Substrate bag and method for loosening and / or draining and / or aerating and / or fertilizing soil

Abstract

Method for loosening and / or draining and / or aerating soil (4), in particular in the vicinity of the roots of an already planted plant (3), in which one or more sausage-shaped substrate bags (1) having a length in the range from 10 to 100 cm, preferably from 10 to 40 cm, and a diameter in the range from 2 to 20 cm, preferably from 2 to 10 cm, are inserted into bores (8) which are drilled essentially vertically into the soil (4), in particular next to the roots (7) of the plant (3), wherein the substrate bags are filled with a substrate (2) comprising inorganic components for loosening and / or draining and / or aerating soil (4), and wherein the substrate bags (1) are made from a completely biodegradable and air-permeable substrate bag material.

Description

The present invention relates to a method for loosening and / or draining and / or aeration of soil, and to the use of a substrate bag for carrying out such a method.The use of substrates comprising inorganic constituents for loosening and / or draining and / or aeration of compacted soil is already known in horticultural and landscape construction. Such substrates, for example in the form of lavastein granules or the like, are commercially available packaged in plastic bags. During the replanting of a plant, the substrate, after opening the sack, is distributed as bulk material beneath and / or next to the roots of the plant and is subsequently covered with soil. In plants already planted, a hole is excavated adjacent to the roots to distribute the substrate therein.One problem in the handling of known substrate bags is the metering of the amount of substrate required for a good working result. Furthermore, the entire substrate contained in a substrate bag is usually not used up, so that the broken substrate bags must be stored, which is often likewise undesirable. Another problem is that in order to add fertilisers or other additive substances, the substrate must first be removed from the substrate bag in order to mix fertiliser or the like, which is also very laborious.A further possibility for loosening and / or draining and / or aeration of compacted soil is to loosen it using a compressed air lance. Further substances can also be injected into the soil via the compressed air lance. However, the corresponding apparatus and technical knowledge are required for such a method, which makes the method very complicated and expensive.Further prior art is described in publications WO 2019 / 011742 A1 and DE 36 00 340 A1.Proceeding from this prior art, it is an object of the present invention to provide a substrate bag and a method of the type mentioned at the beginning, with which the aforementioned problems can be at least partially solved.To achieve this object, the present invention provides a method according to claim 1.Substrate bags used to carry out the method of the present invention are made from a biologically fully degradable and air permeable substrate bag material. For loosening and / or draining and / or venting compacted soil, the entire substrate bag together with the contents can be correspondingly lowered into the soil without the nature being impaired as a result. Portioning of the substrate bag contents is thus completely dispensed with. Also, no substrate residues remain. Overall, very simple handling, also suitable for laymen, is thus made possible.Suitable substrate bag materials are paper, cardboard, jute, linen, cotton, wool or the like.According to one embodiment of the present invention, the substrate bag material is designed to be open-pored or rapidly degradable in such a way that it allows plant roots to grow through. Such an open-pore design is particularly suitable when the substrate bag is positioned below a plant in the soil, as is explained in more detail below.The substrate bag is preferably embodied closed, i.e. it does not have a discharge opening, so that the contents of the substrate bag cannot be lost during its handling.In principle, the substrate bags can have any dimensions which can be adapted to the respective intended application. According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the substrate bag is sausage-like and has a length in the range from 10 to 40 cm and a diameter in the range from 2 to 10 cm. Such a sausage-like or also elongated configuration with a comparatively small diameter enables the substrate bags to be lowered into bores made in the ground, as will be explained in more detail below.The substrate advantageously comprises lavage stone, in particular in the form of so-called lava granulate. Lavastein is a pure natural product that is breathable and water-permeable. It also stores and gradually discharges water. Accordingly, it is particularly well suited for loosening and / or draining and / or aeration of soil.According to one embodiment of the present invention, the substrate bag is filled, in addition to the substrate, with fertilisers and / or mycorrhiza-promoting spores and hyphs and / or root starter substances and / or charcoal.Fertilizers are known to supplement soil nutrient supply. Mycorrhiza fungi are related to plant roots and provide nutrients to the plant which cannot absorb them alone or only in a smaller amount. Plant initiators are those substances which promote the formation and growth of roots. Charcoal stores water and nutrients and gradually discharges them.Further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is therein FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a partially transparent substrate bag; FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing one possible use of substrate bags of the type shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a partially transparent substrate bag according to a second embodiment of the invention; FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing one possible use of substrate bags of the type shown in FIG. 3; and FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing another possible use of substrate bags of the type shown in FIG. 3.FIG. 1 shows a substrate bag which is filled with a substrate 2 containing inorganic constituents for loosening and / or draining and / or ventilating soil. The substrate bag 1 is made of a biologically completely degradable and air- and water-permeable substrate bag material, for example paper, cardboard, jute, linen, cotton, wool or the like. The substrate bag material is also preferably designed to be open-pored and / or rapidly biodegradable or rotable in such a way that it allows plant roots to grow through. The substrate bag 1 is designed completely closed in the present case, so that the substrate 2 contained therein is prevented from escaping. The shape of the substrate bag 1 is substantially rectangular in the illustrated embodiment. The substrate bag 1 has, for example, a height H of 10 cm, a width B of 40 cm and a length L of 70 cm, wherein other dimensions are naturally also conceivable. The substrate 2 used is preferably lavage stone granules which are distinguished by their water-permeable and water-storing properties. Depending on the later use of the substrate bag 1, the latter can be filled with fertilizers and / or mycorrhiza-promoting spores and hyphals and / or root starter substances in addition to the substrate 2. Fertilizers supplement soil nutrient supply. Mycorrhiza fungi are related to plant roots and provide nutrients to the plant which cannot absorb them alone or only in a smaller amount. Plant initiators are those substances which promote the formation and growth of rootsFIG. 2 shows a possible use of substrate bags 1 of the type shown in FIG. 1 in the new planting of a plant 3 in the free soil 4 or in a bucket 5, which is indicated in FIG. 2 by a dashed line. In the case of free soil, a hole in the soil is excavated in a first step, which hole is somewhat larger than the root ball 6 of the plant 3. In a further step, substrate bags 1 are positioned on the bottom and / or on the side walls of the hole, as is shown in FIG. 2. The hole is then filled with soil. In the case of a bucket 5, substrate bags 2 can be positioned directly on the bucket floor. Alternatively, soil may be first distributed on the bucket floor and the substrate bags 1 then laid on the distributed soil. The same applies analogously to the substrate bags 1 positioned vertically along the side walls of the tub 5. The horizontally positioned substrate bag 1 is preferably filled only with substrate 2.In the arrangement shown in FIG. 2, proper aeration, drainage and nutrition are ensured around the root ball 6. Since the substrate bags 1 are processed as a whole, no substrate proportioning is required.FIG. 3 shows a substrate bag 1 according to a second embodiment of the present invention, which differs from the substrate bag 1 shown in FIG. 1 only in terms of the outer dimensions. The substrate bag 1 shown in FIG. 3 is sausage-like and has a length L preferably in the range from 10 to 40 cm and a diameter in the range from 2 to 10 cm, wherein the length L in the example shown is 30 cm and the diameter D is 5 cm.FIG. 4 shows a possible example of application of substrate bags 1 of the type shown in FIG. 3 for loosening and / or draining and / or aeration of soil in the region of an already planted plant 3. In this application, it is appropriate to fill the substrate bag 1 with fertilizers and / or mycorrhiza-promoting spores and hyphs and / or root starter substances in addition to the substrate 2 in order to supply the roots 7 of the plant 3 with additional nutrients.FIG. 5 shows a further example of application of substrate bags 1 of the type shown in FIG. 3 for loosening and / or draining and / or aeration of soil 4 covered with turf 8. In this application, the substrate bags 1 preferably contain only substrate 2, since ventilation and drainage is the primary factor here. The same applies to those cases in which unwaxed soil, such as forest and field paths, are to be drained.It should be understood that the embodiments described above are merely exemplary and are in no way limiting. Rather, modifications and changes are possible without departing from the scope of the appended claims. Thus, substrate bags according to the invention having corresponding dimensions can also be used, for example, for planting balun boxes or the like.List of Reference Numbers1 Substrate bag 2 Substrate 3 Plant 4 Soil 5 Tub 6 Root ball 7 Root 8 Bore 9 Turf B Width L Length H Height D Diameter

Claims

Method for loosening and / or draining and / or aerating soil (4), in particular in the vicinity of the roots of an already planted plant (3), in which one or more sausage-like substrate bags (1) having a length in the range from 10 to 100 cm, preferably from 10 to 40 cm, and a diameter in the range from 2 to 20 cm, preferably from 2 to 10 cm, are introduced into bores (8) which are drilled substantially perpendicularly into the soil (4), in particular next to the roots (7) of the plant (3), wherein the substrate bags are filled with a substrate (2) having inorganic constituents for loosening and / or draining and / or aerating soil (4), and wherein the substrate bags (1) are produced from a biologically fully degradable and air-permeable substrate bag material.Use of a substrate bag (1) for carrying out a method according to claim 1, wherein the substrate bag (1) is filled with a substrate (2) comprising inorganic constituents for loosening and / or draining and / or ventilating soil (4), wherein the substrate bag (1) is produced from a biologically fully degradable and air-permeable substrate bag material, wherein the substrate bag (1) is sausage-like, has a length (L) in the range from 10 to 100 cm, preferably 10 to 40 cm, and a diameter in the range from 2 to 20 cm, preferably from 2 to 10 cm.Use of a substrate bag (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the substrate bag material is paper, cardboard, jute, linen, cotton or wool.Use of a substrate bag (1) according to claim 2 or 3, characterised in that the substrate bag material is designed to be open-pored or rapidly degradable in such a way that it allows plant roots to grow through.Use of a substrate bag (1) according to one of Claims 2 to 4, characterized in that it is of closed design.Use of a substrate bag (1) according to one of Claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the substrate (2) has lavage stone.Use of a substrate bag (1) according to one of claims 2 to 6, characterised in that it is filled, in addition to the substrate (2), with fertilisers and / or mycorrhiza-promoting spores and hyphs and / or root starter substances and / or charcoal.

Images