USE OF FEATHERS AS A PLANT GROWING MEDIA
COMPONENT OR SOIL AMENDMENT
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention:
[0001] The present invention relates to methods and compositions involving the use of feathers as a plant growing media component or as a soil amendment. 2. Background:
[0002] A need exists for cost effective materials having suitable or improved chemical characteristics and physical properties for use as growing media components or
as soil amendments. Growing media (e.g., potting soils) are typically designed for placement in containers and operate to provide water holding capacity, nutrient retention, physical support for the plant, and sufficient perviousness to allow air to reach the roots and to allow necessary gas/air exchanges to occur. Soil amendments, on the other hand, are components or compositions that are blended into naturally occurring or manufactured soils to improve drainage, water holding capacity, pH, or other physical properties or chemical characteristics. Examples of major users of growing media and soil amendments include, but are not limited to, commercial greenhouses and nurseries, golf courses, organic crop producers, and home plant growers and gardeners.
[0003] A need particularly exists for cost-effective growing media components and soil amendments capable of replacing or at least reducing the present demand for peat moss. As used herein, the terms "peat" and "peat moss" include all types of peat materials, including, but not limited to, reed peat, Hypnum peat, Sphagnum peat, sedge peat, reed-sedge peat, Carex peat, peat humus, Fibric peat, hemic peat, Sapric peat, etc. The ever-growing worldwide demand for peat materials is rapidly outpacing available
supplies. In addition, the mining of peat moss typically requires the draining of wetlands and/or creates other undesirable environmental effects or concerns.
[0004] In the United States alone, approximately four billion tons of feathers are produced in poultry processing operations each year. At present, almost all of these feathers are processed in rendering plants to produce a powdery, complex protein commonly used as a livestock feed additive. Unfortunately, the costs of such rendering processes typically equal or exceed the economic value of the rendered product.
[0005] It has been suggested that decomposed poultry feathers could be used as a fertilizer material. For example, United Kingdom patent applications GB2113517 and GB2170795 suggest that a solid organic fertilizer can be formed from rotted, crushed
feathers, bones, heads, or feet of poultry by drying the rotted waste material and then
milling the rotted, dried material to a powder.
[0006] Although it has been suggested that rotted, milled poultry feathers could potentially be used as a nitrogen nutrient source, poultry feather materials have not been recognized or known heretofore as a viable plant growing media component or soil amendment. Specifically, it has not been known or recognized that appropriately processed and prepared feather materials could provide physical support for plants, provide appropriate water retaining capacity and nutrient retention, air-filled pore space, gas exchange, and drainage, or provide favorable pH and other chemical characteristics. Rather, because of their inconsistent, nonhomogeneous physical structure, their moisture content, their contamination, decomposition and odor problems, and their difficulty in handling, feather materials have generally been viewed as not being acceptable or adaptable for such uses.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention satisfies the needs and alleviates the problems mentioned above. In accordance with the invention, an appropriately processed feather
material which unexpectedly and surprisingly provides desirable physical support, water and nutrient retention, drainage, air-filled pore space and gas exchange, pH adjustment, and other physical properties and chemical characteristics is used as a growing media component and/or a soil amendment. The present invention also overcomes the feather odor, contamination, handling, storage, and other problems associated with waste feather
materials. [0008] In one aspect, the present invention provides a plant growing media
comprising reduced feathers and a soil material. The soil material preferably comprises at least one component selected from the group consisting of peat, perlite, vermiculite, composted bark, coir, rice hulls, and composted waste. The reduced feathers are preferably present in the plant growing media in an amount of at least 10% by volume based upon the total volume of the media.
[0009] In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of plant production comprising the step of growing a plant in a plant-growing media comprising reduced feathers and a soil material. The soil material preferably comprises at least one
component selected from the group consisting of peat, perlite, vermiculite, composted bark, coir, rice hulls, and composted waste. The reduced feathers are preferably present in the plant growing media in an amount of at least 10% by volume based upon the total
volume of the media.
[0010] In yet another aspect, the present invention involves an improvement to a method of growing a plant in a soil material. The improvement comprises adding
reduced feathers to the soil material in an amount of at least 10% by volume based upon the total volume of the soil material and reduced feathers.
[0011] In each case, the feathers used in accordance with the present invention are preferably reduced using a refiner, a pulper, and/or similar reducing apparatus, preferably of the type used for processing recycled paper. In addition, the feathers will preferably be treated with an antimicrobial agent.
[0012] Further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon examining the accompanying drawings and upon
reading the following description of the preferred embodiments.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0013] The inventive growing media and soil amendment can employ generally any type of feathers. Poultry feathers are particularly well suited for use in the present invention. Although generally any type of chopped or otherwise reduced feathers can be used, the feathers will preferably be processed in accordance with the various procedures and steps set forth below. In addition, the reduced feathers employed in the present
invention will preferably be reduced whole feathers but could alternatively be reduced feathers having all or a portion of the fiber and/or quill components separated therefrom.
The degree to which the feathers are reduced can be adjusted as necessary or desired for the needs of the particular application in question.
[0014] Feathers from a poultry processing operation or other source will typically be delivered to an infeed system. The infeed system can be, for example, an infeed system of the type used for feeding raw feather materials to rendering plants. As
will be understood by those skilled in the art, such systems are capable of continuously delivering feathers to the processing system at a controlled or semi-controlled rate.
[0015] If necessary, the infeed system can deliver the raw, dirty feathers to an area where any other parts (e.g., heads and feet) and any foreign objects (e.g., metal
objects, gloves, etc.) are removed. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, generally any method of removing such parts and foreign objects can be used. As one example, a water-filled, dissolved air flotation (DAF) tank could be used wherein dissolved air operates to physically separate meat parts and foreign objects from the raw
feathers. Due to inherent buoyancy differences, any heads, feet, or other meat objects can be removed by adjusting the rate of air addition to the tank such that the meat objects travel through the tank at a rate of speed which is substantially slower than that of the
feathers, thus causing the meat objects to be separated from the feathers by a divider plate or other separator appropriately positioned within the tank. Metal objects, on the other
hand, separate from the raw feathers by simply dropping into a trap provided in the
bottom of the tank.
[0016] Alternatively, or in addition, foreign material can be removed using metal detectors, centrifugal (e.g., cyclone) cleaners, and/or other devices or systems
known in the art.
[0017] If desired or necessary, the raw feather material can be pressed to remove water therefrom. Such pressing can be beneficial for significantly reducing processing costs. Examples of mechanical, hydraulic, and other pressing apparatuses suitable for pressing the feather material include, but are not limited to, decanter centrifuges, centrifugal presses, belt presses, screw presses, pressing-type feed conveyors, or
combinations thereof. Any such pressing operation will preferably be conducted using a screw press and can involve multiple pressing steps.
[0018] The feathers are preferably reduced using an apparatus capable of
producing a refined and/or pulped feather material. The apparatus will preferably comprise one or a plurality of refining and/or pulping machines of the type commonly employed in the paper industry for producing pulp from recycled paper. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the pulping/refining step can be conducted in either
a continuous or batch manner. As used herein, the terms "refiners" or "refining machines" also include disc mill apparatuses.
[0019] If a pulper is used, it will preferably be of the type used for processing recycled paper. The pulper will most preferably be a high shear pulper of the type having a rotor and stator assembly with a close tolerance in the defibering zone. An example of a commercially available pulper well suited for use in the present invention is the TORNADO pulper available from Bolton Emerson. Other suitable, but typically slower, units are available from Thermo Black Clawson and other manufacturers.
[0020] The feather reduction step will preferably be performed using one or more refining machines of the type used for processing recycled paper. The refining
apparatus will most preferably be a disc mill type refiner of either single or double disc design. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, various alternative types of ' discs can be used in such apparatus to obtain generally any type and degree of grinding, shearing, shredding, pulverizing, rubbing, fluffing, or other refining desired.
[0021] Refiners and pulpers of the type mentioned above are unexpectedly and surprisingly effective for processing feather materials. These devices are well suited for handling the inherent structural strength of the feather materials and for overcoming the
tendency of such materials to clump together. The devices thus efficiently and economically produce a consistent, uniform product of higher quality. The devices can also handle large volumes of feathers even with some foreign materials contained therein.
[0022] Although not essential, the feathers are preferably processed in the
refining or pulping apparatus in the presence of an aqueous liquid carrier. The amount of aqueous carrier used in the refining/pulping apparatus will preferably be in the range of from about 0% to about 50% by volume based on the total volume of feathers and carrier
liquid.
[0023] The residence time of the feathers within the refining or pulping
apparatus, and/or the degree to which the feather material is recycled through refining or pulping apparatus, can be varied as necessary to obtain the particular end product desired.
Relevant factors include, for example, the size and structure of the raw feather feed material and the desired size of the resulting reduced product.
[0024] For most applications, the feathers will preferably have a total residence
time within refining or pulping apparatus in the range of from about one second to about
15 minutes. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, multiple passes through the apparatus can be employed if desired. Some typical refining machines require from about one to about 60 seconds per pass.
[0025] Following the reducing step and depending upon the amount of particle
reduction and/or other characteristics necessary for the final product, the inventive process can also optionally include one or more additional reduction and/or refining steps. Examples of devices and system which could be used for further reducing and/or otherwise refining the feathers pulp include, but are not limited to: linters; blenders; mills; choppers; centrifugal grinders; cleaners; and/or additional pulpers or refiners.
[0026] To address odor and premature decomposition problems, to provide desirable shelf life, and to provide inventive growing media compositions having sufficiently stable chemical characteristics and stable structural and physical properties
for packaging, storage, and/or retail sale, the feather material will preferably be sanitized by treatment with one or more antimicrobial agents. Such treatment can occur before, during, and/or after the reduction procedure. Examples of preferred antimicrobial agents include, but are not limited to: hydrogen peroxide; chlorine bleaches such as sodium
hypochlorite; calcium hypochlorite; cetylpyridinium chloride; l-bromo-3-chloro-5,5 dimethylhydantoin; hydrogen dioxide; ozone; ethanol; Agribrom; and combinations thereof. The feather material can also be sanitized using ultraviolet light. The feather material will preferably be sanitized using hydrogen peroxide or chlorine bleach. Hydrogen peroxide leaves no harmful residual chemicals if over applied and is therefore the most preferred sanitizing agent.
[0027] The feather material can also optionally be washed before, during, or after the reduction procedure to remove fats, proteins, and other contaminants . Examples of suitable cleaning agents include, but are not limited to: inorganic solvents such as hydrogen peroxide; organic solvents such as ethanol; detergents; bleaches (preferably a
chlorine bleach); and surface acting surfactants. Detergents employed for washing the feather material will most preferably be de-inking compounds or wetting agents of the type providing emulsification of fats, oils, and greases, as well as general soil detergency.
An example of a commercially available wetting agent particularly well suited for use in the present invention is FIBERWET DI, available from Steen Research, Inc. FIBERWET
DI comprises a mixture of silicates, ethylene diamine, tetra acetic acid, sodium xylene
sulfonate, sodium octane sulfonate, sodium laureth modified with 3 mol of ethylene oxide, and alkaryl ether phosphates.
[0028] If desired or necessary, the feather material can also be treated with other
agents and additives such as deodorizers, pesticides, mold inhibitors, and agents for providing any appropriate pH adjustment. Examples of suitable agents for pH adjustment include, but are not limited to, phosphoric acid, sulfuric acid, nitric acid, aluminum sulfate, iron sulfate, and combinations thereof.
[0029] If the antimicrobial agent and/or cleaning agent employed in the present invention is hydrogen peroxide, bleach, a surface acting surfactant, or a combination thereof, the agent will preferably be used in an aqueous treatment solution (e.g., in the pulper carrier solution or in some other aqueous treatment solution) at a concentration in the range from about 5 ppm to about 15% by volume. The concentration of hydrogen
peroxide and/or surfactant in the aqueous treatment solution will more preferably be in the range of from about 500 ppm to about 15% by volume and the concentration of
bleach, if used, will more preferably be in the range of from about 5 ppm to about 3,500 ppm by volume. The concentration will most preferably be about 3% by volume for hydrogen peroxide or about 500 ppm by volume for surface acting surfactants or bleach.
[0030] Following the reduction procedure, the feather material is preferably at least partially dewatered by first delivering the material to a dewatering screen. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the dewatering screen system will typically be an auger device having a perforated trough, a rotary screen, a vertical slit screen, a hydraulic press or similar dewatering device.
[0031] After the dewatering screen, the feather material will preferably be further dewatered to achieve an acceptable water content. As will be understood by those
skilled in the art, appropriate dewatering systems can be employed to achieve any desired final moisture level. For most applications, it will be preferable that the final moisture content qf the reduced feather material be no more than 60% by weight. As indicated
hereinabove, examples of suitable dewatering apparatuses and systems include but are not limited to centrifugal presses, belt presses, screw presses, sheeting apparatuses of the type
used in the paper industry, and combinations thereof. Screw presses of the type commonly used in the paper industry for dewatering pulp and sludge fiber are particularly well suited for dewatering the reduced feather material.
[0032] If necessary or desired to remove additional moisture, the reduced feather material can be delivered through one or more drying units . Examples of suitable drying systems include, but are not limited to, forced air ovens, radio frequency ovens or dryers, tube dryers (e.g., jet tube dryers), vortex dryers, or other comparable drying
systems.
[0033] As a further or alternative option, the wet reduced feather material can be conducted through one or more centrifugal cleaners. Centrifugal cleaners of the type commonly used in the paper industry are particularly well suited for use in the present invention. The centrifugal cleaners will most preferably be forward centrifugal cleaners.
Cleaners of this type are commercially available, for example, from Posiflow or Uniflow.
The cleaner will preferably employ a small nozzle producing a relatively high pressure drop (most preferably a pressure drop in the range of from about 5% to about 30% from inlet to outlet). Centrifugal cleaners of this type will readily remove any contaminants such as leg skin, parts of the head, eyes, etc. and will also remove most of the solution remaining in the reduced feather material.
[0034] For use in accordance with the present invention as a plant growing media component or as a soil amendment, the feather material will preferably be reduced
to an average length of not more than 3/4 inch. The reduced feather material will more preferably have an average length of not more than Vz inch. The feathers will most preferably be either coarsely reduced to an average length of more than 1/4 inch or finely reduced to an average length of not more than 1/4 inch.
[0035] When used as a growing media component, the reduced feather material will be blended with at least one other soil component. Examples of suitable soil components include, but are not limited to, peat, perlite, vermiculite, composted bark, coir, rice hulls, and composted waste material (e.g., manure, paper, and/or municipal waste). Depending upon the particular use in question, the amount of reduced feather material in the resulting plant growing media composition will preferably be at least 10% by volume, more preferably from about 10% to about 65%, and most preferably from
about 20% to about 65% of the total volume of the growing media composition. [0036] If a finely reduced feather material is employed, the feather material will preferably be present in an amount in the range of from about 10% to about 60%, more
preferably from about 20% to about 60%, by volume based upon the total volume of the growing media composition. If a coarsely reduced feather material is used, the feather material will preferably be present in an amount in the range of from about 10% to about 65%, more preferably from about 20% to about 65%, by volume based upon the total volume of the growing media composition.
[0037] The plant growing media composition will also preferably include peat in an amount in the range of from about 35% to about 90% by volume based upon the total volume of the plant growing media composition. Additionally, if present, the
inventive media composition will preferably include perlite and/or one or more of the
other soil materials listed above in an amount of not more than 80% (more preferably from about 10% to about 30% by volume) based upon the total volume of the growing media composition.
[0038] As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the inventive blended growing media composition can be used directly for growing plants or can be packaged in the same manner as other growing media compositions for storage and/or sale.
[0039] When used as an amendment for existing natural or manufactured soil materials, the reduced feather material will preferably be added to the soil material in an amount of at least 10% by volume and will more preferably be added in an amount in the range of from about 10% to about 65%, most preferably from about 20% to about 65%, by volume based upon the resulting total blended volume of the soil material and the reduced feather material. If a coarsely reduced feather material is used, the reduced
feather material will preferably be added to the soil material in an amount in the range of from about 10% to about 65%, more preferably from about 20% to about 65%, by volume based upon the total blended volume of the soil material and the feather material.
If a finely reduced feather material is used, the feather material will preferably be added to the soil material in an amount in the range of from about 10% to about 60%, more
preferably from about 20% to about 60%, by volume based upon the total blended volume of the soil material and the feather material.
[0040] Coarsely reduced feather materials are typically preferred for use in the present invention, for example, for growing larger plants such as nursery crops (e.g., trees and shrubs) and larger greenhouse crops. Finely reduced feather materials, on the other
hand, are typically preferred for use in the present invention, for example, for growing seedlings, plugs, and small greenhouse plants.
EXAMPLE 1
[0041] Process reduced chicken feathers were continuously stirred in an aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution having a hydrogen peroxide concentration of 2500 ppm by volume. It was observed that such mixing for a period of from two to three minutes was adequate to remove substantially all fat and residual proteins from the feathers and to kill bacteria on the surfaces of the feathers and in the hollow areas of the fibers and quills. It was also observed that, the more violent the agitation, the less mixing time was required. Comparative tests revealed that essentially the same amount of agitation was required for processing the feathers with ethanol.
EXAMPLE 2
Growth of Geranium and Vinca in Processed-Poultry-Feather-Containing Substrates
Materials and Methods
[0042] Four substrates were formulated by blending processed reduced poultry
(chicken) feathers (Tyson Foods, Springdale, AR), coarse horticultural perlite and Sphagnum peat (SunGro Horticulture, Bellevue, WA) at varying proportions. All substrates contained 20% (v/v) perlite. Substrates also contained 0%, 10%, 15% or 20%
(v/v) processed coarse feather with the remainder being Sphagnum peat.
[0043] Four-leaf plugs (seedlings in size 288 plug trays with 5 ml volume per plug cell) of Pelargonium x hortorum 'Orbit Cardinal' (geranium) and Catharanthus
roseus 'Cooler Blush' (vinca) were transplanted into 8-cm plastic containers filled with each of the test substrates described.
[0044] Plants were placed into a glass-glazed greenhouse. Greenhouse air temperatures were maintained between 20 and 25° C (68 and 77°F). Plants were grown under ambient light levels (250 - 300 μmol's'm"2). Immediately after being placed into the
greenhouse, all containers were drenched with the fungicide Banrot® at the recommended label rate. Plants were fertilized at each irrigation with a 200 mg'L"1 N solution using Excel 15-5-15 Cal Mag water-soluble fertilizer (Scotts, Co, Marysville, OH).
[0045] After 6 weeks, the experiment was terminated. Shoot and root fresh and dry weights were determined. The experimental design was a complete randomized block with 8 blocks and each treatment combination appearing once in each block. An analysis of variance was conducted to determine if significant differences in plant growth occurred among the different substrates. Where significant differences occurred, a LSD (∞ = 0.05)
mean separation test was conducted to determine which means were significantly
different from one another. Results and Discussion
[0046] Geranium (Table 1) and vinca (Table 2) shoot fresh weight, shoot dry weight, root fresh weight and root dry weight were not significantly different among the substrates. Based upon growth variables measured in this study, geranium and vinca plants grown in substrates amended with up to 20% processed feather performed similarly to those grown in 80% Sphagnum peat and 20% perlite. Additionally, geranium plants grown in substrates containing coarse processed feather had visually darker green foliage than those grown in 80% Sphagnum peat and 20% perlite (Figures 1 and 2). No
visual difference in foliage color was observed for vinca grown in the different substrates.
Table 1. Growth of geranium in Sphagnum peat-based media amended with coarse processed poultry feathers.
Fresh shoot Dry shoot Fresh root Dry root
Substrate component (%v/v) weight (g) weight (g) weight (g) weight (g)
Sphagnum peatz Feather Perlite
80 0 20 50.6 6.1 5.9 0.8
70 10 20 50.5 5.7 6.4 0.9
65 15 20 49.7 5.7 6.1 0.8 60 20 20 48.9 5.7 5.9 0.8
Significance Treatment NS NS NS NS Block NS NS NS NS
2 Sphagnum peat was amended with calcitic lime to adjust the pH to 5.4 prior to use. NS Nonsignificant
Table 2. Growth of vinca in Sphagnum peat-based media amended with coarse processed poultry feathers.
Fresh shoot Dry Shoot Fresh root Dry root
Substrate components (%v/v) weight (g) weight (g) weight (g) weight (g)
Sphagnum peat2 Feather Perlite
80 0 20 12.3 1.8 3.7 0.4
70 10 20 9.2 1.4 3.0 0.3
65 15 20 11.9 1.8 3.5 0.3 60 20 20 7.6 1.1 1.9 0.2
Significance Treatment NS NS NS NS Block NS NS NS NS
2 Sphagnum peat was amended with calcitic lime to adjust the pH to 5.4 prior to use. NS Nonsignificant
Conclusion: [0047] Geranium and vinca plants of similar or higher qualities can be grown in a Sphagnum peat-based substrate amended with up to at least 20% coarse processed poultry feathers as in a 80% Sphagnum peat and 20% perlite control.
EXAMPLE 3 Growth of Tomato and Cucumber in Prόcessed-Poultry-Feather-Containing Substrates
Materials and Methods
[0048] Five substrates were formulated by blending fine and coarse processed reduced poultry (chicken) feathers (Tyson Foods, Springdale, AR), coarse horticultural perlite and Sphagnum peat (SunGro Horticulture, Bellevue, WA) at varying proportions.
All substrates contained 20% (v/v) perlite. Substrates also contained 0%, 30%), or 40% (v/v) fine or coarse processed poultry feather with the remainder being Sphagnum peat.
[0049] Four-leaf plugs (seedlings in size 288 plug trays with 5 ml volume per plug cell) of Lycopersicon esculentum (tomato) 'Better Boy' were transplanted into 8-cm black plastic containers filled with each of the test substrates previously described.
Cucumis sativus (cucumber) seed were sown directly into the containers filled with each
substrate.
[0050] Plants were placed into a glass-glazed greenhouse. Greenhouse air temperatures were maintained between 20 and 25° C (68 and 77°F). Plants were grown under ambient light levels (250 - 300 μmol s'm"2). Immediately after being placed into the
greenhouse, all containers were drenched with the fungicide Banroτ® at the recommended label rate. Plants were fertilized at each irrigation with a 200 mg'L"1 N solution using Excel 15-5-15 Cal Mag water-soluble fertilizer (Scotts, Co, Marysville, OH).
[0051] After 4 weeks, the experiment was terminated. Shoot and root fresh and dry weights were determined. The experimental design was a complete randomized block
with 6 blocks and each treatment combination appearing once in each block. An analysis
of variance was conducted to determine if significant differences in plant growth occurred among the different substrates. Where significant differences occurred, a LSD (< = 0.05)
mean separation test was conducted to determine which means were significantly different from one another.
Results and Discussion
[0052] Tomato grown in substrates composed of up to 40% coarse processed reduced poultry feathers had similar shoot fresh weights, shoot dry weights, root fresh
weights and root dry weights as tomato grown in 80% Sphagnum peat and 20% perlite substrate (Table 3). Shoot fresh and dry weights of tomato grown in 30% fine feather- amended substrates were similar to shoot fresh and dry weights of tomato grown in 80% Sphagnum peat and 20% perlite. Root fresh and dry weights of tomato grown in 30% fine
feather-amended substrates were significantly lower than root fresh and dry weights of tomato grown in 80% Sphagnum peat and 20% perlite. Shoot fresh weights, shoots dry weights, root fresh weights and root dry weights of tomato grown in 40% fine feather- amended substrates were significantly lower than shoot fresh weights, shoots dry weights, root fresh weights and root dry weights of tomato grown in 80% Sphagnum peat and 20%
perlite.
Table 3. Tomato grown in Sphagnum ! peat-based substrates amended with coarse or fine processed poultry feathers.
Fresh
Fresh root Dry root shoot Dry shoot weight weight
Substrate components (%v/v) weight (g) weight (g) (g) (g)
Sphagnum Coarse Fine Perlite peat2 feather feather
80 0 0 20 52.2 8.2 15.8 1.7
50 30 0 20 49.1 7.8 15.4 1.7
40 40 0 20 50.8 7.7 17.2 2.1
50 0 30 20 49.2 7.8 12.6 0.2
40 0 40 20 40.9 5.5 14.5 0.2
Significance
Treatment **
LSD («=0.ι 05) 4.8 0.7 2.4 0.3
2 Sphagnum peat was amended with calcitic lime to adjust the pH to 5.4 prior to use. *'**'*** Significant at P= 0.05, 0.01 or 0.001, respectively.
[0053] Cucumber grown in substrates composed of up to 40% coarse and 30% fine processed reduced poultry feathers had similar shoot fresh weights, shoot dry weights, root fresh weights and root dry weights as cucumber grown in 80% Sphagnum peat and 20% perlite (Table 4, Figures 7 and 8). Cucumber grown in 30% coarse processed poultry feather had similar fresh shoot weights and dry root weights as cucumber grown in 80% Sphagnum peat and 20% perlite. Cucumber grown in 40% fine processed poultry feather had significantly lower dry shoot weight and fresh root weight than those grown in 80% Sphagnum peat and 20% perlite.
Table 4. Cucumber grown in Sphagnum peat-based substrates amended with coarse or fine processed poultry feathers.
Fresh
Fresh root Dry root shoot Dry shoot weight weight
Substrate components (%v/v) weight (g) weight (g) (g) (g)
Sphagnum Coarse Fine Perlite peat2 feather feather
80 0 0 20 31.2 3.7 14.9 1.2
50 30 0 20 24.2 3.0 13.1 1.0
40 40 0 20 32.6 4.1 14.7 1.4
50 0 30 20 39.7 4.9 17.5 1.6
40 0 40 20 27.9 2.6 9.0 0.9
Significance
Treatment NS ** * NS
LSD (-=0.05) 10.3 0.9 4.1 0.5
2 Sphagnum peat was amended with calcitic lime to adjust the pH to 5.4 prior to use. ' ' Nonsignificant or significant at P= 0.05 or 0.01, respectively.
Conclusion:
[0054] Tomato and cucumber plants of similar qualities can be grown in
Sphagnum peat-based substrates amended with up to 40% coarse processed poultry feathers or 30% fine processed poultry feathers as in a 80% Sphagnum peat and 20% perlite control.
EXAMPLE 4
Growth of Tomato in SB-300 Commercial Substrate Amended with Processed- Poultry Feathers
Materials and Methods
[0055] Two substrates were formulated by blending coarse processed reduced poultry (chicken) feathers (Tyson Foods, Springdale, AR) at 0% or 40% (v/v) with the commercially available SB-300 substrate (SunGro Horticulture, Bellevue, WA). Four-leaf
plugs (seedlings in size 288 plug trays with 5 ml volume per plug cell) of Lycopersicon
esculentum (tomato) 'Better Boy' were transplanted into 6-pack containers filled with the substrates.
[0056] Plants were placed into a glass-glazed greenhouse. Greenhouse air temperatures were maintained between 20 and 25° C (68 and 77°F). Plants were grown under ambient light levels (250 - 300 ^mol's in"2). Immediately after being placed into the greenhouse, all containers were drenched with the fungicide Banror® at the recommended label rate. Plants were fertilized at each irrigation with a 200 mgL"1 N solution using Excel 15-5-15 Cal Mag water-soluble fertilizer (Scotts, Co, Marysville, OH).
[0057] After 4 weeks, the experiment was terminated. Shoot and root fresh and dry weights were determined. The experimental design was a complete randomized
design with 4 replications. A 6-pack container constituted a replication. An analysis of variance was conducted to determine if significant differences in plant growth occurred among the different substrates. Where significant differences occurred, a LSD (« = 0.05) mean separation test was conducted to determine which means were significantly different from one another. Results and Discussion
[0058] Tomato grown in SB-300 amended with 40% coarse processed reduced poultry feathers had similar fresh shoot weight, dry shoot weight, and fresh root weight as tomato grown in SB-300 substrate (Table 5). Tomato grown in SB-300 substrate amended with 40% coarse processed poultry feather had a significantly higher root dry
weight than tomato grown in SB-300.
Table 5. Tomato grown in cell packs with SB-300 and SB-300 with coarse processed poultry feathers.
Fresh shoot Dry shoot Fresh root Dry root
Substrates weight (g) weight (g) weight (g) weight (g)
SB-300Z 17.3 2.4 5.3 0.6
SB-300 + 40% feather 16.0 2.2 5.9 0.8
Significance
Treatment NS NS NS * z SunGro Horticulture, Bellevue, WA y SunGro SB-300 with 40% processed poultry feather (%v/v)
NS' * Nonsignificant or significant at P = 0.05, respectively.
Conclusion:
[0059] Tomato plants of similar or higher quality can be grown in cell packs filled with SB-300 commercial substrate blended with up to 40% (v/v) processed coarse poultry feather as compared to tomatoes grown in 100% SB-300.
* * * *
[0060] Thus, the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objects and attain the ends and advantages mentioned above as well as those inherent therein. While presently preferred embodiments have been described for purposes of this disclosure, numerous changes and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such
changes and modifications are encompassed within the spirit of this invention as defined
by the appended claims.