Soil amendment device for mycorrhizal fungi inoculation

Abstract

This utility model discloses a soil amendment device for arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) inoculation, comprising a support frame, a storage silo above the support frame, a partition inside the storage silo, a central shaft on one side of the partition, a stirring rod connected to the central shaft, the stirring rod being connected to the storage silo via a bearing, one end of the stirring rod passing through the storage silo and connected to a drive motor, and a spiral conveying shaft below the central shaft. This utility model, by setting a partition inside the storage silo, allows for the placement of AMF granular inoculant on one side and a pH adjuster on the other. The central shaft and the stirring rod connected to it on one side of the partition, driven by the drive motor, effectively prevents the AMF inoculant from clumping, bridging, or unevenly distributing during storage and application, maintains material flowability, ensures continuous and stable downstream transport, and significantly improves the uniformity and reliability of inoculation.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi inoculation technology, and more specifically, to a soil amendment device for arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi inoculation. Background Technology

[0002] As modern agriculture develops towards green and sustainable practices, soil health and the regulation of plant rhizosphere microecology are receiving increasing attention. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), as a class of beneficial soil microorganisms widely distributed in natural ecosystems, can form symbiotic relationships with most terrestrial plants. AMF significantly expands the absorption range of plant roots through its hyphal network, playing a particularly important role in promoting the absorption of difficult-to-move nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen. Simultaneously, it enhances plant resistance to abiotic stresses such as drought, salinity, and heavy metal stress, and inhibits the occurrence of some soil-borne diseases.

[0003] Currently, the application of AMF in agricultural production mainly relies on manual inoculation techniques. Traditional inoculation methods often involve mixing AMF inoculants (such as spores, mycelia, or carrier-based formulations) with the seedling substrate or applying them to the planting hole during transplanting. However, these methods suffer from problems such as cumbersome operation, high labor intensity, uneven inoculation, and low colonization efficiency, making it difficult to meet the needs of large-scale field cultivation. Furthermore, the colonization effect of AMF is highly dependent on soil environmental conditions, such as soil moisture, pH value, organic matter content, and aeration. If the soil environment is unsuitable, even with highly active AMF formulations, its infection rate and symbiotic benefits will be difficult to fully realize.

[0004] No effective solutions have yet been proposed to address the problems in the relevant technologies. Utility Model Content

[0005] In view of the problems in the related technologies, this utility model proposes a soil improvement device for inoculating arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, so as to overcome the above-mentioned technical problems existing in the existing related technologies.

[0006] Therefore, the specific technical solution adopted by this utility model is as follows:

[0007] A soil amendment device for inoculating arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi includes a support frame, a storage bin above the support frame, a partition inside the storage bin, a central shaft on one side of the partition, a stirring rod connected to the central shaft, the stirring rod being connected to the storage bin via a bearing, one end of the stirring rod passing through the storage bin and connected to a drive motor, and a spiral conveying shaft below the central shaft.

[0008] Furthermore, there are two screw conveyor shafts, which are located on both sides of the partition. Both ends of the screw conveyor shafts are connected to the storage bin via bearings, and one end of one screw conveyor shaft passes through the storage bin and is connected to the rotary motor.

[0009] Furthermore, a sprocket is connected to the screw conveyor shaft, and the two sprockets are connected by a chain drive. A protective cover is provided on the outside of the sprocket, and the protective cover is connected to the storage bin. The rotary motor is fixed on the outside of the protective cover.

[0010] Furthermore, material conveying channels are connected to both sides of the storage silo.

[0011] Furthermore, a plow blade is connected below the support frame, and the plow blade is located at the front end of the material conveying channel.

[0012] Furthermore, a sealing cap is connected to the top of the storage silo.

[0013] Furthermore, a mounting bracket is provided on one side of the support frame, and a water storage tank is connected to the top of the mounting bracket. The water storage tank is connected to the input end of the water pump through a water pump pipe, and the output end of the water pump is connected to the drain pipe. A nozzle is connected to the bottom end of the drain pipe.

[0014] Furthermore, a tie rod is hinged to the front of the support frame, and wheels are rotatably connected to both sides of the support frame.

[0015] The beneficial effects of this utility model are as follows:

[0016] (1) A partition is installed in the storage silo. AMF granular inoculant can be placed on one side of the partition and pH adjuster can be placed on the other side. A central shaft and a stirring rod connected to it are provided on one side of the partition. The stirring rod is driven by a drive motor to rotate, which can effectively prevent the AMF inoculant from clumping, bridging or uneven distribution during storage and application, maintain the fluidity of the material, ensure continuous and stable downstream delivery, and significantly improve the uniformity and reliability of inoculation.

[0017] (2) By installing a water storage tank, water pump, drainage pipe and nozzle on the back of this device, an appropriate amount of water can be sprayed on the inoculation area immediately after inoculation to keep the soil moist, promote the germination of AMF spores and the extension of mycelium, solve the problem of colonization failure caused by insufficient soil moisture in arid or semi-arid areas, and improve the inoculation success rate. Attached Figure Description

[0018] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this utility model or the prior art, the drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this utility model. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0019] Figure 1 This is a front view of a soil amendment device for inoculating arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 2 This is a rear view of a soil amendment device for inoculating arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 3 This is a side view of a soil amendment device for inoculating arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 4 This is a structural diagram of the internal structure of the storage bin of a soil amendment device for inoculating arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] In the picture:

[0024] 1. Support frame; 2. Storage hopper; 3. Partition plate; 4. Central shaft; 5. Agitator rod; 6. Drive motor; 7. Screw conveyor shaft; 8. Rotary motor; 9. Sprocket; 10. Protective cover; 11. Material conveying channel; 12. Plow blade; 13. Sealing cover; 14. Mounting frame; 15. Water tank; 16. Water pump; 17. Drain pipe; 18. Nozzle; 19. Pull frame; 20. Traveling wheels. Detailed Implementation

[0025] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present utility model, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the protection scope of the present utility model.

[0026] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a soil amendment device for inoculating arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi is provided.

[0027] Example 1

[0028] like Figures 1-4As shown, the soil amendment device for arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi inoculation according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a support frame 1, and a storage bin 2 is fixedly installed above the support frame 1. The storage bin 2 has a cuboid structure, and a partition 3 is connected inside the storage bin 2. One side chamber is used to place granular inoculants of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), such as spore granule preparations using peat, vermiculite, or biochar as carriers; the other side chamber is used to place auxiliary regulators, such as humic acid granules, biostimulants, organic carbon sources (such as glucose slow-release granules), soil pH regulators (such as lime or sulfur microparticles), etc. These auxiliary substances can synergistically promote the germination, colonization, and inoculum formation of AMF. The fiber expands and improves the soil environment. A central shaft 4 is provided on one side of the partition 3. A stirring rod 5 is connected to the central shaft 4. The stirring rod 5 is connected to the storage bin 2 through the bearing. One end of the stirring rod 5 passes through the storage bin 2 and is connected to the drive motor 6. A screw conveyor shaft 7 is provided below the central shaft 4 to convey the stirred inoculum horizontally to the discharge port. There are multiple discharge ports. The storage bin 2 is connected to the two sides of the conveying channel 11. The conveying channel 11 is a downward inclined conduit or trough structure. The upper end is connected to the discharge port of the screw conveyor shaft 7, and the lower end extends to the vicinity of the ground to guide the conveyed AMF inoculum and auxiliary regulator to the target application position.

[0029] There are two screw conveyor shafts 7, which are located on both sides of the partition 3. Both ends of the screw conveyor shafts 7 are connected to the storage bin 2 through bearings. One end of one screw conveyor shaft 7 passes through the storage bin 2 and is connected to the rotary motor 8. A sprocket 9 is connected to the screw conveyor shaft 7. The two sprockets 9 are connected by chain drive. A protective cover 10 is provided on the outside of the sprocket 9. The protective cover 10 is connected to the storage bin 2. The rotary motor 8 is fixed on the outside of the protective cover 10.

[0030] like Figures 1-4As shown, a plow blade 12 is connected below the support frame 1, and the plow blade 12 is located at the front end of the material conveying channel 11. The top of the storage bin 2 is equipped with an openable sealing cover 13. The sealing cover 13 is connected to the bin body by bolts, buckles, or hinges. When closed, it has good airtightness and waterproofness, which can effectively prevent rainwater and dust from entering the bin and avoid the AMF inoculant from becoming inactive due to moisture, light, or pollution. It is especially suitable for long-term field operations. A mounting frame 14 is provided on one side of the support frame 1. A water storage tank 15 is connected to the top of the mounting frame 14. The water storage tank 15 is connected to the input end of the water pump 16 through a water pump pipe. The output end of the water pump 16 is connected to the drain pipe 17. The bottom end of the drain pipe 17 is connected to a nozzle 1. 8. The nozzle 18 is located behind the material conveying channel 11 or behind the inoculum application area of ​​the plow blade 12. It can spray a small amount of water immediately after the inoculum is applied to the soil to keep the local soil moist and promote the germination of AMF spores and the extension of mycelium. The support frame 1 has a pull frame 19 hinged to the front side. The pull frame 19 is used to connect a tractor or other traction power equipment. The top of the water storage tank 15 is connected to a water inlet. The two sides of the support frame 1 are rotatably connected to the traveling wheels 20 through electric telescopic rods. The traveling wheels 20 are made of rubber tires, which can support the weight of the whole machine during operation and roll freely with the movement of the equipment to reduce traction resistance. At the same time, the depth of the plow blade 12 into the soil can be controlled by adjusting the height of the wheels, so as to achieve flexible adjustment of the operating parameters.

[0031] To facilitate understanding of the above-mentioned technical solutions of this utility model, the working principle or operation method of this utility model in actual process will be described in detail below.

[0032] In summary, with the help of the above-mentioned technical solution of this utility model, in actual use, the equipment is first parked at the starting point of the field operation, the sealing cover 13 at the top of the storage silo 2 is opened, and AMF granular inoculant and auxiliary regulator are added to the chambers on both sides of the partition 3 respectively. The AMF inoculant is usually a spore granule preparation with peat, vermiculite or biochar as a carrier, which has high biological activity; the auxiliary regulator is selectively formulated according to the soil test results. For example, humic acid granules and organic carbon sources can be added to barren soil, lime microparticles can be added to acidic soil, and sulfur-based regulators can be applied to alkaline soil. After the materials are added, the sealing cover 13 is closed to ensure that the storage silo 2 is in a closed state. Then, the hinged pull frame 19 on the front side of the support frame 1 is connected by a tractor or other traction power equipment to start the whole machine into operation. Before operation, the operator can set parameters such as walking speed, inoculum amount and water spray volume through the control system to achieve variable application.

[0033] During the equipment's movement, the drive motor 6 starts, rotating the central shaft 4 and its stirring rod 5 to continuously agitate the materials in both chambers, preventing the AMF inoculant from clumping or clogging the outlet due to static conditions, and ensuring good material flowability. Simultaneously, the rotary motor 8 starts, driving one side of the screw conveyor shaft 7 to rotate, which, through the sprocket 9 and chain drive mechanism, drives the other side of the screw conveyor shaft 7 to operate synchronously, forming a dual-channel balanced conveying system.

[0034] As the screw conveyor shaft 7 rotates, the AMF inoculant and auxiliary regulator are evenly discharged from multiple outlets in their respective chambers and enter the conveying channels 11 connected on both sides. The conveying channels 11 adopt a downward-sloping conduit or trough structure with smooth inner walls, which can effectively guide the material to fall smoothly under the combined action of gravity and screw thrust, without residue or blockage.

[0035] At the front end of the material application, the plow blade 12, located below the support frame 1, cuts into the soil first, creating a trench of suitable depth (usually 8–15 cm) near the crop sowing row or planting strip, providing space for subsequent inoculation. Because the plow blade 12 is located at the front end of the material delivery channel 11, the "ditch first, then apply inoculum" operation sequence is achieved, ensuring that the AMF inoculum and auxiliary regulator are accurately placed 5–10 cm below and to the side of the seed or seedling root zone. This facilitates rapid contact between the mycelium and the newly formed roots, establishing a symbiotic relationship and significantly improving the infection rate and colonization success rate. After the inoculum is applied to the soil, the nozzle 18, located behind the material delivery channel 11 or behind the inoculum application area of ​​the plow blade 12, is immediately activated. The water pump 16 draws clean water or nutrient solution containing growth-promoting factors from the water storage tank 15 and delivers it to the nozzle 18 through the drain pipe 17 to spray a small amount of water onto the inoculum application area (about 0.5–1 L per acre), keeping the local soil moist and creating a microenvironment conducive to AMF spore germination and mycelial extension.

[0036] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present utility model and is not intended to limit the present utility model. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present utility model should be included within the protection scope of the present utility model.

Claims

1. A soil amendment device for inoculating arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, characterized in that, Includes a support frame (1), a storage bin (2) is provided above the support frame (1), a partition (3) is connected inside the storage bin (2), a central shaft (4) is provided on one side of the partition (3), a stirring rod (5) is connected on the central shaft (4), the stirring rod (5) is connected to the storage bin (2) through a bearing, one end of the stirring rod (5) passes through the storage bin (2) and is connected to the drive motor (6), and a spiral conveying shaft (7) is provided below the central shaft (4).

2. The soil amendment device for inoculating arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi according to claim 1, characterized in that, There are two screw conveyor shafts (7). The two screw conveyor shafts (7) are located on both sides of the partition (3). The two ends of the screw conveyor shafts (7) are connected to the storage bin (2) through bearings. One end of one screw conveyor shaft (7) passes through the storage bin (2) and is connected to the rotary motor (8).

3. The soil amendment device for inoculating arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi according to claim 1, characterized in that, A sprocket (9) is connected to the screw conveyor shaft (7). The two sprockets (9) are connected by a chain drive. A protective cover (10) is provided on the outside of the sprocket (9). The protective cover (10) is connected to the storage bin (2). The rotary motor (8) is fixed on the outside of the protective cover (10).

4. The soil amendment device for inoculating arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi according to claim 1, characterized in that, The storage bin (2) has material conveying channels (11) connected to both sides.

5. The soil amendment device for inoculating arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi according to claim 1, characterized in that, A plow blade (12) is connected below the support frame (1), and the plow blade (12) is located at the front end of the material conveying channel (11).

6. The soil amendment device for inoculating arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi according to claim 1, characterized in that, The top of the storage bin (2) is connected to a sealing cap (13).

7. The soil amendment device for inoculating arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi according to claim 1, characterized in that, A mounting bracket (14) is provided on one side of the support frame (1). A water storage tank (15) is connected to the top of the mounting bracket (14). The water storage tank (15) is connected to the input end of the water pump (16) through a water pumping pipe. The output end of the water pump (16) is connected to the drain pipe (17). A nozzle (18) is connected to the bottom end of the drain pipe (17).

8. The soil amendment device for inoculating arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi according to claim 1, characterized in that, The support frame (1) has a tie rod (19) hinged to the front side, and the support frame (1) has wheels (20) rotatably connected to both sides.

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