SYNTHETIC SOIL SUBSTRATE SYSTEM FOR GROWING A PLANT

20240049658

18/382526

October 22, 2023

A synthetic soil substrate system has a plurality of synthetic soil substrate layers that are individually designed to promote plant growth as the roots grow into the layer and as a function of the growth stage. The synthetic soil substrate layers may be planar or may be concentrically arranged with a first synthetic soil substrate ring layer being configured inside of a second synthetic soil substrate ring layer. A synthetic soil substrate has pores that are configured for plant growth and retention and/or deliver of water and growth additives. The average pore size of a first synthetic soil substrate layer may be substantially different from the average pore size of an adjacent synthetic soil substrate layer. Also, the pore structure or shape of the pores may be different between synthetic soil substrate layers, The synthetic soil substrate may have an integral growth additive retained in the pores.

1. A synthetic soil substrate system comprising: a) a plurality of synthetic soil substrate layers, each comprising a synthetic soil substrate, said plurality of synthetic soil substrate layers comprising: i) a first synthetic soil substrate layer having pores and a first average pore size; ii) a second synthetic soil substrate layer having pores a second average pore size; wherein the first average pore size is at least 20% different from said second average pore size; wherein each of the synthetic soil substrates comprises: a nutrient selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sulfur, iron, zinc, manganese, copper, boron, molybdenum and chlorine, and wherein the first synthetic soil substrate layer has a first nutrient composition comprising one or more of said nutrients and wherein the second synthetic soil substrate has a second nutrient composition comprising one or more of said nutrients that is different from the second nutrient composition; b) a plant plug aperture extending through the first synthetic soil substrate layer and the second synthetic soil substrate layer and the plant plug aperture configured to receive a plant; and wherein the first synthetic soil substrate layer and second synthetic soil substrate layer are stacked in layers from the plant aperture.

2. The synthetic soil substrate system of claim 1, wherein the first synthetic soil substrate layer and the second synthetic soil substrate layer are concentric synthetic soil substrate ring layers.

3. The synthetic soil substrate system of claim 2, wherein the first synthetic soil substrate layer and the second synthetic soil substrate layer are bowl shaped, wherein the first synthetic soil substrate layer fits within the second synthetic soil substrate layer.

4. The synthetic soil substrate system of claim 3, wherein the plant plug is configured to fit within the bowl shaped first synthetic soil substrate layer.

5. The synthetic soil substrate system of claim 1, further comprising an additive plug that extends into the synthetic soil substrate assembly and configured to provide a growth additive to said synthetic soil substrate assembly.

6. The synthetic soil substrate system of claim 5, wherein the additive plug extends only into the first synthetic soil substrate layer.

7. The synthetic soil substrate system of claim 5, wherein the additive plug comprises an integral growth additive.

8. The synthetic soil substrate system of claim 5, wherein the growth additive of the additive plug is dispensed into the additive plug by an additive dispenser.

9. The synthetic soil substrate system of claim 5, wherein the first synthetic soil substrate layer and the second synthetic soil substrate layer are concentric synthetic soil substrate ring layers and wherein the additive plug extends radially into the synthetic soil substrate assembly.

10. The synthetic soil substrate system of claim 1, wherein the first synthetic soil substrate layer comprises a barrier layer configured between the first synthetic soil substrate layer and the second synthetic soil substrate layer, and wherein the barrier layer is a barrier to a flow of water from the first synthetic soil substrate layer to the second synthetic soil substrate layer.

11. The synthetic soil substrate system of claim 10, the first synthetic soil substrate layer comprises a barrier layer on an opposing side from said second synthetic soil substrate layer.

12. The synthetic soil substrate system of claim 10, wherein the barrier layer is a coating.

13. The synthetic soil substrate system of claim 10, wherein the barrier layer is a film of material.

14. The synthetic soil substrate system of claim 10, wherein the barrier layer is biodegradable material.

15. The synthetic soil substrate system of claim 10, wherein the first synthetic soil substrate layer comprises a bulkhead extending through a thickness of the first synthetic soil substrate layer, wherein the bulkhead is a barrier to a flow of water therethrough.

16. The synthetic soil substrate system of claim 1, wherein the synthetic soil substrate is a foam.

17. The synthetic soil substrate system of claim 1, wherein the synthetic soil substrate is an engineered material selected from the group consisting of foam, printed material, and felted material.

18. The synthetic soil substrate system of claim 1, wherein the synthetic soil substrate has pores having a pore structure comprising shapes selected from the group of 20-sided icosahedrons, 12-sided dodecahedrons, 8-sided octahedrons, 6-sided cubes and 4 sided tetrahedrons.

19. The synthetic soil substrate system of claim 1, wherein the synthetic soil substrate is made of a biodegradable substrate material.

20. The synthetic soil substrate system of claim 1, wherein the synthetic soil substrate comprises an integral growth additive.

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