RU2101916C1 - Method of preparing mixture for seedling pots - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: agriculture. SUBSTANCE: method involves mixing ground peat having moisture content of up to 15% with 12-15% polyvinyl alcohol, with ammonia water being preliminarily added into polyvinyl alcohol. Ammonia water concentration is calculated by formula recited in Specifications. Ratio of ground peat and polyvinyl alcohol is 3.5-4.5:1, respectively. EFFECT: increased efficiency and simplified method. 3 tbl

Description

 The invention relates to agricultural production, in particular to the cultivation of seedlings of vegetable crops, sugar beets, tobacco, cotton.

 A known method of preparing a mixture including peat, turf land, lime. (Preparation of seeds and seedlings of vegetable crops. Recommendations. M. VO "Agropromizdat", 1989, p. 19.21). The disadvantage of this method is that peat has an acid reaction, and lime must be added to the mixture to neutralize.

 A known method of preparing a mixture containing peat pH 5 6 and as a bonding agent 2 3% solution of polyvinyl alcohol with a ratio of components, by volume: peat 60.65, alcohol solution 35.40 (prototype, a.s. N 1727700). Here polyvinyl alcohol acts not only as a binder, but also as a deoxidizer. It has a pH of 8.

 However, peat often comes to farms with a pH of 5 or lower, and that small fraction of polyvinyl alcohol is not able to significantly raise the pH and bring it to a neutral value or close to it: pH 6.5.7.0. Therefore, not all cultures grow normally on this mixture. This applies primarily to cabbage, pepper, tobacco, cotton, beets.

A method of preparing a mixture for seedling pots, comprising mixing ground peat and a sticking agent in the form of a solution of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), characterized in that the ground peat with a moisture content of up to 15% is mixed with a 12.15% solution of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) with the addition of it before it is added in peat with ammonia water at a ratio of peat and solution by volume of 3.5.4.5 1, while the concentration of ammonia water in the solution is determined by the expression
To _AB 1.65 (pH _c pH _t ),
where K _{AB the} concentration of ammonia water in a solution of polyvinyl alcohol,
pH _{c is the} desired acidity of the mixture;
pH _t is the acidity of the peat used.

The most convenient for use are pots in the form of cylinders (cartridges) with a diameter of up to 2 cm and a length of up to 5 cm. They have sufficient volume for the growth and development of 20 25-day-old seedlings of 15.7 cm ³ . They provide energy savings, films and other materials used in greenhouses, as they allow you to grow up to 2000 pcs. seedlings from each m ^{2 of} the protected ground area. Cylindrical chambers are promising from the point of view of mechanization and automation of the process of planting seedlings. On one side of the chamber a conical nest is made for seeds with a diameter of 10 mm above, 7 mm below and 15 mm deep. The acidity of the medium (soil, peat, polyvinyl alcohol solution) is expressed by the pH value. This is the negative logarithm of the concentration of hydrogen ions. The medium is highly acidic at pH 3.0.4.5; acidic 4,5.5,5; slightly acidic 5.5.6.5; neutral 6.5.7.0; slightly alkaline 7.0.7.5; alkaline 7.5.8.5; highly alkaline more than 8.5. Permissible pH limits for normal plant development for most crops are 5.5.7.0, i.e. slightly acidic and neutral environment, and the optimal pH value of 6.5.7.0.

Peat comes with a pH of 4, and sometimes less. For polyvinyl alcohol, pH 7.5.8.0. Its use in the mixture contributes to a slight increase in the overall pH. However, with a small amount of polyvinyl alcohol in the mixture, it is not able to raise the pH to the optimum value. To reduce the acid reaction of the medium, lime, dolomite flour, and ash are now used. But their introduction into the mixture leads to hardening of the pots, to increase their stiffness, a similarity of microbricks is formed. Therefore, it was proposed to use ammonia water H ₃ OH in a 25% concentration, i.e. with a content of 25% ammonia (20.5% nitrogen). These are commercially available products applicable as liquid fertilizer. The use of ammonia water is technological, does not complicate the process of preparing the mixture and is very effective. You can get a mixture with any desired pH value.

Peat is first prepared. It is crushed to such an extent that at least 70% of peat passes through a sieve with a hole diameter of 1 mm. The volumetric mass of ground peat is 0.40.0.45 g / cm ³ . The second important indicator for peat is its moisture content. It should not exceed 15%. If the humidity is higher, this affects the strength of the pressed pots (table. 1).

 Under certain conditions, peat with a moisture content of 20.25% can be used, but the additional moisture coming from peat should be taken into account when comparing the PVA solution.

Polyvinyl alcohol is produced mainly in two grades of PVA 16/1 and PVA 11/2. The numerator indicates the average value of the dynamic viscosity of a 4% solution, and the denominator is the number of acetate groups. This means that at the same concentration, the PVA 16/1 solution is more viscous than the PVA 11/2. Polyvinyl alcohol is a white powder, bulk density 0.40 g / cm ³ , it dissolves only in water, and in a heated to 90.95 ^o C. This operation is carried out quickly in a microwave oven. Ammonia water is added to the solution of polyvinyl alcohol. In order to reduce the amount of added water, it is necessary to increase the concentration of the PVA solution. The experiments showed that a transparent, highly fluid PVA solution has a concentration of not more than 16% (Table 2).

 Therefore, in order to have a highly fluid PVA solution, its concentration should be within 12.15%. The variation depends on the PVA brand, the method of solution preparation (heating water or in a microwave oven). The PVA solution 16/1 is prepared at a lower concentration of 12.14% since it has a higher dynamic viscosity, and the PVA 11/2 13.15%. After receiving the PVA solution, it is added to the ground peat and mixed thoroughly. From the resulting mixture form pots (cartridges). Experiments were carried out to determine what should be the ratio of the volume of peat and the PVA solution so that it is possible to form (compress) shape-stable micro pots.

 The mass was placed in a matrix and a cylindrical-shaped micro-pot with a diameter of 21.22 mm and a length of 52.53 mm with a nest for seeds was pressed with a punch. After drying, the dimensions are: diameter 20 mm ± 5% length 50 mm ± 4% (table. 3).

As can be seen from the table. 3, the optimal ratio of peat and PVA solution by volume is 3.5.4.5 1. But how much ammonia water should be added to the PVA solution, what should be its concentration in the PVA solution? The answer to this question was given by the conducted experiments. It was found that the concentration of ammonia water in the PVA solution obeys a certain dependence
To _AB 1.65 (pH _c - pH _t ), (1)
where K _AB - the concentration of ammonia water (25%) in the calculation of PVA,
pH _{c is the} desired acidity of the mixture;
pH _t is the acidity of the peat used.

 Example.

For manufacturing mikrogorshochkov entered peat with pH 5.1 _m. In these micro pots seedlings of cucumbers will be grown. The optimum pH value for this culture is pH 6.5, i.e. the acidity of the mixture should be pH _c 6.5. Then, using formula (1), we determine the required concentration of ammonia water in the PVA solution.

K _av 1.65 (pH _c pH _t ) 1.65 (6.5 5.1) 2.3%
This means that for every liter of PVA solution, only 23 ml of ammonia water must be added.

 The mixture is prepared immediately before pressing the micro pots. This is as follows. Peat is dried if it has a moisture content of over 15% and is ground. A 12.15% PVA solution is made and ammonia water is added to it in an amount calculated by the formula (1). Certain volumes of peat and a solution of PVA are measured in such a way that their ratio is within 3.5.4.5 1, i.e. There was 3.5.4.5 volume of ground peat per solution volume. Both components are combined together and thoroughly mixed so that all peat particles are wetted. After that, they immediately press. The mixture is placed in a matrix of certain sizes and a pot (cartridge) is formed in it with a punch with a force of up to 50 kg. After formation, they are extruded from the matrix. Set upright and held for some time to dry. After 1 2 days. they can be transported to farms and used for growing seedlings. They are stored for a long time, do not lose their strength, are convenient in transportation. Moreover, they can be transported both in boxes and in bags. They are durable, when dropped from a height of 1 m they are not destroyed. The mass of a dry pot (cartridge chamber) is 11 ± 1 g, water permeability of more than 35 mm during the first hour in the water with a layer of 1.2 cm. The mixture has a good absorbency of more than 55%. 25.30 days before planting, seed is placed in the pot nests, lightly sprinkled with soil or peat, put in boxes (containers) and pour water into the boxes with a layer of 1.2 cm. Due to intensive absorption, moisture rises to the seeds. Seeding, germination, growth and development of seedlings occur. At 20 25 days of age (and cucumbers at 10 15), pots with seedlings are planted in open ground. Survival is one hundred percent.

 The application of the proposed method of preparation of the mixture allows to provide an optimum acidity medium for the growth and development of seedlings, to produce small pots (cartridges) by the method of formation, which makes it possible to grow up to 2000 pcs. seedlings from each square meter of the greenhouse. Achieved savings in fuel, film and other materials. It is possible to automate the process of planting seedlings in open ground.

Claims (1)

A method of preparing a mixture for seedling pots, comprising mixing crushed peat and a gluing agent in the form of a solution of polyvinyl alcohol, characterized in that the crushed peat with a moisture content of up to 15% is mixed with a 12 15% solution of polyvinyl alcohol with previously added ammonia water, while the volume ratio of peat and solution is 3.5 4.5 1, respectively, and the concentration of ammonia water in the solution is determined by the expression K _{a. at} 1.65 (pH _c pH _t ), where K _{a. in the} concentration of ammonia water in a solution of polyvinyl alcohol, pH _{c the} required acidity of the mixture, pH _{t the} acidity of the peat used.

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