Supplements to stimulate plant root systems during climate change

Abstract

The supplement containing up to 100% by weight of depolymerized residues after carbonization of wood at temperatures up to 300° C. is used to improve the soil layer to a depth of 5-30 cm with 0.5-9.9% by weight of depolymerized residues after carbonization of wood at temperatures not exceeding 300° C. based on the weight of the soil, or when planting trees and shrubs to a depth depending on the size of the root ball. Furthermore, the supplement may contain up to 90% by weight of at least one substance selected from the group consisting of compost, organic fertilizers, inorganic fertilizers, minerals, bacterial cultures of aerobic microorganisms, carbohydrate-based bacterial nutrients, cellulases, and amylases based on the weight of the supplement.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] In recent years, the effects of climate change, particularly high temperatures and lack of precipitation, have become increasingly evident even in previously temperate climate regions, fundamentally threatening the lifespan of some plant species, including agricultural crops, and leading to a gradual decline in the quality of the soil itself. [Background technology]

[0002] The well-known patent CZ307633 describes the regeneration of sandy soils under difficult climatic conditions. Sandy soils lack sufficient organic matter content, do not retain water well, are not biologically active, and cultivated plants are unable to fully utilize added fertilizers. In the case of sandy soils, the depolymerized residues (so-called hydrolyzed lignin) from wood dry distillation at temperatures up to 300°C have proven effective for regeneration purposes. This is because this material is able to retain a sufficient amount of water in sandy soils.

[0003] Woody biomass is a complex of lignocellulose and hemicellulose, but lignin ensures the lignification of cell walls and accounts for approximately one-third of wood's weight. Lignin is the second most common compound on Earth after cellulose, accounting for approximately 25% of plant biomass and being most abundant in the woody cell walls of plant cells. Lignin performs a hydrophobic function in woody plants, connecting intercellular fibers and thereby strengthening the cellulose molecules within the cell walls. Lignin lacks a regular structure and is a physically and chemically heterogeneous mixture of substances; more precisely, a mixture of polymeric polyphenolic amorphous substances. Lignin synthesis occurs directly within the cell wall, and its basic building blocks are phenylpropanoids, specifically p-coumaryl alcohol, coniferyl alcohol, and sinapyl alcohol, which are covalently bound to polysaccharides. Woody biomass is a renewable energy source. It has been used for many years to produce charcoal. Charcoal is produced by heating woody biomass at temperatures between 450 and 550 °C without air. Lignocellulosic complexes are gasified and carbonized to form carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, methane, liquids, and charcoal. Wood pyrolysis, a technique used extensively until recently to produce methanol-based aviation fuel, was used extensively. Heating wood biomass without air at temperatures between 270 and 300 °C results in the depolymerization of the lignocellulosic complexes and the elimination of methanol groups, resulting in the formation of methanol, acetone, and by-products. These by-products consist of phenylpropanoid derivatives, no longer containing alcohol groups, attached to partially depolymerized and carbonized cellulose, with residual methyl alcohol content. These by-products, hereafter collectively referred to as depolymerized wood pyrolysis residues at temperatures up to 300 °C, have a very fine particle size distribution and a high organic carbon content (up to 50%). org It has a high content of sulphur, can hold several times its weight in water, and is relatively insoluble in water. Traditionally, this by-product has been produced in the tens of millions of tons, and remains an unresolved environmental problem. This is because attempts to increase the calorific value of this by-product (torrefaction) and to produce fuel pellets have been less successful to date than the calorific value and use of charcoal.

[0004] In the case of sandy soils, restoration is possible due to the ability of the depolymerized residues after the carbonization of wood at temperatures up to 300°C to significantly increase water retention in the soil. In times of climate change, the ability to increase water retention is also important for arable soils in temperate regions. The inventors have now found that the depolymerized residues after the carbonization of wood at temperatures up to 300°C not only have the ability to increase water retention in the soil, but also, specifically, stimulate the growth of deeper and lusher root systems, even at very low doses, through the so-called auxin effect. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The supplement for stimulating the root systems of plants, used mainly in arable soils during climate change, according to the invention, consists in the fact that it contains up to 100% by weight of depolymerized residues after dry distillation of wood at temperatures up to 300°C, and is used to improve the soil layer to a depth of 5 to 30 cm or when planting trees and shrubs to the depth of their root ball, using a supplement of 0.5 to 9.9% by weight based on the weight of the soil.

[0006] The above supplement containing depolymerized residue from the carbonization of wood at a temperature not exceeding 300°C may also contain up to 90% by weight of at least one substance selected from the group consisting of compost, organic fertilizer, inorganic fertilizer, minerals, bacterial cultures of aerobic microorganisms, carbohydrate-based bacterial nutrients, cellulose, and amylase, based on the weight of the supplement.

[0007] The supplements can be incorporated into the required soil layer by standard agricultural machinery, or the soil surface can be covered with a 5-30 cm layer of a soil mixture containing the supplements, the mixture containing 0.5-9.9 wt. % of depolymerized residues from wood dry distillation at temperatures not exceeding 300°C, based on the weight of the soil.

[0008] The depolymerized residue from wood carbonization at temperatures up to 300°C is an organic material with a very fine particle size distribution and limited water solubility. This depolymerized residue can hold 2.8–3.4 times its weight in water and releases it gradually depending on the soil quality and temperature at root depth. In temperate soils, adding just 1% by weight of depolymerized residue from wood carbonization at temperatures up to 300°C means a significant increase in water retention of 10–20% during normal rainfall. At root depth temperatures of 20°C, this water is released over 7–9 days, and at extreme temperatures of 40°C, it is released over 2 days. This, along with the aforementioned auxin effect, significantly improves plant growth conditions.

[0009] In addition to the mentioned water-holding capacity, the depolymerized residues after dry distillation of wood at temperatures up to 300 °C have a strong stimulating effect similar to that of auxins, plant hormones that can alter the distribution of nutrients between roots and aboveground parts and the rate of growth. This is essential for plants to utilize water and nutrients during adverse weather conditions. This fact is demonstrated, for example, by the experiments described below.

[0010] The present inventors compared the growth rates of roots and aboveground parts of mustard seeds.

[0011] Figure 1 shows the root length of mustard seeds germinated in extracts from depolymerized residues after carbonization of wood at temperatures below 300°C, and Figure 2 shows the length of the hypocotyl (the first stem part between the uterus and the radicle of the germinating plant) of mustard seeds germinated in extracts from depolymerized residues after carbonization of wood at temperatures below 300°C. Both experiments demonstrate that starting with 1% by volume of aqueous extract from depolymerized residues after carbonization of wood at temperatures not exceeding 300°C, early root growth of mustard plants is significantly higher. At higher concentrations, root growth is more pronounced compared to the aboveground parts. This is the result of the combined effect of the content of depolymerized residues after carbonization of wood at temperatures up to 300°C and auxin, which acts on cytokinin, another growth-stimulating plant hormone.

[0012] To test a supplement containing 100% by weight of depolymerized residues from wood carbonization at temperatures up to 300°C under real soil conditions and verify its auxin-like effects, a container germination experiment was conducted again with white mustard. Two soils with different pH values ​​were selected for the experiment: an acidic Cambisol (the most common soil type in the Czech Republic) and a neutral Fluvisol (alluvial soil). The container experiment was conducted in a greenhouse with a temperature controlled 23°C day / 18°C night. The supplement was tested in five soil variations corresponding to additions of 1, 5, 10, 25, and 50% by weight of the soil, with each variation independently replicated five times. 400 g of soil was weighed into each container, the specified amount of supplement was mixed into each container, and 15 mustard seeds were sown in each container. All containers were watered with demineralized water. The lost moisture was replenished every other day after weighing. The number of aboveground shoots was then periodically monitored. After 17 days, the plants were carefully removed and their root and shoot lengths were measured. The percentage of seeds that germinated in each soil after supplementation is shown in Figure 3 for Cambisols and Figure 4 for Fluvisols.

[0013] Germination of mustard plants in acidic cambisols was overall very high in all variations. The control variation reached a very good germination rate of 80%, but the addition of 1% by weight of the supplement significantly increased the germination rate up to 95%.

[0014] Neutral fluvisols were less favorable for germination, with the control variant having a germination rate of only 63%. In all cases of supplementation, the germination rate increased significantly at doses of 5% and above, with the germination rates reaching approximately 96% for the variants supplemented with 10% and 25% by weight.

[0015] Figure 5 "Height of mustard plants in an acidic cambisol with supplement - growth over 17 days" and graph 6 "Root length of mustard in an acidic cambisol with the addition of supplement - growth over 17 days" demonstrate the auxin-like effect even under soil conditions, i.e. in an acidic cambisol, with a supplement containing 100% by weight of depolymerized residues after carbonization of wood at temperatures below 300°C. At the early stages of growth, the plants of the variant treated with the addition of this supplement show preferential growth of the roots at the expense of the above-ground biomass.

[0016] Figure 7 "Height of mustard plants in neutral fluvisols with the addition of supplements - growth over 17 days" and graph 8 "Length of mustard roots in neutral fluvisols with supplements - growth over 17 days" show that the auxin-like effect is more pronounced even in neutral fluvisols with a supplement containing 100% by weight of depolymerized residues after carbonization of wood at temperatures up to 300 °C than in the previous case where 1% by weight of supplements was already added.

[0017] The application of supplements improves plant growth conditions under normal soil conditions during climate change, especially during periods of limited rainfall. Addition of a supplement containing 100% by weight of depolymerized residues from wood carbonization at temperatures up to 300°C promotes deeper and more lush root growth compared to the above-ground parts of plants. This means that plants can better utilize water and nutrients, even during unfavorable weather conditions. At the same time, this addition improves water retention in the soil. Plant life is not immediately threatened by short-term drought, and the sustainability of their growth is maintained.

[0018] These facts also apply to basic mowing, turf carpeting and other mowing techniques, as well as other types of plants or crops.

[0019] The depolymerized residues after wood carbonization at temperatures up to 300°C are hydrophobic organic matter, which allows for maintaining a favorable relative humidity in the mixture, thereby significantly reducing water consumption during required irrigation. The methyl alcohol residues and phenylpropanoid derivatives, no longer containing alcohol groups, bound to the partially depolymerized, carbonized cellulose are readily available nutrients for bacteria living in plant root systems, promoting their growth and the gradual increase in humic acid content. Humic acid is the primary transporter of nutrients from soil to plants and an active component of humus; therefore, the described method can be considered a plant growth stimulator even in higher quality soil types. The methyl alcohol residues and phenylpropanoid derivatives bound to the partially depolymerized, carbonized cellulose also help plants better resist the adverse effects of saline soils and tolerate residual salt in irrigation systems utilizing desalinated seawater.

[0020] It is preferable to use a supplement containing depolymerized wood dry distillation residue at a temperature of less than 300°C and at least one substance selected from the group consisting of compost, organic fertilizer, inorganic fertilizer, minerals, bacterial cultures of aerobic microorganisms, carbohydrate-based bacterial nutrients, cellulase, and amylase. Thus, in this layer of soil, supplement, and possibly other substances, cultivated plants, including grass, can make much better use of the nutrients provided and consume significantly less water from irrigation. The amount of water required for irrigation can be reduced by up to 50%, and fertilizer consumption can be reduced by up to 30%. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0021] [Figure 1] Figure 1 shows the root length of mustard seeds germinated in extracts from depolymerization residues after carbonization of wood at temperatures up to 300°C. [Figure 2] Figure 1 shows the length of hypocotyls of mustard seeds germinated in extracts from depolymerization residues after carbonization of wood at temperatures below 300°C. [Figure 3]Figure 1 shows the percentage of mustard seeds that germinated in acidic soil amended with depolymerized wood distillation residue below 300°C. [Figure 4] Figure 1 shows the percentage of mustard seeds that germinated in neutral soil supplemented with depolymerized residues after carbonization of wood at temperatures below 300°C. [Figure 5] Height of mustard plants in an acidic Cambisol supplemented with depolymerized wood carbonization residue at temperatures up to 300°C - 17 days growth shown. [Figure 6] Mustard root length in an acidic Cambisol supplemented with depolymerized wood carbonization residue at temperatures up to 300°C - growth over 17 days. [Figure 7] Height of mustard plants in a neutral fluvisol supplemented with depolymerized residues after carbonization of wood at temperatures up to 300°C - 17 days growth shown. [Figure 8] Mustard root length in a neutral fluvisol supplemented with depolymerized residues from wood carbonization at temperatures up to 300°C - growth over 17 days. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0022] example 1. 100m of land on a coastal field in Portugal that produces grass for soccer fields. 2 A supplement containing 100% by weight of depolymerized residues from wood carbonization at temperatures not exceeding 300°C was applied to the soil. This supplement was incorporated into a 10cm layer of the soil in an amount of 1% by weight relative to the weight of the soil in this layer. In this applied area, the grass required 30% less irrigation water and 20% less fertilizer, but the plants showed a distinctly different color, tolerated salt flows carried by sea winds for several days better, and had a denser root system. This also reduced losses when moving and rolling up the turf carpet. 2. During forest regeneration after bark beetle damage, a total of 3,000 oak, linden, maple, hornbeam, and cherry seedlings were observed, planted in a soil mixture containing 1% by weight of a supplement containing 100% by weight of depolymerized residues from wood carbonization at temperatures not exceeding 300°C. A control group consisted of another 3,000 seedlings of the same trees planted in the same area. Losses in the first year after planting were 26% in the control group, while losses in the seedlings treated with the supplement were 12%. 3. On a golf course, one fairway was treated with a surface application rate corresponding to 1% by weight of a supplement containing 100% by weight of depolymerized residues from the carbonization of wood at temperatures up to 300°C, relative to the top 5 cm layer of soil. The fairway was sprayed and verticulated to incorporate the material as much as possible into the soil. This fairway required 17% less water for irrigation and 13% less fertilizer than the other paths. 4. A 10 m long grout was poured in the form of a borehole under a 2 m tall group of Arborvitae trees, whose root systems and above-ground parts had been damaged by construction work over a 20 m length, and which had begun to dry out. The borehole was filled with a mixture of horticultural substrate containing 5% by weight of a supplement containing 100% by weight of depolymerized residues from wood carbonization at temperatures not exceeding 300 °C, based on the weight of the substrate. The trees treated in this way were saved, but the remaining live trees had to be replaced. 5.100m 2 10m of strawberry fields 2 was treated with 56 kg of a supplement containing 50% by weight of depolymerized residues from the carbonization of wood at temperatures up to 300 °C and 50% by weight of organic fertilizer containing 1.5% nitrogen. The mixture was incorporated into the soil to a depth of 20 cm. The rest of the field was fertilized in the usual way with industrially produced fertilizer. Yields in the treated parts of the field were 15% higher with normal rainfall. [Industrial Applicability]

[0023] The invention can be used to improve conditions for plant growth in forestry, agriculture, fruit growing, viticulture, gardening or mowing.

Claims

1. A supplement for stimulating the root system of plants, comprising: A supplement containing up to 100% by weight of depolymerized residue after dry distillation of wood at temperatures up to 300°C, said supplement being used to improve the soil layer to a depth of 5 to 30 cm using 0.5 to 9.9% by weight of said depolymerized residue based on the weight of the soil, or to be used when planting trees and shrubs to a depth depending on the size of their root balls.

2. 2. The plant root system stimulating supplement of claim 1, further comprising at least one substance selected from the group consisting of compost, organic fertilizer, inorganic fertilizer, minerals, bacterial cultures of aerobic microorganisms, carbohydrate-based bacterial nutrients, cellulase, and amylase in an amount of up to 90% by weight based on the weight of the supplement.

3. A supplement for stimulating the root system of plants as described in claim 1 or 2, wherein the depolymerized residue is an organic material and holds 2.8 to 3.4 times its weight in water.

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