A plug seedling culture substrate, a preparation method thereof and application thereof

Abstract

The present application relates to the field of agricultural technology, and discloses a kind of plug seedling substrate and its preparation method and application.The plug seedling substrate includes the following components: tea dregs, coconut bran, inorganic porous material and functional liquid;Wherein, the functional liquid includes the following components: ikdoine, natamycin and polyglutamic acid.The plug seedling substrate provided by the present application provides air permeability with tea dregs, provides water retention with coconut bran, and uses inorganic porous material as the substrate framework, meeting the requirements of seedlings for substrate water retention, air permeability and root growth space, by adding functional liquid containing active ingredients ikdoine, natamycin and polyglutamic acid, while solving the three major problems of water management, disease control and root development.Plug seedling.The tea dregs after extracting tea polyphenols and coconut bran replace non-renewable peat, realizing high-value utilization of agricultural waste, and compared with non-renewable peat, the raw material cost is low and more environmentally friendly.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of agricultural technology, and in particular to a seedling tray substrate, its preparation method, and its application. Background Technology

[0002] Plug seedling technology uses various porous substrate materials as seedling substrates and employs a precision sowing system to produce seedlings in one go. One seed is sown per cell, and one seedling is grown per compartment. It offers numerous advantages, including labor saving, energy conservation, low seed and seedling site costs, ease of standardized management, no seedling recovery period, and suitability for long-distance transportation. Among these advantages, the seedling substrate is the most crucial component, as its quality directly determines the growth and development quality of the seedlings.

[0003] Cucurbit vegetables are a general term for vegetables belonging to the Cucurbitaceae family, including pumpkin, winter melon, loofah, bitter melon, cucumber, etc. They are not only delicious but also rich in various nutrients. Compared with leafy vegetables, cucurbit vegetables generally have larger seeds, and their seedlings have higher requirements for the water retention and aeration of the substrate.

[0004] With consumers becoming more health-conscious, the demand for low-sugar, sugar-free, and functional tea beverages is constantly increasing. In recent years, the tea beverage market has shown a rapid development trend, but this has also generated a large amount of tea residue that is difficult to handle. How to turn tea residue into a valuable resource is an urgent problem to be solved. CN 102860229 A discloses a tea tree seedling substrate in plug trays, which adds tea residue after microbial fermentation to the substrate, promoting the growth of tea seedlings and providing long-lasting fertilization. CN103704111 A discloses a seedling substrate and its preparation method, using tea residue as a novel solid-state fermentation carrier, mixed with vermiculite, straw, and perlite as a rapid seedling substrate, which has the advantages of uniform emergence, short seedling age, vigorous growth, fewer pests and diseases, good substrate aeration, beneficial to root development, no root damage during transplanting, high survival rate after planting, rapid seedling establishment, improved plant disease resistance, significant reduction of soil-borne diseases, enhanced stress resistance, less pesticide use throughout the growth period, fertilizer saving, and high input-output ratio. CN 104086243A discloses a vegetable seedling substrate and its preparation method, which is made by aerobic fermentation of garden waste, tea residue, and pig manure. CN 104478550 A discloses a tea residue vermicompost substrate suitable for tomato seedling cultivation and its preparation method. The method involves raising earthworms using tea residue and cow manure, and then preparing the tomato seedling substrate using earthworm castings, perlite, vermiculite, and peat as raw materials.

[0005] In summary, tea residue has been widely used in the preparation of seedling substrates. However, current technologies mainly rely on fermented tea residue and mixed peat as raw materials. The fermentation process is complex and time-consuming, affecting the utilization and conversion of tea residue. Furthermore, peat is expensive and a non-renewable resource. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop new technologies for utilizing tea residue, simplify the process of reusing tea residue, and prepare high-quality, more environmentally friendly, and more suitable plug seedling substrates for cucurbit vegetables. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The present invention aims to at least solve one of the aforementioned technical problems existing in the prior art. Therefore, one objective of the present invention is to provide a substrate for seedling tray cultivation.

[0007] The second objective of this invention is to provide a method for preparing this plug tray seedling substrate.

[0008] The third objective of this invention is to provide the application of this plug tray seedling substrate.

[0009] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution adopted by the present invention is as follows:

[0010] A first aspect of the present invention provides a seedling substrate for plug trays, comprising the following components: tea residue, coconut coir, inorganic porous material, and functional liquid; wherein the functional liquid comprises the following components: ictoin, natamycin, and polyglutamic acid.

[0011] In some embodiments of the present invention, the physicochemical properties of the seedling tray substrate include at least one of the following: moisture content of 30%-50%; total porosity of 60%-95%; and bulk density of 0.2-0.8 g / cm³. 3 Conductivity ≤ 1 mS / cm; pH = 6.0-7.5.

[0012] In some preferred embodiments of the present invention, the physicochemical properties of the seedling tray substrate include at least one of the following: moisture content of 40%-50%; total porosity of 70%-90%; and bulk density of 0.2-0.4 g / cm³. 3 Electrical conductivity is 0.2-0.4 mS / cm; pH = 6.0-7.0.

[0013] In some embodiments of the present invention, the tea residue is the by-product after extracting tea polyphenols from tea raw materials; the electrical conductivity of the tea residue is ≤0.4mS / cm.

[0014] In some preferred embodiments of the present invention, the tea residue is the by-product after extracting tea polyphenols from tea raw materials; the electrical conductivity of the tea residue is 0.1-0.3 mS / cm.

[0015] Specifically, the tea residue used in this invention is the byproduct of extracting tea polyphenols from tea raw materials. The tea residue may contain residual soluble salts (such as potassium and sodium ions). If the conductivity is greater than 0.4 mS / cm, direct use will cause dehydration of seedling roots and scorching of leaf edges, resulting in salt stress in seedlings. It will also cause the active ingredients in the functional liquid, such as natamycin and polyglutamic acid, to become ineffective due to the high salt environment, thus inhibiting the effect of the functional liquid. Therefore, this invention uses tea residue with a conductivity ≤0.4 mS / cm. This tea residue does not need to undergo further fermentation and desalination treatment and can be used directly. The loose fibers of the tea residue can provide good aeration for the seedling tray substrate, ensuring the best growth effect of the seedlings.

[0016] In some embodiments of the present invention, the physicochemical properties of the tea residue also include at least one of the following: moisture content of 25%-40%; particle size ≤10mm.

[0017] In some embodiments of the present invention, the electrical conductivity of the coconut coir is ≤0.7 mS / cm.

[0018] In some embodiments of the present invention, the coconut coir is a material obtained by adding water to coconut bricks for expansion treatment.

[0019] Specifically, coconut coir has strong water absorption, which can compensate for the insufficient water retention of tea residue, providing better water retention for the seedling tray substrate and forming a "gas-water balance" substrate structure; coconut coir has good stability and is not easily decomposed, which can ensure that the substrate structure does not collapse during the seedling period; moreover, coconut coir is a processed product of coconut shell fiber, which is a renewable resource and is more environmentally friendly; the present invention uses coconut coir with an electrical conductivity of ≤0.7mS / cm, which can work together with tea residue to maintain a low-salt environment and ensure the growth effect of seedlings.

[0020] In some embodiments of the present invention, the physicochemical properties of the coconut coir also include at least one of the following: moisture content of 30%-60%; particle size of 1-6 mm.

[0021] In some embodiments of the present invention, the particle size of the inorganic porous material is 2-5 mm.

[0022] In some preferred embodiments of the present invention, the particle size of the inorganic porous material is 2-4 mm.

[0023] In some embodiments of the present invention, the inorganic porous material is selected from at least one of vermiculite and perlite.

[0024] In some preferred embodiments of the present invention, the inorganic porous material is vermiculite.

[0025] Specifically, inorganic porous materials such as vermiculite and perlite form the "skeleton" of the matrix, providing physical support, preventing matrix compaction, and promoting root extension. Their layered structure can adsorb water and active ingredients in functional liquids without participating in chemical reactions, thus maintaining the stability of the matrix's electrical conductivity and pH. Selecting inorganic porous materials with a particle size of 2-5mm ensures uniform pore size, avoiding excessively fine pores that affect drainage or excessively coarse pores that reduce water retention. Compared with inorganic porous materials such as volcanic rock, zeolite, and biochar, vermiculite has the advantages of being lightweight, having good air permeability, good water retention, and low cost.

[0026] In some embodiments of the present invention, the functional liquid comprises the following components by weight: 5-15 parts of icodine, 1-5 parts of natamycin, 5-15 parts of polyglutamic acid, and 80-120 parts of water.

[0027] In some preferred embodiments of the present invention, the functional liquid comprises the following components by weight: 5-10 parts of icotin, 1-3 parts of natamycin, 5-10 parts of polyglutamic acid, and 90-100 parts of water.

[0028] In some embodiments of the present invention, the functional liquid is prepared by a method comprising the following steps:

[0029] First, dissolve natamycin and polyglutamic acid in water, then slowly add ictoin and stir to dissolve, thus obtaining the functional solution.

[0030] In some embodiments of the present invention, the dissolution temperature is 20-30°C.

[0031] In some embodiments of the present invention, the functional liquid is stored at 2-5°C.

[0032] Specifically, the active ingredient ictoin in the functional solution can fix water molecules through hydrogen bonds, making the substrate moisture distribution more uniform, enhancing water retention, and improving the seedlings' tolerance to temperature fluctuations and salt stress; natamycin is a broad-spectrum antifungal agent that can inhibit soil-borne pathogens such as Fusarium and Rhizoctonia, reducing the incidence of damping-off disease; polyglutamic acid can stimulate the roots to secrete auxin, increasing root length and the number of lateral roots, thus promoting root growth and seedling development, and can also chelate nutrients, prevent the precipitation of metal ions in the functional solution, and improve utilization; by adding the functional solution, the three major seedling problems of water management, disease control, and root development can be solved simultaneously.

[0033] In some embodiments of the present invention, the seedling substrate in the plug tray comprises the following components by weight: 10-35 parts tea residue, 10-35 parts coconut coir, 10-35 parts inorganic porous material, and 5-15 parts functional liquid.

[0034] In some preferred embodiments of the present invention, the seedling substrate in the plug tray comprises the following components by weight: 15-30 parts tea residue, 15-30 parts coconut coir, 15-30 parts inorganic porous material, and 5-10 parts functional liquid.

[0035] In some embodiments of the present invention, the seedling substrate in the plug tray is stored under light-protected conditions.

[0036] A second aspect of the present invention provides a method for preparing the seedling substrate for plug trays as described in the first aspect of the present invention, comprising the following steps:

[0037] First, mix tea leaves, coconut coir, and inorganic porous materials, then add functional liquid and mix well to obtain the seedling substrate for plug trays.

[0038] The third aspect of the present invention provides the application of the seedling substrate in the first aspect of the present invention in the seedling cultivation of cucurbit vegetables.

[0039] In some embodiments of the present invention, the cucurbit vegetables include pumpkin, winter melon, loofah, bitter melon, cucumber, and wax gourd.

[0040] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are:

[0041] 1) The seedling substrate provided by this invention uses tea residue to provide aeration, coconut coir to provide water retention, and inorganic porous materials as the substrate skeleton, which meets the requirements of seedlings for water retention, aeration and root growth space. By adding functional liquid containing active ingredients ictoin, natamycin and polyglutamic acid, it solves the three major seedling problems of water management, disease control and root development at the same time.

[0042] 2) The seedling substrate provided by this invention uses tea residue and coconut coir after tea polyphenol extraction to replace non-renewable peat, realizing the high-value utilization of agricultural waste. Compared with non-renewable peat, the raw material cost is low and more environmentally friendly.

[0043] 3) The seedling substrate provided by this invention uses tea residue with an electrical conductivity of ≤0.4mS / cm as raw material, which eliminates the complicated process of fermentation for 7-15 days required by traditional tea residue substrate, thus reducing energy consumption and time costs;

[0044] 4) The method for preparing the seedling substrate in plug trays provided by this invention requires no aging or fermentation after mixing and can be directly used in trays, making it suitable for large-scale seedling farms.

[0045] 5) The seedling substrate provided by this invention has a good seedling effect on large-seeded melons that have high requirements for water retention and aeration. It can significantly improve the dry weight, leaf area, root length and seedling vigor index of seedlings, and has great market potential. Attached Figure Description

[0046] Figure 1 This is a comparison of cucumber seedling growth in different plug tray substrates in Experiment Example 1;

[0047] Figure 2 A comparison of the leaves of seedlings in different plug tray substrates in Experiment Example 2;

[0048] Figure 3 This is a comparison of the stems of seedlings in different plug tray substrates in Experiment Example 2;

[0049] Figure 4 This is a comparison diagram of the root systems of seedlings in different plug tray substrates in Experiment Example 2. Detailed Implementation

[0050] The present invention will be further described in detail below through specific embodiments. Unless otherwise specified, the raw materials, reagents, or apparatus used in the embodiments and comparative examples are all available from conventional commercial sources or can be obtained by existing technical methods. Unless otherwise specified, the experimental or testing methods are conventional methods in the art.

[0051] Note: Unless otherwise specified, "parts" in the following examples and comparative examples refer to "parts by mass".

[0052] Example 1

[0053] This embodiment provides a seedling tray substrate, the components and contents of which are shown in Table 1:

[0054] Table 1. Components and content of the substrate for seedling tray cultivation in Example 1

[0055]

[0056] The preparation method of the functional liquid is as follows:

[0057] At 20-30℃, completely dissolve natamycin and polyglutamic acid in deionized water, then slowly add ictoin while stirring until ictoin is completely dissolved in deionized water to obtain the functional solution, which is then stored at 2-5℃.

[0058] The preparation method of the substrate for plug seedling cultivation is as follows:

[0059] Mix tea leaves, coconut coir, and vermiculite evenly, then slowly pour in the functional liquid while stirring until it is completely mixed to obtain the seedling substrate for plug trays.

[0060] The physicochemical properties of the substrate for plug seedling cultivation are as follows: moisture content 41%, total porosity 80%, and bulk density 0.35 g / cm³. 3 It has an electrical conductivity of 0.21 mS / cm and a pH of 6.8.

[0061] Example 2

[0062] This embodiment provides a seedling tray substrate, the components and contents of which are shown in Table 2:

[0063] Table 2. Components and content of the substrate for seedling tray cultivation in Example 2

[0064]

[0065]

[0066] The preparation method of the functional liquid is as follows:

[0067] At 20-30℃, completely dissolve natamycin and polyglutamic acid in deionized water, then slowly add ictoin while stirring until ictoin is completely dissolved in deionized water to obtain the functional solution, which is then stored at 2-5℃.

[0068] The preparation method of the substrate for plug seedling cultivation is as follows:

[0069] Mix tea leaves, coconut coir, and vermiculite evenly, then slowly pour in the functional liquid while stirring until it is completely mixed to obtain the seedling substrate for plug trays.

[0070] The physicochemical properties of the seedling tray substrate are as follows: moisture content 43%, total porosity 86%, and bulk density 0.21 g / cm³. 3 It has an electrical conductivity of 0.36 mS / cm and a pH of 6.0.

[0071] Example 3

[0072] This embodiment provides a seedling tray substrate, the components and contents of which are shown in Table 3:

[0073] Table 3. Components and content of the substrate for seedling tray cultivation in Example 3

[0074]

[0075]

[0076] The preparation method of the functional liquid is as follows:

[0077] At 20-30℃, completely dissolve natamycin and polyglutamic acid in deionized water, then slowly add ictoin while stirring until ictoin is completely dissolved in deionized water to obtain the functional solution, which is then stored at 2-5℃.

[0078] The preparation method of the substrate for plug seedling cultivation is as follows:

[0079] Mix tea leaves, coconut coir, and vermiculite evenly, then slowly pour in the functional liquid while stirring until it is completely mixed to obtain the seedling substrate for plug trays.

[0080] The physicochemical properties of the substrate for plug seedling cultivation are as follows: moisture content 50%, total porosity 75%, and bulk density 0.36 g / cm³. 3 It has an electrical conductivity of 0.34 mS / cm and a pH of 6.5.

[0081] Example 4

[0082] This embodiment provides a seedling tray substrate, the components and contents of which are shown in Table 4:

[0083] Table 4. Components and content of the substrate for seedling tray cultivation in Example 4

[0084]

[0085] The preparation method of the functional liquid is as follows:

[0086] At 20-30℃, completely dissolve natamycin and polyglutamic acid in deionized water, then slowly add ictoin while stirring until ictoin is completely dissolved in deionized water to obtain the functional solution, which is then stored at 2-5℃.

[0087] The preparation method of the substrate for plug seedling cultivation is as follows:

[0088] Mix tea leaves, coconut coir, and vermiculite evenly, then slowly pour in the functional liquid while stirring until it is completely mixed to obtain the seedling substrate for plug trays.

[0089] The physicochemical properties of the seedling tray substrate are as follows: moisture content 48%, total porosity 74%, and bulk density 0.31 g / cm³. 3 It has an electrical conductivity of 0.38 mS / cm and a pH of 6.7.

[0090] Comparative Example 1

[0091] This comparative example provides a seedling tray substrate, the components and contents of which are shown in Table 5:

[0092] Table 5. Components and content of the substrate for seedling tray cultivation in Comparative Example 1

[0093]

[0094] The preparation method of the substrate for plug seedling cultivation is as follows:

[0095] The tea leaves, coconut coir, and vermiculite are mixed evenly to obtain the substrate for seedling tray cultivation.

[0096] The physicochemical properties of the substrate for plug seedling cultivation are as follows: moisture content 50%, total porosity 76%, and bulk density 0.36 g / cm³. 3 It has an electrical conductivity of 0.20 mS / cm and a pH of 6.5.

[0097] Comparative Example 2

[0098] A commercially available seedling substrate composed of coconut coir, peat, carbonized rice husks and perlite was used as a comparison.

[0099] Experimental Example 1

[0100] The seedling substrates prepared in Example 4 and Comparative Example 1 were used for the seedling cultivation of Yuexiu No. 3 cucumber, as follows:

[0101] Seedling conditions: Seedling greenhouse with adjustable temperature; seedling bed frame height 80cm, frame width 150cm;

[0102] Ambient temperature: Adjust according to the seedling growth process. Generally, the daytime temperature is controlled at 23-28℃ and the nighttime temperature is controlled at 15-20℃.

[0103] Seed treatment, sowing, and seedling management were carried out in accordance with DB22 / T 3493-2023 "Technical Specification for Grafting Seedlings of Cucumber in Plug Trays". On the 20th day after the emergence of Yuexiu No. 3 cucumber seeds, the dry weight, cotyledon area, leaf area, root length and seedling vigor index of cucumber seedlings were measured. Multiple measurements were taken and the average value was used as the test result.

[0104] Table 1. Results of cucumber seedling quality testing in different plug seedling substrates in Experiment 1

[0105]

[0106] Table 1 shows the quality test results of cucumber seedlings in different plug tray substrates in Experiment 1. As can be seen from Table 1, compared with the cucumber seedlings cultivated using the substrate in Comparative Example 1, the cucumber seedlings cultivated using the substrate in Example 4 showed an increase of approximately 18%, 33%, 41%, 14%, and 12.5% ​​in dry weight, cotyledon area, leaf area, root length, and seedling vigor index, respectively. This indicates that adding a functional liquid with ictoin, natamycin, and polyglutamic acid as active ingredients to the plug tray substrate can significantly improve seedling biomass, leaf development, and root growth. Natamycin in the functional liquid can inhibit diseases and reduce root rot, while polyglutamic acid has a significant root-promoting effect and a significant increase in root length.

[0107] Figure 1 This is a comparison chart of cucumber seedling growth in different plug tray substrates in Experiment 1. Figure 1 It can be seen that the cucumber seedlings cultivated using the substrate in Example 4 have dark green leaves and thick stems, while the cucumber seedlings cultivated using the substrate in Comparative Example 1 have yellowish leaves and shorter stems, indicating that the active ingredients in the functional liquid have an important impact on the seedling cultivation effect.

[0108] Experimental Example 2

[0109] The seedling substrates from Example 4 and Comparative Example 2 were used for seedling cultivation of winter melon, wax gourd, bitter melon, pumpkin, and loofah. The winter melon variety was Tiezhu No. 2, the wax gourd variety was Yueguang wax gourd, the bitter melon variety was Bilu No. 3, the pumpkin variety was Xiangmi small pumpkin, and the loofah variety was Yuexiu No. 3, as detailed below:

[0110] Seedling conditions: Seedling greenhouse with adjustable temperature; seedling bed frame height 80cm, frame width 150cm;

[0111] Ambient temperature: Adjust according to the seedling growth process. Generally, the daytime temperature is controlled at 23-28℃ and the nighttime temperature is controlled at 15-20℃.

[0112] On the 20th day after the emergence of various seeds, the dry weight, leaf area, root length and seedling vigor index of the seedlings were measured, and the average value of multiple measurements was taken as the test result.

[0113] Table 2. Seedling quality test results in different plug seedling substrates in Experiment 2.

[0114]

[0115]

[0116] Table 2 shows the seedling quality test results in different plug tray substrates of Experiment Example 2. As can be seen from Table 2, for multiple varieties such as winter melon, wax gourd, bitter melon, pumpkin, and loofah, when using the substrate in Example 4 for seedling cultivation, the dry weight, leaf area, root length, and seedling vigor index of the melon seedlings were all better than those in Comparative Example 2. Among them, the leaf area of ​​pumpkin increased by 278%, indicating that the substrate has good aeration and significantly promotes leaf expansion; the root length of winter melon increased by 98%, thanks to the root-promoting effect of vermiculite pore structure and polyglutamic acid; the seedling vigor index of pumpkin increased by 145%, indicating that the substrate provided by the present invention is suitable for seedling cultivation of large-seeded melons.

[0117] Figure 2 This is a comparison image of the leaves of seedlings in different plug tray substrates in Experiment Example 2. Figure 2 It can be seen that when using the substrate for seedling cultivation in Example 4, compared with the substrate cultivation of melon seedlings in Comparative Example 2, the leaves of winter melon, wax gourd, bitter gourd, pumpkin and loofah seedlings are thicker and have larger leaf area.

[0118] Figure 3 This is a comparison diagram of seedling stems in different plug tray substrates for Experiment Example 2. Figure 3 It can be seen that when using the substrate for seedling cultivation in Example 4, the stem diameter of winter melon, wax gourd, bitter gourd, pumpkin, and loofah seedlings is significantly better than that of seedlings cultivated in the substrate of Comparative Example 2.

[0119] Figure 4 This is a comparison diagram of the root systems of seedlings in different plug tray substrates in Experiment Example 2. Figure 4It can be seen that when using the substrate in Example 4 for seedling cultivation, the root systems of winter melon, wax gourd, bitter gourd, pumpkin and loofah seedlings are well-developed and have white fibrous roots. In contrast, the root systems of the melon seedlings cultivated in Comparative Example 2 are sparse and some are black, indicating that the peat substrate is prone to compaction.

[0120] The above results indicate that the seedling substrate provided by this invention has a good seedling effect on large-seeded melons such as winter melon, pumpkin, and wax gourd, which have high requirements for water retention and aeration. It also produces strong seedlings with well-developed root systems and high biomass.

Claims

1. Use of a plug seedling substrate in seedling raising of melon vegetables, characterized in that, The seedling substrate in the plug trays is composed of the following components: 10-35 parts tea dregs, 10-35 parts coconut coir, 10-35 parts inorganic porous material, and 5-15 parts functional liquid; wherein, the functional liquid is composed of the following components: 5-15 parts ictoin, 1-5 parts natamycin, 5-15 parts polyglutamic acid, and 80-120 parts water. The tea residue is a byproduct of tea polyphenol extraction from tea raw materials and does not require fermentation or desalination treatment; the electrical conductivity of the tea residue is ≤0.4mS / cm; the electrical conductivity of the coconut coir is ≤0.7mS / cm.

2. Use according to claim 1, characterized in that, The physical and chemical indexes of the plug seedling substrate include at least one of the following: water content is 30%-50%; total porosity is 60%-95%; bulk density is 0.2-0.8 g / cm 3 ; conductivity is ≤1 mS / cm; pH=6.0-7.

5.

3. Use according to claim 1, characterized in that, The particle size of the inorganic porous material is 2-5 mm.

4. Use according to claim 3, characterized in that, The inorganic porous material is selected from at least one of vermiculite and perlite.

5. The use according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The seedling substrate in the plug trays is prepared by the following steps: First, mix tea leaves, coconut coir, and inorganic porous materials, then add functional liquid and mix well to obtain the seedling substrate for plug trays.

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