -content of a foamed additive material selected from the group consisting of open pore phenolic resin foams in the form of fragments, said open pore phenolic resins possessing a density between 9 and 25 kg/m2, a proportion of open pores of more than 80% and a cross-sectional cell diameter between 0.15 and 0.5 mm.
In accordance with another aspect of the present inven-tion, there is provided a method of improving the water and air balance of soil for cultivation characterized by admixing an effec-tive amount of a foamed additive material with said soil, said additive material being selected from the group consisting of open pore phenolic resin foams in the iorm of fragments, said open pore phenolic resins possessing a density between 9 and 25 kg/m2, a proportion of open pores of more than 80% and a cross~sectional cell diameter between 0.15 and 0.5 mm.
Crops grow and -thrive in the soils according to the present invention in like good and sometimes even better manner than on those soils which were improved through addition of substances,hitherto known for their water balance. The addition of the foam granulate is apparently not safe to plants but also growth promoting.
, The phenolic resins employed for soil improvement are ' substances known as such. They are prepared in known manner by foaming of phenolic resol resins in the presence oE a hardener with use of low boiling substances as expanding agents. The desired open porosity and the cell diameter result from the composition of the resin and the surface active subs-tances optionally pre-I sent therein which act as pore regulators (see German Patent Spe-cification N 1,236,183). The necessary density of the foam is achieved moreover in known manner, for exa~ple by variation of the amount of blowing agent. Resins which pro~ide the foam materials during their foaming with the desired properties are already com~ercially available (for example phenolic resin T 910 of ,~ /
'', /
' /
,........................... /
,. / .
`; /
~ / ~
/
. . .
.
- ~a -,,~",'~
..
Dynamit Nobel AG, Troisdorf). The above mentioned pore regulators are already optionally added to such resins for achievement of the desired cell properties.
By soils for cultivation are to be understood according to this invention all soils on which crops can be planted and which make possible growth of these plants. The addition to these soils can be varied within wide limits:
they can possess, in consequence of high proportion of sands, light water permeability or in conse~uence of high proportions Of clay indeed a high water capacity but a low water uptake speed.
Indeed the amount of phenolic resin foam to be added can also be varied according to the composition of the soil to be cultivated. It is quite possible to add up to 1,000 vol ~ of phenolic resin foams according to the invention to poor soils to be cultivated and then to obtain soils for cultivation on which crops thrive well.
The phenolic resin foam is intermixed with the soil to be cultivated in the form of fragments. These fragments have particle sizes between 1 and 60 mm, preferably between 4 and 40 mm. The production of these fragments is achieved in known manner by mechanical reduction of foam blocks.
Phenolic resins with the properties set out in the characterising part of the foregoing claim possess further-more a water uptake speed of iess than 10 minutes per litre foam volume. This means that 1 litre of foam is completely - saturated with water wlthin 10 minutes. The amount of water which is soaked up amounts to at least 75 Vol. % of the foam.
If the phenolic resin foam possesses to preferred density value between 10 and 21 kg/m3 and a preferred pro-portion of open pores between ~33 and 95 Vol. ~ and the cell diameter lies in the prefexred range between 0.2 and 0.~ mm, `~:
:
then the values for the water uptake speed and the water uptake capacity likewise lie in an especially suitable region;
they can then amount to 0.5 min/l foam volume (for the uptake speed) and up to 95 Vol. % (for the water uptake capacity).
The proportion of open pores in phenolic resin foams employed according to the invention is in known manner determined with the Beckmann Air Comparison Pyknometer. Irhe cross-sectional cell diameter is determined with the aid of screen-electron absorption. The establishment of the density takes place with test bodies which are dried over 24 hours and 80C
in a circulating air heat cabinet.
The water uptake capacity and the water uptake speed are determined together as follows: a cylindrically shaped foam test body of 50 mm diameter and 65 mm length is laid on the upper surface of distilled water (t = 20C) and the time measured in which this test body is completely saturated with , . ,- ~:
water so that it appears totally wetted. Finally the amount of water taken up is measured by difference weighing.
- 20 It is an advantage for many usages to eliminate ~ traces of acid adhering to the foam from its preparation ..
~ before mixing it into the soil~ This is then especially .. . . .
recommendable if such plants are to be grown on the soil to be cultivated as are not compatible with acid soils. For this purpose, the foam is treated before the mixing with the soil with gaseous ammonia or with aqueous solutions or dis-persions of basically acting compounds.
This treatment can take place, as well as with the foam blocks accumulating during their production as also with the foam fragments to be mixed. When using NH3-gas,
The present in~ention is concerned with the improvement of the air and water balance of soil for cultivation with the aid of light and absorptive substances.
It is known to improve soil for cultivation by addition of light and absorptive materials in such manner that the roots of the plants growing therein are supplied better with air and water. Naturally occurring materials, such as for example peat or also synthetically produced substances, such as for example urea-formaldehyde foams are used with lo the soil improving substances.
These known additives to soil for cultivation absorb the water available to them within a definite time, with this water uptake speed not being sufficiently quick for many purposes so that, for example with a summer thunder-storm (downpour) the water can be trickled away into deeper substrate and not absorbed by the soil for cultivation and supplied to the plant as required. This applies particularly to very sandy soils for cultivation. The additives to soils for cultivation should however not only possess a rapid water uptake character but also a high water capacity which makes it possible for the plants to be able to be provided with the stored water over a longer period of time. Water up-take speed and water capacity determine essentially the water balance of ground for cultivation.
Furthermore, the additive materials have the job of loosening the ground for cultivation. In this way it is made possible for sufficient oxygen, which is likewise necessary fro growth, to be made available to the plant roots.
There exists accordingly the task to find substances which improve the water uptake speed of ground for cultivation, which simultaneously however also possesses a high water capacity and a low density. Furthermore, these substances should however also not hinder the growth of the plants and be physiologically undesirable.
The present invention provides a soil for cultivation, in which the water and air balance is improved by addition of light and absorptive substances, characterized by an effective -content of a foamed additive material selected from the group consisting of open pore phenolic resin foams in the form of fragments, said open pore phenolic resins possessing a density between 9 and 25 kg/m2, a proportion of open pores of more than 80% and a cross-sectional cell diameter between 0.15 and 0.5 mm.
In accordance with another aspect of the present inven-tion, there is provided a method of improving the water and air balance of soil for cultivation characterized by admixing an effec-tive amount of a foamed additive material with said soil, said additive material being selected from the group consisting of open pore phenolic resin foams in the iorm of fragments, said open pore phenolic resins possessing a density between 9 and 25 kg/m2, a proportion of open pores of more than 80% and a cross~sectional cell diameter between 0.15 and 0.5 mm.
Crops grow and -thrive in the soils according to the present invention in like good and sometimes even better manner than on those soils which were improved through addition of substances,hitherto known for their water balance. The addition of the foam granulate is apparently not safe to plants but also growth promoting.
, The phenolic resins employed for soil improvement are ' substances known as such. They are prepared in known manner by foaming of phenolic resol resins in the presence oE a hardener with use of low boiling substances as expanding agents. The desired open porosity and the cell diameter result from the composition of the resin and the surface active subs-tances optionally pre-I sent therein which act as pore regulators (see German Patent Spe-cification N 1,236,183). The necessary density of the foam is achieved moreover in known manner, for exa~ple by variation of the amount of blowing agent. Resins which pro~ide the foam materials during their foaming with the desired properties are already com~ercially available (for example phenolic resin T 910 of ,~ /
'', /
' /
,........................... /
,. / .
`; /
~ / ~
/
. . .
.
- ~a -,,~",'~
..
Dynamit Nobel AG, Troisdorf). The above mentioned pore regulators are already optionally added to such resins for achievement of the desired cell properties.
By soils for cultivation are to be understood according to this invention all soils on which crops can be planted and which make possible growth of these plants. The addition to these soils can be varied within wide limits:
they can possess, in consequence of high proportion of sands, light water permeability or in conse~uence of high proportions Of clay indeed a high water capacity but a low water uptake speed.
Indeed the amount of phenolic resin foam to be added can also be varied according to the composition of the soil to be cultivated. It is quite possible to add up to 1,000 vol ~ of phenolic resin foams according to the invention to poor soils to be cultivated and then to obtain soils for cultivation on which crops thrive well.
The phenolic resin foam is intermixed with the soil to be cultivated in the form of fragments. These fragments have particle sizes between 1 and 60 mm, preferably between 4 and 40 mm. The production of these fragments is achieved in known manner by mechanical reduction of foam blocks.
Phenolic resins with the properties set out in the characterising part of the foregoing claim possess further-more a water uptake speed of iess than 10 minutes per litre foam volume. This means that 1 litre of foam is completely - saturated with water wlthin 10 minutes. The amount of water which is soaked up amounts to at least 75 Vol. % of the foam.
If the phenolic resin foam possesses to preferred density value between 10 and 21 kg/m3 and a preferred pro-portion of open pores between ~33 and 95 Vol. ~ and the cell diameter lies in the prefexred range between 0.2 and 0.~ mm, `~:
:
then the values for the water uptake speed and the water uptake capacity likewise lie in an especially suitable region;
they can then amount to 0.5 min/l foam volume (for the uptake speed) and up to 95 Vol. % (for the water uptake capacity).
The proportion of open pores in phenolic resin foams employed according to the invention is in known manner determined with the Beckmann Air Comparison Pyknometer. Irhe cross-sectional cell diameter is determined with the aid of screen-electron absorption. The establishment of the density takes place with test bodies which are dried over 24 hours and 80C
in a circulating air heat cabinet.
The water uptake capacity and the water uptake speed are determined together as follows: a cylindrically shaped foam test body of 50 mm diameter and 65 mm length is laid on the upper surface of distilled water (t = 20C) and the time measured in which this test body is completely saturated with , . ,- ~:
water so that it appears totally wetted. Finally the amount of water taken up is measured by difference weighing.
- 20 It is an advantage for many usages to eliminate ~ traces of acid adhering to the foam from its preparation ..
~ before mixing it into the soil~ This is then especially .. . . .
recommendable if such plants are to be grown on the soil to be cultivated as are not compatible with acid soils. For this purpose, the foam is treated before the mixing with the soil with gaseous ammonia or with aqueous solutions or dis-persions of basically acting compounds.
This treatment can take place, as well as with the foam blocks accumulating during their production as also with the foam fragments to be mixed. When using NH3-gas,
2.0 g NH3/kg are necessary for a thorough neutralization of the foam surface. With use of basically acting solutions, ~ - -~L~5~
equivalent amounts are employed. Solutions o~ ammonium salts or aqueous solutions or dispersions of Ca(OH)2, CaO, Ca(HCO3~2, KHC03~ and Mg(HC03~2 are suitable ~or use as basically acting solutions.
It is furthermore recommendable if, after such a treatment to the foam, it is heated to temperatures up to 100C, optionally when it is already in admixture with the soil. Such a treatment in no way disturbs the porosity of the foam so that the water uptake capacity is completely retained.
The use accordlng to the invention of the described phenolic resin foam has the advantage, in contrast to the addition of natural additives (for example peat) that through these additives, neither plant pests nor sources of disease or weed seeds reach the soil being culti~ated.
Production of phenolic resin ~oam 1. Foam A
100 kg of a commercially availalbe phenolic resol resin (commercially available product T 910 of Dynamit Nobel AG, Troisdorf) were provi.ded in a mixing vessel, then 1.4 kg of a mixture of surface actlve substances (obtainable commercially ; under the designation T 950 of Dynamit Nobel AG, Troisdorf) were mixed therewith as pore regulator. During the mixing process, 4.6 litre of water were added and as soon as the solution was homogeneous, 12.0 litres of n-pentane were added under further stirring. As soon as the solution was completely homogeneous, 3.6 litres of a 65~ aqueous p-phenolsulphonic acid solution were stirred in for sufficiently long for the mixture to possess a temperature of 28 to 29C. It was then poured into a wooden mouId 207 cm in length, 107 cm in width and 161 cm in height lined within with polyethylene film or paper in bubble free manner. This mould was thereupon placed ~s~
in a cixculating air chambex with a~ air temperatu~e of 44 to 55C, where within 60 to 90 minutes the foaming and hardening process ran its course. Then the foam block obtained was taken out of the mould.
2. Foam B
A foam B was produced in like manner to foam A, with 100 kg of the same phenolic resol resin being mixed with 1.35 kg of the pore regulator, 4.6 litres water, 14.0 litres n-pentane and 3.2 litres of the 65% aqueous p-phenol-sulphonic acid solution.
The foams A and B obtained had the following properties:
Foam A Foam B
Density (kg/m3) 20.4 13.9 Proportion of open pores (%) 86 92 Water uptake capacity (Vol~) 81 92 pH value of eluate 3.8 4.3 The foam blocks were reduced for the following Examples with the aid of a beet sl~icing machine to a granulate which possessed a bulk density of 17 kg/m and whose particles possessed particle sizes between 5 and 30 mm.
Example 2 The granulate obtained from foams A and B according ; to Example 1 was mixed by hand with uniform earth in the volume ratio of l:l or l;3. The mixtures were placed in round pots of internal diameter 19 cm and a height of 25 cm with bases of wire mesh (mesh width 2 mm). To avoid hollow spaces in the mixture, the pots were impacted 8 times by hand on a solid support.
For comparison a pure uniform soil and mixtures of uniform soils wlth peat or one of the urea foams obtainable for soil improvement were emplaced in like volume quantities 3k~5~i68 in pots of like type in like manner.
All mixtures possessed the same volume (about 6litres). In addition the bulk density and the moisture content were ascertained.
Then the containers were so fixed over collecting vessels that water running out below could be received and its amount determined. Then after passage of 1 hour, 500 cm3 of distilled water were distributed over the top surfaces of the soil mi~tures and after 45 minutes the amount of water which had been reta~ned or stored in the different soil mixtures was determined. The results are set out as follows in the following Table:
Stored water volume after Bul~ Moisture 1 ¦ 3 ¦ 6 ¦ 10 ¦ 12 density content% Added water (Vol%) Pure Soil (100%) 425 32.9 5.7 15.3 21. a 29.5 29.7 Soil Foam A/B
Volume ration 3:1 322 26.~ 5.2 19.3 30.0 36.0 36.4 Volume ration 1:1 219 19.6 6.1 21.5 34.1 37.4 38.6 Soil/Peat Volume ratio 3:1 354 37.4 4.1 9.7 18.5 31.8 37.0 Volume ratio 1:1 270 41.9 3.8 9.2 18.5 32.5 37.2 Soil Urea Foam Volume ratio 3:1 336 42.7 3.3 14.2 21.3 29.9 30.1 Volume ratio 1:1 248 52.5 2.9 12.5 20.2 24.1 24.5 ';. _ The Table shows that by the addition according to the invention of the phenolformaldehyde resin foam mixtures with the lowest bulk densities, the largest water uptake speeds and the highest water storage capacities wexe obtained.
EXample 3 .
The foam granulate produced according to Example 1 from Foams A and B was allowed to stand for 24 hours at about 80aC. The resulting foam granulate is designated in the i8 following description by T. Furthe~more, a sample of the foam granulate produced according to Example 1 WaS exposed to a NH3 gas stream of about 2.0 g N~3/kg of foam. The treatment was continued so long until the eluate of a foam sample exhlbited a pH value between 5.8 and 6Ø Such a foam granulate is designated in the following by N.
Granulates T and N as well as the untreated foam granulates A/B was mixed with earth in the ratios 1:1 and 1:3 and the mixtures put into plant pots. Seeds of red cabbage and cress were placed in these soil mixtures and the develop-ment of these seeds obser~ed. The soil mixture was installed `-slightly shaded in a greenhouse at 20C and was kept normally moist by watering at intervals of 1 to 2 days. Between 80 and 85% of the seeds in all the mixtures sprouted after 3 to 4 weeks; the seedlings grew relatively slowly in the first 3 to 4 weeks with exception of those seedlings which had shooted in the soil mixture with granulate N (in the ratio 1:1); in this mixture, the growth was to be designated by ~<good.
After 8 to 12 weeks, growth has a good to very good appearance for all plants undergoing growth.
Similar results were obtained if lnstead of the red cabbage seed, red cabbage young plants were planted in the particular soil/foam mixtures.
In a further series of tests, primula young plants were planted in the earth/foam mixtures and cultivated as described above. The results are set out in the following Table 3:
Granulate Volume ratio Grown Growth after Plant quality types Soil/ (%) 3-4 weeks after 8-12 granulate weeks _ __ _ ~
A/B 3:160 deficient deficient 1:1100 good very good 1:3100 good very good Table 3 (Cont'd) Granulate Volume ratio Grown Growth after Plant quality types Soil/ (~ 3-4 weeks after 8-12 ' granulate weeks T 3:1 90 deficient deficient 1:1 80 sufficient good 1:3 80 good very good N 3:1 100 good very good 1:1 100 good very good 1:3 100 good very good , _ _ 1 From Table 3 it can be seen that the untreated foam granulate improved the growth properties for primulas, if the granulates are mixed with earth in the ratio of 1:1 or more. Furthermore it can be seen from this table that the after treatment of the foam with gaseous ammonia for binding of the adhering acids is advantageous for the growth of primulas.
Similar results as obtained with the primula young plants are obtained if ge~anium cuttings are cultivated in the aforementioned foam/soil mixtures. The growth in the mixture of earth and foam after treated with ammonia was also considerably better there than in the soil/foam mixtures with which the foam was not after treated.
Furthermore, cuttings of fuschia were culkivated in the described soil/foam mixtures. Also here the results are analogous to those which were obtained with the primula young plants, as appears from the following Table 4O
Granulate Volume ratio Grown Growth after Plant quality Type Soil/ (%) 3-4 weeks after 8-12 -granulate weeks A/B 3:1 100 sufficient good to very good 1:1 100 good very good T 3:1 80 sufficient sufficient 1:1 100 good very good N 3:1 100 good very good 1:1 100 good very good __ ,~
~9 _ ' .
Example 4 For the following experiments, a soil was used which was disinfected with a commercially available preparation (Terabol) and which contained mixed therein in an amount of 2.5 g per 1,000 parts bv volume a commercially available complete ,~ .
fertilizer (Plantosan 4 D). This soil was mixed with foam granulates corresponding to Example 1 in the volume ratio 1:1.
The granulates were treated for the experimental series (a) with 12.5 Vol. ~ of a saturated aqueous solution of calcium carbonate, (b) with 1 Vol.% of a saturated aqueous solution of Ca(OH)2 and (c~ with 3.5 Vol.% of a io% aqueous ammonia solution. In case (c) the pH value of the granulate was increased from 4.1 to about 5.3 thereby.
The soil/foam mixtures were used to fill plant pots in which chives from seed and geranium cuttings were grown.
The pots were housed in a greenhouse at 15C without shading and kept normally moist by daily watering. For comparison, the same plants were cultivated in the soil used without the addition of foam granulateO The results are set out in Table 5:
Plant evaluation in mixture of soil with Without Untreated Foam Foam Foam addition Foa~m~ + CaHOO3 + Ca(OH)2~NH4OH
Chives after 4 weeks 3 3 3 3 2 12 weeks 3 5 -5 4 3 Geraniums after 4 weeks 3 3 3 2 3 12 weeks 3 3 2 2 2 Meaning of the indicia: 1 = very good, 2 = good, 3 =
satisfactory, 4 = satisfactory, 5 = inadequate, 6 =
insufficient. With values of 4 and higher, the soil or the mixture of soil and foam is no longer usable for a successful cultivation.
~- ~c~ 10-
equivalent amounts are employed. Solutions o~ ammonium salts or aqueous solutions or dispersions of Ca(OH)2, CaO, Ca(HCO3~2, KHC03~ and Mg(HC03~2 are suitable ~or use as basically acting solutions.
It is furthermore recommendable if, after such a treatment to the foam, it is heated to temperatures up to 100C, optionally when it is already in admixture with the soil. Such a treatment in no way disturbs the porosity of the foam so that the water uptake capacity is completely retained.
The use accordlng to the invention of the described phenolic resin foam has the advantage, in contrast to the addition of natural additives (for example peat) that through these additives, neither plant pests nor sources of disease or weed seeds reach the soil being culti~ated.
Production of phenolic resin ~oam 1. Foam A
100 kg of a commercially availalbe phenolic resol resin (commercially available product T 910 of Dynamit Nobel AG, Troisdorf) were provi.ded in a mixing vessel, then 1.4 kg of a mixture of surface actlve substances (obtainable commercially ; under the designation T 950 of Dynamit Nobel AG, Troisdorf) were mixed therewith as pore regulator. During the mixing process, 4.6 litre of water were added and as soon as the solution was homogeneous, 12.0 litres of n-pentane were added under further stirring. As soon as the solution was completely homogeneous, 3.6 litres of a 65~ aqueous p-phenolsulphonic acid solution were stirred in for sufficiently long for the mixture to possess a temperature of 28 to 29C. It was then poured into a wooden mouId 207 cm in length, 107 cm in width and 161 cm in height lined within with polyethylene film or paper in bubble free manner. This mould was thereupon placed ~s~
in a cixculating air chambex with a~ air temperatu~e of 44 to 55C, where within 60 to 90 minutes the foaming and hardening process ran its course. Then the foam block obtained was taken out of the mould.
2. Foam B
A foam B was produced in like manner to foam A, with 100 kg of the same phenolic resol resin being mixed with 1.35 kg of the pore regulator, 4.6 litres water, 14.0 litres n-pentane and 3.2 litres of the 65% aqueous p-phenol-sulphonic acid solution.
The foams A and B obtained had the following properties:
Foam A Foam B
Density (kg/m3) 20.4 13.9 Proportion of open pores (%) 86 92 Water uptake capacity (Vol~) 81 92 pH value of eluate 3.8 4.3 The foam blocks were reduced for the following Examples with the aid of a beet sl~icing machine to a granulate which possessed a bulk density of 17 kg/m and whose particles possessed particle sizes between 5 and 30 mm.
Example 2 The granulate obtained from foams A and B according ; to Example 1 was mixed by hand with uniform earth in the volume ratio of l:l or l;3. The mixtures were placed in round pots of internal diameter 19 cm and a height of 25 cm with bases of wire mesh (mesh width 2 mm). To avoid hollow spaces in the mixture, the pots were impacted 8 times by hand on a solid support.
For comparison a pure uniform soil and mixtures of uniform soils wlth peat or one of the urea foams obtainable for soil improvement were emplaced in like volume quantities 3k~5~i68 in pots of like type in like manner.
All mixtures possessed the same volume (about 6litres). In addition the bulk density and the moisture content were ascertained.
Then the containers were so fixed over collecting vessels that water running out below could be received and its amount determined. Then after passage of 1 hour, 500 cm3 of distilled water were distributed over the top surfaces of the soil mi~tures and after 45 minutes the amount of water which had been reta~ned or stored in the different soil mixtures was determined. The results are set out as follows in the following Table:
Stored water volume after Bul~ Moisture 1 ¦ 3 ¦ 6 ¦ 10 ¦ 12 density content% Added water (Vol%) Pure Soil (100%) 425 32.9 5.7 15.3 21. a 29.5 29.7 Soil Foam A/B
Volume ration 3:1 322 26.~ 5.2 19.3 30.0 36.0 36.4 Volume ration 1:1 219 19.6 6.1 21.5 34.1 37.4 38.6 Soil/Peat Volume ratio 3:1 354 37.4 4.1 9.7 18.5 31.8 37.0 Volume ratio 1:1 270 41.9 3.8 9.2 18.5 32.5 37.2 Soil Urea Foam Volume ratio 3:1 336 42.7 3.3 14.2 21.3 29.9 30.1 Volume ratio 1:1 248 52.5 2.9 12.5 20.2 24.1 24.5 ';. _ The Table shows that by the addition according to the invention of the phenolformaldehyde resin foam mixtures with the lowest bulk densities, the largest water uptake speeds and the highest water storage capacities wexe obtained.
EXample 3 .
The foam granulate produced according to Example 1 from Foams A and B was allowed to stand for 24 hours at about 80aC. The resulting foam granulate is designated in the i8 following description by T. Furthe~more, a sample of the foam granulate produced according to Example 1 WaS exposed to a NH3 gas stream of about 2.0 g N~3/kg of foam. The treatment was continued so long until the eluate of a foam sample exhlbited a pH value between 5.8 and 6Ø Such a foam granulate is designated in the following by N.
Granulates T and N as well as the untreated foam granulates A/B was mixed with earth in the ratios 1:1 and 1:3 and the mixtures put into plant pots. Seeds of red cabbage and cress were placed in these soil mixtures and the develop-ment of these seeds obser~ed. The soil mixture was installed `-slightly shaded in a greenhouse at 20C and was kept normally moist by watering at intervals of 1 to 2 days. Between 80 and 85% of the seeds in all the mixtures sprouted after 3 to 4 weeks; the seedlings grew relatively slowly in the first 3 to 4 weeks with exception of those seedlings which had shooted in the soil mixture with granulate N (in the ratio 1:1); in this mixture, the growth was to be designated by ~<good.
After 8 to 12 weeks, growth has a good to very good appearance for all plants undergoing growth.
Similar results were obtained if lnstead of the red cabbage seed, red cabbage young plants were planted in the particular soil/foam mixtures.
In a further series of tests, primula young plants were planted in the earth/foam mixtures and cultivated as described above. The results are set out in the following Table 3:
Granulate Volume ratio Grown Growth after Plant quality types Soil/ (%) 3-4 weeks after 8-12 granulate weeks _ __ _ ~
A/B 3:160 deficient deficient 1:1100 good very good 1:3100 good very good Table 3 (Cont'd) Granulate Volume ratio Grown Growth after Plant quality types Soil/ (~ 3-4 weeks after 8-12 ' granulate weeks T 3:1 90 deficient deficient 1:1 80 sufficient good 1:3 80 good very good N 3:1 100 good very good 1:1 100 good very good 1:3 100 good very good , _ _ 1 From Table 3 it can be seen that the untreated foam granulate improved the growth properties for primulas, if the granulates are mixed with earth in the ratio of 1:1 or more. Furthermore it can be seen from this table that the after treatment of the foam with gaseous ammonia for binding of the adhering acids is advantageous for the growth of primulas.
Similar results as obtained with the primula young plants are obtained if ge~anium cuttings are cultivated in the aforementioned foam/soil mixtures. The growth in the mixture of earth and foam after treated with ammonia was also considerably better there than in the soil/foam mixtures with which the foam was not after treated.
Furthermore, cuttings of fuschia were culkivated in the described soil/foam mixtures. Also here the results are analogous to those which were obtained with the primula young plants, as appears from the following Table 4O
Granulate Volume ratio Grown Growth after Plant quality Type Soil/ (%) 3-4 weeks after 8-12 -granulate weeks A/B 3:1 100 sufficient good to very good 1:1 100 good very good T 3:1 80 sufficient sufficient 1:1 100 good very good N 3:1 100 good very good 1:1 100 good very good __ ,~
~9 _ ' .
Example 4 For the following experiments, a soil was used which was disinfected with a commercially available preparation (Terabol) and which contained mixed therein in an amount of 2.5 g per 1,000 parts bv volume a commercially available complete ,~ .
fertilizer (Plantosan 4 D). This soil was mixed with foam granulates corresponding to Example 1 in the volume ratio 1:1.
The granulates were treated for the experimental series (a) with 12.5 Vol. ~ of a saturated aqueous solution of calcium carbonate, (b) with 1 Vol.% of a saturated aqueous solution of Ca(OH)2 and (c~ with 3.5 Vol.% of a io% aqueous ammonia solution. In case (c) the pH value of the granulate was increased from 4.1 to about 5.3 thereby.
The soil/foam mixtures were used to fill plant pots in which chives from seed and geranium cuttings were grown.
The pots were housed in a greenhouse at 15C without shading and kept normally moist by daily watering. For comparison, the same plants were cultivated in the soil used without the addition of foam granulateO The results are set out in Table 5:
Plant evaluation in mixture of soil with Without Untreated Foam Foam Foam addition Foa~m~ + CaHOO3 + Ca(OH)2~NH4OH
Chives after 4 weeks 3 3 3 3 2 12 weeks 3 5 -5 4 3 Geraniums after 4 weeks 3 3 3 2 3 12 weeks 3 3 2 2 2 Meaning of the indicia: 1 = very good, 2 = good, 3 =
satisfactory, 4 = satisfactory, 5 = inadequate, 6 =
insufficient. With values of 4 and higher, the soil or the mixture of soil and foam is no longer usable for a successful cultivation.
~- ~c~ 10-
Claims (12)
1. A method of improving the water and air balance of soil for cultivation characterized by admixing an effective amount of a foamed additive material with said soil, said additive material being selected from the group consisting of open pore phenolic resin foams in the form of fragments, said open pore phenolic resins possessing a density between 9 and 25 kg/m2, a proportion of open pores of more than 80% and a cross-sectional cell diameter between 0.15 and 0.5 mm.
2. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that said additive material has been treated, prior to admixing, with gaseous ammonia or an aqueous solution selected from the group consisting of aqueous solutions of basically acting compounds.
3. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that said additive material is used in an amount of up to 1000 volume % related to the volume of the soil for cultivation.
4. A method according to claim 2, cahracterized in that said additive material is used in an amount of up to 1000 volume % related to the volume of the soil for cultivation.
5. A method according to any one of claims 1, 2 and 3, characterized in that said additive material is in the form of fragments which have particle sizes of between 1 to 60 mm.
6. A method according to claim 4, cahracterized in that said additive material is in the form of fragments which have a particle size of between 4 to 40 mm.
7. Soil for cultivation, in which the water and air balance is improved by addition of light and absorptive substances, characterized by an effective content of a foamed additive material selected from the group consisting of open pore phenolic resin foams in the form of fragments, said open pore phenolic resins possessing a density between 9 and 25 kg/m2, a proportion of open pores of more than 80% and a cross-sectional cell diameter between 0.15 and 0.5 mm.
8. Soil for cultivation according to claim 7, characterized in that said additive material prior to its addition has been treated with gaseous ammonia or an aqueous solution selected from the group consisting of aqueous solutions of basically acting compounds.
9. Soil for cultivation according to claim 7, characterized in that said additive material is used in an amount of up to 1000 volume % related to the volume of the soil for cultivation.
10. Soil for cultivation according to claim 8, characterized in that said additive material is used in an amount of up to 1000 volume % related to the volume of the soil of cultivation.
11. Soil for cultivation according to any one of claims 7, 8 and 9, characterized in that said additive material is in the form of fragments which have particle sizes of between 1 to 60 mm.
12. Soil for cultivation according to claim 10, characterized in that said additive material is in the form of fragments which have particle sizes of between 4 to 40 mm.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| DEP3032711.8 | 1980-08-30 | ||
| DE3032711A DE3032711C2 (en) | 1980-08-30 | 1980-08-30 | Culture soil with foam fragments |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1159668A true CA1159668A (en) | 1984-01-03 |
Family
ID=6110741
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000384804A Expired CA1159668A (en) | 1980-08-30 | 1981-08-28 | Cultivatable soil with foam fragments |
Country Status (5)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP0046855A1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JPS5774021A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1159668A (en) |
| DE (1) | DE3032711C2 (en) |
| DK (1) | DK362281A (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5020936A (en) * | 1989-07-28 | 1991-06-04 | International Soil Systems, Inc. | Animal running surface |
Families Citing this family (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE3439224A1 (en) * | 1984-10-26 | 1986-04-30 | Erich Friedrich, Metalle-Hüttenprodukte GmbH & Co KG, 3320 Salzgitter | VEGETATION LAYER FROM MINERAL MIXTURE |
| ATE127999T1 (en) * | 1990-07-13 | 1995-10-15 | Analysa Bodenberatung | METHOD FOR CULTIVATION, CARE AND/OR IMPROVEMENT OF CULTURAL SOILS. |
| DE102013003323A1 (en) * | 2013-02-28 | 2014-08-28 | Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V. | Ground granules for reversible storage of water and process for its preparation |
Family Cites Families (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NL258267A (en) * | 1959-11-27 | |||
| BE643755A (en) * | 1963-02-16 | 1964-08-13 | ||
| DE1542831A1 (en) * | 1966-07-08 | 1970-07-02 | Basf Ag | Foam-shaped urea-formaldehyde condensates as soil improvers |
| DE2827524A1 (en) * | 1978-06-23 | 1980-01-17 | Dynamit Nobel Ag | Artificial growth medium for plants - comprises an open-celled phenolic resin foam |
-
1980
- 1980-08-30 DE DE3032711A patent/DE3032711C2/en not_active Expired
-
1981
- 1981-07-11 EP EP81105425A patent/EP0046855A1/en not_active Ceased
- 1981-08-14 DK DK362281A patent/DK362281A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1981-08-28 CA CA000384804A patent/CA1159668A/en not_active Expired
- 1981-08-28 JP JP56134391A patent/JPS5774021A/en active Pending
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5020936A (en) * | 1989-07-28 | 1991-06-04 | International Soil Systems, Inc. | Animal running surface |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| EP0046855A1 (en) | 1982-03-10 |
| JPS5774021A (en) | 1982-05-10 |
| DE3032711C2 (en) | 1985-10-24 |
| DK362281A (en) | 1982-03-01 |
| DE3032711A1 (en) | 1982-04-15 |
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