Additional Researches

Annex Additional researches 01 “Embracing Nature” Symasya 02 03 Index 01 Material 07 02 Plants 17 03 Combinations 43 04 Lights 69 04 05 Research on the material Design opportunity of the material and feasibility for growing plants 06 07 Paper Can we use paper for growing plants? From the research made, it appears that paper pulp itself has never been used as a soil for growing plants in agriculture. However exi- sting researches and case studies have con- firmend that it is possible and feasible, on a technological point of view, and it has also benefits for plants and soil. Paper pulp is an organic material, since it is a raw material for paper manufacture that contains vegetable, mineral, or man-made fibres. So, since it is organic, plants can grow in it. Despite it has never been used as soil itself, there are plenty of case studies sugge- sting that paper sludges coming from paper wastes, moixtured, can be used as compost and as a revitalising material for fields in agriculture. From an article of the Agriculture Research Service of the U.S. department of agriculture (Avant, S., 2019), it is shown how the ARS helped the U.S. military to solve the problem of reve- getating damaged training grounds through the usage of classified paper that has been pulverized, so unrecyclable. The research showed how placing this paper waste on the damaged fields helped soil restoration and increased the growth of grass again. 08 09 A research from the Internatio- gh paper sludges and their com- nal Journal of Agronomy (2010) posts are largely available, their written by Adrien N’Dayegamiye use in agriculture is still low due has showed the opportunities of to the high cost associated to using paper sludge in agricultu- their acquisition and their appli- re. The research includes a ini- cation to the soils. However, the tial deinking process for making use of these organic materials the paper completely organic. may sustain crop yields and soil Fine debris are initially separated productivity in intensive cropping from the mixture in a sedimenta- systems. The utilization of paper tion basin to produce the primary sludges as source of both plant sludge, followed by extraction in nutrients and organic matter to a second basin where the water improve soil structure is of high in- soluble fibers are digested by the terest to maintain soil productivi- microorganisms to produce the ty particularly in low carbon input secondary sludge. Mineral fer- rotation systems (N’Dayegamiye, tilizers (N, P, and K) are generally A., Drapeau, A. and Nduwamungu, added in the second basin to C., 2010). stimulate microorganism growth and activity. From these data we can under- stand that creating a soil with This paper sludges are used as paper pulp is not just possible, compost and also for revitali- but has huge opportunities of sing soil. The benefits for soil and development and benefits for plants are plenty: for example plants and the environment. paper sludges are known as li- gnin-rich organic material that resist against mineralization and therefore contribute to increase the soil organic matter content. Secondly applications of paper sludges and vegetable residues with high Nitrogen contents and C:N ratios of 12–25 have shown a net Nitrogen mineralization and this contributed to better whe- at and corn nutrition and yields. (N’Dayegamiye, A., Drapeau, A. and Nduwamungu, C., 2010) According to the source althou- 10 11 First test Germination in paper pulp During the phase of the research a first expe- per pulp. We have planted seeds (in this case, riment to test the feasibility of the material as using vegetables seeds because easier to a growin soil has been conducted. The aim of find on the market). The test has been wa- this first prototypation was to test the phase tered through a spray daily. After one week of germination of plants in paper pulp and to seeds started to inflate and after two weeks test if a plant can actually grow in a shallow those were completely germinated. The test soil. This test was first made preparing the ma- was successful because it proved that paper terial. For making the material as more similar pulp can be esaily used as a soil, since in this to our product, so using the soft paper pulp, case no nutrients were added. Secondly the we have blended toilet paper (100% celulose) depth ended up to be sufficient for the phase and created a 1 cm layer of compressed pa- of germination of the plants. 12 13 Soil ingredients Most common ingredients for soil The primary ingredient in most Vermiculite is a mined mineral potting soils is sphagnum peat that is conditioned by heating moss. It is well-draining and until it expands into light particles. well-aerated, but it’s very low in It’s used to increase the porosity available nutrients and it has of potting soil mixes. In potting soil, an acidic pH, typically ranging vermiculite also adds calcium between 3.5 and 4.5. Limestone and magnesium, and increases is added to peat-based potting the mix’s water-holding capacity. mixes to help balance the pH. Coarse sand improves draina- An alternative to peat moss is a ge and adds weight to potting by-product of the coconut indu- mixes. Mixes formulated for cacti stry, coir, which looks and acts a and other succulents tend to lot like sphagnum peat moss in have a higher percentage of co- both commercial and DIY pot- arse sand in their composition to ting soil blends. It has more nu- ensure ample drainage. trients than peat moss and lasts even longer. Coir fiber’s pH is clo- Pulverized calcitic limestone is se to neutral, so it does not need added to peat-based potting to add limestone to balance. It soils to neutralize their pH. is also more sustainable than sphagnum peat moss. Fertilizers are usually added to peat-based potting soils becau- Perlite is a mined, volcanic rock. se these mixes don’t naturally When it’s heated, it expands, contain enough nutrients to sup- making perlite particles look like port optimum plant growth. The small, white balls of Styrofoam. main nutrients fundamental for It is a lightweight, sterile addition the growth of the plants are N (ni- to potting mixes. It holds three to trogen), P (phosohorus), K (potas- four times its weight in water, in- sium), better if in a ratius of N-P-K creases pore space, and impro- 1-2-1. (Welliser, J., 2019 ) ves drainage. 14 15 Research on plants Selection of plants based on the dimension of roots and feasibility 16 17 Blue Pearl Blue Giant Graptoveria Graptosedum Hybrid Moon Silver Golden Glow Succulents Pachyphytum Sedum Hybrid Absorbation of electroma- gnetic radiations Chocolate Soldier Zebra Cactus Kalanchoe Tomentosa Haworthia Hen and Chicks “Living Stone” Plant Sempervivum Lithops 18 19 Features Timing Roots Care Water Light Soil Succulents can last The selected species They need very litt- Little: 3 times a week Resist to direct light. Need a well drena- years. Germination is are shallow-rooted, le care, only water when germinating, Preferes enlighted ged soil, otherwise slow, it can last up to with a maximum oh once in a while and then once. places. the roots rot. 6 months. 1,5/2 inches depth. pruning. Sources: - Daniels, E. (2018) - Andrychowicz, A. ‘How to make your own succulent soil’ - Getbusygardening.com Succulentbox ‘How to stimulate root growth in succulents’ 20 21 Filmy fern Fern Hymenophyllaceae Asplenium ruta-muraria Ferns Air purification and absorbation of Silver lace fern Rabbit foot fern elecrtomagnetic radiations Pteris ensiformis Humata tyermannii Maidenhair Fern Fern Adiantum Pteris Cretica 22 23 Features Timing Roots Care Water Light Soil 2 to 6 months for Variable size (ran- Need a lot of humidi- 1 to 2 inch of water No direct sun, but not Poor soil condition germinating. Very ging from minute ty, which means that per week too shaded. For ar- are better. Well dre- long lasting (up to filmy plants only 1–1.2 the user needs to tificial light is better naged soil is needed. 100 years). cm tall to huge tree moisture constantly. a LED or fluorescent ferns 10 to 25 metres strip, not a light bulb. in height), the selected species are shallow-rooted. Sources: - Schwartz, M. (2018) - Yatskievych, G. et Al. (2020) - Wallington, J.(2016) 24 25 Bryophyte Bryophyta Sphagnum Takakia lepidozioides Moss Acoustic isolation, control temperature, air purification, Polytrichum com- absorbe moisture mune Funaria hygrometrica Dicranum Scoparium Hookeria Lucens Bartramia halleriana Bryopsida 26 27 Features Timing Roots Care Water Light Soil Fast growth, betwe- It has no roots but If some pieces are Water frequently but No direct light The soil is better to en 7 to 28 days to rhizoids, very small dying you need to not too much. Since be a bit acid, with a germinate. Long la- and shallow. remove the part they don’t have ro- Ph between 5 and 6 sting. to facilitate the re- ots they don’t need growth. water in the soil but int he leaves... it’s indi- cate to water it in the afternoon, at least once a day. Sources: - Rahoumi, T. (2016) - Mosslovers ‘Does moss have roots? Are rhizoids roots?’ - Mountainmoss ‘Watering your moss gar- den’ 28 29 Tall Fescue Bermudagrass Festuca arundinacea Cynodon dactylon Grass Air cleaning, traps dust, re- duces heating, reduced stress Buffalograss and improve wellness Zoysia Bouteloua dactyloides Centipede Grass Carpet Grass Eremochloa ophiuroides Axonopus 30 31 Features Timing Roots Care Water Light Soil 5 to 10 days (not in Roots grow down It can reach the total Better to spray water Grasses need four to soil must be proper- winter as it won’t ger- into the earth.

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