Sowing unit and uses thereof

Abstract

A sowing unit is provided including water-absorbing material, an enclosure and a seed. The water-absorbing material is vermiculite, which is a hygroscopic negatively-charged material capable of binding a positively charged nutrient ion selected from NH4+, L-arginine, L-lysine and L-histidine. Further, there is least one hole in the water-absorbing material arranged to hold one or more seeds.

1 . A sowing unit comprising:
 a water-absorbing material arranged between a top and a bottom part of an enclosure; and   at least one hole in the water-absorbing material configured to hold at least one seed,   wherein said water-absorbing material is vermiculite including at least one basic L-amino acid in an amount that provides slow release nitrogen supply to at least one plant.   
     
     
         2 . The sowing unit of  claim 1 , wherein said water-absorbing material is compressed. 
     
     
         3 . The sowing unit of  claim 1 , wherein after plantation of the sowing unit on soil, said soil is substantially covered by the water-absorbing material within at least 1 cm in radius of the seed. 
     
     
         4 . The sowing unit of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one basic L-amino acid is L-arginine. 
     
     
         5 . The sowing unit of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one seed is disposed in the at least one hole, the at least one seed being a pine tree seed or a spruce tree seed. 
     
     
         6 . The sowing unit of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one seed is disposed in the at least one hole, the at least one seed being is configured to be in contact with the vermiculite. 
     
     
         7 . The sowing unit of  claim 1 , wherein the basic L-amino acid is disposed in the vermiculite in the form of granules, the granules being granules of arginine monophosphate. 
     
     
         8 . The sowing unit of  claim 1 , wherein the basic L-amino acid is present as a monophosphate of arginine or lysine obtained by precipitation from an aqueous solution that comprises amino acids and proteins and/or protein decomposition products, the aqueous solution being an aqueous solution originating from hydrolysis of animal or vegetable matter, such as hydrolysis of feather. 
     
     
         9 . The sowing unit of  claim 8 , wherein the aqueous solution originates from hydrolysis of feather.