USMakkah SlideShow

The Composite Microbe Fertilizer (CMF, previously referred to as Magneto – biological Fertilizer) developed by Shenzhen Modern Ark (M-ARK) Biotechnology Co., Ltd. by means of advanced biological engineering technology, is a novel fertilizer. CMF breaks through the concept that the fertilizers contain single chemical element, on the contrary, this novel fertilizer contains not only sufficient chemical elements, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, etc. (e.g. N %, P₂O₅10%, K₂O 10%), but also plenty of active microbes (microbe content ≧ 20 million / g). Therefore, CMF is not only a composite chemical fertilizer (CCF), but also a biological fertilizer; CMF can provide the crops with enough chemical nutrition and has the advantages of improving the soil and the quality of the crops.

Since CCF has a high salt index, it is hard for the microbes to survive in such an environment, therefore, up to the present, no CCF with active microbes can be found in the international markets. Shenzhen M-ARK Biotechnology Co., Ltd. adopts advanced biological engineering means, breaking through the key difficult problems, pioneering to have developed CCF with active biological materials in the world. CMF is also referred to as an active chemical fertilizer.

I. Since massive active microbes exist, it makes CMF have the following characteristics

1. After CMF is applied to the soil, the microbe activity lets the soil colloid increase, accelerating the soil to form new crumb structure, so as to enhance the soil’s breath ability, water and moisture preservation, maximizing the water, air and warmth around the plant roots, benefiting the crops to grow. The most popular performance using CMF can be seen is that the plant roots are nicely developed (as shown in Fig. 1)

Since the root is the important organ of the plants to absorb and convey nutriments and water, the developed roots can support and maintain the crops to grow strongly, consequently, more harvests can be gained while using CMF than using regular chemical fertilizers. According to the recent years’ statistics of fertilizing experiments in different places, the agricultural product yields can increase 20% generally.

2. Microbes in the soil involve in the plants physiological and biochemical process that happened when plants absorb and convert nutriments, and the microbe can convert the nutriments of chemical state nitrogen, phosphorus, etc. into biological state ones, thus resulting in reducing the loss of nitrogen in showering , dissolving and vaporizing, and the fixed loss of phosphorus as well, speeding up the nutriment transportation, accelerating the nutriment absorption, increasing the effective nutriment availability. The effective nutriment availability of the regular chemical fertilizers is about 30%, however, due to the existence of microbes, the effective nutriment availability of CMF raises up to 60% approximately. And again, owing to the nutriment availability hike, in farmland application, CMF with 30% total nutriment content (TNC) can be used by a ratio of 1:1 to substitute the equal amount of CCF with 45% TNC.

Some experiments were also conducted that under the pre-condition the equal quantity of CMF with 30% TNC was used to substitute the composite chemical fertilizer with 45% TNC, CMF was still able to make the crops have a very good harvest. For instance, for green cabbage farming, 50kg CMF with 30% TNC / mu (mu=0.066 hectares) was applied to the green cabbage, that was compared to 50kg / mu CCF of Belgium Lion & Horse brand with 45% TNC, under the same farming management condition, the former yields increased by 24.1% than the latter (for details, see the report by Shenzhen Modern Agricultural Demonstration Sites). Furthermore, 60kg / mu CMF with 30% TNC was applied to the corn, compared to 60kg /mu CCF with 40% TNC, the corn output increased 22.76 % (details in the report by Jilin Agricultural Research Institute ).

3. Since the increase of nutriment availability, it can make the chemical nutrition of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, etc. more effectively meet the demand of the crop growth, raise the yields of the crops, as a consequence, the target output is the same, but the chemical materials used are reduced to 30% - 50% in the area / per unit of the farmland. This means that on the one hand, it will much save up the raw materials (petroleum, natural gas, coal, ores, etc.) which are used to make these chemical products, it is of great significance in the present era when the global energy and resources become shorter and shorter; on the other hand, owing to the fact that these chemical products are put into the farmland and dissolved in the water, and afterwards penetrate into the water layers under ground or flow into the rivers, leading to pollution of waters, and successively vaporizing into the air to pollute the atmosphere . The pollution flow caused by the agricultural chemical products is referred to as the agricultural surface source pollution, relative to the industrial spot source pollution, the former occurs on the “surface”, once the pollution appears, it can hardly be remedied. The only way to prevent the agricultural surface source pollution is to use less agricultural chemical products. However, the insufficiency of chemical products will result in a decline in agricultural products. For the human being, they need foods but have to take the environmental protection into account, how to compromise the two is a hard question, so the solution to the agricultural surface source pollution becomes a globally difficult problem for environmental protection. With the emergence of CMF, it becomes possible that less use of 30 – 50% chemical products in farmland without decreasing the agricultural products. This is a promising way to reduce the agricultural surface source pollution.

To grow vegetables with CMF, it can greatly reduce the residues of nitrate and nitrite in the products, therefore the products can reach the national non- hazardous standard, see the following table 1 and table 2.

( For details , see inspection report by Shenzhen Non-hazardous Agricultural Product Quality Inspection Station )

It can be seen that CMF is the ideal fertilizer for non-hazardous vegetable production.

Inspections in more places show that in addition to hazardous residue reduction, it can also increase V_C, soluble sugar contents and the sweet / sour ratio of the agricultural products, to make them more tasty and more merchandised.

The total nutriment content of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium is 30%, but the percentage of the nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium can be adjusted according to various crops.

The amount for different crops is varied with a principle that CCF with 45% TNC can be substituted by CMF with 30% TNC, i.e. 750 kg / ha CCF with 45% TNC was applied to a crop originally, can be replaced by CMF with 30%TNC right now, the amount remains unchanged, i.e. 750kg / ha.

CMF can be used as a base fertilizer or a topdressing, applicable to grain (corn, wheat, rice), crops such as vegetables, fruit trees, etc. and lawn, flowers and the other ornamental plants …

◆ CMF with active microbes can ameliorate the soil, get the farmland richer and richer.

◆ Raise the fertilizer availability. CMF with 30% TNC can substitute CCF with 45% TNC.

◆ Reduce the hazardous residues, heighten the quality of the agricultural products.

Solid Water – A New Material of Drought Resistance

Yang Qingli

Solid water is an ecological environment-protecting product, which combines microorganism with chemical technology. Only when solid water contact with plant root can it release moisture gradually by the action of soil microorganism, and be absorbed by plant, at the same time providing the water for plant growth for a long time. Pinus tabulaeformis and Platycladus orientalis were selected to study the regularity of which solid water release moisture and the factors which effect solid water releasing moisture. As a result, the gross moisture and the rate of solid water releasing, the height that solid water decrease per day, and the relation of the quantity of solid water releasing and the area that it contact with the soil were concluded.

Key words: Solid water, Characteristic of releasing moisture, drought resistance.

China is one of the countries in the world that has large arid area and is severely short of water resources, with the arid and semiarid area making up roughly half of its territory, 80 % of which is distributed in the vast northwestern region, where grave scarcity of water has become the prime restriction factor for the region to resume forest cover and improve ecological environment. Because of the scarcity of precipitation and complexity of forestry land, it is very difficult to irrigate for reforestation in the vast arid and semiarid region, in this concern, to apply effective drought-resistant planting technologies and measures, has become the technological crux for addressing the survival and preservation rate of reforestation in this region and for promoting forest growth. To cope with, people have developed resin of high water-absorbability, capable of conserving soil moisture through chemical approach, the anti-transpiration agent for reducing plant transpiration, multifarious growth regulator, delayer, mineral element and small molecular compound, etc, to regulate plant’s moisture utilization and strengthen plant’s drought resistance. Especially, the successful development of solid water, a new type drought resistant material offers a new thinking and path to tackling the problem of reforestation in drought-ridden area or under severe climate condition. Notwithstanding solid water products have been frequently referred to and introduced internationally, there is not yet official report on applied research of solid water on drought resistant planting. For the first time, this article conducts research on the law of moisture release, time limit and influencing factor of the solid water developed by Shenzhen Admire Science and Technology Co., Ltd., providing scientific evidence for the dissemination and application of solid water in drought resistant planting.

Solid water planting is a new technology successfully developed internationally at the end of 1990s. Solid water, other called dry water (driwater), results from high technology, which solidifies natural water by significantly altering its physical property, transforming natural water into a solid state substance which is not mobile, not volatile, not freezing below 0 degree C nor thawing above 100 degree C. Being of biodegradable, such solid-state substance could be used as a long-lasting water source, characteristic of no residue and no pollution of soil after being degraded. Its application in plantation in the area of rigorous natural circumstance and with serious desertification can effectively preserve ecological environment, increase planting speed and accelerate the tackling of desertification.

At the end of 1990s, a host of developed countries as USA, Britain and France, etc., had successively input considerable manpower and material resources on the research, development and dissemination of solid water, spreading solid water into the whole world. In 1998, in the central place of Sahara desert where has the most abominable climate condition, USA planted 2 million seedlings applying solid water technology, which proved to be a great success, with the survival rate up to 93%, causing the barren desert to appear a stretch of green shade, which shocked the whole Africa. One after another, a raft of Arabian countries began to introduce solid water technology. In 1999, the sales value of such technology product in North Africa exceeded 100 million USD.

In 1998, Admire Science and Technology Co., Ltd., headquartered in Shenzhen, China took the lead to conduct research on the technology in domestic China. After arduous efforts, the company succeeded in developing new generation of solid water after systematic study on the fabrication method, synthesis of solidifying agent, production technology and equipment as well as automation of production process in succession. Piloted by scientific thinking of entirely new, the product found a new pattern of moisture supply synchronous to plant’s moisture absorption process as well as a method of preserving perennial survival of plant at the extremely small quantity of water, greatly enhancing the utilization of solid water and providing a solution to the problem of water supply for plantation in gravely arid natural circumstance.

The testing materials select 3-year seedlings of Pinus tabulaeformis and Platycladus orientalis, the primary tree species for reforestation in northern China, while the solid water used is the newest solid water product produced by Shenzhen Admire Science and Technology Co., Ltd.

2.2 Experimental design

This experiment lets 5 solid water treatments and 3 contrasts for each tree specie with both treatment and contrast repeated 3 times.

5 solid water treatments: 3 pure solid water treatments S1, S2 and S3 (with bottled contacting area of respectively 25 cm², 38 cm² and 5cm²);

2 admixed solid water treatments SS2 and SS3 (with bottled contacting area of respectively 38 cm²and50 cm²)

(admixed solid water = pure solid water + regulating agent for plant growth with the thickness of the regulating agent

cks1, cks2 and cks3 are solid water contrast treatment without seedlings (with bottled contacting area respectively of 25

After being transplanted for potting for 2 months, the experimental tree specie is placed for solid water treatment under room temperature, among which the treatment of Platycladus orientalis (CB) starts from 1^st of August and of Pinus tabulaeformis (YS) from 14^th of August. At the treatment, place the solid water into mineral water bottles with neck contacting area respectively of 19 cm² and 25 cm² (weight of solid water of 530 ± 10 g), and after 30 minutes of UV sterilizing, place the solid water into the potted soil in single side arrangement by the treatment pattern respectively of neck contacting area of 25 cm², 38 cm² and 50 cm²). After solid water is placed, proceed with natural dry treatment and measure the descending rate of solid water, soil moisture content, varieties and content of microorganism as well as moisture physiological indices of the seedling at an interval of every 5 to 10 days.

2.3.1 Growth status of seedling: observe mainly the seedlings’ root/stalk ratio, number and distribution of new roots, etc;

2.3.2 Moisture status of seedling: measure moisture of the seedlings’ leaves by pressure room; measure moisture content of seedlings’ leaves by drying;

2.3.3 Seedlings’ photosynthetic rate and transpiration rate measure by Lico-6200 portable photosynthesis analysis system (USA);

2.3.4 Soil moisture status: measure cubic moisture of soil using MPM-160 moisture detecting gage (USA);

2.3.5 Soil microorganism: Measure soil’s varieties and number of microorganism;

2.3.6 Release rate of solid water observe the decreasing speed of solid water of different treatment; With limited space, this article only expounds on characteristics of moisture releasing of solid water and its influencing factor.

Seen from Figure 1 and Figure 2, in the S1, S2, S3 treatment of solid water of three different contacting areas, the total quantity of solid water releasing moisture increases in response to the enlargement of the cut contacting areas (the contact area between solid water and soil), and the SS2 and SS3 treatment of admixed solid water, the same tendency also demonstrates, which indicates that quantity of solid water releasing moisture is closely related to the cut contacting area: the larger the contacting area is, the more quantity of the solid water releasing water. In the treated seedling of Platycladus orientalis (Figure 1), the contacting areas of both s2 and ss2 are 38 cm², and of both s3 and ss3 are 50 cm², however, the quantity of releasing moisture of ss2 and ss3 are respectively larger than that of s2 and s3, namely, within equal time, the quantity of release moisture of admixed solid water is larger than that of pure solid water. Notwithstanding, the case of the treated seedling of Pinus tabulaeformis is just to the opposite: the quantity of release moisture of ss2 and ss3 is respectively smaller than that of s2 and s3, namely within equal time, the weight of release moisture of admixed solid water is below that of pure solid water. This shows that tree specie impacts differently on the quantity of releasing moisture of admixed solid water, which may be possibly attributed to difference in variety and content of microorganism around root system of different tree specie. Whilst, the admixed solid water used in both Pinus tabulaeformis and Platycladus orientalis sees a relatively small quantity of releasing moisture in the first 10 days: for Platycladus orientalis, the quantity of releasing moisture of ss2 and ss3 of admixed solid water is respectively 0.58 fold and 0.69 fold of that of s2 and s3 of pure solid water, while for Pinus tabulaeformis, the quantity of releasing moisture of ss2 and ss3 of admixed solid water is respectively 0.58 fold and 0.65 fold of that of s2 and s3, which indicates that, admixed solid water has an even slow releasing moisture, and with relatively stable quantity of releasing moisture than pure solid water.

It is also seen from Figure 1 and Figure 2 that, in the initial period of releasing moisture of solid water, all the treatments have a relatively small quantity of releasing moisture, and in the subsequent periods, the releasing quantity becomes relatively bigger and steady. This demonstrates there is a transitional period between solid water’s burying in plant’s root system and its steady releasing. This period (about 10 days) is the induction period, during which solid water has smaller releasing quantity of moisture, hence, for newly transplanted seedling, certain amount of natural water is needed at applying solid water to ensure survival of seedling at the initial period.

Figure 1 The quantity of solid water releasing moisture in different period using in the Platycladus orientalis

Figure 1 The quantity of solid water releasing moisture in different period using in the tabulaeformis

Figure 3 The relationship of the quantity of releasing moisture per day and the area of solid water contacting with the soil using in the Platycladus orientalis

Figure 3 The relationship of the quantity of releasing moisture per day and the area of solid water contacting with the soil using in the Pinus tabulaeformis

Tree specie Treatment Area Daily Average Releasing Releasing rate Daily releasing height

It is seen from Figure 3 and Figure 4 that, daily releasing quantity of solid water is closely related to contacting area, the larger the contacting area, the bigger the daily releasing quantity will be, and moreover showing fine linear relation, which indicates contacting area is one of the significant impacting factors on quantity of releasing moisture of solid water. It is known from linear equality that, in the treatment of Platycladus orientalis, the solid water of contacting area of 20 cm², 30 cm², 40 cm² and 50 cm², has a daily releasing quantity of respectively 3.85g, 5.35g, 6.85g and 8.35g, and correspondingly in the treatment of Pinus tabulaeformis, the daily releasing quantity is respectively 5.19g, 6.97g, 8.75g and 10.05g. Therefore, under same external conditions, different contacting areas could be devised to get different daily releasing quantity of moisture, and afterwards, to determine the quantity of solid water to be used according to daily releasing quantity and validity term of solid water (validity term of solid water supplying moisture to plant is defined as the time span from start of releasing to depletion of solid water). Because the quantity of releasing moisture in unit time within the validity term can be determined by the cross section area that the solid water contacts with soil, the contacting area of solid water could be devised according to plant’s different demand on moisture.

It is seen from Figure 1, the daily descending rate of solid water under different treatments is largely consistent, indicating that the daily descending rate of solid water bears not much relation to size of the contacting area. Amidst, in the treatment of Platycladus orientalis, the daily descending rate (0.18 ~ 0.20 cm/d) of pure solid water is lower than that of addition solid water; conversely, in the treatment of Pinus tabulaeformis, not only the daily descending rate (0.24 ~ 0.32 cm/d) of its pure solid water but also its addition solid water (0.22 ~ 0.28 cm/d) are obviously bigger than that of Platycladus orientalis treatment. The reason for the opposite results achieved in the different tree specie treatment of pure solid water is waiting to be explored, may it be solid water has a spell of standing time accounts for it, or may it be the number of the soil microorganism accounts for it. In addition, the relative stability of daily descending rate of addition solid water (daily average descending rate is 0.25 cm/d) indicates that, the addition of regulating agent for plant growth in solid water can maintain the releasing stability of solid water and subject to less outside adverse impact.

It is seen from Figure 1 that, the non-seedling pure solid water of same treatment with Platycladus orientalis (treatment of 1^st of August), sees an average releasing moisture rate of 0.19 g. cm ^-2.d ^–1, while the non-seedling pure solid water of same treatment with Pinus tabulaeformis (treatment of 4^th of August), sees releasing moisture rate of 0.29 g. cm ^-2.d ^–1, indicating that long-term standing of solid water is likely to add to its releasing moisture rate, which may be imputed to the level of disinfecting of solid water. In the manifold treatments of pure solid water with seedlings, their releasing moisture rate is generally consistent with that of the corresponding treatments without seedling, among which the average releasing rate in the treatment of Platycladus orientalis is 0.18 g. cm ^-2.d ^–1 (correspondingly of without seedling of 0.19 g. cm ^-2.d ^–1), while the average releasing rate in the treatment of Pinus tabulaeformis is 0.26 g. cm ^-2.d ^–1(correspondingly of without seedling of 0.29 g. cm ^-2.d ^–1), which indicates that the releasing moisture rate of solid water bears some relation to its standing time while less relation to tree specie planted. Besides, with solid water’s addition of agent, different treatment time has limited impact on the releasing moisture rate, with its average rate maintained at 0.23 g. cm ^-2.d ^–1, indicating that the addition is conducive to the stable releasing moisture of solid water. This is consistent with the above-mentioned results.

From the perspective of use time of solid water, by the measured releasing moisture rate, solid water of 1 kg packed weight in the five treatments of s1, s2, s3, ss2 and ss3 in normal circumstances can maintain continuous supply time of respectively 213 days, 139 days, 119 days, 106 days and 92 days. After certain standing time, though the releasing moisture rate gains momentum, the continuous supply time of the five treatments can still sustain respectively 176 days, 98 days, 67 days, 125 days and 76 days. This is to say, under normal circumstances, 1kg solid water of contacting area of 25 ~ 50 cm² (whichever the pure solid water or the addition one) can sustain 3 months and above, and can still sustain at least 2 months given certain standing time.

From the perspective of use effect of solid water, despite relatively small quantity, solid water can alleviate the moisture stress of seedling with absence of other irrigation means (see Figure 2). After drought treatment of 25 days, the water potential of leaves of the drought Platycladus orientalis and Pinus tabulaeformis decrease respectively to –5.55 MPa and –2.17 MPa; and after drought treatment of 45 days, the water potential of leaf of Platycladus orientalis has been down to –6 MPa, while that of Pinus tabulaeformis down to –3.08 MPa, being at the critical point of wither. At the administering of solid water, the moisture stress of seedling in the s1, s2 and s3 treatment is alleviated (with the leaf water potential of Platycladus orientalis and Pinus tabulaeformis being respectively –1.48 ~ -2.89 MPa and -.120 ~ 1.75 MPa) and the leaf water potential of s2 and s3 seedling after 45 days even shows a tendency of recovery (and the leaf water potential of Platycladus orientalis and Pinus tabulaeformis is also resumed to –1.02 ~ -1.28 MPa and –1.45 ~ -1.50 MPa). It is evident that, solid water helps sustain moisture status of seedling and attenuate the moisture stress of seedling. It is reasonable to say, by an entirely new concept: water-saving and constant humidifying irrigation, solid water minimizes waste of water resources while supplying persistently moisture to plant to enable plant to utilize efficiently moisture to sustain its growth.

Leaf water potential of Platycladus orientalis Leaf water potential of Pinus tabulaeformis

Being an ecological and environ-friendly product integrating microbiological and chemical technology, solid water is itself of biodegradable, and will degrade slowly and release moisture as soon as it contacts with microorganism. Cultivating bacteria using beef peptone culture medium and cultivating fungus using potato sugarcane culture medium to measure, after the use of solid water, the number of soil microorganisms nearby root system of seedling and where solid water contacts in all treatments. The suspended moisture volume fraction of the bacteria’s soil is 10^-3, 10^-4, 10^-5 and 10^-6, while that of fungus’ soil is 10^-3, 10^-4 and 10^-5, and each culture medium is repeated three times and is then placed in constant temperature cabinet for cultivation, with the manipulation undergoing strictly under aseptic conditions.

The results show that, in the contrast soil of no solid water application, the number of microorganism is 1.11 × 10⁵ single/ml. While with the application of Admire solid water, the number of soil microorganism increases to diverse extent, with the microorganism being primarily bacillus, and secondly coccus. The coccus is of mono or diplo, immotile, with bacillus including large rod, middle rod and mini rod), in which mini rod actions violently. Coccus often keeps company with bacillus in propagation, not easily separable, which may suggest symbiotic. This germ proliferates quickly and is especially productive under weak acid condition.

Figure 5 The relationship of the qty of releasing Figure 6 The relationship of the qty releasing

Moisture per day and the total qty of soil moisture per day and the total qty of soil

In the experimental soil of the seedling using solid water, the daily releasing quantity of solid water increases along with increment of the soil microorganism, whose relationship is fairly logarithmic (See Figure 5 and Figure 6). In the soil of the seedling of Platycladus orientalis treatment, the microorganisms of addition solid water outnumbers that of pure solid water under identical contacting area; while of Pinus tabulaeformis, the result is just on the contrary: the microorganism of pure solid water outnumbers that of addition solid water, which is coherent with the quantity of releasing quantity of solid water. This expounds further the results in Figure 1, Figure 2 and Table 1, that is, given certain cross section area, in the treatment of Platycladus orientalis, the releasing moisture quantity of the addition solid water is bigger than that of pure solid water; while in the treatment of Pinus tabulaeformis, the releasing moisture quantity of the addition solid water is smaller than that of pure solid water. This bears direct relation to the total quantity of microorganisms that degrade solid water: the total quantity of microorganisms that degrade solid water decides the quantity of releasing moisture of solid water. Because of the fair logarithmic relationship between the daily quantity of releasing moisture of solid water and number of soil microorganisms, the daily quantity of releasing moisture of solid water increases along with the increment of the cross section area, and likewise, number of microorganisms augments along with augmentation of the cross section area (Table 3), it is concluded that how cross section area, under same soil conditions, will impact on quantity of releasing moisture is primarily effected by the number of the microorganisms that contact solid water. This also demonstrates that solid water can only be degraded step by step by microorganism, and then be absorbed by plant.

It can found from the comparison between Figure 1, 2 and Figure 7 that, the status of releasing moisture of solid water bears no close relation to variations of all environmental factors (variation of soil temperature and atmosphere temperature and humidity), which shows that variation of both temperature and humidity do not impact directly on the releasing moisture of solid water. However, as the temperature and humidity may impact on the activity of microorganism in soil, consequentially they may impact on the variation of quantity releasing moisture of solid water. How the status of releasing moisture of solid water is susceptible to the impact of environmental factors is waiting to be further explored.

(1) Seen from the law of releasing moisture of Admire solid water, the total quantity of releasing moisture increases corresponding to the increment of the cross section area, with both the height and rate of releasing moisture being relatively stable. According to the status of releasing moisture of solid water, the daily average rate of releasing moisture is 0.23 g. cm ^-2.d ^–1, and average descending rate 0.24 cm/d. Given a validity term of solid water of 90 days, its packing length should be 21.6 cm. Seen from the use effect of solid water in the treatment of Platycladus orientalis and Pinus tabulaeformis, Admire solid water of the cross section area of 38 cm²and above is preferred for use.

(2) The solid water of 1kg packing as an example of the article can supply persistently moisture to plant for at least two months. The time spell from the start of degradation of solid water to its depletion is the validity term of irrigation of solid water, whose length and the quantity of releasing moisture within the validity term can be adjusted through altering the size of packing of the solid water. Therefore, the quantity of supplying moisture in unit time can be preset according to the moisture requirements of different plants, as well the length of validity term of solid water can be preset according to the difference of arid climate of different regions. Theoretically speaking, solid water can meet the requirements of drought season of any area and any given time spell, with the validity term generally set as 1 month, 2 months and 3 months, which can be made even longer in case of special need.

(3) Amidst the impacting factors on the releasing moisture of solid water are the quantity of microorganisms that contacts solid water as well as the contacting area of solid water, among which, the microorganisms that contact with solid water decides directly the quantity of releasing moisture of solid water, the more the microorganisms that contact solid water, the quicker the solid water degrades, which presents a fair logarithmic relationship. When the soil conditions are equivalent, the quantity of releasing moisture of solid water sees a linear relation to the cross section area, the bigger the cross section area, the more the quantity of releasing moisture of solid water.

Acknowledgement: In this study, Doctoral graduate Zai Hongbo and postgraduate Liu Xiaoyan and Jia Liqiang participated in part of the experiment, acknowledgement of thanks is made taking this opportunity.

A Study of Effects of Solid Water

The impacts of solid water on the growth of main tree species such as Pinus tabulaeformis and Platycladus orientalis used in northern reforestation were studied in the green house by water status of the seedlings, variation of soil water content and quantity of microorganism etc. The results show that it can increases oil water content, improve water status of seedlings evidently, alleviate water stress by using solid water, in the experiments the original solid water whose area contacting the soil is 50 cm² and the new solid water whose area is 38 cm² have the best effect. According to the rate of solid water releasing moisture, the water status and growth of the plants, the growth of seedlings can be maintained for more than two months by using solid water in the condition of without other water resources. Therefore, application of solid water can afford a new approach to drought resistant planting.

Solid water planting is an edgy planting technology developed in the late 1990s. Solid water, also known as "dry water” or “driwater”, is a stagnant and nonvolatile solid substance produced through solidifying water, causing fundamental changes in the physical properties of water by employing an advanced technique. It does not freeze at 0℃ nor melt at 100℃. This solid substance, biodegradable and free of residue after degradation, does not pollute the soil and can be used as long-lasting water source. Solid water is different from water-retaining agents in several ways. Water-retaining agents are mostly highly bibulous resins. Thanks to its cross-linked molecular structure, moisture absorbed by molecular structures in not easily squeezed out by simple physical means, thus gaining its water retaining property and winning its name. Currently two major types of water retaining agents: acrylamide-acrylate cross-linking copolymer and starch-acrylate graft cross-linking copolymer. Water-retaining agents hold no water themselves. It absorbs water from outside and releases it to plants. In contrast, 99% of solid water is water. It releases water at a low rate through microbial degradation in soil and provides moisture for plants. Solid water does not evaporate in dry environment or flow or leak in sand. It reaches the roots of plants and releases moisture at a low rate, providing a slow but steady supply of moisture. This property makes solid water an ideal supply of moisture for planting in dry areas far from water supply, such as barren hill and sandy land. This holds special significances in arid and semiarid areas observing extreme shortage of water. Solid water, coupled with other water collecting and storing techniques, promises to guarantee long-term moisture supply for plants, maintains normal growth of plants and decreases ineffective evaporation and leakage, realizing the purpose of water saving and efficient use of moisture.

In late 1990s, USA, UK, France and other developed countries invest large quantities of efforts in the R&D and application of solid water, bringing solid water into practical use. In 1998, USA applied solid water technology to the central part of Sahara featuring extreme weather conditions. The program planted 2 million seedlings and observed a survival rate of 93%, making the sterile desert into an oasis and making this program a great success. This success delighted the whole Africa. Many Arabic nations began introduce solid water technology, with the sales volume from this technology in North Africa alone exceeding $100 million. In 1998, Admire Science and Technology Co., Ltd., headquartered in Shenzhen, China, took the lead in researching into this technology in China. Its arduous efforts in systematic research on the manufacture methods, synthesis of solidifying agents, production technology and equipment and automation of production process in succession finally brought a new brand of solid water. In spite of numerous discussions on solid water products, no research on application of solid water in drought resistant planting has been seriously reported. This paper studies the effectiveness of solid water developed and produced by Admire Science and Technology Co., Ltd. and provides scientific base for the application of solid water in drought resistant planting.

Three-year seedlings of Pinus tabulaeformis (YS) and Platycladus orientalis (CB), primary tree species for planting in the northern China were selected as subject of the experiment. The major experiment material is the solid water produced by Admire Science and Technology Co., Ltd., Shenzhen.

This experiment consists of 5 solid water treatments and 3 contrasts for each tree species with all treatments and contrasts repeated 3 times.

5 solid water treatments: 3 pure solid water treatments: S1, S2 and S3 (with bottled contacting areas of 25, 38 and 50 cm²respectively);

2 admixed solid water treatments: SS2 and SS3 (with respective bottled contacting areas of 38 and50 cm²) (admixed solid water = pure solid water + plant growth (to promote plant growth and root taking), with a thickness of 20 ppm);

3 contrasts: ck1 is non-irrigated dry treatment without solid water; ck2 is normal irrigated treatment without solid water; cks1, ck2 and cks3 are solid water contrast treatment without seedlings (with respective bottled contacting areas of 25, 38 and 50 cm²);

After transplanted for potting for 2 months, the experiment tree species are placed under room temperature for solid water treatment experiment. The treatment on CB started from 1 August and that on YS from 14 August. Solid water was put in bottles with respective neck contacting areas of 19 cm² and 25 cm² (the weight of each unit of solid water is 530 ± 10 g). After 30 minutes of UV sterilizing treatment, the solid water was prepared into units with respective cross section areas of 25, 38 and 50 cm² and positioned in a single line in potted soil. Natural drying process followed and the descending rate of solid water, soil moisture content, varieties and quantity of microorganism and the seedlings’ physiological indices of moisture are measured every 5 to 10 days.

1.3.1 Growth statuses of seedlings: The root-stalk ratios, quantities and distributions of new roots are observed;

1.3.2 Water statuses of seedlings: The leaf moisture potentials are measured by means of pressure chamber and the quantities of moisture are measured by drying;

1.3.3 Seedlings’ photosynthetic rates and transpiration rates: Measured using Lico-6200 portable photosynthesis analysis system (USA);

1.3.4 Soil water statuses: Soil moistures are measured using MPM-160 moisture detecting gage (USA);

1.3.5 Release rates of solid water: Measured by observing the decreasing rates of solid water of different treatments;

1.3.6 Soil microorganism: Varieties and quantities of microorganism are measure. Bacteria are developed using beef peptone and fungi are developed using potatosucrose base. The suspended moisture volume fractions of the soil for the bacteria are respectively 10^-3, 10^-4, 10^-5 and 10^-6, and that for the fungi are respectively 10^-3, 10^-4, and 10^-5. The processes are repeated three times for each base before they are placed in thermotanks for development. The whole process is performed under strictly aseptic condition.

Moisture potential is an important index reflecting the water status of seedlings. The leaf moisture potential of the seedling with solid water is revealed to be between that of seedlings in dry situation and that of seedling normally irrigated (Figure 1 and 2). This shows that where solid water is applied, though influenced by moisture threat, the seedlings enjoy better water status than seedlings under dry condition. Under normal moisture condition, leaf water potentials in CB and YS remain at -0.5 ~ -0.8 MPa.

However, in the case of CB, when drought lasts 30 days, the leaf moisture potential of the seedlings in dry environment falls to -5.55MPa, and the seedlings observe serious moisture threat. Meanwhile, the leaf moisture potential of seedlings with solid water is -1.48~ -3.2MPa, observing only slight or moderate moisture threat. With the dry period drags on, leaf moisture potential of seedlings under dry condition falls below -6.0MPa and observes extremely serious moisture threat, while most seedlings with solid water treatments (solid water units with cross section areas of 38 and 50 cm²) begins to recover to slight moisture threat. When the drought lasts 35, 45 and 60 days, the leaf moisture potential of seedlings with solid water treatment has recovered to -0.95 ~ 2.62MPa, -0.90 ~ -1.95MPa and -0.93 ~ -1.12 MPa, respectively. But s1 (solid water unit with a cross section area of 25cm²) is an exception, in which case the leaf moisture potential falls from -2.43MPa to -5.45MPa, observing serious moisture threat. The same pattern is observed with YS seedlings. When the drought lasts 30 days, the leaf moisture potential falls to -2.38MPa, observing serious moisture threat; when the drought lasts 45 days, the seedlings observe extremely serious moisture threat. In contrast, except s1 treatment (solid water unit with a cross section area of 25cm²), whose leaf moisture potential falls to -2.43MPa (serious moisture threat), leaf moisture potential of other seedlings with solid water treatment remain with the -1.10 ~ -1.50MPa, observing only a slight moisture threat. The result shows with reasonable clarity that solid water helps YS and CB seedlings to maintain good water status, but this maintained status observes a strong correlation with the cross section area (the area of solid water directed connected to the soil) of the solid water unit used.

When using solid water with cross section area of 25cm², the seedlings may maintain slight moisture threat for a certain period, but after a month, the seedlings begin to observe serious moisture threat. The result shows that solid water with cross section area of 25cm² can guarantee a reasonably good water status in a short period (30 days), but cannot meet the lowest water requirement where no other water source is unavailable. But solid water with cross section areas of 38 and 50cm², though may leave YS and CB exposed to slight moisture threat, but the moisture threat can be sustained at a certain level and prevented from further falling, and it even helps the seedlings to recover. This situation can be maintained for 45~60 days. Therefore, in the case of coniferous trees such as YS and CB, Admire solid water with a cross section area of at least 38 cm² can at least sustain the growth for 45~60. This holds vital significance for planting seedlings to pull through serious spring droughts and this is the greatest advantage of solid water.

Plant leaves have no well developed mechanical tissues and it depends on the turgidity displayed by cells after absorbing water to sustain its standing to receive illumination and exchange gas. Under dry conditions, the leaf water content of plants falls gradually until the leaves wither and die. Under normal moisture condition, the leaf water content of CB maintains within 60.46%±2.76%. After a drought period of 60 days, it falls to 17.36%. In contrast, leaf water content of CB with solid water maintains within 55.23% ~ 60.46%. The leaf water content with s1 treatment is a little lower and measures 43.95% (Figure 3). This is also true with YS. Under normal moisture condition, leaf water content of YS maintains within 67.30%±1.85%. After a drought period of 45 days, it falls to 54.9%, while leaf water content of YS with solid water maintains within 62.60% ~ 66.90. leaf water content with s1 treatment is lower and measures 58.50% (Figure 4). This results is consistent with above-related changes in leaf moisture potential. Solid water, especially that with a cross section area of 38cm² or above, can sustain the leaves for 45~60 days. However, if solid water with cross section area of 25 cm² is used, the water status of seedlings may worsen in the late period (after 30 days). If no supply is provided from other sources, the water status of the seedlings will be worse and the seedling will die. Therefore solid water with different cross section areas must be selected in accordance with the water requirement of different tree species.

Root system is the primary moisture-absorbing organ of plant, and the quantity of new roots and root length reflect the vigor of plant’s root system. Only with required vigor, can root system absorb moisture and nutrients to sustain the growth of seedling above the ground. If the soil moisture content declines to such an extent that the root system is unable to absorb, the root system will become withered and die, and subsequently, the plant will. It is seen from Table 1 and Table 2, the seedling of Platycladus orientalis after 60 days treatment bears no new root (while the seedling with normal moisture has 230 new roots) any more, and the leaves of the seedling assume pale green color, suggesting apparent deficiency of moisture. The seedling of Pinus tabulaeformis after 45 days drought treatment has 21 new roots, notably less than that of the seedling with normal moisture (with 269 new roots). With the use of solid water, though the quantity of new roots of Platycladus orientalis and Pinus tabulaeformis are less than that of seedling with normal moisture, they are much more than that of seedling of drought treatment, amidst, Platycladus orientalis has 24 ~ 116 new roots, and Platycladus orientalis has 40 ~ 95 new roots. Moreover, the new roots are concentrated where the solid water is embedded (roughly making up ¼ of the root system range), among which, in the S3, SS2 and SS3 treatment, the quantity of new roots on the part of solid water’s application (making up ¼ of root system range) is above that of new roots of the seedling with normal irrigation (1/4 of total roots quantity). It is hence that, Admire solid water has marked role in the increment of new roots.

Treatment New root Max length of new root Dry weight of root Root-shoot ratio

/Single /cm /g

ck1 0 0.0 3.4 0.17

ck2 230 6.2 10.3 0.30

s1 24 6.0 3.6 0.19

s2 116 4.5 4.5 0.20

s3 100 5.4 4.4 0.20

ss2 72 6.9 4.7 0.21

ss3 65 7.2 5.9 0.27

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Note: Treatment of 60 days

Treatment New root Max length of new root Dry weight of root Root-shoot ratio

/Single /cm /g

ck1 21 0.6 2.8 0.12

ck2 269 3.1 4.6 0.16

s1 70 1.6 4.1 0.15

s2 40 1.4 3.4 0.14

s3 95 4.1 5.3 0.16

ss2 87 2.5 3.2 0.14

ss3 78 1.3 4.7 0.15

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Note: Treatment of 45 days

With use of the solid water, the new roots grow pretty good; in the case of Pinus tabulaeformis, the seedling using solid water of contacting area of 50 cm² sees it’s longest new root (4.1 cm) even longer than that of the longest new root of seedling under normal irrigation; while in comparison, the longest new root of the seedling of drought treated Pinus tabulaeformis is seen only at 0.6 cm. In the case of Platycladus orientalis, after 60 days treatment, the root system of the drought-treated seedling of Platycladus orientalis has become wizened, with no growth of new root observed, while the seedling using addition solid water (with contacting area respectively of 50 cm² and 38 cm²) sees length of its longest new root (7.2 cm and 6.9 cm) exceeding that of seedling with normal irrigation (6.2 cm), which further proves that Admire solid water is considerably effective in promoting growth of root system.

As for the experimental seedling of Platycladus orientalis and Pinus tabulaeformis, the bigger of dry weight of the root, the bigger the increment of root and the vigorous the experimental seedling will grow. The root-shoot ratio bears evident relations with drought resistance, and distribution height and extent of root system has significant impact on drought resistance. As for the seedling of drought treatment, part of its roots has decayed and is decomposed in soil, hence with the least root-shoot ratio (of Platycladus orientalis 0.17 and of Pinus tabulaeformis 0.12); while the seeding with normal moisture has robust root system, hence with the biggest root-shoot ratio (of Platycladus orientalis 0.17 and of Pinus tabulaeformis 0.12). After use of solid water, both dry weight of root and root-shoot ratio of Platycladus orientalis and Pinus tabulaeformis are seen between that of drought-treated seedling and that of seedling with normal moisture (of Platycladus orientalis 0.19 ~ 0.27 and of Pinus tabulaeformis 0.14 ~ 0.16) (See Table 1 and Table 2). The seedling using solid water, as new roots concentrates where solid water is embedded (roughly making up ¼ of root system area), can subsist in general the growth of the root system, with the root-shoot ratio maintained at certain level. Albeit the root system is not vigorous as that of the seedling with normal moisture, it can sustain the vigor of the seedling’s root system and guarantee growth of the root system where it contacts with the solid water. Suppose an overall contact between seedling’s root system and the solid water, the seedling will have even better growing status of root system.

Soil weight water content is obtained by measuring the soil volume water content using MPM –160 moisture detecting instrument (USA) and then converting the measured value by unit weight.

As solid water is embedded exclusively on one side of the seedling, at measuring the subsoil water content of the seedling, two locations, the nearest (near bottle) and the farthest (far bottle) away from the solid water within same radius are measured. It is known from Table 3 and Table 4 that, in the course of drought resistance, whichever solid water treatment or non-solid water drought treatment, both of their soil water content are descending: the descending rate of water content of the soil of solid water treatment is obviously less than that of drought treatment. The general tendency is that the soil water content of the near bottle of solid water is high above that of the far bottle of solid water, while the soil water content of the far bottle of solid water is high above that of drought treatment. Take the most gravely drought of Platycladus orientalis as an example, while the drought soil water content is (4.2 ± 0.1) %, the soil water content of solid water near bottle is kept at (7.3 ± 0.4) % ~ (14.4 ± 0.3) %, and that of solid water far bottle is also kept at (6.6 ± 0.1) % ~ (8.4 ± 0.4) %. The same case for Pinus tabulaeformis, while the drought soil water content is seen at (7.0 ± 0.1) %, the soil water content of solid water near bottle and solid water far bottle are respectively at (10.3 ± 0.2) % ~ (14.5 ± 0.9) % and (9.4 ± 0.4) % ~ (11.5 ± 0.3) %. This shows that, use of solid water can increase soil water content through slow releasing moisture of solid water, thus effectively delaying the descending rate of the soil water content. However, because of limited releasing quantity of the solid water that results in restraint of migration of moisture, it appears that the water content of near bottle is above that far bottle. Seen from the fact that the soil water content of far bottle is above that drought soil, there is indeed migration of moisture after solid water is released, the migrated quantity is very limited. This is also one of the merits of solid water: solid water is primarily supplied for absorption of moisture by plant’s root system where it contacts with soil, and is rarely dissipated into air through soil evaporation (because of limited migration of moisture), thus reducing the unavailability of moisture and achieving efficient utilization of solid water.

S1 14.7 ±0.5 14.3 ±0.4 10.7 ±0.2 10.7 ± 0.6 11.3 ±1.0 9.3 ±0.6 10.8 ±0.4 10.1 ±0.3 10.3 ±0.2 9.4 ±0.4

S2 14.8 ±0.5 14.6 ±0.4 11.4 ±0.3 11.1 ± 0.2 11.9 ±0.3 10.3 ±0.3 12.0 ±0.5 9.6 ± 0.6 14.5 ±0.9 11.5±0.3

S3 15.7 ±0.5 15.4 ±0.3 13.0 ±0.1 12.7 ± 0.6 15.4 ±1.3 10.2 ±0.6 15.1 ±0.3 9.6 ±0.3 13.7 ±0.8 11.1 ±0.2

Ss2 15.1 ±0.5 14.5 ±0.6 12.2 ±0.3 11.3 ± 0.6 10.8 ± 0.2 10.6 ±0.3 10.6 ±1.0 9.8 ±0.3 12.6 ±1.0 10.0 ±0.2

Ss3 15.5 ±0.1 14.8 ±0.2 12.1 ±0.6 11.3 ± 0.6 14.2 ± 0.6 11.2 ±0.2 10.2 ± 0.5 9.3 ±0.6 12.5 ±0.7 10.5 ±0.3

S1 12.3±0.5 11.9 ±0.4 10.3 ±0.6 10.0 ± 0.4 9.7 ±0.8 9.1 ±0.4 7.8 ±0.6 7.4 ±0.2 6.6 ±0.1 6.5 ± 0.3

S2 14.5±0.4 13.4 ±0.6 10.6 ±0.3 10.5 ± 0.2 9.9 ±0.8 9.5 ±0.4 8.5 ±0.2 8.0 ± 0.2 6.7 ±0.3 6.7± 0.3

S3 12.9 ±0.5 12.8 ±0.6 10.4 ±0.3 10.3 ± 0.4 9.2 ±0.6 10.2 ±0.6 7.8 ±0.5 7.6 ±0.6 9.3 ±0.6 7.8 ± 0.4

Ss2 12.5 ±0.4 11.3 ±0.4 10.4 ±0.4 10.3 ± 0.6 10.0 ± 0.6 9.5 ±0.5 11.3 ±0.7 9.9 ±0.7 11.9 ±0.3 8.7 ±0.7

Ss3 11.8 ±0.2 11.6 ±0.3 10.5 ±0.1 9.9 ± 0.3 9.5 ± 0.5 7.7 ± 0.6 8.1 ± 0.5 7.9 ±0.4 7.0 ±0.6 7.1 ±0.4

It is also seen from Table 3 and Table 4, amid the various solid water treatments, the s1 treatment with contacting area of 25 cm² sees the biggest descending rate as well as the lowest soil water content. At the severest drought, the soil water content of Near Bottle of S1 solid water is respectively (7.3 ± 0.4) % (Platycladus orientalis) and (10.3 ± 0.2) % (Pinus tabulaeformis); while the soil water content of Far Bottle is even low, being respectively (6.6 ± 0.1) % (Platycladus orientalis) and (9.4 ± 0.4) % (Pinus tabulaeformis). The soil water content of Near Bottle of other solid water treatments is respectively (8.5 ± 0.3) % ~ (14.4 ± 0.3) % (Platycladus orientalis) and (12.5 ± 0.7) % ~ (14.5 ± 0.9) % (Pinus tabulaeformis), and that of Far Bottle is respectively (6.7 ± 0.3) % ~ (8.4 ± 0.4) % (Platycladus orientalis) and (10.0 ± 0.2) % ~ (11.5 ± 0.3) % (Pinus tabulaeformis). Such variation trend is entirely consistent with that of the leaf water potential and leaf water content of the afore-said seedling, fully proving that soil moisture is an significant factor that directly impacts on the status of moisture of seedling. Such active way of solid water in augmenting soil moisture is a guarantee of water sources for the success of plantation in arid and drought-ridden area, which is however, varies in relation to the size of the contacting area of solid water. It is shown from the above study, when applying Admire solid water, solid water with cross section area of 38 cm² and above must be chosen to maintain a desirable status of moisture of Platycladus orientalis and Pinus tabulaeformis for a fairly long time (at least 45 to 60 days), while use of solid water with cross section area of 25 cm² and below is only ideal in short term (within 30 days).

Sample No Appearance form Microscopic morphology Germ total qty/single ml^-1 Fungus total qty/single ml^-1

______________________________________________________________________________________________

5. White fruit jelly streptococcal flag yeast 2.2 * 10⁶ Yeast sprout 3* 10⁵; Mucor 4* 10⁵

^{_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________}

Notes: No 1 is original soil sample; No 2 is soil sample of non-addition solid water; No 3 is soil sample of addition solid water; No. 4 is upper strata sample of non-addition solid water exposed in 30^th of July; No. 5 is lower strata sample of non-addition solid water exposed in 30^th of July; 6 is upper strata sample of non-addition solid water exposed in 11^th of August; No. 6 is upper strata sample of addition solid water exposed in 11^th of August.

Table 5 shows that, the bacteria detected from original soil sample include bacillus, vibrio, fungus and black mould, and the bacteria detected from the soil administered with solid water include bacillus, mildew mould of the fungus and green trichorderma. In the soil with service of solid water, black mould is contained, in which Mucor and green trichoderma are detected; the total quantity of bacteria of original soil is 1.1 × 10⁵, and after applying pure solid water and addition solid water, the total quantity of soil bacteria is respectively 2.3 ×10 ⁷ and 3.7 × 10 ⁷, and the soil microorganisms around the solid water increase by more than 100 fold than that of original soil; after applying solid water, not only the types of soil microorganism are altered to some extent, the quantity of soil microorganism also augments, indicating that the activity of some soil microorganisms around solid water is also increased. In the exposed solid water, its quantity of bacteria in upper strata is 3 fold that of lower strata; in the solid water contacting with air, Mucor is detected, while Mucor is not detected in the sample of lower strata, which indicates that Mucor involves in the decomposition of solid water after it contacts with air. Hence, when solid water is exposed in air in open bag, the microorganism in the air will participate in the decomposition of the solid water, and the solid water will release moisture gradually and becomes less and less. In the absence of microorganism, solid water can preserve its solid nature, free of volatility and solubility. As soon as it contacts with microorganism, wherever it is exposed in the air or is buried in soil, it will degrade gradually, therefore, before its use, solid water must be sealed and conserved to avoid possible failure as caused by contact with microorganism.

(1) As to Platycladus orientalis and Pinus tabulaeformis, the seedling of S3 solid water treatment of contacting area of 50 cm² and SS 2 solid water treatment of contacting area of 38 cm² have the best performance. Seen from the variation of leaf water potential and leaf water content, when other supplementation of water resources is not available, use of Admire solid water of cross section area of 38 cm² and above helps improve moisture status of seedling, alleviate moisture stress, and sustain water potential and leaf water content of seedling to prevent from leaf wilting, guaranteeing the seedling growth of at least 45 days to 60 days; while the S2 treatment of cross section area of 25 cm² can only subsist seedling growth in short term (< 30 days), and the moisture status of the seedling will deteriorate step by step in the latter period. In the connection, in such area with seasonable drought, proper cross section area of solid water can be devised according to the lasting time of drought and plant’s need on moisture so as to exert fully the role of solid water in plantation through drought resistance.

(2) Solid water helps improve growth of plant’s root system, increase the quantity of new roots of plant and promote the growth of new roots. In the treatment of Pinus tabulaeformis, the seedling using solid water of contacting area of 50 cm² sees it’s longest new root (4.1 cm) even longer than that of the longest new root of seedling under normal irrigation; In the treatment of Platycladus orientalis, the seedling using addition solid water (with contacting area respectively of 50 cm² and 38 cm²) sees length of its longest new root (7.2 cm and 6.9 cm) exceeding that of seedling with normal irrigation (6.2 cm). The root system of the seedling can not only absorb and utilize the moisture released by solid water, but also has better growth status after moisture absorption. The well-growing roots are all distributed where they contact with solid water, while the roots outlying have become wizened keeping pace with the drying up of the soil. Hence, it is suggested in the practice of drought resistance and plantation, preferably solid water shall be even placed around the plant’s root system so as to guarantee even growth of the plant’s root system and avoid the partiality growing of root system.

(3) Given the fact the soil water content of both solid water treatment and drought treatment are both descending, the descending rate of soil water content of solid water treatment is not as notable as that of drought treatment; and moreover, the slowly releasing solid water is concentrated around plant’s root system, with limited outward migration, thus ensuring that the solid water is primarily supplied for the plant’s absorption, which minimizes futile soil evaporation and seepage and achieves the efficient utilization of solid water. However, as solid water is slow in releasing moisture, and moreover with limited migration of moisture and induction period (about 10 days), for the seedling of newly planted, if the initial water content of soil is too low, the seedling will subject to moisture stress to some extent, which will adversely impact on the seedling’s survival and growth. In this sense, it is suggested, at the use of solid water, irrigation of start water is required for newly planted seedling to induce the solid water to normal releasing moisture to ensure the survival of the seedling.

(4) After the use of solid water, the types of microorganism of soil are also altered somewhat, with the total quantity of the microorganism increased to some extent and the activity of some microorganisms bettered. This shows that solid water bears certain impact on soil microorganism, and in the meantime microorganisms are also degrading the solid water. Exposed in the air, solid water will also degrade and release moisture with action of microorganisms, therefore, only when solid water is packed and conserved under aseptic and sealing conditions, could it be sure that solid water will not be spoiled because of being degraded.

Release Law of Solid Water and Its Effects

(The College of Life Science, Northwest Sci-Tec University of Agriculture and Forestry .

In this article, the authors make a research on the release Law of solid water and its effects on the water physiology of plants, based on experiments on four afforestatin tree species in the South. The results show that the release rate of solid water is mainly controlled by the size of its cross-section area, and to some extent adjusted by the water requirement of the plants. In droughty conditions, using solid water can remarkably improve the water status of plants, increase the leaf water content and keep the relative stability of chlorophyll. It is a means of water supply synchronous with the process of plant water uptake, and is a method of using thimbleful water to make plants survive and grow. The use of solid water may be thought as the optimum way of water supply for drought-resistant planting in droughty conditions.

Solid water is a solid substance obtained through solidifying normal water with high-and-new technology. After the solidification, the physical nature of normal water changes dramatically, and it’s changed into a stagnated, fixed and nonfreezing solid substance which doesn’t thaw when the temperature is one hundred degrees centigrade. It also has biological degradability, and can be used as a long acting water source for plant growth. It can be used for waste mountain plantation and wasteland plantation in droughty areas having serious water deficit, and it can also be used in cities, gardens and parks, road plantation, etc. Some researches have been made on the application of solid water in seedling nursing of trees, and it proves that the survival rate is thus remarkably raised. Researches on the release Law of solid water and its relationship with the water requirement of plant growth, however, are not systematic. In this article, the authors make a research on the release Law of solid water and its effects on water physiology of trees, choosing four species of small arbor trees and shrubs as experiment materials. These four tree species are commonly used for gardening plantation in the South, and their water requirement is relatively great.

Select and prune 6-month-old Aglaia odorata (32cm in average height), Buxus sempervirens (26cm in average height), Hibiscus mutabilis (30cm in average height) and Rhododendron simsii (27cm in average height) as experiment materials, and they are congruent with the growth pattern of being 6-month-old. Solid water is produced and provided by Shenzhen Admire Sci-Tech Co., LTD.

Greenhouse Pot-culture Method is used. The diameter of the plastic flower pot bottom is 17cm; the diameter of the pot mouth is 24cm; the height of the pot is 20cm. The experiment soil is medium loam, and its maximum water-holding capacity is 20%. Five different treating levels are set on each plant (the size of the solid water’s cross-section area is set as the differentiating criteria):

Level I: a piece of solid water whose cross-section area is 7cm² and whose weight is 200g;

Level II: a piece of solid water whose cross-section area is 28cm² and whose weight is 500g;

Level III: a piece of solid water whose cross-section area is 28cm²and two pieces of solid water whose cross-section area is 7cm²;

Level IV: a piece of solid water whose cross-section area is 46cm² and whose weight is 1000g;

Each level of treatment is repeated four times, and solid water is planted into the middle part of the plant root which is near root hair. When the experiment begins, there is a one-off 500ml irrigation in each level of treatment, and then there is a sampling in certain time interval to measure relative indexes.

The measurement of release rate of solid water: measure the height which solid water drops, and then begin relative operation (height*cross-section area* specific gravity of water).

The measurement of leaf water content: Oven Drying Method is used, and it is shown by its percentage in fresh weight.

The measurement of soil water content: Oven Drying Method is used, and it is shown by its percentage in the dry weight of soil.

The measurement of chlorophyll content: Spectrophotometric Method is used, and it is shown by the milligrams of chlorophyll in every gram of cured leaf.

2. 1 Release Law of Solid Water and Its Relationship with Its Cross-Section Area and the Species of Plants

The height which solid water drops is measured every 6 days, and then the dehydration rate and accumulative dehydration rate of the four tree species in different levels of treatment are calculated out. The results are shown below in Table 1. It can be seen from the data in Table 1:

i. The average release rate of solid water with different cross-section areas accelerates as time is extended, but different plants have different changing trends in specific circumstances. For example, Rhododendron simsii and Buxus sempervirens show an obvious rise-drop-rise changing trend in Level II treatment, and this maybe has something to do with the nature of water requirement and growth status of the plants. Buxus sempervirens shows a great growth status at the beginning of the experiment, and is in great requirement of water, so the release of solid water is relatively fast, but Buxus sempervirens is a shrub which is in greater requirement of water. The release of solid water can not fulfill its growth need, which results in the falloff of the leaves. The water requirement decreases accordingly, and the release of solid water also decrease correspondingly. It shows that the release rate of solid water is to some extent adjusted by the water requirement status of the plants in the process of growth and development.

ii.The release rate of solid water rises as its cross-section area increases, but there isn’t any multiplication relationship between water release rate and cross-section area. For example, when the ratio of cross-section area is 1:4:6.6, the ratio of water release rate is 1:1.58:2.6. The experiments also show that given a cross-section area, the total water release rate of several small cross-section areas is less than the water release rate of one big cross-section area.

iii. Based on the average water release rate of the 30 days, the release moisture duration of the three different kinds of solid water (7cm²-200g type, 28cm²-500g type, and 46cm²-1000g type) can be calculated out. The duration is respectively 158 days, 58 days, and 58 days, and this duration can ensure the survivorship of replanted seedling trees.

Table 1 The Relationship between Release Rate of Solid Water and Its Cross-section Area and Plant Species (g/cm².d)

On the 18^th day of treatment, the leaf water content of the four plants in different levels of treatment is measured, and the results are shown below in Table 2. The leaf water content of the four plants after the treatment of solid water is remarkably higher than drought comparison, and increases as the cross-section area of solid water increases. In drought comparison and Level I of treatment, the four experiment plants begin to wither on the 15^th day, and gradually die. In the other three levels of treatment, on the 40^th day of treatment, Buxus sempervirens shows the sign of withering, but the other three plants grow normally, and it shows that their leaf water content is kept at a relatively high level. Meanwhile, it can be seen from the data of Table 2 that in the same level of treatment, the increase of leaf water content varies with different species of plants, and it maybe has something to do with the physiological nature of the water content of the plant itself.

Table 2 Effects of Solid Water on Leave Water Content of the Four Plants (%)

On the 18^th day of treatment, soil water content is measured, and the results are shown below in Table 3. After solid water is used, soil water content is remarkably higher than drought comparison, and the variation of soil water content doesn’t have much relationship with different species of plants, but has a close connection with the cross-section area of solid water used. The bigger the cross-section area is, the higher the soil water content. The maximum water-holding capacity of the experiment soil is 20%, and its permanent wilting coefficient is 8.2%-8.7%. On the 18^th of treatment, soil water content in drought comparison and in Level I is below the lower limit of available water, so the plants begin to wilt and gradually die. In the other three levels of treatment, soil water content is remarkably higher than permanent wilting coefficient, and within the range of available water. This shows that with a thimbleful of solid water, soil water content can stay at a certain level, and can allow the plants to grow normally, that is to say, solid water has a very high moisture utilization rate.

When the plants are under the stress of moisture, the synthesizing of chlorophyll slows down and its decomposition quickens, so the changes of chlorophyll content can reflect the moisture status of the plants. On the 18^th day of treatment, the chlorophyll content of the four plants is measured, and the results are shown below in Table 4. It can be seen from the data of Table 4 that after solid water is used, the chlorophyll content of the four plants is higher than drought comparison, and increases correspondingly as the cross-section area of solid water increases. This shows that under extremely droughty conditions, a small quantity of solid water can help maintain the synthesizing ability of chlorophyll, and thus maintain its corresponding physiological process and metabolic level.

Using solid water can remarkably improve the moisture status of plants, so choosing solid water of proper size (cross-section area) can allow seedlings to survive and grow under droughty environment, and it has remarkable effects on raising the surviving rate of plantation in droughty areas.

Solid water of different cross-section areas is basically the same in water release Laws, that is to say, water release rate remarkably rises as cross-section area increases and as time is extended, and cross-section area is the main factor in controlling water release rate. So we may choose solid water of suitable size (cross-section area) according to the different environmental conditions and different water requirement nature of the plants.

When a piece of solid water is used, root deviation occurs because the imbalance of water supply results in the imbalance of root system growth. To avoid this, we can use several pieces of solid water with small cross-section area to replace a piece of solid water with big cross-section area, but the research shows that when the total area of several pieces of solid water with small cross-section area is the same with the area of one piece of solid water with big cross-section area, the total water release of the several small pieces is less than the water release of that big piece. So the replacing is not a simple summation process, and should be calculated out according to the relation curve of water release rate of solid water with cross-section area.

The research also shows that solid water has the effects of “synchronous irrigation”. In time, solid water can release moisture uninterruptedly for 24 hours a day to be used for plant growth; In quantity, the moisture which solid water releases neither vaporizes upward nor leaks downward, and is all used (absorbed) for root system. Meanwhile, its water release rate is to some extent adjusted by water requirement of the plants, so we can change its water release rate correspondingly according to the water requirement of the plants, to fulfill the water requirement of plants. In conclusion, with brand new scientific concept, the use of solid water can provide a means of water supply synchronous with the process of plant water uptake and a means of using a thimbleful of water to keep plants survive and grow. It can greatly increase the utilization efficiency of moisture, and is the optimum means of water supply for plantation in droughty environment. It can be observed that solid water has broad application prospect in China’s ecological environment construction, especially in West China Development Strategy Construction.

In this article, the authors make a research on the effects of solid water on the water physiology and surviving rate of tree seedlings, and four tree species are studied with one-year-old greenhouse pot-cultured seedlings. The results show that under continuous droughty conditions, solid water can remarkably improve the water status of tree seedlings, greatly increase the surviving rate, and can make them maintain metabolic activity and growth close to normal level. The technology of solid water planting, therefore, can be taken as the optimum way of water supply for plantation in droughty conditions.

Drought is the main reason for low surviving rate in waste mountain plantation and wasteland plantation, and it’s especially the case in North China. In South China, seasonal drought often occurs and brings great difficulties to plantation and landscaping. The technology of solid water planting is a new technology successfully developed in late 1990s, mainly used in waste mountain plantation, desertification treatment and the redevelopment of other ecological environment, and is also used for cities, landscaping and road plantation, etc. In this article, the authors make a research on the effects of “Spring Rain” solid water on water physiology and replanting surviving rate of tree seedlings, choosing four representative species of semitropical seedlings as experiment materials, to provide a scientific basis for the generalization and application of solid water and the technology of solid water planting.

Select one-year-old seed-bred seedlings of the four tree species below as experiment plants: Aquilaria sinensis, a thymelaeaceous neutral skiophilous tree species; C. burmaanni, a hygrophilous tree species of laurel family; Chediangoleosa, a shade enduring and drought enduring tree species of tea family; Hainan roseapple (Syzygium cumini), a drought enduring tree species of myrtle family. Solid water used is “Spring Rain” solid water produced and provided by Shenzhen Admire Sci-Tech Co.

Greenhouse Pot-culture Method is used. The diameter of the plastic flower pot bottom is 25cm; the diameter of the pot mouth is 35cm; the height of the pot is 30cm. The experiment soil is medium loam mixed with lateritic loam and sandy loam in the ratio of 3:1. Its maximum field water-holding capacity is 22%, and its permanent wilting coefficient is 7.5% to 8.2%. Five different treating levels are set on each plant:

II: a piece of solid water whose cross-section area is 20cm² and whose weight is 500g;

III: a piece of solid water whose cross-section area is 46cm²and whose weight 1000g;

IV: four pieces of solid water whose cross-section area is 20cm² and whose weight is 500g;

Each level of treatment is repeated six times, and solid water is planted into the middle part of the plant root which is near root hair. After the replanting begins, there is a one-off 500ml irrigation in all levels of treatment in experiment, and then there is a 30-day treatment under the condition that mean daily temperature is 30 degrees centigrade, and relative humidity is 70%. After that, relative indexes are measured. The experiment on the effects of solid water on the surviving rate of tree seedlings is repeated 20 times, and is continuously treated for 60 days.

The measurement of leaf water content: Oven Drying Method is used, and it is shown by its percentage in fresh weight.

The measurement of soil water content: Oven Drying Method is used, and it is shown by its percentage in the dry weight of soil.

The measurement of chlorophyll content: Spectrophotometric Method is used, and it is shown by the milligrams of chlorophyll in every gram of cured leaf.

The measurement of growth increment: regular method is used, and it is shown by growth increment (cm) of the plants within 30 days’ treatment.

After 30 days of continuous treatment, the soil water content of the four seedlings in five different levels of treatment is shown in Table 1 below. It can be seen from the data in Table 1: after solid water is used, soil water content is remarkably higher than drought comparison, and increases as the cross-section area of solid water increases. The trend of changes of soil water content of the four experiment plants is basically the same, and this shows that the water release rate of solid water is subject to the size of its cross-section area. After solid water is used, soil water content is all within the range of available water, but in Level II of treatment, soil water content is close to the lower limit of available water. So, for medium loam, the cross-section area of solid water should be no less than 20cm², to make sure that the seedlings be able to survive under the condition of 30-40-day continuous drought.

On the 30^th day of treatment, the leaf water content of the four plants in different levels of treatment is measured, and the results are shown below in Table 2. After solid water is used, the leaf water content of all the tree seedlings, except Chediangoleosa, is remarkably higher than drought comparison, and is close to normal level of water supply. This shows that solid water has a very high utilization efficiency, and that a small amount of solid water can help maintain a water supply close to normal level. The leaf water content of Chediangoleosa has relatively fewer changes in different levels of treatment, and this maybe has something to do with its physiological nature of drought enduring.

Water content is an important factor affecting the synthesizing of chlorophyll, so chlorophyll content can reflect the moisture status of the plants, the photosynthesis capacity and the status of substance metabolism. After solid water is used, the chlorophyll content of the four experiment plants is remarkably higher than drought comparison (shown in Table 3 below), and increases as the cross-section area of solid water increases. In Level IV of treatment, the chlorophyll content is close to normal level of water supply. This shows that a certain quantity of solid water can help maintain the moisture status of the plants at a level close to normal level, and make sure that various metabolism activities inside the plants go on normally.

The growth increment of the experiment plants under different water content treatment (30days) is shown below in Table 4. After solid water is used in treatment, the growth increment of the four tree species is remarkably bigger than drought comparison, and increases as the cross-section area of solid water increases. In Level V of treatment (normal level of water supply), the amount of irrigation within 30 days is 10.65 times more than the amount of solid water used in Level IV of treatment, but the growth increment in Level V is only 0.12 to 0.18 times bigger than Level IV. This shows that a thimbleful of solid water can help maintain the level of metabolism and growth close to normal level, and solid water is the optimum means of water supply for plantation and seedling raising in droughty areas.

The treatment goes on continuously for 30 days under the condition that mean daily temperature is 30 degrees centigrade, and relative humidity is 70%. After that, the surviving rate of the tree seedlings is measured, and the results are shown in Table 5 below. It can be seen from the data in Table 5 that the surviving rate of seedlings remarkably rises after solid water is used. For relatively drought enduring tree species, the surviving rate in Level III of treatment (the cross-section area is 46cm²) has reached the same level of normal water supply, and the surviving rate in Level II of treatment reaches 80%. For hygrophilous tree species, although its surviving rate is lower than drought enduring tree species, compared with drought comparison, after solid water is used, the extent of its surviving rate increase is greater than drought enduring tree species, and remarkably greater than drought comparison. Meanwhile, in observing its growth status, it is discovered that although there still exists a certain surviving rate (30-40%), most of the leaves dry up, and the growth status of the plants treated with solid water is basically normal.

3.1 After the four species of experiment tree seedlings are treated with “Spring Rain” solid water, the soil water content, leaf water content, chlorophyll content, high growth increment and surviving rate of the plants are all remarkably higher than drought comparison. Meanwhile, the increase of all these experiment targets has a positive correlation to the cross-section area of the solid water used. This shows that “Spring Rain” solid water has remarkable effects under droughty conditions in helping maintain available water of the soil, raise the surviving rate of tree seedlings and maintain the normal moisture status and metabolism level of the plants. So it has great significance and generalization value in the production practice of waste mountain plantation and wasteland plantation, and is the optimum means of water supply for planting in droughty areas.

3.2 In production practice, the amount of solid water used should be determined according to the physiological and ecological nature of the work content of the plants, the growth status (leaf yield) of the plants and the type of the soil. For hygrophilous seedlings in good growth status (with big total leaf area), the cross-section area of solid water should be relatively big; for relatively drought enduring seedlings with small leaf area, the amount of solid water used can be reduced accordingly.

Different types of soil have different available water range (permanent wilting coefficient), so soil water content should be within the available water range to allow the plants to survive and grow normally. For medium loam used in this article, under the droughty condition of 30 continuous days, the soil water content in Level II of treatment (the cross-section area of solid water is 20cm²) is close to permanent wilting coefficient, so the quantity of solid water used should be no less than solid water with a cross-section area of 20cm².

Tree Species	Levels of Treatment
	Level I	Leve II l	Level III	Level IV	Drought Comparison
Hibiscus mutabilis	60.27	70.04	75.64	79.31	54.84
Aglaia odorata	51.51	54.59	58.55	60.34	48.33
Buxus sempervirens	58.56	67.74	70.86	76.33	51.63
Rhododendro simsii	61.12	68.36	71.34	75.16	55.30

Tree Species	Levels of Treatment
	Level I	Leve II l	Level III	Level IV	Drought Comparison
Hibiscus mutabilis	8.22	12.53	13.74	14.99	6.79
Aglaia odorata	8.16	11.39	12.70	13.34	6.45
Buxus sempervirens	7.81	12.38	13.71	14.74	6.02
Rhododendro simsii	8.12	10.21	12.33	13.88	7.02

Tree Species	Levels of Treatment
	Level I	Leve II l	Level III	Level IV	Drought Comparison
Hibiscus mutabilis	4.56	5.40	5.92	7.17	3.73
Aglaia odorata	5.49	6.86	7.18	7.84	4.73
Buxus sempervirens	5.38	8.23	9.15	10.95	4.56
Rhododendro simsii	6.78	9.36	11.78	12.67	4.98

Tree Species	Levels of Treatment
	l I	II	III	IV	V
Hainan roseapple	7.54	8.43	11.04	13.14	16.19
Chediangoleosa	7.93	9.58	12.96	13.94	15.76
Aquilaria sinensis	7.84	8.92	12.56	14.23	15.58
C. burmaanni	7.67	8.50	11.69	13.24	16.23

Tree Species	Levels of Treatment
	I	II	III	IV	V
Hainan roseapple	67.54	70.93	71.04	72.14	74.19
Chediangoleosa	61.03	61.98	62.36	62.94	63.36
Aquilaria sinensis	63.84	69.92	70.74	69.23	70.18
C. burmaanni	60.67	66.50	68.09	69.34	72.03

	Days of Treatment
Levels of Treatment	6	12	18	24	30	Average
Level I
Aglaia odorata	0.05	0.10	0.15	0.22	0.50	0.20
Hibiscus mutabilis	0.052	0.065	0.17	0.27	0.45	0.20
Rhododendron simsii	0.038	0.08	0.18	0.23	0.47	0.20
Buxus sempervirens	0.037	0.096	0.10	0.10	0.25	0.18
Level II
Aglaia odorata	0.18	0.20	0.23	0.23	0.28	0.23
Hibiscus mutabilis	0.17	0.21	0.20	0.22	0.48	0.31
Rhododendron simsii	0.18	0.40	0.18	0.20	0.40	0.32
Buxus sempervirens	0.20	0.49	0.19	0.25	0.37	0.34
Level IV
Aglaia odorata	0.21	0.32	0.38	0.41	0.56	0.38
Hibiscus mutabilis	0.19	0.28	0.34	0.39	0.51	0.34
Rhododendron simsii	0.21	0.37	0.38	0.38	0.67	0.40
Buxus sempervirens	0.25	0.41	0.37	0.36	0.33	0.35

Tree Species	Levels of Treatment
	I	II	III	IV	V
Hainan roseapple	4.99	5.63	6.97	7.45	7.91
Chediangoleosa	5.31	5.75	6.12	6.70	8.76
Aquilaria sinensis	6.12	6.63	8.37	9.16	1.03
C. burmaanni	5.33	6.21	8.55	9.26	1.07

Tree Species	Levels of Treatment
	I	II	III	IV	V
Hainan roseapple	0.42	0.93	1.28	2.01	2.25
Chediangoleosa	0.32	0.48	1.01	1.63	2.06
Aquilaria sinensis	0.85	1.23	1.56	1.89	2.15
C. burmaanni	0.31	0.43	0.88	1.44	1.85

Brief Introduction to Composite Microbe Fertilizer

Solid Water – A New Material of Drought Resistance

Yang Qingli

A Study of Effects of Solid Water

Release Law of Solid Water and Its Effects