JP2012075356A - Cultivation system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cultivation system for maintaining the effective growth of plants, reducing the possibility of an excessive amount of water given to the plants, and enabling more effective water saving, and also easy to establish.SOLUTION: The cultivation system 1 includes: a cultivation device 3 having a liquid absorbent 4 provided therein, and a cultivation area 7 where a culture medium 6 for cultivating a plant 5 on the liquid absorbent 4 is placed; and a liquid supply device 2 for supplying an irrigation liquid to the cultivation device 3. The liquid supply device 2 includes: an irrigation liquid supply part 8 for supplying the irrigation liquid W from a supply port 13; a retaining tank 9 supplied with the irrigation liquid W from the irrigation liquid supply part 8, and for retaining a certain level of the irrigation liquid W therein; a storage container 10 disposed downstream of the installation position of the liquid absorbent 4 in the cultivation area 7, and for storing the irrigation liquid W supplied to the cultivation area 7; a lift control mechanism 11 for moving the position of the retaining tank 9 in the vertical direction; and a lift control part 12 for controlling the operation of the lift control mechanism 11.

Description

  The present invention relates to a cultivation system.

  With global warming, serious water shortages and droughts are advancing, and there is a concern that the cultivation of various plants will have a major adverse effect and that the production of crops will be adversely affected. Then, establishment of the cultivation system which makes it possible to grow a plant effectively using little water is requested | required. As such a cultivation system, a cultivation system using a drip irrigation method, a perforated pipe irrigation method, etc. has been proposed, and an underground irrigation method configured to supply moisture directly to the root portion of a plant is proposed. In combination, a cultivation system has been proposed in which the use of water is reduced as much as possible to enable water saving (Patent Documents 1 to 3, etc.). However, in the cultivation system proposed in Patent Documents 1 to 3, it is possible to reduce the amount of water given to the plant, but it is unclear whether or not the amount of water desirable for efficient growth of the plant is given to the plant. Therefore, it has to rely on the experience of the grower, and it cannot be said that it is sufficient in terms of effective growth of the plant.

  Then, the present inventors proposed the cultivation system which supplies water from a water supply means according to the growth state and growth environment of the plant which it is going to grow (patent document 4). In this cultivation system, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the amount of water applied to the plant will be excessive while maintaining the effective growth of the plant, and more effective water saving becomes possible.

  By the way, water shortages and droughts are progressing on a global scale. Along with this, cultivation systems that can save water are required even in regions with severe climatic conditions and regions with poor infrastructure conditions. For this reason, it is required that the cultivation system can be constructed as easily as possible. In this regard, in the cultivation system proposed in Patent Document 4, it has been attempted to make it possible to more easily construct a mechanism for controlling the operation of the water supply means by applying the negative pressure difference irrigation method.

JP 2004-016080 A US Pat. No. 4,928,427 US Pat. No. 5,839,659 JP 2009-296940 A

  The negative pressure difference irrigation method as shown also in patent document 4 is comprised so that the amount of water sent to the porous pipe | tube embed | buried under a culture medium may be controlled by a negative pressure difference. However, this method has a problem of clogging the pores of the porous tube, and further improvement is expected. Therefore, a cultivation system that can effectively save water and can be easily constructed is in a state of waiting for its establishment.

The present invention is configured in view of the above problems of the prior art,
(1) A cultivation apparatus having a cultivation area in which a liquid-absorbing material is disposed and a medium capable of cultivating a plant is laid on the liquid-absorbing material;
A liquid supply device that supplies irrigation to the cultivation device, and a cultivation system comprising:
The liquid supply device includes an irrigation supply unit capable of supplying irrigation from a supply port, a retention tank that is supplied with irrigation from the irrigation supply unit and has a certain amount of irrigation therein, and a suction area for the cultivation area. A storage container that stores the irrigation liquid that is disposed below the liquid material installation position and is supplied to the cultivation area, a lift control mechanism that moves the position of the retention tank in the vertical direction, and an operation of the lift control mechanism And a lift control unit for controlling the
The storage container is provided with a wicking material capable of sucking up the irrigation liquid in the storage container, and the wicking material has the upper end side in contact with the liquid absorption material of the cultivation apparatus and the lower end side used as irrigation. Soaked,
The storage container and the retention tank are connected to each other by a conduit so that the irrigation can pass through each other, and the liquid level of the irrigation is aligned with each other.
The elevating control unit is configured to control the operation of the elevating control mechanism so as to move the position of the staying tank in the vertical direction,
(2) a cultivation apparatus having a cultivation area in which a liquid absorbing material is disposed and a medium capable of cultivating a plant is laid on the liquid absorbing material;
A liquid supply device that supplies irrigation to the cultivation device, and a cultivation system comprising:
The liquid supply device includes an irrigation supply unit capable of supplying irrigation from a supply port, a retention tank that is supplied with irrigation from the irrigation supply unit and has a certain amount of irrigation therein, and a suction area for the cultivation area. A storage container that stores the irrigation liquid that is disposed below the liquid material installation position and is supplied to the cultivation area, a lift control mechanism that moves the position of the retention tank in the vertical direction, and an operation of the lift control mechanism And a lift control unit for controlling the
The storage container is provided with a wicking material capable of sucking up the irrigation liquid in the storage container, and the wicking material has the upper end side in contact with the liquid absorption material of the cultivation apparatus and the lower end side used as irrigation. Soaked,
The storage container and the retention tank are connected to each other by a conduit so that the irrigation can pass through each other, and the liquid level of the irrigation is aligned with each other.
The elevating control unit is configured to control the operation of the elevating control mechanism so as to move the position of the staying tank in the vertical direction.
Cultivation system characterized in that a granule made of natural ore is mixed in at least one of the storage container and the retention tank,
(3) The cultivation system according to (2) above, wherein the natural ore constituting the granule is a metamorphic rock,
(4) The cultivation system according to (2) above, wherein the natural ore constituting the granule is mylonite.
(5) The elevation control unit is configured to control the operation of the elevation control mechanism so as to move the position of the retention tank in the vertical direction according to the amount of irrigation required for the plant grown on the cultivation apparatus. The cultivation system according to any one of (1) to (4) above,
(6) The wicking material is summarized in the cultivation system according to any one of (1) to (5), which sucks up the irrigation liquid in the storage container by capillary action.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, while being able to maintain the effective growth of a plant, it can reduce the possibility that the amount of water given to a plant may become excessive, and it is a cultivation system which enables more effective water saving. This makes it possible to establish a cultivation system that can be easily constructed.

  In the present invention, when natural ore granules are mixed in at least one of the storage container and the retention tank, the growth of the plant can be improved efficiently, and the plant is grown. Efficient use of water can be realized.

It is a structure schematic diagram which illustrates typically the structure of the cultivation system of the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a structure schematic diagram which illustrates typically an example of the structure for making the irrigation in a retention tank constant. It is a structure schematic diagram explaining the structure of a raising / lowering control part typically. It is a structure schematic diagram which illustrates typically the structure of the cultivation system of the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a structure schematic diagram which illustrates the structure of the cultivation system of Example 1 typically. It is a figure which shows a time-dependent change of the evapotranspiration rate in the cultivation test of Example 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows the time-dependent change of the evapotranspiration rate in the cultivation test of the comparative example 1. It is a figure which shows the example of the control model by the raising / lowering control part of a cultivation system. It is a figure which shows the example of the control model by the raising / lowering control part of a cultivation system.

[First Embodiment]
1st Embodiment of the cultivation system 1 of this invention is described in detail.

(Cultivation system 1)
The cultivation system 1 includes a cultivation device 3 and a liquid supply device 2 that supplies the irrigation liquid W to the cultivation device 3.

(Cultivation device 3)
The cultivation apparatus 3 has a cultivation area 7 in which a liquid absorbing material 4 is disposed and a medium 6 capable of cultivating a plant 5 is laid on the liquid absorbing material 4. The cultivation area 7 indicates an area part where a plant can be cultivated, and may be an area part for cultivation of a cultivation container, or an area where a plant such as a farm or an open field can be cultivated as long as the cultivation system 1 can be applied. It may be a part.

(Cultivation area 7)
The cultivation area 7 is not particularly limited in shape, depth, size and the like as long as the plant 5 can be cultivated. When a cultivation container is used, a pot or box made of ceramic or resin is appropriately used. May be.

(Medium 6)
As the medium 6, any medium can be used as long as it can grow a plant. The medium 6 may be an artificial soil or natural soil obtained by pulverizing the skin of wood, a commercially available material such as soil for planters, or a material in which fertilizer is arbitrarily mixed.

(Liquid absorbing material 4)
The liquid absorbent material 4 can be used without any particular limitation as long as it is made of a material that can absorb irrigation, and a liquid absorbent cloth such as a woven fabric or a nonwoven fabric can be used as appropriate. Commercially available products can be used as appropriate. As the woven fabric and the nonwoven fabric, those made of various natural fibers such as cotton, silk and hemp, and various synthetic fibers such as polyester can be used. In addition, as the liquid absorbing material 4, urethane, paper, ceramics, or the like may be used as appropriate.

(Root-proof liquid-permeable sheet 17)
In the cultivation apparatus 3, a root-proof liquid-permeable sheet 17 that suppresses the root of the plant 5 from reaching the liquid absorbent material 4 may be laid on the liquid absorbent material 4 in the cultivation region 7. By laying the root-proof liquid-permeable sheet 17, it is possible to prevent the roots of the plant 5 from extending below the liquid-absorbing material 4, and the irrigation W from the liquid-absorbing material 4 to the medium 6. Can be maintained. As the root-proof liquid-permeable sheet 17, a commercially available root-proof water-permeable cloth or the like can be used as appropriate. For example, as the root-proof liquid-permeable sheet 17, a spunbond nonwoven fabric or the like can be used.

(Irrigation W)
The perfusate W is water or a liquid containing water. The irrigation W is preferably water containing a mineral component. The irrigation W is not particularly limited as long as it is a liquid that can be used for the growth of the plant 5 such as tap water, rainwater, and well water.

(Liquid supply device 2)
The liquid supply device 2 includes an irrigation supply unit 8, a retention tank 9, a storage container 10, a lift control mechanism 11, and a lift control unit 12 that controls the operation of the lift control mechanism 11.

(Perfusion supply unit 8)
The irrigation supply unit 8 only needs to be configured so as to be able to supply the irrigation W from the supply port 13. The storage tank 14 provided with a supply structure having the supply port 13 as shown in FIG. Selectable. When the liquid storage tank 14 is used as the irrigation supply unit 8, the liquid storage tank 14 is preferably provided with a liquid level gauge 15 such as a water level gauge. As the liquid level meter 15, a known one such as a capacitance level meter can be appropriately used. By measuring the change in the scale of the liquid level meter 15, the supply amount and supply speed of the irrigation W supplied to the retention tank 9 can be easily specified, and the amount of irrigation W supplied to the culture medium 6 (supply) The amount of liquid) can be specified. Moreover, the change of the scale of the liquid level meter 15 specifies the amount of evapotranspiration of a plant. The evapotranspiration is the amount of water evaporated in the irrigation, and is the sum of the amount of water evaporated from the medium surface and the amount of water evaporated from the leaves of the plant.

(Residence tank 9)
The retention tank 9 is configured to be supplied with the irrigation liquid W from the irrigation supply unit 8.

  As the retention tank 9, what was comprised as shown in FIG. 1 can be used, for example. In this case, the retention tank 9 is open to atmospheric pressure by forming an opening 16 at least partly above the liquid surface in contact with the outside air, and the supply port 13 of the irrigation supply unit 8 from the opening 16. It is comprised so that the perfusate W which flowed out from can be received. In addition, this structure is an example of the retention tank 9, Comprising: It is not limited to this. For example, the retention tank 9 may be connected to the supply port of the irrigation supply unit (not shown) so that the irrigation solution can be passed through the conduit. However, even in this case, the pressure in the retention tank is atmospheric pressure.

  The retention tank 9 is configured so that a certain amount of the irrigation solution W is present inside. This can be realized by adjusting the amount of irrigation mechanically and electrically by making the liquid level constant from the bottom in the retention tank 9.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the staying tank 9 is provided with a float 18 that floats on the liquid surface, and a float height adjusting rod 19 is attached on the float 18. A flow rate control rod 20 is attached to the preparation rod 19 at a predetermined height with a float height adjustment screw 21 at one end thereof. A liquid amount adjusting valve 22 is attached to the flow control rod 20 on the other end side. Further, a lid body 23 is disposed above the liquid level in the retention tank 9, and a flow rate control rod fixing member 24 is provided at a predetermined position inside the lid body 23. The flow control rod fixing member 24 includes a support member 25 extending in the vertical direction and a fixing pin 26 for fixing the flow control rod 20 to the support member 25 so as to be rotatable. In the retention tank 9, the flow control rod 20 is rotatably fixed with the fixing pin 26 as a fulcrum. At this time, the fixing pin 26 is arranged and fixed at a position along the longitudinal direction of the flow control rod 20 at a position closer to the liquid amount adjusting valve 22 than the float height adjusting screw 21. The lid body 23 is provided with a through hole 27 having a diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the supply port 13 at a position facing the supply port 13, and the upper end 28 of the liquid amount adjusting valve 22 projects upward from the through hole 27. It enters inside the supply port 13. The lid body 23 and the supply port 13 are fixed to each other so that irrigation does not leak from the supply port 13 to the outside. The liquid amount adjusting valve 22 is formed so as to be smaller than the diameter of the through hole 27 at a predetermined position inside the front end 28, gradually increasing toward the front end 28, and larger than the diameter of the through hole 27 at the upper end 28. ing. When the amount of irrigation in the retention tank 9 increases, the position of the float 18 rises as the liquid level rises, and the upper end 28 of the liquid amount adjustment valve 22 falls, and the through hole 27 is blocked by the liquid amount adjustment valve 22. Then, the supply port 13 is closed. Further, when the amount of irrigation in the retention tank 9 decreases, the position of the float 18 is lowered as the liquid level is lowered, and the upper end 28 of the liquid amount adjusting valve 22 is raised. The blockage is released, the supply port 13 is opened, and the perfusate flowing downward from the supply port 13 flows into the retention tank 9 through the space between the inner edge of the through hole 27 and the liquid amount adjustment valve 22. In addition, the staying tank 9 is configured to be able to contact the inside of the staying tank 9 with the outside air even in the state where the lid body 23 is provided, so that the staying tank 9 is not sealed. Therefore, the lid body 23 is preferably provided with a vent hole 29 at a predetermined position. The vent hole 29 may also function as a hole through the float height adjusting rod 19.

  In the retention tank 9 shown in the example of FIG. 2, the buoyancy of the float 18 is expanded by the lever principle by the flow control rod 20, and this force resists the hydraulic pressure of the irrigation W supplied from the irrigation supply unit 8. Thus, the supply port 13 can be opened and closed by the flow rate control valve 22. The opening and closing by the flow control valve 22 can be realized without receiving supply of energy such as electric energy from the outside, and the amount of the irrigation W is controlled by the operation of the single flow control rod 20. Therefore, the time required for the control can be shortened and a very stable control of the minute flow rate can be easily realized. Therefore, after measuring the water level of the liquid storage tank 14, the liquid supply speed adjustment of the irrigation W to the plant 5 can be performed immediately. In the staying tank 9, the height of the float 18 can be adjusted by moving the float 18 up and down along the float height adjusting rod 20 and stopping it with the float height adjusting screw 21. The strength adjustment of the force for closing the supply port 13 by the flow control valve 22 can be realized by adjusting the fixing position of the slide member 26 and the flow control rod 20. For the float 18, a hollow body made of a resin material or the like may be used as appropriate, and a short cylindrical shape is preferable from the viewpoint of stability.

  In addition to the above, the staying tank 9 may be configured by disposing a float therein and providing a position sensor (not shown) for sensing the position of the float at a predetermined position in the staying tank 9.

(Reservoir 10)
The storage container 10 is arranged at a predetermined position below the installation position of the liquid absorbing material 4 in the cultivation area 7. For example, as shown in the example of FIG. 1, this is realized by providing a spacer 45 at the bottom of the cultivation region 7 to form a space below the cultivation device 7 and disposing the storage container 10 in the space. The The spacer 45 of FIG. 1 is formed from a flooring and a wall material standing from its corner. Moreover, the storage container 10 stores the irrigation W supplied to the cultivation area 7. The storage container 10 has an upper surface opened, and the space in the storage container 10 is opened under atmospheric pressure.

  The storage container 10 and the retention tank 9 are connected to each other by a conduit 30 so that the irrigation liquid W can be passed therethrough, and the liquid level of the irrigation liquid is aligned with each other. At this time, the distance (ΔH) between the bottom surface of the liquid-absorbing material 4 in the cultivation region 7 and the liquid level of the storage container 10 changes in conjunction with the top and bottom of the liquid level of the retention tank 9. For example, when the liquid level of the retention tank 9 rises by the magnitude d1 from the state of ΔH = H, the liquid level of the storage container 10 also rises by the magnitude d1, and ΔH is a value obtained by subtracting d1 from H. When the liquid level of the retention tank 9 is lowered by the magnitude d2 from the state of ΔH = H, the liquid level of the storage container 10 is similarly lowered by the magnitude d1, and ΔH is a value obtained by adding d2 to H.

  The storage container 10 is provided with a wicking material 31 capable of sucking up the irrigation liquid W in the storage container 10. In the storage container 10, the wicking material 31 makes the upper end side contact the liquid absorbing material 4 of the cultivation apparatus, and the lower end side is immersed in the irrigation liquid W. The wicking material 31 is not limited to the case where it is provided so as to hang downward from the liquid absorbing material 4 as shown in FIG. A fixing tool (not shown) may be disposed outside the storage container, and the wicking material 31 may be fixed by the fixing tool. In the fixture, wicking is performed by adjusting the height position of the wicking material 31 so that the upper end of the wicking material 31 is brought into contact with the liquid absorbing material 4 of the cultivation apparatus and the lower end side is immersed in the irrigation W. The material 31 may be fixedly installed.

(Suction material 31)
The wicking material 31 is made of a material capable of sucking up the irrigation liquid W in the storage container 10 by capillary action, and is formed in an elongated shape.

  The amount of irrigation W sucked by the wicking material 31 toward the upper end of the wicking material 31 per unit time (liquid supply amount (F) (g / min)) It changes according to the length of the portion exposed above the liquid surface without being immersed in the liquid W, and the value of F increases as this length increases.

  As the wicking material 31, a material made of a material capable of absorbing irrigation can be used without particular limitation, and examples thereof include woven fabrics, nonwoven fabrics, fiber bodies such as paper, urethane, A porous body such as ceramics can be used as appropriate.

(Liquid supply mechanism of irrigation W by liquid supply device 2)
As the plant 5 sown or seeded on the culture medium 6 of the cultivating apparatus 3 becomes active, the plant 5 absorbs the perfusate W in the culture medium 6. As the irrigation liquid W is absorbed by the plant 5, the irrigation liquid diffuses from the liquid absorbing material 4 into the culture medium. In the storage container 10, the irrigation in the storage container 10 is absorbed through the wicking material 31 by capillary action. It moves to the liquid material 4. Since the retention tank 9 and the storage container 10 communicate with each other through the conduit 30, the irrigation liquid W is supplied to the storage container 10 from the retention tank 9. Since the liquid level of the retention tank 9 and the storage container 10 is the same, if the irrigation liquid is not replenished to the retention tank, the retention tank 9 is absorbed as the plant 5 absorbs the irrigation liquid W in the culture medium 6. And the liquid level of the storage container 10 will shift downward from the expected position. In this respect, the retention tank 9 is configured to store a certain amount of the irrigation W as described above, and appropriately receives the supply of the irrigation W from the irrigation supply unit 8. For this reason, the position of the liquid level of the retention tank 9 is an expected position.

  In the cultivation system 1, the staying tank 9 moves up and down by an elevating control mechanism 11 described later. Since the retention tank 9 and the storage container 10 have the same liquid level, the distance (ΔH) from the bottom surface of the absorbent material 4 in the cultivation region 7 to the liquid level of the storage container 10 is determined by the elevating control mechanism 11. It is controlled by the vertical movement. Here, the length of the portion of the wicking material 31 that is exposed to the liquid surface without being immersed in the irrigation W is up to the bottom surface of the liquid absorbing material 4 in the cultivation region 7 and the liquid surface of the storage container 10. Therefore, the value of the liquid supply amount F can be changed according to the value of ΔH. Therefore, the value of the liquid supply amount F is controlled according to the amount of elevation that is the amount of fluctuation in the magnitude of the vertical movement of the retention tank 9 by the elevation control mechanism 11.

  Moreover, if the value of the requested | required liquid supply amount F is specified, the magnitude | size of the vertical motion of the retention tank 9 by the raising / lowering control mechanism 11 will be specified according to the value. That is, if the amount of irrigation W required for the plant grown on the cultivation device 7 is specified, it is possible to specify the amount of elevation according to the amount. Here, as the amount of perfusate W required for the plant 5, it is preferable to use the liquid absorption amount required by the plant 5. In this case, since the plant 5 is provided with an amount of irrigation W that can be absorbed according to its state, according to the cultivation system 1, the plant 5 can be provided with the irrigation W without excess or deficiency. It becomes. Moreover, if the irrigation liquid W smaller than the liquid absorption amount of the plant 5 is given to the plant 5, the plant 5 is subjected to water stress, and its growth may be adversely affected. In this respect, in this cultivation system 1, the amount of perfusate W according to the amount of liquid absorbed by the plant 5 can be supplied to the plant, so that water stress of the plant 5 can be suppressed.

(Elevation control mechanism 11)
The lifting control mechanism 11 can appropriately employ a structure that can move the object up and down. In the example of FIG. 2, the elevation control mechanism 11 is configured by fixing a ledge tong (extension and contraction barb) 32 to a pedestal 33. In addition, the elevating control mechanism 11 can employ a pedestal and a structure in which an actuator is mounted on the pedestal.

  The elevation control mechanism 11 is electrically connected to the elevation control unit 12 and is configured to move the position of the retention tank 9 in the vertical direction in response to an electrical signal from the elevation control unit 12.

(Elevation control unit 12)
The raising / lowering control part 12 is comprised so that the operation | movement of the raising / lowering control mechanism 11 may be controlled so that the position of the retention tank 9 may be moved to an up-down direction. In particular, the lifting control unit 12 controls the operation of the lifting control mechanism 11 so as to move the position of the staying tank 9 in the vertical direction according to the amount of irrigation W required for the plant 5 grown on the cultivation device 3. To do.

(Operation control of the lifting control mechanism 11)
The operation control of the lifting control mechanism 11 by the lifting control unit 12 can be specifically realized by using the lifting control unit 12 configured as follows, for example (FIG. 3).

  The elevation control unit 12 includes a central processing unit 34, a data storage unit 35, and a transmission unit that sends an electrical signal corresponding to the result of the computation unit to the elevation control mechanism 11.

  The central processing unit 34 and the data storage unit 35 are connected so that the data stored in the data storage unit 35 can be accessed from the central processing unit 34.

  A state detection sensor 36 for detecting a state variable that identifies the state of the culture medium 6 at a certain time, the state of the surrounding environment of the cultivation device 3, and the state of the plant grown on the cultivation device is attached to the cultivation device 3. It has been. State variables include weather variables such as humidity, air temperature, solar radiation intensity, and wind speed, as well as the growing period. Examples of the state detection sensor 36 include a temperature sensor and a humidity sensor that detect humidity and temperature, a sensor that detects solar radiation intensity, a wind speed sensor that detects wind speed, and the like. These state detection sensors 36 are connected to the central processing unit so as to be able to transmit data such as temperature and humidity and data indicating the growth state of plants.

  When various state variables at a certain time are detected by these state detection sensors 36, various data corresponding to the contents of the state variables are measured data (actual measurement data 37 such as temperature, humidity, solar radiation intensity, wind speed, etc., plant And the like are actually transmitted to the central processing unit 34. The central processing unit 34 calculates the vertical movement magnitude (lifting amount) of the staying tank 9 by the lifting control mechanism 11 based on the measured data 37, 38, etc., and moves the staying tank up and down toward the lifting control mechanism 11. An electrical signal whose content is to cause is transmitted. The lifting control mechanism 11 moves the staying tank 9 up and down according to the electrical signal transmitted from the lifting control unit 12.

  In the central processing unit 34, a calculation method based on a known control model is appropriately adopted as a method for calculating the magnitude of the vertical movement of the stay tank 9 by the elevation control mechanism 11 based on the measured data 37, 38 and the like. Moreover, the calculation method may be appropriately selected according to the contents of the state variable. Specifically, examples of the control model include PID control (Proportional-Integral-Derivative Control). The PID control includes proportional control, differential control, integral control, and control appropriately combining these. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, for example, the central processing unit 34 correlates various state variables such as air temperature and solar radiation intensity with ΔH by proportional control, and ΔH Is calculated (referred to as Hs), and a difference Hs−Ht from the liquid level height (Ht) at the time of calculation is calculated, thereby calculating the amount of elevation. In the example of FIG. 8, the central processing unit 34 measures the measured data so that ΔH becomes Z1 when the temperature is T1, ΔH becomes Z2 when the temperature is T2, and ΔH is proportional to the temperature. ΔH based on the above is calculated, and the amount of elevation is calculated.

The data storage means 35 stores weather record data 40, time data 41, growth data of plants to be grown using the cultivation system 1 (growth record data 42), liquid absorption amount data 43, and the like. The weather record data 41 is weather record data in an area (use area) where the plant 5 is to be grown using the cultivation system 1. More specifically, the weather record data 41 is data over time throughout the year in the area of use, and can include data on temperature, humidity, solar radiation intensity, and wind speed that specify the weather. For example, weather recording data 41, _{A 1} year _A at the time specified by the _{A 5} pm _{February A 3} days _{A 4,} air temperature _{B 1} ° C., humidity _B 2% RH, solar radiation intensity is _{B 3} Data having contents of μmol / m ² / s (photon flux density) and a wind speed of B ₄ m / sec are included. In addition to the data listed here, the weather record data 41 may include rainfall data. The data storage unit 35 may further store various data. The weather record data 40, the time data 41, the growth data 42, and the liquid absorption amount data 43 are data such as data held by the Japan Meteorological Agency, such as data held by the national government, administrative agencies and local governments, data provided by private companies, etc. May be data obtained from the above, or may be actual measurement data obtained by performing a preliminary cultivation test.

(Preliminary cultivation test)
Using the time at which the plant 5 to be grown is sown in the medium 6 as the growth start time, the time elapsed from the growth start time is measured to obtain measured data. Further, every time a predetermined time elapses from the growth start time, values specifying state variables such as temperature and humidity are measured to obtain actual measurement data, which are used as weather record data 40 and growth record data 42. Furthermore, every time a predetermined time has elapsed from the growth start time, the amount of water absorption is measured to obtain actual measurement data, which is used as the water absorption amount data 43. The data storage means 35 stores these measured data.

(Liquid supply control of irrigation W in the liquid supply apparatus 2)
With the time when the plant 5 is sown in the culture medium 6 by the cultivation system 1 as the growth start time, time data, liquid absorption data, growth data, and weather record data are measured according to the time elapsed from the growth start time. This measurement is measured by the state detection sensor 36 as in the preliminary cultivation test. The measured data is transmitted to the central processing unit 34 as actual measurement data 37 and 38, and the central processing unit 34 specifies the amount of elevation. For example, if condition setting data is recorded in the central processing unit 34 so as to acquire various data such as time data, liquid absorption amount data, growth data, and weather record data at one hour intervals, every hour. Various data are transmitted from the state detection sensor to the central processing unit 34, and the central processing unit 34 acquires time data, liquid absorption amount data, growth data, and weather record data, and calculates the amount of lift.

(Identification of lift)
When the time data, the liquid absorption amount data, the growth data, and the weather record data are specified, the central processing layer device calculates an expected liquid absorption amount (a liquid absorption expected amount). As described above, a calculation method based on a known control model such as proportional control, differential control, and PID control can be appropriately employed as a method for calculating the expected amount of liquid absorption. When the expected amount of liquid absorption is calculated, the amount of elevation is calculated so that this value becomes the value of the liquid supply amount. Here, when the amount of liquid supply is determined, the magnitude of ΔH is determined, and the amount of elevation is specified. Therefore, when the amount of liquid supply is specifically determined as the value of the expected amount of liquid absorption, the amount of elevation is specifically determined. Identified.

  The correspondence relationship between the amount of liquid supply and the amount of elevation can be specified by setting the amount of elevation in the cultivation system 1 in advance as various values and actually measuring the amount of liquid supply each time. And in the cultivation system 1, the data storage means 35 is provided with a database for associating the actual measurement data of the liquid supply amount and the actual measurement data of the actual measurement data 39 of the raising / lowering amount. It is preferable to store data associated with the actual measurement data 39 from the viewpoint of improving the calculation efficiency of the lift amount. The correspondence relationship between the liquid supply amount and ΔH may also be measured in advance and stored in the database in the same manner as the correspondence relationship between the liquid supply amount and the lift amount. The same applies to the correspondence between various state variables such as temperature and ΔH.

  As described above, in the cultivation system 1, the retention tank 9 is moved up and down by the elevation control mechanism 11, so that the liquid level of the retention tank 9 and the storage container 10 is raised and lowered, and an appropriate amount of irrigation according to the state of the plant 5. W can be supplied. Moreover, since the liquid supply apparatus 2 can be comprised with a simple structure as FIG. 1 etc. show, the cultivation system 1 can satisfy the request | requirement of the simplification of the structure.

[Second Embodiment]
The cultivation system 1 is the cultivation system of the first embodiment, and a granule 44 made of natural ore is mixed in at least one of the cultivation region 7 and the retention tank 9. Good (second embodiment). That is, in the cultivation system 1, the granule 44 made of natural ore is mixed in both the cultivation area 7 and the retention tank 9 (FIG. 4), and the granule 44 made of natural ore is mixed in the retention tank 9. It may be any of those that are present (FIG. 5) or those in which the granule 44 made of natural ore is mixed only in the cultivation region 7.

  The cultivation system 1 of 2nd Embodiment is shown in FIG. 4 except having the structure that the granule 44 which consists of a natural ore is mixed in the inside of at least any one of the cultivation area | region 7 and the retention tank 9. FIG. Thus, it has the same structure as the cultivation system 1 of 1st Embodiment, The operation control of the raising / lowering control mechanism 11 by the raising / lowering control part 12 is also the cultivation system 1 of 1st Embodiment shown above in FIG. Is the same. In addition, about the same structure as the cultivation system 1 of 1st Embodiment among the structures of the cultivation system 1 of 2nd Embodiment in FIG. 4, the same code | symbol as the code | symbol used about 1st Embodiment is used. It is attached.

(Mixing amount of granule 44)
The mixing amount of the granules 44 can be selected as appropriate for both the mixing amount inside the cultivation region 7 and the mixing amount inside the staying tank 9.

  However, when mixing the granule 44 in the cultivation area 7, the granule is blended at a ratio of 0.5 kg or more and 1.5 kg or less with respect to the 50 L medium from the viewpoint of proper preparation with the amount of the medium. It is preferable that it is blended at a ratio of 0.7 kg to 1.0 kg.

  When mixing the granule 44 in the retention tank, the granule is blended at a ratio of 20 kg or more and 40 kg or less with respect to 1000 L of irrigation solution from the viewpoint of the proper concentration of mineral components exuded from natural stone with respect to plant growth. It is preferable that it is blended at a ratio of 25 kg or more and 35 kg or less.

(Granule 44)
The granule 44 is made of natural ore as described above. Natural ores contain various mineral components. When the granule 44 is mixed into the cultivation area 7, the irrigation W spreads from the absorbent material 4 into the culture medium 6 in the cultivation area 7, and the granule 44 comes into contact with the irrigation W from the granule 44. The mineral component oozes into the medium 6, and the medium 6 rich in mineral components can be formed. Moreover, when the granule 44 is mixed into the retention tank 9, the mineral component exudes from the granule 44 in the irrigation liquid W of the retention tank 9, and the irrigation liquid rich in mineral components may be formed. it can.

  In addition, a mineral component is an inorganic component used for the life activity of a plant, shows an inorganic component contained in a plant, and can exist in an ionic state in water. Specifically, the mineral component includes sodium (Na), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), aluminum (Al), chromium (Cr), iron (Fe), and manganese (Mn). It is done. These are contained in natural ores in the form of carbonates, fluorides, chlorides, sulfates, and the like, and exude from the ores in the form of ions in the irrigation solution.

  The size of the granule 44 is preferably in the range of 0.5 mm to 200 mm in diameter in order to efficiently exude the mineral component. In the use for planter cultivation, the diameter is 2 mm to 10 mm. What exists in a range is preferable, and it is more preferable that a diameter exists in the range of 2 mm or more and 3 mm or less. In applications such as outdoor cultivation, the size of the granules 44 is preferably 10 mm or more and 200 mm or less.

  The natural ore constituting the granule 44 is preferably selected from metamorphic rocks, and mylonite is particularly preferable in that the perfusion can be made more excellent in mineral components.

(Mylonite)
Mylonite, also called milonite, belongs to metamorphic rocks, is a hard, agglomerated rock with a vitreous structure, and has almost no micropores. This mylonite undergoes extreme mechanical deformation and granulation when used as a granule, but no change is observed in its chemical properties. The appearance of mylonite is generally similar to flint and is striped or fluid. An example of the production area of mylonite is the Honshu Central Tectonic Zone, which can be obtained in the form of rocks composed mainly of feldspar.

(Functions of mylonite and effects associated with their use)
When mylonite is mixed in an aqueous solution, the mylonite has a function of reducing the water cluster of the aqueous solution, a function of increasing the dissolved oxygen of the aqueous solution, and a function of bringing the pH of the aqueous solution inclined to acidity or alkalinity closer to neutrality. Is recognized.

  Therefore, when mylonite is used as the natural ore constituting the granule 44 in the cultivation system 1, in addition to the function of forming an irrigation rich in mineral components as described above, (A) the water cluster contained in the irrigation (B) a function to increase dissolved oxygen contained in the irrigation, (C) a function to bring the pH of the irrigation closer to neutral when the irrigation is inclined to acidic or alkaline, Is demonstrated.

  When the function of reducing the water cluster shown in (A) above is exerted, the plant can efficiently absorb irrigation from the root, and the amount of water absorbed from the root catches up with the amount lost by transpiration. It is possible to effectively reduce the phenomenon that the life activity of plants such as photosynthesis is reduced due to the absence of water, that is, to reduce water stress.

  When the function to increase the dissolved oxygen shown in (B) is exerted, the oxygen concentration in the rhizosphere region of the plant increases, so that the respiratory action of the root can be promoted and the growth of the plant is activated. become.

  When the function of bringing the pH of the irrigation close to neutral as shown in (C) above is exerted, it should be used sufficiently as water for irrigation even if the quality of the water is acidic or alkaline. Is possible.

  In addition, about the cultivation system 1 in 2nd Embodiment, the effect similar to 1st Embodiment other than the above effect by using a granule is acquired. That is, in the cultivation system 1 in the second embodiment, by moving the staying tank up and down by the elevation control mechanism, the liquid level of the staying tank and the storage container is moved up and down, and an appropriate amount of irrigation is applied according to the state of the plant. It becomes possible to supply. Moreover, this cultivation system 1 can satisfy the request | requirement of the simplification of the structure.

Example 1.
(Cultivation system)
As a cultivation system, the cultivation system shown in the second embodiment having a configuration as shown in FIG. 5 was prepared.

(Medium etc.)
A commercially available 50 L planter was used as the medium. As the liquid absorbing material, a commercially available product for agriculture (Toyobo Co., Ltd. was used. Further, as the wicking material, a material made of the same material as the liquid absorbing material was processed into a strip shape.

(Granule)
30 kg of pulverized bodies of mylonite (production area: Nagano Prefecture) were prepared as natural ore granules. The particle size of the granules was an average particle size of 2.5 mm.

  Mylonite is a mineral composed of components as shown in Table 1. The content (%) of each component is as shown in Table 1.

  Mineral component elution test, water cluster measurement test, and dissolved oxygen measurement test were performed using granules composed of mylonite.

Mineral component dissolution test:
Mylonite was mixed in water (tap water) and allowed to stand for 2 hours to prepare test water, and the amounts (mg / L) of various mineral components such as sodium contained in the test water were analyzed. Moreover, the amount (mg / L) of various mineral components contained in tap water was analyzed for comparison. The results are shown in Table 2. Thereby, when mixing mylonite in water, it was confirmed that water richer in mineral components than tap water was obtained, and it was recognized that mineral components were eluted from mylonite into water.

(Unit is mg / L)

Water cluster measurement test:
The cluster value (Hz) of water was analyzed using the test water described above. The cluster value of water is indicated by the resonance frequency by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy at a temperature of 20 ° C. Moreover, the nuclear magnetic resonance apparatus (the JEOL Co., Ltd. make, JNM-EX400) was used for the analysis. In the analysis, the measurement nuclide is ¹⁷ O. For comparison, the cluster value was also measured for tap water in the same manner as described above. As a result, the cluster value of tap water cluster was about 106 Hz, but the test water was found to have a cluster value of about 70 Hz.

Dissolved oxygen measurement test:
When mylonite is mixed with water (temperature is about 22 ° C) and left for one day, the dissolved oxygen content (6.2 ppm) of the water after standing (temperature is about 26 ° C) is the water before mixing. It was confirmed that the amount was higher than the dissolved oxygen amount (5.35 ppm). For the water, underground spring water (collection site: Shiojiri City, Nagano Prefecture) was used.

pH measurement test:
Prepare a column packed with 1 kg of mylonite granules, and circulate the raw water through the column at 3 L / min for 6 hours using 9.7 pH pond water (collecting source: water from Chikagaike pond, Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture) as raw water. Got water. Using this circulating water, the pH of the water was measured. The pH was 7.7.
Circulating water was obtained in the same manner as in the case where pond water having a pH of 9.7 was used as raw water, except that raw water having pH 6.0 was used and the circulation time was 12 hours. This was used to measure the pH of the water. The pH was 7.0.

(Cultivation test)
In plants, the intensity of solar radiation increases with the passage of time from dawn, and as the temperature rises, photosynthetic activity increases and the amount of transpiration from the leaf surface increases. At this time, the rate of sucking water and nutrients from the root (liquid absorption rate) increases, the evapotranspiration per unit time (CC) (evapotranspiration rate (CC / min)) increases, and the water content of the medium decreases. To do. However, when the temperature rises above a certain value and the liquid absorption rate exceeds a certain level, the amount of water in the medium becomes too low, especially around the roots, resulting in a decrease in photosynthetic activity and a decrease in evapotranspiration rate (so-called nap) Phenomenon). In order to grow a plant efficiently, it is necessary for the plant to efficiently carry out photosynthesis activity. Therefore, it is important to suppress this nap phenomenon. Then, the plant was grown using the cultivation system prepared as mentioned above, and the presence or absence of suppression of the nap phenomenon was confirmed. Tomato was selected as a plant to grow in the cultivation system. The amount of evapotranspiration indicates the sum of the amount of water evaporated from the surface of the medium (CC) and the amount of transpiration from the leaves of plants (CC).

  The nap phenomenon indicates a decrease in the vital activity of the plant, and appears as a decrease in evapotranspiration (CC) over time (evapotranspiration rate (CC / min)). Therefore, the presence or absence of suppression of the nap phenomenon was confirmed using the evapotranspiration rate as an index. That is, the evapotranspiration rate when a plant was cultivated using a cultivation system was measured, and whether or not the nap phenomenon was suppressed was evaluated. The results are shown in FIG. In FIG. 6, ET rate indicates the evapotranspiration rate (CC / min), and AT indicates the air temperature (° C.). This also applies to FIG. 7 described later.

  Control of the amount of irrigation in the cultivation system was carried out by determining the amount of elevation.

(Control of liquid supply amount)
State variables were identified at 10 minute intervals, and the amount of elevation was determined each time the state variables were identified. The temperature (° C) was used as the state variable. Therefore, in the elevation control unit 12, for example, when the temperature sensor provided around the plant acquires the actual measurement data indicating the temperature at time A1 10 minutes after the start of growth, the actual measurement data is sent to the central processing unit 34. The central processing unit 34 specifies the amount of elevation as follows. In the elevation controller 12, reference data in which the relationship between the temperature and ΔH is associated is stored in the data recording means 35, and the central processing unit 34 calculates ΔH data from the reference data and the measured data. In the elevation control unit 12 of the embodiment, the central processing unit 34 associates ΔH with proportional control using ΔH as a function of temperature, and calculates ΔH corresponding to the temperature by proportional control. Here, the data that sets ΔH at an air temperature of 20 ° C. to 7 cm, the air temperature to be 30 ° C. and ΔH to 5 cm, is data (reference data) recorded in advance in the data recording means 35. In addition, ΔH that constitutes this reference data is individually determined by various conditions such as the type of plant in addition to the material and size of the wicking material and liquid absorbing material used in the cultivation system, but generally, in general, plants, At room temperature of about 20 ° C., ΔH is preferably in a numerical range of 6 cm to 8 cm. This numerical range is a numerical range specified by performing ΔH as various values in advance and performing a plant cultivation test as a preliminary cultivation test. Therefore, in Example 1, ΔH at the start of growth was set to 6 cm. When the central processing unit 34 calculates that ΔH is HAcm based on the temperature at time A1 10 minutes after the start of growth, the temperature sensor provided around the plant is 6 cm which is ΔH at the start of growth. The difference value with HA is calculated, and this is used as the amount of elevation. Based on this lift data, the lift controller 12 sends a signal to the lift control mechanism 11, and the lift control mechanism 11 moves the stay tank 9 up and down. In the cultivation system 1 of Example 1, the liquid supply amount was controlled by repeating a series of operations from the acquisition of such state variables to the up and down movement of the retention tank 9 at intervals of 10 minutes.

  The evapotranspiration rate was measured as follows.

(Measurement of evapotranspiration rate)
The evapotranspiration rate was measured as an average rate for 10 minutes by measuring the change in the scale of the liquid level meter 15 every 10 minutes. First, data on the liquid level at the time of growth disclosure is obtained, and data indicating the liquid level in the storage tank 8 is acquired at time A1 10 minutes after that, and the irrigation in the storage tank 8 is calculated by calculating the liquid level difference. The amount of liquid reduction (CC) is calculated. At this time, a value obtained by dividing the decrease by 10 corresponds to the evapotranspiration rate (CC / min). By repeating this at 10 minute intervals, the evapotranspiration rate at 10 minute intervals was measured.

Comparative Example 1
(Cultivation test)
An apparatus (comparative example apparatus) having the same configuration as the cultivation system was prepared except that mylonite was not mixed. Using this comparative device, the liquid level of the storage container was kept constant (ΔH = 6 cm) regardless of the conditions of various state variables such as evapotranspiration rate, temperature, humidity, and solar radiation intensity. In the same manner as in the cultivation test of Example 1, the cultivation test was conducted and the evapotranspiration rate (CC / min) was measured. The results are shown in FIG.

  From Example 1 and Comparative Example 1, when the amount of irrigation supplied to the plant was not controlled (Comparative Example 1), the evapotranspiration rate decreased and the plant nap phenomenon occurred when the temperature exceeded a certain level. On the other hand, when the amount of irrigation supplied to the plant is controlled using the cultivation system (Example 1), the decrease in the evapotranspiration rate is suppressed even when the temperature exceeds a certain level, and the plant nap phenomenon It was confirmed that was effectively suppressed.

  In addition, about Example 1 and the comparative example 1, when the growth state of the plant was observed visually, in Example 1, compared with the comparative example 1, a leaf stick and gloss are favorable, and the attachment of a tomato fruit When the height of the stalk is compared in the period from the start of growth to the time when the tomato fruit is observed in Example 1, in Example 1, the stem growth amount is also good. It was confirmed that the growth was about 1.4 times. This is because, in Example 1, unlike Comparative Example 1, the amount of irrigation supplied to the plant was controlled using the cultivation system and the synergistic effect of mixing mylonite in the irrigation. Conceivable.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention is useful for realizing a cultivation system that enables efficient plant growth and water saving with as simple a structure as possible.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Cultivation system 2 Liquid supply apparatus 3 Cultivation apparatus 4 Liquid absorbing material 5 Plant 6 Medium 7 Cultivation area 8 Perfusion supply part 9 Retention tank 10 Reservation container 11 Elevation control mechanism 12 Elevation control part 13 Supply port 14 Storage tank 15 Liquid level Total 16 Opening 17 Root-proof liquid-permeable sheet 18 Float 19 Float height adjustment rod 20 Flow rate control rod 21 Float height adjustment screw 22 Fluid volume adjustment valve 23 Lid
24 Rod control member for quantity control 25 Support material 26 Fixing pin 27 Through hole 28 Upper end 29 Vent hole 30 Conduit 31 Suction cloth 32 Rage tong 33 Base 34 Central processing unit 35 Data storage means 36 State detection sensors 37, 38, 39 Actual measurement data
44 granules

Claims (6)

A cultivation apparatus having a cultivation area in which a liquid-absorbing material is disposed and a culture medium capable of cultivating a plant is laid on the liquid-absorbing material,
A liquid supply device that supplies irrigation to the cultivation device, and a cultivation system comprising:
The liquid supply device includes an irrigation supply unit capable of supplying irrigation from a supply port, a retention tank that is supplied with irrigation from the irrigation supply unit and has a certain amount of irrigation therein, and a suction area for the cultivation area. A storage container that stores the irrigation liquid that is disposed below the liquid material installation position and is supplied to the cultivation area, a lift control mechanism that moves the position of the retention tank in the vertical direction, and an operation of the lift control mechanism And a lift control unit for controlling the
The storage container is provided with a wicking material capable of sucking up the irrigation liquid in the storage container, and the wicking material has the upper end side in contact with the liquid absorption material of the cultivation apparatus and the lower end side used as irrigation. Soaked,
The storage container and the retention tank are connected to each other by a conduit so that the irrigation can pass through each other, and the liquid level of the irrigation is aligned with each other.
The raising / lowering control part is comprised so that the operation | movement of a raising / lowering control mechanism may be controlled so that the position of a retention tank may be moved to an up-down direction, The cultivation system characterized by the above-mentioned.
A cultivation apparatus having a cultivation area in which a liquid-absorbing material is disposed and a culture medium capable of cultivating a plant is laid on the liquid-absorbing material,
A liquid supply device that supplies irrigation to the cultivation device, and a cultivation system comprising:
The liquid supply device includes an irrigation supply unit capable of supplying irrigation from a supply port, a retention tank that is supplied with irrigation from the irrigation supply unit and has a certain amount of irrigation therein, and a suction area for the cultivation area. A storage container that stores the irrigation liquid that is disposed below the liquid material installation position and is supplied to the cultivation area, a lift control mechanism that moves the position of the retention tank in the vertical direction, and an operation of the lift control mechanism And a lift control unit for controlling the
The storage container is provided with a wicking material capable of sucking up the irrigation liquid in the storage container, and the wicking material has the upper end side in contact with the liquid absorption material of the cultivation apparatus and the lower end side used as irrigation. Soaked,
The storage container and the retention tank are connected to each other by a conduit so that the irrigation can pass through each other, and the liquid level of the irrigation is aligned with each other.
The elevating control unit is configured to control the operation of the elevating control mechanism so as to move the position of the staying tank in the vertical direction.
A cultivation system characterized in that a granule made of natural ore is mixed in at least one of the cultivation area and the retention tank.
The cultivation system according to claim 2, wherein the natural ore constituting the granule is selected from metamorphic rocks.
The cultivation system of Claim 2 whose natural ore which comprises a granule is mylonite.
The elevating control unit is configured to control the operation of the elevating control mechanism so as to move the position of the staying tank in the vertical direction according to the amount of irrigation required for the plant grown on the cultivation device. The cultivation system in any one of Claim 1 to 4.
  The cultivation system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the wicking material sucks up the irrigation liquid in the storage container by a capillary phenomenon.