Preparation for the production of a plant substrate

Abstract

Disclosed is a preparation (1) for the production of a plant substrate (2), which comprises main ingredients (3, 4, 5, 6) pressed into pellets, wherein on the one hand fillers (3) and on the other hand basic materials (4) or fertilisers (5) are provided as main ingredients (3, 4, 5, 6). In order to prepare a preparation (1) for producing a plant substrate (2) which, despite good transport and storage properties, offers a full replacement for a soil-based plant substrate and can in addition be adapted to different plant species, it is proposed that the pellets have a residual moisture content of less than 15% and that different pellet fractions, each with different ingredients, are provided.

Description

[0001] Preparation for the production of a planting substrate

[0002] Technical area

[0003] The invention relates to a preparation for producing a plant substrate, which comprises main ingredients pressed into pellets, wherein on the one hand fillers and on the other hand base materials or fertilizers are provided as main ingredients.

[0004] State of the art

[0005] DE10030793B4 discloses plant pellets consisting of fiber material, fertilizers, water binders, and plant seeds. The main component of these pellets is dried sewage sludge, which serves as a fertilizer. Natural fibers are also used to improve rooting, and diatomaceous earth acts as a water binder. Plant seeds are also compressed into the pellets, allowing them to be used for greening and erosion control. The disadvantage of this design is that these pellets are only suitable for cultivating predefined plants whose seeds are compressed, and the composition does not offer a full replacement for a soil-based planting substrate.

[0006] Description of the invention

[0007] The invention is therefore based on the object of proposing a preparation for producing a plant substrate of the type described above, which, despite good transport and storage properties, offers a full replacement for a soil-based plant substrate and, moreover, can be adapted to different plant species.

[0008] The invention achieves this objective by providing pellets with a residual moisture content of less than 15% and different pellet fractions, each with different ingredients. Due to the different pellet fractions, a nutrient composition tailored to a specific plant species can be achieved, despite the low residual moisture content, which is beneficial for transport and storage. Upon swelling, the nutrient composition forms a light and fluffy planting substrate comparable to conventional soil. A residual moisture content of less than 15% enables low weight and storage volume, as well as good flowability, while simultaneously preventing the potential for mold or weed growth. Furthermore, it enables the cleanest possible handling during the preparation of a planting substrate.If the pellets, in a preferred embodiment, have a residual moisture content of more than 8%, this also creates advantageous conditions for the absorption of liquids, which particularly promotes the swelling behavior of the intended fillers. For the purposes of the invention, fillers are considered to be those main ingredients that make the structure of the plant substrate light and loose and thus promote root growth. For example, plant fibers, such as in particular coconut fibers, forest wood chips, straw, miscanthus, or hemp fibers, can be provided as fillers. Due to the residual moisture content of less than 15% according to the invention, the fillers can swell to an increased volume after the addition of liquid, for example twice, preferably three times, or even more preferably five times their volume, thereby creating a particularly loose rooting medium.For the purposes of the invention, basic materials are considered to be main ingredients with a high organic content, particularly humus-forming substances such as bark or green waste compost. The high organic content of the basic materials provides important nutrients and enables improved mineral absorption. The compression of microorganisms present in the basic materials into pellets leads to passivation due to the associated drying process, which promotes improved storage stability. Upon contact with a liquid, at least some of these microorganisms can be reactivated, which has a beneficial effect on the properties of the plant substrate. For the purposes of the invention, fertilizers are preferably considered to be animal, plant, and / or mineral fertilizers, which in turn can be divided into the categories of organic and conventional plant cultivation.Examples of such fertilizers are animal products such as manure, wool and animal remains or waste products such as sewage sludge or biogas substrate.

[0009] To improve the storage stability of the starting pellets required for a preparation according to the invention, as well as to ensure favorable reproducibility of the respective preparation, it is recommended that the pellet fractions consist of similar pellets. This measure eliminates the need to homogenize the individual pellet fractions prior to mixing, and no settling or other decomposition processes occur during storage. Furthermore, homogeneous pellet fractions—i.e., pellet fractions whose pellets are identical in composition and size, apart from process-related fluctuations—facilitate uncomplicated dosing for various plant-specific formulations.

[0010] In order to better specify the structure of the plant substrate resulting from a preparation according to the invention, each pellet fraction can contain exactly one main ingredient. Accordingly, the residual moisture content and thus the swelling behavior can be specified separately for each pellet fraction and thus for each main ingredient, so that, for example, the fillers required for the structure of the plant substrate can exhibit preferential swelling behavior compared to the other main ingredients. Furthermore, the mixing of preparations is facilitated by a recipe tailored to the main ingredients. Preferably, the individual pellet fractions each comprise at least 95% of a main ingredient. Furthermore, auxiliary substances for pelleting or for improving physical properties, such as swelling behavior, can be secondary components of the pellet fractions.An additive to improve pelletizing ability can be, for example, starch or molasses.

[0011] A light and loose base structure of the planting substrate, which facilitates good root formation, can be ensured by using fillers that account for at least 40% by weight. Due to the low density of the fillers, they can occupy the majority of the total volume.

[0012] To supply plants with the most important basic nutrients, basic substances can have a proportion of at least 20% by weight.

[0013] To tailor the substrate properties to the individual nutrient requirements of different plant species, fertilizers can be a main ingredient in a proportion of at least 10% by weight. Flexible adaptation is possible through different pellet fractions depending on their nutrient requirements.

[0014] To produce a plant substrate with favorable physicochemical properties, depending on the other ingredients and species-specific preferences, it may be advantageous for additives, preferably in a proportion of at least 5% by weight, to form a main ingredient. These can improve the substrate's properties with regard to, for example, pH, water retention, and nutrient storage. Additives such as exfoliating clay, biochar, or rock flour, as well as diatomaceous earth, glycerin, or synthetic polymers, can be used for this purpose.

[0015] In a particularly preferred embodiment, plant seeds can be included in the preparation. This facilitates the selection of a formulation tailored to the plant seeds and also enables rapid planting of larger areas in extremely few steps. The plant seeds can either be pressed into pellets of a pellet fraction or be provided loose in the preparation. The invention also relates to a method for producing a preparation according to the invention, wherein different pellet fractions are produced by compressing the main ingredients and the individual pellet fractions are mixed in a predetermined proportion adapted for the cultivation of a specific plant species.In the underlying pelleting process, it is crucial that the residual moisture content of the main ingredients before pelleting is between 9 and 16%, preferably 12-14%, as deviations from this can lead to charring or disintegration of the resulting pellets. During pellet pressing, temperatures of 70-120°C can be used, which, on the one hand, ensures a stable pellet shape and, on the other hand, partially sterilizes bacteria and fungi. Consequently, microbiological spoilage, for example, due to mold growth during storage, is prevented. For the blending of the individual pellet fractions, recipes can be provided that provide a different mixture of the main ingredients depending on the plant genus.Before cultivating the respective plant, the pellet fractions can be mixed according to the recipe, thus creating a plant substrate with optimized growth conditions for the plant species used.

[0016] The invention also relates to a method for producing a plant substrate from a preparation according to the invention, wherein a liquid, preferably water, is added to swell the pellets of the individual pellet fractions. During the swelling process initiated thereby, the volume of the preparation can increase to, for example, more than 200%, preferably more than 300%, particularly preferably more than 500%, thereby providing a loose substrate for planting seeds, seedlings, and cuttings, for expanding the planting volume of potted plants by repotting, and for improving existing plant substrates in the home, garden, and balcony. Effective microorganisms can be added during the swelling process to further improve soil conditions. Brief description of the invention

[0017] The drawing shows the subject matter of the invention as an example, in a schematic flow diagram.

[0018] Ways to implement the invention

[0019] A possible embodiment of a preparation 1 for producing a plant substrate 2 comprises pellets with various main ingredients 3, 4, 5, 6, wherein fillers 3, base materials 4, fertilizers 5 and additives 6 can be provided. These main ingredients 3, 4, 5, 6 can be dried according to the invention to a residual moisture content of 9 to 16%, preferably 12-14%, before they are each fed to a pelletizing device 7 in order to obtain pellets from the main ingredients 3, 4, 5, 6 during pelletization at preferably 70-120 °C. These pellets have a total residual moisture content of less than 15%, i.e. across all pellet fractions of a preparation 1 according to the invention.

[0020] According to the invention, similar pellets can be produced for each main ingredient 3, 4, 5, 6, which preferably form a pellet fraction stored in a separate storage unit 8. Furthermore, seeds 9 can be added to the preparation 1 according to the invention.

[0021] To produce a preparation 1 according to the invention, pellets of the individual pellet fractions from the reservoirs 8 are mixed in a mixer 10 in a ratio corresponding to the recipe according to a predetermined recipe. By adding a liquid 11, preferably water, to the resulting preparation 1, a plant substrate 2 can be produced which has a significantly larger volume than preparation 1.

[0022] Examples of recipes for a preparation according to the invention can have the following proportions with regard to the main ingredients 3, 4, 5, 6: 1 for vegetable cultivation

[0023] 50% by weight fillers

[0024] 40 wt% raw materials

[0025] 5% by weight fertilizer

[0026] 5% by weight additives.

[0027] The fillers consist of half coconut fiber and forest wood chips, while the base materials consist of half biogas substrate and bark compost. In this example, the fertilizer is sheep's wool, and rock flour is used as an additive. Coconut fiber and forest wood chips, like biogas substrate and bark compost, can form separate pellet fractions, so that the resulting preparation consists of 25 wt.% coconut fiber pellet fraction, 25 wt.% forest wood chips pellet fraction, 20 wt.% biogas substrate pellet fraction, 20 wt.% bark compost pellet fraction, 5 wt.% sheep's wool pellet fraction, and 5 wt.% rock flour pellet fraction.

[0028] Recipe 2 for herb cultivation

[0029] 40 wt.% fillers

[0030] 50% by weight of raw materials

[0031] 10% by weight additives

[0032] The fillers include coconut fiber and forest wood chips, while the base materials are biogas substrate, bark compost, and green waste compost. Rock flour is used as an additive. The resulting preparation consists of 30 wt.% coconut fiber pellets, 10 wt.% forest wood chips pellets, 10 wt.% biogas substrate pellets, 20 wt.% bark compost pellets, 20 wt.% green waste compost pellets, and 10 wt.% rock flour pellets. Recipe 3 for filling raised beds

[0033] 50% by weight fillers

[0034] 40% by weight of raw materials

[0035] 10 wt.% additives. The fillers comprise forest wood chips, while the base materials are half biogas substrate and half bark compost. The resulting preparation consists of 50 wt.% forest wood chips pellets, 20 wt.% biogas substrate pellets, 20 wt.% bark compost pellets, and 10 wt.% rock flour pellets.

[0036] Recipe 3 for greening roofs

[0037] 60% by weight fillers

[0038] 20 wt.% raw materials

[0039] 15% by weight additives. The fillers consist of forest wood chips, and the base material is bark compost. Rock flour is used as an additive. The resulting preparation consists of 60% by weight of a pellet fraction of forest wood chips, 20% by weight of a pellet fraction of bark compost, 15% by weight of a pellet fraction of rock flour, and 5% by weight of seeds.

Claims

Patent claims 1. Preparation (1) for producing a plant substrate (2), which comprises main ingredients (3, 4, 5, 6) pressed into pellets, wherein on the one hand fillers (3) and on the other hand base materials (4) or fertilizers (5) are provided as main ingredients (3, 4, 5, 6), characterized in that the pellets have a residual moisture content of less than 15% and different pellet fractions, each with different ingredients, are provided.

2. Preparation (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that each pellet fraction consists of similar pellets.

3. Preparation (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that each pellet fraction has exactly one main ingredient (3, 4, 5, 6).

4. Preparation (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the fillers (3) have a proportion of at least 40 wt.%.

5. Preparation (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the basic materials (4) have a proportion of at least 20 wt.%.

6. Preparation (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that fertilizers (5) in a proportion of at least 10 wt.% form a main ingredient (3, 4, 5, 6).

7. Preparation (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that additives (6) in a proportion of at least 5 wt.% form a main ingredient (3, 4, 5, 6).

8. Preparation (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that plant seeds (9) are provided in the preparation (1).

9. A method for producing a preparation (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that first different pellet fractions are produced by pressing the main ingredients (3, 4, 5, 6) and the individual pellet fractions are mixed in a predetermined proportion adapted for the cultivation of a plant species.

10. A method for producing a plant substrate (2) from a preparation (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that water is added to the preparation (1) to swell the pellets of the individual pellet fractions.

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