WO2011072201A2 - Milieu de croissance de plantes à base de silice - Google Patents

Milieu de croissance de plantes à base de silice Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2011072201A2
WO2011072201A2 PCT/US2010/059839 US2010059839W WO2011072201A2 WO 2011072201 A2 WO2011072201 A2 WO 2011072201A2 US 2010059839 W US2010059839 W US 2010059839W WO 2011072201 A2 WO2011072201 A2 WO 2011072201A2
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
gel
plant
amorphous silica
water
nutrient
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2010/059839
Other languages
English (en)
Other versions
WO2011072201A3 (fr
Inventor
Steven Singletary
Original Assignee
Fayetteville State University
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Fayetteville State University filed Critical Fayetteville State University
Publication of WO2011072201A2 publication Critical patent/WO2011072201A2/fr
Publication of WO2011072201A3 publication Critical patent/WO2011072201A3/fr

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01G—HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING
    • A01G24/00—Growth substrates; Culture media; Apparatus or methods therefor
    • A01G24/30—Growth substrates; Culture media; Apparatus or methods therefor based on or containing synthetic organic compounds
    • A01G24/35—Growth substrates; Culture media; Apparatus or methods therefor based on or containing synthetic organic compounds containing water-absorbing polymers
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01C—PLANTING; SOWING; FERTILISING
    • A01C1/00—Apparatus, or methods of use thereof, for testing or treating seed, roots, or the like, prior to sowing or planting
    • A01C1/06—Coating or dressing seed

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to the growth of plants in unconventional media.
  • the current International Space Station typically sustains three crew members who require approximately 4 tons of supplies every six months. This means that launching such supplies costs approximately $80 million at current prices, not including the cost of the supplies or their preparation.
  • plants are part of the natural cycle that converts carbon dioxide into oxygen.
  • the growth of plants in a space environment has the potential to at least complement and potentially replace artificial technology for removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and to similarly complement or replace the need to carry oxygen.
  • a spacecraft represents a sealed environment, operates in a microgravity or zero-gravity environment, and depends upon sophisticated mechanical and electronic components.
  • water and typical agricultural chemicals fertilizers, acids, nitrates, phosphates
  • a low or zero gravity environment also raises issues with respect to the normal cultivation of plants. For example, water diffusion is quite different in a low or zero gravity environment than on Earth. On earth, gravity is the dominant force acting on water diffusion. Under zero or reduced gravity, however, capillary forces become dominant and thus create water distribution patterns different from those on Earth.
  • the lack of gravity is also likely to alter the nature of liquid and gas exchange between plant roots and their growth medium (e.g., soil in a natural environment; a supplemented soil or soil substitute in a space environment). Gas exchange within a growth medium is, however, typically a factor in plant root growth. Normally, soil, or another porous medium provides support for the root network and facilitates the supply and storage of liquids and nutrients to the plant. Roots also respirate to a certain extent and thus contribute to the exchange of carbon dioxide and oxygen. Plants also physically react to both gravity and light.
  • soil, or another porous medium provides support for the root network and facilitates the supply and storage of liquids and nutrients to the plant. Roots also respirate to a certain extent and thus contribute to the exchange of carbon dioxide and oxygen. Plants also physically react to both gravity and light.
  • constraints on the physical space available in a spacecraft tends to encourage the use of agriculture in containerized systems where plant roots are restricted to relatively small volumes, particularly in comparison to the space that would be available in native soil.
  • Such restricted volume reduces the water storage capacity of the growth medium, reduces the surface area for root absorption, and tends to create a water table at the bottom of the container that can raise aeration problems.
  • the invention is a method of growing plants by mixing a gel precursor that is characterized by the ability to absorb water, form a viscous gel, provide water and nutrition to a plant, and remain capable of being reconstituted with a fresh supply of water, with a gel- forming nutrient composition in an amount sufficient to create a viscous gel, and adding a plant item selected from the group consisting of seeds and seedlings to the gel.
  • the invention is a method of growing plants comprising mixing fumed amorphous silica with water and nutrient compositions in an amount sufficient to create a gel with a viscosity sufficient to preclude the gel from flow, shear or collapse even under the influence of gravity, and adding a plant item selected from the group consisting of seeds and seedlings to the gel.
  • the invention is a combination of a gel that includes a gel precursor that is characterized by the ability to absorb water, form a viscous gel, provide water and nutrition to a plant, and remain capable of being reconstituted with a fresh supply of water, and a plant nutrient composition, and a plant item selected from the group consisting of seeds and seedlings.
  • Figure 1 is a plot of the pH of a gel according to the invention against the weight percent of calcium oxide buffer in the gel.
  • Figure 2 is a plot of plant height in centimeters plotted against days of growth for plants comparatively grown in soil and in a gel according to the present invention.
  • the invention is a method of growing plants— including growing plants in a minimal gravity environment— by mixing a gel precursor that is characterized by the ability to absorb water, to form a viscous gel, to provide water and nutrition to a plant, and to remain capable of being reconstituted with a fresh supply of water, with a gel-forming nutrient composition in an amount sufficient to create a viscous gel and then adding a plant item selected from the group consisting of seeds and seedlings to the gel.
  • minimal gravity environment includes low-gravity, micro-gravity and zero-gravity environments.
  • fumed amorphous silica serves as the gel precursor.
  • the fumed amorphous silica and the nutrient composition are formed in a proportion that produces a gel with a viscosity sufficient to maintain the gel in an overturned container (for a reasonable period of time) even under the influence of gravity.
  • this will comprise mixing the fumed amorphous silica with an aqueous solution of a nutrient composition that includes one or more of nitrogen-containing compounds, phosphorus- containing compositions and potassium containing compositions.
  • the plant item can be selected from a wide variety of plants capable of extracting water from the gel, with exemplary plants including mizuma, tomatoes, peas, peppers, soybeans, rice, and coleus.
  • the seed or seedling can be a plant that is resistant to negative effects from the increased amount of radiation that can be expected outside of the Earth's atmosphere.
  • a space vehicle is designed to protect humans from radiation, such protection should also be sufficient for many (or all) plant species.
  • helpful bacteria e.g., a probiotic
  • a probiotic can be added to the gel as desired or necessary to enhance the growth characteristics.
  • the invention is a method of growing plants by mixing fumed amorphous silica with water and nutrient compositions in an amount sufficient to create a gel with the viscosity sufficient to preclude the gel from flow, shear or collapse, even under the influence of gravity, and then adding a plant item selected from the group consisting of seeds or seedlings to the gel.
  • the seed can be added to the original mixture before the gel forms.
  • the fumed amorphous silica and aqueous solution of nutrient composition are mixed in a proportion of one part by weight of fumed amorphous silica to between about 5 and 15 parts by weight of the nutrient solution, more preferably between about 8 and 12 parts by weight of the solution, and most preferably one part by weight of fumed amorphous silica to about 10 parts by weight of the solution.
  • the method can include mixing the seed with the fumed amorphous silica, the water, and the nutrient compositions.
  • the seedling is typically added to the viscous gel before it sets completely.
  • the method can further comprise the steps of growing the seed or seedling to a desired maturity, removing the mature plant from the gel, reconstituting the gel by adding an aqueous nutrient solution, and then adding a second seed or seedling to the reconstituted gel.
  • a seed it can be mixed with the water and the gel to be reconstituted, and when a seedling is used, it will be typically added to the reconstituted gel.
  • the invention is the combination of a gel that includes a gel precursor that is characterized by the ability to absorb water, to form a viscous gel, to provide water and nutrition to a plant, and to remain capable of being reconstituted with a fresh supply of water (including water-based nutrient solutions).
  • the combination includes a plant nutrient composition and a plant item selected from the group consisting of seeds and seedlings.
  • the gel comprises a semisolid mixture of fumed amorphous silica and an aqueous solution of plant nutrient compositions.
  • the plant nutrient compositions can be selected as desired or needed provided they are otherwise compatible with the gel and the plant.
  • the nutrient composition will include one or more of a nitrogen-containing composition, a phosphorus containing composition, and a potassium containing composition.
  • the plant item can be any appropriate plant that will grow using the method, and an exemplary group would include tomatoes, peas, radishes, peppers, soybeans, rice and Coleus.
  • plants can be grown for different purposes. Some plants will provide food, others may provide fiber or other constituents for a non-food purpose, most will absorb carbon dioxide and produce oxygen, and some can be included even for aesthetic purposes (which, given the length of long- term space travel missions, may be important from a psychological standpoint).
  • the gel has a viscosity sufficient to preclude flow, shear, or collapse, even under the influence of gravity. It will be understood that although the method of the invention has usefulness in micro gravity conditions, the behavior of the gel under gravity is an appropriate way to describe the gel and its viscosity and persons of skill in this art will recognize the appropriate viscosity ranges that meet these characteristics.
  • the gel is formed of a mixture of fumed amorphous silica and an aqueous solution of nutrients with a mixture of about one part by weight of the fumed silica to about 10 parts by weight of aqueous solution being currently exemplary.
  • the growth media can be reconstituted with water when dry and is capable of supporting the growth of a variety of plants and plant types.
  • Fumed silica is pure silicon dioxide typically formed by oxidizing vaporized silicon tetrachloride in a high temperature flame with excess hydrogen and oxygen.
  • Fumed silica is also known as pyrogenic silica and is characterized as non-crystalline, with very fine grain and much less density (and much more surface area) than ordinary silicon dioxide.
  • Fumed silica can also be produced by vaporizing quartz sand at high temperatures (e.g. 3000°C). [0040] In typical commercial use, fumed silica can act as a universal thickening agent, a thickening agent in food products, and an anti-caking agent in powdered products. It has similar desiccant properties to silica gel and in some circumstances can be used as a light abrasive (e.g., toothpaste).
  • a light abrasive e.g., toothpaste
  • Fumed silica suitable for purposes of the invention is available under the name “AEROSIL” from Evonik Degussa Corporation, Parsippany, NJ 07054 USA. It is categorized under Chemical Abstracts Service Registry No. 67256-35-3. Some types of fumed silica are also known as "cab-o-sil or "cabosil.”
  • Fumed silica typically has a furry fine particle size and is categorized as an aerogel. It contains about 94% dead air space and has a density of about 2.3 pounds per cubic foot.
  • Fumed silica is also referred to as a "silicate” gel or as “dioxosilane.”
  • gel is used here in a somewhat broad sense.
  • Lewis HAWLEYS CONDENSED CHEMICAL DICTIONARY, 11th Edition, von Nostrand Reinhold (1987) defines a gel as a colloid in which the dispersed phase has combined with the continuous phase to produce a viscous jelly-like product.
  • a gel is made by cooling a solution whereupon certain kinds of solutes (gelatin) form sub microscopic crystalline particle groups which retain much solvent in the interstices.”
  • the inventor believes that the fumed silica is absorbing water in a physical relationship to form a semi-solid composition that has many of the properties of a classically-defined gel, but which does not necessarily include gelatin (proteins) and does not necessarily form sub microscopic crystalline particle groups in the manner set forth in the formal definition.
  • agar and related products and derivatives will form an initial usable gel. Once the gel is formed, however, it generally is not possible to dehydrate the gel and reconstitute the gel- forming material. Thus, for example, agar, once it has been gelled, is sufficiently changed from its starting composition that it cannot be successfully reused even if another nutrient solution was added to it.
  • the viscosity of the gel can be controlled by controlling the ratio of silica to liquid, preferably within the ranges set forth herein.
  • the pH of gels formed from fumed amorphous silica tends to be acidic (often 3.0- 4.0).
  • a buffer composition can be added to the mixture as part of the step of forming the gel.
  • the buffer composition should be compatible with the other aspects of the invention including the gel forming capabilities of the precursor, the nutrient compositions, the seeds, and the growing plant.
  • Calcium oxide (CaO) provides an appropriate buffer composition for these purposes, but the skilled person will recognize other compositions that are similarly suitable.
  • Figure 1 plots the pH value obtained for various rates of calcium oxide added to buffer the gel.
  • a weight percentage of calcium oxide of between about 1 and 2% provides a pH at the optimal level between about 6.0 and 7.0.
  • the proper pH is necessary for both inducing germination of the seed and substantial growth of the resulting plant.
  • the pH of the media will normally range from about 3.0-4.0.
  • soybean seeds did not germinate as easily as did some other plants in the gel, but once germinated, grew well.
  • Soybeans are an advantageous plant, because their use in many food products is well understood and they can be used to manufacture nonfood products including (among others) inks, hydrocarbon fuels, fibers, and waxes.
  • Figure 2 is a plot of soybean growth in soil versus soybean growth in the gel according to the present invention showing successful growth of soybeans in the gel. A visible inspection of the plants showed that a soybean plant will develop a thorough and helpful root system in the gel according to the present invention.

Landscapes

  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Environmental Sciences (AREA)
  • Hydroponics (AREA)
  • Cultivation Of Plants (AREA)
  • Pretreatment Of Seeds And Plants (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un procédé et une composition associée pour cultiver des plantes. Le procédé comprend les étapes de mélange d'un précurseur de gel qui se caractérise par sa capacité à absorber l'eau, à former un gel visqueux, et à fournir eau et nutrition à une plante, et à rester susceptible d'être reconstitué avec un nouvel apport d'eau, avec une composition de nutriments formant un gel en une quantité suffisante pour créer un gel visqueux, et l'addition au gel d'un élément végétal choisi dans l'ensemble consistant en graines et plantules. L'invention concerne une composition de gel associée qui comprend un précurseur de gel qui se caractérise par sa capacité à absorber l'eau, à former un gel visqueux, et fournir eau et nutrition à une plante, et à rester susceptible d'être reconstitué avec un nouvel apport d'eau, une composition de nutriments pour plante et un élément végétal choisi dans l'ensemble consistant en graines et plantules.
PCT/US2010/059839 2009-12-10 2010-12-10 Milieu de croissance de plantes à base de silice WO2011072201A2 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US12/635,084 US8516741B2 (en) 2009-12-10 2009-12-10 Silica based plant growth medium
US12/635,084 2009-12-10

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2011072201A2 true WO2011072201A2 (fr) 2011-06-16
WO2011072201A3 WO2011072201A3 (fr) 2011-08-11

Family

ID=43755256

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US2010/059839 WO2011072201A2 (fr) 2009-12-10 2010-12-10 Milieu de croissance de plantes à base de silice

Country Status (2)

Country Link
US (2) US8516741B2 (fr)
WO (1) WO2011072201A2 (fr)

Families Citing this family (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8516741B2 (en) 2009-12-10 2013-08-27 Fayetteville State University Silica based plant growth medium
EP2944185A4 (fr) * 2013-01-11 2016-10-19 Toyo Tire & Rubber Co Milieu de culture en sol artificiel
US12104033B2 (en) 2015-08-26 2024-10-01 Growpito International Company, Llc Plant growth system and medium
CN110367112B (zh) * 2019-08-26 2022-03-18 安徽科昂新材料科技有限公司 一种气凝胶自悬浮无土栽培基质、制备方法及无土栽培装置
US20230247931A1 (en) * 2021-12-17 2023-08-10 Walter A. Cromer Apparatus and Method for Seed Germination and Planting

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4927455A (en) 1986-09-12 1990-05-22 Kyodo Shiryo Co., Ltd. Plant growth medium

Family Cites Families (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3997484A (en) * 1974-04-03 1976-12-14 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of Agriculture Highly-absorbent starch-containing polymeric compositions
DE3917463A1 (de) 1989-05-30 1989-12-21 Gerhard Fabritz Keimblock fuer saatgut
US6074988A (en) * 1997-01-15 2000-06-13 Sungro Horticulture, Inc. Soilless growth medium including soluble silicon
US6557298B2 (en) * 2000-09-15 2003-05-06 Monsanto Technology, Llc Treatment of seeds with coatings containing hydrogel
US20030213169A1 (en) * 2002-05-14 2003-11-20 Her Majesty In Right Of Canada As Respresented By The Minister Of Agriculture Method of protecting plants from thrips
US6800712B2 (en) * 2002-10-07 2004-10-05 Steven William Doane Starch graft copolymers and method of making and using starch graft copolymers for agriculture
US20050108936A1 (en) * 2003-11-25 2005-05-26 Hartle Jeffrey E. Method to improve manufactured seed germination
US7520089B2 (en) * 2003-11-25 2009-04-21 Weyerhaeuser Nr Company Method to improve manufactured seed germination
CA2555179A1 (fr) * 2004-02-27 2005-09-09 Delsitech Oy Procede permettant de preparer un sio2 derive de sol-gel a bioresorption modulable
BRPI0517379A (pt) * 2004-10-29 2008-10-07 Basf Plant Science Gmbh ácido nucleico isolado, vetor recombinante, célula de planta transgênica, métodos de modular o crescimento de uma planta sob condições limitadas de água e de produzir uma planta transgênica, e, rações para animais, gêneros alimentìcios, cosméticos ou produtos farmacêuticos
US20060107589A1 (en) * 2004-11-19 2006-05-25 Rubin Patti D Compressed growing medium
US20060150495A1 (en) * 2004-12-27 2006-07-13 Macconnell Craig B Anaerobically digested fiber for use as a container media substrate
MX2009002910A (es) * 2006-09-22 2009-05-11 Bentle Products Ag Material de cascara de arroz procesado como medio de germinacion y cultivo de plantas.
US8516741B2 (en) 2009-12-10 2013-08-27 Fayetteville State University Silica based plant growth medium

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4927455A (en) 1986-09-12 1990-05-22 Kyodo Shiryo Co., Ltd. Plant growth medium

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US20130333284A1 (en) 2013-12-19
US8782949B2 (en) 2014-07-22
WO2011072201A3 (fr) 2011-08-11
US8516741B2 (en) 2013-08-27
US20110138690A1 (en) 2011-06-16

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US8782949B2 (en) Silica based plant growth medium
Boodley et al. Cornell peat-lite mixes for commercial growing
Oluwafemi et al. Space food and nutrition in a long term manned mission
CA1077291A (fr) Support polymerise pour la culture des plantes
ES2456291T3 (es) Tratamiento de cultivos hortícolas
Wamelink et al. Crop growth and viability of seeds on Mars and Moon soil simulants
George et al. Hydroponics-(soilless cultivation of plants) for biodiversity conservation
JPS62257319A (ja) 植物用生育培地
Wamelink et al. Crop growth and viability of seeds on Mars and Moon soil simulants
US5695542A (en) Method of preparing a slow release fertilizer
US5942021A (en) System for administration of nutrients to plants
Margulis et al. Gaia and the colonization of Mars
Kliss et al. Recent advances in technologies required for a “Salad Machine”
Rickard et al. Sporobolus airoides as a Pioneer Plant for Lunar Regolith
KR100948110B1 (ko) 식물종자 자활캡슐
JP2003009663A (ja) 植物の栽培システム
US20230345888A1 (en) Plant growth media and methods for using the same
CN109121551A (zh) 一种适用于沙漠种植的营养胶粘种子及其制备和播种方法
Bogard Silica-based growth media: Cultivating crops without soil
JP2009073771A (ja) 植物活力剤組成物
Salisbury Some challenges in designing a lunar, Martian, or microgravity CELSS
Kumar et al. Space farming: Need for fresh vegetable crop
Sychev et al. Biological life support systems for space crews: some results and prospects
JPH04267817A (ja) 土壌混和材
Джапашов et al. Creating a microgreen growing environment at the space station

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application

Ref document number: 10793399

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1

121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application

Ref document number: 10793399

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1

NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: DE

122 Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase

Ref document number: 10793399

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A2