Culture soil for ericaceous plants

Abstract

To provide a culture soil for ericaceous plants, which can be rendered acidic without the use of peat moss and which enables harvesting of mushrooms.SOLUTION: A cultivation soil for ericaceous plants comprises bark chips and a fungus bed block or fungus bed powder containing saprobes.SELECTED DRAWING: None

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a culture soil for Ericaceae plants used when cultivating Ericaceae plants such as blueberries.

Background Art

[0002] Blueberries are adapted to a wide range of climates from cold regions to warm regions and are cultivated in many areas in Japan. Although blueberries are Ericaceae plants, Ericaceae plants generally prefer acidic soil. For this reason, as shown in Cited Document 1, peat moss showing acidity is used as a soil improvement material in the cultivation of blueberries. Also, blueberries are known to prefer soil with high drainage and aeration.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] When cultivating blueberries using peat moss, there may be the following problems. (1) The chafer beetle is known as a pest of blueberries. The chafer beetle lays eggs in the soil, and its larvae damage the roots of blueberries. Since peat moss can become an egg-laying place for the chafer beetle or a nutrient source for its larvae, it is necessary to take measures against the chafer beetle. (2) Peat moss has high water retention, and when used for blueberries that prefer drainage and aeration, it is necessary to combine it with materials that supplement these properties. (3) Since peat moss is collected in limited areas, there are concerns about its impact on the environment as demand increases, and alternative materials are being sought.

[0005] The present invention aims to provide a culture soil for Ericaceae plants that can be used to create acidic soil without using peat moss and can also harvest mushrooms.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The present invention relates to a culture soil for Ericaceae plants, which is characterized by comprising bark chips and a mycelium block or mycelium powder containing saprophytic fungi. The saprophytic fungi include at least one of Lentinus edodes, Hypsizygus marmoreus, Pleurotus ostreatus, and Pleurotus eryngii.

Effects of the Invention

[0007] By means of the above-described means for solving the problems, the present invention can obtain at least one of the following effects. (1) Since peat moss, which serves as an egg-laying site for the Japanese beetle or a nutrient source for its larvae, is not used, damage caused by the Japanese beetle can be suppressed. (2) Because the bark chips have high drainage and ventilation properties, they become soil preferred by blueberries. (3) Since the bark chips are made from thinned wood and waste materials generated in neighboring mountain forests, the environmental load is low. (4) In addition to the blueberry harvesting season, mushrooms such as Lentinus edodes, Hypsizygus marmoreus, Pleurotus ostreatus, and Pleurotus eryngii, which are used as saprophytic fungi, can be harvested, which is also effective for agricultural management.

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0008] [Example 1] (1) Composition of the culture soil for Ericaceae plants The culture soil for Ericaceae plants of the present invention is used when cultivating Ericaceae plants such as blueberries (Fig. 1). The culture soil for Ericaceae plants of the present invention is a mixture of bark chips and a mycelium block or mycelium powder containing saprophytic fungi.

[0009] (2) Bark chips A bark chip is obtained by crushing bark (such as that of Cryptomeria japonica or Pinus densiflora) into chip form. Conventionally, bark has limited processing and usage methods and is often regarded as industrial waste. However, in the present invention, by crushing bark into chips for utilization, it becomes an environmentally friendly culture soil. Also, since bark chips are made from thinned wood and waste materials generated in neighboring mountain forests, the environmental load is low. Due to its high drainage and aeration properties, bark chips form a soil preferred by plants of the Ericaceae family such as blueberries. However, when used alone, bark chips have problems in terms of water retention and the healthy formation of soil flora. Therefore, in the present invention, by adding saprophytic bacteria, the saprophytic bacteria decompose organic matter to form water retention and soil flora.

[0010] (3) Mushroom bed block / mushroom bed powder The present invention is a culture soil for Ericaceae plants containing saprophytic bacteria that decompose bark chips. The saprophytic bacteria are included in a mushroom bed block or mushroom bed powder and mixed with the bark chips. As saprophytic bacteria, mushrooms such as Pholiota nameko that prefer bark, Lactarius deliciosus, Russula vesca, and Pleurotus ostreatus are suitable. Note that since saprophytic bacteria may die when exposed to direct sunlight, when using the culture soil for Ericaceae plants of the present invention, it is preferable to mulch the upper layer with bark or the like again.

[0011] (4) Application to Ericaceae plants Plants of the Ericaceae family such as blueberries are known to prefer the following types of soil. · Being acidic · Having high drainage · Having high aeration The culture soil for Ericaceae plants of the present invention can be made into acidic soil without using peat moss because the saprophytic bacteria decompose the bark and acidify it. Since peat moss, which serves as an egg-laying site and larval nutrition source for the flea beetle, is not used, damage caused by the flea beetle can be suppressed. In addition, the bark chips are used to create soil with high drainage and aeration properties. They also decompose organic matter by saprophytic bacteria, forming water retention and soil flora.

[0012] (5) Crop rotation For example, it is common to plant and improve the soil for blueberries (highbush type, rabbiteye type) in October. The culture soil for Ericaceae plants of the present invention is used during these operations. The main harvesting periods for blueberries are from June to July for the highbush type and from July to September for the rabbiteye type. During other periods, mushrooms such as Pleurotus ostreatus, Laccaria bicolor, Volvariella volvacea, and Macrocybe gigantea, which are used as saprophytic bacteria, are harvested, which is also effective for agricultural management.

Claims

1. A culture soil for Ericaceae plants, comprising: chipped bark and a mycelium block or mycelium powder containing saprophytic fungi.

2. The culture soil for Ericaceae plants according to claim 1, wherein the saprophytic fungi include at least one of Pleurotus ostreatus, Lentinula edodes, Volvariella volvacea, and Pleurotus eryngii. The culture soil for Ericaceae plants according to claim 1.