Biodegradable Nursery Pot Structure for Timed Decomposition

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional nursery pot bodies face challenges in maintaining sufficient strength during seedling growth and planting while ensuring rapid decomposition after planting, with existing technologies failing to control decomposition at desired intervals and requiring materials with different properties for different applications.

Innovation Solution

A biodegradable resin composition is laminated on paper substrates for nursery pot bodies, combined with microorganism-derived enzymes to control decomposition, providing strength during seedling growth and rapid degradation post-planting.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the base paper is made with sufficient strength for seedling growth and planting, then the mechanical strength is improved, but the decomposition rate after planting slows down

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemechanical strengthVSAvoiddecomposition rate

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies enzyme treatment to the base paper before planting to pre-activate decomposition. The enzyme is applied in advance during the nursery period when the pot body is still needed for strength, allowing the decomposition process to be initiated before the pot is planted, thus resolving the contradiction between maintaining strength during growth and enabling rapid decomposition after planting

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent makes the decomposition process dynamic by controlling enzyme application timing. The enzyme treatment is applied at specific stages (during nursery period or immediately before planting) rather than continuously, allowing the base paper to maintain strength when needed and decompose rapidly when the enzyme is activated, thus adapting the decomposition rate to different operational phases

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Speed

If the decomposition rate is increased for rapid breakdown after planting, then the decomposition speed is improved, but the strength during seedling growth is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedecomposition rateVSAvoidmechanical strength

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The enzyme treatment is applied in advance during the nursery period, allowing the base paper to maintain its strength properties during seedling growth while pre-preparing for rapid decomposition. The decomposition action is triggered beforehand but does not significantly affect the structural integrity during the critical growth phase

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the chemical state of the base paper by applying enzyme treatment, which modifies the polymer structure to be more susceptible to decomposition. This parameter change (chemical susceptibility) is introduced without significantly altering the mechanical properties during the nursery period, enabling rapid decomposition only when the enzyme becomes active in the soil environment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Strength

If conventional base paper is used to maintain strength during nursery period, then the mechanical strength is improved, but temporal stability during long-term storage deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemechanical strengthVSAvoidtemporal stability

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the base paper composition by incorporating specific resin types and ratios (e.g., polypropylene resin at 5-30 parts, polyethylene resin at 5-30 parts per 100 parts paper pulp) that provide both temporal stability during storage and controlled decomposability. This compositional parameter change enables the base paper to maintain strength over long storage periods while remaining susceptible to enzyme-induced decomposition after planting

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution ensures high survival rates during planting, allows seedling root extension without hindrance, and reduces residue accumulation, maintaining temporal stability and controlling decomposition as needed.

Implementation Method 1

treating the nursery pot body made of the base paper with a microorganism-derived enzyme immediately before and/or immediately after planting

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEnzymatic degradation: Enzyme

Implementation Method 2

being quickly biodegraded after planting

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBiodegradation: Decomposition (biological)

Data Source

PatentUS12532816B2Nursery pot body with temporal stability and decomposition accelerating method therefor

Publication Date: 2026.01.27 NIPPON BEET SUGAR MFG CO LTD

AI summary

[Problem to be Solved] Provided is a nursery pot body having stability over time, exhibiting suppressed decomposition during seedling raising, maintaining sufficient strength at the time of planting, and being rapidly degraded after planting in a field through enzyme treatment immediately before and/or immediately after planting.[Solution] Base paper for a nursery pot body is characterized in that a biodegradable resin layer is provided on at least one surface of a paper substrate, wherein the biodegradable resin layer contains at least 15 mass % of a polylactic acid relative to 100 mass % of a biodegradable resin composition, and a nursery pot body is produced by molding the base paper.