JP4670129B2 - Culture medium - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a medium loaded in a seedling tray or box-shaped seedling container in which a large number of seedling pots are continuously provided when sowing and raising seedlings of vegetables, paddy rice, and flower buds.
[0002]
[Prior art and problems to be solved by the invention]
As a conventional example of this type, there is one in which a culture medium in which peat moss or the like is compression-molded is loaded into a seedling tray and then restored by irrigation to sow and breed vegetables, paddy rice, flower buds and the like.
[0003]
At the same time, peat moss has water repellency and poor water absorption even when irrigated in the dry state, and it takes a very long time to restore. The workability was very bad.
Therefore, an artificial culture medium in which an aqueous solution of a surfactant and bentonite was mixed with peat moss and compression molded was considered, but because all of peat moss, surfactant and bentonite were mixed at the same time, peat moss and bentonite were mixed. However, it became a dumpling with an aqueous solution of a surfactant, and proper mixing treatment could not be performed, and a high-quality compression molding medium could not be obtained.
[0004]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the conventional problems, the invention according to claim 1 is a mixture of plant fiber, surfactant and agricultural chemical , dried to an appropriate moisture content, and then mixed with a clay material and compressed. The invention according to claim 2 is a culture medium according to claim 1 in which the particle diameter after mixing is 1 mm or less, and the invention according to claim 3 The plant fiber is peat moss. The medium according to claim 1 or 2, and the invention according to claim 4 is the clay material according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the clayey material is bentonite or vermiculite. is obtained by a culture medium according to an invention of claim 5 is one in which the culture medium as claimed in any one of claims 4, was medium compressed into tablets or spherical .
[0005]
[Effects of the invention]
Since the invention according to claim 1 is a medium in which plant fiber, surfactant and agricultural chemical are mixed and dried to an appropriate moisture content, and then a clay material is mixed and compression-molded, the surfactant is used. The plant fiber can be appropriately surface-activated without unevenness by mixing the plant fiber with a large amount diluted with water. Then, after the surface activation treatment and drying, the clay material, which is a dry and very fine powder, is mixed, so both are mixed in a state of low moisture, and the dumpling as in the conventional example Can be avoided, and proper mixing can be performed. Therefore, a uniform mixture with no unevenness of mixing can be obtained, and a medium excellent in restoration performance with good water absorption can be obtained while taking advantage of the characteristics of lightweight and water-retaining plant fibers. Therefore, since this medium is immediately restored to a desired shape by adding water at the time of use, sowing work can be performed efficiently, and seedling work is easy because it is lightweight and has good water retention.
[0006]
Furthermore, it can be stored and transported in a dry state with a light weight and a small volume.
The invention according to claim 2 is the culture medium according to claim 1 in which the particle diameter after mixing is 1 mm or less, so that the compression molding operation after mixing becomes easy and the compression molding is performed. The restoration speed when restoring the compression molding medium obtained by adding water is high and the restoration shape is very stable. However, the strength of the medium after restoration is strong, and it is easy to handle seedlings and seedlings after seedlings.
[0007]
The invention according to claim 3 is the medium according to claim 1 or 2 in which the plant fiber is peat moss. Therefore, the water retention and light weight of peat moss which are widely available worldwide and are easily available and inexpensive. It is possible to obtain a compression-molding medium that has various advantages.
The invention according to claim 4 is the medium according to any one of claims 1 to 3 in which the clayey material is bentonite or vermiculite. Therefore, the bentonite or vermiculite is produced in large quantities and is inexpensive. An inexpensive compression-molding medium having excellent water absorption can be obtained. However, the caking force of bentonite or vermiculite also serves as a binder that connects peat moss grains, and has the effect of maintaining the shape of the medium.
[0008]
Since the invention according to claim 5 is obtained by compressing the medium according to any one of claims 1 to 4 into a tablet shape or a spherical shape , the effect of the medium according to any one of claims 1 to 4 is achieved. In addition, it can be stored and transported in a dry state with a light weight and a small volume. Moreover, by making it into a shape that matches the shape of the seedling container, the sowing operation can be performed more efficiently.
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The case of seeding and raising lettuce according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below.
FIG. 1 shows an example of a compression-molded culture medium (compression-molded culture medium) 1 that is formed into a tablet (tablet or low cylindrical shape). Examples of the material containing the plant fiber used as the material of the compression molding medium 1 include peat moss and palm fruit fibers (pressed and cut from the pulp of the fruit of palm fruit), sawdust, bark, bark compost, etc. Can be used. In particular, peat moss formed by depositing sphagnum is most preferable. In addition, the material which mixed peat moss and the fruit fiber of palms, etc. can also be used.
[0010]
In addition, when peat moss is dried to a moisture content of about 30% or less, the water repellency becomes remarkable. Therefore, when peat moss is used as a material for compression molding, if it is dry, when it is expanded with water during use after compression molding, the water becomes difficult to be absorbed, and handling becomes inconvenient. Therefore, before compression molding, peat moss is mixed with bentonite or montmorillonite or soaked in an aqueous solution to adhere the fine particles of bentonite or montmorillonite to the surface of the peat moss fiber. Even if peat moss is dried, it becomes easy to absorb water, and the above problem is solved. Bentonite or montmorillonite is a kind of clay component that can be extracted from natural products. If chemical substances are used, surfactants such as alkylene oxide and ester nonionic surfactants are repelled. It can be used as a water inhibitor. The peat moss is treated with a surfactant to prevent water repellency. Further, bentonite or montmorillonite fine particles are adhered to the surface of the peat moss fiber, and then dried and compression molded. Even if it is dry, it becomes easier to absorb water.
[0011]
Moreover, since peat moss generally has a low pH of 3.5 to 5.5, the pH is adjusted with slaked lime, quick lime, mashed lime, calcium carbonate, or the like. In addition, from the viewpoint of ease of handling and effect, the clay lime is preferable. By the way, the bentonite or montmorillonite also serves as a binder acting as a binder when compression molding peat moss, and enhances the caking effect during molding. Sodium alginate or the like can be used as another binder.
[0012]
Further, in order to increase the expansion ratio when the compression-molded culture medium 1 expands with water, a commercially available superabsorbent polymer or the like can be mixed with a material containing plant fibers such as peat moss.
Here, the example manufactured using peat moss as a material containing a vegetable fiber is demonstrated in detail as one Example of said compression molding culture medium.
[0013]
First, a mass of commercially available peat moss (water content is usually 40 to 50%, and on average 45%) is crushed (unrolled and crushed), and sieved with a 3 mm mesh (3 mm in length and breadth). , And finely select those having a particle size of 3 mm or less. Use a compression molding medium that has been screened with a 5 mm mesh (5 mm in length and breadth), and even if the particle size is 5 mm or less is carefully selected, there is no risk of uneven mixing during mixing in the subsequent process. Since there is no problem above, fine selection should be 5 mm mesh or less. At the same time, when the particle size exceeds 5 mm, uneven mixing occurs during mixing in the subsequent process, and the restoration performance is poor when restoring the resulting compression molding medium by adding water (the restoration speed is slow and the restoration shape is stable). do not do).
[0014]
And 1kg of this carefully selected peat moss is 10-30g of bitter lime (Mg, Ca) (added to adjust the pH of peat moss, 20g is optimal), and 1 liter of water is a surfactant. Nonionic polyoxyethylene alkylphenyl ether 0.2-1 cc and fertilizer 0.7-4.2 g nitrogen, 0.8-4.8 g phosphorus, 0.6-3.6 g potassium and pesticides (commercially available A mixture of a suitable amount of bactericides and insecticides is mixed for 10 minutes. Then, the water repellency of peat moss is no longer a surfactant, and a powdery mixture having a moisture content of 50 to 60% (on average 55% is high) in which peat moss, mashed lime, fertilizer and chemicals are mixed. Is obtained.
[0015]
After drying this powdery mixture with a dryer until the water content is 15%, 100 to 400 g of bentonite (or vermiculite) (200 g is optimal, 200 g or less is the strength of the compression molding medium that is slightly completed. However, there is not much problem in use, and even if 200 g or more is used, the performance of the compression-molded medium obtained is not much different from the case of 200 g). Then, since they are mixed in a dry state, they are properly and uniformly mixed, and bentonite (or vermiculite) fine particles are adhered to the surface of peat moss.
[0016]
Then, it is pulverized to a fine powder of 1 mm mesh (powder passing through a 1 mm mesh screen) with a rolling roll or the like, and carefully selected with a 1 mm mesh to obtain a powdery medium.
And this is compression-molded. For the compression molding, a press machine is used to fill the cylindrical medium of the lower mold 2 with the powdery culture medium, and the cylindrical protrusion of the upper mold 3 descends from above to perform compression molding (see FIG. 2). The compression molding medium 1 is obtained.
[0017]
The pressure to be compressed at this time is 15% with a water content of 15%, and compression can be performed satisfactorily by compression at a pressure of 150 kg / cm ² .
Then, the mixture is pulverized to a fine powder of 1 mm mesh and then compression-molded. When molding with a press machine, the mixture can be easily put into a mold, and compression molding obtained by compression molding is used. When water is added to the medium 1 for restoration, the restoration speed is fast and the restoration shape is very stable. However, the strength of the medium after restoration is strong, and it is easy to handle seedlings and seedlings after seedlings. In addition, in the test, the mixture was compression-molded in a state of 2 mm mesh (particle size 2 mm), but both the restoration speed and the stability of the restored shape when restored by adding water after molding were inferior. . The strength of the restored medium was also weak and fragile due to the large grains.
[0018]
Moreover, when the specific dimension after compression molding is shown, the compression molding medium 1 is compression molded into a cylindrical shape having a diameter D1 = 15 mm and a height H1 = 15 mm.
Next, the seedling raising tray 4 shown in FIGS. 3 to 7 is formed by using foamed polystyrene as a material, and the seedling raising pot 5 having a circular shape in cross-section and a cup shape as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. Are provided. Each seedling pot 5 has four L-shaped grooves 9, 9, 9, 9 extending from the inner surface 5 a to the bottom surface 5 b, and the bottom is a drainage hole for raising seedlings. In order to extrude the seedling after raising the seedling, a hole 6 is inserted through which a seedling extruding rod 7 or a finger can be inserted. Each groove 9, 9, 9, 9 communicates from the upper part of the seedling pot 5 to this hole 6, and when the seedling is grown, air freely passes from the upper part of the seedling pot 5 to each groove 9, 9. -It flows to the lower part through 9, 9 and the hole 6 (of course, conversely, air freely passes from the lower part of the seedling pot 5 to the upper part through the hole 6 and the grooves 9, 9, 9, 9). To flow). Further, at the time of irrigation, water permeates into the culture medium in the seedling pot 5 from the upper surface and each groove 9, 9, 9, 9 to the side surface, so that water is easy to irrigate. -Since it drains from 9 and the hole 6, it also prevents that water accumulates excessively and causes root rot.
[0019]
In particular, the groove depth of each of the grooves 9, 9, 9, 9 is formed so as to increase gradually from the groove depth A1 at the upper end portion to the groove depth A2 at the lower end portion.
In addition, the size of the content part of the seedling pot 5 indicates a specific dimension: bottom diameter D3 = 18 mm, diameter D2 = 23 mm at the upper end opening, depth H2 = 37 mm, groove depth A1 at the upper end It is formed with a groove depth A2 of 4.7 mm at the lower end portion of 3.5 mm.
[0020]
Next, the seeding operation using the seedling tray 4 and the compression molding medium 1 will be described.
First, the compression molding medium 1 is put into each seedling pot 5 of the seedling tray 4 (FIG. 8). Then, the compression molding medium 1 placed in each seedling pot 5 is irrigated from above. Then, since the water repellency of peat moss, which is the main raw material, is no longer a surfactant, the compression molding medium 1 absorbs water in each seedling pot 5 ... and rapidly expands (the expansion of the compression molding medium 1 is The test is completed within 20 seconds), and the expanded medium 1 ′ is almost filled in the seedling pot 5 (FIG. 9). When the compression-molding medium 1 expands with water, a small gap remains between the inside surface of the seedling pot 5 and becomes a medium 1 ′ having a size such that H3 = 1 to 2 mm protrudes from the upper end opening. So that it is compression molded. Note that the compression molding medium 1 uses a material in which bentonite fine particles are attached to the surface of peat moss fibers and dried, as described above, and the particles are pulverized to a particle size of 1 mm or less. When it is restored, it will be restored straight and neatly according to the desired shape.
[0021]
Then, when a well-known seeding hole forming roll 22 is rolled from the upper part of the medium 1 ′ filled in this way to apply pressure (FIG. 10), the seeding hole forming protrusion 23 is fitted into the medium 1 ′. To form a seeding hole 24 having a depth L = 5 mm, and the medium 1 ′ is pressed by the upper part of the culture medium 1 ′ by the cylindrical outer surface 25 and protrudes by 1 to 2 mm from the upper end opening of the seedling pot 5 of the culture medium 1 ′. 1 ′ is compressed, and the medium 1 ′ is filled in the seedling pot 5 (FIG. 11). At this time, even if there is some error in expansion of the compression-molded culture medium 1 and there are some gaps between the inside surface of the seedling pot 5, only H3 is higher than the appropriate medium height H2 of the seedling pot 5. Since it presses to the appropriate culture medium height H2 after making it expand | swell highly, the culture medium can be filled with the culture seedling pot 5 appropriately.
[0022]
Thereafter, seeding is carried out in the seeding hole 24, and the 24 part of the seeding hole is covered with vermiculite or soil 26 (FIG. 12). At that time, as described above, each of the seedling pots 5 is filled with an appropriate medium. However, if the corners of the compression-molded medium 1 are missing and are pressed after expansion, the appropriate medium is filled. Even if not, the medium in the seedling pot 5 can be corrected to an appropriate amount with the covering 26 such as vermiculite or soil, so that individual seedlings grow unevenly or interfere with seedling raising. Therefore, good seedlings can be grown and good quality seedlings can be obtained.
[0023]
Then, the seedling trays 4 that have been seeded as described above are arranged on a grid-like base that does not block the holes 6 at the bottom of the seedling pots 5, and air freely flows through the grooves 9 and the holes 6. Raising seedlings in a ready state. The seedlings that have grown moderately are transplanted into the cultivation field. At this time, the seedling pusher bar 7 is inserted into the hole 6 at the bottom of the seedling pot 5. When the seedlings are pushed out, the seedlings can be easily taken out from the seedling pots 5 of the seedling tray 4 (FIG. 13). When vermiculite is used for the cover soil 26, the specific gravity is light, so that the seeds are easily germinated, the germination rate is improved, and the water retention is good, so that the seedlings are easy to grow.
[0024]
Each of the seedling pots 5 of the seedling tray 4 is provided with a groove 9, and the medium 1 ′ does not enter the groove 9 and fill the groove when expanded, so that the groove 9. A space is formed. Therefore, when raising seedlings, when the roots of the seedlings are extended and try to extend out of the medium into the grooves 9 ..., the roots stop growing there due to the air pruning effect. Therefore, in addition to preventing the roots from being overwhelmed along the outer peripheral surface of the medium, the growth of the side roots is vigorous in the medium as long as the roots stop growing at the grooves 9. The seedling survival when transplanted to the field is improved. (In addition, if the roots are extended too much and rolled up along the outer peripheral surface of the medium, after transplanting, the new roots to be entrapped in the field are blocked by the roots that are wound around the outer peripheral surface of the medium. There is a problem that the roots are difficult to grow and hard to settle in the soil outside.
In addition, when performing seedling using the seedling tray 4 in which the seedling pots 5 having the above-described effects on the seedlings are formed, the compression-molding medium 1 has a cylindrical shape matched to the seedling pots 5, so that water is supplied. The medium does not block the inside of the grooves 9 when expanded. In particular, as described above, the compression molding medium 1 is put into each seedling pot 5 in a posture in which the compressed direction is the vertical direction, and the compression molding medium 1 thus placed is compressed by including water. When the molding medium 1 is expanded and filled in each seedling pot 5 and the seedling pot 5 is filled with the medium, the compression molding medium 1 does not expand greatly in the horizontal direction when it contains water. Since the medium expands greatly in the direction, the culture medium does not enter so as to fill the grooves 9. The medium can be easily filled in the seedling pot 5 so that a space is formed in the grooves 9. Therefore, sowing and raising of seedlings can be easily performed in a state where the air pruning effect by the grooves 9 of the raising seed pots 5 is sufficiently exhibited.
[0025]
Further, when small dust, sand, pebbles, etc. are clogged in the groove 9, the crevice 9 above the clogged portion is filled with small trash, sand, pebbles, etc. every time it is irrigated. Then, the air pruning effect cannot be obtained, and it is impossible to grow a good quality seedling. However, the groove depth of each of the grooves 9, 9, 9, 9 is changed from the groove depth A1 at the upper end to the groove depth A2 at the lower end. The cross-sectional area of each groove 9, 9, 9, 9 is gradually increased from the opening area at the upper end to the opening area at the lower end. Since it is formed, even if small dust, sand, pebbles, etc. enter the groove 9 from the upper end of the groove 9 when raising seedlings, they are easily discharged from the lower end through the hole 6 without clogging the groove 9 (Even if small debris, sand, pebbles or the like are contained in the groove 9, it is easily washed away with water, especially during irrigation.) Raising seedlings with sufficient pruning effect is easy.
[0026]
In addition, the culture medium 1 which compression-molded the material containing a vegetable fiber has the characteristic that expansion | swelling which goes in the direction substantially opposite to the compression direction at the time of compression molding is large when it is made to expand | swell after containing compression. . For example, when the compression-molding medium 1 in the shape of a tablet shown in FIG. 1 is formed by compressing from above and below using peat moss, the size at the time of compression molding is 15 mm in diameter × 15 mm in height. When expanded with water, the expansion in the opposite direction of the compression direction is about 2.5 times the expansion from the height of 15 mm to the height of 38 to 39 mm, and the expansion in the direction crossing the compression direction is 15 mm in diameter. From 18 to 19 mm in diameter, the expansion was about 1.2 times.
[0027]
On the other hand, the seedling tray 4 is formed using foamed styrene as a material and covers the medium 1 'with the inner surface 5a and the bottom surface 5b of each seedling pot 5, so that the heat insulation is good and the root temperature is required. Even if the seedlings are raised during the hot summer season, it is possible to prevent the seedlings from growing too long, so that healthy seedlings can be nurtured. Each seedling of the pot 5 can be grown uniformly.
[0028]
As described above, the compression-molded medium 1 expands greatly in the direction substantially opposite to the compression direction when it contains water, but the expanded medium 1 ′ is subjected to shear in the expansion direction (vertical direction). It is strong and weak against shearing in the direction crossing the expansion direction (left-right direction).
[0029]
Conventionally, if you try to pull out the stem of the seedling that does not have root winding due to the air pruning effect and pull it upward, only the seedling will be pulled out because the root is not entangled in the medium, It is difficult to do, and even if you try to remove the seedling with the medium by pushing a stick into the bottom hole of the seedling pot, the stick pushed into the bottom will break up the soil and push the seedling with the medium because the roots are not tangled with the medium There is a problem that is difficult to do.
[0030]
Therefore, the compression molding medium 1 is placed in each seedling pot 5 in such a posture that the compressed direction is the vertical direction, and the compression molding medium 1 is soaked in water by adding the compression molding medium 1 to water. 5... The seedling medium grown in each seedling pot 5... Is expanded in the vertical direction by taking a seedling raising method in which the seedling is expanded and filled in the medium 5 ′ and then seeded on the expanded medium 1 ′. Because it is strong against shearing, it can be pulled out by holding the stem of the seedling, and the seedling pusher bar 7 is inserted into the hole 6 at the bottom of the seedling pot 5 ... When extruding the seedlings housed in the medium, the medium is less likely to collapse, and even when the seedling roots are not stretched much, the seedlings can be easily taken out from the seedling pots 5. Therefore, it is possible to grow a highly adaptable seedling that can be planted by a transplanter (a seedling that can be easily extracted by a device that pulls upward from the inside of each seedling pot 5... Or a device that pushes it from below).
[0031]
Since the seedling pot 5 is circular in plan view, the shape of the compression molding medium 1 is also circular, but if the seedling pot is square in plan view, the shape of the compression molding medium to be put in it is also rectangular. If a thing is used, when a compression molding culture medium put in the seedling pot is made to contain water and it is expanded, the culture medium will be filled with the medium properly. Therefore, if the shape of the compression-molded medium in plan view is matched with the shape of the seedling pot in the seedling tray in which it is placed, the medium can be satisfactorily filled in the seedling pot.
[0032]
Further, the material of the seedling tray is not limited to the foamed polystyrene, but may be formed of any material such as a hard synthetic resin or a soft synthetic resin that can be freely bent.
In the above example, an example of the seedling pots 5 arranged in the seedling tray 4 is shown. However, the present invention may be used for a single seedling container such as a flower pot, a vinyl pot (pot), or a rice seedling box. Needless to say, the good thing is.
[0033]
Finally, if polyvinyl alcohol or polyacrylate or water glass (sodium silicate) is mixed as a binder before compression molding, the block strength can be maintained even after restoration, and the culture medium 1 is less likely to collapse. Becomes easy.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a compression molding medium 1. FIG.
FIG. 2 is a side view showing an example of compression molding of a compression molding medium 1;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an example of a seedling tray 4. FIG.
FIG. 4 is a plan view of the seedling tray 4. FIG.
FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the seedling tray 4. FIG.
6 is a plan view of a seedling pot 5 in the seedling tray 4. FIG.
7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line S1-S1 of FIG.
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional side view illustrating an example of loading the compression molding medium 1 into the seedling pot 5;
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional side view showing a state where the compression molding medium 1 loaded in the seedling pot 5 contains water and has finished expanding.
10 is a side view for explaining the operation of the sowing hole forming roll 22. FIG.
FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional side view showing a state in which a seeding hole 24 is formed.
FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional side view showing a state in which the seed hole 26 is seeded and covered with soil.
FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional side view showing a state in which a seedling has grown.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Compression Molding Medium 4 Nursery Tray 5 Nursery Pot 30 Nursery Box

Claims (5)

A medium characterized by mixing plant fibers, a surfactant, and an agrochemical and drying them to an appropriate moisture content, and then mixing and compression-molding a clay material.   The culture medium according to claim 1, wherein a medium having a particle diameter after mixing of 1 mm or less is compression molded.   The medium according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the plant fiber is peat moss. The culture medium according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the clayey material is bentonite or vermiculite. A culture medium obtained by compressing the culture medium according to any one of claims 1 to 4 into a tablet shape or a spherical shape.

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