Research and Development of a Commercial Bio-growing Media for Orchids Production Machine

Abstract

The present research involved the development of a commercial scale bio-growing media for orchids production machine, with the dimensions (width x length x height) of 0.5x2x1 m. A hydraulic system was used to control the operation via the use of a semi-automatic electric valve. The planting material was pressed at a pressure of 10 MPa. The machine has the capability of producing 100 piece h-1 of the plant material, with the dimensions (width x length x height) of 22x36x8 cm. One piece of the planting material can be used to grow 4 orchids; the material possesses properties and strength suitable for growing orchids. Its service life is not less than 3 years. Agricultural materials used to make bio-planting materials were chopped acacia and chopped palm oil. Optimal mix ratio of fly ash binder, which was used in the mixture to reduce the amount of cement, was 40%. At such a ratio, the production cost could be reduced by 25% compared with the cost that would occur with the sole use of cement; the obtained planting material has physical properties and yielded growth response of orchids similar to the cement-based material. The present research can increase the prototype's production capacity from that of the original prototype by 3.3 folds. Based on engineering economic analysis results, the developed machine has a cost of producing bio-planting material of 8 Baht piece-1. The break-even point would be reached when producing 213,333 pieces year-1, while the payback period would be around 1 year at the selling price of a piece of orchid planting material of 9 Baht.