Growth medium for sphagnum moss

Abstract

One object of the present invention is to provide means for readily attaining a large scale cultivation of sphagnum moss under various conditions, in other words, means for establishing a sphagnum field under various conditions. Specifically, the present inventors have found that the above object can be attained through provision of a sphagnum cultivation base having a shape-imparted, aggregated mass of dried sphagnum and one or more units of live sphagnum whose stem portions have been aligned in bunch(es), such that the bunch(es) of live sphagnum stem is / are in contact with the aggregated mass of dried sphagnum, that the growth point of of live sphagnum is substantially exposed from the aggregated mass of dried sphagnum, and that the aggregated mass of dried sphagnum is capable of being brought into contact with water of a water basin, and through construction of a system on the basis of the base. The present invention can considerably contribute to environmental improvements, since, in particular, the present invention can grow sphagnum having a remarkable carbon dioxide fixation capacity.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates to a cultivation base for sphagnum. BACKGROUND ART [0002] Scientifically, sphagnum, or peat moss, is a moss plant which belongs to subclass Sphagnidae. There have been reported about 150 species belonging to one genus in one family worldwide, including about 36 species found in Japan. Sphagnum is known to be the economically most valuable moss plant, and in Japan, it is usually used for horticultural purposes. [0003] Meanwhile, in high moors, peat develops on water tables, and, under thickly grown sphagnum, peat formed primarily from dead remains of sphagnum is known to accumulate to layers of several meters. Over a long period of several thousand years, such high moors have continued to fix enormous volumes of carbon dioxide, and thus are currently known to be a very important CO2 absorption resource on the earth. Also, sphagnum bogs are known to provide precious habitats to animals and plants that can survive only in them. [0004...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011] In another aspect of the present invention which is drawn to the above-mentioned cultivation method, the present invention provides a sphagnum cultivation method (hereinafter may be referred to as the present cultivation method) which employs the present sphagnum cultivation base and comprises, while maintaining a growth point of a live sphagnum plant at a point above the water surface of a water basin, wetting the aggregated mass of dried sphagnum by bringing the mass into contact with the water of the water basin, and supplying the water that permeates the aggregated mass to wet the dried sphagnum to the live sphagnum, to thereby nurture the live sphagnum.

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Problems solved by technology

Presently, for many reasons, high moors are rapidly disappearing, raising concerns that global warning might be accelerated by worldwide reduction in CO2 fixation and that animals and plants which can survive only in a sphagnum bog might be decreased in number or endangered.

However, none of the reported methods are suitable for large-scale cultivation, because care must always be taken so as not to allow the sphagnum to dry up, and moreover, the methods are not simple.

Thus, these methods are considered to have disadvantages from the viewpoints of continued cultivation.

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