Soil modifiers and methods for modifying soil

Abstract

This invention provides a soil conditioner containing olive meal with improved sustained fertilizing effect. [Solution] A soil conditioner comprising olive meal and oil cake other than olive meal.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a soil conditioner and a method for modifying soil.

Background Art

[0002] Olive oil is used as a cooking oil in various dishes and also as an ingredient in cosmetics and the like. Olive oil is produced from olive fruits through an oil extraction process. In this case, a large amount of olive pomace (hereinafter referred to as "olive pomace") is generated after the olive oil is recovered. Therefore, for example, it has been proposed to use olive pomace as feed. More specifically, there is a feed containing dried olive pomace powder obtained by drying olive pomace produced when extracting oil from olive fruits under stirring (Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, the use of olive pomace as feed is limited to a part, and most of it is discarded as industrial waste. Conventionally, chemical fertilizers have been used for the purpose of increasing the yield of agricultural crops. However, chemical fertilizers, especially general chemical fertilizers, have a quick-acting fertilizer effect but no sustainability, and it is necessary to apply fertilizer multiple times according to the growth situation of plants. At the production sites of agricultural products where the aging of farmers is further progressing, there is a growing demand for labor saving in the multiple fertilization operations, and the development of a soil conditioner that can supply fertilizer components for a certain period with fewer fertilization times is required.

[0005] The objective of this disclosure is to provide a soil conditioner containing olive meal with improved sustained fertilizing effect. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] As a result of diligent research, the inventors of this invention discovered that olive cake and other oil cakes can be used in combination to effectively serve as a soil conditioner, thus completing the present invention. This disclosure includes the following aspects: [1] A soil conditioner comprising olive meal and oil cake other than olive meal. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to this disclosure, it is possible to provide a soil conditioner containing olive meal with improved sustained fertilizing effect. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This figure shows the results of the analysis of the bacterial flora contained in the soil after the growth evaluation test. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below. The embodiment described below is illustrative and will not be construed as limiting. Each embodiment disclosed herein can be combined with any other features disclosed herein. If multiple upper and lower limits are given for a particular parameter, any combination of these upper and lower limits can be used to create a suitable numerical range. The lower and / or upper limits of the numerical ranges described herein may be replaced with numerical values ​​within that range, as shown in the examples. The expression "X~Y" indicating a numerical range means "X or greater and Y or less". If a particular description given for one embodiment also applies to other embodiments, that description may be omitted in the other embodiments.

[0010] [Soil conditioner] The soil conditioner in one embodiment of this disclosure is a soil conditioner that includes olive meal and oil cake other than olive meal. A soil conditioner is a substance that, when supplied to the soil, modifies it to make it more suitable for plant growth. As shown in the examples described later, the soil conditioner according to this embodiment provides the same effect as a chemical fertilizer in terms of plant growth. The soil conditioner of the present invention can be used on any plant, and is not limited to leafy vegetables such as bok choy, komatsuna, lettuce, and spinach, but can also be used on fruiting vegetables such as tomatoes, grains such as rice, wheat, soybeans, and corn, fruit trees such as apples and oranges, trees, and flowers. In particular, it is preferable to use the soil conditioner on plants that are sensitive to acidic soil, such as spinach.

[0011] The total content of olive cake and oil cake in the total mass (100% by mass) of the soil conditioner is preferably 50 to 100% by mass, more preferably 70 to 99% by mass, and even more preferably 75 to 95% by mass, based on dry weight.

[0012] The mass ratio (dry weight) of olive cake to oil cake is preferably 1:5 to 1:30, more preferably 1:6 to 1:20, and even more preferably 1:8 to 1:15.

[0013] The soil conditioner may contain moisture. The moisture content relative to the total mass of the soil conditioner is preferably 0 to 60% by mass, more preferably 1 to 50% by mass, even more preferably 5 to 50% by mass, and even more preferably 10 to 40% by mass.

[0014] In one embodiment, the soil conditioner may contain additives such as rice bran and bone meal in addition to olive cake and other oil cakes, to the extent that it does not impair the effects of the present disclosure. The content of the additives is preferably 20% by mass or less, more preferably 10% by mass or less, and even more preferably 5% by mass or less, based on the total mass (100% by mass) of the soil conditioner.

[0015] <Olive lees> Olive pomace refers to the residue remaining after removing some components, such as oil, from olive fruit. From the perspective of industrial waste recycling, it is preferable that olive pomace is the residue remaining after removing oil from olive fruit during the oil extraction process. Olive pomace does not need to be completely free of oil; it may contain some oil. Alternatively, it may be the residue obtained by further extracting specific components from olive pomace using a solvent such as ethanol. Olive pomace may be pressed, ground, or pulverized. It may also be dried, or it may be used in a state that contains moisture without drying. Using a state that contains moisture without drying can reduce the cost associated with drying. If it is in particulate form, the average particle size is preferably, for example, 0.5 to 300 mm. One method for obtaining olive pomace with a predetermined average particle size is to pulverize the olive pomace using a pulverizer or the like until it reaches the predetermined particle size. Examples of such pulverizers include hammer mills, cylinder mills, and stone mills. The average particle size can be measured, for example, according to JIS Z 8801-1:2019. Furthermore, the olive pomace may be dry or contain moisture. The presence of moisture (for example, moisture derived from olive fruit) is thought to promote the fermentation of the oil cake mixed with the olive pomace, thereby changing nitrogen and other components in the soil into a form that is easily utilized by plants, and thus leading to improved fertilizer effectiveness.

[0016] <Oil cake> "Oil cake" refers to the residue remaining after removing oil from oilseed raw materials. For example, it refers to the residue remaining after removing oil from oilseed raw materials using a press or the like in the oil extraction process. The oil does not need to be completely removed and may contain some oil. In this disclosure, oil cake other than olive cake is used as the oil cake. Examples of plant-derived oil cakes include those obtained after extracting oil from seeds of plants such as rapeseed, soybean, cottonseed, sesame, and peanut, excluding olive. Also, for example, examples of fish-derived oil cakes include those obtained by boiling raw fish such as sardine, herring, and杂鱼 in water, removing oil and moisture with a press, and drying the remaining components.

[0017] In one embodiment, the "oil cake other than olive cake" preferably includes rapeseed cake or soybean cake, which are by-produced in large quantities in the oilseed industry, and more preferably includes rapeseed cake. The oil cake may also be a pressed product, a milled product, a pulverized product, or a further dried product, similar to olive cake. When in particulate form, its average particle diameter is preferably, for example, 0.5 to 300 mm. As a method for obtaining an oil cake having a predetermined average particle diameter, similar to the case of olive cake, the oil cake can be pulverized with a pulverizer or the like until it reaches the predetermined particle diameter. The average particle diameter can be measured in the same manner as for olive cake. The oil cake may be a dried product or may contain moisture.

[0018] In one embodiment, the soil conditioner can also be used as a soil pH regulator. Generally, soil tends to have its pH decrease during the plant growth period due to leaching of bases in the soil by rainfall, excessive application of physiologically acidic fertilizers such as ammonium sulfate, and the influence of hydrogen ions generated when plants absorb nutrients from the roots. However, by supplying the soil conditioner of this embodiment to the soil, it becomes difficult for the soil pH to decrease. Therefore, in one embodiment, the soil conditioner can act as a soil pH regulator.

[0019] In one embodiment, the soil conditioner can also be used as a soil bacterial flora diversifier. Diversifying the soil bacterial flora means increasing the number of various bacterial taxa contained in the soil. Since the soil conditioner of this embodiment tends to diversify the bacterial flora in the soil compared to chemical fertilizers when mixed and used in the soil, it can act as a soil bacterial flora diversifier. Soil bacterial flora can be analyzed using amplicon sequencing analysis (16S ribosomal RNA analysis) targeting 16S rDNA (16S rRNA) partial base sequences. Specifically, this can be done by extracting total DNA from a soil sample, reading its sequence, and comparing it with base sequences registered in 16S ribosomal RNA databases (for example, the NCBI (National Center for Biotechnology Information) international base sequence database (Genbank) and Greengenes (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL))).

[0020] In one embodiment, the soil conditioner can also be used as a continuous cropping disorder inhibitor. One of the causes of continuous cropping disorders is the increase in pathogenic microorganisms. When the soil conditioner of this embodiment is supplied to the soil, it diversifies the bacterial flora in the soil, thereby suppressing the disruption of antagonism between bacteria and preventing the increase of specific bacteria, including pathogenic microorganisms, which can cause plant diseases and poor growth. Thus, it can act as a continuous cropping disorder inhibitor.

[0021] [Methods for improving soil] A soil modification method in one embodiment of the present disclosure is a soil modification method that includes supplying a soil modifier to the soil. Here, soil modification includes making the soil less susceptible to a decrease in pH, diversifying the soil's bacterial flora, and modifying the soil to make it less prone to continuous cropping problems. The method of supplying the soil is not particularly limited; it may be mixed into the soil as a base fertilizer, spread on the soil, placed on the soil surface, or buried in the soil. Furthermore, the supply of the soil conditioner to the soil may be applied to the entire soil surface or to localized areas, depending on the type and growth stage of the plants growing there. Furthermore, there are no particular restrictions on the frequency of application to the soil. It can be applied to the soil as a base fertilizer 1 to 60 days before sowing or transplanting, preferably 1 to 30 days before, or as a top dressing after sowing or transplanting.

[0022] A non-limiting list of exemplary embodiments and combinations of exemplary embodiments of this disclosure are disclosed below. [1] A soil conditioner comprising olive meal and oil cake other than olive meal. [2] The soil conditioner according to [1], wherein the oil cake comprises one or more oil cakes selected from the group consisting of rapeseed oil cake and soybean oil cake. [3] The soil conditioner according to [1] or [2], comprising the olive cake and the oil cake in a mass ratio (dry weight) of 1:5 to 1:30. [4] A soil conditioner described in any of [1] to [3], which is a crop rotation disorder inhibitor. [5] A soil modifier according to any one of [1] to [3], which is a soil bacterial flora diversifier. A method for improving soil, comprising supplying a soil conditioner described in any of [6], [1] to [5] to the soil. [7] The soil modification method according to [6], which includes diversifying the bacterial flora of the soil by supplying the soil modifier to the soil. [8] The soil modification method according to [6], which includes modifying the soil to be less susceptible to continuous cropping problems by supplying the soil modification agent to the soil. Each configuration and its combination in each embodiment is an example, and additions, omissions, substitutions, and other modifications can be made as appropriate without departing from the spirit of this disclosure. This disclosure is not limited by the embodiments. [Examples]

[0023] The present disclosure will be further illustrated by the following examples, but these examples will not limit the interpretation of the present disclosure.

[0024] As described below, olive meal, rapeseed oil cake, soil conditioner, and compound fertilizer were prepared as test samples, and chemical analysis was performed.

[0025] Olive pomace The oil used was a paste-like substance made from olive fruit, which was produced as a by-product in the oil extraction process using olive fruit as the raw material. This paste was then dried and ground (moisture content 3% by mass).

[0026] Rapeseed oil cake "J-Oil Mills Rapeseed Meal" (manufactured by J-Oil Mills Co., Ltd.) (dried and ground product, moisture content 10% by mass) was used.

[0027] • Soil conditioner The mixture used consisted of olive fruit paste (70% by mass), a by-product of the olive fruit oil extraction process, and the aforementioned rapeseed oil cake, mixed in a mass ratio of 1:3 (1:9 when converted to dry weight) (25% moisture content).

[0028] ·Chemical fertilizer The following compound fertilizers 1 and 2 were used. Compound fertilizer 1: "Double Quick S668" (manufactured by J-Cam Agri Co., Ltd.) Compound fertilizer 2: "Ecolong 413-70" (manufactured by J-Cam Agri Co., Ltd.)

[0029] (chemical analysis) For olive cake, rapeseed oil cake, and soil conditioners, the pH (H2O), electrical conductivity (EC), nutrient content (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, lime, magnesium), and carbon-nitrogen ratio were measured according to the Fertilizer Testing Methods (2022) of the Food and Agricultural Materials Inspection Center (FAMIC) as follows.

[0030] pH was measured in accordance with the Fertilizer Testing Method 3.3.a.

[0031] Electrical conductivity was measured in accordance with the Fertilizer Test Method 3.4.a.

[0032] Nitrogen measurements were performed in accordance with the Fertilizer Testing Method 4.1.1.a.

[0033] Phosphate levels were measured in accordance with the Fertilizer Testing Method 4.2.1.a.

[0034] Potassium levels were measured in accordance with the Fertilizer Testing Method 4.3.1.c.

[0035] The calcium content was measured in accordance with the Fertilizer Testing Method 4.5.1.a.

[0036] Magnesium levels were measured in accordance with the Fertilizer Testing Method 4.6.1.a.

[0037] The carbon-nitrogen ratio was measured in accordance with the Fertilizer Testing Method 4.11.2.a. The results are shown in Table 1.

[0038] [Table 1]

[0039] Next, growth evaluations and soil analyses were conducted for each test plot. [Growth evaluation] The effects of the test samples prepared above on the growth of Aoshima Unshu mandarins were evaluated. Test tree: Seedling of Aoshima Unshu mandarin orange (5-6 years old, approximately 1m tall) Test location: Unheated greenhouse within the Shizuoka Prefectural Agricultural and Forestry Technology Research Institute, Izu Agricultural Research Center Test Method: Each test sample was supplied to black poly pots (capacity approximately 14L, diameter 36cm, height 30cm) using a soil mixture of mountain soil and bark compost (product name: Kinox, manufactured by Watanabe Forestry Industry Co., Ltd.) in a ratio of 3:1. The nitrogen supply per test plot was kept equal. The test samples were supplied a total of seven times (May 23, June 9, July 7, August 9, September 8, October 6, November 9), adjusting the total supply amount while assuming a fertilizer efficiency of 70%. The specific nitrogen supply amounts (g / tree) are shown in Table 2. Three replicates were performed per tree for each test plot.

[0040] [Table 2] The numerical value indicates the nitrogen supply (g / tree).

[0041] An evaluation was conducted on five items as of December 8th (200 days after supply): tree height, tree width, trunk circumference, number of leaves, and leaf color. The evaluation results are shown in Table 3. Leaf color was assessed using a chlorophyll meter (SPAD-502, manufactured by MINOLTA). Before the test, 10 new leaves and 10 old leaves were examined, and after the test, 20 leaves were randomly selected regardless of whether they were new or old.

[0042] [Table 3]

[0043] As shown in Table 3, the soil conditioner test plot showed growth comparable to that of the chemical fertilizer test plot.

[0044] [Soil analysis] (chemical analysis) After the growth evaluation test, the pH (H2O), electrical conductivity (EC), and nutrient content (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium) of the soil were measured. The pH and electrical conductivity (EC) were measured using the same method as the chemical analysis of the test samples described above.

[0045] The measurements of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and magnesium were carried out as follows, in accordance with the method described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 5378622. First, any visible foreign matter was removed from the collected soil samples. Next, the samples were dried in an incubator at 50°C for 24-30 hours, and then foreign matter was removed using a sieve with a 1 mm mesh. The cations and anions of the obtained samples were analyzed using an ion chromatography apparatus. The analysis was conducted under the following conditions. Measurement conditions for anion analysis: Ion chromatograph: Manufactured by Toa DDK Corporation, model name IA-300 Column: Manufactured by Toa DDK, Product name: PCI-211, Length: 100mm, Inner diameter: 4.6mm Sample injection volume: 20 μL Column oven temperature: 39.7℃ Eluent: Mixture of 2.3 mM phthalic acid, 2.8 mM 6-amino-n-hexanoic acid, and 200 mM boric acid. Flow rate: 1.1mL / min Detector: Electrical conductivity detector Measured ion: N03 - , PO4 3- Measurement conditions for cation analysis: Ion chromatography system: (Manufactured by Toa DDK Corporation, model name: IA-300) Column: Manufactured by Toa DDK, Product name: PCI-322, Length: 250mm, Inner diameter: 4.6mm Sample injection volume: 20 μL Column oven temperature: 39.7℃ Eluent: 6M methanesulfonic acid Flow rate: 0.8mL / min Pixel: (Electrical conductivity detector) Measured ions: NH4-N, NO3-N, P2O5, K2O, CaO, MgO The amount of each ion was calculated by determining the peak area.

[0046] The results are shown in Table 4.

[0047] [Table 4]

[0048] Nitrogen is a particularly important component among the three major elements of fertilizer (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium), and it is known that a deficiency can impair plant growth. As shown in Table 2, the soil treatment group tended to have higher inorganic nitrogen content in the soil after the growth test. This suggests that soil treatment agents have improved fertilizer effectiveness compared to chemical fertilizers, and that it may be possible to reduce the number of fertilization applications. Furthermore, compared to chemical fertilizers, the decrease in pH was suppressed, suggesting its potential as a soil pH adjuster.

[0049] (biological analysis) The bacterial flora in the soil of each test plot was analyzed. The soil bacterial flora was analyzed using amplicon sequencing (16S ribosomal RNA analysis) targeting 16S rDNA (16S rRNA) partial sequences. Specifically, total DNA was extracted from soil samples, their sequences were read, and these sequences were compared with sequences registered in the 16S ribosomal RNA database (Greengenes (ver.13_8) (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL))). From the resulting bacterial flora analysis, the family, genus, and species levels of the bacterial flora were determined.

[0050] Figure 1 is a heatmap showing the top 30 bacterial species by relative abundance. Each row represents the same species. The specific species names of the top 30 bacterial species by relative abundance are as follows, from top to bottom in Figure 1. Note that the classifications in brackets [ ] are not definitive classifications and may change in the future.

[0051] (Names of the top 30 bacterial species by relative abundance) ·Bacteria Bacteroidetes [Saprospirae] [Saprospirales] Chitinophagaceae ·Bacteria Actinobacteria Actinobacteria Actinomycetales Mycobacteriaceae Mycobacterium ·Bacteria Actinobacteria Actinobacteria Actinomycetales Mycobacteriaceae Mycobacterium arupense ·Bacteria Actinobacteria Actinobacteria Actinomycetales Brevibacteriaceae Brevibacterium ·Bacteria Actinobacteria Actinobacteria Actinomycetales Micrococcaceae Arthrobacter ·Bacteria Actinobacteria Actinobacteria Actinomycetales Microbacteriaceae Rathayibacter ·Bacteria Actinobacteria Actinobacteria Actinomycetales Microbacteriaceae Salinibacterium ·Bacteria Actinobacteria Actinobacteria Actinomycetales Promicromonosporaceae Cellulosimicrobium ·Bacteria Actinobacteria Actinobacteria Actinomycetales Streptomycetaceae Streptomyces ·Bacteria Firmicutes Clostridia Clostridiales Lachnospiraceae ·Bacteria Firmicutes Bacilli Bacillales Bacillaceae Bacillus ·Bacteria Proteobacteria Gammaproteobacteria Pseudomonadales Moraxellaceae Perlucidibaca ·Bacteria Proteobacteria Gammaproteobacteria Enterobacteriales Enterobacteriaceae ·Bacteria Proteobacteria Gammaproteobacteria Xanthomonadales Xanthomonadaceae ·Bacteria Proteobacteria Gammaproteobacteria Xanthomonadales Xanthomonadaceae ·Bacteria Proteobacteria Gammaproteobacteria Xanthomonadales Xanthomonadaceae Stenotrophomonas ·Bacteria Proteobacteria Gammaproteobacteria Xanthomonadales Xanthomonadaceae Stenotrophomonas ·Bacteria Proteobacteria Gammaproteobacteria Xanthomonadales Xanthomonadaceae Pseudoxanthomonas ·Bacteria Proteobacteria Gammaproteobacteria Xanthomonadales Xanthomonadaceae ·Bacteria Bacteroidetes Bacteroidia Bacteroidales Porphyromonadaceae Dysgonomonas ·Bacteria Proteobacteria Gammaproteobacteria Xanthomonadales Xanthomonadaceae ·Bacteria Proteobacteria Gammaproteobacteria Xanthomonadales Xanthomonadaceae Rhodanobacter ·Bacteria Proteobacteria Gammaproteobacteria Xanthomonadales Xanthomonadaceae Rhodanobacter ·Bacteria Proteobacteria Gammaproteobacteria Xanthomonadales Xanthomonadaceae Rhodanobacter ·Bacteria Proteobacteria Betaproteobacteria Burkholderiales Alcaligenaceae Denitrobacter ·Bacteria Proteobacteria Betaproteobacteria Burkholderiales Alcaligenaceae Denitrobacter ·Bacteria Proteobacteria Betaproteobacteria Burkholderiales Alcaligenaceae Candidimonas humi ·Bacteria Proteobacteria Betaproteobacteria Rhodocyclales Rhodocyclaceae ·Bacteria Proteobacteria Alphaproteobacteria Rhizobiales Brucellaceae Ochrobactrum intermedium ·Bacteria Bacteroidetes Sphingobacteriia Sphingobacteriales Sphingobacteriaceae Sphingobacterium mizuta

[0052] As shown in Figure 1, the soil in the soil amendment test plot contained 25 of the top 30 most abundant bacterial species, indicating a higher diversity of bacterial flora compared to the olive pomace test plot and the chemical fertilizer test plot. This suggests the potential for use as a soil bacterial flora diversifier. Because it can diversify the bacterial flora in the soil, it can easily suppress the disruption of antagonism between bacteria, which can lead to an increase in specific bacteria, including pathogenic microorganisms, causing plant diseases and poor growth. This suggests that it may also act as a suppressant for continuous cropping problems.

[0053] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and its configuration or methods may be changed, added, or deleted without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Claims

1. A soil conditioner comprising olive meal and oilseed meal other than the aforementioned olive meal.

2. The soil conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the oil cake comprises one or more oil cakes selected from the group consisting of rapeseed oil cake and soybean oil cake.

3. The soil conditioner according to claim 1 or 2, comprising the olive cake and the oil cake in a mass ratio (dry weight) of 1:5 to 1:

30.

4. A soil modifier according to claim 1 or 2, which is an agent for suppressing continuous cropping disorders.

5. A soil modifier according to claim 1 or 2, which is a soil bacterial flora diversifier.

6. A method for improving soil, comprising supplying the soil conditioner described in claim 1 or 2 to the soil.

7. The soil modification method according to claim 6, comprising diversifying the soil's bacterial flora by supplying the soil modification agent to the soil.

8. The soil modification method according to claim 6, comprising modifying the soil to be less susceptible to continuous cropping problems by supplying the soil modification agent to the soil.

Images