Planting method and device for effectively preventing soil-borne disease of eggplant in heavy soil by using trichoderma harzianum agent

Abstract

The application discloses a planting method for effectively preventing and treating eggplant soil-borne diseases in heavy soil by using Trichoderma harzianum agent, and comprises the following steps: a. cutting a loofah into two half-cylinder loofah carriers by cutting the loofah from the middle, and soaking and wetting the loofah; b. mixing Trichoderma harzianum agent, rotten commercial organic fertilizer, bran, grass carbon, carbonized rice husk and perlite, adding water to adjust the moisture, and making a bacterial agent substrate which can be kneaded into a ball and can be scattered when the hand is loosened; c. filling the bacterial agent substrate into the inner cavity space of the half-cylinder loofah carrier; d. pre-culturing the half-cylinder loofah carrier filled with the bacterial agent substrate for 3-7 days; e. oppositely buckling two pre-cultured half-cylinder loofah carriers on the two sides of the eggplant seedling root ball in a plane mode; and f. placing the eggplant seedling wrapped in the loofah carrier into a planting hole and backfilling soil. The application further discloses a device for realizing the method. By using the method, the Trichoderma harzianum agent can be effectively used to prevent and treat eggplant soil-borne diseases in heavy soil.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a method for cultivating vegetables, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for effectively controlling soil-borne diseases of eggplant in heavy clay soil using Trichoderma harzianum fungicide. Background Technology

[0002] Eggplant is an important vegetable widely grown in my country, but when its seedlings are planted in heavy and compacted soil, they face a serious challenge: poor soil aeration leads to root hypoxia, slow root growth, blackening of the root color, and even rotting. The deterioration of the rhizosphere microenvironment makes it very easy to cause devastating soil-borne diseases such as stem rot and damping-off, resulting in a large number of seedling deaths.

[0003] Trichoderma harzianum is a recognized highly effective biocontrol agent for plant diseases, capable of inhibiting soil-borne pathogens through multiple mechanisms such as competition, hyperparasitism, and induction of plant resistance. However, when Trichoderma harzianum inoculants are directly applied to heavy clay soils, the inoculants face intense competition from native microorganisms and stress from the poor aeration and physical properties of the clayey soil. Under these multiple unfavorable conditions, the colony count declines rapidly. Therefore, in poor clay soil conditions, Trichoderma harzianum inoculants are less effective, failing to effectively colonize and form a dominant population in the rhizosphere during the critical seedling stage of crops, resulting in unstable control efficacy. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The technical problem to be solved by this invention is to provide an effective method for controlling soil-borne diseases of eggplant in heavy clay soils using Trichoderma harzianum inoculum, thereby overcoming the shortcomings of existing technologies. An apparatus for implementing this method is also provided.

[0005] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the present invention provides a planting method for effectively controlling soil-borne diseases of eggplant in heavy clay soil using Trichoderma harzianum fungicide, comprising the following steps:

[0006] a. Cut the loofah sponge in half lengthwise to form two semi-cylindrical loofah sponge carriers, and soak them in water to moisten them;

[0007] b. Mix Trichoderma harzianum inoculant with well-rotted commercial organic fertilizer, wheat bran, peat moss, carbonized rice husks, and perlite, add water to moisten, and make an inoculant substrate that can be formed into a ball by hand but crumbles when loosened by hand;

[0008] c. Fill the inner cavity of the semi-cylindrical loofah carrier with the bacterial agent matrix and gently compact it;

[0009] d. Place the semi-cylindrical loofah carrier filled with microbial agent substrate on the surface of a moist porous moisture-retaining material, and place them together in a small arched shed. Cover the small arched shed with a film and a 50% shade net, and pre-cultivate for 3-7 days.

[0010] e. Place two pre-cultured semi-cylindrical loofah carriers face to face and place them on both sides of the eggplant seedling root ball. Tie the semi-cylindrical loofah carriers with rope to prevent them from loosening, so that the eggplant root ball is wrapped in the inoculum substrate of the loofah carrier.

[0011] f. Place the eggplant seedling wrapped in the loofah sponge carrier into the planting hole, backfill with soil, leaving 2-3 cm of the outer edge of the loofah sponge carrier exposed outside the soil, cover the exposed loofah sponge carrier with loose and breathable rice husks, and water thoroughly to settle the roots.

[0012] In the substrate, the weight parts of decomposed commercial organic fertilizer, wheat bran, peat moss, carbonized rice husks, and perlite are 40-45, 15-20, 15-20, 15-20, and 10-15, respectively.

[0013] The amount of Trichoderma harzianum agent added is 5-7% of the total weight of the above-mentioned substrate.

[0014] The porous moisturizing material is a sponge, sand, or vermiculite.

[0015] In step d, the pre-culture environment is a temperature of 25-30℃, a humidity of 60-75%, and partial shade.

[0016] The semi-cylindrical loofah carrier has a length of 8-12 cm and a diameter of 6-10 cm.

[0017] The bran is sterilized by baking at 150°C for 10-15 minutes.

[0018] An apparatus for implementing the above method according to the present invention includes two semi-cylindrical loofah carriers, wherein the fiber mesh of the semi-cylindrical loofah carriers is filled with a microbial agent matrix.

[0019] The method of this invention can achieve the following significant technical effects:

[0020] 1. Physical Disease Prevention: Eggplant seedlings are wrapped in a semi-cylindrical loofah sponge device with a successfully pre-cultured microbial community structure. During the seedling establishment process after transplanting, the three-dimensional space of the loofah sponge provides a good growth environment for the roots, creating a long-lasting loose and breathable zone in the rhizosphere. This fundamentally avoids root hypoxia and blackening problems caused by soil compaction. The loofah sponge device not only allows the transplanted eggplant seedlings to continuously obtain adequate moisture from the soil, but also acts as an "air valve." The three-dimensional fiber network of the loofah sponge, located 2-3 cm from the ground, allows air to flow into the soil, increasing soil oxygen content. When clay soil is waterlogged and the air temperature is higher than the soil temperature, the fibers of the loofah sponge, located 2-3 cm from the ground, actively attract excess water from the soil pores for evaporation. Therefore, the loofah sponge carrier eggplant seedling transplanting device and its application method can establish a good "breathing system" for clay soil.

[0021] 2. Biological Disease Control: The pre-cultured Trichoderma harzianum continuously acts as a barrier in the eggplant rhizosphere. This pre-culture process consumes a large amount of the initially present, fast-acting, and potentially irritating nutrients in the substrate (such as certain salts and simple sugars), essentially completing the intense biochemical reactions before transplanting. After pre-culture, the substrate within the loofah device becomes milder and more stable, becoming a "matured" bio-organic fertilizer rich in live bacteria and their metabolites. The pre-cultured substrate directly contacts the seedling roots, providing excellent protection and acting as a long-term "guardian," effectively preventing diseases such as stem rot and damping-off that are common in seedlings after transplanting.

[0022] 3. Precise and Efficient: The loofah sponge device precisely delivers the inoculant around the root system, resulting in high survival and utilization rates, greatly optimizing the survival and effectiveness of the inoculant. Traditional methods involve directly applying Trichoderma harzianum inoculant to clay soil, much like airdropping soldiers into harsh enemy-occupied conditions; the inoculant is quickly depleted, and the unfavorable environment of clay soil leads to waste and rapid deactivation of the Trichoderma harzianum. This method overcomes these shortcomings.

[0023] 4. The loofah sponge is the core structure of the root system: The natural fibrous gaps in the loofah sponge do not hinder the lateral and longitudinal expansion of the root system. On the contrary, the early-formed taproot and lateral roots of the eggplant become a "core structure" in the vast root system, providing crucial support for its early development. Even after the root system has expanded far beyond the reach of the loofah sponge, the sponge itself and the surrounding soil, due to the physical structure of the loofah sponge and the long-term colonization of Trichoderma harzianum, remain a highly healthy "protective island" in the rhizosphere environment, teeming with beneficial bacteria. This healthy starting point provides stable and robust support for the entire root system.

[0024] 5. Long-lasting effect: The loofah sponge device effectively replenishes Trichoderma harzianum fungicide multiple times, providing long-lasting protection for long-season crops. This precise "replenishment" easily extends the protective effect until the end of harvest. Because the early-stage fungal community has already improved the rhizosphere microecology, the replenishment efficiency after planting is far higher than the initial application. The loofah sponge degrades slowly, maintaining a long-term three-dimensional space and synergistic effect with Trichoderma harzianum, providing sustained rhizosphere health protection for eggplant throughout the entire growing season, especially the long harvest period, laying a solid foundation for high yields. Attached Figure Description

[0025] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the device of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0026] The method of the present invention will now be described in detail.

[0027] The effective method for controlling soil-borne diseases of eggplant in heavy clay soil using Trichoderma harzianum inoculants includes the following steps:

[0028] a. Cut the loofah sponge in half lengthwise to form two semi-cylindrical loofah sponge carriers, and soak them in water to moisten them;

[0029] b. Mix Trichoderma harzianum inoculant with well-rotted commercial organic fertilizer, wheat bran, peat moss, carbonized rice husks, and perlite, add water to adjust the moisture content to about 55%, and make an inoculant substrate that can be formed into a ball by hand and crumbled when loosened by hand;

[0030] c. Fill the inner cavity of the semi-cylindrical loofah carrier with the bacterial agent matrix and gently compact it;

[0031] d. Place the semi-cylindrical loofah carrier filled with inoculant substrate on the surface of a moist porous moisture-retaining material, and place them together in a small arched shed. Cover the small arched shed with a film and a 50% shade net, and pre-culture for 5 days. The pre-culture environment is 28℃, 70% humidity, and semi-shade. After 5 days of pre-culture, white cotton-like mycelia can be seen covering the fiber mesh on the outer surface of the loofah.

[0032] e. Place two pre-cultured semi-cylindrical loofah carriers face to face and attach them to both sides of the eggplant seedling root ball. Tie the semi-cylindrical loofah carriers with palm rope to maintain the near-cylindrical or oval-cylindrical structure of the device and prevent it from loosening. This will allow the eggplant root ball to be wrapped in the inoculum substrate of the loofah carrier and ensure that the root ball is in full contact with the inoculum substrate on the inner wall of the loofah carrier.

[0033] f. Place the eggplant seedling wrapped in the loofah sponge carrier into the planting hole, backfill with soil, leaving 2-3 cm of the outer edge of the loofah sponge carrier exposed outside the soil, cover the exposed loofah sponge carrier with loose and breathable rice husks, and water thoroughly to settle the roots.

[0034] The substrate contains 400 parts by weight of well-rotted commercial organic fertilizer, wheat bran, peat moss, carbonized rice husks, and perlite, respectively. The organic matter content of the well-rotted commercial organic fertilizer is ≥45%.

[0035] The amount of Trichoderma harzianum agent added is 6% of the total weight of the above-mentioned matrix. Trichoderma harzianum agent is a wettable powder with an effective viable count ≥1 billion / gram, which is commercially available. For example, Hubei Qiming Biotechnology Co., Ltd. produces and sells this product, and the instruction manual contains the ingredients and usage instructions.

[0036] The porous moisturizing material is a sponge, sand, or vermiculite.

[0037] The semi-cylindrical loofah carrier is 10 cm long and 9 cm in diameter.

[0038] The bran is sterilized by baking at 150℃ for 10 minutes.

[0039] An apparatus for implementing the above method according to the present invention, such as... Figure 1 As shown, it includes two semi-cylindrical loofah carriers 1, and the fiber mesh of the semi-cylindrical loofah carriers is filled with a microbial agent matrix 2.

[0040] Long-term application measures of Trichoderma harzianum inoculants: After the loofah sponge device is used in clay soil, the Trichoderma harzianum community will naturally decline during crop growth due to environmental competition or the impact of chemical fungicides or lime on the rhizosphere. To quickly restore its dominant population, inoculant supplementation measures can be adopted: Apply 300-500 grams of high-content wettable powder Trichoderma harzianum inoculant per acre, diluted with 500-700 kg of water, directly irrigated to the soil at the base of the plant's rootstock. The Trichoderma harzianum solution will survive and develop within the existing loofah sponge device at the base of the rootstock. This allows the inoculant to quickly recolonize in the loofah sponge device in the clay soil, directly contacting the root system and restoring the biological control function.

[0041] Comparative experiment:

[0042] 1. Test Methods

[0043] From February to August 2025, the R&D team conducted a comparative experiment at a vegetable research base. Three treatments were established: two experimental groups (T1 and T2) and one control group (CK). Experimental group T1 used the planting method of this invention in clay soil with Trichoderma harzianum inoculum. Experimental group T2 used a mixture of loofah sponge fragments and clay soil to plant eggplant, and applied Trichoderma harzianum inoculum using conventional methods. The control group (CK) used conventional planting methods in clay soil with Trichoderma harzianum inoculum using conventional methods. All treatments were simultaneously planted with the same variety of eggplant (Hei Yuan Ba) in the same clay soil plot, with three replicates across nine plots, all under the same management level. The Trichoderma harzianum inoculum used was a commercially available product manufactured by Hubei Qiming Biotechnology Co., Ltd., and the conventional application method was as described in the product instructions.

[0044] 2. Experimental Investigation and Measurement Content

[0045] ① Survival rate was observed and recorded 7 days after transplanting for all treatments. ② Soil samples were randomly taken from 3 points for each treatment on days 7 and 20 after transplanting to test the survival rate of Trichoderma harzianum. ③ Agronomic traits (plant height, plant width) of seedlings were observed and recorded 15 days after transplanting, and agronomic traits (plant height, plant width, fruit diameter, single fruit weight, fruit appearance, etc.) were observed and recorded during the peak fruiting period. ④ Yield survey.

[0046] 3. Results and Analysis

[0047] Table 1 Comparison of Trichoderma harzianum survival rates between the experimental and control groups

[0048] Criteria for determining the effectiveness of microbial communities: Referring to the national standard GB 20287-2006 "Agricultural Microbial Agents" and literature on the application of microbial agents, a count of ≥10 viable Trichoderma harzianum bacteria in the rhizosphere soil is considered effective. 6 CFU / g is considered effective colonization; 10 4 -10 5 CFU / g indicates borderline effectiveness, but biocontrol function is significantly weakened; <10 4 CFU / g is considered essentially invalid; <10³ CFU / g is considered undetectable or the bacterial community has died because it is below the conventional detection limit of the plate count method.

[0049] As shown in Table 1 above, the viable bacterial count in experimental group T1 remained at ≥10 mmol / L 7 days and 20 days after transplanting. 6 The experimental group T2 showed a high activity level of CFU / g; while the viable bacterial count in the control group CK was only 10. 4 -10 5 The CFU / g level decreased to <10³CFU / g (undetectable) after 20 days. This indicates that experimental group T1 successfully achieved efficient colonization of Trichoderma harzianum and formed a dominant population. In contrast, experimental group T2 and control group CK had low survival rates and poor activity of Trichoderma harzianum, making it difficult to exert biocontrol functions.

[0050] Table 2 Comparison of agronomic traits of plants in the experimental group and the control group after transplanting

[0051] As shown in Table 2 above, the survival rate of eggplant seedlings in the experimental group T1 reached 99% 7 days after transplanting, which was significantly higher than that of the control group CK by 29%. After 15 days of transplanting, the agronomic traits such as plant height and plant width were significantly better than the other two groups, showing the fastest recovery and the strongest growth.

[0052] Table 3. Comparison of fruit agronomic traits and yield between the experimental and control groups.

[0053] During the fruiting period, eggplant plants in experimental group T1 were robust, with deep green and spreading leaves, thick and upright stems, high fruit set rate, rapid fruit growth, large fruit size, and glossy, bright skin color, resulting in good marketability. Eggplant plants in experimental group T2 and control group CK grew slowly, with yellowish-green leaves, fewer branches, smaller fruit size, and fewer fruits in the mid-to-late fruiting period.

[0054] As shown in Table 3 above, the yield of the experimental group T1 reached 4270.5 kg per mu, which was 814.3 kg per mu higher than that of the control group CK, with an increase rate of 23.6%. At the same time, the experimental group T1 had the best number of fruits per plant, single fruit weight, and fruit marketability (fruit shape and color).

[0055] 4. Discussion and Conclusion

[0056] The planting method using the device of this invention with Trichoderma harzianum agent in clay soil (experimental group T1) can significantly improve the colonization and survival rate of Trichoderma harzianum in the rhizosphere, thereby effectively promoting growth and disease resistance, and ultimately achieving early growth, strong seedlings, high yield and high quality of eggplant. In contrast, conventional methods or simply adding loofah sponge fragments cannot solve the problem of Trichoderma harzianum colonization in clay soil.

Claims

1. A planting method for effectively controlling soil-borne diseases of eggplant in heavy clay soil using Trichoderma harzianum inoculum, characterized in that... Includes the following steps: a. Cut the loofah sponge in half lengthwise to form two semi-cylindrical loofah sponge carriers, and soak them in water to moisten them; b. Mix the Trichoderma harzianum inoculant with well-rotted commercial organic fertilizer, wheat bran, peat moss, carbonized rice husks, and perlite, add water to moisten, and prepare an inoculant substrate that can be formed into a ball by hand but crumbles easily when loosened; in the substrate, the weight parts of well-rotted commercial organic fertilizer, wheat bran, peat moss, carbonized rice husks, and perlite are 40-45, 15-20, 15-20, 15-20, and 10-15, respectively; the amount of Trichoderma harzianum inoculant added is 5-7% of the total weight of the above substrate; c. Fill the inner cavity of the semi-cylindrical loofah carrier with the bacterial agent matrix and gently compact it; d. Place the semi-cylindrical loofah carrier filled with microbial agent substrate on the surface of a moist porous moisture-retaining material, and place them together in a small arched shed. Cover the small arched shed with a film and a 50% shade net, and pre-culture for 3-7 days until white cotton-like mycelia can be seen covering the fiber mesh on the outer surface of the loofah. e. Place two pre-cultured semi-cylindrical loofah carriers face to face and place them on both sides of the eggplant seedling root ball. Tie the semi-cylindrical loofah carriers with rope to prevent them from loosening, so that the eggplant root ball is wrapped in the inoculum substrate of the loofah carrier. f. Place the eggplant seedling wrapped in the loofah sponge carrier into the planting hole, backfill with soil, leaving 2-3 cm of the outer edge of the loofah sponge carrier exposed outside the soil, cover the exposed loofah sponge carrier with loose and breathable rice husks, and water thoroughly to settle the roots.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that: The porous moisturizing material is a sponge, sand, or vermiculite.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that: In step d, the pre-culture environment is a temperature of 25-30℃, a humidity of 60-75%, and partial shade.

4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that: The semi-cylindrical loofah carrier has a length of 8-12 cm and a diameter of 6-10 cm.

5. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that: The bran is sterilized by baking at 150°C for 10-15 minutes.

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