Plant cultivation materials, which have the liquid retentivity and the liquid transitivity, which provide the best environment for plants respiration, which comprises polyesters, natural pulps and/or synthetic pulps such as polyolefin pulps, from which plants can absorb the amount of the elements necessary for the plant growth as much as plants want whenever plants want, and which provide the cultivation environment to accelerate the plant growth, and the plant cultivation methods by using the materials can be provided.

A polyvinyl alcohol-based crosslinked copolymer may include an unsaturated monocarboxylic acid-based structural unit, wherein an amount of carboxylate-forming structural units in the crosslinked copolymer is 1% by mole or more and 35% by mole or less with respect to all structural units constituting the crosslinked copolymer, and a solubility of the crosslinked copolymer in water is 90% or less.

A polyvinyl alcohol-based crosslinked copolymer may include an unsaturated monocarboxylic acid-based structural unit, wherein an amount of carboxylate-forming structural units in the crosslinked copolymer is 1% by mole or more and 35% by mole or less with respect to all structural units constituting the crosslinked copolymer, and a solubility of the crosslinked copolymer in water is 90% or less.

Provided is a sponge-like porous body which is an elastic and flexible porous body, the sponge-like porous body having hydrophilic properties from the front surface portion to the inside. The sponge-like porous body has a substrate with pores, wherein an inner wall of the pores has a hydrophilic film in a region from a depth of 0% to a depth of 20% or more of the thickness of the sponge-like porous body in a thickness direction from a front surface portion to a back surface portion.

Provided is a sponge-like porous body which is an elastic and flexible porous body, the sponge-like porous body having hydrophilic properties from the front surface portion to the inside. The sponge-like porous body has a substrate with pores, wherein an inner wall of the pores has a hydrophilic film in a region from a depth of 0% to a depth of 20% or more of the thickness of the sponge-like porous body in a thickness direction from a front surface portion to a back surface portion.

An absorption medium includes compressed coir particles having been compressed from an uncompressed state at a volume to volume ratio of greater than 3:1, but less than 15:1, and having been ground to a grind size of 1/25 inches to inch.

An objective of the present invention is to provide a method of producing artificial bio-soil aggregates based on foamed concrete for plant growth that can ensure sufficient moisture and plant nutrients for the habitat of plants in non-soil conditions; obtain a lightweight, durable, and deep soil layer, and continuously provide a favorable environment for plant growth.

To achieve the above objective, according to the present invention a paste is prepared by mixing cement with an admixture, such as ochre and burnt-furnace slag; foamed concrete is formed by adding foam bubbles with an appropriate foaming rate to said paste, thereby producing soil concrete. When the foamed concrete is used, a designated compressive strength can be ensured and a number of pore spaces are formed, which allow the air to be sucked and expelled therethrough and store moisture therein. Also, hydrogel that is incorporated into the foamed concrete may supply nutrients required for plant growth, improve pest resistance, and store and supply a large amount of water.

One embodiment provides a modular green roof tray, house plant growth media and horticulture growth media, and a tree protection mat for weed and moisture control made from recycled disposable diapers. The growth medium and tree protection mat contain superabsorbent materials from diaper that can absorb waters and greatly reduce irrigation so to provide a drought resistant feature. One embodiment also provides a manufacturing process to perform 100% recycling of disposed diapers.

The present disclosure is directed to a method for providing a flow-able hydrogel for germinating, cultivating, transporting or displaying plants. The method generally includes at least three distinct steps: 1) dissolving a polyethylene glycol having functionalized end-groups in water to form a flow-able solution, 2) dissolving one or more activating agents within the flow-able solution such that the activating agents react with the functionalized end-groups of the polyethylene glycol to form a non-flow-able hydrogel after a set-time, 3) pouring the flow-able solution into a container prior to the set time such that the flow-able solution assumes the shape of the container and forms a non-flow-able hydrogel.

A mineral wool batt for use as a plant growth medium, particularly in applications for growing vegetation (including plants) in which water retention and/or the avoidance of water run-off is of interest. The mineral wool batt has an absorbent layer which comprises needled mineral wool fibres; superabsorbent particles in the absorbent layer may be sandwiched between a denser upper and/or lower barrier layer(s) which assist in preventing their escape.