Method for producing soil conditioners, and soil conditioners produced by this method.

Abstract

A method for producing a granular soil conditioner based on a mixture of biochar and organic fertilizer comprises the following steps: - mixing biochar with animal waste in a ratio of 0.1-0.4 parts by weight of waste dry matter to 1 part by weight of biochar and adding to this substrate a mixture of soil bacteria belonging to at least two of the following genera: Rhizobium, Azospirillum or Azotobacter nitrifying bacteria, Pseudomonas and Bacillus; - supplementing the bacteria-containing substrate with water up to twice the weight of the bacteria-containing substrate and fermenting the mixture for at least 5 days; - pouring in an excess of water and drying the bacterial substrate so that the moisture content is less than 20% by weight; - adding to the substrate-bacteria compound a mixture of fungal spores including at least two species from the groups Trichoderma, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and ectomycorrhizal fungi in a total amount corresponding to 0.2-1% by weight of the dry matter weight of the substrate-bacteria compound.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to means for improving soil properties and supplying fertilizers and nutrients to plants.

Background Art

[0002] On most agricultural lands, farming is carried out in an intensive manner aimed at maximizing crop yields without concern for the health of the soil. By using large amounts of mineral fertilizers and plant protection products, microorganisms and macroorganisms in the soil have been greatly lost. However, the role of microorganisms is essential in naturally fertilizing the soil. As a result of the lack of organisms in the soil, cultivated plants are completely dependent on artificial fertilizers.

[0003] The spreading of mineral fertilizers is associated with an adverse effect on the physical properties of the soil by frequently repeating the operation of agricultural machinery in the field. The soil layer is compressed. This affects the ability of rainwater to penetrate the soil, leading to large-scale soil erosion.

[0004] Such an unfavorable trend in this farming operation can be reversed by adopting a gentle farming method that supplies the soil with organic matter, which is an energy source for soil microorganisms, and materials that improve the soil structure. Such materials are preferably spreadable by standard agricultural techniques used in intensive agriculture.

[0005] Microgranular fertilizers have been commonly used in agriculture since the latter half of the 20th century. Microgranular fertilizers allow for more precise nutrient delivery and improve crop establishment efficiency by facilitating the use of soil protection products and other pesticides. Modern farming techniques allow for the delivery of microgranular fertilizers at virtually any, yet precise, distance from the seeds—directly to the seeds in the seedbed. This increases the efficiency of the use of active ingredients. The interaction between seeds and fertilizer induces a "starter effect" early in the growing season, enabling the rapid development of a strong root system in the future. This allows the crop to make better use of spring moisture, quickly increase leaf area, and suppress competing weeds. Granular fertilizers increase crop yields and reduce the cost associated with weed control.

[0006] The production of microgranular fertilizers uses minerals such as sepiolite, which are derived from non-renewable natural resources, as basic substances. Its production is energy-intensive. However, the question remains whether the nutrients contained in such microgranular fertilizers can be utilized for plant nutrition.

[0007] Biochar is a type of biomass that has been converted into carbon. Among other types of biomass, biochar is particularly used as a soil conditioner to improve the physical properties and natural fertility of soil. Biochar is usually obtained by thermal reduction of biomass at temperatures of 450 to 800°C. Its composition varies depending on the raw materials. Biochar typically contains 50 to 90% by weight of stable carbon, and in addition to carbon, it contains about 1% by weight of phosphorus, 2% by weight of potassium, 6% by weight of calcium, and 1.5% by weight of magnesium.

[0008] The use of biochar as a soil conditioner or as part of granular fertilizer is well known at this level of technology.

[0009] Chinese Patent Application Publication No. 105646047 discloses a biochar-based fertilizer that is impermeable to water and steam, and a method for preparing the same. This granular fertilizer consists of the following components, expressed by parts by weight: 15 parts by weight of biochar powder, 30 parts by weight of urea, 30 parts by weight of monoammonium phosphate, 22 parts by weight of potassium sulfate, and 20 to 30 parts by weight of water, and up to 1 part by weight of a binder containing gelatinous starch. The desirable properties of this fertilizer, namely the ability of nutrients to gradually penetrate the soil, are imparted by a binder with the properties of a potting compound. The biochar content is relatively low, and its ability to slowly release absorbed inorganic nutrients into the soil is not utilized.

[0010] Chinese Patent Application Publication No. 112390691 discloses a soil conditioner consisting of bamboo charcoal powder and organic fertilizer. The weight ratio of bamboo charcoal powder to organic fertilizer is 1:2.4 to 1:14. The method of combining the two main ingredients and the role of soil microorganisms are not mentioned.

[0011] Chinese Patent Application Publication No. 107573163 describes an acidic soil conditioner for supplying plant nutrients. This conditioner consists of a mixture of a base material and an auxiliary material, the base material comprising 45-65 parts by weight of brewing malt, 40-60 parts by weight of peat, 40-50 parts by weight of herbal medicine residue, 35-45 parts by weight of soybean meal powder, 30-40 parts by weight of wheat straw powder, 25-35 parts by weight of edible fungi residues, 24-36 parts by weight of pineapple paste, 20-30 parts by weight of apple paste, 15-25 parts by weight of silkworm excrement, 10-16 parts by weight of proteolytic enzyme, 4-8 parts by weight of azotobacter, 5-9 parts by weight of rhizobia, 4-6 parts by weight of potassium-degrading bacteria, 6-8 parts by weight of cellulose-degrading bacteria, 4-6 parts by weight of antibiotic-producing bacteria, and 60-80 parts by weight of water for mixing and fermenting the above components. The aforementioned fermentation process is not defined. Next, auxiliary materials are added, namely 40-60 parts by weight of earthworm excrement, 25-35 parts by weight of biochar residue, 20-30 parts by weight of urea, 18-28 parts by weight of plant ash, 10-20 parts by weight of lime powder, 10-20 parts by weight of urea-iron complex, and 10-20 parts by weight of chelated zinc. The above complex contains large amounts of the defined types of organic matter and bacteria, which co-ferment.

[0012] This mixture, apart from bacteria, contains only unstable organic matter, making it impossible for nutrients and colony-forming bacteria to be fixed into a stable structure during fermentation, allowing them to bind with the bacteria or form colonies in the root system. Furthermore, in at least some cases, the components used are generally difficult to obtain or require significant energy input. Additionally, the carbon contribution from biomass is minimal, so improvement in soil structure cannot be expected from the application of this soil conditioner.

[0013] The object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing a bio-based organic fertilizer in the form of microgranules that are slowly released, ensuring the bioavailability of organic nutrients from the early stages of plant development. The objective is not only to promote growth in the early stages of vegetation, but also to enable the microgranule fertilizer to largely replace basic fertilizer supply.

[0014] Disclosure of the invention This project focuses on a method for producing a granular soil conditioner based on a mixture of biochar and organic fertilizer, which involves conferring bacteria, mycorrhizal fungi, and myco-parasitic fungi to the conditioner. The method consists of the following steps: - A process of mixing biochar obtained by thermal reduction of plant biomass or animal bones with animal excrement in a weight ratio of 0.1 to 0.4 parts by weight of dried excrement per 1 part by weight of biochar, and then adding a mixture of soil bacteria containing at least two species from the following genera to this base material: Bacteria of the genus Rhizobium, Nitrifying bacteria of the genera Azospirillum or Azotobacter, Bacteria of the genus Pseudomonas, Bacillus genus bacteria, These dry weights are based on colony-forming units (CFU) 10 9 At this concentration, it is 0.2-0.5% of the dry weight of the base material; - A step of adding water to a bacteria-containing substrate, up to twice the weight of the substrate, and fermenting the mixture for at least 5 days; - The process involves draining excess water, drying the substrate containing bacteria until the moisture content is reduced to 20% by weight or less, and then adding a mixture of fungal spores belonging to at least two representative species from the groups Trichoderma, Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, and Ectomycorrhizal fungi to the substrate mixture containing bacteria in a total amount equivalent to 0.2 to 1% by weight relative to the dry weight of the substrate mixture containing bacteria; - A step of thoroughly mixing the compounds prepared in this manner.

[0015] Preferably, a mixture of soil bacteria of the genera Azospirillum or Azotobacter and Rhacobacteria may be added to the base, in which case a mixture of spores of parasitic fungi such as Trichoderma or Pythium, arbuscular fungi such as Glomus, or ectomycorrhizal fungi such as Pisolithus, Scleroderma, or Rhizopogon is added to the base-bacterial mixture. Alternatively, fungi that form ericoid mycorrhizae in heather plants may be added.

[0016] A particularly preferred method is to add a mixture of soil bacteria to the substrate in the following weight ratios: 25% of Rhizobia bacteria, 25% nitrifying bacteria of the genera Azospirillum or Azotobacter, 25% of Pseudomonas bacteria, 25% Bacillus bacteria. Here, after replenishing the substrate with bacteria, the substrate is fermented with the same weight of water as the bacteria-containing substrate, and a mixture of fungal spores is added to the mixture of bacteria-containing substrate in the following weight ratios: 50% arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, 25% ectomycorrhizal fungi, and 25% fungal parasitic fungi such as Trichoderma.

[0017] Preferably, 0.1 to 0.3 parts by weight of mineral fertilizer may be added to the base material.

[0018] In the production of granular additives, 4-6% of the dry weight of the base material-bacterial mixture is mixed with water at its boiling point. After cooling this starch suspension, it is added to the base material-bacterial mixture, and this mixture is granulated in a granulator to form granules with a diameter of 1-5 mm.

[0019] The aforementioned problem can also be solved by a soil conditioner based on a mixture of biochar and organic fertilizer produced by any of the above methods. The soil conditioner consists of a mixture of soil bacteria belonging to at least three of the following groups: rhizobia, azospirillum or azotobacter, pseudomonas, and rods, and further includes a mixture of fungal spores belonging to at least three of the following groups: arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, ectomycorrhizal fungi, and parasitic fungi.

[0020] In a preferred embodiment, the modifier takes the form of granules containing starch as a binder.

[0021] The presence of biochar allows the soil conditioner to function as a soil amendment that contributes to water and air management and soil structure improvement. Key components of the soil conditioner are soil biota in the form of rhizobacteria belonging to several lineages, which fix atmospheric nitrogen, make organic nutrients available to plants, and protect plants from pests and stress. In addition to bacteria, the soil conditioner also contains mycorrhizal fungal spores that live in symbiosis with plant roots. These mycorrhizal fungal spores extract carbon from plant roots and, in return, supply nutrients in an optimally usable form. All of these components of the soil biota effectively restore natural soil fertility, reducing or eliminating the need for additional artificial fertilizers. Because the use of biochar synergistically contributes to carbon sequestration, the soil conditioner serves as a tool for so-called "pyrogenic carbon capture and storage." The carbon contained in biochar was originally part of CO2 molecules in the air. After being broken down during photosynthesis, it was stored in the plant's body, and biochar was obtained from the plant's biomass.

[0022] The results of spraying the improver manufactured according to the method of the present invention are shown in the drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0023] [Figure 1] Graph showing the results of an incubation container experiment conducted using samples of the improver manufactured according to the method described in the following examples. [Figure 2] Graph showing the development of mycorrhiza in wheat root systems when these samples were sprayed.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0024] Example 1 The biochar obtained by thermally reducing coniferous trees at 550 °C was pulverized to obtain particles with a particle size of 1 to 15 mm. In the production of the fertilizer, a mixture with the following weight composition was prepared as described above: - 1 part by weight of biochar - 0.2 part by weight of vermicompost leachate concentrate (Vermi-tea) - 0.02 part by weight of a mixture of bacteria of equal parts by weight of the genera Rhizobium, Azotobacter, Pseudomonas, and Bacillus - 0.05 part by weight of spores of Glomus species (50%) and spores of Trichoderma species (50%). Water was added to the mixture of biochar, vermicompost (vermicompost), and bacteria at a weight ratio of 1:1.5 and fermented for 7 days. Then, the excess water was drained, and after cooling, a suspension of 0.1 part by weight of starch mixed with boiling water at a weight ratio of 1:1 and mycorrhizal fungal spores were added. After thorough mixing, the mixture was granulated using a granulation press to obtain granules with a diameter of 3 mm. The sample was labeled "MicroCHAR + Vermitea".

[0025] Example 2 The biochar obtained by thermally reducing coniferous trees at 550 °C was pulverized to obtain particles with a particle size of 1 to 15 mm. In the production of the fertilizer, a mixture with the following weight composition was prepared as described above: - 1 part by weight of biochar - 0.4 parts by weight of dried poultry excrement - 0.02 parts by weight of a mixture of equal parts by weight of bacteria belonging to the genera Rhizobia, Azotobacter, Pseudomonas, and Racca. - 0.05 parts by weight of Glomus spores (50%) and Trichoderma spores (50%). A mixture of biochar, poultry excrement, and bacteria was supplemented with water in a 1:1.5 weight ratio and fermented for 7 days. After draining the excess water and cooling, a suspension of 0.1 parts by weight of starch mixed with boiling water in a 1:1 weight ratio and mycorrhizal fungal spores were added. After thorough mixing, the mixture was granulated using a granulation press to obtain granules with a diameter of 3 mm. The sample was labeled "MicroCHAR Organic".

[0026] Example 3 Biochar obtained by thermal reduction of coniferous trees at 550°C was crushed to obtain particles with a diameter of 1 to 15 mm. In the production of the fertilizer, a mixture with the following weight composition was prepared as described above: - 1 part by weight of biochar - 0.2 parts by weight of dried poultry excrement - 0.2 parts by weight of ammonium phosphate ((NH4)3PO4) - 0.02 parts by weight of a mixture of equal parts by weight of bacteria belonging to the genera Rhizobia, Azotobacter, Pseudomonas, and Racca. - 0.05 parts by weight of Glomus spores (50%) and Trichoderma spores (50%) A mixture of biochar, poultry excrement, and bacteria was supplemented with water in a 1:1.5 weight ratio and fermented for 7 days. Afterward, the excess water was drained, and 0.2 parts by weight of ammonium phosphate was added. After cooling, a suspension of 0.1 parts by weight of starch mixed with boiling water in a 1:1 weight ratio and mycorrhizal fungal spores were added. After thorough mixing, the mixture was granulated using a granulation press to obtain granules with a diameter of 3 mm. The sample was labeled "MicroCHAR Mineral".

[0027] To evaluate the effect of biochar alone in soil conditioners, soil conditioners were prepared using the following method: Biochar obtained by thermal reduction of coniferous trees at 550°C was crushed to obtain particles with a particle size of 1 to 15 mm. In the production of the fertilizer, a mixture with the following weight composition was prepared as described above: - 1 part by weight of biochar - 0.02 parts by weight of a mixture of equal parts by weight of bacteria belonging to the genera Rhizobia, Azotobacter, Pseudomonas, and Racca. - 0.05 parts by weight of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal spores (50%) and Trichoderma spores (50%). After cooling, a suspension of 0.2 parts by weight of starch mixed with boiling water in a 1:1.5 weight ratio and mycorrhizal fungal spores were added. The resulting mixture was then granulated using a granulation press to obtain granules with a diameter of 3 mm. The sample was labeled "MicroCHAR".

[0028] Next, in order to determine the nutrient utilization capacity, the soil conditioner samples prepared by the method described above were tested in the laboratory using both the Möllich III certified method and incubation container experiments. The Möllich III method is a certified method for sampling the substance content in soil in accordance with Annex 2 of Decree No. 275 / 1998.

[0029] The results obtained in the Möllich III test are shown in Tables 1 and 2:

[0030] [Table 1]

[0031] [Table 2]

[0032] Subsequently, an incubation experiment was conducted in which the soil conditioner prepared according to Example 1 was added to a test container along with two problematic soils. Please refer to the graph in Figure 1. Each graph shows the uptake of each nutrient from the two soils. This figure compares the results of the sample with the soil conditioner and the control soil sample. Two problematic soils were used, which had low retention capacity and reduced nutrient content due to a lack of organic matter. These soils were agricultural soil from the Polabi region called Rego soil (sandy content of over 2 mm ≈ 85%) and forest soil (mineral layer) obtained around the Jevany municipality.

[0033] In each graph, the x-axis represents the measurement date, the y-axis represents the mass of each element N, P, and K collected from the soil between measurements, and DOC represents the amount of leached carbon. Filled circles indicate soil samples to which soil conditioners were added, and open circles indicate control samples.

[0034] The cumulative extraction amounts of each nutrient revealed that during the approximately two-month incubation period, nitrogen and potassium were extracted in the treated agricultural Lego soil and treated forest soil at a rate of more than eight times, with N being extracted 11 times more and K 15 times more. For phosphorus, a 30-fold increase was observed in the Lego soil and a 98-fold increase in the forest soil. Other macronutrients showed increases of 2 to 12 times.

[0035] In the 2021 season, the soil amendment was further tested in the form of field trials. The application of the amendment to spring wheat and maize was repeated three times for each crop using various fertilizers (MicroCHAR mineral, MicroCHAR organic, and MicroCHAR). The amendment was always applied at a rate of 80 kg per hectare at sowing. No fertilizers or protective agents were applied during the vegetation period.

[0036] TIFF0007897467000003.tif131158

[0037] In organic farming, plant dry matter yields and grain yields were at high levels for all fertilizer types investigated.

[0038] Fertilizers were analyzed to determine the levels of important elements, and the soil was similarly analyzed after harvest to assess changes in the content of available nutrients. After application of MicroCHAR mineral, the organic carbon content of the soil increased significantly, and it was found that the soil contained high levels of all forms of nitrogen. Next, with the MicroCHAR organic type, large amounts of available potassium, calcium, and magnesium were supplied to the soil. Compared to the untreated control, the soil supply of most important nutrients increased even after the growing season.

[0039] Furthermore, the available nutrient content of the additive samples was investigated by comparing them with the state after percolation. Percolation is a process in which a solvent is continuously flowed over a sample on a filter.

[0040] For the quantitative analysis of KA2, 2 g of fertilizer (MicroCHAR, MicroCHAR mineral+, MicroCHAR organic+) was placed on filter paper, and 10 mL of solvent (distilled water) was slowly poured over it to extract the substances from the sample, which were then injected into a 15 mL container.

[0041] TIFF0007897467000004.tif69168

[0042] After applying MicroCHAR mineral fertilizer, the organic carbon content in the soil increased significantly. This fertilizer contains large amounts of all forms of nitrogen and is suitable as a nitrogen source. MicroCHAR organic fertilizer contains high proportions of potassium, calcium, and magnesium. Combining both fertilizers appears to be ideal.

[0043] The last element observed was the development of mycorrhizal colony formation in the roots of the treated crops. The mycorrhizal colony formation method is a method for determining the relative abundance of mycorrhizal fungi in microscopic slides of plant roots.

[0044] Wheat roots grown in soil treated with the improved sample were prepared using a standard procedure. The magnification was set to 400x so that the stained roots spread out on a microscope slide were visible. Fields showing mycorrhizal formation (dendritic bodies, vesicles, mycorrhizal hyphae) within the root were considered positive. To evaluate the results, significance testing or the p-value method was used (see https: / / en.wikipedia.org / wiki / P-value). The p-value of colony formation obtained from the control sample was set to 0.05 (5%). The amount and frequency of mycorrhizal formation detected in all three fertilizer types compared were evaluated using a so-called chi-squared test with mathematical R language software. Figure 2 shows the development of mycorrhizae in the root system of wheat grown in soil treated with the improvement agent.

[0045] All three samples showed a definitively increased colony formation at the roots. The best results were obtained with the application of MicroCHAR organic fertilizer. However, all three fertilizers tested showed a significant increase in symbiotic formation with native mycorrhizal communities in the field soil compared to the control.

Claims

1. A method for producing a granular soil conditioner based on a mixture of biochar and organic fertilizer, characterized by the addition of bacteria, mycorrhizal fungi, and parasitic fungi to the granular soil conditioner, and comprising the following steps: - A step of mixing biochar obtained by thermal reduction of plant biomass or animal bones with animal excrement in a weight ratio of 0.1 to 0.4 parts by weight of the dried excrement to 1 part by weight of the biochar to obtain a base material, and then mixing a soil bacterial compound containing at least two of the following groups into this base material: Bacteria of the genus Rhizobium, Nitrifying bacteria of the genera Azospirillum or Azotobacter, Bacteria of the genus Pseudomonas, Bacillus bacteria, These dry weights are equivalent to 10 colony-forming units (CFUs). 9 The concentration is 0.2 to 0.5% of the dry weight of the base material; - A step of adding water to a bacteria-containing substrate, up to twice the weight of the substrate, and fermenting the mixture for at least 5 days; - A step of draining excess water, drying the substrate containing bacteria so that the moisture content is 20% by weight or less, and adding a mixture of fungal spores containing at least two species from the group of Trichoderma, Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, and Ectomycorrhizal fungi to the substrate-bacterial mixture in a total amount equivalent to 0.2 to 1% of the dry weight of the substrate-bacterial mixture; - A step of thoroughly mixing the mixture prepared in this manner.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that a mixture of soil bacteria of the genera Azospirillum or Azotobacter and Rhacobacteria is added to the substrate, and a mixture of fungal spores of parasitic fungi, arbuscular fungi, ectomycorrhizal fungi, or fungi that form ericoid mycorrhizae is added to the substrate-bacterial mixture.

3. The soil bacteria compound is in the following weight ratio: 25% of rhizobia bacteria, 25% nitrifying bacteria of the genera Azospirillum or Azotobacter, 25% of Pseudomonas bacteria, 25% Bacillus bacteria Then, add to the substrate, After adding the same weight of water as the bacteria-containing substrate to the aforementioned bacteria-containing substrate, fermentation is performed, and then the fungal spore mixture is added to the substrate-bacterial mixture in the following weight ratio: 50% arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, 25% ectomycorrhizal fungi, and 25% parasitic fungi. The method according to claim 1, characterized by the features described above.

4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that 0.1 to 0.3 parts by weight of mineral fertilizer is added to the base material.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that 4 to 6% of the dry weight of the substrate-bacteria mixture is mixed with water at its boiling point to obtain a starch suspension, the starch suspension is cooled and then mixed with the bacteria-containing substrate, and the substrate-bacteria-starch-mycorrhizal fungus mixture is granulated in a granulator to form granules with a diameter of 1 to 5 mm.

6. A soil conditioner based on a mixture of biochar and organic fertilizer, contaminated with bacteria, mycorrhizal fungi, and parasitic fungi, A base material which is a mixture of 1 part by weight of biochar produced by thermal reduction of plant biomass or animal bones and 0.1 to 0.4 parts by weight of dried animal excrement, The substrate is blended with a soil bacterial compound containing at least two of the following groups, at a concentration of colony-forming units (CFUs) 10⁹, in an amount of 0.2 to 0.5% of the dry weight of the substrate, Bacteria of the genus Rhizobium, Nitrifying bacteria of the genera Azospirillum or Azotobacter, Bacteria of the genus Pseudomonas, Bacillus bacteria, A mixture of water in an amount of 20% by weight or less relative to the total weight of the substrate and the soil bacteria compound, A soil conditioner characterized by containing a mixture of fungal spores comprising at least two species from the group consisting of Trichoderma, Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, and Ectomycorrhizal fungi, in a total amount of 0.2 to 1% of the total dry weight of the substrate and the soil bacterial compound.

7. The soil conditioner according to claim 6, characterized in that it is in the form of granules containing starch as a binder.

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