Planting system

Abstract

The present invention involve replicating soil layering principles with specific microbiological composites to achieve an organic nutrient cycle to sustain a controlled agricultural planting productio

Description

Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a controlled agricultural planting system for both industrial and domestic applications. In particular, the system uses specific structural forms in conjunction with soil compositions to provide organic nutrient and gaseous cycles that sustain plant organs for growth. Background to the Invention Controlled agricultural grow systems provide the ability to produce plants in environments which are not suited to the optimal growth of the intended growing plant. This is done through control of the surrounding atmosphere of the plant and / or the control of the area around the root organs. Often the environment is necessarily artificial as it is made up of components which do not occur naturally within the surrounding planting area. Controlled agricultural grow planting systems for root organs generally comprise two broad aspects; a grow substrate and a containing system to hold the growing substrate in which the plant root can establish itself in. The purpose of having a containing system combined with a grow substrate system is to control the area around the root organs to a specified condition. When full control of the area around the root organs is gained, it provides the ability to provide the plant with the exact mixture of ingredients for optimum growth and help prevent pests. For a controlled root zone planting environment to work, the system must have inputs which feed the plant during its growth cycle. These growth inputs have a variety of compositions to suit the specified root growing environment. This direct input or feed is replacing a process which would have existed in the natural environment where the plant can grow and sustain its life. This natural process is the breakdown and accumulation of nutrients from organic matter within the soil structure, or otherwise known as the soil nutrient cycle. Because these inputs are generally not naturally existing and always available, they require resources from the operator (grower) to either make them or to buy them and then apply them into the root zones. At commercial levels these inputs which are purchased have a huge impact on the profitability of the production. Furthermore, resources are needed to be spent monitoring and managing the amount of nutrients that are available for plant growth. If this nutrient application is incorrect the plant will suffer at far greater levels that if they existed in a natural growing environment. Due to the controlled root environment generally not being in a balanced natural state, there is a loss of other natural processes that may have existed in combination to maintain a balanced system. Due to the loss of these other auxiliary systems, extra effort is needed to ensure the root environment is of optimum health. Examples of this effort can be in the form of having to replace growing mediums to ensure a state of sterilisation after every grow cycle or applying pesticides. A need exists for a planting system which ameliorates the abovementioned problems. Summary to the Invention According to a first aspect to the invention there is provided a planting system comprising: 1. a growth substrate; and 2. a container for the growth substrate; wherein the growth substrate comprises a) a gaseous exchange area; b) an aerobic growth area; and c) an anaerobic growth area. The gaseous exchange area, aerobic growth area and anaerobic growth area are preferably discrete areas and may be vertically stacked upon each other. In one embodiment, the gaseous exchange area, aerobic growth area and anaerobic growth area are layered within the container. In a preferred embodiment, the gaseous exchange area is exposed to the atmosphere, and the anaerobic growth area is not exposed to the atmosphere. The container for the growth substrate may be partially or wholly impermeable to gases (all or in part). In one embodiment, the gaseous exchange area, aerobic growth area and / or anaerobic growth area are seeded with preselected microorganisms. The microorganisms may be selected from fungi and bacteria. The microorganisms may be dormant and subsequently activated. The planting system according to this aspect to the present invention is preferably adapted to sustain the ethylene-oxygen cycle. In addition, or as an alternative, the planting system may be adapted to sustain endo and / or ectomycorrhizal interaction. The planting system according to this aspect to the invention is preferably adapted to receive the root area of a plant within the growth substrate. The root area may be received within the gaseous exchange area, the aerobic growth area and the anaerobic growth area. In a preferred embodiment, the container is conically shaped. In one embodiment of the present invention, one or more of the gaseous exchange area, the aerobic growth area and / or the anaerobic growth area comprise soil. According to a second aspect to the present invention there is provided a kit for planting system comprising: 1. a growth substrate; and 2. a container for the growth substrate; wherein the growth substrate comprises a) a gaseous exchange area; b) an aerobic growth area; and c) an anaerobic growth area. In this aspect to the present invention, the aerobic growth area and / or the anaerobic growth area may be seeded with preselected microorganisms which may be dormant and be capable of subsequent activation, for example, in situ. Detailed Description The invention provides a controlled root grow environment comprising a structural containing system of either modular or fixed in design which has the ability to provide both aerobic and anaerobic digestion of organic matter through a porous material top layer and an impermeable bottom layer; The 3 layers of growing substrate may comprise: 1. Top Layer - aerobic environment of container 2. Mid Layer - aerobic environment of container 3. Bottom Layer- anaerobic environment of container. Specified formulations or microbes (microorganisms) within each layer that are able to interact with each other and within the aerobic and anaerobic conditions of the two growth areas. The advantage of the invention is the creation of a plant root environment that can conduct a natural nutrient cycle that feeds the plant growth rather than an environment where an operator (grower) feeds the plant directly. This is completed through the provision of an environment which supports both aerobic and anaerobic digestion of organic matter and a soil formulation that contains microbes in specific formulations within each layer. In one embodiment there is a top layer included in the grow container which is a material that allows gas exchange to happen between the atmosphere and the top and mid layers of the growth substrate (growth medium). In one embodiment there is a bottom layer of the grow container which is a material that is impermeable and prevents gas exchange from happening with the bottom layer of the growth substrate (growth medium). In one embodiment, the top layer of the grow substrate may comprise a varying mixture of: • Easily decomposable materials with a digestible textural base that act as a casing dressing (99%) • Microbe inoculums for primary decomposition (<1 %) which is situated on the top section of the container. The microbe inoculums may include any one or more of: • Bifidobacterium animalis, • Bifidobacterium bifidu, • Bifidobacterium longum, • Bacillus subtilis, • Lactobacillus acidophilus, • Lactobacillus buchneri, • Lactobacillus bulgaricus. • Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus delbrueckii, Lactobacillus fermentum, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactococcus diacetylactis, Lactococcus lactis, Rhodopseudomonas palustris, Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Streptococcus thermophilus. In one embodiment, the mid layer of the grow substrate, has an aggregate base structure that has a density that enables absorption of the organic carbon based structurers that flow down from the top layer. This may comprise a varying mixture of: • Microbe inoculums for mid soil (<1%) • Compost (50%-80%) • Vermiculite (5%-10%) • Biochar (1%) • Myco vermi castings (1-5%) • Diatoms (1%) • Alfalfa chips (1%) • Humate powder (1 %) • Black peat (2-5%) • Aloe dry waist (1-3%) • Limestone powder (1 %-3%) • Rock dust (1%) • Sandy loam soil (10-50%) which is situated between the top and bottom soil layers of the container. In one embodiment, the bottom layer of the grow substrate may have a high density aggregate structure that has absorbable saturation capacity holding the nutrients that flow from layers above. This may comprise a varying mixture of: • Microbe inoculums for bottom soil (<1%) • Pearlite (5-10%) • Sandy loam soil (30-70%) • Diatoms (1%) • Black peat (2-10%) • Compost (20-70%) • Hydrogel (1%-5%) • Rock dust (1%) • Aloe dry waist (1-3%) • Limestone powder (1 %-3%) • Vermiculite (5%-10%) • Bio char (1%) which is situated below the lower layer and in the anaerobic section of the system. In one embodiment, the container is v shaped in cross section (conical) in the anaerobic section of the container to reduce the volume of growth substrate but still provide maximum anaerobic functionality. Brief Description of Drawings The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of an embodiment thereof, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a cross section of a planting system according to the invention having three microbial layers which are held in the grow container. Figure 2 shows a grow container that has a gaseous exchange section and a non-gaseous exchange section. Figure 3 shows a v shape in the grow container to help reduce volume but still achieve optimisation of the planting system. Detailed Description of Drawings Figure 1 shows a cross section of a planting system 10 according to the invention having three microbial layers (12, 13, 14) which are held in a grow container 17. The top layer 12 is a casing layer and is the gaseous exchange layer / area. The second mid layer 13 is comprised of soil and aerobic microbes (microorganisms) and is the aerobic growth area. The third (bottom) layer 14 is comprised of soil and anaerobic microbes (microorganisms) and is the anaerobic growth area. The container 17 is supported in a frame 15. The planting system 10 is adapted to receive the root area 16 of a plant 10 within the growth substrate. The root area is received within the gaseous exchange area 12, the aerobic growth area 13, and the anaerobic growth area. Figure 2 shows a cross section of a container 20 which comprises a gaseous exchange section 21 made up of mesh and breathable material which provides for gaseous exchange with the surrounding atmosphere of the planting system and a non-gaseous exchange section 22 made up of any non-breathable material or composite. Figure 3 shows a v shape in grow container 30 to help reduce volume 31 but still achieve optimisation of the planting system. The present invention provides an agricultural planting growth system comprising a soil growing substrate containing system that has aerobic and anaerobic capabilities including aerobic microbial soil substrates and anaerobic microbial soil substrates. The present invention teaches a self sustainable agricultural grow system which contains layers of microbes in such a manner that it can provide a nutrient cycle for the breakdown of organic matter. The container growth structure utilises a form that allows for the aerobic and anaerobic interaction as gas exchange capabilities which sustains a suitable ethylene-oxygen cycle in the soil structure. The ethylene-oxygen cycle is a critical regulator of the activity of soil microorganisms produced in anaerobic microsites. The shape of the container may be in a V structure which allows for a greater economy during transport but which does not hamper the efficiency of the microbes within the anaerobic section. The microbes may remain largely unactive in the transported goods. These microbes may be subsequently activated through a feeding protocol which is supplied. Variation in shape and construction method will facilitate varying growth. Sensors (including biosensors) may be applied to the growth system in specific places within the soil (growth substrate) which drive data driven decisions and shape dimensions in a feedback loop. This data may allow a system-biological monitoring procedure that helps with building the healthiest plant root organs. The roots organs may be further enhanced by endo and ectomycorrhizal interaction with the plant root organs which facilitate the feeding and nutrition of the plant, endo and ectomycorrhizal interaction is a symbiotic association of fungi with the feeder roots of higher plants. The present invention provides that there is production of C02 (carbon dioxide) from the microbes (enzymes) which is a key ingredient of plant growth. The recipe of the soil layers may be of a specific function to the healthy functioning of the soil. The layers consist of 3 layers. Layer 1: Casing soil Layer Layer 2: Mid soil Layer Layer 3: Bottom soil layer Laver 1: Function - Layer 1 or the casing (gaseous exchange) layer starts the system with preaccumulated nutrient base. This nutrient base has the capability of instantly feeding the lower layers and to activate the microbes and the nutrient flow. The second function of the casing layer is to provide protection against pests through the application of pest repelling formulations. Laver 2: Function - Layer 2 or the mid layers facilitates the slow breakdown of organic substrate that contain various materials to sustain high nutrient accumulation the feed into the microbial cycle. Laver 3: Function - Layer 3 or the bottom layers are absorbent in composition so as to accumulate the nutrients that flow from layer 2. This flow of nutrient is through a process called oscillation and is carried out by the flow of moisture and gasses. These nutrients are then made available to the lower root organs. The nutrient flow may be under the action of gravity.

Claims

1. A planting system comprising:

1. a growth substrate; and2. a container for the growth substrate; wherein the growth substrate comprisesa) a gaseous exchange area;b) an aerobic growth area; andc) an anaerobic growth area.

2. A planting system as according to claim 1 wherein the gaseous exchange area, aerobic growth area and anaerobic growth area are discrete areas.

3. A planting system according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the gaseous exchange area, aerobic growth area and anaerobic growth area are vertically stacked upon each other.

4. A planting system according to any preceding claim wherein the gaseous exchange area, aerobic growth area and anaerobic growth area are layered within the container.

5. A planting system according to any preceding claim wherein the gaseous exchange area is exposed to the atmosphere, and the anaerobic growth area is not exposed to the atmosphere.

6. A planting system according to any preceding claim wherein all or part of the container for the growth substrate is impermeable to gases.

7. A planting system according to any preceding claim wherein the gaseous exchange area, aerobic growth area and / or anaerobic growth area are seeded with preselected microorganisms.

8. A planting system according to claim XX wherein the microorganisms are selected from fungi and bacteria.

9. A planting system according to any preceding claim wherein the microorganisms are dormant and subsequently activated.

10. A planting system according to any preceding claim wherein the system is adapted to sustain the ethylene-oxygen cycle.

11. A planting system according to any preceding claim wherein the system is adapted to sustain endo and / or ectomycorrhizal interaction.

12. A planting system according to any preceding claim adapted to receive the root area of a plant within the growth substrate.

13. A planting system according to claim XX wherein the root area is received within the gaseous exchange area, the aerobic growth area and the anaerobic growth area.

14. A planting system according to any preceding claim wherein the container is conically shaped.

15. A kit for planting system comprising:

1. a growth substrate; and2. a container for the growth substrate;wherein the growth substrate comprisesa) a gaseous exchange area;b) an aerobic growth area; andc) an anaerobic growth area.and wherein the aerobic growth area and / or the anaerobic growth area are seeded with preselected microorganisms which are dormant and be capable of subsequent activation.11

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