JP2011004658A - Hydroculture solid medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide hydroculture solid medium inhibiting contamination caused by generation of bacillus, mold, algae or the like, excellent in plant-bearing properties without spoiling the fine sight of the medium for a long period of time, and also facilitated in cultivation management of plants.SOLUTION: The hydroculture solid medium is such that a foam prepared by foaming and baking glass supports a contamination-preventive agent having at least one kind of antibacterial, mildew-proofing and seaweed-proofing properties, and further supports nutrients, and is colored so as to be excellent in appearance without spoiling fine sight as the culture medium for a long period of time, and facilitate cultivation of foliage plants without requiring any specific management. Also, utilization of wasted glass as glass raw material to be used and use of biologically-safe or naturally-occurring substance as the contamination-preventive agent result in contribution to reduction in environmental load.

Description

    The present invention relates to a solid medium for hydroculture that suppresses contamination due to the generation of bacteria, fungi, algae and the like.

  Hydroculture is a kind of hydroponics and does not use soil as in the normal cultivation method. Therefore, it has recently been gaining popularity as a means to cultivate foliage plants hygienically and easily. In general, a solid medium called hydroball is used, which is obtained by granulating clay and baking it. In this case, it is difficult to maintain aesthetics for a long time due to the influence of mold, algae, and other precipitates. Moreover, since there is no change in being soil, the color is mostly tea-based, and it is difficult to say that the solid medium itself is beautiful.

  On the other hand, Patent Document 1 proposes a solid medium using a glass foam. The glass foam has independent or continuous bubbles and is excellent in water permeability and air permeability. In addition, its own physical characteristics or biochemical characteristics in the surrounding environment are higher than those of organic media. In addition, it does not necessarily have a tea color, and has an excellent aesthetic appearance.

Patent Document 2 proposes an algae-proof and mold-proof solid medium using a water-absorbent resin. The water absorbent resin is excellent in water retention and can be used as a plant culture medium. In addition, its appearance is highly transparent and excellent in aesthetics.
JP 2002-171851 A JP 2006-238735 A

  However, a glass foam as described in Patent Document 1 often produces algae, molds, and the like when used for a long period of time, resulting in a loss of aesthetics. Furthermore, due to the algae and fungi generated, the porous structure is clogged, the water permeability and air permeability are impaired, and plant growth may be hindered. In this case, it is necessary to replace the medium with a new solid medium every certain period, which is very troublesome.

  In addition, the water-absorbent resin as described in Patent Document 2 has its volume increased or decreased depending on the moisture content, and when the resin shrinks due to long-term drying and becomes unrecoverable, a new medium must be added. Don't be. In addition, since physical properties such as hardness also vary depending on the moisture content, the function as a plant support is insufficient.

  That is, especially in hydroculture where the maintenance and management of aesthetics is an important factor, the aesthetic appearance of any color, water permeability and breathability, physical properties sufficient as a plant support, etc. There is a demand for a solid medium that can be maintained for a long time.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to prevent contamination and functional deterioration due to the occurrence of bacteria, molds, algae, etc., so that the beauty of the medium is not impaired for a long period of time, excellent plant support, and easy plant cultivation management. A solid medium for hydroculture is provided.

  First, the invention according to claim 1 of the present application is that a glass culture obtained by foaming and baking glass at a high temperature has at least one or more characteristics of antibacterial, antifungal and antialgal properties. The antifouling agent is supported.

  Here, the glass foam has an average particle size of 1 mm to 30 mm, more preferably 1.5 mm to 20 mm. When the average particle size of the glass foam is less than 1 mm, the water retention is improved, but the breathability and water permeability are lowered, which may adversely affect the growth of plants. On the other hand, if it exceeds 30 mm, the air permeability and water permeability are high, but the water retention is low and the medium may be easily dried.

  Moreover, the specific gravity is 0.2-2.0, More preferably, it is 0.3-1.6. The specific gravity can be controlled by controlling the additive such as a foaming agent and the firing conditions when forming the glass foam. It can be said that the smaller the specific gravity, the larger the number of bubbles inside. When the specific gravity is less than 0.2, the air permeability and water permeability are high, but the water retention is low, and not only the medium is easily dried, but also the physical strength is lowered, and there is a possibility that the medium is easily broken. Furthermore, since it is very light, the surface medium may be easily scattered during use due to the influence of wind or the like. On the other hand, if the specific gravity exceeds 2.0, there are too few air bubbles inside, and therefore, air permeability, water permeability, and water retention are extremely lowered, which may adversely affect plant growth.

  Further, the glass foam can be produced from either virgin glass or waste glass. However, considering the influence on the environment and the like, it is desirable to use waste glass as a raw material as much as possible.

  Further, the antifouling agent is not particularly limited as long as it has at least one kind of antibacterial, antifungal and algal control properties. For example, citrus seed extract, hinokitiol, hinokitiol-containing essential oil, shell baked Examples include calcium, chitin, chitosan, polylysine, potassium sorbate, sodium benzoate, sodium hypochlorite, phenol, cresol, benzalkonium chloride, chlorhexidine, glutaraldehyde, peracetic acid, and silver-based antibacterial agents.

  These antifouling agents are used as they are or in microencapsulated form, and they are dissolved or dispersed in an arbitrary solvent and applied to glass foam by impregnation, dip coating, spray coating, etc. Thus, it is possible to carry an antifouling agent.

  In addition, it is possible to maintain the antifouling effect for a sufficiently long time by preliminarily supporting the antifouling agent on the glass foam. By re-loading it, the function can be maintained for a longer period of time.

  According to the present invention, the glass foam has a breathability, water permeability, physical property, and the like, by supporting the glass foam with a stain-proofing agent having at least one of antibacterial, antifungal and antialgal properties. Plants can be cultivated while maintaining a high level of stability and beauty.

  Next, the invention according to claim 2 of the present application is characterized in that, in the solid medium for hydroculture according to claim 1, the carried antifouling agent is a naturally derived substance or a food additive. To do.

  In recent years, due to growing interest in the environment and safety, consumers have refrained from using chemical synthetic products derived from petroleum. In both cases, there is a tendency to actively use those having high safety when living organisms take them. The same tendency was observed in the materials that make up the solid medium for hydroculture. Here, substances that are generally recognized as safe, such as those derived from nature or approved as food additives in Japan. Can be used as an antifouling agent. For example, naturally-occurring food additives include citrus plant seed extract, hinokitiol, hinokitiol-containing essential oil, calcined shell calcium, chitin, chitosan, polylysine and the like. Examples of food additives that are not naturally derived but have high safety include potassium sorbate and sodium benzoate.

  These can also be retained in the glass foam in advance to maintain their antifouling effect for a sufficiently long period of time, but are added during plant cultivation and re-supported in the glass foam. Furthermore, the function can be maintained for a long period of time.

  That is, according to the present invention, the antifouling agent supported on the glass foam is a naturally occurring substance and safe for living organisms. Therefore, the environmental load is low, and plants are exposed to these substances for a long time. Even if it is done, a plant can be cultivated stably without giving a fatal obstacle.

  The invention described in claim 3 of the present application is characterized in that a plant nutrient is supported on the hydroculture solid medium described in claims 1 and 2.

  Here, examples of plant nutrients include water-soluble compounds such as ammoniacal nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, phosphoric acid, potassium, magnesium, manganese, and boron, and solutions containing amino acids and humic substances. These compounds are also abundantly contained in the water extract of fully-ripened compost, and this liquid can be used as a plant nutrient.

  Also, these phytonutrients are impregnated into a glass foam by dissolving or dispersing in an arbitrary solvent as it is or in a microencapsulated state with sustained release properties as in the case of carrying a stainproofing agent. A dip coating method, a spray coating method, etc. can be applied to carry the antifouling agent.

  Furthermore, regarding these phytonutrients, as in the case of antifouling substances, it is possible to maintain the growth promoting effect for a long period of time by supporting the antifouling agent on the glass foam in advance. By adding a stainproofing agent to the glass foam and re-supporting it on the glass foam, its function can be maintained for a longer period of time.

  That is, according to the present invention, by supporting plant nutrients in the glass foam, it is possible to better maintain the state during cultivation, such as improving the leaf color of the plant under cultivation, and promote growth. is there.

  The invention according to claim 4 of the present application is characterized in that, in the solid medium for hydroculture according to claims 1 to 3, the glass foam is colored in an arbitrary color.

  Here, the method of coloring the glass foam is not particularly limited. For example, there is a method of coloring glass with an arbitrary color by baking it in combination with a pigment, or a method of immersing the glass foam in a dye or paint. In any case, it is desirable to pay attention to the viscosity and particle size of the colorant so that the porous structure of the glass foam is not blocked by the colorant.

  That is, according to the present invention, a plant can be stably cultivated for a long period of time with a further aesthetic appearance by coloring in an arbitrary color while maintaining the function as a medium for hydroculture.

  As described above, by using the solid medium for hydroculture of the present invention, it is possible to stably grow a plant for a long period of time without deteriorating aesthetics, excellent plant support, and simple management.

  Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail based on examples. However, the present invention is not limited to those described herein unless it exceeds the gist.

Example 1
Solid media were prepared under the conditions shown in 1 to 3, respectively.

Condition 1 Grapefruit seed extract 5 g supported on 1 kg glass foam Condition 2 Grapefruit seed extract 5 g and hinokitiol 60 mg supported on 1 kg glass foam Condition 3 Glass foam only Condition 4 Commercial hydroball

That is, condition 1 is that 1 kg of colorless glass foam having a specific gravity of about 0.3 and a particle size of 5 to 7 mm is immersed in 2 liters of an aqueous solution in which the concentration of grapefruit seed extract is adjusted to 2500 ppm, and air-dried while stirring. A solid medium uniformly supporting a grapefruit seed extract was used. Condition 2 was obtained by immersing 1 kg of a glass foam having a particle size of 5 to 7 mm in 2 liters of a mixed aqueous solution in which the concentration of grapefruit seed extract was adjusted to 2500 ppm and the concentration of hinokitiol to 30 ppm. The obtained solid medium was used. In condition 3, only a glass foam having a particle size of 5 to 7 mm was used as the solid medium. In condition 4, a commercial hydroball (trade name: orange ball) having a specific gravity of 0.9 and a particle size of about 5 mm obtained by firing clay was used as a solid medium.

  Moreover, pachira was cultivated using these solid culture media, and the state of contamination seen in various solid culture media was recorded every month from the beginning of cultivation for 5 months. Moreover, the cultivation of the plant was performed at room temperature, and when water decrease in the cultivation container was confirmed, it was carried out while adding water appropriately. The results are shown in Table 1.

  As a result, in condition 4 using a commercially available hydroball, contamination with mold and white precipitate was observed one month after the start of the test. In addition, in condition 3 using only the glass foam, generation of algae was observed after 3 months. On the other hand, as in Conditions 1 and 2, in the solid medium carrying the antifouling agent, no contamination was observed for a long time. That is, by adding the antifouling agent, generation of mold and algae was suppressed, and a clean state could be maintained for a long time.

(Example 2)
Solid media were prepared under the conditions shown in 1 to 3, respectively.

Condition 1 Grapefruit seed extract 5 g supported per 1 kg of glass foam Condition 2 Commercial hydroball Condition 3 Water absorbent resin for commercial hydroculture

That is, condition 1 is that 1 kg of colorless glass foam having a specific gravity of about 0.3 and a particle size of 5 to 7 mm is immersed in 2 liters of an aqueous solution in which the concentration of grapefruit seed extract is adjusted to 2500 ppm, and air-dried while stirring. A solid medium uniformly supporting a grapefruit seed extract was used. In condition 2, a commercial hydroball (trade name: orange ball) having a specific gravity of 0.9 and a particle size of about 5 mm obtained by baking clay was used as a solid medium. Condition 3 is a state in which water and a fertilizer component are added in advance and swollen sufficiently, and a water-absorbing resin for commercial hydroculture (trade name: polymer for hydroculture) having a particle size of about 5 mm and a colorless transparent is used as a solid medium. Used as.

  In addition, Augusta was cultivated using these solid media, and after 2 months, physical changes in various solid media, plant support, and contamination were evaluated. Moreover, the cultivation of the plant was performed at room temperature, and when water decrease in the cultivation container was confirmed, it was carried out while adding water appropriately. The results are shown in Table 2.

  As a result, the condition 2 using the commercially available hydroball was almost the same as the solid medium using the glass foam in terms of supportability and physical change, but the contamination progressed in 2 months. In addition, in the case of using the commercially available water-absorbing resin for hydroculture as in condition 3, a significant decrease in volume was observed in about one week, and the support of the plant body was insufficient, and contamination by mold Was also recognized. On the other hand, in the solid medium using the glass foam of the condition 1 carrying the antifouling agent, the volume reduction like the medium using the water-absorbing resin for commercial hydroculture is not recognized, and the support of the plant is commercially available. It was the same as the hydroball and no contamination was observed.

(Example 3)
Under the conditions shown in 1 and 2, glass foam solid media were prepared.

Condition 1 5 g of grapefruit seed extract and 200 ml of fully-ripened compost water extract are loaded on 1 kg of glass foam Condition 2 5 g of grapefruit seed extract is loaded on 1 kg of glass foam

That is, Condition 1 is a colorless glass with a specific gravity of about 0.3 and a particle size of 5 mm to 7 mm in 2 liters of a mixed aqueous solution in which the concentration of the grapefruit seed extract is adjusted to 2500 ppm and the concentration of the fully-ripened compost water extract is adjusted to 5%. A solid medium in which 1 kg of foam was immersed and air-dried with stirring to uniformly support the grapefruit seed extract and the fully-ripened compost water extract was used. Condition 2 is the same as Condition 1 in which 1 kg of colorless glass foam having a specific gravity of about 0.3 and a particle size of 5 to 7 mm is immersed in 2 liters of an aqueous solution in which the concentration of grapefruit seed extract is adjusted to 2500 ppm. The solid medium obtained by the method was used.

Moreover, Pirea was cultivated using these glass foam solid culture media, and the growth state of Piraea cultivated with various solid culture media was observed and evaluated after one month. Plant cultivation was carried out at room temperature, and when a decrease in water in the cultivation vessel was confirmed, it was carried out with appropriate water addition. The results are shown in Table 3.

  As a result, in the condition 1 in which the plant nutrient was supported, the leaf color was darker green and more shoots were formed. That is, the glass foam medium carrying phytonutrients could grow plants better.

Example 4
After coloring using the colorant shown in Conditions 1 and 2, it was completely dried to prepare a glass foam solid medium carrying a grapefruit seed extract.

Condition 1 Water-based acrylic paint Condition 2 Water-based acrylic paint Condition 3 Uncolored

That is, in condition 1, 1 liter of an aqueous solution in which 100 g of an aqueous acrylic paint was dissolved was immersed in 1 kg of colorless glass foam having a specific gravity of about 0.3 and a particle size of 5 mm to 7 mm, and completely dried to be colored. Furthermore, this was immersed in 2 liters of an aqueous solution in which the concentration of the grapefruit seed extract aqueous solution was adjusted to 2500 ppm, air-dried while stirring, and a solid medium uniformly supporting the grapefruit seed extract was used. Condition 2 is that 1 liter of an aqueous solution in which 100 g of an aqueous acrylic paint is dissolved is immersed in 1 kg of colorless glass foam having a specific gravity of about 0.3 and a particle size of 5 mm to 7 mm, completely dried and colored. In the same manner as in No. 1, a solid medium on which a grapefruit seed extract was uniformly supported was used. In condition 3, a solid medium in which a grapefruit seed extract was uniformly supported on a colorless glass foam having a specific gravity of about 0.3 and a particle size of 5 mm to 7 mm, as in conditions 1 and 2, was used.

  In addition, Augusta was cultivated using these glass foam solid media, and after 2 months, the growth state of Augusta cultivated on various solid media was observed and evaluated. Plants were cultivated at room temperature, and water was appropriately added when a decrease in water in the cultivation container was confirmed. The results are shown in Table 4.

  As a result, both conditions 1, 2 and 3 grew well for 2 months. That is, when any medium was used, the plant could be cultivated without causing any damage to the plant, and the effect of coloring was not recognized.

Claims (4)

  A solid medium for hydroculture, characterized in that a glass foam obtained by foaming and baking glass at a high temperature is loaded with an antifouling agent having at least one of antibacterial, antifungal and algal control properties. .   The solid medium for hydroculture according to claim 1, wherein the antifouling agent supported on the glass foam is a naturally derived substance or a food additive.   The solid medium for hydroculture according to claim 1 or 2, wherein plant nutrients are supported.   The solid medium for hydroculture according to claim 1, wherein the glass foam is colored in an arbitrary color.