Incorporation of a 15x15 Buried Diffuser into coco peat bags to evaluate cultivation

potentials

December 2013

USA Merchant Team, LLC & CHAHTECH

www.chahtech.com

1- Introduction 2- Installation

3- Observation

6- Contact

4- Examination

5- Conclusion

Agenda

1- Introduction 2- Installation

3- Observation

6- Contact

4- Examination

5- Conclusion

Agenda

Coco Peat bags are mainly used for:

Pre-grown tropical/exotic trees/plants for wholesale/retail. The cubes support the weight of a juvenile tree until it is ready to plant (Cut the bag, lift out the tree and plant it).

Cultivation of vegetables for greenhouse/conventional farming.

The trial objective is to prove that Buried Diffusers will conserve critical volumes of water and dramatically reduce watering frequency.

1 - Introduction

Buried Diffuser

New solution to save irrigation water, energy, fertilizer, etc. 0% waste by evaporation 2 times less water than the drip method 3 to 5 times more yield than drip irrigation Very simple installation and useCow manure bio-reacted into “natural manure liquid supplement (LSS)...

Want to know more? Please visit www.chahtech.com

1 - Introduction

LSS

Bagged Cow Manure & Bio-Reaction

1- Introduction 2- Installation

3- Observation

6- Contact

4- Examination

5- Conclusion

Agenda

2 - Installation

Excavation of Coco Peat Cube

15x15 Buried Diffuser set in position

15x15 Buried Diffuser (front)

2 - Installation

Diffuser is installed @ 2 in. depth

2 - Installation

The diffuser is ready to be covered with peat

2 - Installation

Diffuser plant slot is marked

The 15x15 Diffuser is ready!

2 - Installation

The plant is removed from the pot and rinsed off before installation in the bag.

2 - Installation

The target plant (red Corazon)

Before pot removal, plant is 12 in. tall (pot is 4”)

2 - Installation

The plant removed from the pot and planted is 8 in. tall.

2 - Installation

Red Corazon is installed

Primary injection is water & LSS (1 part LSS : 10 parts water)

2 - Installation

Gravity feed vessel – 250 mL

2 - Installation

Primary injection of 500 ml is

perfect

The temperature has remained @ 68 F - 72 F and the humidity @ 65%.

1- Introduction 2- Installation

3- Observation

6- Contact

4- Examination

5- Conclusion

Agenda

The top fraction of the peat cube is dry, and the bottom of the bag is moist and cold: The Diffuser keeps the moisture regulated and conserved by the granular media in the diffuser. That is the indicator for water content. Under a drip system, the entire cube would remain damp, with an obvious loss of water to evaporation and the potential for airborne phyto sanitation contamination.

The leaves and plant vitality have thrived. This is made possible by the ability to deliver LSS directly to the root system.

3 - Observation

3 - Observation

Dry surface

Day 18. I decided to recharge with 500 mL

of water.

Day 1 Day 26

3 - Observation

Day 26 – The plant was refreshed, with the leaves turning

upwards

3 - Observation

The two photos show the difference in 26 days. In a different warmer climate, this plant would be ready for transplant in a large vase/pot and be 3X times larger.

The leaves and plant vitality have thrived, using only a fraction of water/nutrients, commonly applied in normal hydroponics. This proves the efficiency of Buried Diffusers in these types of grow bags.

3 - Observation

The 15X15 is a perfect and economical solution to revolutionizing hydroponic and raised bed greenhouse cultivation.

3 - Observation

After a period of 56 days, a bottom sample of cube water was extracted for examination. The color was perfectly clear, no turbidity was present, but a short-

lived odor of sulfur was detected. This indicated biological activity, not in the water, but in the peat

substrate. The root and plant health and vitality proved that to be accurate. The color of the water was slightly darker brown, due to the entrainment

of tannic acid from the coco peat.

After 56 days, with no exchange of fluids and maintaining a stable aquatic environment void of

buffers, chelates or other chemicals.

Let's review the feasibility study:

On day 1, we irrigate the plant with 500 mL of water and LSS injected using The Buried Diffuser,On day 18, we recharge with 500 mL of water and LSS injected using The Buried Diffuser,We monitored the temperature and humidity in the growing area,We monitored the water accumulation at the base of the bag,We did not monitor EC, pH or anything else.

Note: According to the coco peat bag provider, the cubes afford between 5 to 7 days between watering's (max time).

3 - Observation

3 - Observation

The test was terminated on 12 November, 2013 and the target grow bag was opened for examination. 65 day grow out: A total of 1000 ml of water/supplement was injected.

During the 65 days, no water was wasted (drawn off), nor any pH adjustments made or EC levels amended or chelates added (EDTA, etc.).

1- Introduction 2- Installation

3- Observation

6- Contact

4- Examination

5- Conclusion

Agenda

One Side Of Grow Bag Opened

There was a slight accumulation of

fluid at the bottom of the bag.

4 - Examination

Opening of the bag for primary examination (65 day grow out). With the exception of a small volume of water/supplement at bottom, the substrate was moist and fresh throughout. The buried diffuser made this possible.

Elevated

Ideal

4 - Examination

This photo illustrates the difference of

substrate moisture levels. A total of 1000

ml of water/supplement was injected. During

the 65 days, no water was wasted (drawn

off), nor any pH adjustments made or EC levels amended or chelates added (EDTA,

etc.). The Buried Diffuser made this

possible.

Plant extracted

4 - Examination

This photo exhibits A+ root vitality (stark

white roots are a precursor to

excellent health) and proves comparable growth with current

hydroponic methods.

4 - Examination

Healthy white root system, cultivated with little water or nutrients, and no

chemical additions to control pH or EC.

Very Moist

4 - Examination

A level of moisture that could never happen without

The Buried Diffuser insertion.

New home !

4 - Examination

The red Corazon after 65 days, irrigated using only 1 liter of

water.

Such results are impossible without The Buried Diffuser.

Including the root system, the plant grew + 18 inches.

1- Introduction 2- Installation

3- Observation

6- Contact

4- Examination

5- Conclusion

Agenda

5 - Conclusion

The real success with this experience lies in the length of time between watering and nutrifying the plant. We achieved 18 days before the plant was replenished.

Normal hydroponic cultivation requires daily watering, addition of nutrients, buffering EC conductivity and pH. The Diffuser has demonstrated a unique propensity for holding moisture in the granular media, as well as some significance as a "template" within the coco peat. The health and vitality of the target plant is superb and is a trustworthy indicator of what can be expected with any other crop/flower/tree, etc.

Drip irrigation in hydroponics is terribly labor intense and uses a significant volume of water, with constant monitoring of pH, EC, temperature and moisture content in each cube. With a Buried Diffuser, the entire farming operation could be possibly managed in an arm chair!

5 - Conclusion

We have used approximately the same volume of water/LSS that a hydroponic farmer would use in 2 - 3 days, and we are out over 60+ days. The target plant is healthy and vibrant, even under adverse conditions.

Without The 15x15 Buried Diffuser, the feasibility would be a total failure. At a depth of 5 cm, the base and the granules are maintaining moisture and promoting biomass to attach to the coco media and propel the plant growth. The plant grew +18”.

Summarily, The Buried Diffuser will conserve water; eliminate chemical additives, analyzing electronics, expensive nutrients with limited shelf life, and energy requirements. Buried diffusers are gravity fed, so leave the expensive pumps, valves and other hardware on the shelf!

5 - Conclusion

After the completion of a growing cycle, The Buried Diffuser can easily be removed for a quick re-plant. A bit of re-dressing with peat around the new plant is all that is necessary to start another growing cycle. After 65 days, the bottom of The BD was clean and void of any detritus or bio-fouling. Depending on the root mass entrained in the cube, it remains highly probable that the cube can effectively be re-used.

Our coco peat supplier has stated that a 7 to 10 day window for deprivation of water/nutrients to a cube would be causative for a plant to expire. We went out 65 days. If we had conducted this experiment in equatorial climatic conditions, the target plant would be three times larger.

5 - Conclusion

Quoted from a responsible third party familiar with hydroponics: “we can cut the water/nutrient volume even further, given the dimension of

the cube (8” X 8”), and the nominal dimension of The 15x15 Buried Diffuser (6” X 6”). The reduction in background evaporation of applied fluids would exceed 50%, since the diffuser covers about 56% of the

cube subsurface”.

Potential water conservation of an additional 50% equates to 500 ml, vs. 1000 ml for this exercise. This is decisive testimony to the

invaluable contribution of a The Buried Diffuser.

The Buried Diffuser is a perfect and economical solution to revolutionizing hydroponic and raised bed greenhouse

cultivation.

1- Introduction 2- Installation

3- Observation

6- Contact

4- Examination

5- Conclusion

Agenda

USA Merchant Team, LLC

Mr. Chuck Toussieng

Email: crtusamerchantteam@yahoo.com

Contact

CHAHTECH

Dr. Bellachheb CHAHBANI

Email: bchahbani@chahtech.com

www.chahtech.com