Plant and mushroom growth medium

a growth medium and plant technology, applied in the field of growth medium, can solve the problems of increasing the cost of mushroom growers, depleting existing sphagnum peat supplies, and increasing the cost of obtaining imported sphagnum peat, so as to achieve low nutrient levels, low air porosity, and optimal properties

a growth medium and plant technology, applied in the field of growth medium, can solve the problems of increasing the cost of mushroom growers, depleting existing sphagnum peat supplies, and increasing the cost of obtaining imported sphagnum peat, so as to achieve low nutrient levels, low air porosity, and optimal properties

US20070209273A1Inactive Publication Date: 2007-09-13STAMP JOHN WESLEY
2 Cites 6 Cited by

Examples

Experimental program
Comparison scheme
Effect test

example 2

[0034] Example 1 was repeated with the sedge peat being replaced by coco peat. The coco peat has a composition according to Table 4.

TABLE 4COCO PEATAnalytical Range atNutrient / TestOptimum Rangedifferent depthAir Filled Porosity %15-2513-18Water Holding Capacity %>4063-77pH6.5-7.26.1-6.4Electrical Conductivity0.2-0.50.29-0.31Chloride 0-10059-71Nitrate Nitrogen100-1501-3Ammonium Nitrogen 0-150>5Total Nitrogen150-250  1-3.5Sulphur>402.9-6.3Phosphorus 8-401-6Potassium35-250132-166Calcium50-34042-68Magnesium25-8014-23Sodium 0-7053-57Iron35-7010.1-24.6Copper0.4-10   4-7.6Manganese1.0-15 2.2-7.5

[0035] The composition of the casing soil prepared by Examples 1 and 2 has a composition according to Table 5. This mixture may also be used as a plant growth medium or as a soil additive.

TABLE 5NutrientAvailable limits of new casing mixAir Filled Porosity %21-25Water Holding Capacity %70-72pH6.8-7.0Electrical Conductivity0.375-0.4 Chloride (ppm)24-28Nitrate Nitrogen (ppm)110-125Ammonium Nitroge...

example 3

[0040] A potting mix was prepared by mixing 1.7 parts by weight sedge peat to 1 part by weight sugar mill mud. To this mix was added 4 parts by weight bagasse.

example 4

[0041] A top dressing material was prepared according to Example 3 except that 2 parts by weight bagasse was added. The top dressing material was spread on a ground surface. Grass seeds were spread on the material at regular intervals. Grass germination and growth was evident over a period of about one week. This time was observed to be less than that when using conventional top dressing materials.

[0042] The potting mix and top dressing material were also observed to exhibit at least equivalent and generally superior results over conventional materials. However, the medium of the present invention can be prepared using waste products such as sugar cane mill mud. Thus, the medium can replace conventional materials currently prepared from limited natural resources.

[0043] It will be appreciated that in the present specification and claims, the term “comprising” and its derivatives “comprise” and “comprises” will imply the inclusion of the stated integers but not the exclusion of any ...

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Abstract

A growth medium for plants or mushrooms, the medium comprising sugar cane mill mud and non sphagnum-peat material selected from the group consisting of a non-sphagnum peat and coconut fibre.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention is directed towards a growth medium for plants. The present invention is also directed towards a growth medium for use as a casing soil in mushroom cultivation. BACKGROUND ART [0002] In commercial mushroom cultivation it is general practice to provide a lower layer of compost which is covered by a layer of a material referred to as casing soil. It is important in mushroom cultivation that the casing soil assists in maintaining a desirable moisture level for mushroom growth. It should also maintain a desirable carbon dioxide and oxygen ratio. Further the casing soil should maintain the nutrient balance of the compost and also-act as a barrier to disease and insect pests. [0003] To date, the only material which has been recognised by commercial mushroom growers as being acceptable for use as casing material is sphagnum peat. Sphagnum peat is partially decomposed sphagnum moss and is obtained from Ireland, Holland and Canada (known as...

Claims

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Application Information

Patent Timeline
13 Sep 2007
Publication
US20070209273A1
IPC
A01G1/04; A01G1/00; A01G31/00; C05F5/00; C05F11/00
CPC
A01G1/04; A01G31/001; C05F5/002; C05F11/00; A01G18/00; A01G24/25; A01G24/27; A01G24/28
Inventors
STAMP, JOHN WESLEY