DE102018003515A1 - Process for mixing and recovering a high tech soil conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an innovative compost / soil conditioner. The combination of soil, natural fertilizer from different sources, biochar and superabsorber results in a high tech soil improver with proven high yield increases in fruit and vegetable cultivation.

Description

The process represents a process by which a highly effective soil conditioner (compost) can be produced from simple raw materials.

Soil improver is defined as a soil additive made from organic or inorganic materials that has been shown to contribute to the better growth of plants.

The basis of a compost / soil conditioner are always organic materials that both fertilize the plants, as well as contribute through their structure to soil improvement overall. This can be both composts that come from the rotting of plant materials as well as the rotting of household bio-waste. Also suitable as a basis are all substances obtained from the rotting of agricultural by-products by a process known as composting, e.g. Palm oil fruit stand compost. Be proved to be more suitable, the so-called solid digestate, substances obtained in biogas plants as residues. In addition, a useful and occurring in Europe in high quantities material is the so-called mushroom compost. This is a residue that remains in the production of edible mushrooms and is also derived from natural raw materials. If large amounts of soil improver bases are needed, other substrates can also be used, e.g. Composts from the rotting of residues of palm oil production, which occur in particular in Malaysia, the Philippines and other countries in significant quantities.

In addition to a soil conditioner topsoil must be added in varying proportions by weight to bring in the necessary soil bacteria and microorganisms.

Also crucial is the addition of biochar. Biochar is obtained from plant material or wood by the action of heat by extracting the volatile components of the plants and leaving a pure carbon mixed with remnants of ash (completely burned material).

The addition of biochar provides additional extremely positive effects for the plants. The addition of biochar makes the plants less susceptible to drought stress, increases the resistance to salts in soil or water, stabilizes nitrogen uptake and reduces the exhalation of N20 (nitrous oxide or nitrous oxide, a highly effective atmospheric poison).
In addition, biochar has the positive effect of permanent carbon sequestration in the soil and concomitant reduction of C02 release into the atmosphere.

However, biochar must undergo a preparatory process before it can be used as an additive for the soil improver. Usually, the biochar is mixed with rottenfähigem material and remains for a certain period of time in this material. Subsequently, the entire material or even the sieved biochar can be used as additives for the soil conditioner.

As a further additive, a co-polymer - also known as superabsorber - added to the soil conditioner. Superabsorbent is a high swellable material that swells to a stackable, translucent gel with the addition of water and, when placed in the soil or soil conditioner, can store water and release it to the plants when needed. For use in the soil improver, only those superabsorbents can be used which have an official approval for use in the agricultural sector.

Due to the constant expansion and shrinkage of the material results in a desired and positive soil loosening effect.

The use of superabsorbents is of particular benefit where drought-threatened areas are used for cultivation, which depend on a high water storage capacity of their soils. This is especially the case in southern Europe, Africa and in many Arab states.

SA decomposes over the years into basic building blocks such as potassium salts, CO2 and H2O.

1. a. In Laborversuchen ergab sich mit dem Bodenverbesserer ein bis zu 50% gesteigertes Wachstum.
2. b. In Gewächshausversuchen in Sardinen (größter Rosenzüchter Europas) wurde bis zu 30% mehr Blattwachstum bei Rosen beobachtet.
3. c. Gleichzeitig konnte in den Versuchen nach (b) die Gießhäufigkeit von zweimal pro Tag auf einmal pro zwei Wochen reduziert werden.
4. d. In Freilandversuchen im Gemüseanbau (ebenfalls in Sardinien) wurden weitgehend ähnliche Ergebnisse erzielt.

The combination of precursors described herein in certain proportions (as indicated in the claims above) has shown very positive effects in the laboratory and in the field:

1. a. In laboratory tests, the soil improver resulted in growth of up to 50%.
2. b. In greenhouse trials in sardines (Europe's largest rose grower), up to 30% more rose leaf growth was observed.
3. c. At the same time, in the experiments according to (b) the pouring frequency could be reduced from twice a day to once every two weeks.
4. d. In field trials in vegetable growing (also in Sardinia), similar results were achieved to a large extent.

Predominantly through the shares of biochar and superabsorbers, the humus build-up crucial for plant growth is promoted. When soil is irrigated or rain falls, it is critically important for humus formation that the moisture is kept in the soil and does not, or only to a lesser extent, seep into the soil in layers that are no longer accessible to the plant roots.
Biochar increases the proportion of bio-organisms living in symbiosis with the plants, responsible for rooting, nutrient exchange and availability of nitrogen.

Especially in Arab and African countries, there are many soils that are very sandy and at the same time have a high salt load. Salt pollution is often exacerbated by the fact that saline irrigation water is also used for irrigation.
Especially for these soils, the soil conditioner has a very positive and plant growth stimulating effect. Superabsorbent binds the water and avoids too rapid infiltration in the underground. The superabsorbent gradually releases the water to the plant roots. Superabsorbents and biochar demonstrably reduce the salt stress of plants and make them more resistant to saline greases.

Countries that suffer from high temperatures in the growing season or that are generally drought-stressed can benefit particularly from the use of the soil conditioner. By optimizing the use of water in the sense of the plants, advantageous growth conditions are achieved in such countries.

Claims (6)

Process for mixing and recovering a high tech soil conditioner. Method according to (1) wherein biochar is used in a report of 5 to 15% by mass. A method according to (1) wherein in addition to (1) and (2), a co-polymer or polymer in variable parts by weight is added to the mixture of (1) and (2) in a range of 1 to 10 parts per thousand. Process according to (1), wherein to (1), (2) and (3) additional mother soil (soil) is added in varying proportions by weight, with the addition of 20 - 50% topsoil has proved to be the most appropriate. Method according to (2) wherein the biochar is subjected to a pre-process for charging with organic substances, preferably by mixing with rottefähigem material. Method according to (1) wherein fertilizable products are added to the mixture, preferably mushroom compost (also known as Spent Mushroom Substrate), a residue from mushroom production. Alternatively, solid substrates from biogas plants can be added after the solid-liquid separation. Alternatively, composts from the composting of oil palm residues, preferably from the composting of empty fruit bunches (the fruit stalks of oil palm fruits) can be added. The most suitable admixtures of (6) in the range of 5 to 30 percent by mass have been found.