WO2014118218A1

WO2014118218A1 - Method for measuring biologically usable energy in soil, a soil substrate, or plant matter

Info

Publication number: WO2014118218A1
Application number: PCT/EP2014/051701
Authority: WO
Inventors: Vasil KELEMECA; Rene Broos
Original assignee: Synlacta Sro
Priority date: 2013-01-29
Filing date: 2014-01-29
Publication date: 2014-08-07

Abstract

Method for measuring the biologically usable energy in soil comprising the steps of placing a soil sample into a containern (1), incubating the sample and measuring the oxygen consumption. The biologically usable energy is then calculated from the amount of consumed oxygen under the assumption that all the oxygen reacts with hydrogen only.

Description

METHOD FOR MEASURING BIOLOGICALLY USABLE ENERGY IN SOIL, A SOIL

SUBSTRATE, OR PLANT MATTER

The present invention relates to arable land energy treatment and agrotechnology for growing arable crops, and in particular to a method for measuring the biologically usable energy in soil, a soil substrate, or plant matter.

It is well-known that soil as an ecosystem has a symbiotic relationship with the plant ecosystem. In order for these two ecosystems to live and prosper in an efficient manner, they must efficiently convert solar energy into biologically usable energy.

In the process of plant photosynthesis, the following reaction occurs:

C0₂ + 2 H₂0→ (CH₂0) + 0₂ + H₂0

In this reaction, water (H₂0) molecules are split into oxygen (O), which through the vents in the leaves escapes into the atmosphere, and hydrogen (H). The hydrogen (H) is protected from atmospheric oxygen by a waxy cuticle Ci₆H₃₃OH, so that re-oxygenation does not occur. The free hydrogen (H) atom, which contains free biologically usable energy, is transported through the roots into the soil where re-oxygenation to H₂0 occurs. In the process of re-oxygenation, the biologically usable energy is released and may be used for biochemical synthesis, such as the synthesis of the organic compounds (carbohydrates, fatty acids, amino acids , hormones, lipids , proteins) necessary for the vegetative and generative organs of plants . In the soil, decomposition of plant matter results in the formation of the inorganic compounds C0₂ and H₂0, which do not contain biologically usable energy. C0₂ and H₂0 together form carbonic acid (H₂C0₃).

The biologically usable form of energy is transferred in the soil ecosystem from one organism to another by means of the energy flow of such energy known as the soil ecosystem food chain. The plant root rhizospere plays an important role in the flow of biologically usable energy from the plant photosystem into the soil ecosystem, and from the soil ecosystem back to the plant, thereby creating the energy production of arable crops. The cells of living organisms, and thus of plants , are adapted to use only free energy of hydrogen (H) for their cell activity. Therefore, the presence of free energy of hydrogen (H) in the soil is needed and irreplaceable.

Soil is an irreplaceable natural source, which is depleted by current intensive use. This has been known since 1789 as the Ruckert theory of soil depletion. Thusfar, the science of soil conditions has not defined what is exhausted from soil when the natural fertility is reduced or extinct. Currently, conventional farming methods of land for economic business threaten the sustainability of its natural fertility. Natural fertile soil contains several single cell organisms , such as bacteria and fungi, that are able to break down dead matter, thereby releasing fertilising elements which may be used by cellular organisms, such as plants and animals. This means that a farmer who produces organic plant products has to provide organic matter, such as manure, to maintain the natural fertility of the soil

The total soil fertility is determined by its natural fertility and the addition of an artificial component. If the natural fertility is reduced or even becomes extinct, the artificial component is also reduced or becomes extinct. For this reason, EU legislation and national soil laws govern and limit the use of soil to ensure that a particular user does not compromise the natural fertility of the soil For instance, instead of growing arable crops, a user may be forced to grow grass on 7% of his lands. This means that 7% of the farmer's land can not be used for growing arable crops.

It would be a major step if the natural fertility of soil, a soil substrate, or plant matter can be maintained. In order to do so it would be necessary to first determine the natural fertility of the soil, a soil substrate, or plant matter.

The natural soil fertility is presently monitored only by the content of humic acids (HA) and fulvonic acids (FA), which needs to be present in the soil in a minimum HA:FA ratio of 1.5:1.0. The current definition of the structure of humic acids (HA) and fulvonic acids (FA) is imperfect, since it only compares the ration of carbon (C) and oxygen (O) while from chemical analyses it is known that both humic acids (HA) and fulvonic acids (FA) also contain an additional component, which is hydrogen (H). It is the humic acids which contain free biologically usable energy for cell activity of the plant and animal cells in the soil ecosystem.

It is an object of the present invention to increase the efficiency of plant production by providing a more reliable method for determining the level of soil fertility. The level of soil fertility is determined by the biologically usable energy in the soil and in materials inserted into the soil At present, there is no affordable method for the detection and management of natural soil fertility. In particular, no method exists for measuring its biologically usable energy.

Known and generally applicable methods for determining the nutritional value of consumer and forage crops have multiple biological shortcomings, as evidenced by the declining health status of consumers and the growing increase in health costs. The nutritional value of crops is previously determined by its biological value, consisting of carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and total energy content of the product. The main drawback of this methodology is that the protein content is measured by only measuring the content of nitrogen (N) and multiplying this by 6.25. Thus, only non- protein nitrogenous substances are measured. Another biological shortcoming is that the energy content of carbon (C) is included in the energy value, while carbon (C) is not bioavailable in the cellular respiratory metabolism.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for determining the comprehensive nutritional energy-biological value of a consuming product, such as an arable crop. The comprehensive nutritional energy-biological value is determined by the biologically usable energy in plant matter. At present, there is no good method for the determination of the comprehensive nutritional energy-biological value of crops. In particular, no method exists for measuring its biologically usable energy.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a method for determining the antioxidant capacity of a product, such as a healing product. Healing or medicinal plant products are special plants that contain more antioxidant compounds. Examples of medicinal plants are consumable herbal products that are able to dispose of the free oxygen radicals formed during metabolic processes in organisms. Until 2012, the antioxidant capacity of vitamins and plant products was determined by the American methodology "ORAC" (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity). This methodology is however not based on real biological metabolic processes in vivo. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a more reliable method for

determining the antioxidant capacity of a plant product. Free oxygen radicals (in soil fulvic acids) can only be disposed of by compounds comprising free (H) hydrogen. The free hydrogen (H) "captures" the free oxygen (O) radicals, thereby forming water (H₂0). As the free hydrogen (H) comprises biologically usable energy, the biologically usable energy of plant matter is a measure of its antioxidant capacity. Concentrated antioxidants are living (vita)amines "NH₂". The most effective known vitamin is tocopherol - Vitamin E with the chemical composition "C₂9H₅₈0₂", a molecular weight of 438 and a biologically usable energy of 14.5 MJ/kg (in soil humic acids). Vitamin E may be used as a comparator product because its antioxidant capacity as measured by the "ORAC" method is known and this compound has the highest known and measurable content of biologically usable energy of 14.5MJ/kg. Therefore, a method for determining the biologically usable energy may replace the unreliable "ORAC" methodology. The antioxidant capacity is thus determined by the biologically usable energy in plant matter.

The present invention provides a method for measuring the content of biologically usable energy in soil, a soil substrate, or in plant matter. This method comprises:

a) placing a sample in an open container (1);

b) placing a small open container (3) holding an absorber (4) in the open container (1) comprising the sample;

c) closing the open container (1) holding the small container (3) with the absorber (4) and comprising the sample with a lid (5) on which an electronic measuring head (6) is fixed;

d) incubating the sample in the respiratory equipment (8);

e) reading the amount of oxygen consumed from a control display (7); and

f) calculating the content of biologically usable energy in the sample.

With "biologically usable energy" is meant the energy contained in biological matter, such as soil, a soil substrate, or plant matter, that is bioavailable to the cells of organisms. Only energy of free hydrogen (H) is bioavailable to the cells of organisms . One kg of free hydrogen (H) contains 120 MJ/kg biologically usable energy.

The sample may be any sample, but is preferably a soil sample, a sample of soil substrate, a sample comprising soil and a soil substrate, or a sample from plant matter.

With soil is meant the loose covering of mineral particles that thinly overlies the earth's surface. In respect of the present invention, "soil" particularly refers to the soil of farm lands on which crops are grown.

With "soil substrate" is meant a substrate that can be added to the soil, such as for instance a fertilizer or a nutrient substrate.

With "plant matter" is meant matter derived from a plant, such as for instance leaves, stems, roots, flower, seeds, buds, fruits, and the plant fetus. With "plant fetus" is meant a plant having a stalk and leaves, and one or more flowers which develop into a fetus which is the grain.

With "absorber" is meant a device comprising an absorbent material which is suitable for absorbing a substance. The substance may for instance be water vapour.

The open container (1) is preferably an open respiratory container.

The control display (7) may be separate, or detached, from the respiratory device (8). The control display (7) may also be connected to the respiratory device (8).

With respiratory equipment (8) is understood a device which can be used to measure the oxygen consumption in a biological system. For instance, a device can be used which comprises an open respiratory container (1), a small container (3), an absorber (4), a lid (5) , an electronic measuring head (6), and a control display (7). The respiratory equipment (8) may be a newly assembled device or a known device, such as for instance the OxiTop® Control (WTW Germany) system. The OxiTop® Control system is known for its use in determining water quality based on the biological oxygen demand (BOD) of the sample. The biological oxygen demand (BOD) is a measure for the amount of dissolved oxygen that is required in water to break down organic material present in the water.

In the method of the present invention, the respiratory equipment (8) is used to measure the content of biologically usable energy in soil, a soil substrate, or in plant matter. By using the respiratory equipment (8), oxygen from the air in the now sealed container (1) oxidises free hydrogen that is present in the sample. In this reaction, hydrogen is oxidized and oxygen is reduced, thereby producing water (H₂0) vapour and releasing biologically usable energy. The water (H₂0) vapour is absorbed by the absorber (4), resulting in a drop in pressure in the sealed container (1). This drop in pressure is detected by the electronic measuring head (6) and is a measure of the amount of oxygen (0₂) consumed. Most of the time, the amount of oxygen (0₂) consumed is expressed in mg 0₂/ kg of the sample. This amount is then used to calculate the content of biologically usable energy in the sample. It is widely known that the energy capacity of the hydrogen atom Ή" is equal to 120 MJ/kg. It is also known that hydrogen (H) and oxygen (O) combine in a ratio of 1:8 (1 hydrogen atom and 8 oxygen atoms). The following relationship thus applies : 1 kg H + 8 kg O = 9 kg H₂0 + 120 MJ

The energy equivalent of oxygen is 15 kJ per gram of oxygen (O) as follows from: 120 MJ/kg of H = 120 kJ/g of H = 120/8 kJ/g of O = 15 kJ/g of O.

In order to calculate the biologically usable energy from hydrogen (H) in a sample, the value of the measured oxygen consumption should be expressed in grams (g). If this value is, for example, expressed in mg/kg, this value should be converted to grams (g). For example, when the measured value is 4000 mg/kg, the energy per g is: 4000 mg/kg = 4 g/kg, 15 kJ/g of O x 4 g/kg = 60 kJ/lOOOg = 0.06 kJ/g. Thus, if 4000 mg/kg oxygen is consumed, the biologically usable energy of the sample is 0.06 kJ.

The biologically usable energy in the soil, soil substrate, or plant matter may thus be calculated by using the following formula:

Biologically usable energy (KJ/g) = 15 x amount of biological oxygen consumption (g) Of all biogenic elements (C, H, O, N, P, S, K, etc.), only the following three elements contain energy:

H = 120 MJ/kg

C = 33.5 MJ/kg

S = 0.6 MJ/kg

If the percentage of composition of dry matter mass is known, then the total thermal (heat) energy of this mass is calculated by the formula: Ec = 33.5C + 120 (H - 0/8) + 0.6S

From this total thermal energy utilized in the industrial energetics only 120 (H - O / 8) = 120H - 120 O / 8 = 120H-15O is biological usable. Reduction (H-0 / 8) is necessary because the content of hydrogen (H) in the mass may be already in the compound "H₂0" in which there is no energy because the energy was released by oxidation of hydrogen with oxygen in a ratio of 1 :8.

The content of biologically usable energy in a soil sample may also be calculated in a different manner, for instance by using the following combining relationship: 1 kg H + 8 kg O = 9 kg H₂0 + 120 MJ

From this, it can be deduced that 0.015 MJ of biologically usable energy is released per gram of oxygen (O). The following formula is used to calculate the content of biologically usable energy in the soil sample:

Biologically usable energy (MJ/m2) = 0.015 (MJ/g) X the amount of oxygen consumed (g)

surface area of the measured sample (m²)

The sample to be measured is soil, a soil substrate, or plant material. The soil substrate may be the mass of a grass substrate. In particular, the sample may be common arable soil without agrotechnological treatment, arable soil enriched with a substrate with accumulated content of biologically available energy, an independent substrate with accumulated content of biologically usable energy, or plant matter designed for the production of the arable soil energy treatment substrate.

The amount of sample to be placed in the open respiratory container (1) is an amount that is suitable for the respiratory device that is used. For instance, if the OxiTop® Control system is used, it is preferred that the amount of sample be 100 g because this results in a surface area of 0.015 m². As this surface area is only useful for farming practices, other surface areas, and thus other amounts of sample, may be used for different samples.

The sample is placed preferably at the bottom of the open respiratory container (1).

The sample is incubated for a period that is suitable for the respiratory device that is used, as this period is dependent on the volume of the vessel and the electronics that are used. For instance, if the OxiTop® Control device is used, the manufacturer's instructions indicate that the incubation period should be 96 hours.

The sample is incubated at a temperature which is suitable for the sample, as this temperature is dependent on the organism for which the biologically usable energy is made available. For plants, this may be the vegetation temperature of between 10°C-35°C. The average vegetation temperature of 25°C is preferably used for soil samples. When the biologically usable energy is measured in the mass of plant material, for consumption, the biological temperature of 37° C must be used.

The invention will be further illustrated in the example that follows and that is not intended to limit the invention in any way. Also, reference is made to the following figure:. FIG.l shows a schematic drawing of the respiratory equipment (8), comprising an open respiratory container (1), a sample (2), a small container (3), an absorber (4), a lid (5), an electronic measuring head (6), and a control display (7). EXAMPLE

This Example describes the method for measuring the content of biologically usable energy in common arable soil without agrotechnological treatment. In order to establish the value of biologically usable energy, the respiratory equipment shown in Fig.l is used. The sample (2) of the crumbled matter from the mechanically treated soil seedbed amounting to 100 g is put into the open respiratory container (1) which is circular in shape with the bottom diameter of approximately 14 cm and with the volume of 0.0025 m³, the surface area of the measured sample being 0.015 m² as a result. The small container (3) filled with the absorber (4) is then hung in this container (1). The container (1) is hermetically sealed with the lid (5) to which the electronic measuring head (6) is hermetically fixed. The preparation of the respiratory equipment is finished and the sample is left for the period of 96 hours at the temperature of 25 °C. After this period has lapsed, the quantity of oxygen (0₂) consumed on the control display (7) , the value of which according to this example is 2021 milligrams, is used to calculate the biologically usable energy..

From the combining relationship

1 kg H + 8 kg O = 9 kg H₂0 + 120 MJ the quantity of biologically usable energy of the measured sample of arable soil is analogically deduced as follows :

8 kg 120 MJ

l kg 15 MJ

0.015 MJ

0.0 = 2.021 MJ/πϊ ,2

Thus, the measured value of the content of biologically usable energy of the arable soil sample is 2.021 MJ/m².

Claims

1. Method for measuring the content of biologically usable energy in soil, a soil substrate, or plant matter, comprising determining the biological oxygen consumption of a sample and calculating the biologically usable energy from the measured biological oxygen consumption.

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the biological oxygen consumption is determined by a) placing a sample in an open respiratory container (1);

b) placing a small open container (3) holding an absorber (4) in the open respiratory container (1) comprising the sample;

c) closing the open respiratory container (1) holding the small container (3) with the absorber (4) and comprising the sample with a lid (5) on which an electronic measuring head (6) is fixed;

d) incubating the sample in the respiratory equipment (8);

e) reading the amount of biological oxygen consumption from a control display (7).

3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the content of biologically usable energy is calculated by us ing the formula :

Biologically usable energy (KJ/g) = 15 x amount of biological oxygen consumption (g)

4. Method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein calculating the content of biologically usable energy in soil is performed by using the formula :

Biologically usable energy (MJ/m2) = 0.015 (MJ) X the amount of oxygen consumed (g)

surface area of the measured sample (m²)

5. Method according to any one of claims 1-4 wherein a respiratory equipment (8) is used.