The present invention provides for a growing medium having a mix of soil, graphene, and/or graphene oxide. In at least one example, soil is combined with single or few layer graphene. In another example, the soil is combined with single or few layer graphene, including graphene sheets, and graphene oxide. The growing medium has been shown to increase plant growth while providing for growing medium aeration, increased water retention, and increased nutrient loading and release.

The present invention provides for a growing medium having a mix of soil, graphene, and/or graphene oxide. In at least one example, soil is combined with single or few layer graphene. In another example, the soil is combined with single or few layer graphene, including graphene sheets, and graphene oxide. The growing medium has been shown to increase plant growth while providing for growing medium aeration, increased water retention, and increased nutrient loading and release.

A device and method for preparing in-situ molded biochar with high specific surface area. Crushed and mixed biomass and modifier are fed into a hot pressing and pyrolysis device, and hot-pressing molding and pyrolysis carbonization are completed synchronously, which solves the problem of multiple steps and complicated equipment in the existing preparation process for molded biochar material. In-situ bonding molding is realized by adhesion, bridging, cross-linking and mechanical interlocking functions of low-temperature molten & softened lignin and pyrolytic tar. No additional cross-linking agent is needed in this process, so the production cost is low. Covering and suffocating actions of trace flame retardant modifier are utilized to reduce the temperature of biomass pyrolysis carbonization, inhibit excessive ablation and accelerate polycondensation reaction, thus to improve the specific surface area and yield of a product, and improve the cost performance of the product.

A device and method for preparing in-situ molded biochar with high specific surface area. Crushed and mixed biomass and modifier are fed into a hot pressing and pyrolysis device, and hot-pressing molding and pyrolysis carbonization are completed synchronously, which solves the problem of multiple steps and complicated equipment in the existing preparation process for molded biochar material. In-situ bonding molding is realized by adhesion, bridging, cross-linking and mechanical interlocking functions of low-temperature molten & softened lignin and pyrolytic tar. No additional cross-linking agent is needed in this process, so the production cost is low. Covering and suffocating actions of trace flame retardant modifier are utilized to reduce the temperature of biomass pyrolysis carbonization, inhibit excessive ablation and accelerate polycondensation reaction, thus to improve the specific surface area and yield of a product, and improve the cost performance of the product.

The invention relates to a method for disinfecting soils or other agricultural growing media, characterised by comprising the following steps: obtaining a soil or other agricultural growing medium at their field capacity; treating the soil or medium at the field capacity of the previous step with ozonated water, wherein the ozonated water is prepared in situ with ozone-production equipment connected to the water supply; allowing a period of time to pass after the treatment with ozone; and inoculating the disinfected soil or agricultural medium with at least one species of beneficial microorganism.

A method for preparing the ferrous sulfide-containing passivator includes: dissolving a sulfide in an alkaline solution to form a mixed solution with a pH of 12-13; adding sodium silicate to the mixed solution and stirring for 0.5-1 hour at 20-40° C.; adding an aqueous solution of ferrous salt to the mixed solution containing sodium silicate, and allowing to react at 40-60° C. for 2-3 hours; where, with decrease of the pH of the mixed solution, sodium silicate is converted into silica nanoparticles, and the ferrous salt reacts with the sulfide to form ferrous sulfide; and further adding an aqueous solution of an organic modifier, and allowing to react at 40-60° C. for 1-2 hours to form a passivator slurry including surface-modified ferrous sulfide doped with silicon dioxide; filtering the passivator slurry to form a passivator.

A method for preparing the ferrous sulfide-containing passivator includes: dissolving a sulfide in an alkaline solution to form a mixed solution with a pH of 12-13; adding sodium silicate to the mixed solution and stirring for 0.5-1 hour at 20-40° C.; adding an aqueous solution of ferrous salt to the mixed solution containing sodium silicate, and allowing to react at 40-60° C. for 2-3 hours; where, with decrease of the pH of the mixed solution, sodium silicate is converted into silica nanoparticles, and the ferrous salt reacts with the sulfide to form ferrous sulfide; and further adding an aqueous solution of an organic modifier, and allowing to react at 40-60° C. for 1-2 hours to form a passivator slurry including surface-modified ferrous sulfide doped with silicon dioxide; filtering the passivator slurry to form a passivator.

A system and method for evaluating soil characteristics. The system and method includes providing one or more soil test kits to a user. The soil tests kits may include ion-exchange resins and may instruct the user to collect a soil sample from his/her growing area, to combine the soil sample with the ion-exchange resins, and to provide the combination to the system for analysis. Other test kits may not include ion-exchange resins and may instruct the user to provide a soil sample from his/her growing area to the system for analysis. The system evaluates the ion-exchange resins and/or the soil samples to identify nutrient levels, pH levels, and other characteristics of the soil. Using the evaluation results, the system provides feedback, recommendations and/or products to the user to improve the soil conditions and to ensure a successful crop, yield, quality, and nutrient density. The system and method also may include providing a second soil test kit to the user at a predetermined time after the first, to evaluate a second soil sample, and to compare the second evaluation results with the first to assess the improvement of the soil conditions.

A system and method for evaluating soil characteristics. The system and method includes providing one or more soil test kits to a user. The soil tests kits may include ion-exchange resins and may instruct the user to collect a soil sample from his/her growing area, to combine the soil sample with the ion-exchange resins, and to provide the combination to the system for analysis. Other test kits may not include ion-exchange resins and may instruct the user to provide a soil sample from his/her growing area to the system for analysis. The system evaluates the ion-exchange resins and/or the soil samples to identify nutrient levels, pH levels, and other characteristics of the soil. Using the evaluation results, the system provides feedback, recommendations and/or products to the user to improve the soil conditions and to ensure a successful crop, yield, quality, and nutrient density. The system and method also may include providing a second soil test kit to the user at a predetermined time after the first, to evaluate a second soil sample, and to compare the second evaluation results with the first to assess the improvement of the soil conditions.

The invention relates to a microbial delivery system where biochar acts as a carrier for microbes.