JP2002191231A - Formed culture medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a formed culture medium having slight unevenness of component distribution and good workability. SOLUTION: This formed culture medium is formed by spraying a surfactant into wet felt formed by a wet felt making method from slurry comprising a main raw material containing granular material of rock wool, peat mosses, pulp and synthetic organic fiber, a flocculating agent for flocculating each component of main raw material and an adhesive for bonding each component and drying the wet felt, and the synthetic organic fiber is characterized by affording felt-like shape to the formed culture medium. Since such formed culture medium is formed by wet felt-making method, the formed culture medium solidified in a state in which each component of main raw material is uniformly dispersed is formed. Since felt-like shape is imparted to the formed culture medium by the synthetic organic fiber, formed culture medium excellent in folding resistance, softness and processability is formed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an artificial soil used for raising rice seedlings, slope greening, wall greening, cultivation of flowers and vegetables, and in particular, a molding medium which is an artificial soil having a solidified form. About.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, artificial soil containing rock wool granular cotton and peat moss as main components has been known. JP-A-3-187316 discloses a horticultural culture soil formed by mixing rock wool granular cotton and peat moss by dry mixing. Rock wool granular cotton has good initial water absorbency and water retention, but has weak water absorption and PH is acidic, while peat moss has a long time to absorb water because it contains wax. However, after completely absorbing water, it has excellent water retention ability and PH is alkaline. By mixing such two components, both of them complement each other's disadvantages, and a neutral horticultural cultivation soil with excellent water retention ability has been realized.

[0003]

However, such a conventional artificial soil has the following problems.
That is, the rock wool granular cotton and peat moss, which are the main components of the conventional artificial soil, are mixed by the dry mixing method and do not solidify, so that the workability is poor, and for example, it is troublesome to pack in a seeding tray or a pot. Was hanging. In addition, since the density unevenness was also large, the water absorption was also uneven, and the germination and growth of the plants were uneven. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a molding medium having less unevenness in component distribution and good workability. The object of the present invention is to provide an artificial soil excellent in folding resistance, flexibility and workability.

[0004]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the shaping medium according to the present invention comprises a rock wool granular cotton 49.
To 78% by weight, peat moss 19 to 33% by weight, pulp 0.5 to 3% by weight, synthetic organic fiber 1 to 10% by weight, and a coagulant 0.5 for coagulating each component of the main material. ~
1.5% by weight and adhesive 1 to bond each component of the main raw material
4% by weight of a slurry containing 100% by weight of peat moss in a wet felt formed on a wet felt formed by a wet papermaking method.
A molding medium formed by spraying a surfactant in a proportion corresponding to ~ 1.0 parts by weight and then drying the wet felt, wherein the synthetic organic fibers give the molding medium a felt-like form. It is characterized by being.

According to such a forming medium, since the forming medium is formed by a wet papermaking method, a forming medium in which the components of the main raw material are solidified in a uniformly dispersed state is formed. Further, since the synthetic medium is given a felt-like form by the synthetic organic fiber, a formed medium having excellent folding resistance, flexibility and processability is formed. Further, since the surfactant is sprayed, poor initial water absorption of peat moss is improved. In addition, "peet moss" shall refer to peat moss and fermented coconut fiber. The coconut fiber fermented product is obtained by depositing and fermenting coconut shells and has almost the same properties as peat moss.

[0006] The slurry may contain at least one selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, phosphoric acid, potassium and magnesium as a particulate fertilizer. By adding an appropriate amount of granular fertilizer, it becomes possible to control the medium design.

In the above-mentioned forming medium, the amount corresponding to 10 to 20% by weight of the rock wool granular cotton and peat moss is changed to 10 to 20% by weight of a natural inorganic water retention agent without changing the relative ratio thereof. You may. Accordingly, it is possible to cope with a plant that has a low capillary resistance, which is a resistance to the force of the plant absorbing moisture in the soil, has a moderate air permeability, and requires higher water retention.

In the above-mentioned molding medium, the amount equivalent to 10 to 30% by weight of the rock wool granular cotton and peat moss is changed to 10 to 30% by weight of the inorganic filler without changing the relative ratio thereof. Is also good. As a result, it becomes possible to cope with drainage around the roots and plants that prefer ventilation.

[0009]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, a forming medium according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to a table. Table 1 shows the component constitution of the molding medium according to the first embodiment and the component ratio of each component. As a main component, rock wool granular cotton and peat moss make up the majority. As already explained,
Rock wool granular cotton and peat moss are used in combination to complement each other's disadvantages and form a neutral molding medium with excellent water retention. Further, this molding medium is formed in a solidified state by a wet papermaking method. For this reason, it is excellent in workability and can be easily packed in a seeding tray or a pot, for example. In the wet papermaking method, since each component is further formed in a state of being uniformly dispersed, there is no variation in the water absorption capacity and density, and a gas-liquid solid three phase suitable for the growth of plants can be formed as a medium. . Furthermore, the forming medium according to the first embodiment further contains an olefin-polypropylene composite fiber as a synthetic organic fiber as a main component, thereby giving a felt-like form.
For this reason, since it is excellent in folding resistance, flexibility, and workability, workability is good, and it is possible to easily adapt to a substrate having an uneven surface. These points will be described later in detail.

[0010]

[Table 1]

Next, each component shown in Table 1 will be described. In the molding medium according to the first embodiment, the allowable ranges of rock wool granular cotton and peat moss to be blended as main raw materials are 49 to 78% by weight and 19 to 33% by weight, respectively. When the two components are in the ratio ranges described above, the two components are well balanced and there is no need to use a PH regulator, or almost all plants can be treated with a slight addition of a regulator. Also, the water absorption / retention shows good performance in this ratio range.

Pulp contributes to papermaking properties and the strength of molding medium felt. The compounding ratio is 0.5 to 3% by weight. If the compounding ratio is less than 0.5% by weight, the wet felt strength during papermaking is reduced, so that the mat tends to break,
The molding speed must be low. Also, if the mixing ratio exceeds 3% by weight, there is a concern that the forming medium felt becomes hard and the rooting begins to be adversely affected, and that if the medium is planted and the medium is not replaced, there is a possibility of environmental pollution. Is done.

[0013] The synthetic organic fibers impart a generally soft, felt-like morphology to the forming medium formed. It is anticipated that such a form is realized by blending synthetic organic fibers, which are large in volume with respect to mass and have bending resistance and flexibility, so as to be uniformly dispersed by a wet papermaking method. Is done. As described above, thereby, the workability is good, and it is possible to easily adapt to a substrate having an uneven surface. Mixing ratio is 1-10
% By weight. If the compounding ratio is less than 1% by weight, the folding resistance and flexibility of the felt are insufficient, and if it exceeds 10% by weight, the rigidity of the felt is increased and it is difficult to fit into the uneven base. Specific examples of the synthetic organic fibers include polypropylene, polyethylene, polyester, nylon, vinylon, acrylic, and olefin-polypropylene composite fibers.

The coagulant coagulates each component of the main raw material in the slurry in the process of the wet papermaking method. The mixing ratio is 0.5
１1.5% by weight. If the blending ratio is less than 0.5% by weight, the strength of the molding medium is insufficient, and if it exceeds 1.5% by weight, the effect is not improved, so there is no need to further blend. If the mixing ratio of the flocculant is less than 0.5%, the strength of the forming medium formed is insufficient because the components of the main raw material are not sufficiently flocculated in the slurry, and the adhesive action by the adhesive is not sufficient. It is foreseen that it will not work. Specific examples of the coagulant include a polymer coagulant such as polyacrylamide and a modified polyacrylamide, and an inorganic coagulant such as aluminum sulfate. These coagulants can be used alone or in combination of two or more as needed. However, the best coagulation effect is a combination of a polymer coagulant and an inorganic coagulant.

The adhesive adheres each component of the main raw material agglomerated by the aggregating agent in the slurry. The compounding ratio is 1 to 4% by weight. If the mixing ratio is less than 1% by weight, the strength of the forming medium felt is insufficient, and if it exceeds 4% by weight, the forming medium felt becomes hard and adversely affects the rooting. Specific examples of the adhesive include acrylic, vinyl acetate, ethylene vinyl acetate,
Acrylic ester, styrene acryl, each polymer or copolymer of styrene butadiene rubber, or polyvinyl alcohol, powder or emulsion is good,
The more the hydrophilic group, the better the water absorption of the molding medium. Since these are synthetic resins, they have corrosion resistance and do not pollute the environment.

Surfactants improve the poor initial water absorption of peat moss containing wax. Therefore, the amount of peat moss is determined based on the amount of peat moss. In the first embodiment, the peat moss is blended at a ratio corresponding to 0.1 to 1 part by weight in terms of a stock solution with respect to 100 parts by weight of peat moss. If the amount is less than 0.1 part by weight, the initial water absorption is insufficient, and if the amount exceeds 1.0 part by weight, no improvement in the effect is observed, so that it is not necessary to add more. Specific examples of the surfactant include higher alcohols, octylphenols,
Nonylphenol type, polyalkylene glycol type, alkylolamide type, fatty acid ester type and the like. In addition, since the surfactant is sprayed on the wet felt formed by the wet papermaking method, the component composition in Table 1 is as follows.
It is written to be 00%.

Further, in addition to the components shown in Table 1, a granular fertilizer may be further added to the slurry to form a forming medium by a papermaking method. At least one of nitrogen, phosphoric acid, potassium, and magnesium is used as the granular fertilizer. By adding an appropriate amount of granular fertilizer, it is also possible to control the medium design.

Next, a method for producing a molded medium according to the present embodiment will be described. First, after the rock wool granular cotton, peat moss, and pulp are adjusted to a predetermined particle size, an olefin-polypropylene composite fiber as a synthetic organic fiber material is added to these rock wool granular cotton, peat moss, and pulp as a main raw material. A polyacrylamide as a coagulant and an acrylic ester copolymer emulsion as an adhesive are combined with 5% of this main material and 95% of water in a predetermined order and in a mixer in a predetermined order. Thus, a slurry is prepared. Then, a wet felt is formed from the produced slurry 1 by a fourdrinier paper machine. A 0.5% aqueous solution of a surfactant is sprayed on the wet felt. After spraying the surfactant, the wet felt is absolutely dried at a temperature of 130 ° C. or more by a hot air drier to obtain a dried molding medium. Depending on the temperature at the time of drying, the molding medium is sterilized and becomes aseptic. The surfactant may be sprayed after the felt has been dried, but in that case, it is necessary to further pass through a dryer.

In the wet papermaking method, the components of the main raw material are agglomerated by an aggregating agent, and the state is fixed by an adhesive in a drying step, so that the molding medium is formed in a consolidated state. As a result, a molding medium that is excellent in workability as compared with artificial soil in which the components are not solidified and the components are separated is realized. In addition, in the wet papermaking method, a state is formed in which the components of the main raw material are uniformly dispersed in the slurry,
The forming medium formed through the papermaking process is also formed in a state in which each component is uniformly dispersed. As a result, a molded medium having no variation in water absorption and retention and density as described above is realized.

Next, the second and third embodiments will be described. First, as a second embodiment, 10 to 20% by weight of the natural mineral water retention agent may be replaced with 10 to 20% by weight of the natural wool without changing the relative ratio of rock wool granular cotton and peat moss. This makes it possible to cope with a plant that has a low capillary resistance of a culture medium, has an appropriate air permeability, and requires higher water retention. Mixing ratio is 10
If the amount is less than 20% by weight, the effect is insufficient. If the amount is more than 20% by weight, drainage at the time of papermaking is reduced and productivity is deteriorated. In addition, the material becomes dense and the rooting of the plant is deteriorated. The downside is that it becomes heavier. Specific examples of the natural inorganic water retention material include clays such as bentonite, attapulgite and sepiolite, and diatomaceous earth and zeolite which are porous materials.

In the third embodiment, 10 to 30% by weight of the inorganic wool may be replaced with 10 to 30% by weight of the inorganic wool without changing the relative ratio of rock wool granular cotton and peat moss. Thereby, it becomes possible to cope with drainage around the roots and plants such as statices which prefer ventilation. If the mixing ratio is less than 10%, the effect is insufficient, and if it exceeds 30%, the ratio of rock wool granular cotton to peat moss decreases, and the function as the medium of the present invention is insufficient. Specific examples of the inorganic filler include lightweight and bulky materials such as vermiculite and perlite.

The following test was performed to evaluate the performance of the molded medium formed by the above-described production method. Tables 2 and 3 show the test results.
First, as a test sample, molded media shown in Examples 1 to 5 and Comparative Examples 1 to 5 in Table 2 were prepared. Examples 1-3
Corresponds to the first embodiment described above, and Examples 4 and 5 correspond to the second and third embodiments, respectively. In the third embodiment, polyvinyl alcohol is used as the adhesive. Comparative Examples 1 and 2 are different from Example 1 in that the compounding components do not contain synthetic organic fibers (olefin / polypropylene bicomponent fibers, vinylon fibers), and the ratios of rock wool granular cotton and peat moss are different from those of the present invention. Comparative Examples 3 and 4 are different from Example 1 in that they do not contain synthetic organic fibers in their components. After mixing in a blender, the mixture is taken out, sowed in a mold and hardened by hot pressing).

[0023]

[Table 2]

[0024]

[Table 3]

The performance evaluation items of each test sample are as follows:
Manufacturability as a characteristic in the production process stage and medium characteristics as characteristics of the formed molded medium are roughly classified. Evaluation items for productivity include drainage and moldability, and evaluation items for medium characteristics include bending resistance, flexibility, strength, workability, initial water absorption time, initial medium absorption PH, initial water retention,
It is further classified as water retention after day.

In the drainage test, the drainage time during the table test papermaking was measured. O was set for less than 25 seconds, "somewhat bad" for 25 to 30 seconds, and "bad" for more than 30 seconds.
In the test of the moldability (productivity or economy), a test that took more than 25 seconds in the drainage test was regarded as "slow", and when the wet felt was cut during transfer, it was described as "mat breakage". In the bending resistance test, the test sample was bent to 90 degrees, and a sample without cracks and cracks was evaluated as ○, and a sample with cracks was evaluated as ×. In the test of the flexibility, the sample was evaluated as "good" when no gap was formed due to close contact with the substrate without bending when bent, and "x" when completed. In the strength test, one short side of the felt of 2 m × 1 m was held with both hands. In the workability test, those that could be easily cut and had a clean cut were evaluated as ○, and those that did not were evaluated as ×. This characteristic also leads to workability and a continuous construction finish with no gap between the felt seams. In the test of the initial water absorption time, a sample was floated by filling a container with water, and the time required for the sample to absorb water and settle was measured. It is good within 60 seconds, and even better within 30 seconds. In the test of the medium PH during initial water absorption, the value of the formed PH was measured. PH5
7 is suitable as a medium for many plants. In the test of the initial water holding capacity and the water holding capacity at the time of elapse of 7 days, the water holding capacity after seven days had elapsed since the medium was used was measured. 1
A good range is 000 g / L or less to 300 g / L or more.

Hereinafter, based on the test results shown in Table 2, the performance of the molded medium according to the present embodiment (Examples 1 to 5) will be evaluated. First, as a production method, the results are compared between a case where a wet papermaking method is employed and a case where a mixing / pressing method is employed. In Examples 1 to 5 where a wet papermaking method is employed, folding resistance, flexibility, and strength are used. , Whereas all of the evaluation items of workability are marked with ○, Comparative Example 5 employing the mixing and pressing method is not formed in a solidified state in the first place,
The measurement is impossible and the result is x. In addition, as shown in Table 2, it can be seen that Embodiments 1 to 5 have better values than Comparative Example 4 for the evaluation items of the initial water absorption time, the initial water retention amount, and the water retention amount after 7 days. . It is foreseen that this is because the forming media of Examples 1 to 5 are formed in a uniformly dispersed state by the wet papermaking method as described above.

In addition, the results are compared between the case where synthetic organic fibers are included and the case where synthetic organic fibers are not included. In Examples 1 to 5 in which synthetic organic fibers were included in the slurry,
Comparative Example 1 formed without synthetic organic fibers, while all of the evaluation items of folding resistance and flexibility were evaluated as ○.
In the case of ~ 4, it is x. It is foreseen that this is because the synthetic organic fibers give the molding medium a felt-like morphology as described above.

The results are compared in the case where the ratio between the rock wool granular cotton and the heat moss is changed. In Examples 1 to 5 in which the rock wool granular cotton is 49 to 78% by weight and the peat moss is 19 to 33% by weight, Initial water absorption time, initial water retention,
While the evaluation items of the water retention at the lapse of 7 days are balanced values, in Comparative Examples 1 and 2 in which rock wool granular cotton and peat moss are out of the above range, the initial water absorption time and the initial water retention, One of the water retention amounts after 7 days has a bad value. As described above, rock wool granular cotton and peat moss complement each other's disadvantages, and thus the relative ratio at the time of blending directly affects the performance as a molding medium.

In addition to those shown in Tables 2 and 3, as plants to be evaluated, "Western turf", which prefers soil having moderate air permeability and high water retention, and drainage around roots. "Statis", which favors well-ventilated soil, was selected and tested for its viability. As a result, in the test sample of Example 4 to which zeolite as an inorganic water retention agent was added, “Western turf” was added, and in the test sample of Example 5 to which an inorganic coagulant was added, “Statis” was embedded, rooted, The results show that both growth is good.

As described above, the present invention has been specifically described based on the embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments which merely show the best mode for carrying out the present invention. The invention includes all the modifications of the invention falling within the scope of the claims of the present invention, and can change the distribution configuration, the component amounts, and the like.

[0032]

Industrial Applicability The molding medium according to the present invention is formed in an artificial soil in which each component of a main raw material is uniformly dispersed and solidified by a wet papermaking method. It is possible to provide a preferable gas-liquid solid. The molding medium according to the present invention is excellent in workability such as folding resistance, flexibility and workability since the molding medium is given a felt-like form by synthetic organic fibers. Furthermore, when the forming medium according to the present invention is used on a base surface having unevenness such as greening of road slopes and greening of river banks, it is flexible and excellent in folding resistance, has good handleability, can be laid in a short time, and can be applied to the base surface. Excellent familiarity.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. 49 to 78% by weight of rock wool granular cotton,
A main material containing 19 to 33% by weight of peat moss, 0.5 to 3% by weight of pulp, and 1 to 10% by weight of synthetic organic fiber; and a coagulant 0.5 to 1.5 for coagulating each component of the main material. 100% by weight of the peat moss in the wet felt with respect to the wet felt formed by a wet papermaking method from a slurry containing 1% to 4% by weight of an adhesive for bonding the components of the main raw material. On the other hand, 0.1 to 1.
A molding medium formed by spraying a surfactant at a ratio corresponding to 0 parts by weight and then drying the wet felt, wherein the synthetic organic fiber gives the molding medium a felt-like form. A shaping medium characterized by the fact that: 2. The molding medium according to claim 1, wherein the slurry contains at least one selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, phosphoric acid, potassium, and magnesium as a granular fertilizer. 3. The molding medium according to claim 1, wherein the rock wool granular cotton and the peat moss are combined in a proportion of 10 to 20% by weight without changing their relative ratio.
A molded medium in which the amount corresponding to the above is changed to 10 to 20% by weight of a natural inorganic water retention agent. 4. The shaping medium according to claim 1, wherein the rock wool granular cotton and the peat moss are combined in an amount of 10 to 30% by weight without changing their relative ratio.
A molding medium in which the amount corresponding to the above is changed to 10 to 30% by weight of the inorganic filler.