Substrate for growing plants in vertical phytostructures

Abstract

FIELD: agriculture.SUBSTANCE: used in growing plants in phytomodules, in “carpet” and container vegetal walls. The substrate for growing plants in vertical phytostructures includes expanded vermiculite, zeolite-containing tripoli from the Khotynetsky deposit, and deoxidized high-moor peat, in the stated quantitative ratio.EFFECT: production of light, nutritious, loose, breathable soil that retains moisture well, contains silicon necessary for plants in a form accessible to them, and has a high ion-exchange capacity.1 cl, 1 tbl, 2 ex

Description

[0001] The invention relates to the field of agriculture and can be used in growing plants in vertical phytostructures.

[0002] A substrate is known, composed according to the recommendations of JSC Mosproekt (GOST R 58875-2020 "Green" standards. Greened and exploited roofs of buildings and structures. Technical and environmental requirements) [1]. The composition of this substrate by weight: brick chips - 60%, kremnevit (diatomaceous fired chips, fractions 3-8 mm) - 20%, large-fraction expanded clay - 10%, vermicompost (Vermicofe) - 10%. The main disadvantages of the known substrate are low ability to retain moisture for plants and the acidity of the substrate being in the alkaline zone.

[0003] A substrate whose composition is described in the article "Substrate for Ensuring Drought Resistance" (Plodorodie magazine, No. 2, 2018) is also known. This substrate consists of one part unroasted zeolite-containing tripoli from the Khotynetskoye deposit (25%) and three parts peat (75%). The main drawbacks of this substrate are: it lacks protection for plant roots from freezing and overheating, significantly reduces soil looseness with high moisture content, and has low water retention capacity for plants.

[0004] A substrate described in patent RU 2588987 C2, published on July 10, 2016 (Amenity - ameliorant "Sapromel"), is known. It contains (by weight): lowland peat - from 85 to 89%, sapropel from 3 to 10%, tripoli - from 2 to 4.5%, humic acid - 0.01%. The addition of tripoli as an ameliorant to a mixture of peat, sapropel, and humic acid promotes the acquisition of moisture retention capacity by this mixture, which leads to a decrease in the need for watering. The main disadvantages of this substrate are low water-holding capacity, insufficient lightness, and insufficient protection of roots from freezing.

[0005] The closest to the proposed invention in terms of the set of essential features is patent No. 2813259 "Substrate for greening artificial roof surfaces with plants" registered on 02 / 08 / 2025, including a drainage component - large-fraction foam glass, brick chips, Vermicofe compost, as well as a natural mineral, which is proposed to be thermally modified zeolite-containing tripoli from the Khotynetskoye deposit with the following content of the original components (taken as the prototype of the invention), wt.%:

[0006] brick chips 29,5-30,5 Vermicofe compost 9,6-10,4 thermally modified zeolite-containing tripoli of the Khotynetsky deposit 19,6-20,4 large-fraction foam glass up to 100

[0007] The substrate contains silicon available to plants and has high buffering characteristics, adsorption properties, and high ion exchange capacity.

[0008] The disadvantages of this substrate include the increased cost due to the use of foam glass and the relatively high bulk density due to the presence of brick chips. An analysis of the current state of the art revealed an insufficient range of substrates for vertical plant cultivation.

[0009] The claimed invention is aimed at solving a technical problem: the development of a moisture-absorbing and lightweight substrate for the effective cultivation of plants in vertical phytostructures.

[0010] The technical result of the proposed invention is the production of light, nutritious, loose, breathable soil that retains moisture well, contains silicon necessary for plants in a form accessible to them and has a high ion-exchange capacity.

[0011] To solve the above problem and achieve the stated result, the substrate for growing plants in vertical phytostructures is characterized by the fact that it contains deoxidized high-moor peat, expanded vermiculite, zeolite-containing tripoli from the Khotynetskoye deposit with the following content of the original components, wt.%:

[0012] expanded vermiculite 29,0-31,0 zeolite-containing tripoli from the Khotynetsky deposit 19,0-21,0 deoxidized high-moor peat up to 100.

[0013] Plants thrive in this substrate thanks to the presence of zeolite-containing tripoli, which has excellent ion-exchange and sorption properties, as well as significant levels of silicon, potassium, phosphorus, and other essential macro- and microelements in plant-available forms. Zeolite-containing tripoli has a low specific gravity, allowing for a lightweight vertical farm design. This mineral can accumulate and gradually release nutrients applied with other fertilizers to plant roots.

[0014] Expanded vermiculite as a component of the substrate for vertical gardening, due to its porosity, provides good air permeability, is lightweight, which reduces the weight of the soil, and increases the water-holding properties of the soil.

[0015] Deoxidized high-moor peat, found in soil for vertical plant growing, provides essential humic acids, which stimulate plant growth and increase their resistance to adverse conditions. It prevents the development of putrefactive processes and pathogens. High-moor peat, like expanded vermiculite and zeolite-containing tripoli, retains moisture well, preventing the soil from drying out, while allowing air to pass through, which is important for root development and ensures the soil remains light.

[0016] Examples of substrate execution.

[0017] Example 1. The substrate was prepared using the following ratio of components: expanded vermiculite - 29%, zeolite-containing tripoli from the Khotynetskoye deposit - 19%, and deoxidized high-moor peat - up to 100%. The prepared components were mixed, placed in vertical phytostructures, and plants were planted.

[0018] Example 2. The substrate was prepared using the following ratio of components: expanded vermiculite - 31%, zeolite-containing tripoli from the Khotynetskoye deposit - 21%, and deoxidized high-moor peat - up to 100%. The prepared components were mixed, placed in vertical phytostructures, and plants were planted.

[0019] The resulting substrates are distinguished by their ability to retain moisture and nutrients, protect plant roots from freezing and overheating, and are characterized by low bulk density, high content of available and essential micro- and macroelements, high moisture capacity, and good ion-exchange and sorption properties. The presence of zeolite-containing tripoli increases plant survival and growth rates.

[0020] Comparative quality indicators of the proposed substrate and the prototype are given in Table 1.

[0021] The essential features characterizing the invention are the composition of the substrate and the content of its components: expanded vermiculite - 29-31%, zeolite-containing tripoli from the Khotynetskoye deposit - 19-21%, deoxidized high-moor peat - up to 100%, which ensure the high quality of the proposed substrate.

[0022] One of the most important indicators given in Table 1 is the total field moisture capacity (TFMC), which shows the ability of the plant substrate to retain moisture reserves.

[0023]

[0024] A comparison of this parameter for the substrate closest in composition and characteristics to the prototype (see Table 1) with the proposed substrate—the patented mixture—reveals a significant (2-fold) advantage over the latter. A significant feature characterizing the invention is also the specific gravity of the patented mixture, which is almost 2 times lower than that of the prototype, providing additional lightness to the proposed substrate for vertical gardening. For other parameters (except pH), the patented mixture has superior values ​​compared to the prototype.

[0025] The proposed substrate features high moisture capacity, low specific gravity, and optimal acidity. It contains significant amounts of plant-available silicon and phosphorus. It also boasts excellent buffering and adsorption properties, a high base total (indicating a well-balanced absorption capacity), and higher cation exchange capacity and exchangeable potassium content than its competitors and the prototype. The presence of zeolite-containing tripoli from the Khotynetskoye deposit allows for easy customization of the substrate's nutritional properties based on the plant species being grown, using minimal amounts of mineral fertilizers.

[0026] High total field moisture capacity (TFMC) and high buffering capacity allow the proposed substrate to retain significant moisture reserves for plants.

[0027] Taking into account the above, when growing plants in vertical phytostructures, a substrate with the composition indicated above, including zeolite-containing tripoli from the Khotynetskoye deposit in the Oryol region, should be used as soil.

[0028] Compared to the prototype, the proposed substrate composition provides a significant reduction in the specific gravity of the soil, a significant increase in the availability and essentiality of silicon, phosphorus and other macro- and microelements for plants, improves the water-holding properties and air permeability of the substrate, and protects plants from fungal diseases and pathogens.

Images