DE2607069A1 - PROCESS FOR PRODUCING AGRICULTURAL SOIL COMPOSITIONS - Google Patents

Description

'' February 20, 1976 Gzm / Ra.

Cabot Corporation, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Process for the production of agricultural soil compositions

The invention relates to agricultural soil compositions, which have been prepared to regulate the supply of the optimal amount of water to the root systems of growing plants. This composition can be used for any agricultural purpose, either in small containers, such as for house plants, or in open fields.

As all gardeners and farmers know, the essential condition for the growth of any agricultural one is Product that access to sufficient amounts of water is guaranteed. Too little water leads to stunted growth or no growth at all and too much water causes the plant to rot or even destroy it.

It is the aim of the present invention to provide soil compositions to develop that can be adapted to any environment, thereby regulating and regulating the water supply is in accordance with the requirements of all that grows in it.

609836/0326

In U.S. Patent 3,710,510, plant growth media are used for germinating seeds and for raising seedlings revealed during the initial stage of their growth. It is the primary objective of the present invention to provide for the subsequent stages of plant growth, which is the Prior art compositions cannot, although seeds can of course also be included in the compositions according to the invention can be germinated.

The compositions of the invention are made from the usual soil materials found in any garden and to which a hydrophobic, solid, particulate material has been added, in a ratio of 1 to approximately up to 40 parts by volume of the soil material. How critical these relationships are will be explained and shown later.

The hydrophobic particulate solids used in the composition of the present invention can be those disclosed in US Pat. No. 3,710,510; these are quoted in the present application. Suffice it to say that the particulate material should be finely divided and hydrophobic enough to float on the surface of the water. The preferred particulate solid is silica mass (with a BET surface area of at least approximately 50 m² / gj, the hydroxyl groups originally present on the surface have been completely reacted with hydrophobizing agents, such as organosilicon compounds). The surface treatment should be sufficient to apply a total of at least 0.5% and preferably at least 1 % organic groups, based on the dry weight of the particulate solid, to the surface.

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The unexpected result of adding the critical amount of hydrophobic particles to the soil is that of the entire soil body Water is supplied and the water level therein is maintained at a preselected level, regardless of Water level in the area. Once water is present in the composition according to the invention, as long as that Maintain balance as water continues to be supplied from below. The reason for this is that the extent of the capillary Incline is regulated by the proportion of hydrophobic particles in the composition, so that the influx of fresh Water is no greater than the rate of evaporation from the surface of the total mass. Therefore, the improved Soil composition can never be saturated with water, because the hydrophobic, non-wettable component of the soil allows air to enter with the water and maintains sufficient porosity in the soil to prevent drowning to prevent the plants in it.

The present invention differs from US Pat. No. 3,710,510 in the constant and regulated supply of water for the composition. In US-PS 3,710,510 it is pointed out that the very hydrophobic nature of the added, particulate material prevents the aqueous liquid from being drawn up into the soil bed (the particulate Material is present at least in the ratio of 1 part by volume to 8 parts by volume, preferably to 3 parts by volume of the soil material). Although some water vapor can diffuse into the voids of the bed, in practice the extent is diffusion so little that the entire evaporation of the original water content (including any added

609836/0326

added steam) eventually occurs and pretty soon. As the water disappears completely during the seedling is still young, he must be placed in a favorable environment, such as the one according to the invention. In addition, the water content the composition disclosed in the patent can not be restored, as this composition because of their extremely hydrophobic property does not absorb fresh water and is therefore thrown away after use.

If the composition according to the invention is to be kept in a container for a long time, even for years, it may be advantageous to glue the hydrophobic, particulate material to a heavier component of the floor. Otherwise the particles, which are much lighter and less dense than the rest of the soil, tend to to change over time with the water. To counteract this and to ensure an even distribution To maintain in the growth medium, the particulate material can easily be attached to a heavier component such as sand by means of a binder that is indestructible in the medium. A preferred class of such Binders are fully polymeric liquids with a low viscosity; they also have the property of being catalytic or to be converted into a solid by heat. Typical are epoxy and polyester resins and reactive liquids Silicones.

The connection of the light material with the heavier material is easy to achieve. The heavier material is put in first a rotating drum while the binder is added. Then in the sticky state it becomes the light one

609836/0326

Material added so that it sticks to the surface of the substrate. Thereafter, the binder is applied in a conventional manner hardened. It is only necessary that the light, hydrophobic component lie on the surface of the substrate so that its surfaces come into contact with the atmosphere. Appropriate Methods for Making This Material are disclosed in U.S. Patent 3,562,153.

A main field of application of the composition according to the invention is a soil for a pot, i.e. a bed for growing of plants in pots. Such pots must have openings in the bottom and be placed in a water container. If the The correct amount of the hydrophobic particulate material has been added to the bed for plant growth to migrate exactly the amount of water required for good growth at a consistent rate upwards as long as the reservoir water is supplied below. The flow rate is advantageously controlled so that in the upper part approximately 2.54 cm of the soil is dry. This increases the likelihood of continued fungus growth on the surface of the soil diminished. It is precisely due to the hydrophobic addition in the mixture that the evaporation at the Surface occurs at a greater speed than the water supply from below. With an appropriate composition an equilibrium can thus be achieved in which the dry level is at the desired distance from above can be adjusted, in other words, the water can be brought to where it is most needed, i.e. at the root system.

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It is evident that the water supply to the pot is continuous A regulated amount is ensured as long as the reservoir in which the plant pot is located is water contains. So the focus need not be constantly on watering, apart from the fact that the reservoir is refilled which is automatic and easy to do. That

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/ irrigation of common soils can of course be carried out automatically but this requires a more complicated system in a dedicated area, which is usually found in apartments, Business premises, shop windows for ornamental plants are not available.

It is evident that the composition according to the invention has a wide range of uses for agricultural use. Water regulation is of particular importance for feed breeding. Through a selective admixture of the hydrophobic Element to the arable land, the water can be used most effectively. Rainwater passes the more easily Soil, because there are many non-adsorbent passages.

The water collects in the lower layers and vice versa Upward flow occurs at a slow rate when the top feed is terminated. As long as that If water remains at the lower levels, it is dosed upwards at the desired rate, accordingly the requirements of the plants and where the soil has too much water contains, as in marshy terrain, higher concentrations of the hydrophobic particles are used to increase the hydraulic pressure to withstand.

609836/0326

2607063

The following examples illustrate the composition according to the invention and the results achieved with it.

example 1

A pot base, consisting of equal volumes of vermiculite, Perlite and "peat moss" were mixed with various amounts of hydrophobic, pyrogenic silica mass (BET surface area of about 250 qm / g and 0.5 wt .- # of -Si (CH ^) ^ - surface groups, obtained by reaction with hexamethyldisilazane). The silica compound was each time with the dry Mix the pot earth by shaking (5 minutes) in a container (3.8 liters). The water absorption of the various Mixtures was determined by placing paper cups (capacity 210 g, perforated bottoms) with the mixtures in a Water bowl (2.54 cm deep) were placed. To initiate the capillary upward movement, 113.4 g of water were put on top poured each beaker, thereby saturating the mixture. The following increases in weight as a result of water intake in the designated Days were registered:

609836/0326

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6 09 836/0326 ORIGINAL IMSPECTBD

From the above data, it can be seen that the concentration is too high the hydrophobic constituents prevent the water from accessing the soil (mixture 10/1), while the soil without hydrophobic constituents (control) absorbs much larger amounts of water. As for blends 15/1 and 40/1, so is the difference in water intake is not particularly great, but the trend is evident.

Example 2 r ~

To the effect of the hydrophobic silica content of the bottom of the pot on the regulation of the moisture content in the pot Show clear plastic cylinders (diameter 10.16 cmj length 35.5 cm) with the bottom up to 5 cm below of the upper edge filled. The bottom closure was pierced (10 holes, 0.63 cm) and the cylinders were upright in one Dish placed that contained water (constant water level 1.25 cm). Water was initially drawn from the top of each cylinder poured to accelerate capillary uptake. The following data were obtained:

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(no silica) 10 days after 20 Days after 60 Day; en 20/1 soil / silica 0 0 0 40/1 soil / silica 1.25 2, 54 2, 54 1.90 1. 25th 1, 25th

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Similar results were obtained using soil mixes with the same proportions of hydrophobic silica mass.

This example demonstrates the usefulness of hydrophobic silica as a constant and regulated agent Water supply to the growing bed. In each case the bottom of the pot was from which it was assumed, the same as in Example 1, although it is evident that any soil which is suitable for the Plant growth suitable, can be used for the invention.

Example 3

To the effectiveness of the composition according to the invention both for the seed germination and for the growth of the resulting To show plants, seeds of green beans and tomatoes were planted in mixtures containing the specified Ratios of hydrophobic silica to commercially available potting soil (Ferlite). The results were as follows:

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609836/0326

It goes without saying that it is to those skilled in the art of agriculture "known that the water requirement is not the same for all plants. But because of the present invention it is easily possible to determine the optimal ratio of silica to soil. However, as shown by this example Soil to silica ratios less than 15: 1 are unsatisfactory and any ratio above 40: 1 is at best still wearable.

As for regulation, it is clear that the soil is saturated with water, which is good for the germination of tomato seeds but not for the continued growth of the plant. It is also well known that any plant eventually dies if ordinary soils only watered from below, and are therefore saturated. Therefore, the water supply in such plantings must always come from above and not too often, so that the soil, after being saturated by water supply, has enough time to dry out. In contrast to the constant cycle between wet and dry in normal practice, the composition according to the invention enables a highly regulated and consistent supply of just the right amount of water for the particular planting. _;

An agricultural soil composition is disclosed for the growth of plants and the like, in which a means of controlling and regulating the distribution of water is provided within the growth zone. This composition is characterized by the fact that the garden soil a critical amount of a hydrophobic particulate material is added.

603836/0326

Claims (12)

Claims An agricultural soil composition characterized by (a) a volume part of a hydrophobic, finely divided, particulate metal oxide having a BET-NO _{surface area of at least about 50 m 2} / g and (b) 15 to about 40 parts by volume of ordinary soil material. 2. Composition according to claim 1, characterized in that the hydrophobic, particulate metal oxide of (a) is attached to the surface of one or more components of the material (b). 3. Composition according to claim 2, characterized in that the hydrophobic, particulate metal oxide with the aid an adhesive is attached, which is selected from the group of polymeric adhesives consisting of epoxy resin, Polyester and reactive liquid silicone adhesives. 4. Composition according to claim 1, characterized in that that the hydrophobic, particulate metal oxide is silica containing at least about 0.5% by weight organic groups the surface owns. 5. Composition according to claim 1, characterized in that the conventional soil material (b) is selected from the group of indigenous topsoils, vermiculite, perlite, * Toorfmoss, sand and their mixtures. 609836/0326 6. Potted plant soil system, characterized by one in one Container bed made of soil, a mixture of (a) 1 part by volume of a hydrophobic, finely divided, particulate metal oxide having a BET-N ₉ surface area of at least about 50 m / g; and (b) 15 to 40 parts by volume of common soil material selected from the group consisting of indigenous topsoil, vermiculite , Perlite, Toorfmoos, Sand and mixtures thereof; and devices for supplying water to the bottom of the bed. 7. System according to claim 6, characterized in that the hydrophobic, particulate metal oxide of (a) to the surface one or more components of the material of (b) is attached. 8. System according to claim 7, characterized in that the hydrophobic, particulate metal oxide with the aid of a polymeric adhesive is attached, which is selected from the group consisting of epoxy resin, polyester and reactive liquid silicones. 9. System according to claim 6, characterized in that the hydrophobic, particulate metal oxide is silica, the has at least about 0.5% by weight organic groups on the surface. 10. Agricultural soil composition, characterized by (a) 1 part by volume of a hydrophobic, finely divided, particulate metal oxide with a BET-N ₉ surface of at least about 50 m / g and (b) 15 to 40 volume 609836/0326 26U / C69 parts of ordinary soil material selected from the group consisting of indigenous topsoil, Vermiculite, Perlite, Toorfmoss, Sand and mixtures thereof. 11. A method for growing plants, characterized in that their roots are immersed in a mixture of (a) 1 part by volume of a hydrophobic, finely divided, particulate metal oxide with a BET-N ₀ surface of at least 50 m / g; and (b) 15 to about 40 parts by volume of ordinary soil material and supplying a growth promoting amount of water to the composition. 12. A method for growing plants from seeds, characterized in that the seeds are brought into contact with a composition consisting of a mixture of (a) 1 part by volume of a hydrophobic, finely divided, particulate metal oxide with a BET-N ₉ surface of at least 50 m / g and (b) 15 to about 40 parts by volume of one or more common soil materials and adding to the bedding composition an amount of water which is conducive to germination and growth. 6 09836/0326 originally inspected