Wood Chip Organic Fertilizer Slow-Release Method
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current forest fertilizers in Korea are inadequate due to uniform component ratios that do not consider regional soil differences and organic content, leading to inefficient nutrient supply, excessive chemical fertilizer runoff, and soil pollution, and existing methods for producing organic composite fertilizers are complex and costly with short-lived microorganism activity.
Innovation Solution
A method for preparing wood chip-type organic composite fertilizers involving chipping outer bark-stripped timber into 1-4 cm chips, blending organic by-products with nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium, forming a liquid organic fertilizer, and applying a water-dispersible binder and colorant to create colored wood chips that are dried and packed, allowing for gradual decomposition and slow-release nutrient delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If chemical fertilizers are applied in excessive amounts to promote plant growth, then growth promotion and fructification enhancement are improved, but fertilizer runoff and soil pollution increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses wood chips as an intermediary carrier to deliver nutrients to plants. The wood chips absorb chemical fertilizers and release them gradually through decomposition, preventing direct runoff into soil and water while maintaining effective nutrient supply for plant growth.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state and release parameters of fertilizers by incorporating them into wood chips. The fertilizers transition from a dissolved, rapidly-absorbed state to a solid-bound, gradually-released state through the decomposition process of wood chips, controlling the release rate and reducing runoff.
2Ease of operation
If a single component ratio fertilizer is used uniformly across all forest lands, then fertilizer application simplicity is improved, but nutrient supply efficiency decreases due to regional soil differences
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different types and ratios of chemical fertilizers to wood chips based on regional soil conditions and target tree species. This allows customization of nutrient composition (N-P-K ratios) to match specific local requirements while maintaining the simple wood chip application method.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the fertilizer application by categorizing wood chips according to different fertilizer compositions suitable for various forest types and soil conditions. This enables differentiated nutrient supply strategies for different regions while using a unified wood chip delivery system.
3Reliability
If fertilizers are applied directly to soil, then nutrient availability to plants is improved, but loss amounts increase due to natural phenomena like flood and landslide
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses wood chips as a protective intermediary that binds fertilizers and protects them from being washed away by flood or displaced by landslide. The wood chips remain in place on the soil surface, holding nutrients until they are gradually decomposed and released to plant roots.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary action by pre-coating wood chips with fertilizers before application to the field. This ensures nutrients are already bound to the wood chip matrix, preventing loss during transport and initial soil contact, and enabling controlled release over time.
4Productivity
If microorganisms are cultured and added to compost for fast-acting decomposition, then decomposition speed is improved, but cost increases and microorganism management becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs indigenous microorganisms naturally present in the wood chip-fertilizer mixture to perform decomposition. These native microorganisms self-activate under appropriate moisture and temperature conditions, eliminating the need for external microorganism culturing, addition, and management while achieving effective decomposition.
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 method provides a long-lasting biological slow-release fertilizer effect, adjusts soil temperature and moisture, reduces soil temperature fluctuations, and enhances landscape aesthetics while maintaining soil health and fertility.
Implementation Method 1
obtaining colored wood chips by simultaneously immersing the wood chips of the step a in the organic mixed solution of the step c and applying hot air to the organic mixed solution at a temperature of 120 to 200 °C for 30 to 40 seconds to coat the woods chips with colors
Implementation Method 2
drying the wood chips to a high temperature to remove moisture formed on an outer surface of the wood chips of the step d and to make the organic mixed solution penetrate evenly into the wood chips at the same time
Implementation Method 3
allowing for gradual decomposition and slow-release nutrient delivery
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method of preparing a wood chip-type organic composite fertilizer and, more specifically, to a method of preparing a wood chip-type organic composite fertilizer which not only abundantly supplies nutrients to soil and crops, but also can express beauty of landscaping appearance by applying wood chips containing a large amount of composite organic matter (animal and vegetable materials) and having various colors to horticulture, landscaping or the like, wherein the method comprises the steps of: ⓐ preparing wood chips by chipping at least one region of an outer bark-stripped unsewn timer, a bough, and a root into chips having a diameter of 1 to 4 cm; ⓑ preparing a liquid organic fertilizer by blending 73.0 to 80.0 wt% of an organic by-product, 6.1 to 9.0 wt% of a nutrient in which nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P) and potassium (K) are mixed at a weight ratio of 1:0.1 to 0.4:1.0 to 5.0, and 13.9 to 18.0 wt% of water (H2O); ⓒ forming an organic mixed solution by mixing 75.0 to 85.6 wt% of the organic fertilizer of the step ⓑ with 0.10 to 5.0 wt% of a water-dispersible binder and 14.3 to 20.0 wt% of a colorant; ⓓ obtaining colored wood chips by simultaneously immersing the wood chips of the step ⓐ in the organic mixed solution of the step ⓒ and applying hot air to the organic mixed solution at a temperature of 120 to 200 °C for 30 to 40 seconds to coat the woods chips with colors; ⓔ drying the wood chips to a high temperature to remove moisture formed on an outer surface of the wood chips of the step ⓓ and to make the organic mixed solution penetrate evenly into the wood chips at the same time; and ⓕ packing the dried wood chips of the step ⓔ by weight unit with the measurement thereof on a scale.