Soilless media composition

Abstract

An improved soilless media composition including (a) green tuff; and (b) a substrate such as peat or bark. A method of enhancing the growth of plants including adding plant propagative material to a soilless media composition comprising (a) green tuff; and (b) a substrate.

Claims

1. A soilless media composition comprising (a) green tuff; and (b) a substrate, wherein the green tuff comprises components of SiO.sub.2, Al.sub.2O.sub.3, Na.sub.2O, Fe.sub.2O.sub.3, K.sub.2O, CaO, MgO, and P.sub.2O.sub.5 and the substrate comprises one or more materials selected from coir and bark.

2. The soilless media composition of claim 1 wherein the SiO.sub.2 is 71.4% percent by weight, the Al.sub.2O.sub.3 is 13.1% percent by weight, the Na.sub.2O is 3.5% percent by weight, the Fe.sub.2O.sub.3 is 3.6% percent by weight, the K.sub.2O is 2.6% percent by weight, the CaO is 1.2% percent by weight, the MgO is 1.2% percent by weight, and the P.sub.2O.sub.5 is 0.5% percent by weight and the bark is selected from the group consisting of combusted bark, composted bark and fresh bark.

3. The soilless media composition of claim 1 wherein the green tuff is present in an amount of from about 1 to about 35,000 grams per cubic meter of substrate.

4. The soilless media composition of claim 3 wherein the green tuff is present in an amount of from about 35 to about 3,500 grams per cubic meter of substrate.

5. The soilless media composition of claim 4 wherein the green tuff is present in an amount of from about 175 to about 1500 grams per cubic meter of substrate.

6. The soilless media composition of claim 5 further comprising lime.

7. The soilless media composition of claim 6 further comprising a fertilizer.

8. The soilless media composition of claim 7 further comprising water-holding or drainage additive.

9. The soilless media composition of claim 8 wherein the water holding drainage additive is perlite or vermiculite.

10. A method of enhancing the growth of plants comprising adding plant propagative material to the soilless media composition of claim 1.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said plant propagative material is a seed.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein said plant propagative material is a horticultural or vegetable plant.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(1) In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a soilless media composition comprising (a) green tuff; and (b) a substrate.

(2) As is employed herein, the term green tuff refers to the greenish gray volcanic material which is mined in Kuroko region of Japan. Such material is pulverized or otherwise reduced in size so that it possesses an average particle size of less than about 10 mm; preferably such material possesses an average particle size of from about 0.1 to about 5 mm. Such particle size can be measured by means well known to one of ordinary skill in the art such as by the use of appropriate size screens, and collecting the material which is either fine enough to pass through a given screens or is too coarse to pass through a given screen, depending upon whether a minimum or maximum particle size is desired.

(3) The term substrate refers to any substrate which is conventionally employed as the carrier for a soilless media. Suitable materials used for substances include peats, barks, coir and mixtures thereof, including but not limited to sphagnum peat moss, hypnum peat, reed sedge peat, combusted bark, composted bark and fresh bark. A particularly preferred substrate is sphagnum peat moss.

(4) The green tuff is typically added to the substrate in amounts ranging from about 1 to about 35,000 grams per cubic meter of substrate. Preferably, the green tuff is added in an amount ranging from about 35 to about 3500 grams per cubic meter, more preferably of from 175 to 1500 grams per cubic meter.

(5) The soilless media compositions of this invention can further comprise additional additives conventionally employed in known soilless media compositions.

(6) It has been found that when a peat is employed as the substrate, the soilless media tends to be acidic. Lime or similar material can be added to the soilless media compositions make the media more basic which can be advantageous as additives for the optimal growth of certain plant propagative materials.

(7) Materials such as perlite, vermiculite and the like may be added to the soilless media compositions to improve the water holding capacity and or drainage of the media.

(8) While some types of plant propagative materials do not require fertilizer for germination, it can be advantageous to provide supplemental nutrition for further growth. NPK fertilizers comprising nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium or similar fertilizers can be added to the soilless media.

(9) The additives can comprise up to 25% by weight of the soilless media, although higher or lower percentages may be employed.

(10) The soilless media compositions of the present invention can be prepared by mixing the green tuff, substrate and optionally the additives ( ) employing equipment and processes well known to those of ordinary skill in the art. The mixing can be accomplished sequentially. For example, by first blending the substrate with a fertilizer and perlite; then subsequently adding the green tuff and blending in a separate mixing step. Alternatively, all of the components can be mixed at once. The mixing is conducted until a substantially uniform mixture of the components is obtained.

(11) In another aspect, the present invention is directed to a method of enhancing the growth of plants comprising adding plant propagative material to a soilless media composition comprising (a) green tuff; and (b) a substrate.

(12) As is employed herein the term plant propagative material means plants or plant parts capable of growing in a soilless media including seeds and vegetative structures. For example plant propagative material can include leaves, stems and tubers. The plant propagative material is typically a horticultural or vegetable plant species, although it can comprise any plant which is suitably grown in soilless media.

(13) In the practice of the method of the present invention, plant propagative material is added to a soilless media composition comprising (a) green tuff; and (b) a substrate; and is then grown employing conventional techniques well known to one of ordinary skill in the art.

EXAMPLES

(14) The following examples are provided to illustrate the invention in accordance with the principles of this invention, but are not to be construed as limiting the invention in any way except as indicated in the appended claims.

Example 1

Impact of the Addition of Green-Tuff to Potting Media on the Growth of Lettuce Varieties

(15) Green-tuff was added to Scotts Miracle grow potting media. Scotts Miracle grow potting mix consists of sphagnum peat, wood bark, perlite and composted wood. The growing media has a 3 month fertilizer charge added at manufacturing. Lettuce seeds were planted into the treated media and untreated potting media and the growth of the lettuce plants was monitored for several weeks. It was observed that all three varieties of lettuce grown in the Green tuff treated media grew faster and were greener.

(16) A bag of Scotts Miracle grow potting media was opened and the contents thoroughly mixed by hand. The media was then divided into 2 equal piles. To one pile, Green tuff (1-5 mm diameter) was added at a rate of 353 grams per cubic meter (1000 g/hectare) and thoroughly mixed by hand into the media. The media was then added to two earth box garden boxes and watered in. Three varieties of lettuce seed Bib, Mesclun Mix and Salad bowl were then planted in individual rows in each garden box. No additional fertilizer was added. After 14 days and 28 days the lettuce plants were thinned and the length of each plant measured. At 45 Days the plants were harvested and the average length measured.

(17) TABLE-US-00002 14 DAP (Length mm) 28 DAP (Length mm) 45 DAP (length mm) Green- % Green- % Green % Variety Untreated Tuff increase Untreated Tuff increase Untreated tuff Increase Bib 56.5 99 75 102.5 151.1 47 169.5 227.8 34 Mesclun 62.3 120.5 93 104.9 180 72 190.5 222.2 17 Salad 56.0 112.2 100 89 144 62 177.8 234 31 Bowl

(18) The results show that the addition of Green-tuff to the growing media resulted in faster growing lettuce plants that were larger at harvest. It was observed that the plants grown in the green-tuff treated media were also greener than those grown in the untreated media.

Example 2

The Impact of the Addition of Green-Tuff to Scotts Potting Media on Flowering of Snap Dragon Transplants

(19) Green-tuff was added to Scotts miracle grow potting media. The growing media has a 3 month fertilizer charge added at manufacturing. Three Varieties of Snapdragon were planted into the treated media and untreated potting media and the flowering of the Snapdragon plants was monitored at 28 days after transplant. It was observed that all three varieties of Snapdragon grown in the Green tuff treated media had more flowers and were greener.

(20) A 1 cu ft bag of Scotts Miracle grow potting media was opened and the contents thoroughly mixed by hand. The media was then divided into 2 equal piles. To one pile, Green tuff (1-5 mm diameter) was added at a rate of 353 grams per cubic foot (1000 g/hectare) and thoroughly mixed by hand into the media. The media was then added to two garden pots and watered in. Three varieties of snapdragon plants were transplanted into the pots. None of the plants were blooming prior to transplant and were all 45 days old after seeding. No additional fertilizer was added. After 28 days the number of flowers on each plant were counted.

(21) TABLE-US-00003 28 DATP ( Number Flowers) Variety Untreated Green-Tuff % increase Yellow 2 17 850 Burgundy 13 49 377 Pink 28 97 345

(22) The results show that the addition of Green-tuff to the growing media resulted in faster blooming of the snapdragon plants. Plants grown in the treated media were also greener than those grown in the untreated media.

Example 3

The Impact of the Addition of Green-Tuff at Different Rates to Scotts Potting Media on the Growth of Vegetable and Flower Seeds

(23) Green-tuff was added to Scotts Miracle grow potting media. The growing media has a 3 month fertilizer charge added at manufacturing. Three Varieties of plant seed, marigold, radish and tomato were planted into the treated media, at different rates of Green-tuff and untreated potting media and the germination and growth of the plants were monitored.

(24) A 2 cu ft bag of Scotts Miracle grow potting media was opened and the contents thoroughly mixed by hand. The media was then divided into five equal piles. To four piles, Green tuff (1-5 mm diameter) was added at a rate of 176.5, 353, 706 and 1412 grams/cubic meter (5, 10, 20 and 40 grams per cubic foot) and thoroughly mixed by hand into the media. The other pile had no Green-tuff added. Four each treatment, four replications were used and five seeds sown per replication in 4 inch pots for a total of 12 pots per treatment. The seeds were allowed to grow for 2 weeks, then the number of seeds that had germinated were recorded and each pot was thinned down to one plant. These plants were the grown for another two weeks and then harvested and dried to record the dry weight.

(25) TABLE-US-00004 Number Germinated Seeds 14 DAP 176.5 353 706 1412 Variety Untreated g/cu m g/cu m g/cu m g/cu m Radish 100 100 95 100 100 Marigold 50 45 35 50 50 Tomato 95 100 100 95 85

(26) TABLE-US-00005 Dry weight of Plants 28 DAP 176.5 353 706 1412 Variety Untreated g/cu m g/cu m g/cu m g/cu m Marigold 0.09 0.23 0.21 0.18 0.04 Radish 0.08 0.31 0.23 0.25 0.16 Tomato 0.02 0.17 0.12 0.12 0.07

(27) The results show that the addition of Green-tuff at a rate of 176.5-1412 g/m to the growing media did not impact the germination of any of the seeds but it did increase the growth of the seedling at all rates tested.

Example 4

The Impact of the Addition of Green-Tuff at Different Rates to Scotts Potting Media on Marigolds and Zinnias

(28) Green-tuff was added to Scotts miracle grow potting media. The growing media has a 3 month fertilizer charge added at manufacturing. Two varieties of flower transplant, marigold and Zinnia were trans-planted into the treated media, at different rates of Green-tuff and untreated potting media and the germination and growth of the plants were monitored.

(29) Two 2 cu ft bag of Scotts Miracle grow potting media was opened and the contents thoroughly mixed by hand. The media was then divided into five equal piles. To four piles, Green tuff (1-5 mm diameter) was added at a rate of 176.5, 353, 706 and 1412 grams/cubic meter (5, 10, 20 and 40 grams per cubic foot) and thoroughly mixed by hand into the media. The other pile had no Green-tuff added. For each treatment, seven replications were used in 3 gallon pots for a total of seven pots per treatment. The transplants were watered daily and allowed to grow for 10 weeks and the dry weight of the plants was measured.

(30) TABLE-US-00006 AVG Dry weight of Plants (grams) 10 weeks after transplant 176.5 353 706 1412 Variety Untreated g/cu m g/cu m g/cu m g/cu m Marigold 10.44 8.57 13.76 23.5 23.74 Zinnia 19.98 27.51 27.78 22.5 28.9

(31) TABLE-US-00007 % increase in AVG dry weight over untreated control 176.5 353 706 1412 Variety g/cu m g/cu m g/cu m g/cu m Marigold 17.9 31.8 125 127.3 Zinnia 38 39 13 45

(32) The results show that the addition of Green-tuff at a rate of 176.5-1412 g/cu m to the growing media tested increased plant growth of both Marigold and Zinnia. At a rate of 176.5 g/cu m the addition of green-tuff increased the growth of Zinnia but not Marigold. It was observed that at this low rate of addition it was difficult to uniformly mix the green tuff into the potting media. As a result there was great variability in the growth of the plants and there dry weights ranged from 3.6 to 32.7 grams/plant.

(33) It is to be understood that the above-described embodiments are illustrative of only a few of the many possible specific embodiments, which can represent applications of the principles of the invention. Numerous and varied other arrangements can be readily devised in accordance with these principles by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.