DE2819871B2 - Method for improving plant growth in a hydroponics - Google Patents

Description

Systems for the cultivation of plants, in particular ornamental plants, in a neutral substrate made of gravel, charcoal, coke, slag, brick chippings or other suitable ceramic material are generally known (DE-PS 828843). According to "Kosmos", 1954, pages 345 to 348, corresponding cultures were also known for useful plants. In "Gartenwelt", 1961, pages 457 to 459, there are also information about the composition of nutrient solutions, whereby it is pointed out that the nutrient solution must be supplemented at intervals of 10 to 12 days. Various culture vessels for hydroponics with oiler without substrate are known to me, e.g. B. from DIX ¹ S V1fii> 35 and F) P-PS 1003489.

Recently it has also become known (to ensure the supply of nutrients to the plants in a hydroponic culture for a significantly longer period of 4 to 6 months by using so-called long-term fertilizers, in particular ion exchange fertilizers (CH-PS 408 518) .The invention is based on this status technology and strives to improve the plant growth in a hydroponic culture with a nutrient solution containing an ion exchange fertilizer. It has been found that in many cases the addition of ion exchange slow release fertilizer alone is unsatisfactory. De ¹ S applies above all to Water of low conductivity, e.g. rainwater, surface water, desalinated, treated water or particularly soft water of a certain composition that the release of the trace elements Fe, B, Zn, Cu and Mo is unsatisfactory even in high conductivity water.

The aim of creating significantly better conditions for the growth of the plants or for the effective release of the nutrients present is achieved according to the invention by adding a mixture of the ion exchange fertilizer and gypsum (CaSO ₄ ) to the nutrient solution. It has been shown that gypsum controls the release of nutrients in an ideal way. This is explained by the fact that gypsum goes into solution immediately at room temperature and any consumption is compensated immediately. The increase in the salt concentration through the addition of gypsum has no negative effects on plant growth, on the contrary, when using water with a low calcium content, the plants are supplied with calcium - which is not guaranteed by the use of ion exchange fertilizers.

The mixture to be added preferably also contains macronutrients, growth substances and in particular Micronutrients, on the one hand in immediately available plant-available Fc »m and on the other hand in slow in soluble form. It can e.g. B. capillary particles of inorganic, neutral and insoluble Material, e.g. B. fired clay particles may be provided, in which the nutrients and growth substances are stored. After being added to the nutrient solution, they are gradually dissolved, thus creating a Very valuable jump start for the growth by for a certain duration, which can be shorter than that Duration of action of the ion exchange fertilizer, the concentration of important nutrients, in particular of trace elements is increased. Any combination of the trace elements Al, As, B, Ba, Bi, Br, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, J, Li, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Rb, Se, Sn, Sr, Ti, V, W, and Zn added will. There can also be other active ingredients such. B. fungicides, insecticides, bactericides, growth inhibitors as well as pH-stabilizing substances are added.

The following is an example of experimental results showing the growth promotingc Effect of the measures according to the invention clearly shows. The experiments were each with one Dracaena Fragrans Massongeana plant, which stood in a vessel with 500 ml of water, two attempts each with soft water of 4 German degrees of total hardness and two attempts with hard water of 2 "> German total degrees of hardness were carried out. An experiment with a mixture of 25 ml was carried out with each of the two waters Long-term ion exchange materials and I g of gypsum, the results of which are listed in column A.

and one attempt only with 25 ml long-term lane replacement fluid carried out Growth and foliage color are rated with grades 5 to i, with 5 being the best grade is while the peak necrosis with grades Is rated 1-5, with 1 being the best grade,

Contents of the nutrient solution 14 days after adding the mixture or the slow release fertilizer

Water hardness DGH i A. B. 25 ° A. B. Electrical cond capability 2700 800 3220 1400 μΜΗΟ / CM 301 64 308 118 N mg / 1 38 22nd 42 33 P ₂ O ₅ mg / 1 470 111 507 185 K ₂ O mg / 1

Growth results 4 months after the start of the experiment

growth

Foliage color

Peak necrosis

It is thus clearly shown that the addition of gypsum, inter alia. in soft water of 4 ° DGH - but also in hard water Water of 25 ° DGH - a stimulating effect on the release of nutrients from the ion-exchange fertilizer Has.

The growth results after 4 months are much cheaper with the 4 "DGH with the variant with Plaster of paris than with the one without the addition of plaster of paris, and even at 25 ° DGH, thanks to the addition of plaster of paris, there is still another Improvement in plant growth achieved.

The mixture according to the invention can be brought into the nutrient solution prepackaged in special containers, or poured into the same in a dosed amount. One preferred according to the invention Design is characterized in that a plastic container is provided, at least an opening with a diffusible plastic fabric that is welded to the edge of the opening or is sealed, is complete. A deep-drawn container made of PVC can preferably be used, with the opening flange of which the plastic fabric is welded or sealed. It arises here a particularly simple production.

The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the drawing:

Fig. 1 shows a hydroponic vessel with an inserted container with the mixture according to the invention,

Fig. 2 is a detail from Fig. 1 on a larger scale, and

I-ig. 3 shows another container.

Fig. I shows an outer vessel 1, in which an insert vessel 2 made of thin-walled, elastic plastic is used. The insert vessel is equipped with a z. B. of expanded clay balls 3 existing Filled substrate in which the plant is kept. The wall of the insert vessel has diametrically opposite, Groove-like indentations, over which the flange has 4 openings. In one of these openings is a water level indicator inserted, the tube 5 by means of a in a hole the wall engaging pin 6 is secured on the add-on vessel. The bottom of the insert vessel has a. elevated point within which a cavity 7 accessible from below is formed. This insert vessel and its use in an outer vessel is known per se.

In the other opening of the flange 4, a tubular container 8 is loosely inserted, the two with respect to a partition 9 has symmetrical halves. Each of the two chambers of the container is located an amount of a mixture according to the invention of capillary grains with active ingredients and an ion exchange long-term fertilizer. At the two ends of the container, the edge of a lid protrudes slightly over a re-entrant flange 10 of the same in front of and is crenellated with projections and gaps. The opening of each flange 10 is with a Diffusible fine plastic fabric 11 coated, which is welded to the flange, glued «the is sealed.

The lower end of the container 8 stands on the bottom of the outer vessel 1, the gaps in the am Allow the nutrient liquid to pass through the top of the lid resting on the bottom. The nutrient fluid penetrates through the plastic fabric 11 into the lower chamber of the container, where the 'Virkstoffe in solution go, diffuse through the tissue 11 and get to the roots of the plant. Are z. B. after If the substances contained in the lower chamber are consumed at a given time, the container 8 excavated, the lid removed, the container turned and reinserted, so that the active ingredients in the chamber below. It could also be a similar container without a partition be provided.

The container can be marketed with protective lids 12 at either end, of which in Fig. 1 the upper one is still attached.

FIG. 3 shows the second embodiment of a container for the mixture ^{according to the invention, which 1} container can be inserted into the cavity 7 under the insert vessel according to FIG. 1.

The frustoconical, deep-drawn plastic container 24 has a flange 25 with which a fine, diffusible plastic fabric 26 is connected, which covers the container opening. At the Flange 25, feet 27 are formed, which hold the container opening or the plastic fabric 26 at a distance above the bottom of the shell 21, whereby the nutrient fluid has access to the plastic tissue and can penetrate through the same into the container. To facilitate this penetration, the container can be provided with fine ventilation holes on the top or a membrane made of synthetic fabric of the type described above. As described above, The released active ingredients diffuse through the fine synthetic tissue into the nutrient solution and get there to the plant roots.

The manufacture of the container according to FIG. 3 is very simple and efficient. The container can be used in a production line be pulled, filled and closed by applying the plastic fabric.

Instead of containers with a more or less rigid container body and at least one Diffusible membrane covering the opening, can also be made entirely of gauze, braid or fabric Existing bags, similar to Teubcutcin, brought with the mixture at a suitable place in the nutrient solution will. Such bags can preferably be introduced into a shaft that can be lifted out at the bottom gcschlit / .t is such that fluid and nutrient exchange / wipe the interior of the shaft and the culture container is possible, from which, however, the

28 1987

Bags cannot escape. When creating the culture, the water is now preferably only poured through the shaft when the bags are already in it, in order to achieve an initial intensive rinsing and dissolving of active substances and an even supply of the same to all container parts. This approach may be of interest particularly when larger container with multiple P ^f lances from one location must be supplied with drugs from.

However, it is also possible to use the mixture in loose form at a suitable point without any container to pour into the nutrient solution. Preferably, however, the loose mixture is also in this case Well of the type mentioned above introduced, with which then after the consumption of the active ingredients insoluble residues such as B. the clay particles can be excavated. Such a liftable one In the embodiment according to FIG. 1, the shaft or insert can be used instead of the container 8. at other existing hydroponic vessels, the mixture can be loosely or in bags in a liftable, sieve-like insert in the pouring and suction shaft.

1 sheet of drawings

Claims (8)

Patent claims: 1. Method of improving plant growth in a hydroponic culture, a nutrient solution containing an ion exchange fertilizer is used, characterized in that the nutrient solution is a mixture of the ion exchange fertilizer and gypsum is added. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that at least as much gypsum is added that in the nutrient solution the concentration of dissolved gypsum I is up to 2.5 g / l at 20 ° C amounts to. 3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that also micro and / or Macronutrients and insecticides, fungicides, bactericides and growth inhibitors, in particular in capillary particles made of inorganic, neutral and insoluble material, preferably in burnt clay particles stored, added. 4. The method according to claim 1 to 3, characterized in that a pH-stabilizing substance is added. 5. hydroponic vessel for carrying out the method according to claim 1 to 4, characterized in that that in the hydroponic container for receiving the mixture, a plastic container is provided, the opening (s) with a solution-permeable plastic fabric, which with the öffnixgäiand is welded or sealed, is closed (sindj. 6. Hydrokulturgcfäß according to claim 5, characterized marked that the Behir he at a die The edge of the opening has feet that support the Hold the plastic mesh at a distance above the bottom of the hydroponic plant. 7. hydroponic vessel according to claim 5 and * 6, characterized in that the container is tubular is formed and has a plastic fabric at both ends. 8. hydroponic vessel according to claim 7, characterized in that the interior of the container is divided into two halves by a partition.