1. Technical Field
The present application relates to the field of horticulture/agriculture. More specifically, effective methods for extracting compounds and/or components from organic sources are disclosed. The extracted compounds and/or components provide beneficial and/or improved properties within a growing medium such as peat and/or soil.
2. Background of the Invention
Those involved in growing plants for food, decoration or pleasure have long been aware that plants, trees, bushes, grasses and other horticultural/agricultural life require three main ingredients to maintain their health and to promote continued growth. These are sunlight, water and a fertile growing medium. The latter may be peat, soil or compost; or hydroponic substances such as wood fiber, rockwool, or coco; or substrate mixes (e.g. peat and fertilizers) in plugs, pellets and containers. In nature, as well as in cultivated fields and greenhouses, plants are maintained in a variety of complex organic growing media. In general, the roots of a plant absorb nutrients and water from the growing medium. Different types of the growing media can vary significantly in nutrient, moisture content, and other properties. While all growing media provide nutrients and moisture for the benefit of growth, they can also harbor various undesirable contaminates such pesticides, bacteria, insects, viruses and fungi. Several specific biochemicals that aid in the protection of horticultural/agricultural life have been identified. Examples include methyl salicylate (MeSA) and salicylic acid (SA). Growth media enriched with such elicitors possess beneficial qualities, such as reducing fungi growth and fighting pests and pathogens, as examples.
A method for extracting organic compounds from plant material includes adding ground plant material to a growing medium substrate mix such as, for example, peat with fertilizers. Examples of such plant materials include roots, blades, tissue, bark, wood, and fruit or flowers from harvested or decomposed plants or trees. In a version, the plant material naturally contains one or more variants of betulin, betulinic acid, betulinic aldehyde, betulone, betulonic acid, betulonic aldehyde, betulin-3-caffeate, lupeol, lupane, lupenone, alpha-amyrin, beta-amyrin, friedeline, oleanolic acid, oleanolic aldehyde, acetyloleanolic, erythrodiol, taraxasterol, maslinic acid, uvaol, ursane, ursolic acid, salicylate, methyl salicylate (MeSA), salicylic acid (SA), (R)-sitosterol, leucocynaidin, diethylene glycol monobutyl ether 2-(2-butoxyethoxy) ethanol, hopa-22(29)-ene 3β-ol, caryophyllene, and methyl dihydroabietate, either free or bound, covalently or non-covalently, to other organic compounds of the plant material. The plant material is ground to below 100 mm particle size and added from 0.1-100% (v/v) to a growing medium, such as a substrate mix for horticultural or agricultural purposes.
In an embodiment of the disclosure, medium ground (5 mm particle size) birch bark is added to a peat substrate mix.
In another embodiment, medium ground birch bark is added to a peat/cellulose pot mix (i.e., a mixture from which a pot, or a container, is formed). A disclosed peat pot pressing technique extracts low volatile and triterpenoid active substances from the birch bark. The peat pot pressing technique may include high temperature water evaporation and drying.
According to yet another embodiment, ground birch bark is macerated using hot water to release significant amounts of complexed bound organics like methyl salicylate (MeSA) or salicylic acid (SA), and/or release other compounds, e.g. triterpenes like betulin and betulinic acids, which then can precipitate into a peat/cellulose pot mix. Further heating may dissolve or sublimate other active lipophilic/volatile compounds from the ground birch bark during a drying process. The released compounds may include those of betulin, betulinic acid, betulinic aldehyde, betulone, betulonic acid, betulonic aldehyde, betulin-3-caffeate, lupeol, lupane, lupenone, alpha-amyrin, beta-amyrin, friedeline, oleanolic acid, oleanolic aldehyde, acetyloleanolic, erythrodiol, taraxasterol, maslinic acid, uvaol, ursane, ursolic acid, salicylate, methyl salicylate (MeSA), salicylic acid (SA), (R)-sitosterol, leucocynaidin, diethylene glycol monobutyl ether 2-(2-butoxyethoxy) ethanol, hopa-22(29)-ene 3β-ol, caryophyllene, and methyl dihydroabietate.
A method for fortifying a growing medium may include grinding birch bark to a particle size that is less than 10 millimeter (mm) and mixing the ground birch bark with water and the growing medium. The temperature of the water may be less than 30 degrees Celsius. The temperature of the mixture of ground birch bark and water may be at least 30 degrees Celsius. A ratio of the ground birch bark to a substrate comprising the growing medium may be A/B (ground birch bark/substrate), where A is within a range of 1 to 100, corresponding to B within a range of 99 to 0. The method may further include adding an organic water-miscible solvent to the water. The organic water-miscible solvent may be alcohol, as an example. In a version, the particle size may be 5 mm.
A growing medium may be fortified by grinding an organic source selected from an organic source group consisting of plants from Prunus, Citrus, Camelia, Acacia, Laurus, Magnolia, Burgeuera, Ficus, Picea, Aesculus, Larix, Quercus, Betula (all species), Aloe vera (aloe vera leaves), Amphipterygium adstringens, Arctostaphylosuva-ursi (bearberry leaves), Byrsonima crassaNiedenzu, Byrsonima crassifolia (Nance), Byrsonima fagifolia, Coffea arabica (coffee leaves), Crataegus hawthorn (leaves, flowers), Eucalyptus (eucalyptus leaves), Lavandula angustifolia (lavender leaves and flowers), Malus domestica (apples fruit peel and pomace), Mexican copal, Nerium oleander (oleander leaves), Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn, Olea europeae (olive bark, leaves, fruit and pomace), Origanum majorana (marjoram leaves), Platanus acerifolia (planes bark), Rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary leaves), Salvia officinalis (sage leaves), Sambucus nigra (black elder bark), Syzygium aromaticum (clove flower), Viscum album (mistletoe sprouts), Vitis vinifera (grape vine leaves), and Pinus sylvestris species to a particle size that is less than 10 mm, and mixing the ground organic source with water and the growing medium. The organic source may disperse at least one of betulin, betulinic acid, betulinic aldehyde, betulone, betulonic acid, betulonic aldehyde, betulin-3-caffeate, lupeol, lupane, lupenone, alpha-amyrin, beta-amyrin, friedeline, oleanolic acid, oleanolic aldehyde, acetyloleanolic, erythrodiol, taraxasterol, maslinic acid, uvaol, ursane, ursolic acid, salicylate, methyl salicylate (MeSA), salicylic acid (SA), (R)-sitosterol, leucocynaidin, diethylene glycol monobutyl ether 2-(2-butoxyethoxy) ethanol, hopa-22(29)-ene 3β-ol, caryophyllene, methyl dihydroabietate, into the growing medium. The organic source may be ground to 5 millimeter particles.
According to yet another version, a method for fortifying a growing medium may include grinding harvested or decomposed plant material selected from a group consisting of roots, blades, tissue, bark, wood, fruit and flowers that contain salicylate or triterpene compounds to a particle size within a range of 0.05 mm to 100 mm, and mixing the ground material with water and the growing medium, wherein a percentage of the ground material to the growing medium is within a range of 0.1% to 100. The ground material may be pretreated in water heated to a temperature of at least 30 degrees Celsius. The harvested or decomposed material may contain at least one of salicylates, or one of triterpenes such as betulin or betulinic acid. The particle size may be approximately 5 mm. The fortified growing medium may be mixed with a substrate mix at a ratio of approximately 20/80. The fortified growing medium may be supplied to one of a pellet handling machine and a tray filling machine.
The growing medium may be any of peat, soil or compost; or hydroponic substrates such as wood fiber, rockwool, polyurethane foam or coir/coco; or substrate mixes (e.g. peat/coir and fertilizers) in plugs, pellets, plant pots, plant trays, bags and containers; or pots/containers made of substrates.
In another version, a method for forming a fortified substrate pot may include any one or all of: screen sifting a substrate mix to produce substrate fibers; mixing the sifted substrate mix with water and pulp; adding ground birch bark to the pulp/water/substrate mix; mixing the ground birch bark/pulp/water/substrate mix to produce a slurry; pumping the slurry into a screen mold in a form of a pot; vacuuming water from the pot; drying the pot by applying heat; and pressing the dried pot. The substrate mix may include peat.
Other systems, methods, and features of the invention will be, or will become, apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the invention, and be protected by the following claims.
The preferred embodiments will now be described with reference to the attached drawings.
The disclosure can be better understood with reference to the following drawings and description. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. Moreover, in the figures, like referenced numerals designate corresponding parts or elements throughout the different views.
In the following description the terms “growing medium” and “growing media” refer to any media that contains, e.g. physical support, air space, buffer and cation exchange capacity, nutrients and moisture for absorption by the root system of organic life such as plants, trees, bushes, grasses and other horticultural/agricultural life. “Growing medium” and “growing media” may also refer to peat, soil or compost; or hydroponic substrates such as wood fiber, rockwool, polyurethane foam or coir/coco; or substrate mixes (e.g. peat/coir and fertilizers) in plugs, pellets, plant pots, plant trays, bags and containers; or pots/containers made of substrates. It is to be understood that while particular reference is made throughout the specification to “substrate mix”, “peat mix,” and “horticultural mix” it is to be understood that such reference also includes generally any growing medium, or combinations thereof.
The present invention is directed at providing at least one of beneficial and/or improved properties within a growing medium such as peat and/or coco/coir. The beneficial and/or improved properties may include one or more of anti-fungal properties, anti-bacterial properties, anti-virus properties, increased germination and rooting in pots and substrates for seedlings, providing protection against pests and/or insects, combating adverse growing conditions, enduring harsh environmental regimes (e.g., high heat and/or drought conditions), combating stress caused by salinity and/or injury, and generally increasing plant biomass.
A plant material naturally containing protection and/or sustenance compounds (hereinafter referred to as “fortification compounds”) that provides beneficial and/or improved properties to a growing medium, supporting a rooting system, is ground up and added to a substrate mix. The ground plant material may be mixed with cold/tepid water and the mixture is added to the substrate mix (“cold water technique”). The ground plant material may be heated in a solvent such as water for extracting the fortification compound(s) (“heat treatment technique”) and the mixture is added to a substrate mix. In yet another version, more organic water-miscible solvents, such as alcohol like ethanol, or lipophilic compounds like wax or oils, may be added as a solvent (“chemical treatment technique”) for organics in the plant material in the ‘heat’ treatment technique, and the resultant mixture added to a substrate mix. Further, the substrate mix may be added to or compose the horticulture materials used to make/form peat/cellulose pots, peat/coco containers, loosed-filled peat/coco mixes in trays, polyurethane peat/coco plugs, peat or coco bags or pellets, as examples, or any other growing media.
In another version, the ground plant material is mixed with cold or heated water that may, or may not, include an organic water-miscible solvent, and the resultant mix may be used to directly “water” plant or tree life.
One example of a plant material that includes fortification compounds is birch bark. Other examples are plants and trees from the Prunus, Citrus, Camelia, Acacia, Laurus, Magnolia, Burgeuera, Ficus, Picea, Aesculus, Larix, Quercus, Betula (all species), Aloe vera (aloe vera leaves), Amphipterygium adstringens, Arctostaphylosuva-ursi (bearberry leaves), Byrsonima crassa Niedenzu, Byrsonima crassifolia (Nance), Byrsonima fagifolia, Coffea arabica (coffee leaves), Crataegus hawthorn (leaves, flowers), Eucalyptus (eucalyptus leaves), Lavandula angustifolia (lavender leaves and flowers), Malus domestica (apples fruit peel and pomace), Mexican copal, Nerium oleander (oleander leaves), Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn, Olea europeae (olive bark, leaves, fruit and pomace), Origanum majorana (marjoram leaves), Platanus acerifolia (planes bark), Rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary leaves), Salvia officinalis (sage leaves), Sambucus nigra (black elder bark), Syzygium aromaticum (clove flower), Viscum album (mistletoe sprouts), Vitis vinifera (grape vine leaves), and Pinus sylvestris species. Fortification compounds include one or more of betulin, betulinic acid, betulinic aldehyde, betulone, betulonic acid, betulonic aldehyde, betulin-3-caffeate, lupeol, lupane, lupenone, alpha-amyrin, beta-amyrin, friedeline, taraxasterol, oleanolic acid, oleanolic aldehyde, acetyloleanolic, erythrodiol, maslinic acid, uvaol, ursane, ursolic acid, salicylate, methyl salicylate (MeSA), salicylic acid (SA), (R)-sitosterol, leucocynaidin, diethylene glycol monobutyl ether 2-(2-butoxyethoxy) ethanol, hopa-22(29)-ene 3β-ol, caryophyllene, and methyl dihydroabietate, either free or linked to other organic compounds within the plant.
Referring now to
In other embodiments, a plant material other than birch bark is processed according to the preparation method. Other plant materials include roots, blades, tissue, bark, wood, and fruit or flowers harvested or decomposed from plants or trees from the Prunus, Citrus, Camelia, Acacia, Laurus, Magnolia, Burgeuera, Ficus, Picea, Aesculus, Larix, Quercus, Betula (all species), Aloe vera (aloe vera leaves), Amphipterygium adstringens, Arctostaphylosuva-ursi (bearberry leaves), Byrsonima crassaNiedenzu, Byrsonima crassifolia (Nance), Byrsonima fagifolia, Coffea arabica (coffee leaves), Crataegus hawthorn (leaves, flowers), Eucalyptus (eucalyptus leaves), Lavandula angustifolia (lavender leaves and flowers), Malus domestica (apples fruit peel and pomace), Mexican copaI, Nerium oleander (oleander leaves), Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn, Olea europeae (olive bark, leaves, fruit and pomace), Origanum majorana (marjoram leaves), Platanus acerifolia (planes bark), Rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary leaves), Salvia officinalis (sage leaves), Sambucus nigra (black elder bark), Syzygium aromaticum (clove flower), Viscum album (mistletoe sprouts), Vitis vinifera (grape vine leaves), and Pinus sylvestris species.
Referring to
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Referring to
In the heat and chemical treatment methods, as in the cold treatment method, the substrate mix may contain 0.1% ground birch bark, only ground birch bark, or a percentage of ground birch bark to substrate mix within the range of 0.1 to 100%.
Referring to
Referring to
As discussed above, ground plant material, for example birch bark ground according to the method discussed above with reference to
Pots formed, using a heat treatment method, from substrate mixes both with and without ground birch fortification were tested for mold growth. In
It is intended that the foregoing detailed description be understood as an illustration of selected forms that the invention can take and not as a definition of the invention. It is only the following claims, including all equivalents, that are intended to define the scope of this invention.