Plant growth promoter

Abstract

The present invention is a plant growth promoter, containing: a lignocellulosic biomass (A); and at least one base (B) selected from the following (B1) to (B3), wherein the plant growth promoter has a contact angle with water of 80° or less, <Base (B)> (B1) a resin acid, (B2) a compound represented by formula (1),
R.sup.1—Z.sup.1—Z.sup.2  (1) wherein R.sup.1 represents a hydrocarbon group with 9 or more carbons, Z.sup.1 represents a single bond or (OR.sup.2).sub.p, R.sup.2 represents an alkanediyl group with 2 or more and 3 or less carbons, p represents a number that is on average more than 0 and 30 or less, Z.sup.2 represents a group selected from a carboxy group, a hydroxyl group, a sulfate group, and NR.sup.3R.sup.4, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, a methyl group, an ethyl group, or (R.sup.5O).sub.qH, R.sup.5 represents an alkanediyl group with 2 or more and 3 or less carbons, and q represents a number that is on average more than 0 and 15 or less, and (B3) a polyhydric alcohol or a polycarboxylic acid having a molecular weight of 30,000 or less.

Claims

1. A plant growth promoter, comprising: a lignocellulosic biomass (A); and at least one base (B) selected from the group consisting of base (B1-1), base (B2-1), base (B2-2), base (B2-3), base (B2-4), base (B3-1), and base (B3-2); wherein: the plant growth promoter has a contact angle with water of 80° or less; the lignocellulosic biomass (A) is a hydrophilic lignocellulosic biomass obtained by an alkali hot water treatment, in which a precursor lignocellulosic biomass is brought into contact with an alkaline medium with a pH of 9 to 14 at a temperature of 25 to 150° C. for 0.5 to 12 hours; the lignocellulosic biomass (A) has an average particle size of 0.1 μm to 1000 μm; base (B1-1): a resin acid selected from rosin, dammar resin, and tall oil fatty acids, or a salt thereof; base (B2-1): a fatty acid selected from capric acid, lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, behenic acid, and lignoceric acid, or a salt thereof; base (B2-2): an alcohol selected from decyl alcohol, lauryl alcohol, myristyl alcohol, palmityl alcohol, and stearyl alcohol; base (B2-3): a sulfate selected from lauryl sulfate, tetradecyl sulfate, and hexadecyl sulfate, or a salt thereof; base (B2-4): an amine selected from dodecylamine, tetradecylamine, and stearylamine; base (B3-1): a polyhydric alcohol selected from glycerin, polyglycerins, and polyvinyl alcohols having a weight average molecular weight of 30,000 or less; and base (B3-2): a polycarboxylic acid selected from polyacrylic acids having a weight average molecular weight of 30,000 or less and carboxymethyl cellulose having a weight average molecular weight of 30,000 or less, or a salt thereof.

2. The plant growth promoter according to claim 1, comprising a complex of the lignocellulosic biomass (A) and the base (B).

3. The plant growth promoter according to claim 1, comprising a complex in which the base (B) is attached to a surface of the lignocellulosic biomass (A).

4. The plant growth promoter according to claim 1, wherein the base (B) and the lignocellulosic biomass (A) are present in the plant growth promoter at a mass ratio, (B):(A), of 0.001:100 to 100:100.

5. The plant growth promoter according to claim 1, which is a solid.

6. A method for producing the plant growth promoter according to claim 1, comprising: bringing a precursor lignocellulosic biomass into contact with an alkaline medium with a pH of 9 to 14 at a temperature of 25 to 150° C. for 0.5 to 12 hours to obtain a hydrophilic lignocellulosic biomass (A); and mixing the hydrophilic lignocellulosic biomass (A) with at least one base (B) selected from the group consisting of base (B1-1), base (B2-1), base (B2-2), base (B2-3), base (B2-4), base (B3-1), and base (B3-2); wherein: base (B1-1): a resin acid selected from rosin, dammar resin, and tall oil fatty acids, or a salt thereof; base (B2-1): a fatty acid selected from capric acid, lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, behenic acid, and lignoceric acid, or a salt thereof; base (B2-2): an alcohol selected from decyl alcohol, lauryl alcohol, myristyl alcohol, palmityl alcohol, and stearyl alcohol; base (B2-3): a sulfate selected from lauryl sulfate, tetradecyl sulfate, and hexadecyl sulfate, or a salt thereof; base (B2-4): an amine selected from dodecylamine, tetradecylamine, and stearylamine; base (B3-1): a polyhydric alcohol selected from glycerin, polyglycerins, and polyvinyl alcohols having a weight average molecular weight of 30,000 or less; and base (B3-2): a polycarboxylic acid selected from polyacrylic acids having a weight average molecular weight of 30,000 or less and carboxymethyl cellulose having a weight average molecular weight of 30,000 or less, or a salt thereof.

7. The method for producing a plant growth promoter according to claim 6, wherein the alkaline medium comprises water.

8. A method for growing a plant, wherein the plant is cultivated in a soil containing the plant growth promoter according to claim 1.

9. The method for growing a plant according to claim 8, wherein the plant growth promoter is added to the soil before sowing.

10. The method for growing a plant according to claim 8, wherein the plant growth promoter is mixed into the soil or sprayed onto the soil.

11. The method for growing a plant according to claim 8, wherein the plant growth promoter is added, in total of the lignocellulosic biomass (A) and the base (B), in an amount of 0.0001 parts by mass or more and 10 parts by mass or less per 100 parts by mass of the soil for cultivating the plant.

12. The method for growing a plant according to claim 8, wherein the plant growth promoter is sprayed, in total of the lignocellulosic biomass (A) and the base (B), in an amount of 0.2 kg or more and 20,000 kg or less per 10a of the soil for cultivating the plant.

13. The method for growing a plant according to claim 11, wherein the plant is a plant used as an agricultural crop.

14. The method for growing a plant according to claim 8, wherein the plant is a plant selected from Cucurbitaceae, Solanaceae, Rosaceae, Malvaceae, Leguminosae, Gramineae, Brassicaceae, Alliaceae, Amaryllidaceae, Compositae, Amaranthaceae, Umbelliferae, Zingiberaceae, Lamiaceae, Araceae, Convolvulaceae, Dioscoreaceae, and Nelumbonaceae.

15. The method for growing a plant according to claim 8, wherein the plant is a plant selected from fruit and vegetables, leaf vegetables, root vegetables, rice, wheat varieties, and flowers.

16. The method for growing a plant according to claim 8, comprising aggregating the soil to obtain a soil granulated material.

Description

EXAMPLES

(1) The plant growth promoter of the inventive product was produced as follows.

Production Example 1

(2) Inventive products 1 and 2 of the plant growth promoter were produced by the following steps 1 and 2.

(3) (Step 1)

(4) As lignocellulosic biomass (A), sugarcane bagasse (written as “bagasse” in the table) passed through a 1 mm diameter mold sieve in an amount of 30 g as a dry mass was placed in a glass bottle, and a 1.6% by mass aqueous sodium hydroxide solution was added so that the solid content was 20% by mass. The glass bottle was heated in an autoclave at 100° C. for 1 hour to obtain a slurry as a reaction product. In step 1 of this example, the amount of the 1.6% by mass aqueous sodium hydroxide solution added was 400 parts by mass, and the amount of NaOH added was 6.4 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of sugarcane bagasse as lignocellulosic biomass (A).

(5) (Step 2)

(6) An aqueous sodium hydroxide solution (rosin concentration: 1.0% by mass, pH 9) obtained by dissolving rosin as base (B) in the slurry obtained in step 1 was added such that the amount of rosin added was 0.1 mass part with respect to 100 parts by mass parts of sugarcane bagasse, and stirred. After stirring, neutralization was performed using 1 M aqueous sulfuric acid until the pH reached 7, and the resulting slurry-like substance was thermally dried at 80° C. to obtain inventive product 1 of the plant growth promoter. The rosin used was a powdery part manufactured by Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd., and the acid value was 167 mg/g.

(7) Further, an inventive product 2 was obtained in the same manner by changing the amount of the rosin added to 1.0 part by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of sugarcane bagasse as lignocellulosic biomass (A).

(8) In the above method, a plant growth promoter is obtained in which rosin as base (B) is present on the surface of sugarcane bagasse as lignocellulosic biomass (A).

Production Example 2

(9) Inventive products 3 to 6 of the plant growth promoter were produced in the same manner as in Production Example 1, except that the conditions in step 1 and the amount of rosin added as base (B) were changed as shown in Table 1.

Production Example 3

(10) Inventive product 7 of the plant growth promoter was produced in the same manner as in Production Example 1, except that lignocellulosic biomass (A) was changed to rice straw.

Production Example 4

(11) Inventive products 8 to 18 of the plant growth promoter were produced in the same manner as in Production Example 1, except that base (B) was changed as shown in Table 1. Further, as required, the solvent in which base (B) was dissolved in step 2 was changed to only water.

(12) In addition, comparative products 1 and 2 of the plant growth promoter are as follows.

(13) Comparative product 1: Calcium lignin sulfonate, Ligno Super D, manufactured by Kono New Material Development Co., Ltd., main component of calcium lignin sulfonate

(14) Comparative product 2: Rosin, manufactured by Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd., acid value of 167 mg/g, powdered portion used

(15) Comparative products 3 to 10 of the plant growth promoter were obtained in the following Comparative Production Examples 1 to 6.

Comparative Production Example 1

(16) The slurry obtained in step 1 of Production Example 1 was neutralized using 1 M aqueous sulfuric acid until reaching a pH of 7, and then thermally dried at 80° C. to obtain a comparative product 3 of the plant growth promoter. The comparative product 3 corresponds to a product not containing base (B) in inventive product 1.

Comparative Production Example 2

(17) An aqueous sodium hydroxide solution (rosin concentration 1.0 mass %, pH 9) in which rosin had been dissolved as base (B) was added to sugarcane bagasse that had been passed through a 1 mm diameter mold sieve such that the amount of rosin added was 0.1 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of the sugarcane bagasse, and stirring was carried out at 30° C. for 120 minutes. After the stirring, neutralization was performed using 1 M aqueous sulfuric acid until the pH reached 7, and the resulting slurry-like substance was thermally dried at 80° C. to obtain a comparative product 4 of the plant growth promoter.

Comparative Production Example 3

(18) A chloroform solution in which methyl stearate had been dissolved was added to the slurry obtained in step 1 of Production Example 1 such that the amount of the methyl stearate added was 1.0 part by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of the sugarcane bagasse, and then stirring was carried out. After the stirring, the resulting slurry-like substance was thermally dried at 80° C. to obtain a comparative product 5 of the plant growth promoter.

Comparative Production Example 4

(19) Comparative products 6 and 7 of the plant growth promoter were produced in the same manner as in Production Example 1, except that base (B) was changed to that shown in Table 1 and the solvent of base (B) in step (2) was changed to acetone.

Comparative Production Example 5

(20) Comparative products 8 and 9 of the plant growth promoter were produced in the same manner as in Production Example 1, except that base (B) was changed to that shown in Table 1 and the solvent of base (B) in step (2) was changed to ion exchange water.

(21) The contact angle of the plant growth promoter of the obtained inventive products and comparative products was measured by the above method, and is shown in Table 1. In Table 1, components not corresponding to lignocellulosic biomass (A) or base (B) are also shown in the respective columns for convenience.

EVALUATION

(22) (1) Water Resistance Evaluation of Soil Granulated Material

(23) The water resistance of a mixed granulated material obtained by mixing the plant growth promoter shown in Table 1 and soil was evaluated.

(24) As the soil, a sample of soil (alluvial soil) from Saga Prefecture that had been passed through a sieve having 2 mm openings to remove coarse particles, stones, and gravel was used.

(25) The soil was placed in a 100 mL polycup, and the plant growth promoter shown in Table 1 was added so as to have the amount added shown in Table 1 with respect to 100 parts by mass of the soil. Further, water was added so as to be 30% by mass with respect to the soil, and after manually stirring for about 3 minutes, soil granulated material having a diameter of 1 to 3 mm was taken as a sample from the material obtained. The obtained soil granulated sample was placed in a disposable glass test tube (13 mm×100 mm, manufactured by IWAKI) filled with water to a height of 5 cm, and the time until the soil granulated material broke down was measured. Each test was repeated 5 times, and the average value is shown in Table 1. In addition, the amount of the plant growth promoter added in the table is represented as parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of soil (the same applies hereinafter). In the table, sodium lauryl sulfate is shown as the amount of the sodium salt added.

(26) (2) Soybean Growth Test

(27) The growth promotion effect on soybeans when the plant growth promoters shown in Table 2 were added to the soil and applied to soybeans was evaluated.

(28) As the soil, Arakida soil (purchased from Kohnan Shoji Co., Ltd.) that had been passed through a sieve having 2 mm openings to remove coarse particles, stones, and gravel was used.

(29) The soil was placed in an electric mixer (drum capacity 63L, “SS100-63” (Shinsei Co., Ltd.)), and a plant growth promoter shown in Table 2 was added so as to be 0.1 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of soil. Further, water was added so as to be 20 mass % with respect to the soil, and after stirring for about 5 minutes, the obtained mixture was taken as the soil sample. The soil sample was placed in a polyethylene pot for seedlings (diameter 12 cm), fertilized so that N/P/K=6 kg/6 kg/6 kg per 10 a, and soybeans grown separately until the cotyledon development stage (varieties: Fukuyutaka, IWAKURA SEED Co.) were replanted in the pot. About 3 weeks after the replanting, the soybean seedlings were taken out and washed with water, and the dry mass of the part below the ground was measured. The number of repetitions was 8, and the average value thereof was obtained. Each average value is shown in Table 2 as a relative value based on a control value of 100. The control was performed without using the plant growth promoter (Comparative Example 2-1 in Table 2). A large relative value in Table 2 means that viability until harvest is good, and an increase in crop yield is expected.

(30) (3) Measurement of Soil Hardness

(31) As the soil, Arakida soil (purchased from Kohnan Shoji Co., Ltd.) that had been passed through a sieve having 2 mm openings to remove coarse particles, stones, and gravel was used.

(32) The soil was placed in an electric mixer (drum capacity 63L, “SS100-63” (Shinsei Co., Ltd.)), and a plant growth promoter shown in Table 2 was added so as to be 0.1 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of soil. Further, water was added so as to be 20 mass % with respect to the soil, and after stirring for about 5 minutes, the obtained mixture was taken as the soil sample.

(33) A soil sample (900 g) was placed in a polyethylene pot for seedlings (diameter 12 cm). The pot was left outdoors, and 500 L/a of water was sprayed using natural water and a garden master sprayer (manufactured by KOSHIN) every two days. After 3 weeks, the hardness of the soil sample was measured. The hardness of the soil sample was measured using a Yamanaka-type soil hardness tester (Fujiwara Scientific Co., Ltd: standard soil hardness tester No. 351).

(34) In accordance with the instruction manual of the soil hardness tester, the tip cone of the soil hardness tester was inserted until the surface of the soil sample contacted the brim, and then slowly pulled out. The reading of the scale (mm) at that time was read and calculated as a load bearing strength (kg/cm.sup.2) by the following formula. Table 2 shows the average value of 5 repetitions with the load bearing strength as soil hardness.
P=[100X]/[0.7952(40−X).sup.2] P: Load bearing strength (kg/cm.sup.2) X: Reading (mm)

(35) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 plant yield enhancer lignocellulosic biomass (A) treatment conditions base (B) amount of amount of amount plant yield aqueous amount added enhancer soil NaOH of with contact added with granulated solution NaOH treat- respect angle respect to material added added tem- ment to (A) with soil (parts water (parts (parts by perature time (parts water by resistance symbol type by mass) mass) (° C.) (h) type by mass) (°) mass) (seconds) Com- 1-1 none — — — — — — — — — 27 parative 1-2 comparative calcium — — — — — — — 0.1 18 Exam- product 1 lignin ple sulfate 1-3 comparative — — — — — rosin — 75.7 0.01 41 product 2 1-4 comparative bagasse 400 6.4 100 1.0 — — 55.7 0.1 36 product 3 1-5 comparative bagasse — — — — rosin 0.1 120.9 0.1 40 product 4 1-6 comparative bagasse 400 6.4 100 1.0 methyl 1.0 86.8 0.1 59 product 5 stearate 1-7 comparative bagasse 400 6.4 100 1.0 capric 1.0 54.5 0.1 53 product 6 acid 1-8 comparative bagasse 400 6.4 100 1.0 octyl 1.0 57.2 0.1 52 product 7 alcohol 1-9 comparative bagasse 400 6.4 100 1.0 polyvinyl 1.0 68.5 0.1 60 product 8 alcohol (Mw 108,000) 1-10 comparative bagasse 400 6.4 100 1.0 poly- 1.0 63.6 0.1 54 product 9 acrylic acid (Mw 250,000) Exam- 1-1 inventive bagasse 400 6.4 100 1.0 rosin 0.1 39.4 0.1 221 ple product 1 1-2 inventive bagasse 400 6.4 100 1.0 rosin 0.05 59.6 0.1 158 product 1 1-3 inventive bagasse 400 6.4 100 1.0 rosin 0.01 63.8 0.1 127 product 1 1-2 inventive bagasse 400 6.4 100 1.0 rosin 1.0 61.4 0.1 225 product 2 1-3 inventive bagasse 400 3.2 100 1.0 rosin 10.0 71.8 0.1 147 product 3 1-4 inventive bagasse 400 1.6 100 1.0 rosin 10.0 71.1 0.1 186 product 4 1-5 inventive bagasse 400 1.6 100 1.0 rosin 10.0 71.1 0.075 165 product 4 1-6 inventive bagasse 400 1.6 120 1.0 rosin 10.0 71.1 0.05 203 product 5 1-7 inventive bagasse 400 1.6 120 1.0 rosin 10.0 71.1 0.025 226 product 5 1-8 inventive bagasse 400 1.6 120 1.0 rosin 10.0 71.1 0.01 117 product 5 1-9 inventive bagasse 400 1.6 120 2.0 rosin 10.0 67.5 0.05 163 product 6 1-10 inventive rice straw 400 6.4 100 1.0 rosin 0.1 71.4 0.1 198 product 7 1-11 inventive bagasse 400 6.4 100 1.0 decyl 1.0 58.3 0.1 135 product 8 alcohol 1-12 inventive bagasse 400 6.4 100 1.0 palmityl 1.0 62.6 0.1 192 product 9 alcohol 1-13 inventive bagasse 400 6.4 100 1.0 stearyl 1.0 70.4 0.1 189 product 10 alcohol 1-14 inventive bagasse 400 6.4 100 1.0 capric 1.0 62.4 0.1 146 product 11 acid 1-15 inventive bagasse 400 6.4 100 1.0 myristic 1.0 65.7 0.1 193 product 12 acid 1-16 inventive bagasse 400 6.4 100 1.0 stearic 1.0 68.7 0.1 234 product 13 acid 1-17 inventive bagasse 400 6.4 100 1.0 polyvinyl 1.0 58.0 0.1 166 product 14 alcohol (Mw 6,000) 1-18 inventive bagasse 400 6.4 100 1.0 poly- 1.0 67.9 0.1 208 product 15 acrylic acid (Mw 5,000) 1-19 inventive bagasse 400 6.4 100 1.0 glycerin 1.0 64.1 0.1 201 product 16 1-20 inventive bagasse 400 6.4 100 1.0 sodium- 1.0 47.9 0.1 176 product 17 lauryl sulfate 1-21 inventive bagasse 400 6.4 100 1.0 dodecyl 1.0 65.8 0.1 172 product 18 amine

(36) Some components in the table are as follows.

(37) Polyvinyl alcohol (Mw 108,000): Weight average molecular weight 108,000, manufactured by Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd.

(38) Polyacrylic acid (Mw 250,000): Weight average molecular weight 250,000, manufactured by Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd.

(39) Polyvinyl alcohol (Mw 6,000): Weight average molecular weight 6,000, manufactured by Polysciences Inc.

(40) Polyacrylic acid (Mw 5,000): Weight average molecular weight 5,000, manufactured by Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd.

(41) TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 plant yield enhancer lignocellulosic biomass (A) base (B) treatment conditions amount amount added amount of of amount with plant yield aqueous of respect enhancer mass of NaOH NaOH to contact added with soybean solution added tem- treat- (A) angle respect below soil added (parts per- ment (parts with to soil ground hardness (parts by ature time by water (parts by (relative (kg/ symbol type by mass) mass) (° C.) (h) Type mass) (°) mass) value) cm.sup.2) Comparative 2-1 none — — — — — — — — — 100 1.25 Examples 2-2 comparative calcium — — — — — — — 0.1 105 0.73 product 1 lignin sulfate 2-3 comparative bagasse 400 6.4 100 1 — — 55.7 0.1 99 0.72 product 3 Examples 2-1 inventive bagasse 400 3.2 100 1.0 rosin 1.0 71.8 0.1 121 0.30 product 3

(42) In Tables 1 and 2, the amount of base (B) added is represented as parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of lignocellulosic biomass (A).