JP2012080856A - Plant cultivation apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a plant cultivation apparatus which can evenly spread a nutrient solution on the whole area of a cultivation rack, while reducing the amount of the nutrient solution used therein as much as possible, and has good responsibility for the adjustment of the amount of the nutrient solution.SOLUTION: The plant cultivation apparatus has a cultivation rack 2 on whose upper surface cultivation containers are put, and a nutrient solution supply mechanism 4 for supplying the nutrient solution on the upper surface of the cultivation rack 2, wherein fine uneven structures 21 are formed on the approximately whole upper surface of the cultivation rack 2, and the nutrient solution supplied from the nutrient solution supply mechanism 4 is spread on the approximately whole upper surface of the cultivation rack 2 through the fine uneven structures 21.

Description

  The present invention relates to a hydroponics type plant cultivation apparatus.

  As a hydroponic cultivation type plant cultivation apparatus, as shown in Patent Document 1, there is a thin film hydroponic (NFT) type. This NFT-type plant cultivation apparatus cultivates a plant by forming a nutrient solution layer with a depth of several centimeters and immersing the root of the plant there.

  However, although the NFT type plant cultivation apparatus can reduce the amount of nutrient solution used compared to the liquid type plant cultivation apparatus, there is a problem that the concentration unevenness of the nutrient solution tends to occur. Possible causes of the nutrient solution concentration unevenness include uneven nutrient solution distribution on the cultivation shelf, concentration unevenness at the time of preparation of the nutrient solution, and concentration difference between the beginning and end of circulation of the nutrient solution. The former problem can be improved by spreading a large amount of nutrient solution over the entire cultivation shelf. Further, the latter problem can be improved by always maintaining the nutrient solution concentration constant by a device (for example, a concentration sensor or a mixer) that automatically adjusts the nutrient solution concentration. If it does so, there will be a problem that equipment cost will increase and maintenance will also become complicated.

  In addition, in Patent Document 2, as an improvement of the NFT type plant cultivation apparatus, a cultivation shelf having at least a secondary inclination in the horizontal direction in addition to the primary inclination in the vertical direction in which the conventional nutrient solution flows is provided. What you have is considered. And on this cultivation shelf, the capillary mat excellent in water retention is laid.

  However, even when the supply of nutrient solution is stopped, a considerable amount of nutrient solution is retained in the capillary mat, and the nutrient solution is still supplied to the roots of the plant. If it does so, the time responsiveness of supply control of a nutrient solution will be bad, and there exists a problem that it is difficult to perform plant growth control with high precision.

  JP 2000-50754 A   JP 2007-89489 A

  Therefore, the present invention was made to solve the above problems all at once, and while spreading the nutrient solution throughout the entire cultivation shelf while reducing the amount of nutrient solution used as much as possible. The main purpose is to improve the responsiveness of adjusting the amount of nutrient solution.

  That is, the plant cultivation apparatus according to the present invention includes a cultivation shelf in which a cultivation container in which a medium is stored and plants are planted is placed on the upper surface, and a nutrient solution supply that supplies the nutrient solution to the upper surface of the cultivation shelf. Characterized in that a fine concavo-convex structure is formed on substantially the entire upper surface of the cultivation shelf so that the nutrient solution supplied by the nutrient solution supply mechanism spreads over substantially the entire upper surface of the cultivation shelf. To do.

  If it is such, since the fine uneven structure is formed in the cultivation shelf upper surface, a nutrient solution can be spread over the whole cultivation shelf by flowing a nutrient solution along the said uneven structure. Thereby, a nutrient solution can be spread over the whole cultivation shelf, without increasing the usage-amount of a nutrient solution. Since the usage-amount of nutrient solution can be reduced as much as possible, the mounting weight of a cultivation shelf can be made small. Moreover, since the nutrient solution is supplied so as to be transmitted to the fine concavo-convex structure, the responsiveness of the nutrient solution amount can be improved. Furthermore, the culture medium is accommodated in the cultivation container, and the concentration unevenness of the nutrient solution can be reduced using the buffering action of the culture medium. In addition, since the cultivation container is placed on the cultivation shelf, various cultivation containers can be used without being influenced by the difference in the shape of the cultivation container.

  In order to realize the fine concavo-convex structure with a simple configuration, it is desirable that the fine concavo-convex structure is formed by laying a net-like body on the upper surface of the cultivation shelf. Here, when the cultivation shelf is made of a material having water permeability, the outflow of the nutrient solution can be prevented by laying a water-impermeable sheet between the upper surface of the cultivation shelf and the net-like body.

  In order to realize a fine concavo-convex structure at a low cost and facilitate the handling of the net-like body, it is desirable that the net-like body is a net formed by plain weaving of resin-made warp and weft yarns. By using such a net, processing is easy according to the size, shape, etc. of the cultivation shelf, and the weight is light, so that the cultivation shelf can be reduced in weight.

  It is desirable that the cultivation container is a container having a bottomed cylindrical storage portion in which a water supply port is formed on the bottom surface. For example, it is desirable to be a seedling pot or cell tray in which a medium such as a lightweight medium is accommodated.

  For example, a light medium mainly composed of peat moss may be used as the light medium. In addition, rock wool, sand, gravel, etc. do not have a buffering action, and the concentration unevenness of the nutrient solution directly affects the plant.

  In order to make the effect of the present invention more remarkable, it is desirable that the nutrient solution supply mechanism intermittently supplies the nutrient solution to the cultivation shelf. In the present invention, since the fine concavo-convex structure is provided, the nutrient solution can be spread over the entire cultivation shelf upper surface immediately after the nutrient solution is supplied by the nutrient solution supply mechanism, and immediately after the nutrient solution is stopped by the nutrient solution supply mechanism. The nutrient solution can be removed from the upper surface of the cultivation shelf.

  According to the present invention configured as described above, while reducing the amount of nutrient solution used as much as possible, the nutrient solution can be spread throughout the entire cultivation shelf, and the amount of nutrient solution can be adjusted. Responsiveness can be improved.

  The perspective view which shows typically the structure of the plant cultivation apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention.   The top view of the cultivation shelf of the embodiment.   The AA line expanded sectional view of the plant cultivation apparatus of the embodiment.   The partial enlarged view which shows typically the fine concavo-convex structure of the embodiment.   Sectional drawing of the plant cultivation apparatus which concerns on deformation | transformation embodiment.   Sectional drawing of the plant cultivation apparatus which concerns on deformation | transformation embodiment.   The figure which shows the modification of a fine uneven structure.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a plant cultivation apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  The plant cultivation apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment is of a hydroponics type, reduces the burden of the working posture (standing posture) during cultivation, and is easy even for an operator sitting on a wheelchair or the like. This is an elevated bench-type plant cultivation device that enables cultivation, and integrates the seedling equipment from sowing to raising seedlings with the cultivation equipment from planting and harvesting seedlings.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, this is a cultivation shelf 2 on which the cultivation container P is placed on the upper surface, a nutrient solution tank 3 for storing a nutrient solution, and the nutrient solution tank 3. A nutrient solution supply mechanism 4 that supplies the nutrient solution to the upper surface of the cultivation shelf 2 and a nutrient solution recovery mechanism 5 that recovers the nutrient solution supplied to the upper surface of the cultivation shelf 2 in the nutrient solution tank 3 are provided.

  As shown in FIG. 2 in particular, the cultivation shelf 2 has a substantially rectangular flat plate shape on which cultivation containers P such as a cell tray and a seedling pot (for example, a polypot) are placed. The cultivation shelf 2 is horizontally supported by a leg member 6 at a predetermined height (for example, about 50 cm to 80 cm) from the ground surface (ground). The cultivation shelf 2 of the present embodiment is provided in two rows in the short direction (left and right direction in FIG. 2). In addition, the code | symbol 2H is a prevention wall which prevents the nutrient solution supplied to the upper surface of the cultivation shelf 2 from flowing out except the drainage ditch 5 mentioned later.

  The nutrient solution tank 3 is installed on the ground on one end side in the longitudinal direction of the cultivation shelf 2. The nutrient solution stored in the nutrient solution tank 3 is supplied to the upper surface of the cultivation shelf 2 by the nutrient solution supply mechanism 4. In the nutrient solution tank 3, the nutrient solution supplied to the cultivation shelf 2 is recovered by the nutrient solution recovery mechanism 5 and stored again.

  The nutrient solution supply mechanism 4 includes a water supply pump 41 provided in the nutrient solution tank 3 and a supply pipe 42 for supplying the nutrient solution fed by the water supply pump 41 to the cultivation shelf 2. The supply pipe 42 is made of, for example, a vinyl chloride tube, and a plurality of discharge holes for discharging the nutrient solution to the outside are formed on the side wall thereof. Moreover, the supply pipe 42 is branched into two near the water supply pump 41, and one supply pipe 42a is arranged along the longitudinal direction on the outer side (left side in FIG. 2) of one cultivation shelf 2. The other supply pipe 42b is arranged along the longitudinal direction on the outer side (the right side in FIG. 2) of the other cultivation shelf 2. In such a nutrient solution supply mechanism 4, the amount of nutrient solution supplied to the cultivation shelf 2 is controlled by controlling the rotation speed of the water supply pump 41 and the like. Note that a controller that controls the water supply pump 41 is not shown. The supply pipe 42 may be one that does not branch, or an existing irrigation tube may be used.

  The nutrient solution recovery mechanism 5 recovers the nutrient solution that has not been absorbed by the plant among the nutrient solutions supplied to the cultivation shelf 2. The nutrient solution recovery mechanism 5 of the present embodiment is a drainage groove disposed along the longitudinal direction between adjacent cultivation shelves 2. The downstream opening of the drainage groove 5 communicates with the nutrient solution tank 3 so that the nutrient solution flowing through the drainage groove 5 flows into the nutrient solution tank 3. Thereby, in this plant cultivation apparatus 100, it is comprised so that a waste liquid may not come out by circulating a nutrient solution.

  Therefore, the fine uneven structure 21 is formed on substantially the entire top surface of the cultivation shelf 2 of the present embodiment (see FIG. 4), and the nutrient solution supplied by the nutrient solution supply mechanism 4 is fine due to capillary action and surface tension. It is configured so as to spread over the entire upper surface of the cultivation shelf 2 through the uneven structure 21.

  The fine concavo-convex structure 21 of the present embodiment spreads the nutrient solution from the supply pipe 52 over substantially the entire top surface of the cultivation shelf 2 and guides it to the drainage groove 5. It is formed by laying. Specifically, the net 201 is a net formed by plain weaving of warp and weft made of resin such as polyethylene having excellent weather resistance. The net 201 has a substantially rectangular shape that is substantially the same as the planar shape of the cultivation shelf 2. Thus, by laying the net 201 on the upper surface of the cultivation shelf 2, the nutrient solution supplied by the nutrient solution supply mechanism 4 travels along the warp and weft of the mesh 201. Further, by using the net 201, the water depth of the nutrient solution can be set to, for example, 5 mm or less, more preferably 1 mm or less.

  A cultivation container P is placed on the net 201. In this embodiment, it is comprised so that various cultivation containers P can be directly mounted on the cultivation shelf 2, and workability | operativity is good. At this time, the nutrient solution flowing through the net 201 is sucked into the light medium in the cultivation container P from the water supply port formed on the bottom surface of the cultivation container P and absorbed by the plant. In addition, the light culture medium in the cultivation container P is a light culture medium which has a buffering effect, for example, mainly peat moss, and the concentration unevenness of the nutrient solution is reduced by the buffering action of the light culture medium.

  Moreover, when controlling the nutrient solution supply mechanism 4 and supplying a nutrient solution intermittently, in the time slot | zone when the supply of a nutrient solution is stopped, the unnecessary nutrient solution in the cultivation container P is immediately after stopping. While flowing out to the upper surface of the cultivation shelf through the hole at the bottom, the nutrient solution on the cultivation shelf immediately flows through the net 201 to the drainage groove 5 and is stored again in the nutrient solution tank 3. Thereby, it becomes possible to supply moderate air to the roots of the plant, and it is possible to prevent root deficiency and prevent rooting.

<Effect of this embodiment>
According to the plant cultivation apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment configured as described above, the net 201 is laid on the upper surface of the cultivation shelf 2, and the nutrient solution flows through the mesh 201, thereby supplying the nutrient solution to the cultivation shelf 2. Can be spread throughout. Thereby, since the water depth of a nutrient solution can be 5 mm or less, a nutrient solution can be spread over the cultivation shelf 2 whole, without increasing the usage-amount of a nutrient solution. Since the usage-amount of nutrient solution can be reduced as much as possible, the mounting weight of the cultivation shelf 2 can be made small. Further, since a small amount of nutrient solution is supplied so as to be transmitted to the net 201, the responsiveness of the nutrient solution amount can be improved. Furthermore, the light culture medium is accommodated in the cultivation container P, and the concentration unevenness of the nutrient solution can be reduced using the buffering action of the light culture medium. Moreover, since the cultivation container P is placed on the cultivation shelf 2, various cultivation containers P such as existing cultivation containers can be used without being influenced by the difference in the shape of the cultivation container P or the like. .

  In particular, since the net 201 formed by plain weaving of the warp and weft made of resin is used, it is easy to process according to the size, shape, etc. of the cultivation shelf 2 and is lightweight. Can be Moreover, the amount of nutrient solution flowing on the cultivation shelf 2 can be reduced as much as possible, and the mounting weight of the cultivation shelf 2 can be reduced. This makes it easy to configure an elevated bench.

<Other modified embodiments>
The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. In the following description, the same reference numerals are given to members corresponding to the above-described embodiment.

  For example, although the cultivation shelf 2 of the said embodiment is installed so that it may become horizontal, you may make it incline so that the cultivation shelf 2 may become a mountain shape as shown in FIG. At this time, the drainage grooves 5 are provided on the outer edge of each cultivation shelf.

  Moreover, as shown in FIG. 6, you may arrange | position the cultivation shelf 2 inclining so that it may become a valley shape. At this time, it is conceivable that the drainage grooves 5 are arranged in common in the valley portions of the cultivation shelf 2.

  Furthermore, as the net-like body, a Teflon net having a net shape obtained by cutting a rectangular or diamond-like net pattern into a Teflon sheet may be used. In addition to the plain weave net, the net-like body may be an entangled net, a Russell weave net, or a trical net.

  Furthermore, although the fine concavo-convex structure of the said embodiment is formed using the net-like body, you may make it form a fine concavo-convex structure by processing the upper surface of a cultivation shelf mechanically or chemically. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, it is conceivable to form a fine uneven shape so as to have a tile shape.

  In addition, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Plant cultivation apparatus P ... Cultivation container 2 ... Cultivation shelf 3 ... Nutrient solution tank 4 ... Nutrient solution supply mechanism 5 ... Nutrient solution collection mechanism (drainage groove)
21: Fine uneven structure 201 ... Reticulated body (net)

Claims (6)

A cultivation shelf in which a cultivation container containing a medium and plants planted in this medium is placed on the upper surface;
Comprising a nutrient solution supply mechanism for supplying nutrient solution to the upper surface of the cultivation shelf,
A plant cultivation device in which a fine concavo-convex structure is formed on substantially the entire top surface of the cultivation shelf so that the nutrient solution supplied by the nutrient solution supply mechanism spreads over substantially the entire top surface of the cultivation shelf.   The plant cultivation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fine concavo-convex structure is formed by laying a net-like body on an upper surface of the cultivation shelf.   The plant cultivation apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the net-like body is a net formed by plain weaving of warp and weft made of resin.   The plant cultivation device according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the cultivation container is a container having a bottomed cylindrical storage portion having a water supply port formed on a bottom surface.   The plant cultivation device according to claim 1, wherein the cultivation container is a seedling pot or a cell tray using a light medium.   The plant cultivation device according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5, wherein the nutrient solution supply mechanism intermittently supplies the nutrient solution to the cultivation shelf.

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