IE41456B1 - Improvements in or relating to fertilizers and similar substances comprising black peat - Google Patents

Abstract

1521285 Fertilized from peat and lime TORFSTREUVERBAND GmbH 22 Aug 1975 [20 Sept 1974] 35027/75 Heading C1B A horticultural composition comprises finely divided black peat, dried to 10-30% moisture, and slaked lime, there being 5-20 kg. time/m3 peat. 50-250 kg. water may be added per m3 peat. Other soil improvers may be added.

Description

This invention relates to a method of producing a fertilizer, a substance for improving the soil or a horticultural earth from black peat and to a fertilizer, a substance for improving the soil or a horitcultural earth comprising black peat.

Black peat, that is relatively strongly decomposed, relatively aged bog peat, contains in concentrated form a number of organic substances which are extremely valuable for improving the soil and for plant growth. It is known, more particularly, that this form of peat has many advantageous effects on horticultural produce, due to the presence of active substances.

Only small quantities, however, of black peat are used for improving the soil and as a substrate, since its physical properties are much less favourable than white peat, that is relatively new bog peat which is used much more often. The main physical disadvantage of black peat is that the colloidal humus substance therein shrinks greatly during drying, probably due to secondary bonds between the peat particles, and is very resistant to re-wetting. Water absorption after drying is very slow and the amount of water in re-wetted black peat is also much smaller than in material which has not been dried. Dried, re-wetted black peat does not even reach its complete original volume. Clearly, therefore, black peat cannot be dried to the same extent as white peat.

There has been proposed a method in which half-dried black peat sods are exposed to frost and then crushed in mills (frozen black peat). The resulting product is loose and can rapidly absorb relatively large amounts of water.

Its use, however, is considerably limited by the following disadvantages:a) Owing to the necessarily high water content - 3 (approximately 65%), the bulk weight, that is of transported loads, is relatively high, varying from 350 to 500 kg/m depending on weather conditions. b) The frost periods are not sufficiently long and severe in every winter; consequently the quality of the product varies and it may have to be stored for a long time. c) If the product dries when used, for example on the surface of the ground or as a substrate, subsequent water absorption is relatively slow, in spite of the special treatment.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method which enables the following results to be obtained:1) Small transported weights, which can be accurately adjusted to the amount of dry substance. 2) Substantial independence of weather conditions. 3) Rapid re-wettability, even after complete drying.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for producing a fertilizer, a substance for improving the soil or a horticultural earth from black peat, which method comprises admixing finely ground peat dried to a water content of from 10 to 30% by weight with from 5 to 20 kg of slaked lime per m3 of black peat. Advantageously there is provided a method of producing a fertilizer, a substance for improving the soil or a horticultural earth from black peat, which method comprises admixing finely ground black peat dried to a water content of from 10 to 30% by weight with from 5 to 20 kg of slaked lime per m3 of black peat and with from 50 to 250 kg of water per m3 of black peat. Preferably, the admixture comprises plant nutrients and/or mineral or artificial substances for improving soil and substances for promoting plant growth.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a fertilizer, a substance for improving the soil or a horticultural earth, which comprises finely ground black peat having a water content of from 10 to 30% by weight - 4 in admixture with from 5 to 20 kg of slaked lime per m3 of black peat. Advantageously the black peat is dried until the water content is from 10 to 30 wt.% finely ground, and mixed with the slaked lime and, if required before use, with various quantities of water. This enables the following advantages to be obtained and thus can lead to a greatly increased range of applications :a) Humus can be effeciently transported and supplied to remote districts, since the weight and volume are low compared with the dry substance. For example, the following quantities have to be moved in order to transport 1 t of dry substance: Frozen black peat: 2.8 t, volume approx. 7 m3 White peat in conglomerates: 2.5 t, volume 8.5 m3 Black peat admixture in accordance with the invention: 1.4 t, volume 3.8 m3 b) Humus can be supplied to warm regions, since the humus substance decomposes slowly and can absorb water even after periods of drying. c) The substance can also be used as a horticultural earth and for covering the soil, since it can be rapidly re-wetted even after being completely dried. This is illustrated in the following Table: TABLE.

Water absorption in ml/1 of air-dried material After 15 minutes after 1 hour 30 Untreated black peat 30 130 Frozen black peat Black peat admixture in accordance with the 240 695 invention 710 930 41486 d) There is substantial independence of weather conditions, more particularly frost periods, and, therefore, the quality can be maintained uniformly.

Slaked lime is used to enable the substance to be rapidly re-wetted after drying.

According to an advantageous feature of the invention, from 50 to 250 kg per m3 of water is added to the dried, preferably crushed black peat, since this normally ensures the formation of calcium humate and also can provide optimum conditions for transport or use, as required.

In the method according to the invention, the starting substance is not frozen black peat but dry black peat.

Dry black peat is obtained almost exclusively in the form of peat fuel sods. In this method, black peat can be dried relatively quickly and then stored in the open.

In carrying out the method of the invention, the dried black peat would normally be relatively finely crushed in a suitable mill. This applies to peat obtained in either sod form or in milled form. If the peat is crushed more finely, a correspondingly larger amount of water can be banded, relative to the dry substance. The reguired amount of slaked lime, (Ca(0H)2), is added to the crushed material in a mixer. The amount of lime added is proportional to the speed of subsequent water absorption, and is normally regulated by the purpose of application, since the pH increases with the proportion of lime. Depending on the application, the mixed material is combined with a certain amount of water and with nutrients, growth-promoting substances and the like, whioh may be added as required. The duration of mixing depends on the type of mixer. If a Lodige mixer is used, the process takes from 0.5 to 1 minute. If the material is moved more vigorously in the mixer, the mixing period is correspondingly shorter.

The following Examples further illustrate the present invention.

The basic possibilities are as follows (without fert41436 ilizer variants): Example A1. Dried, crushed black peat is mixed with lime, transported loosely or in bags, and taken to or near the place of use before being treated with water in a mixer. Lower weight and volume, relative to dry peat substance. Advantageous for transport.

The method described in (1) above can be performed using the following quantities: 350 kg of dried (25% 1^0), crushed black peat (1 m3) plus 15 kg of slaked lime, giving a total of 365 kg of mixed product (still approximately 1 m3 in volume), containing 262.5 kg dry peat substance, (that is 1 m3 of mixed product weighs 365 kg and contains 262.5 kg of dry peat sub15 stance).

Example B. 2. Dried, crushed black peat is mixed with lime and a small amount of water (for example 50 kg/m3), thus yielding a largely dust-free product. The product can be directly worked into moist ground or earth, without unpleasant dust. Water absorption and swelling occur in a few days or hours, if sufficient water is available.

The method described in (2) above can be performed using the following quantities: 350 kg of dried (25% H-0), crushed black peat z (1 m ) plus 15 kg of slaked lime plus 50 kg of water, giving 415 kg mixed product (approximately 1.2 m3 in volume containing 262.5 kg dry peat substance, that is 1 m3 of mixed product weighs 346 kg and contains 219 g of dry peat sub30 stance).

Example C. 3. Dried, crushed black peat is mixed with lime and a large amount of water ( for example 200 kg/m3), thus yielding an earthy, dark product which immediately absorbs 33 water strongly and can be used as horticultural earth.

The method described in (3) above can be performed using the following quantities; 350 kg of dried (25% H,0), crushed black peat (1 m in volume) plus 15 kg of slaked lime plus 200 kg of water, giving a total of 565 kg of mixed product (approximately 1.5 m3 in volume, containing 262.5 kg of dry peat substance, that is 1 m3 of mixed product weighs 377 kg and contains 175 kg of dry peat substance).

Example D. 4. Corresponding to Example A-C, the maximum volume is obtained when about 250 kg of water is added. In this case, each cubic metre of mixed product weighs about 290 kg and contains about 125 kg of dry peat substance. If more water is added, the volume decreases. The maximum quantity of water which can be absorbed is about 800 kg.

The method described in (4) above oan be performed using the following quantities; 350 kg of dried, crushed black peat (1 m3) plus 15 kg of slaked lime plus 250 kg of water, giving 615 kg of mixed product (approximately 2.1 m3 in volume of mixed product containing 262.5 kg of dry peat substance, that is 1 m3 of mixed product weighs 290 kg and contains 125 kg of dry peat substance).

In contrast to Examples A-D 1 m3 of frozen black peat weighs from 350 to 500 kg and contains from 140 to 180 kg dry peat substance, and 1 m3 of white turf in conglomerates weighs about 300 kg and contains about 120 kg of dry peat substance.

Claims (9)

1. CLAIMS:1. A method of producing a fertilizer, a substance for improving the soil or a horticultural earth from black peat, which method comprises admixing finely ground black peat dried to a water content of from 10 to 30% by weight with from 5 to 20 kg of slaked lime per m 3 of black peat.

2. A method of producing a fertilizer, a substance for improving the soil or a horticultural earth from black peat which method comprises admixing finely ground black peat dried to a water content of from 10 to 30% by weight with from 5 to 20 kg of slaked lime per m 3 of black peat and with from 50 to 250 kg of water per m 3 of black peat.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the admixture comprises plant nutrients and/or mineral or artificial substances for improving soil and substances for promoting plant growth.

4. A fertilizer, a substance for improving the soil or a horticultural earth, which comprises finely ground black peat having a water content of from 10 to 30% by weight in admixture with from 5 to 20 kg of slaked lime per m 3 of black peat.

5. A method in accordance with claim 1, substantially as described in foregoing Example A.

6. A method in accordance with claim 1, substantially as described in foregoing Example B.

7. A method in accordance with claim 1, substantially as described in foregoing Example C.

8. as A method in described in accordance with claim foregoing Example D. 1, substantially

9. A fertilizer, a substance for improving the soil or horticultural earth whenever produced by the method of any one of claims 1 to 3 and 5 to 8.