JP2016101160A - Artificial soil media adjustment method, and foliage plant cultivation method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an artificial soil media adjustment method that facilitates management of watering on a foliage plant.SOLUTION: An artificial soil media adjustment method adjusts the water content environment of artificial soil media for use in cultivation of a foliage plant to one suitable for cultivation of the foliage plant. As the artificial soil media, artificial soil particles are used which comprise a fiber lumpy body formed by putting together fibers. The method conducts an adjustment step of adjusting the volume moisture content of the artificial soil media to fall within 10-40% at pF value 2.3, 1-15% at pF value 2.7.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for adjusting an artificial soil medium for adjusting an artificial soil medium used for cultivation of a foliage plant to a water environment suitable for cultivation of the foliage plant, and an artificial soil medium adjusted by the adjustment method. The present invention relates to a foliage plant cultivation method for cultivating plants.

  When potted houseplants are placed in a room such as an office, a store, or a general house, it is required to be clean in addition to the beauty of appearance. When natural soil is used as a medium for foliage plants, the sense of cleanliness may be impaired due to pests approaching the soil or the generation of odor from the soil. Therefore, it has been studied to use artificial soil as a medium for houseplants as clean soil that is less susceptible to problems such as pests and odors.

  When cultivating foliage plants using artificial soil, not only are they excellent in basic performance as soil, but they also require unique functions that are difficult to realize in natural soil. For example, when a houseplant is cultivated indoors where it is easy to dry, the artificial soil is required to be easily managed in a water environment while having plant growth ability equivalent to that of natural soil. In particular, suppressing the excessive absorption of water by the houseplant while growing the houseplant is important for reducing the frequency of watering the houseplant and facilitating irrigation management. In order to facilitate the management of the moisture environment of the artificial soil, the artificial soil can be maintained in a moisture environment suitable for houseplants, that is, the moisture adsorption state on the artificial soil medium and the volumetric water content of the artificial soil medium. Must be maintained properly.

In this regard, Patent Literature 1 uses an open-celled polyurethane foam chip as a plant cultivation base and adjusts the particle size of the open-celled polyurethane foam chip to 0.2 to 25.0 mm, thereby plant cultivation. A plant cultivation method in which the water retention amount of the substrate is adjusted to 0.4 to 0.7 g / cm ³ is described.

JP 2004-229637 A

However, since the open-celled polyurethane foam chip used in Patent Document 1 has a low water retention capability, it is necessary to spray water at least once every 2 to 3 days in order to maintain the water retention amount. . Moreover, skillful experience is required to accurately adjust the water retention amount of the plant cultivation base to 0.4 to 0.7 g / cm ³ , and it is difficult to say that irrigation management is easy.

  This invention is made | formed in view of the said problem, and it aims at providing the adjustment method of the artificial soil culture medium which makes easy management of the irrigation of a foliage plant, and the foliage plant cultivation method.

The characteristic configuration of the method for adjusting an artificial soil culture medium according to the present invention for solving the above problems is as follows.
An artificial soil culture medium adjustment method for adjusting an artificial soil culture medium used for cultivation of foliage plants to a moisture environment suitable for cultivation of the foliage plants,
As the artificial soil medium, using artificial soil particles provided with a fiber mass formed by collecting fibers,
It is to perform an adjustment step of adjusting the volumetric water content of the artificial soil medium so as to be in a range of 10 to 40% at a pF value of 2.3 and in a range of 1 to 15% at a pF value of 2.7.

  According to the method for adjusting an artificial soil culture medium of this configuration, artificial soil particles having fiber aggregates formed by collecting fibers are used as an artificial soil culture medium used for cultivation of a houseplant. As the plants grow, the roots of the houseplants are effectively entangled with the fibers forming the artificial soil particles, and the water retained in the artificial soil particles can be efficiently absorbed. For this reason, the moisture environment of the artificial soil culture medium is such that the volumetric water content is in the range of 10 to 40% at a pF value of 2.3, which is a relatively high value among easy-to-use water, and the volumetric water content is 1 at a pF value of 2.7. Even if it adjusts so that it may become in the range of -15%, the water supply to the foliage plant from the artificial soil culture medium can be moderately suppressed without the foliage plant being deflated. As a result, the frequency of watering can be reduced while maintaining the growth of the foliage plants, and the irrigation of the foliage plants can be easily managed.

In the method for preparing an artificial soil medium according to the present invention,
The adjusting step preferably includes a particle size distribution adjusting step of adjusting the particle size distribution of the artificial soil particles to a range of 1 to 15 mm.

  The moisture adsorption state in the artificial soil medium is related to the gap formed between the artificial soil particles, and the volume moisture content at a specific pF value can be adjusted by adjusting the gap to an appropriate size. Become. According to the adjustment method of the artificial soil medium of this configuration, the pF value of the gap formed between the plurality of artificial soil particles is 2 by adjusting the particle size distribution of the artificial soil particles to a range of 1 to 15 mm. It is formed in an appropriate size that retains moisture in the range of 3 to 2.7. As a result, the volumetric water content of the artificial soil medium can be easily adjusted to a range of 10 to 40% at a pF value of 2.3 and a range of 1 to 15% at a pF value of 2.7.

In the method for preparing an artificial soil medium according to the present invention,
In the particle size distribution adjusting step, it is preferable to adjust so that the median value of the particle size distribution of the artificial soil particles is in the range of 2 to 10 mm.

  According to the adjustment method of the artificial soil culture medium of this configuration, the gap formed between the plurality of artificial soil particles is adjusted so that the median value of the particle size distribution of the artificial soil particles is in the range of 2 to 10 mm. Is formed in an optimal size that retains moisture with a pF value in the range of 2.3 to 2.7. As a result, the volumetric water content of the artificial soil medium can be reliably adjusted to a range of 10 to 40% at a pF value of 2.3 and a range of 1 to 15% at a pF value of 2.7.

In the method for preparing an artificial soil medium according to the present invention,
In the particle size distribution adjusting step, it is preferable to adjust the particle size distribution of the artificial soil particles so that a plurality of peaks exist.

  According to the method for adjusting an artificial soil medium of this configuration, the gap formed between the artificial soil particles is stepwise by adjusting the particle size distribution of the artificial soil particles so that there are multiple peaks. It will have a size. In this case, it is possible to retain moisture having different adsorption states in the gap between the artificial soil culture media. As a result, the artificial soil culture medium can hold moisture in an appropriate adsorption state according to the type of houseplant at an appropriate volumetric moisture content, and it is possible to simultaneously grow a plurality of plants that require moisture in different adsorption states It becomes possible.

The characteristic configuration of the foliage plant cultivation method according to the present invention for solving the above problems is as follows:
It is in including the irrigation process of irrigating a foliage plant using the artificial soil culture medium adjusted with the adjustment method of any one said artificial soil culture medium.

  According to the foliage plant cultivation method of this configuration, in order to cultivate the foliage plants by irrigating them after carrying out the preparation method of the artificial soil medium of the present invention, as described above, while maintaining the growth of the foliage plants, The frequency of watering can be reduced.

In the houseplant cultivation method according to the present invention,
In the irrigation step, the interval of irrigation to the foliage plant is preferably 1.5 times or more than the interval of irrigation when the foliage plant is cultivated using natural soil.

  According to the foliage plant cultivation method of this configuration, in the irrigation step, in order to make the interval of irrigation to the foliage plants 1.5 times or more of the interval of irrigation when cultivating the foliage plants using natural soil, The frequency of watering the foliage plants can be reliably reduced, and the irrigation management of the foliage plants can be facilitated.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of artificial soil particles to be used in the method for preparing an artificial soil medium according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an artificial soil medium composed of the artificial soil particles of FIG. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a method for cultivating a foliage plant according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a graph showing the relationship between the volumetric water content and the number of elapsed days (irrigation interval) in the medium using the artificial soil particles of Example 7.

  Hereinafter, the embodiment regarding the adjustment method of the artificial soil culture medium which concerns on this invention, and the cultivation method of a foliage plant is described based on FIGS. However, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the configurations described in the embodiments and drawings described below. In addition, in order to make an understanding of this invention easy, the water | moisture-content adsorption | suction power of an artificial soil culture medium is demonstrated first.

<Water adsorption capacity of artificial soil medium>
Soil (including both artificial soil and natural soil) is composed of soil particles of various sizes, and moisture is retained in the gaps formed between the plurality of soil particles by capillary action or the like. The force for retaining soil moisture (moisture adsorption force) is expressed as a pF value. The pF value is a common logarithm value of the suction pressure of the soil moisture expressed by the height of the water column, and is a value representing the degree of strength at which the moisture in the soil is attracted by the capillary force of the soil. When the pF value is 2.0, it corresponds to a pressure of 100 cm of water column. The pF value also represents the strength of adsorption between the soil and moisture. If the adsorption force between the soil and moisture is weak, the pF value becomes low, and the plant roots easily absorb moisture. On the other hand, if the adsorption power of soil and moisture is strong, the pF value becomes high, and a large force is required for the roots of plants to absorb moisture. When there is no air in the gaps in the soil and all of them are filled with water, the pF value is 0, and the soil is 100 ° C. in the heat-dried state, and there is only water combined with the soil. Becomes a pF value of 7. The water in the soil that the plant can absorb from the root is the initial wilt point (pF value of 3. The water content is up to 8). Among these, the range of the pF value of water that can be easily used by plants, so-called easy water, is 1.7 to 2.7. The pF value can be measured using a pF meter (tensiometer). The inventors of the present invention, in particular, have conducted intensive research on the conditions of an artificial soil medium suitable for foliage plants. When the volumetric water content is adjusted to be in the range of 10 to 40% at a pF value of 2.3, which is a relatively high value, and the volumetric water content is adjusted to be in the range of from 1 to 15% at a pF value of 2.7, the foliage plant will wither. It was found that the water supply from the artificial soil medium to the houseplants can be moderately suppressed. Hereinafter, the artificial soil particles used in the method for preparing an artificial soil medium of the present invention will be described.

<Artificial soil particles>
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of artificial soil particles 50 and 51 which are targets in the method for adjusting an artificial soil culture medium according to the present invention. An artificial soil particle 50 in FIG. 1A includes a fiber block 10 formed by collecting fibers 1. The artificial soil particle 51 in FIG. 1B includes a fiber lump 10 formed by gathering the fibers 1 and a water permeable membrane 20 that covers the fiber lump 10. As shown in FIG. 1, the fiber lump 10 is formed into a granular material in which fibers 1 are intertwined, and voids 2 exist between the fibers 1. The artificial soil particles 50 and 51 can absorb and retain moisture in the voids 2 of the fiber lump 10. The artificial soil particles 50 and 51 achieve a good balance between water retention and air permeability by the voids 2.

  The state of the void 2 (for example, the size, number, shape, etc. of the void 2) relates to the amount of water that the artificial soil particles 50, 51 can hold, that is, the water retention. The state of the void 2 can be adjusted by changing the amount (density) of the fiber 1 used when granulating the fiber lump 10, the type, thickness, length, and the like of the fiber 1. The size of the fiber 1 is preferably about 5 to 100 μm in thickness and about 0.5 to 10 mm in length. Moreover, it is also possible to use the short fiber cut | disconnected previously as the fiber 1, and the length of a short fiber is preferable about 0.2-0.5 mm in this case.

  The type of fiber is related to the moisture retention in the fiber lump 10. Therefore, the moisture retention of the artificial soil particles 50 and 51 can be controlled by changing the fiber type. For example, when a hydrophilic fiber having a large water adsorbing power is used as the fiber, moisture can be strongly held in the void 2 in the fiber lump 10, so that the plant absorbs the moisture absorbed by the artificial soil particles 50 and 51. It can be adjusted to a water environment having a high pF value even in easily available water, so-called easy-to-use water. Preferable hydrophilic fibers include, for example, natural fibers such as cotton, wool, rayon, and cellulose, and synthetic fibers include vinylon, polyester, nylon, and urethane. Of these fibers, cellulose and vinylon are more preferred. As the fiber 1 used for the fiber lump 10, it is possible to use a fiber in which fibers having different adsorptive power to moisture are mixed.

  It is preferable to include a porous material having hygroscopicity in the fiber lump 10 of the artificial soil particles 50 and 51. Thereby, the moisture retention of the artificial soil particles 50 and 51 can be adjusted more easily. Examples of the porous material include diatomaceous earth, perlite, vermiculite, zeolite, bentonite, clay, and porous glass beads. Moreover, the above-mentioned porous material can be used in a state where two or more kinds are mixed.

  In the artificial soil particle 51, the water permeable membrane 20 covering the fiber lump 10 is a membrane having fine pores through which water molecules can pass. Or it can also be set as the permeable membrane which water | moisture content permeates from one side and can move to the other side. By providing the water-permeable membrane 20, the artificial soil particles 51 can more easily adjust the air permeability and water permeability in the fiber lump 10. When the external environment becomes wet, the artificial soil particles 51 can absorb and retain moisture existing in the external environment through the water permeable membrane 20 in the fiber lump 10. On the other hand, when the external environment is in a dry state, the artificial soil particles 51 release moisture held in the voids 2 of the fiber block 10 through the water-permeable membrane 20 to the external environment. As described above, the artificial soil particles 51 can adjust the air permeability and water permeability with the external environment more easily than the artificial soil particles 50 by the water permeable membrane 20 while maintaining the water retention required for the soil. . As a result, plant root rot and the like can be prevented. The “external environment” intends an environment outside the artificial soil particles 50 and 51. The artificial soil particles 51 provided with the water permeable membrane 20 can more easily adjust the intake of moisture from the external environment and the release of moisture to the external environment. Can exhibit excellent adaptability.

  The water permeable membrane 20 also has a function of ensuring the shielding property between the fiber lump 10 and the external environment. Therefore, by changing the film thickness and material of the water permeable membrane 20, the water retention and water absorption of the artificial soil particles 51 can be adjusted. Moreover, by covering the outer surface portion of the fiber lump 10 with the water membrane 20, the fiber lump 10 is not easily deformed, and both the water retention and strength of the artificial soil particles 51 can be achieved.

  The water permeable membrane 20 has a thickness from the outer surface of the fiber lump 10 to the inside slightly so as to reinforce the entangled portions of the fibers constituting the fiber lump 10 (portions where the fibers contact each other). May be formed. Thereby, the intensity | strength and durability of the artificial soil particle 51 can further be improved. The film thickness of the water-permeable membrane 20 is set to 1 to 200 μm, preferably 10 to 100 μm, and more preferably 20 to 60 μm.

  The material of the water-permeable membrane 20 is preferably insoluble in water and hardly oxidized, and examples thereof include a resin material. Examples of such a resin material include polyolefin resins such as polyethylene and polypropylene, vinyl chloride resins such as polyvinyl chloride and polyvinylidene chloride, polyester resins such as polyethylene terephthalate, and styrene resins such as polystyrene. Of these, polyethylene is preferred. In place of the resin material, a synthetic polymer gelling agent such as polyethylene glycol or a natural gelling agent such as sodium alginate can be used.

<Method for producing artificial soil particles>
As a method for producing the artificial soil particles 50, for example, fibers 1 such as cellulose or vinylon are aligned with a carding device or the like, cut to a length of about 3 to 10 mm, and a binder such as resin or glue is applied to the cut fibers 1. Are mixed and granulated into granules by a method such as rolling granulation, fluidized bed granulation, stirring granulation, compression granulation, extrusion granulation, etc. to form a fiber lump 10 containing a binder. The fibers of the fiber lump 10 are fixed with a binder by heat treatment or the like, and the artificial soil particle 50 is completed. The obtained artificial soil particles 50 are dried and classified as necessary, and the particle size is adjusted. As the binder mixed with the fiber, either an organic binder or an inorganic binder can be used. Organic binders include, for example, synthetic resin binders such as polyolefin binders, polyvinyl alcohol binders, polyurethane binders, polyvinyl acetate binders, polysaccharides such as starch, carrageenan, xanthan gum, gellan gum, alginic acid, and animal properties such as glue. Examples include natural product-based binders such as proteins. Examples of the inorganic binder include silicate binders such as water glass, phosphate binders such as aluminum phosphate, borate binders such as aluminum borate, and hydraulic binders such as cement. An organic binder and an inorganic binder can be used in combination of two or more. If fibers 1 that are easily entangled (for example, bent fibers) are used, the fibers 1 are easily entangled with each other only by performing the granulation step. 10 can be formed.

  When the artificial soil particles 51 are manufactured, the granulated fiber lump 10 is transferred to a container, and about half of the volume (occupied volume) of the fiber lump 10 is added to the water, and water is poured into the gap 2 of the fiber lump 10. Let it soak. Furthermore, 1/3 to 1/2 of the volume of the fiber lump 10 is added to the fiber lump 10 soaked with water. Here, polyethylene is given as an example of a material for forming the water-permeable membrane 20. Polyethylene is added in the form of a polyethylene emulsion. The polyethylene emulsion may be mixed with additives such as pigments, fragrances, bactericides, antibacterial agents, deodorants, and insecticides. Then, the polyethylene emulsion is impregnated from the outer surface of the fiber lump 10 while rolling so that the polyethylene emulsion uniformly adheres to the outer surface of the fiber lump 10. At this time, since the water has soaked into the center of the fiber lump 10, the polyethylene emulsion stays near the outer surface of the fiber lump 10. Thereafter, the fiber lump 10 to which the polyethylene emulsion is adhered is dried at 60 to 80 ° C., then the polyethylene is melted at 100 ° C., and the polyethylene is fused to the fibers 1 near the outer surface of the fiber lump 10 to form a water permeable membrane. 20 is formed. Thereby, the outer surface of the fiber lump 10 is covered with the water-permeable membrane 20 of polyethylene, and the artificial soil particles 51 having strength and durability are completed. At this time, in the water-permeable membrane 20, the solvent contained in the polyethylene emulsion is evaporated when the polyethylene is melted, and a porous structure is formed. The porous structure formed in the water-permeable membrane 20 functions as a communication hole that communicates the fiber lump 10 and the external environment. The obtained artificial soil particles 51 are dried and classified as necessary to adjust the particle size. In addition, since the artificial soil particle 51 has coat | covered the outer surface part of the fiber lump 10 with the water membrane 20, when granulating the fiber lump 10, sufficient intensity | strength and without mixing a binder, It is possible to maintain durability.

  When granulating the fiber lump 10, when a short fiber is used as the fiber 1, the polyethylene emulsion is added little by little while stirring the short fiber with a stirring and mixing granulator. As a result, the short fibers forming the fiber lump 10 are partially fixed and a strong fiber lump 10 can be formed. It is also possible to add water to the short fibers and granulate them first, and then add a polyethylene emulsion to finish the fiber lump 10.

<Method for adjusting artificial soil medium>
FIG. 2 is an artificial soil culture medium 100 used in the present invention, and is a schematic diagram of the artificial soil culture medium 100 constituted by the artificial soil particles 50 of FIG. Hereinafter, the artificial soil particle 50 will be described as an example, but the artificial soil particle 51 of FIG. The artificial soil particle 50 can control the water supply to the foliage plant by absorbing the moisture present in the external environment into the fiber lump 10 or releasing the absorbed moisture. Since the fiber lump 10 uses the hydrophilic fiber 1, the roots of the houseplant are easily attracted. For this reason, with the growth of the foliage plant, the roots of the foliage plant are effectively intertwined with the fibers forming the artificial soil particles 50. Thereby, the surface of the artificial soil particle 50 is covered with the roots of the houseplant, and the houseplant can efficiently absorb the moisture retained in the artificial soil particle 50. In the artificial soil medium 100 using the artificial soil particles 50, the frequency of watering while maintaining the growth of the houseplants even in the moisture environment with high pF value even in easy-to-use water, even if the volumetric water content is adjusted to be high. Can be reduced. As a result, it becomes possible to extend the interval of irrigation to the foliage plant, and management of irrigation of the foliage plant becomes easy. By the way, in natural soil and conventional artificial soil, even if the water environment is adjusted in the same manner as in the present invention, the foliage plants cannot efficiently absorb and use the water retained in the soil. If the interval is not shortened, the foliage plants will wither and die.

  The artificial soil culture medium 100 has a volumetric moisture content in the range of 10 to 40% at a pF value of 2.3, which is a relatively high value among easy-to-use water, and a volumetric moisture content in the range of from 1 to 15% at a pF value of 2.7. (Adjustment process). The preferred volumetric water content at a pF value of 2.3 and a pF value of 2.7 is in the range of 15 to 35% at a pF value of 2.3 and in the range of 2 to 12% at a pF value of 2.7. Thereby, it becomes possible to moderately suppress the water supply from the artificial soil culture medium 100 to the houseplant while maintaining the growth of the houseplant. When the volumetric water content of the artificial soil culture medium 100 is out of the range of 10 to 40% at a pF value of 2.3 and from the range of 1 to 15% at a pF value of 2.7, an environment in which moisture is easily absorbed excessively by foliage plants Or, an environment in which the water available to the houseplant is very low, it becomes impossible to effectively suppress the excessive water supply to the houseplant, and it becomes impossible to extend the interval of irrigation of the houseplant. In addition, when the foliage plant is a potted plant type and a saucer or the like is provided under the pot, the effluent water from the pot will accumulate in the saucer or the like when irrigation is performed. In a state where runoff has accumulated, the volumetric water content of the soil is not substantially reduced. Therefore, in the present invention, the “irrigation interval” is defined as the number of days elapsed from irrigation to irrigation in a state where the outflow water from the pot does not accumulate in the tray or the like. This corresponds to the period from the time when the soil is adjusted to the maximum volumetric water content by irrigation until the time when the foliage plants begin to wither.

  The artificial soil culture medium 100 drains excess moisture while ensuring the moisture necessary for the plant by the gap 52 formed between the adjacent artificial soil particles 50, and the water retention and ventilation as the artificial soil culture medium 100. It balances sex. Therefore, the state of the gap 52 affects water retention and air permeability. When the size of the gap 52 becomes too large, the force for holding moisture in the gap 52 is weakened, and the water retention capacity of the artificial soil culture medium 100 is lowered. As a result, there is a possibility that sufficient water cannot be supplied to the plant. On the other hand, when the size of the gap 52 becomes too small, the force for holding moisture in the gap 52 is increased, and the air permeability of the artificial soil culture medium 100 is lowered. As a result, oxygen cannot be sufficiently supplied to the roots of the plant, and root rot may occur.

  In order to set the gap 52 to an appropriate size, it is effective to adjust the size distribution range of the artificial soil particles 50 to an appropriate range. Thereby, the artificial soil culture medium 100 is easily adjusted so that the volume moisture content is in the range of 10 to 40% at the pF value 2.3 and the volume moisture content is in the range of 1 to 15% at the pF value 2.7. Is possible. The particle size distribution of the artificial soil particles 50 is preferably adjusted to a range of 1 to 15 mm, more preferably adjusted to a range of 1 to 10 mm (particle size distribution adjusting step). If the artificial soil particles 50 include particles having a particle size of less than 1 mm, the gap 52 becomes small, the adsorptivity between the artificial soil particles 50 and moisture increases, the drainage performance decreases, and moisture damage may occur in the foliage plants. There is. As a result, the houseplants to be cultivated have difficulty absorbing oxygen from the roots and cause root rot. On the other hand, if the artificial soil particle 50 includes a particle having a particle size exceeding 15 mm, the gap 52 becomes large, the adsorptivity between the artificial soil particle 50 and the moisture is weakened, and excessive moisture is discharged by gravity. As a result, the artificial soil medium 100 can be adjusted so that the volumetric water content is in the range of 10 to 40% at a pF value of 2.3 and the volumetric water content is in the range of 1 to 15% at a pF value of 2.7. It becomes difficult and it becomes impossible to secure a sufficient interval between watering the foliage plants.

  The water retention and air permeability of the artificial soil medium 100 are also related to the median value of the particle size distribution of the artificial soil particles 50. By setting the median value of the particle size distribution of the artificial soil particles 50 to an appropriate range, the water environment of the artificial soil culture medium 100 can be easily adjusted. For example, when the median value of the particle size distribution of the artificial soil particles 50 is shifted in the larger direction, the size of the gap 52 formed between the artificial soil particles 50 also increases as a whole. Therefore, the water retention and air permeability of the artificial soil medium 100 can be adjusted by changing the median value of the particle size distribution of the artificial soil particles 50.

  In order to appropriately adjust the water retention and air permeability of the artificial soil culture medium 100, it is preferable to adjust the median value of the particle size distribution of the artificial soil particles 50 to be in the range of 2 to 10 mm. When the median value in the particle size distribution of the artificial soil particles 50 is less than 2 mm, the size of the gap 52 becomes too small, the power to retain the moisture in the gap 52 is increased, the drainage performance is lowered, and moisture damage occurs in the plant. There is a risk of doing. As a result, cultivated plants have difficulty absorbing oxygen from the roots and cause root rot. On the other hand, when the median value in the particle size distribution of the artificial soil particles 50 is larger than 10 mm, the size of the gap 52 becomes too large, the force for holding the moisture in the gap 52 is weakened, and moisture is excessively discharged by gravity. As a result, the artificial soil medium 100 can be adjusted so that the volumetric water content is in the range of 10 to 40% at a pF value of 2.3 and the volumetric water content is in the range of 1 to 15% at a pF value of 2.7. It becomes difficult and it becomes impossible to secure a sufficient interval between watering the foliage plants.

  The particle size distribution of the artificial soil particles 50 is preferably adjusted so that a plurality of peaks exist. When the particle size distribution of the artificial soil particles 50 has a plurality of peaks, the gaps 52 formed between the artificial soil particles 50 are formed in a plurality of step sizes having continuity. Thereby, the artificial soil culture medium 100 can hold the easy-to-use water having different adsorption states in the gap 52 of the artificial soil culture medium 100, that is, moisture having a different pF value range. As a result, the artificial soil culture medium 100 can retain the moisture in the optimum adsorption state according to the type of houseplant in stages, and can simultaneously grow a plurality of houseplants that require moisture in different adsorption states. become.

<Foliage plant cultivation method>
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a method for cultivating a foliage plant according to the present invention. FIG. 3A is an example of an irrigation schedule for a foliage plant cultivated using a natural soil medium, and FIG. 3B is an example of an irrigation schedule for an foliage plant cultivated using an artificial soil medium 100. When cultivating a foliage plant by potting using a natural soil medium, as shown in FIG. 3 (a), the natural soil medium is adjusted to the maximum volumetric water content by irrigation, and then becomes a wilting start point of the foliage plant. The number of elapsed days (irrigation interval) required to decrease to the volumetric water content is usually about one week. On the other hand, in the cultivation method of the foliage plant of the present invention using the artificial soil culture medium 100, as shown in FIG. 3 (b), the interval of irrigation can be extended to about 1.5 weeks or more. Thus, the moisture environment of the artificial soil culture medium 100 is such that the volume moisture content is in the range of 10 to 40% at the pF value 2.3 and the volume moisture content is in the range of 1 to 15% at the pF value 2.7. When adjusted, the interval of irrigation to the foliage plant can be extended to 1.5 times or more of the interval of irrigation when the foliage plant is cultivated using natural soil (irrigation step). The reason why the interval of irrigation to the foliage plant can be extended when the method for adjusting the artificial soil medium 100 of the present invention is used will be described below.

  The artificial soil medium 100 uses artificial soil particles 50 including fiber aggregates 10 formed by collecting fibers 1, and not only the gaps 52 formed between the plurality of artificial soil particles 50, but also artificial soil. Water is also retained in the voids 2 in the fiber mass 10 of the particles 50. Since the moisture held in the gap 52 of the artificial soil culture medium 100 is held with a relatively weak adsorption force compared to the moisture held in the artificial soil particles 50, the houseplant is held in the gap 52. First absorb the water. Here, the size of the gap 52 of the artificial soil culture medium 100 is such that the volumetric water content is in the range of 10 to 40% at a pF value of 2.3, which is a relatively high value in easy-to-use water, and the volumetric water content at a pF value of 2.7. The rate is adjusted to be in the range of 1 to 15%, the water supply to the foliage plant is moderately suppressed, and the amount of water in the gap 52 gradually decreases. As a result, the moisture in the gap 52 is maintained for a long time. When the amount of moisture in the gap 52 decreases, the moisture retained in the gap 2 in the fiber lump 10 is gradually released from the artificial soil particles 50 into the gap 52. As described in the section of the method for adjusting the artificial soil medium, the foliage plant covers the surface of the artificial soil particle 50 with roots, and therefore can efficiently absorb the moisture released from the artificial soil particle 50. Therefore, even if the interval of irrigation to the artificial soil medium 100 is set to be long, the growth of the foliage plant can be maintained.

  As described above, the foliage plant cultivation method according to the present invention has been described. Examples of the foliage plants applicable to the present invention include pothos, pachira, ficus, dracaena, cordyline, digigoseca, chamedria, stenocarpus, kannonchik, silk jasmine , Augusta, Cinnamon, Bay, Benjamin, Braxiton, Stell Clear, Piraea, Brassia, Chef Lella, Cipelas, Aferrandra, Calatea, Ctenante, Altocalp, Pepperemia, Piper, Agraonema, Alocasia, Exmea, Ananas, Hernandia, Agape, Chasen Spatiphyllum, Diffenbachia, Orchid lan orchid, Croton, Sennenboku, Sansevieria, Artesima, Areca palm, Table palm, Khajumal, Shi Suspension, mention may be made of coffee trees, Song of India, Song of Jamaica, Yucca, Matthan, the Monstera and the like.

  Hereinafter, examples of the artificial soil culture medium of the present invention will be described.

[Production of artificial soil particles]
Example 1
Cellulose fibers (“Arbocel (registered trademark) BWW40” manufactured by Rettenmeier, average fiber length: 0.2 mm), which are natural fibers, were used as the fibers used as the material for the artificial soil particles. While stirring and rolling 600 g of cellulose fiber using a stirring and mixing granulator (manufactured by G-Labo Co., Ltd.), a polyethylene emulsion (“Sepoljon (registered trademark) G315” manufactured by Sumitomo Seika Co., Ltd.), dilution concentration: (30% by weight) 1000 g was added and granulated to form a granular fiber mass impregnated with a polyethylene emulsion. Next, 100 g of the same polyethylene emulsion stock solution was added and impregnated while rolling so that the emulsion adhered uniformly to the outer surface. The fiber mass impregnated with the emulsion is dried at 60 ° C. for 12 hours, and the polyethylene in the emulsion is melted and fused to the fiber at 100 ° C. for 6 hours to fix the fibers forming the fiber mass. Further, artificial soil particles were produced in which the outer surface of the fiber mass was covered with a porous polyethylene water-permeable membrane. The particle size distribution of the artificial soil particles was adjusted to a range of 1 to 8 mm by classification.

(Example 2)
Cellulose fibers that are natural fibers (“Arbocel (registered trademark) BWW40”) and vinylon fibers that are synthetic fibers (“VF-1203-2” manufactured by Kuraray Co., Ltd.), average fiber length as fibers that serve as materials for artificial soil particles 0.5 mm) was used. While stirring and rolling 600 g of cellulose fibers and 300 g of vinylon fibers using a stirring and mixing granulator (manufactured by G-Labo Co., Ltd.), a polyethylene emulsion ("Sepoljon (registered trademark) G315", dilution concentration: 50 weight) %) 1500 g was added and granulated to form a particulate fiber mass impregnated with a polyethylene emulsion. Next, 200 g of the same polyethylene emulsion stock solution was added and impregnated while rolling so that the emulsion adhered uniformly to the outer surface. The fiber mass impregnated with the emulsion is dried at 60 ° C. for 12 hours, and the polyethylene in the emulsion is melted and fused to the fiber at 100 ° C. for 6 hours to fix the fibers forming the fiber mass. Further, artificial soil particles were produced in which the outer surface of the fiber mass was covered with a porous polyethylene water-permeable membrane. The particle size distribution of the artificial soil particles was adjusted to a range of 1 to 8 mm by classification.

(Example 3)
Cellulose fiber (“Arbocel (registered trademark) BWW40”), which is a natural fiber, was used as the fiber used as the material for the artificial soil particles. After sufficiently stirring 400 g of cellulose fibers and 1000 g of diatomaceous earth (“Radiolite (registered trademark) 300” manufactured by Showa Chemical Industry Co., Ltd., average particle size: 15 μm) using a stirring and mixing granulator (manufactured by G-Labo Co., Ltd.) While rolling, 2200 g of polyethylene emulsion (“Sepoljon (registered trademark) G315”, dilution concentration: 30% by weight) is granulated, impregnated with polyethylene emulsion inside, and diatomaceous earth is uniformly dispersed A fiber mass was formed. Next, 100 g of the same polyethylene emulsion stock solution was added and impregnated while rolling so that the emulsion adhered uniformly to the outer surface. The fiber mass impregnated with the emulsion is dried at 60 ° C. for 12 hours, and the polyethylene in the emulsion is melted and fused to the fiber at 100 ° C. for 6 hours to fix the fibers forming the fiber mass. Further, artificial soil particles were produced in which the outer surface of the fiber mass was covered with a porous polyethylene water-permeable membrane. The particle size distribution of the artificial soil particles was adjusted to a range of 1 to 6 mm by classification.

Example 4
Cellulose fiber (“Arbocel (registered trademark) BWW40”), which is a natural fiber, was used as the fiber used as the material for the artificial soil particles. While thoroughly stirring 600 g of cellulose fiber and 750 g of diatomaceous earth (“Radiolite (registered trademark) 300”, average particle diameter 15 μm) using a stirring and mixing granulator (manufactured by G-Labo Co., Ltd.), while rolling, 2500 g of polyethylene emulsion (“Separjon (registered trademark) G315”, dilution concentration: 30% by weight) was added and granulated, and the interior was impregnated with polyethylene emulsion to form a granular fiber mass in which diatomaceous earth was uniformly dispersed. . The fiber mass impregnated with the emulsion is dried at 60 ° C. for 12 hours, and the polyethylene in the emulsion is melted and fused to the fiber at 100 ° C. for 6 hours to fix the fibers forming the fiber mass. Artificial soil particles were prepared. The artificial soil particles of Example 4 are not provided with a water permeable membrane. The particle size distribution of the artificial soil particles was adjusted to a range of 1 to 8 mm by classification.

(Example 5)
Cellulose fiber (“Arbocel (registered trademark) BWW40”), which is a natural fiber, was used as the fiber used as the material for the artificial soil particles. Cellulose fibers 500 g and diatomaceous earth (“Radiolite (registered trademark) DXW-50”, average particle size 25 μm) 500 g were sufficiently stirred using a stirring and mixing granulator (manufactured by G-Labo Co., Ltd.) and then rolled. While adding 1500 g of polyethylene emulsion ("Sepoljon (registered trademark) G315", dilution concentration: 30% by weight) and granulating it, impregnating the inside with polyethylene emulsion to form a particulate fiber mass in which diatomaceous earth is uniformly dispersed Formed. Next, 100 g of the same polyethylene emulsion stock solution was added and impregnated while rolling so that the emulsion adhered uniformly to the outer surface. The fiber mass impregnated with the emulsion is dried at 60 ° C. for 12 hours, and the polyethylene in the emulsion is melted and fused to the fiber at 100 ° C. for 6 hours to fix the fibers forming the fiber mass. Further, artificial soil particles were produced in which the outer surface of the fiber mass was covered with a porous polyethylene water-permeable membrane. The particle size distribution of the artificial soil particles was adjusted to a range of 4 to 10 mm by classification.

(Example 6)
Cellulose fibers (“Arbocel (registered trademark) BWW40”), which are natural fibers, and vinylon fibers (“VF-1203-2”), which are synthetic fibers, were used as the fibers used as the material for the artificial soil particles. Cellulose fibers 400 g, vinylon fibers 600 g, and diatomaceous earth (“Radiolite (registered trademark) DXW-50”, average particle size 25 μm) 1000 g were sufficiently stirred using a stirring and mixing granulator (manufactured by G-Labo). Then, while rolling, 2800 g of polyethylene emulsion ("Sepoljon (registered trademark) G315", diluted concentration: 10% by weight)) is added and granulated, and impregnated with polyethylene emulsion to form a particle in which diatomaceous earth is uniformly dispersed. A fiber mass was formed. Next, 200 g of the same polyethylene emulsion stock solution was added and impregnated while rolling so that the emulsion adhered uniformly to the outer surface. The fiber mass impregnated with the emulsion is dried at 60 ° C. for 12 hours, and the polyethylene in the emulsion is melted and fused to the fiber at 100 ° C. for 6 hours to fix the fibers forming the fiber mass. Further, artificial soil particles were produced in which the outer surface of the fiber mass was covered with a porous polyethylene water-permeable membrane. The particle size distribution of the artificial soil particles was adjusted to a range of 4 to 8 mm by classification.

(Example 7)
Cellulose fibers, which are natural fibers (“KC Flock W-100GK” manufactured by Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd.), were used as the fibers used as the material for the artificial soil particles. While sufficiently stirring 300 g of cellulose fibers and 300 g of diatomaceous earth (“Radiolite (registered trademark) 300”, average particle diameter 15 μm) using a stirring and mixing granulator (manufactured by G-Labo Co., Ltd.), while rolling, 920 g of polyethylene emulsion (“Separjon (registered trademark) G315”, dilution concentration: 30% by weight) was added and granulated, and the interior was impregnated with polyethylene emulsion to form a particulate fiber mass in which diatomaceous earth was uniformly dispersed. . After the fiber mass impregnated with the emulsion is dried at 80 ° C. for 12 hours, the fibers forming the fiber mass are fixed by melting the polyethylene in the emulsion at 120 ° C. for 3 hours and fusing it to the fiber. Artificial soil particles were prepared. The artificial soil particles of Example 7 do not have a water permeable membrane. The particle size distribution of the artificial soil particles was adjusted to a range of 1 to 6 mm by classification.

(Comparative Example 1)
Commercially available natural sand (manufactured by Konan Shoji Co., Ltd.) dried at 60 ° C. for 12 hours was directly used as natural soil particles. The particle size distribution of natural sand was adjusted to 75 μm or less by classification.

(Comparative Example 2)
A commercially available natural gravel (manufactured by Konan Shoji Co., Ltd.) dried at 60 ° C. for 12 hours was directly used as natural soil particles. The particle size distribution of natural gravel was adjusted to a range of 2 to 4 mm by classification.

(Comparative Example 3)
750 g of diatomaceous earth (“Radiolite (registered trademark) 300”, average particle size 15 μm) was stirred using a stirring and mixing granulator (manufactured by G-Labo Co., Ltd.) and rolled, (Registered Trademark) G315 ”, dilution concentration: 50% by weight) was added and granulated to form a granulated product of diatomaceous earth impregnated with a polyethylene emulsion. Next, 200 g of the same polyethylene emulsion stock solution was added and impregnated while rolling so that the emulsion adhered uniformly to the outer surface. After the granulated material impregnated with the emulsion was dried at 60 ° C. for 12 hours, artificial soil particles were prepared by melting polyethylene in the emulsion at 100 ° C. for 6 hours to fuse diatomaceous earth. The particle size distribution of the artificial soil particles was adjusted to a range of 2 to 6 mm by classification.

(Comparative Example 4)
While stirring and rolling 600 g of vinylon fiber (“VF-1203-2”), which is a synthetic fiber, using a stirring and mixing granulator (manufactured by G-Labo Co., Ltd.), a polyethylene emulsion (“Sepoljon (registered trademark)” ) G315 ”, dilution concentration: 10% by weight) 1000 g was added and granulated to form a granular fiber mass impregnated with polyethylene emulsion inside. Next, 100 g of the same polyethylene emulsion with a different dilution concentration (dilution concentration: 30% by weight) was added and impregnated while rolling so that the emulsion adhered uniformly to the outer surface. The fiber mass impregnated with the emulsion is dried at 60 ° C. for 12 hours, and the polyethylene in the emulsion is melted and fused to the fiber at 100 ° C. for 6 hours to fix the fibers forming the fiber mass. Further, artificial soil particles were produced in which the outer surface of the fiber mass was covered with a porous polyethylene water-permeable membrane. The particle size distribution of the artificial soil particles was adjusted to a range of 2 to 6 mm by classification.

[Evaluation of water retention characteristics of artificial soil medium]
Potos, which is a foliage plant, comprises a soil culture medium using the artificial soil particles of Examples 1 to 7, the natural soil particles of Comparative Examples 1 and 2, and the artificial soil particles of Comparative Examples 3 and 4 prepared as described above. Cultivated. A cup with a drain outlet on the bottom was filled with 300 cc of each soil medium, and No. 3 pot pothos with cleanly washed roots was planted in the cup. Next, 100 cc of water was slowly irrigated from the upper surface of the cup using rain dew so that the water was evenly distributed throughout the soil medium. The irrigation was repeated 20 times, and sufficient water was retained in the soil medium. Thereafter, the number of days elapsed until the wrinkle start point of the pothos was observed in an environmental test room at room temperature of 30 ° C. and relative humidity of 50%. The number of days until the wilting start point was the average number of days as a result of repeating the above test four times. Table 1 shows the evaluation results of the water retention characteristics of the artificial soil culture medium.

  The artificial soil particles including the fiber aggregates of Examples 1 to 7 have a volume moisture content of 15 to 35% at a pF value of 2.3, which is a relatively high value even in easy-to-use water, and have a volume at a pF value of 2.7. Although the water content was 2 to 12%, it did not adversely affect the growth of pothos in such a range. Moreover, the wilting start point when using the artificial soil particles of Examples 1 to 7 is 6 to 10 days, and the wilting start point when using the natural soil particles of Comparative Example 2 and the artificial soil particles of Comparative Example 3 ( 4 days), it was confirmed that it could be extended 1.5 to 2.5 times. In particular, the artificial soil particles of Examples 3 to 7 to which diatomaceous earth, which is a porous material, was added were easily adjusted so that the volumetric water content of the pF value 2.3 and the pF value 2.7 was high. It was. As a result, it was possible to easily extend the irrigation interval (wilt start point). On the other hand, the natural soil medium of Comparative Example 1 using commercially available natural sand is insufficiently breathable when irrigated even if the volumetric water content of pF value 2.3 and pF value 2.7 is set high. And root rot occurred immediately. Even for the natural soil medium of Comparative Example 2 using commercially available natural gravel, even if the volumetric water content of the pF value 2.3 and the pF value 2.7 can be increased to some extent, the interval of irrigation cannot be extended. It was. Moreover, it is difficult to adjust the volumetric water content of the pF value 2.3 and the pF value 2.7 to an appropriate range in the artificial soil particles of Comparative Example 3 which is not a fiber block but a granulated diatomaceous earth. Yes, the wilting start point could not be extended sufficiently. The artificial soil particles of Comparative Example 4, which is a fiber mass, had a low volumetric water content with a pF value of 2.3 and a pF value of 2.7, so that root rot occurred immediately after irrigation. From these results, the artificial soil particles used in the present invention were used, and the irrigation interval was easily extended only after adjusting the volume moisture content range of pF2.3 and pF value 2.7 to the range of the present invention. It was shown that it can.

Next, as a further evaluation of the moisture retention characteristics of the artificial soil medium, the amount of decrease in the volumetric water content in the artificial soil medium was determined. In this example, typically, the artificial soil particles of Example 7 were used to construct a culture medium, and pothos, a houseplant, was cultivated. FIG. 4 is a graph showing the relationship between the volumetric water content and the number of elapsed days (irrigation interval) in the medium using the artificial soil particles of Example 7. First, 300 cc of artificial soil culture medium is filled in a cup having a drain outlet on the bottom surface, and the whole artificial soil culture medium is completely immersed in a water tank for 24 hours to bring the artificial soil culture medium into capillary saturation. did. Thereafter, the cup was taken out from the water tank and left for 3 hours until heavy water was drained. Potos was taken out from a commercially available No. 3 pot pothos, and the roots were washed cleanly, and then planted in an artificial soil medium. Thereafter, Potos was grown in an environmental test room at a room temperature of 30 ° C. and a relative humidity of 50%. Irrigation was performed when the pothos was deflated, and the amount of water per irrigation was 200 cc. Perform irrigation four times, and calculate the amount of decrease in the volumetric water content of the artificial soil medium by taking the difference between the volumetric water content of the artificial soil medium immediately after irrigation and the volumetric water content of the artificial soil medium immediately before the next irrigation. (Use the values after the second irrigation). Next, calculate the amount of decrease in volumetric water content per day by dividing the amount of decrease in volumetric water content by the number of days elapsed, and evaluate the moisture retention characteristics of the artificial soil medium by averaging the values obtained up to the fourth irrigation. did. The calculation result of the decrease in volumetric water content is shown below.
Reduced volumetric water content per day from the 2nd to 3rd irrigation:
(42% -12%) / 12 days = 2.5% / day Amount of decrease in volumetric water content per day from the third to the fourth irrigation:
(41% -7%) / 13 days = 2.6% / day Average value of decrease in volumetric water content per day = 2.55%

  As described above, the amount of decrease in the volumetric water content per day was 2.55% / day. With this amount of decrease, it was possible to secure a sufficient irrigation interval and reduce the frequency of watering. .

  From the above results, artificial soil particles having fiber aggregates are used as the artificial soil medium, and the volumetric water content of the artificial soil medium is in the range of 10 to 40% at a pF value of 2.3 and at a pF value of 2.7. It was revealed that the irrigation interval of the foliage plants can be easily extended when adjusted to be in the range of 1 to 15%.

  The method for adjusting an artificial soil medium and the method for cultivating foliage plants according to the present invention can be used in the fields of agriculture and horticulture such as home gardens, plant factories, and indoor greening.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Fiber 2 Space | gap 10 Fiber mass 50,51 Artificial soil particle 52 Crevice 100 Artificial soil culture medium

Claims (6)

An artificial soil culture medium adjustment method for adjusting an artificial soil culture medium used for cultivation of foliage plants to a moisture environment suitable for cultivation of the foliage plants,
As the artificial soil medium, using artificial soil particles provided with a fiber mass formed by collecting fibers,
An artificial soil culture medium for performing an adjustment step of adjusting the volumetric water content of the artificial soil culture medium to a range of 10 to 40% at a pF value of 2.3 and a range of 1 to 15% at a pF value of 2.7 Adjustment method.   The said adjustment process is an adjustment method of the artificial soil culture medium of Claim 1 including the particle size distribution adjustment process of adjusting the particle size distribution of the said artificial soil particle to the range of 1-15 mm.   The method for adjusting an artificial soil medium according to claim 2, wherein in the particle size distribution adjusting step, the median value of the particle size distribution of the artificial soil particles is adjusted to be in a range of 2 to 10 mm.   The method for adjusting an artificial soil medium according to claim 2 or 3, wherein in the particle size distribution adjusting step, the particle size distribution of the artificial soil particles is adjusted so that a plurality of peaks exist.   A foliage plant cultivation method including a irrigation step of irrigating a foliage plant using the artificial soil medium adjusted by the artificial soil medium adjustment method according to any one of claims 1 to 4.   The method for cultivating a foliage plant according to claim 5, wherein, in the irrigation step, the interval of irrigation to the foliage plant is 1.5 times or more than the interval of irrigation when the foliage plant is cultivated using natural soil. .

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