MYCELIAL FERTILIZER AND A METHOD OF PRODUCING THE SAME

Abstract: The present invention relates to a mycelial fertilizer and a producing method thereof, and the objects thereof are to provide a mycelial fertilizer wherein the mycelial fertilizer containing mainly thermoactinomyces is carried on a specified carrier to contribute the metabolites of the thermoactinomyces and the decomposition products of the thermoactinomyces to the growth of plants as effective fertilizers in soil, and to provide a method of producing the mycelial fertilizer.

Description: The present invention relates to a mycelial fertilizer and a producing method thereof, and the objects thereof are to provide a mycelial fertilizer wherein the mycelial fertilizer containing mainly thermoactinomyces is carried on a specified carrier to contribute the metabolites of the thermoactinomyces and the decomposition products of the thermoactinomyces to the growth of plants as effective fertilizers in soil, and to provide a method of producing the mycelial fertilizer. Hitherto, technologies wherein organic substances are fermented to use as fertilizers have been well known. For example, there have been known "A method of producing soil improving agents" dIsclosed in Japanese patent publication No. 45-11535, "A method of treating fowl droppings by fermentation" disclosed in Tokkai No. 48-26552, and "A method of producing soil improving agents with fertilizing effects " disclosed in Tokkai sho No. 52-50874. These are all technologies which intend to use a mixture of a partly undecomposed organic substance, decomposed organic substance and mycelium generated by fermentation of organic substance as a fertilizer. However, in these technologies the effective mycelium or the fermentation conditions are not specified, and technologies similar to compost inherited from old times are only applicated empirically. Therefore, fermented fertilizers previously disclosed do not display sufficient fertilizing effects and do effect worse inversely influences on plants, as the case may be, in such a case, hitherto the analysis of the causes, that is, for example, the fermentation conditions and sorts of mycelium, and the elucidation of the causes have not been performed, the causes being judged as a low degree of fermentation from an empirical reason. DE-A-1817528 discloses a fertilizer obtained by fermenting a mixture of a carrier, including porous carriers, an animal waste product such as blood, inorganic nutrients and actinomycete spores. The object of the present invention is to display a sure fertilizing effect by carrying a mycelial fertilizer containing selectively a specified mycelium having a sure fertilizing effect on a specified carrier and to produce surely the mycelial fertilizer under a specified fermentation conditions. Subject matter of the present invention is a mycelial fertilizer according to claim 1. A further object of the invention is also a process of producing a mycelial fertilizer according to claim 2. The embodiments of the invention are described in detail in the following. The thermoactinomyces usable favorably in the invention are helical germs of thermoactinomyces particularly growable at an elevated temperature of 55∼80°C such as, for example, Thermoactinomyces vulgaris, Thermoactinomyces spora actinobifida(white) and the like. The thermoactinomyces are selected as the main component of the mycelial fertilizer in the invention because harmful germs which give a harmful action on plants are very few in the thermoactinomyces. Further, there are foodstuff growth hormones and various vitamins in the metabolites of the thermoactinomyces, and the thermoactinomyces are decomposed to give nitrogen supplying sources. In the self-decomposition of thermoactinomyces, some of them may be decomposed into a gaseous state, resulting in less excessive supply of nitrogen into soil. In the invention, the mycelial fertilizer is carried on a porous carrier of pH7. 5 ∼9.5, preferably pH8 ∼9, because the pH range appropriate for the growth of thermoactinomyces is 7.5 ∼9.5, preferably 8 ∼9, and the growth of germs such as filamentous fungi and bacteria can be prevented in pH7.5∼9.5 to maintain the constant amount of thermoactinomyces in the mycelial fertilizer. In the invention, the carrier is limited to a porous carrier because water and air, the essential components for the growth of thermoactinomyces, are retained in the carriers during the storage of mycelial fertilizer or in using soil. As concrete examples of such porous carriers, any of organic or inorganic porous carrier may be usable if the pH can be maintained to 7.5∼9.5. As the examples of porous carriers usable in the invention, there may be mentioned foams of inorganic, organic or synthetic resin such as charcoal, active carbon, coal, coke, active coke, peat, vermiculite, perlite, bentonite and urethane foam. In the invention, the mycelium comprising thermoactinomyces wherein the thermoactinomyces occupy 100% of the microorganism colony in the mycelium is most preferable, and the mycelium comprising thermoactinomyces of at least more than 50% of the microorganism colony is preferable. Because, in case the thermoactinomyces is under 50%, the propagation of harmful germs, bacteria or filamentous fungi may occur after using soil, effecting worse influences, and in case the thermoactinomyces is at least more than 50% in the microorganism colony in the mycelium, the dominant propagation of thermoactinomyces can be secured, the original object of the invention being attained. The appropriate method of producing the mycelial fertilizer according to the invention is described in the following. In the invention, porous carrier of pH7.5∼9.5 and (3.3 to 0.59 mm) (6 ∼30) mesh in particle size is used. The pH range of the porous carrier is limited to 7.5∼9.5, because the pH range appropriate for the growth of thermoactinomyces is secured during the producing or keeping time of mycelial fertilizer as mentioned above and filamentous fungi including many harmful germs are difficult to grow in pH 7.5∼ 9.5, preferably 8∼9, of alkaline conditions. In the invention, the particle size of porous carrier is limited to 3.3 to 0.59 mm (6∼30 mesh), because, in fermentation mentioned below, in case of a fine porous carrier below 0.59 mm (over 30 mesh), the fermentation temperature is difficult to be maintained at more than 40°C, resulting in insufficient growth of thermoactinomyces, and in case of the larger particle size of porous carrier of above 3.3 mm (below 6 mesh), there is unfavorable complexity in handling when producing the fertilizer. Such a porous carrier is used by 70∼80 parts by weight, because, in case of under 70 parts by weight in the amount of porous carrier, the undecomposed organic substance rate increases in quantity unfavorably in the fermentation conditions mentioned below, and in case of the use exceeding 80 parts by weight, the water supplied from organic substances decreases in quantity as the water content in whole fermentation system, resulting in the unfavorable fermentation temperature. In the invention, the porous carrier is kneaded with 20∼30 parts by weight of an organic substance below 15% in the carbon content and of 25 ∼ 60% in the water content. In the invention, the organic substance is limited to the carbon content below 15%, because, in case of the organic substance over 15% in the carbon rate, fibrous cellulose content increases, resulting in the increase in the demand of cellulase, and the growth of cellulase in actinomyces is dominant, the original object of the invention being unattainable, that is the inventors' experimental knowledge. In the invention, the water content of organic substance is limited to 25 ∼ 60%, because, if the water of fermentation system kneaded is supplied only from the organic substance and it is less than 30∼ 40%, the sufficient temperature for the fermentation of thermoactinomyces is unobtainable, and in case of the water content of fermentation system exceeding 40% or under 30%, the fermentation condition enough to ferment thermoactinomyces is unobtainable unfavorably in either case. In the invention, the organic substance is used by 20∼ 30 parts by weight, because, in case of less than 20 parts by weight, the growth of mycelium in each carrier is small due to the too small amount of the organic substance and the mycelium is not attached to each carrier in uniform dispersion, and in case more than 30 parts by weight of organic substance are mixed, the mixing balance of mycelium and porous carrier is lost, resulting in the excessive mycelium or the increased rate of undecomposed organic substance, being unfavorable in either case. Then, the mixture is allowed to stand in an atmosphere maintainable at the system temperature over 15°C to keep the uniformity of fermentation by keeping the constant temperature with shutting off the system temperature from the outside temperature. In case the temperature is below 15°C, the fermentation temperature is not unfavorably sufficiently rised. After the system was kept at a constant temperature and shut off from the outside temperature, the fermentation temperature is maintained at 55 ∼ 80 °C, preferably 60 ∼ 70 °C. When the fermentation temperature is below 55°C, the temperature is maintained at 55 ∼ 60 °C by feeding air maintained over 15°C into the system for a specified time to promote fermentation. However, since the cellulose content is restricted by the use of organic substance of carbon content below 15% and the water content is restricted in mixing a large amount of porous carrier, the rise in fermentation temperature over 80°C does not occur practically. By fermentation for at least 5 days under the above state, the mycelium comprising thermoactinomyces is generated, and by carrying the mycelium on the porous carrier of pH7.5 ∼ 9.5 the mycelium fertilizer is produced. In the invention, the fermentation period is preferably at least 5 days, more preferably 2 ∼ 3 weeks. The fermentation temperature is maintained at 55 ∼ 80 °C, because, below 55 °C, the thermoactinomyces can' t be obtained at the expected rate of thermoactinomyces in the mycelium colony, and over 80 °C, anaerobic germs grow, being unfavorable in either case. In the invention, as mentioned above, the organic substance of 15% in carbon content is used, the water content of the organic substance is limited to 25∼ 60%, 70∼ 80 parts by weight of a porous carrier are used, and the particle size of the carrier is limited to 3.3 mm to 0.59 mm (6 ∼ 30 mesh), thereby the fermentation temperature don' t rise over 80°C. Accordingly, even if a process wherein the fermentation temperature is lowered by pouring water on the ferment, that is a so-called switch back process performed in an usual fermentation process, is not performed, the fermentation temperature don' t rise over 80°C. (Effect of the invention) As described above in detail, by the mycelial fertilizer and the producing method thereof according to the invention, thermoactinomyces including many useful germs can be selectively utilized as fertilizer, and the metabolites of thermoactinomyces, which are plant growth hormones or vitamins, display the effect in soil as effective fertilizers. In addition, since the carrier of the mycelium is a porous carrier of pH 7.5∼ 9.5, the circumstances appropriate for the growth of thermoactinomyces are constantly maintained, the growth of filamentous fungi and bacteria is prevented, and air and water necessary for the circumstances for the growth of thermoactinomyces are retained by the porous carrier to supply them to thermoactinomyces. The examples of the invention are described in the following to elucidate the effect of the invention. (Example 1) As the porous carrier, 70 parts by weight of coconut-husk charcoal of pH 8.2, 0.7 mm (25 mesh) pass in particle size and 200 m²/g of the internal surface area was used. The porous carrier was kneaded with 25 parts by weight of fowl droppings of pH 8.8, 32.9% in water content and 9.6% in carbon content. The kneaded mixture was allowed to stand in a fermenter and the inside temperature of the fermenter was maintained at 25°C. The temperature of the kneaded mixture was measured during fermentation, and at the time when the rise of the temperature started and the time when the temperature of the kneaded mixture was lowered below 55°C during fermentation, air in the system was directly fed into the ferment by pump to raise the temperature at a stroke in starting the rise of the temperature and to control the temperature constantly in the other time. Through the fermentation process, the temperature in the ferment system did not rise over 80°C. (Composition analysis) After stopping the fermentation, the mycelial fertilizer was analyzed; pH 8.9, total nitrogen 1.65%, pure protein 5.8%, vitamin B₁ 0.01 mg%, vitamin B₂ 0. 06mg%, pantothenic acid 0.17mg% and nicotinic acid amide 0.30 mg%. (Identification of the germ in the mycelium) To identify the germ in the mycelium, 4 Petri dishes of 9cm in diameter and 1.5 cm in depth were filled with culture media composed of agar and distilled water, and 20 particles of the above-mentioned mycelium were inoculated at equal spaces onto each of the Petri dishes(1∼ 3). As an example for comparison, a Petri dish(4) was treated equally as other Petri dishes except the use of untreated coconut-husk charcoal particles of 7 mm (25 mesh) pass. After the Petri dishes (1 ∼ 4) were cultured at 25°C for 4 days, actinomyces and filamentous fungi were classified and analyzed by the number of colonies generated. In the culture, the medium was sterilized in autoclave at 120 °C under 1 atmospheric pressure for 20 minutes in advance. As a result, in the Petri dish(1), 7.4 colonies of thermoactinomyces existed per particle of the sample on the average, while 5.0 colonies of filamentous fungi existed. In the Petri dish(2), 4.2 colonies of thermoactinomyces existed per particle of the sample on the average, while 1.8 colonies of filamentous fungi existed, and in the Petri dish(3), 2.0 colonies of thermoactimnomyces existed per particle of the sample on the average, while 0.04 colony of filamentous fungi existed. Among them, in thermoactinomyces, helical germs were dominant and, in filamentous fungi, Cladosporium, Penicillium and Nigrospora were found. Since Cladosporium and Penicillium in these filamentous fungi were found also from the Petri dish of only coconut-husk active carbon particles used for an example for comparison, these were considered to be germs mixed from air. Accordingly, thermoactinomyces were practically dominant in the microorganism colonies of mycelial fertilizer. The examples which used such thermoactinomyces are described in the following. In these tests, besides Example 1, as shown in Table 1, examples and those for comparison wherein various types of carriers were adopted and various organic substances were varied were tested, and these were treated under the same fermentation conditions as Example 1. (Use example) Method 1) Scale of test Pot test (1/5000 a pot) 2) Test item Korean lawn grass 3) Test soil Sandy soil 4) Test period Apr. ∼Oct. 5) Test section Control section 3 pots Each example section using 10% in soil, each 3 pots using 20% in soil, each 3 pots Each example for comparison using 10% in soil, each 3 pots using 20% in soil, each 3 pots In addition, 3g of usual compound fertilizer was used for each pot. The test soil was coarse sand 90.1%, fine sand 9.0%, silt 0.0%, clay 0.9%, base substitution capacity 0.44 me/100g and pH6.8. The weight of stem was measured after 6 months. The each average value is shown together in Table 2. ORGANICS CARRIER *A *B *C *D *E *F *G *H Example 2 10 40 *1 30 0,59 (30) *3 8.3 70 Example 3 12 40 *1 25 2,00 (10) *3 8.3 75 Example 4 15 40 *1 20 0,84 (20) *3 8.3 80 Example 5 15 40 *1 23 3,3 (6) *3 8.3 77 Comparis on 1 20 40 *1 40 6,73 (3) *3 8.3 60 Comparis on 2 10 65 *1 50 0,59 (30) *3 8.3 50 Example 6 12 25 *2 20 3,3 (6) *4 8.5 80 Example 7 15 30 *2 25 2,00 (10) *4 9.0 75 Example 8 15 30 *2 30 2,59 (30) *4 8.4 70 Comparis on 3 20 20 *2 35 6,73 (3) *4 7.0 65 Comparis on 4 25 10 *2 15 0,42 (40) *4 7.5 85 *A ... Rate of Carbon. *B ... Moisture Content. *C ... Species *D ... Content Rate. *E ... mm (mesh) *F ... Species *G ... PH. *D ... Content Rate *1 means fowl droppings. *2 means the mixture of fowl droppings, cow dung, dry grasses and so on. *3 means charcoals. *4 means vermiculite. Weight of Caulis 10% parts 20% parts Example 1 26.8 38.0 Example 2 24.2 37.4 Example 3 23.1 37.9 Example 4 25.2 36.5 Example 5 26.5 38.2 Example 6 25.8 38.4 Example 7 22.5 37.5 Example 8 24.8 36.2 Comparis on 1 15.1 20.1 Comparis on 2 18.5 25.0 Comparis on 3 7.0 13.0 Comparis on 4 5.5 11.0 blanks 12.3

Claims: A mycelial fertilizer which is characterized by a mycelium comprising thermoactinomyces, the said mycelium being carried on a porous carrier, the latter having a particle size of 3.3 to 0.59 mm (6 to 30 mesh), being present in an amount of 70 - 80 parts by weight and having a pH of 7.5 to 9.5. A method of producing a mycelial fertilizer, characterized by using 70 - 80 parts by weight of a porous carrier of 3.3 to 0.59 mm (6 to 30 mesh) in particle size and pH 7.5 - 9,5, kneading the said carrier with 20 - 30 parts by weight of an organic substance of a carbon content below 15 % and 25 - 60 % in water content, adding a starting culture of a mycelium comprising thermoactinomyces, fermenting the said kneaded mixture by standing in an atmosphere maintainable over 15°C as the system temperature, and fermenting for at least 5 days with maintaining the fermentation temperature at 55 - 80°C by aeration.

Inventors: IIJIMA, RYUSUKE
Applicants: IIJIMA, RYUSUKE
Application year: 1989
Main classification: C05F11
IPC codes: C05F11