JP2001078597A - Method for supplying water to seedling-raising pot and seedling-raising pot with water supply container - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for supplying water to a seedling raising pot, by which the prevention in the dryness of a culture soil in the seedling-raising pot, the prevention in the shrinkage of the seedling and the improvement of handleability can be achieved by using the gel-like solid product of a water-diluted water glass solution as a water- supplying material. SOLUTION: This method for supplying water to a seedling-raising pot 12 comprises loading the seedling-raising pot 12 having a seedling 18 planted therein on a water supply container 10 in which a water supply material 14 comprising the gel-like solid product of a water-diluted solution of water glass is charged, and supplying water to the seedling-raising pot 12 through the water supply material 14. The water supply material 14 is preferably obtained by neutralizing the water-diluted solution of the water glass with an acid and then charging the neutralized solution in the water supply container 10 to solidify the solution into the gel-like product. The water glass is preferably a liquid amorphous sodium silicate. It is preferable to dispose a water supply opening 20 in the bottom portion of the seedling-raising pot 12 and then charge the water supply material 14 in the water supply container 10 to bury the water supply opening 20 in the water supply material 14.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for supplying water to a seedling pot for storing, storing or transporting the seedlings of the seedling pot in a healthy seedling state and a seedling pot with a water supply container.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, seedlings such as flowers and vegetable seedlings have been mainly produced by individual farmers. In recent years, with the modernization of agriculture and the aging of farmers, etc., a pot-raising system centered on cell trays has been established, and seedling production has shifted to agricultural cooperatives, aggregates of farmers, and seedling producers. And now that the stable supply of seedlings has become possible, the division of labor between seedling production and subsequent cultivation is rapidly advancing.

[0003] On the other hand, the division of labor of seedling production has a problem that seedlings are required to have storability because the planting is delayed unless the work in the field proceeds as planned due to environmental conditions such as bad weather. .

[0004] Also, in the sale of seedlings that support gardening,
If sales do not go according to plan, seedlings will spend days at supermarkets and retail stores. In this case, the manager tries to maintain the seedlings to be sold by watering several times a day, but the seedlings are usually prolonged and softened as such.

[0005] In addition, the distance between the nursery and the planting field or nursery store, which is the user, is often large, so that the soil in the seedling pot is dried during the transportation of the seedlings, the seedlings wither, and during the transportation. There are many problems to be improved, such as damage to the seedlings caused by the seedling pot jumping out of the tray storing the seedling pots and falling.

[0006] For this reason, nurseries avoid tenderness and clerics,
We are trying to raise the seedlings that can withstand drying as much as possible, but this has not led to the storage of healthy seedlings in stores.

[0007]

In order to solve these problems, there has been proposed a method in which a seedling pot is mounted on a water supply container and water is supplied to the seedling pot with a water supply material filled in the water supply container. Water retaining agents such as organic gels and inorganic gels are used as suitable water supply materials.

[0008] For example, a technique using a gel having a high viscosity as a water supply material (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos.
No. 14423, JP-A-11-151041), a method of providing a sealed tank at the bottom of a nursery pot and filling with a water retention agent (JP-A-9-248066), and adding hot water (40 ° C.) to a gel-forming material. Instantly in the water container (within 30 seconds)
(GB2, 310, 352A), which are useful as a water supply method or a method for preventing the seedling raising pot from falling over.

[0009] However, these methods have an adhesive property because an organic polymer is used as a water supply material, and are difficult to handle due to the adhesive property. In addition, even if it is added to a water supply container with low viscosity, it gels instantaneously, so that the working time is short. Furthermore, after arriving at the user, there remains a problem such as difficulty in removing the nursery pot from the water supply container. Also, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-248
According to the method disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 066, a special watertight sealed container for water supply is required, the superabsorbent polymer used as a water retention agent is expensive, and the problem of disposal treatment remains.

Therefore, the present invention solves these problems and can keep the seedlings of the seedling pot in a healthy seedling state, and also prevent the seedling pot from jumping out of the water supply container and falling during transportation. And, if necessary, the nursery pot can be easily removed from the water supply container.
An object of the present invention is to provide a method of supplying water to a seedling raising pot and a seedling raising pot with a water supply container.

[0011]

Means for Solving the Problems As a result of intensive studies to solve the above problems, the present inventors have found that it is effective to use water glass as a water supply material, and have completed the present invention. Was.

That is, the method for supplying water to a seedling pot according to the present invention is a method in which a seedling pot in which seedlings are planted is mounted on a water supply container filled with a water supply material, and water is supplied to the seedling pot with the water supply material. Further, as the water supply material, a water diluent of water glass solidified in a gel state is used.

Further, a nursery pot with a water supply container according to the present invention comprises a water supply container filled with a water supply material, and a seedling pot mounted on the water supply container, wherein the water supply material is a water diluent of water glass. Characterized in that it is obtained by solidifying into a gel.

According to the present invention, the use of water glass as the water-supplying material provides the following effects.

Although water glass is alkaline, it is neutralized and solidified by adding an organic or inorganic acid, so that a neutral water supply material can be obtained.

By changing the dilution ratio of the water glass to water, the hardness of the solidified product can be arbitrarily adjusted, and the gelation time can be changed from immediately to several hours (about 4 hours).
Can be adjusted to the extent.

The solidified water glass adheres to the seedling pot. However, the seedling pot is formed in a gel and has a followability, so that the sticking property is not easily lost due to vibration or the like. Further, since it is non-adhesive, the seedling pot is easily removed from the water supply container. Can be extracted.

After the solidified water glass arrives at the user,
It can be easily removed from the water supply if necessary. If left as it is, it hardens by drying in the water supply container, but even if it hardens, it can be easily removed.

Since water glass is originally a natural product called sodium silicate, there is no environmental problem. It should be noted that water glass is commonly used as a soil ground stabilizer that does not cause environmental problems.

The solidified water glass has hydration,
Depending on the conditions for cultivation of the seedling pot, it is not dried for about one month, and it does not have enough water supply capacity to promote the cultivation.

As described above, by using water glass as the water supply material, it is possible to prevent the soil in the seedling raising pot from drying and, as a result, to prevent the seedling from wilting. In addition, since the seedling pot is fixed to the water supply container, the seedling pot can be prevented from jumping out and falling during transportation, and can be easily removed from the water supply container as needed. Further, since the solidified material is mostly water, it has a high heat capacity and a good heat retention.

[0022]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, matters relating to the implementation of the present invention will be described in detail.

The water glass used as a water supply material is also called sodium silicate, and is a glass made of silica sand and soda ash (or caustic soda) and made of silicic acid and alkali, and has a chemical formula of Na ₂ O · nSiO _2. It is a compound shown. n is industrially produced in a molar ratio of n = 0.5 to 4. Crystalline sodium silicate having n of 1 or less can be used, but amorphous sodium silicate in which n is 1 or more is suitable because it is easy to use. More specifically, sodium silicate No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, etc. specified in JIS K-1408 can be used.

Water glass is used after being appropriately diluted with water. Although the dilution ratio is not particularly limited, it is usually used by diluting several tens of times. The higher the dilution ratio, the higher the water retention of the water supply material. However, if the dilution ratio is too high, it becomes difficult to obtain sufficient strength as a water supply material. Usually, 10 to 50 parts by weight of water may be added to 1 part by weight of water glass for dilution.

The water dilution of water glass can be solidified into a gel by adding various acids or inorganic salts, but it is preferable to add an acid to cause the gel to gel. This is because by adding an acid, the alkaline water glass can be neutralized, and the water dilution of the water glass can be made into a neutral solution, and a neutral water supply material can be obtained. The acid used is not particularly limited. For example, sulfuric acid, nitric acid, phosphoric acid, acetic acid and the like can be mentioned.

The time until the water glass solidifies and the hardness after the solidification can be adjusted by the type of the water glass, the dilution ratio with water, and the type and amount of the acid. Therefore, upon use, the type of water glass, the dilution ratio, and the type and amount of acid may be selected in consideration of the hardness and working time of the water supply material to be obtained.

The seedling raising pot is not particularly limited as long as it has a pot portion filled with cultivation soil and can be planted with seedlings, and a commercially available pot can be used.

For example, pots (square or round) made of synthetic resin such as polyethylene, a plurality of these pots connected (connected cut packs), or a large number of concave cells (pots) ) Are arranged in rows and columns. Examples of the above-mentioned synthetic resin pots include those having a diameter of the upper surface opening of 4 to 40 cm and a height of 4 to 30 cm. As a cell tray, for example, about 3
0cm x about 60cm, cell diameter 11-45mm,
One having a depth of 25 to 35 mm and a number of cells of 40 to 800 is exemplified.

The seedling raising pot preferably has a water supply opening at the bottom and is mounted on a water supply container such that the water supply opening is buried in the water supply material. Commercially available seedling pots usually have holes at the bottom (bottom surface and side surfaces close to the bottom surface), and these holes can be used as water supply openings.

The soil to be filled in the seedling raising pot is not particularly limited.
Commercially available culture soil (cultivation soil) such as Takii seedling culture soil (all manufactured by Takii Seed Co., Ltd.) can be used.

The seedling to be planted in the seedling raising pot is not particularly limited, and may be any one from a young seedling to an adult seedling. It can be applied to any kind of seedlings, from flowers, vegetables and tree seedlings.

The water supply container is a bottomed container having a bottom plate on which a seedling pot can be mounted and capable of storing a water diluent of water glass so that at least the bottom of the seedling pot is buried in the water supply material. There is no particular limitation. The shape of the bottom surface of the water supply container may be a flat flat bottom shape, or the water supply material may be provided below the seedling raising pot by providing irregularities or a waveform.

When the seedling raising pot is the above-described cell tray, one water supply container is usually equipped with a cell tray serving as one seedling raising pot. One seedling pot may be mounted on one water supply container, or a plurality of seedling pots may be mounted.

When producing the seedling pot with a water supply container of the present invention, a water glass solution is prepared by diluting water glass with water and adding an acid to make the solution neutral, and then adding the water glass solution to the water supply container. What is necessary is just to mount a pot in a water supply container. As a result, the water glass solution solidifies in a gel state, and at least the bottom of the seedling raising pot is buried in the water supply material made of a gel of water glass. When the obtained seedling pot with a water supply container is moved, it is performed after confirming that the water glass solution has completely solidified.

The placement of the seedling growing pot in the water supply container is not limited to before the solidification of the water glass solution, but may be immediately after the solidification. In other words, immediately after solidification, the seedling raising pot can be pushed into the water supply material so that the bottom thereof is buried in the water supply material, and such a work procedure can be selected.

The placement of the seedling raising pot is not limited to after the water glass solution is placed in the water supply container. That is, a seedling pot may be first mounted on a water supply container, and then a water glass solution may be added to cause gelation.

The water glass solution is provided with a water supply opening provided at the bottom of the seedling raising pot so that the water surface after solidification (ie, the upper surface of the water supply material) does not exceed the height of the seedling raising pot. Add to the water supply container so that it is buried in the water supply.

After the water glass solution is neutralized, it is possible to add a coloring agent, a fertilizer, a nutrient, a growth promoter and an oxygen generating agent, if necessary. The gel body may have air bubbles.

In the seedling pot with a water supply container thus obtained, the soil in the seedling pot can absorb water from a water supply material made of a solidified water glass solution. , Where it is not dry), water can be retained for about two weeks to one month without water supply.

When high temperatures cannot be avoided as in the case of abnormally high temperatures in summer, or when exposure to direct sunlight has to be carried out for a long period of time, there is no problem in sprinkling water overhead. The water supply according to the present invention is characterized in that the amount of water supply is limited as compared with the bottom watering method, and it is necessary to take appropriate measures when an abnormal phenomenon occurs.

When the number of seedling pots to be mounted on the water supply container is small, the whole of the water supply container and the seedling pot is wrapped in a plastic bag or the like to prevent the water in the seedling pot and the water in the water supply material from evaporating and scattering. It is also possible to extend shelf life.

Here, an example of a nursery pot with a water supply container according to the embodiment of the present invention will be illustrated and described.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a seedling pot with a water supply container according to one embodiment of the present invention. Reference numeral 10 denotes a water supply container, reference numeral 12 denotes a seedling raising pot, reference numeral 14 denotes a water supply material, and reference numeral 1 denotes a water supply material.
Numeral 6 indicates cultivation soil, and reference numeral 18 indicates a seedling.

As shown in FIG. 1, a seedling pot 12 composed of a small bowl made of synthetic resin is filled with cultivation soil 16.
Seedlings 18 are planted in the soil 16. Seedling pot 1
The bottom of 2 is provided with a water supply opening 20, and more specifically, one or more water supply openings 20 are provided on the bottom and side bottoms of the seedling raising pot 12. Water supply container 1
Numeral 0 has a flat bottom dish shape, and a seedling raising pot 12 is placed at the center thereof. The water supply container 10 is filled with a gel-like water supply material 14 made of an aqueous dispersion of water glass. The bottom of the seedling raising pot 12 is buried in the water supply material 14, and the water supply opening 20 is completely buried in the water supply material 14. And
The water retained in the water supply material 14 is supplied from the water supply opening 20 to the cultivation soil 16 in the seedling raising pot 12 to prevent the cultivation soil 16 from drying.

FIG. 2 is a modification of FIG. 1. In this example, a water supply opening 20 at the bottom of the seedling raising pot 12 is provided on the bottom surface of the pot 12. In addition, the water supply container 10
Instead of a flat bottom, by providing a plurality of ridges 22, the bottom surface is formed in an uneven shape. As a result, the water supply material 14 also enters below the seedling raising pot 12, and water can be supplied from the bottom surface of the seedling raising pot 12.

[0046]

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to Examples.
This is not intended to limit the invention.

Test Example 1 30 parts by weight of water was added to 1 part by weight of water glass No. 3 to obtain a 30-fold dilution of water glass. To 100 g of this diluent,
An aqueous solution of each acid shown in Table 1 was added, and the pH was measured with a pH meter.
Adjusted to 7. Each of the water glass solutions solidified into a gel in about 1 hour.

[0048]

[Table 1] Test Example 2 Using water glass No. 3, water glass 10, 20, 30,
100 g each of a 40-fold and 50-fold water dilution was prepared, and a 10-fold water dilution of phosphoric acid was added for neutralization (determination using litmus test paper). Table 2 shows the amount of the aqueous phosphoric acid solution required for neutralization and the time required for gelation for the water glass solution at each dilution ratio.

[0049]

[Table 2] As shown in Table 2, the higher the dilution ratio, the longer the time required for gelation.

Examples 1 to 5, Comparative Examples 1 and 2 Using seven cell trays (manufactured by Takii Seedling Co., Ltd.) having 200 cells as seedling raising pots, Chinese cabbage (variety: Hokara, Takii Seedling (22)) was used for 22 days. Co., Ltd.).

Separately from this, 65 cm long × 35 cm wide ×
Into a 4 cm high flat bottom plastic water supply container, 5 neutral solutions of water glass No. 3 neutralized with a 10-fold water dilution of phosphoric acid (10, 20, 30, 40 and 50-fold water dilutions) Liquor) was added in about 4 L each. Next, the cell trays raised above were immersed in these water supply containers one by one before the water glass solution gelled, and the water glass was gelled, whereby the seedling pots with water supply containers of Examples 1 to 5 were prepared. Created.

Separately, a water supply container containing only about 4 L of water (bottom watering) and a liquid container without any liquid (no water) are prepared. Each of the cell trays raised in the above manner was mounted on one tray, and seedling-growing pots with water supply containers of Comparative Examples 1 and 2 were prepared.

The seedling pots with the seven types of water supply containers thus obtained were placed in a house protected from direct sunlight, and the withering of the seedlings over time was observed. Table 3 shows the results.

[0054]

[Table 3] As shown in Table 3, in Examples 1 to 5 using water glass as the water supply material, a remarkable difference was observed in the water supply effect as compared with the cell tray seedling of Comparative Example 1 in which water was not supplied. In addition, the water supply effect could be maintained without adding water as in Comparative Example 2. In Examples 1 to 5, the higher the dilution ratio of the water supply material, the slower the wilting was.

Examples 6 and 7 and Comparative Example 3 Three cell trays (manufactured by Takii Seedling Co., Ltd.) having 128 cells (8 cells × 16 rows) were used as nursery pots, and cabbage (variety: early autumn, 25 days) was used for 25 days. Takii Seed Co., Ltd.
Made).

Separately, water glass 3 neutralized with a 10-fold diluted water solution of phosphoric acid was placed in the same two water supply containers as in Example 1.
Each 4 L of a 35-fold water dilution of No. 1 was placed. Next, one of the cell trays raised above was mounted before solidification of the water glass solution, and the other was mounted immediately after solidification, thereby producing seedling pots with water supply containers of Examples 6 and 7, respectively.

The remaining one cell tray, as Comparative Example 3, was managed so that a healthy seedling state could be maintained by watering from the overhead, which has been conventionally performed normally (normal management).

The three trays are placed in a house protected from direct sunlight, two days later, and every other day, two rows from the end (16 rows).
(Cell) was extracted and planted in a field. This work was continued for 8 days (16 days from the start).

The growth of these plants was investigated one month after planting and at the time of harvesting (simultaneous harvesting). The growth survey is for planting 1
After a month, the number of developed leaves and the vertical and horizontal dimensions of the maximum leaf were measured, and at the time of harvesting, the total weight, head weight and the vertical and horizontal dimensions of the maximum outer leaf were measured. Table 4 shows the results. The table shows the average value per individual for each survey item.

[0060]

[Table 4] As shown in Table 4, in Examples 6 and 7 in which water glass was used as a water supply material, little difference was observed in yield and the like from Comparative Example 3 in which normal management was performed. In addition, in Example 7 in which the cell tray was mounted immediately after solidification of the water glass, the same water supply effect as in Example 6 in which the cell tray was mounted before solidification of the water glass was obtained.

Example 8 Six flowering petunia seedlings (variety: Carnival Rose, manufactured by Takii Seedling Co., Ltd.) were potted in a plastic seedling pot (diameter of upper opening: 10 cm), and then the most flowering flower Seedlings were grown to

[0062] 24 seedling pots were prepared, and 65
6 × 4 rows in a water container of mx 45 cm x 10 cm height, placed in a 4 liter water supply container with a 20-fold water diluent of water glass No. 3 neutralized with nitric acid and gelled the water glass Thus, a seedling pot with a water supply container of Example 8 was prepared.

This was transported by truck from Koga-gun, Shiga Prefecture to Ushiku-shi, Ibaraki Prefecture in a conventional manner. It took almost a day to transport it. Upon arrival, the transported seedlings were observed and found no pain, no wilting, no overturning of the seedling pot, and the like.

Thereafter, it was placed outdoors in the shade and observed for one week, but the flowering was continued and no abnormality was observed. One week later, the seedling pot was pulled out of the water supply container, but no gel of water glass was attached to the outer wall of the seedling pot. This gel was solidified in the water supply container, but could be easily taken out when removing from the water supply container.

[0065]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The use of water glass as a water supply material prevents the cultivation of soil in the seedling pots from drying out and prevents the seedlings from wilting, and the seedling pots are fixed to the water supply container to prevent them from jumping out and falling during transportation. can do. Moreover, the nursery pot can be easily removed from the water supply container as needed. In addition, without environmental issues,
Easy to handle.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a seedling raising pot with a water supply container according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a nursery pot with a water supply container according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 ... water supply container 12 ... seedling raising pot 14 ... water supply material 16 ... cultivation soil 18 ... seedling 20 ... opening for water supply

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Shinya Matsushita 3-24-18 Ichiriyama, Otsu-shi, Shiga F-term (reference) 2B027 NC08 NC12 ND03 NE10 QA02 QA04 QB03 RA02 RA14 RA26 RE04 RE08 UA03 UA10 UA13 UA16

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A method of mounting a seedling pot in which seedlings are planted on a water supply container filled with a water supply material, and supplying water to the seedling pot with the water supply material, wherein the water supply material is water dilution of water glass. A method for supplying water to a seedling raising pot, wherein a liquid obtained by solidifying the liquid in a gel state is used. 2. The water supply material according to claim 1, wherein a neutral solution obtained by neutralizing a water diluent of water glass with an acid is used, and this is added to a water supply container and solidified in a gel state. Water supply method to the nursery pot described. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said water glass is a liquid amorphous sodium silicate. 4. A water supply opening is provided at the bottom of the seedling raising pot, and the water supply material is filled in the water supply container such that the water supply opening is buried in the water supply material. A method for supplying water to the seedling raising pot according to 1. 5. A water supply container filled with a water supply material, and a seedling pot mounted on the water supply container, wherein the water supply material is obtained by solidifying a water dilution of water glass into a gel. A nursery pot equipped with a water supply container. 6. A water supply material, wherein a neutral solution obtained by neutralizing a water diluent of water glass with an acid is added to the water supply container and solidified in a gel state. 5. A seedling pot with a water supply container according to 5. 7. The nursery pot with a water supply container according to claim 5, wherein said water glass is a liquid amorphous sodium silicate. 8. A water supply opening is provided in a bottom portion of the seedling raising pot, and the water supply material is filled in the water supply container such that the water supply opening is buried in the water supply material. A seedling pot with a water supply container according to claim 5.