DE102021002781A1 - Vegetation substrate material - Google Patents

Abstract

A vegetation substrate is specified that improves the plantability of a vegetation area under difficult conditions. It comprises a mineral vital substance component which can release the mineral substances required by a planting, a mineral moisture storage component which can reversibly exchange fluid with the environment, and an organic vital substance component which arranges the substrate for the microbiological climate of the vegetation.

Description

Sometimes it is desired to plant areas of a subsurface where plants will find it difficult to thrive. There are z. B. Edges of streets, edges of sports fields, passable surfaces, flat roofs, planted areas and the like. The unsuitability for planting can be based on the one hand on the nature of the material of the subsoil that is to be planted, on the other hand on the fact that the area under consideration is poorly supplied with rainwater and / or is far away from water pipes. Finally, a problem with planting can simply consist in the fact that there is no staff available to monitor the current state of the planting and, if necessary, take measures to encourage the planting to grow, e.g. to water or fertilize.

Plantings are particularly desirable in the following difficult cases: Resilient lawns (secondary sports and play areas); Drive-on lawns (emergency access areas, parking spaces); Tree planting pits, planting areas; Greening of built-up areas (garage roofs, flat roofs).

In nature, similar areas can be found in steep and / or lean landscapes. Nevertheless, these landscapes are naturally sufficiently populated with plants that have adapted to the barren environment. These plants often even have a special charm for the human observer and also support the life of insects and other animals.

The present invention is intended to create a vegetation substrate material which allows plants to be established on a subsoil that is difficult to plant.

This object is achieved according to the invention by a mineral vegetation substrate material with the features specified in claim 1. It contains a vital mineral component, which contains the mineral components required by lean plant communities, especially lean soil plants. In addition, it receives a moisture storage component which, due to its material-inherent properties, is suitable for absorbing moisture, in particular water. This storage component is reversibly connected to the environment in an exchange of moisture and can reversibly absorb moisture, in particular water, from the environment and then later release it to the environment and in particular also to the roots located there when it is dry. Finally, it contains a soil culture component, which contains bacteria and other micro-organisms that the plant needs to grow.

Advantageous further developments of the inventions are given in the subclaims.

With the development of the invention according to claim 2 it is achieved that the vital substance component is easy to handle and easy to dose. Alkaline earth compounds have favorable fertilizer properties. They are also available inexpensively in areas of the earth's surface as larger bearings.

In a composition according to claim 3, there is a progressive release of the fertilizer substances from the alkaline earth compounds. This takes place depending on the chemical nature of the various alkaline earth compounds.

With the further development of the invention according to claim 4 it is achieved that the vital substance component also has little weathered surfaces on the mineral fragments and sharp edges thereof and also includes parts with a very small volume (silt, sand) due to the comminution process.

According to claim 5, alkaline earth compounds with different weathering characteristics are available in order to take into account different climatic conditions and different requirements for the release of alkaline earth metal.

A substrate material according to claim 6 is characterized by particularly good support for the growth of the vegetation over long periods of time.

According to claim 7, the vital substance component can also be selected in such a way that it also has sufficient storage properties for moisture. In particular, one can provide among the vital substance components those with particles of larger diameter, which can absorb larger amounts of moisture in their larger volume (adsorption) and then slowly release these amounts of moisture again.

A substrate material according to claim 8 is characterized by good release of plant nutrients and a high moisture storage capacity of the vital substance component.

In the case of the substrate material according to claim 9, the vital properties of the substrate and its mechanical properties such as load-bearing capacity, flexibility, processability, and its mechanical properties can be controlled independently of its other properties.

The development of the invention according to claim 10 is advantageous with regard to the control of the progressivity of the weathering of granulate material and with regard to the control of the mechanical properties of granulate material.

A substrate material according to claim 11 is characterized by particularly well-stretched, overall, essentially uniform weathering and thus the release of vital substances.

The invention is explained in more detail below on the basis of exemplary embodiments.

Reference is made to granular material, using the following terminology (DIN18196): Silt Fine silt: grain size 0.002-0.0063 mm Medium silt: grain size 0.0063-0.02 mm Coarse silt: grain size 0.02-0.063 mm sand Fine sand: grain size 0.063-0.2 mm Medium sand: grain size 0.2-0.63 mm Coarse sand: grain size 0.63-2 mm gravel Grus: grain size: 2-6.3 mm Grit: grain size 6.3-20 mm Gravel: grain size 20-63 mm

In the preferred embodiments described below, magnesium is used as the alkaline earth metal, which is an effective fertilizer. It is an essential substance for all organisms and, for example, contained in chlorophyll as the central atom of the molecule to about 2%. If there is a lack of magnesium, plants show the same symptoms as if there is a lack of light (yellowing).

As an alternative to Mg minerals or in combination with them, you can use a burnt expanded Lias clay material or expanded slate material (burnt border slate), which can absorb water reversibly and then release it again. A broken expanded clay material is produced from this material by breaking and / or grinding.

When liming arable and grassland areas, magnesium is used in the form of magnesium oxide or magnesium carbonate to compensate for the removal of magnesium from the soil by the plants. This also increases the soil pH and improves the availability of additional nutrients.

Magnesium carbonate is often used together with lime as a multi-component fertilizer containing magnesium and calcium.

Since magnesium also occurs in large quantities in the sea, it is also found in larger quantities in sedimentary rocks that have formed from submerged parts of the sea. In a limestone quarry located in the western area of the Swabian Alb in Fischingen and in the western edge area ("Swabian Heckengäu"), in addition to the limestone formations that can be used as stone building material, there are also layers of rock that contain magnesium carbonate and magnesium oxide. These can typically be materials with 15-25 percent by weight magnesium oxide and 30-45 percent by weight magnesium carbonate. Shell limestone, on the other hand, is to be regarded as “dead” rock material with regard to plant growth.

The following exemplary embodiments contain, as a storage component that can store moisture, broken expanded clay material, e.g. the expanded clay material sold under the trade name Liadrain® L or broken expanded slate material, e.g. that is sold under the trade name Ulopor® Drain or a material known under the name Kesseland .

Boiler sand is a product that is obtained in power plants when burning coal dust. This product comprises the non-combustible mineral components of the coal, which are then separated from the flue gas. The individual non-combustible components collect with agglomeration at the bottom of the incinerator. The grain size of this material varies between less than 1 mm and more than 8 mm. The grain surfaces are cracked and rough. Shell sand can be used as a building material for lightweight concrete masonry, lightweight mortar and concrete.

Alternatively or in combination, you can use a fired and expanded Lias clay material, which can absorb water reversibly and then release it again. To A expanded clay sand mixture is produced from this material by crushing and / or grinding. Such clay material can be obtained, for example, by breaking and / or grinding lias rock material or expanded clay material.

Liadrain® has the following properties: Material type Expanded clay, broken Size of the particles 98% <10 mm, 30% <4 mm SiO _{2 content} approx. 55% by weight Al ₂ O _{3 content} approx. 24% by weight Fe ₂ O _{3 content} approx. 14% by weight CaO content approx. 5% by weight Trace elements Approx. 2% by weight

Expanded slate sand is a product that occurs as border slate and is mined by Thüringer Schiefer GmbH in the open pit in Unterloquitz (Thuringia). In a thermal process, the raw product (slate) is broken into open-pored grains without a chemical process ”. The grain surfaces are cracked and rough. The grain sizes vary from 1-16 mm. Further properties are: water-storing, structurally stable, frost-resistant, permeable and biologically neutral. Ulopor expanded slate can be used as drainage material, spreading material and mulch material.

Ulopor® Drain has the following properties: Material type Expanded slate, broken grain size 2-5 mm Size of the particles 98% <10 mm, 10% <2 mm SiO _{2 content} approx. 58% by weight Al ₂ O _{3 content} approx. 21% by weight Fe ₂ O _{3 content} approx. 7.5% by weight CaO content approx. 0.56% by weight Trace elements approx. 3% by weight

Furthermore, some embodiments contain brick sand with a grain size of 0-2 mm because of its ability to store moisture and its mechanical properties.

A quality-assured (contamination, seeds) compost material is used as the soil culture component in the examples. The soil culture component is an organic material such as humus in the form of compost, which contains microorganisms that ensure the microbiological life of the substrate in the manner of an inoculation.

In the examples, biochar produced in the pyrolysis process at a maximum of 720 ° Celsius is used as a further soil culture component. For example the type MOOLA HS3 - vegetable charcoal wood which is made from forest wood chips. The biochar is an organic substance that consists of 80% Consists of carbon and has a specific surface area of 452 m ² per gram. Furthermore, biochar has a water retention capacity (usable field capacity, and has a positive effect on the supply of nutrients. Together with the added compost and the fertilizer Maltaflor) the usable field capacity is three times that of pure clay. This mixture also "loads" the coal The coal takes on the function of three-layer clay minerals, which means that it can store nutrients that are available to plants and thus has growth-promoting properties. Thus, in the long term, subsequent fertilization is not necessary. Biochar also increases soil aeration. Approx. 80% of the Biochar remains in the soil or in the substrate mixture for a very long period of time. Biochar will in future be used as a soil structure improver in agriculture, etc. At the same time, biochar has a CO ₂ balancing effect.

In addition, the organic fertilizer known under the trade name Maltaflor® Universal is added as a starter fertilizer.

Example 1: Stone-rich mineral turf base layer

Carbonic limestone mixture, Fischinger magnesium material grain 1 mm to 32 mm 70 vol% Broken expanded clay Liadrain®, expanded slate Ulopor® Drain 2-5 mm or boiler sand 20 vol.% Compost (Maltaflor® Universal, 2kg / m ³ ) 10 vol.%

Example 2: Mineral gravel lawn

Carbonic limestone mixture, Fischinger magnesium material grain 2 mm to 45 mm 70 vol.% Broken expanded clay Liadrain®, expanded slate Ulopor® Drain 2-5 mm or boiler sand 10 vol.% Moraine sand, brick sand grain 0 mm to 2 mm 10 vol.% Compost (Maltaflor® Universal, 2 or up to 4 kg / m ³ ) 10 vol.%

Example 3: Mineral tree planting substrate (cannot be driven over or built over)

Carbonic limestone mixture, Fischinger magnesium material, grain 0 mm to 16 mm 50 vol.% Broken expanded clay Liadrain® or expanded slate Ulopor® Drain 2-5 mm or boiler sand 30 vol.% Brick sand grain 0 mm to 2mm, 10 vol. % Compost 10 vol.% Or 5 vol.% Compost with 5 vol.% Biochar (Maltaflor® Universal, 5kg / m ³ ) 10 vol.%

Example 4: Mineral intensive substrate (green roof, underground car park - lawn)

Carbonic limestone mixture, Fischinger magnesium material grain 0 mm to 16 mm 30 vol.% Broken expanded clay Liadrain®, expanded slate Ulopor® Drain 2-5 mm or boiler sand 45 vol.% Brick sand grain 0 to 2mm 10 vol.% Compost: 10 vol.% Or 10 vol% compost with 5 vol.% Biochar (Maltaflor® Universal, 7.5 kg / m ³ ) 15 vol.%

Example 5: Universal mineral plant substrate (plant areas)

Carbonic limestone mixture, Fischinger magnesium material grain 0 mm to 8 mm 45 vol.% Broken expanded clay Liadrain®., Expanded slate Ulopor® Drain 2-5 mm or boiler sand 30 or 25 vol.% Brick sand grain 0 to 2mm 10 vol.% Compost 10% by volume or biochar 5% by volume 15 or (Maltaflor® Universal, 3 to 5 kg / m ³ ) 20 vol.%

The above examples are for specific purposes. In individual cases, the composition of the vegetation substrate will be selected taking into account the nutrient requirements of the planned planting, but also taking into account the meteorological site conditions and the properties of the native subsoil in the area of the planting.

The various components of the substrate material are preferably mixed and brought to the site of use in accordance with the recipe desired in each case. There, the substrate material is then applied to the possibly mechanically pretreated surface, sprinkled with seeds, e.g. lean grass seeds and / or other seeds, if necessary straight and then rolled. In the process, coarse particles close to the surface are essentially pressed flush into the base course.

Alternatively, the various components can also be brought to the site separately and brought to the surface of the earth, which may have been treated before, separately in several operations, whereby the portion with a large grain size is applied first, because the portion with a medium grain size including the portion with a fine grain size is applied. This is particularly advantageous in the case of plants with only shallow roots.

• Der zeitliche Verlauf des Abbaus von Vitalstoff-Partikeln ist umso rascher, je kleiner der Partikeldurchmesser ist. Große Partikel bleiben länger erhalten.

A person skilled in the art can vary the numbers and materials mentioned according to the particular problem to be solved. It takes the following into account:

• The time course of the breakdown of vital substance particles is faster, the smaller the particle diameter is. Large particles are retained longer.

The harder the vital substance, the slower it is released from the vital substance particles.

Due to their mechanical structure, soil culture particles also have storage capacity for liquid. They are mechanically less stable and weather quickly. Since the soil cultures multiply in the base course material, a sufficient soil culture presence is also ensured in the long term.

Claims (11)

Mineral vegetation substrate for improving the soil of a planting area with at least one mineral vital substance component, which can release vital substances for plants to be planted on the planting area, with at least one moisture storage component, which reversibly absorbs moisture, especially water, from the environment and releases it again can, and with an organic vital substance component, which ensures a microbiological life of the vegetation substrate. Vegetation substrates Claim 1 , characterized in that the mineral vital substance component comprises an alkaline earth compound. Vegetation substrate after Claim 2 , characterized in that the mineral vital substance component comprises alkaline earth compounds of different solubility in water. Vegetation substrate after Claim 3 , characterized in that the mineral vital substance component comprises crushed rock materials, for example: brick sand, boiler sand or broken expanded clay or expanded slate. Vegetation substrate according to one of the Claims 2 - 4th , characterized in that the alkaline earth compound comprises an oxide, chloride, carbonate, sulfate, silicate or mixtures thereof. Vegetation substrate according to one of the Claims 2 - 5 , characterized in that the alkaline earth metal comprises magnesium or calcium. Vegetation substrates according to one of the Claims 1 - 6th , characterized in that the material of the mineral vital substance component corresponds at least partially to a storage component. Vegetation substrate according to one of the Claims 1 - 7th , characterized in that the mineral vital substance component comprises magnesium carbonate and / or magnesium oxide. Vegetation substrate according to one of the Claims 1 - 8th , characterized in that it comprises an adjusting substance component which influences the mechanical properties of the vegetation substrate. Vegetation substrate according to one of the Claims 2 - 9 , characterized in that it comprises grains of different sizes. Vegetation substrate after Claim 10 , characterized in that the particles with silt size make up about 7-20% of the total mass, the particles with sand size make up about 20-50% of the total mass and the particles with gravel size make up about 73-30% of the total mass.