Plant and mushroom growth medium

Abstract

A growth medium for plants or mushrooms, the medium comprising sugar cane mill mud and non sphagnum-peat material selected from the group consisting of a non-sphagnum peat and coconut fibre.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention is directed towards a growth medium for plants. The present invention is also directed towards a growth medium for use as a casing soil in mushroom cultivation. BACKGROUND ART [0002] In commercial mushroom cultivation it is general practice to provide a lower layer of compost which is covered by a layer of a material referred to as casing soil. It is important in mushroom cultivation that the casing soil assists in maintaining a desirable moisture level for mushroom growth. It should also maintain a desirable carbon dioxide and oxygen ratio. Further the casing soil should maintain the nutrient balance of the compost and also-act as a barrier to disease and insect pests. [0003] To date, the only material which has been recognised by commercial mushroom growers as being acceptable for use as casing material is sphagnum peat. Sphagnum peat is partially decomposed sphagnum moss and is obtained from Ireland, Holland and Canada (known as...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0019] Typically, the respective amounts of sugar cane mill mud and non sphagnum-peat material component are selected so as to optimise desirable properties such as water retention, aeration, pH, salt content and nutrient level. For example, non sphagnum-peat materials typically have undesirable properties such as low pH, low nutrient levels and low air porosity. These properties may be offset by the sugarcane mill mud which has near neutral pH, suitable nutrient levels and good air porosity. Conversely, undesirable properties of the sugarcane mill mud such as high salt levels, low moisture retention, high levels or susceptibility to unwanted biological organisms are offset by the non sphagnum-peat material which was as low salt levels, good moisture retention and is substantially free of nematodes and other soil pathogens.

Problems solved by technology

However, existing sphagnum peat supplies are becoming depleted.

Still further, the costs of obtaining imported sphagnum peat are high and adds considerably to a mushroom grower's costs.

A difficulty with obtaining an alternative to sphagnum peat is that any alternative must satisfy the particular requirements for mushroom cultivation.

It has been observed that although other types of peat such as sedge peat are available they do not satisfy the above requirements and are unsuitable as casing soils.

To date, there is no commercially available alternative to sphagnum peat.

Such a mixture on its own is generally deficient in many nutrients necessary for plant growth.

Although these materials are generally obtained from byproducts of timber production, their supply does rely on diminishing natural resources.

However, as mentioned above, sphagnum peat is in a finite supply.

To date, it is believed there is no acceptable alternative to the use of sphagnum peat in the horticulture or mushroom industries.