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US 8,782,949 B2Granted
Silica based plant growth medium
AssigneeFayetteville State University
InventorSteven Singletary
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for growing plants is disclosed. The method includes the steps of mixing a gel precursor that is characterized by the ability to absorb water, form a viscous gel, provide water and nutrition to a plant, and remain capable of being reconstituted with a fresh supply of water, with a gel—forming nutrient composition in an amount sufficient to create a viscous gel, and adding a plant item selected from the group consisting of seeds and seedlings to the gel.
Claims10
A method of growing plants comprising:
- mixing fumed amorphous silica with water, a buffer composition that helps maintain a desired pH, and nutrient compositions in a proportion of 1 part by weight of fumed amorphous silica to between about 5 and 15 parts by weight of solution to create a gel with a viscosity sufficient to preclude the gel from flow, shear or collapse, even under the influence of gravity;
- said nutrient composition being selected from the group consisting of nitrogen—containing compositions, phosphorus—containing compositions, potassium—containing compositions, and combinations thereof;
- and
- adding a plant item selected from the group consisting of seeds and seedlings to the gel.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.