GB394654A - Improvements relating to the use of peat in plant cultivation - Google Patents

Abstract

394,654. Manures, insecticides, &c. DYCKERHOFF, E., Schloss Blumenau, near Wunstorf, Hanover, Germany. Dec. 17, 1931, No. 35002. [Class 111.] A material for promoting plant cultivation is made by compressing under a pressure of the order of 130-150 kg cm<2> a mixture of dry peat and fertilizing-material and/or other material which will promote plant cultivation, such as materials containing favourable soil bacteria or which promote the activity of the soil bacteria or materials for warding off or destroying harmful animal or vegetable action. The peat may be replaced wholly or in part by water-resisting peat, i.e. peat which has been treated so as to render it resistant to the absorption or emission of liquids or solutions, e.g. by heating to 120‹ C. as described in Specification 206,266, [Class 140, Waterproof &c. fabrics]. The water-resisting peat retards the emission of the fertilizing material &c. when the mixture is added to the soil. Alternatively the water-resisting peat may be added to the already compressed mixture of peat and fertilizing material &c. and the mixture then compressed again to such an extent only that the mixture will adhere. The materials may be mixed in the dry state, or the fertilizing material &c. may be dissolved in water prior to the admixture ; thus according to examples the peat may be stirred or sprayed with solutions containing (a) urea and ammonium sulphate, (b) leunasaltpeter, superphosphate and potassium salts and (c) ammonium sulphate, calcium arsenate and copper arsenate. The mixture may be compressed or rolled into briquettes, ovoids, sheets, &c. which may be suitably profiled or indented as shown for example in Fig. 2 to assist division, or the mixture may be prepared in the form of small bodies such as granules, small balls or flakes. German Specification 501,476 is referred to. The Provisional Specification refers to British Specification 339,067, [Class 64 (ii), Heating systems &c.].