The present invention relates to a method of improv¬ ing the chemical, physical and biological processes in agri¬ culture, horticulture and animal husbandry and in humans.

Biological processes play an important role in the growth of plants but also in animal husbandry and in particu¬ lar in digestive/metabolic processes in agricultural domestic animals.

There is a continuous search for means to promote plant growth. It is also important to influence the diges- tive/metabolic processes such that the animals produce better and tastier meat, while at the same time improving the animals' health. In addition, the production of, among other things, milk is also promoted.

In order to improve plant growth one has long since made use of manuring, whereby the farmer applies manure on or into the soil.

It is known that this involves problems for the environment, because with manuring a large amount of ammonia is released, which is thought to be one of the major causes for acid rain which seriously affects the forests.

In addition, manuring is coupled with the introduc¬ tion of heavy metals into the soil which, from an environ¬ mental point of view, is most undesirable.

In animal husbandry use is made of various additives such as vitamines, supplementary trace elements, medicines, ect. in order to produce tasty meat and to enhance the ani¬ mals' health.

The method mentioned above is costly and does not always produce the desired result. The invention intends now to provide a method in which the above-mentioned disadvantages are successfully removed by relatively economical means.

To this end the invention provides a method of improving biological processes in agriculture and animal hus-

bandry, characterized in that processed carbonaceous mine- stone is used.

Surprisingly it has been shown in accordance with the invention, that processed carbonaceous mine-stone from coal mine tips have a particularly favourable effect on the above-mentioned processes in agriculture, animal husbandry and in humans.

It has been shown that processed carbonaceous mine- stone inoculated with microorganisms, in particular with mycorrhiza fungi, has a very favourable effect on the above- mentioned biological processes.

According to the invention powder or fine grit is used. The amount applied depends on the economic conditions. With less intensive use less material is applied. By applying amounts of more than 30,000 kg/ha better soil conditions can be achieved. The successful use of processed carbonaceous mine-stone was, however, shown to depend on the type of soil. It may be useful to carry out a number of structural improve¬ ment measures before applying the processed carbonaceous mine-stone according to the invention.

Surprisingsly it has been shown that much smaller quantities of manure will suffice.

In the case of hydroponic cultivation the substrate may consist of 100% processed carbonaceous mine-stone, depen- ding on the crop to be cultivated, the kind of substrate mix¬ ture and on the various granule size.

In animal feed the material is a powder having a particle size of between 0 and 1 mm, with 50% or more of the fractions being below 0.2 mm. Such processed carbonaceous mine-stone is porous and proved to be a suitable substrate for microorganisms, in par¬ ticular for mycorrhyza fungi. Such fungi thrive in this material and especially in Elutrilite granules and Neogen granules. This is probably due to the porous structure of the material as well as to its chemical composition. The porous structure offers an attractive shelter for the microorgan¬ isms, while the trace elements present therein provide a suitable matrix.

It has been shown that processed carbonaceous mine- stone inoculated with mycorrhiza have a particularly good effect on the chemical, physical and biological processes. Inoculation may be carried out in different ways, for instance by spore inoculation, via coated seeds and by the addition of mycelium-containing materials.

It has been shown that the addition of such inocula¬ ted processed carbonaceous mine-stone having a particle size of 0-3 mm vastly stimulates the growth of mycorrhiza already present in the soil. One could call this a catalytical effect.

The favourable effect, particularly in agriculture and horticulture could well be attributed to the fact that due to the availability of shelter for hyphae and other parts of the fungus, the mycorrhiza effect in the soil is enhanced because, if only spores remain, the "wakening period" is longer than when there are hyphae. With "wakening period" is meant the (re)growth of the fungus when a new crop is planted or sown in a soil or substrate. An advantageous amount for application of processed carbonaceous mine-stone which may or may not be inoculated, such as Elutrilite and Neogen granules, is 2-30,000 kg/ha, preferably 2,000-20,000 kg/ha. The quantity is correlated to the economic conditions; with less intensive use less material is applied. In addition, the degree in which phos¬ phate is bound is at present also taken as a measure for the required quantity. Using an even larger amount than 30,000 kg/ha can only improve the condition of the soil.

With cultivation under glass and land parcels with high-yield crops (such as bulb culture and tree culture) amounts of 10 to 30,000 kg/ha may be applied.

As mentioned earlier, the addition to animal feed of the processed carbonaceous mine-stone which may or may not be inoculated, such as Elutrilite and Neogen granules, has been shown to be particularly suitable to influence the above-men¬ tioned processes in animal husbandry, so that tastier meat is produced while enhancing the animals' health and promoting milk production.

To improve the chemical and physical biological pro¬ cesses in animal husbandry an in humans, 0.1-4% by weight of processed carbonaceous mine-stone is added to foodstuffs, or the processed carbonaceous mine-stone is contained in a cap- sule, tablet, powder.

It has moreover been shown that such granules are able to absorb harmful compounds coming from the soil, which also has a favourable affect on the animals' health. Powders of this kind also provide good corrective agents for rough animal feed employed in animal husbandry, resulting in the animal having a better condition as well as a decreased use of medicines.

The material according to invention can also be added to semi-liquid manure in an a out of about 2% by weight. The size of the granules is between 0-1 mm.

Apart from the above-mentioned areas, to wit agri¬ culture and animal husbandry, the processed carbonaceous mine-stone is particularly suitable for supplementation to soil in cases of (re) introduction of nature projects, forest, landscape and sports fields, lawns, parks, avenue trees, remaining urban green areas, private gardens and other forms of land use. It can also be successfully used as additive to artificial substrates such as rock wool, peat, oasis, clay granules and for cultivation under glass. Good results may also be expected when applied with tank culture such as, for instance chicory culture or as additive to potting soil and other natural substrates.

It is also conceivable to use processed carbonaceous mine-stone which may or may not be inoculated in methods of solving environmental polution problems and the like, land farming in aid of purification and environmental purposes, in proces-technical purification techniques for, among other things, sludge, waste water, to be purified groundwater, soil or substrates, as well as other purifications in which the stimulation of fungi is desirable. Preparation of fungus inoculum for agricultural purposes as well as in the food production and other fungus production.

Depending on the application certain kinds of coal waste or mine-stone may be used, taking into account the age

D and weathering as well as the carbon content and the growth capacity of the native micorrhiza.

When applied as animal feed additive fine grinding and drying are required, whereas when applied in manure, glu- cose-containing norit is added in an amount of about 50% by weight.

For the treatment of soil one generally uses a some¬ what coarser material, while for other uses a fine-ground product is recommended. Using the present material may reduce erosion when there is only a thin layer of soil on rocks.

The invention will now be elucidated by means of the following, non-limitative examples.

Example I

Additive to animal feed.

The material according to the invention is added in an amount of 2% by weight to feed concentrate in the normal mixer plant an thoroughly mixed. The granule size is between 0-1 mm, whereby 50% or more of the fractions is below 0.2 mm. It has been shown that when livestock is given such animal feed, the quality of the meat in respect of taste is enhanced, while in addition the health of the animals is also improved. Moreover, the milk production is increased. Final- ly, the urea content in the blood is reduced. In the case of animal feed, for instance, the powder is sprinkled over the feed.

Example II The processed carbonaceous mine-stone may be spread over the pasture in an amount of 2 to 30 tons per hectare. Thus the grass or silage contains a more stable protein con¬ taining less nitrate. The carbomix may be mixed into the soil but carbomix in grassland is the most active in a layer of up to 5 cm deep. Working it deeper into the pasture the soil would require a larger amount than with a top-soil treatment.

These amounts may be applied in different ways. First with a lime spreader of a comparable spreader as com¬ monly used in agriculture. Also, a band spreader which is

specially constructed for this purpose, may be used. With cultivation under glass, for instance of roses, the carbomix is applied by means of a small band spreader or simply by hand.