JP2013150591A - Method for cultivating plant, and medium, cultivation vessel and cultivation apparatus used for the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for cultivating plants that can prevent contamination caused by bacteria in soil and root rot caused by excessive water while allowing the reuse of a medium, and a cultivation vessel used for the method.SOLUTION: A method for cultivating plants includes filling a cultivation vessel 12 with a medium 25 comprising grains 25a made of a water non-absorbing polymeric material, planting plants P in the medium, then closing a drain plug 21 of the cultivation vessel 12 to fill the cultivation vessel 12 with water W by a pump 15, and opening the drain plug 21 after the lapse of a predetermined time to drain water from the cultivation vessel 12, thus wetting the surfaces of the grains 25a in the medium 25 with water. When filling water, even the leaves are soaked in water once every several times. The medium 25 used for this cultivation method comprises the water non-absorbing grains 25a made of rubber or synthetic resin with an average grain diameter of 1-6 mm, wherein each grain is a foam of closed cell, and its specific gravity is larger than 1.

Description

  The present invention relates to a plant cultivation method and a medium, a cultivation tank and a cultivation apparatus used for the method.

  Recently, leafy vegetables and the like have been cultivated in a clean environment using hydroponics without using soil or artificial lighting such as LEDs. However, tall vegetables such as leeks are difficult to hydroponic. In addition, it has been pointed out that artificial lighting does not produce strong vegetables.

  On the other hand, it has also been proposed to use an artificial medium in houseplants and the like. For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses a cultivation apparatus in which a sponge-like medium is provided on the upper part of a water tank with an air layer (space) between the water surface. The medium consists of an open-cell foam made of polyurethane. In order to cultivate plants using this apparatus, the water in the aquarium is pumped up, water is supplied from the upper surface of the medium so that the medium is soaked, and excess water is returned to the aquarium through the medium. Since this cultivation method does not use soil, there is little contamination of the medium by bacteria in the soil. Moreover, since the culture medium is separated from the water surface, it can be appropriately dried to prevent root rot.

  Patent Document 2 discloses a water purification device and a water purification method that grows aquatic plants such as reeds using a medium intertwined with a line made of thermoplastic resin and promotes the purification ability of rivers. FIG. 7 of Patent Document 3 discloses a plant-growing material in which a thin film is tailored in three dimensions and filled with granular rock wool. This material can retain the water by utilizing the capillary phenomenon of rock wool, and can further grow the vine plant by invading and fixing the air roots of the vine plant.

JP 2006-158383 A JP 2002-119160 A Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 2-46541

  On the other hand, the sponge-like medium made of open-cell foam of Patent Document 1 has a high moisture retention capacity, while plant roots enter the inside of the bubbles. Therefore, it is difficult to separate from a plant at the time of replanting or harvesting, and it is difficult to reuse after separation. Therefore, it is not suitable for mass production of edible plants such as vegetables. In addition, in the general plant cultivation method using soil and sand as the medium, the soil and sand are separated, so it is easy to disinfect by continuously putting it in a furnace and heating it at high temperature or passing it in hot water. However, heat is difficult to reach in a block-shaped medium because heat does not easily reach the inside.

  Since the resinous medium of Patent Document 2 is not a medium for harvesting plants, it is not assumed that the plant and the medium are separated. In addition, it is hard to disinfect because it is hardened in blocks. Therefore, it cannot be adopted as a cultivation method for harvesting vegetables.

Even a material filled with granular rock wool in the thin film of Patent Document 3 is difficult to reuse because the root enters the inside of the rock wool. The surface of the granular rock wool can be sterilized with hot water or the like, but it is difficult to disinfect the inside. In addition, leaf leaves are difficult to clean and fertilize.

  The present invention is a method for cultivating a plant that can further prevent contamination by soil bacteria and root rot due to excessive moisture when cultivating vegetables that are difficult to hydroponically cultivate, and can easily reuse the medium. In addition, it is a technical problem to provide a medium and a cultivation tank that are used in the method, in which the roots of plants are difficult to enter, are easy to disinfect, and do not easily cause root rot. Furthermore, this invention makes it the technical subject to provide the cultivation method and cultivation apparatus with which the washing | cleaning of a leaf and the fertilization with respect to a leaf are easy.

  In the plant cultivation method of the present invention (Claim 1), a culture tank is filled with a medium composed of non-absorbent particles, and seeds of plants or seedlings are planted on the culture medium, and then water is poured into the culture tank. It is characterized in that the surface of particles of the medium is wetted with water by filling and immersing the medium in water and draining the water after a predetermined time.

  In this cultivation method, when the cultivation tank is filled with water depending on the plant to be cultivated, it is preferable to fill the cultivation tank with water to the extent that the leaves of the plant being cultivated are pickled once (Claim 2). Moreover, it is preferable to fill with water by supplying water to the said cultivation tank, and to drain water by draining from a cultivation tank (Claim 3). Further, the side or bottom of the cultivation tank does not allow the culture medium to pass through the water, and the cultivation tank is filled with water by immersing the cultivation tank in the aquarium, and then cultivated by taking the cultivation tank out of the aquarium. You may make it drain water from a tank (Claim 4).

  The culture medium of the present invention (Claim 5) is a culture medium used in any one of the above cultivation methods, and has an average particle diameter of 1 to 6 mm, from non-absorbent particles that do not float on water due to buoyancy or surface tension. It is characterized by becoming. More preferably, the particles have heat resistance that can withstand temperatures exceeding 60 ° C. (Claim 6). As the particles, inorganic particles made of a polymer material such as rubber or synthetic resin, or those obtained by heating crushed glass particles and rounding the corners can be adopted.

The cultivation tank of the present invention (Claim 7) is a cultivation tank used in the cultivation method of the present invention, and is arranged with a space between the container body and the bottom surface of the container body in the container body. And an insole that allows water to pass through and does not allow the medium to pass.
Another aspect (Claim 8) of the cultivation tank of the present invention is a cultivation tank used for the cultivation method of the present invention, which is composed of a container body and a large number of pods arranged in the container body. The pod is characterized by having a bottom surface or a side surface that allows water to pass and does not allow the medium to pass.

  The cultivation apparatus (Claim 9) of the present invention is a cultivation apparatus used in the cultivation method described above, and supplies water to the cultivation tank by means of a water tank, a cultivation tank disposed in the upper part of the tank, and water in the water tank. A water supply device, a discharge device for discharging water from the cultivation tank, and a timer for managing the water supply time and the water discharge time.

  In such a cultivation tank, the water level when water is supplied by the water supply device is two positions, a low water level where the culture medium is immersed in water and a high water level where the leaves of the plant being grown are immersed in water. What supplies water to a high water level once is preferable (Claim 10). The other aspect (Claim 11) of the cultivation apparatus of the present invention is a cultivation apparatus used for the cultivation method, and raises and lowers the aquarium, the cultivation tank disposed on the upper part of the aquarium, and the cultivation tank or the aquarium. And a control device that manages the operation time of the lifting device, and the culture tank passes through the medium with its side or bottom permeating water. It is characterized by not.

  In such a cultivation apparatus, the water tank has a depth enough to soak the leaves of the plant in the cultivation tank, and the lifting device can be soaked in the water tank to the extent that the leaves of the plant growing the cultivation tank are soaked. (Claim 12).

  According to the cultivation method of the present invention (Claim 1), since the culture medium is composed of non-water-absorbing particles, water does not enter the particles. Therefore, plant roots stay on the surface of the particles and do not penetrate inside. Therefore, it is easy to separate the medium from the plant. In addition, since the medium is separated from each particle, cleaning and disinfection are easy. Furthermore, since the medium is easy to dry, root rot due to excessive moisture hardly occurs. Moreover, since filling and draining of water may be repeated as necessary, it is easy to manage the number of times of supplying water and liquid fertilizer, the concentration of liquid fertilizer, and the like.

  When filling the cultivation tank with water to the extent that the leaves of the plant being cultivated are pickled once every few times (Claim 2), washing the cultivated leaves and adding to the leaves Water supply and fertilization can be performed easily. Furthermore, pests on the leaves can be removed. Therefore, it can be efficiently cultivated for leafy vegetables. Moreover, since the leaves are soaked in water, not only the surface of the leaves but also the back side can be given sufficient moisture.

  According to the cultivation method (Claim 3) which fills water by supplying water to the cultivation tank and drains water by draining from the cultivation tank (Claim 3), the cultivation tank can be easily soaked with water in a fixed state. Can do. Moreover, if the drained water is stored in a water tank and the water is used again at the next water supply, water and fertilizer will not be wasted. For example, a drain plug is provided at the bottom of the cultivation tank, and the cultivation tank is filled with water by supplying water to the cultivation tank with the drain plug closed, and water is removed from the cultivation tank by opening the drain plug. When draining water, it is possible to easily fill and drain water. When cultivating while circulating a large number of cultivation tanks, if you close the drain valve at a specific stage, supply water from the tank, etc., pull out the drain valve at the next stage, and return the water to the tank, Water and liquid fertilizer contained in water can be used effectively.

  Further, the side or bottom of the cultivation tank does not allow the culture medium to pass through the water, and the cultivation tank is filled with water by immersing the cultivation tank in the aquarium, and then cultivated by taking the cultivation tank out of the aquarium. When water is drained from the tank (claim 4), the water can be quickly filled or drained. In addition, when immersing water in the cultivation tank, adopt a method such as placing the cultivation tank on the aquarium and lowering it to attach it to the water, raising the aquarium, or raising the aquarium while lowering the cultivation tank Can do.

  The medium of the present invention (Claim 5) has an average particle diameter of 1 to 6 mm and is composed of non-water-absorbing particles that do not float in water due to buoyancy or surface tension, so that plant roots do not enter inside, Little damage to the roots. Furthermore, since the roots do not enter and the particles constituting the medium are separated, it is easy to perform processing such as washing and disinfection for reuse of the medium. In addition, since it does not float in water due to buoyancy or surface tension, the particles do not adhere to the leaves even when the leaves of the plants are immersed in water. Moreover, since a culture medium does not float on water, when a cultivation tank is filled with water, a plant does not fall down.

  Further, when using particles having heat resistance that can withstand temperatures exceeding 60 ° C. (Claim 6), cleaning and disinfection with hot water, hot water, steam, high-temperature gas, hot air, etc. can be performed. Is easy. In particular, normal bacteria can be disinfected by sterilization at 60 ° C. or higher for 1 minute or longer.

Since the cultivation tank of the present invention (Claim 7) is provided with an insole that allows water to pass through and is not allowed to pass through the medium, with a space between the container body and the bottom surface of the container body. Easy to adjust the humidity of the medium. Therefore, it is difficult for root rot.

  Another aspect (Claim 8) of the cultivation tank of the present invention is composed of a container main body and a large number of pods arranged in the container main body, and each pod allows water to pass through and does not allow the culture medium to pass through. Because it has a side, you can manage plants for each pod. Therefore, it is easy to cultivate plants of different types with different planting and harvesting times at the same time.

  The cultivation apparatus (Claim 9) of the present invention includes a water tank, a cultivation tank disposed in the upper part of the water tank, a water supply device that supplies water from the water tank to the cultivation tank by a pump, and discharges water from the cultivation tank. Since the discharge device which performs and the timer which manages water supply time and drainage time are provided, the water of a tank can be used for water supply repeatedly. Therefore, the fertilizer put in water is not wasted. And a timer can supply water to the culture medium of a cultivation tank at the appropriate time of the day.

  In such a cultivation device, the water level when the water is supplied by the water supply device is two positions, that is, a low water level where the medium is immersed in water and a high water level where the leaves of the cultivated plant are immersed in water. When water is supplied to a high water level (claim 10), leaf cleaning, pest removal, and fertilization of the leaf can be performed automatically and efficiently.

  The 2nd aspect (Claim 11) of the cultivation apparatus of this invention is a tank, the cultivation tank arrange | positioned at the upper part of the tank, and raising / lowering the cultivation tank or an aquarium, and immersing and taking out a cultivation tank in an aquarium And a control device that manages the operation time of the lifting device, and the cultivation tank is such that the side or the bottom permeates water and does not pass the medium, It can be done automatically.

  Moreover, when the said water tank is provided with the depth of the grade which the plant leaf of a cultivation tank is immersed, and the said raising / lowering device is what can be immersed in an aquarium to the extent that the leaf of the plant which is growing a cultivation tank is immersed ( The twelfth aspect of the present invention can easily clean the leaves of the plant and supply and fertilize the water. In particular, since the leaves are soaked in water, not only the surface of the leaves but also the back side can be given sufficient moisture.

It is sectional drawing which shows one Embodiment of the cultivation apparatus used for the cultivation method of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows one Embodiment of the cultivation method of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows embodiment of the particle | grains which comprise the culture medium used for the cultivation method of this invention. It is a schematic process drawing which shows the method of manufacturing the particle | grains of FIG. It is a schematic side view which shows other embodiment of the cultivation apparatus of this invention. It is a partially cutaway principal part perspective view of the cultivation tank used for the cultivation apparatus of FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows other embodiment of the cultivation apparatus of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows other embodiment of the cultivation apparatus of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows other embodiment of the cultivation apparatus of this invention. It is a top view of the cultivation apparatus of FIG. 11a is an enlarged view of the main part of FIG. 10, and FIG. 11b is an enlarged view of the main part of FIG. It is the XII-XII line expanded sectional view of FIG.

A cultivation apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1 includes a main body 11 and a cultivation tank 12 accommodated in the main body. The lower part of the main body 11 is a water tank 13, and the upper part is a guide wall 14 that guides the cultivation tank 12 so as to slide up and down. A pump 15 is attached to the main body 11, and a water supply pipe 16 rises upward from the pump. The upper end of the water supply pipe 16 is bent inward. The pump 15 may be a submersible pump provided inside the water tank 13. A support piece 17 that supports the cultivation tank 12 is provided on the inner surface of the main body 11. The water tank 13 is filled with water W containing a fertilizer such as liquid fertilizer. The space K between the liquid surface H and the bottom surface of the cultivation tank 12 is a space K in which air enters. The gap between the guide wall 14 and the cultivation tank 12 is made small. Thereby, the cultivation tank 12 becomes a lid | cover for preventing that the water and liquid fertilizer of the water tank 13 evaporate, or refuse enters a water tank.

  The cultivation tank 12 is a liquid-tight container, and can be manufactured using a metal such as stainless steel or a synthetic resin such as a fiber reinforced resin (FRP). In this embodiment, a drain port 20 is formed in the bottom plate 19 of the cultivation tank 12, and the drain port is closed by a drain plug 21. An operation rod 22 is connected to the drain plug 21 so that it can be opened and closed from the outside. Instead of the operation bar 22, a mechanism for remotely opening and closing the stopper of the wash basin or a solenoid valve may be employed. The cultivation tank 12 is further provided with an insole 24 made of a wire net, a net made of a synthetic resin, a net or the like, and a medium 25 made of a large number of particles 25 a is filled on the insole 24. The insole 24 is water-permeable and fine enough to not pass through the medium particles 25a. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the insole 24 is constituted by the bottom of a wire mesh rod 26. It is preferable to use a fine mesh or net, such as a net made of a synthetic resin line such as polyester, or a net used for insect screen doors. Since there is air in the space K2 between the bottom plate 19 and the midsole 24 of the cultivation tank 12, the drainage is good. It is preferable that the space K2 communicates with the outside air. For example, by forming a communication hole in the lower part of the side wall of the cultivation tank 12, it is possible to communicate with the outside air in the space K2.

  The particles 25a constituting the medium 25 have a substantially cubic shape as shown in FIG. 3, for example. The particles 25a are made of a material that is impermeable to water, and those that have a specific gravity of 1 or more and sink into water are used. Further, those that do not float on water due to surface tension are used. The medium 25 is planted with a plant P such as a leek to be cultivated.

  The cultivation apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1 can be used for the cultivation method shown in FIG. In this cultivation method, first, the medium 25 is put into the cultivation tank 12 as shown in FIG. 1, and the plant P is planted in the medium 25 (first step S1). You may sow seeds and grow them. The cultivation tank 12 is inserted into the guide wall 14 of the main body 10 as shown in FIG.

  Next, the drain plug 21 is closed (second step S2), and the water W in the water tank 13 is raised through the water supply pipe 16 by the pump 15 and sprayed to the cultivation tank 12 from the upper end (third step S3). At this time, since the drain plug 21 is closed, the inside of the cultivation tank 12 is filled with water W. The water W is usually filled up above the medium 25. However, the liquid level may not reach the upper surface of the medium 25. In the case of leafy vegetables and the like, it is preferable to raise the water level to the extent that the leaves are soaked in water, as indicated by the imaginary line. Thereby, leaf cleaning, fertilization, and pest removal can be performed efficiently. The leaves can be soaked in water only once a day. However, it may be pickled every time.

  Next, after a predetermined time has elapsed, the drain plug 21 is opened, the water W inside the cultivation tank 12 is drained, and returned to the water tank 13 (fourth step S4). The time for filling the cultivation tank 12 with water varies depending on the kind of plant or the size of the particles, the surface state, the temperature and the humidity, but is usually about several tens of seconds to several minutes. In the case of a crop that is relatively resistant to drying, the time is short, and in the case of a crop that is vulnerable to drying, the water is allowed to adhere to the surface of the particles for a long time. In summer, when the temperature is high and transpiration from the leaves is high, the water supply is increased, and in winter the water supply is reduced.

Next, the state in which the water is drained from the cultivation tank 12 is maintained for several hours, and further, a second water filling step (fifth step S5), that is, the drain valve is closed, the water is pumped up, and the water is drained after a predetermined time. Perform the steps. The step of filling and removing the water differs depending on the plant to be cultivated, but is usually performed about 1 to 5 times a day and repeated every day until harvesting. However, it is preferable to change the number of times of water supply according to the growth situation. And after the plant is fully grown, harvest (
Sixth step S6). At the time of harvesting, the cultivation tank 12 may be extracted from the main body 11 and harvested, or the wire mesh basket 26 may be extracted from the main body of the cultivation tank 12 and harvested.

  According to said cultivation method, since the root part of the plant P can be buried in the culture medium 25, cultivation of tall plants P, such as a leek which is difficult for hydroponics, is also possible. If you want to increase the white area of the leek, put the medium high. Then, the medium is gradually covered with the height as the height increases. In this cultivation method, since water is removed every time water is supplied, the plant is cultivated with water adhering to the surface of the particles 25a constituting the medium 25 or water held in the gaps between the particles 25a. Become. Therefore, root rot is prevented. Moreover, since the culture medium 25 consists of a non-water-absorbing material, propagation of miscellaneous bacteria is suppressed and a clean vegetable etc. can be cultivated. As vegetables to be cultivated, various vegetables such as root vegetables such as Japanese radish, tomatoes and cucumbers can be cultivated in addition to the above-mentioned leek and spinach. In addition to edible plants, plants for viewing, plants for collecting raw materials such as safflower, etc. can also be cultivated. Since no soil is used for the culture medium, freshly picked vegetables can be brought directly into the kitchen or dining table.

  Such particles 25a are preferably substantially quadrangular prisms as shown in FIG. 3, for example. When it is square, the particles 25a are engaged with each other and can firmly support the roots of the plant. In other words, spherical particles can not be used, but if the plant shakes, the medium can move easily and the roots may float. The planar shape of the particle 25a is substantially a quadrilateral, but each side is bent in a jagged manner. Therefore, the planar shape is indefinite, such as a star shape, a drum shape, or a barrel shape. The particles 25a as a whole are indefinite, and when many particles are filled, the particles are firmly engaged with each other, and there is a gap that allows air and water to pass through. As the material of the particles 25a, polymer materials such as rubber and synthetic resin are used. In particular, synthetic rubber such as ethylene / propylene / rubber (EPR), rubber such as natural rubber, epoxy resin, ethylene / propylene copolymer Synthetic resins such as coalescence and polyester, and thermoplastic elastomers are preferred. The durometer type A hardness is preferably about 40 to 80 degrees, more preferably about 55 to 60 degrees.

  These materials are preferably closed-celled foams, which are highly elastic and therefore do not easily damage plant roots. Further, by using closed cells, it is possible to prevent plant roots, particularly hair roots, from entering the particles 25a. Moreover, what has the heat resistance which can be equal to 60 degreeC or more and heat for 1 minute is preferable, and it can sterilize by hot water disinfection or hot water disinfection by it. For heating, hot water, hot water, steam, high-temperature gas, hot air, or the like can be used. The sterilization effect is high at a temperature of 100 ° C. like hot water. Sterilization can also be performed with a disinfectant, in which case resistance to the drug is desired rather than heat resistance.

  When particles having high resistance to high temperature or sterilization treatment with chemicals are desired, inorganic substances such as glass, sand, gravel and ceramics are preferred. In the case of glass, glass pieces (glass beads) crushed to an average particle diameter of about 1 to 6 mm are used. This makes it possible to effectively use waste glass and the like. The crushed glass pieces are preferably rounded by barrel processing and further heated at a high temperature of about 600 ° C. to 900 ° C. to round the corners. As for sand and gravel, it is preferable to perform barrel processing in order to round the same size and shape. As a result, the roots of the plant are hardly damaged. Particles such as glass pieces are difficult to adhere to moisture if the surface is smooth, and dry early. For this reason, the surface of the particles is preferably rough to some extent in order to easily adhere moisture and improve water retention. As sand and gravel, sea sand can be used in addition to river sand.

As the size of the particles 25a, those having an average particle shape of about 1 to 6 mm are preferable. The smaller the particle, the larger the surface area per volume. However, if it is smaller than 1 mm, the mesh of the net or wire mesh becomes fine and difficult to handle, and manufacturing becomes difficult. Furthermore, since the surface area is larger than the weight, it is easy to float on water due to surface tension, and more easily adheres to the leaves of plants. On the other hand, when the thickness exceeds 6 mm, not only the surface area per volume is decreased, but also there is a problem that the gap between the particles is increased and the leek cannot be sufficiently supported. Therefore, 1-6 mm is preferable. However, depending on the plant, particles smaller than 1 mm or particles larger than 6 mm can be used. It should be noted that large particles and small particles can be combined, or several types of particles having different sizes can be used in combination.

  To produce such particles 25a, as shown in FIG. 4, first, a rubber or synthetic resin sheet 30 having a thickness of 1 to 6 mm is provided with a large number of cuts 31 in parallel, leaving both ends, Then, a number of cuts 32 intersecting with those cuts 31 are made. The notches 31 and 32 are preferably bent in a jagged manner. If it is jagged, moisture tends to adhere. Furthermore, the elasticity between the particles increases, and the plant to be cultivated is surely retained. The width B of the cuts 31 and 32 is about 1 to 6 mm. Thereby, a large number of particles 25a can be produced at a time. The sheets 30 may be one by one or may be a continuous sheet fed from a roll. In the case where the sheet 30 is foamed rubber or foamed resin, the cut surface is rough, so that moisture is more likely to adhere.

  The notches 31 and 32 can be easily formed by a Thomson type (Thomson blade). However, other methods such as a roll blade can be employed. The present inventor was able to cut a rubber sheet having a thickness of 2 mm into a width of 2 mm, and further cut a rubber sheet with a width of 2 mm in a perpendicular direction to produce a large number of particles. And I was able to grow leek and spinach using the particles. In addition to cutting with a Thomson mold, for example, it can also be manufactured by sequentially cutting extruded rectangular string-like rubber or synthetic resin into a predetermined length. Also in this case, closed-cell foamed rubber or foamed resin is preferable. At that time, the cut surface may be knurled, or the side surface or the top and bottom surfaces may be pressed with a knurled surface before curing. However, according to the method of making a large number of cuts 31 and 32 in the sheet 30 of FIG.

  In the cultivation apparatus 10 of FIG. 1, the cultivation tank 12 is accommodated in the main body 11, but a number of cultivation tanks 12 can be connected by a chain conveyor or the like and can be cultivated while being circulated. In that case, close the drain plug at a specific stage, supply water from the water supply pipe etc. provided on that stage, and pull out the drain plug when it comes to the next stage or after a lapse of a predetermined time. If water is returned to the water tank provided in, the liquid fertilizer contained in the water and water can be used effectively.

  In the cultivation apparatus 10 of FIG. 1, the drain plug 21 is opened and closed to fill the cultivation tank 12 with water or drain water to supply water, but a valve that can be electrically opened and closed such as a solenoid valve is also used. Good. In that case, the filling and draining of water can be controlled by remote control, and the time of water supply and draining can also be controlled by a timer. In addition, in the said embodiment, although water is poured from the top with respect to a cultivation tank, or water is drained from the bottom, on the contrary, the cultivation tank 12 which has water permeability is immersed in the water tank 13, or it pulls up. It is also possible to supply and drain water. In this case, the bottom plate 20 of the cultivation tank 12 of FIG. And the cultivation tank 12 is suspended, it is immersed in the water tank 13 for every predetermined time, and then it pulls up.

  The cultivation apparatus 35 shown in FIG. 5 can perform such a pickling and raising to an aquarium efficiently. The cultivation apparatus 35 connects a large number of cultivation tanks 12 with a chain conveyor 36, circulates them along a fixed route, and immerses them in a water tank 37 at at least one place. In this chain conveyor 36, several sprockets 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43 are arranged so as to take a rectangular or trapezoidal circulation path in a side view, and the chain and the cultivation tank 12 are supported by them. In addition, the direction of travel is changed. Then, it is lowered above the water tank 37 in the middle of the circulation path, and then raised.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the cultivation tank 12 has an elongated cocoon or cocoon shape, and at least the bottom surface 45 is made of a material that allows water to pass therethrough and does not allow the medium particles to pass through, for example, a wire net, punching metal, insect net, etc. To do. The whole or side of the cultivation tank 12 can also be manufactured from a water-permeable material. At both ends of the cultivation tank 12, hooks 46 detachably attached to the chain conveyor 36 are provided. The medium 25 can be the same as that used in the cultivation apparatus 10 of FIG.

  The cultivation apparatus 35 of FIG. 5, FIG. 6 immerses the cultivation tank 12 in the water tank 37 in order by circulating the chain conveyor 36, and supplies water. When the cultivation tank 12 is pulled up from the water tank 37, excess water flows down from the medium 25, and the medium 25 is appropriately dried by the surrounding air, so that root rot and propagation of various bacteria can be prevented. The flowing water is received in the water tank 37 and reused. It is preferable that the liquid W in the water tank 37 contains liquid fertilizer.

  A cultivation apparatus 50 shown in FIG. 7 uses commercially available synthetic resin planters 51 and 52. Thereby, the manufacturing cost can be reduced. The size of the planter is, for example, about 300 to 600 mm in width, 400 to 1000 mm in length, and about 200 to 300 mm in height. The upper planter 51 is a cultivation tank, and the lower planter 52 is a water tank. A vertical pipe 53 made of synthetic resin of about 40 to 60 mm square is arranged in the vertical direction on the sides of the planters 51 and 52 that are stacked one above the other. A pump 15 and a water supply pipe extending upward from the pump are disposed therein. 16 is housed.

  The upper end of the water supply pipe 16 communicates with the upper part of the upper planter 51 via the connecting pipe 54. The middle of the water supply pipe 16 communicates with the bottom of the upper planter 51 via another connecting pipe 55. Each pipe 54, 55 is provided with a solenoid valve for controlling water supply and drainage. On the other hand, the pump 15 communicates with the lower part of the lower planter 52 by a connecting pipe 56. Thereby, the water of the lower planter 52 can be sent to the upper planter 51 through the water supply pipe 16 and the upper pipe 54 by the pump 15. Further, by rotating the pump 15 in the reverse direction, the water of the upper planter 51 can be returned to the lower planter 52 through the pipe 55 in the middle. Other configurations are the same as those of the cultivation apparatus 10 of FIG.

  Instead of the solenoid valve, a manually operated valve or stopper may be employed. Further, the upper connection pipe 54 is provided with a check valve that allows only the flow in the direction of entering the planter 51, and the check pipe that allows only the flow in the direction of exiting from the planter 51 is provided in the intermediate connection pipe 55. Also good.

  The cultivation apparatus 60 shown in FIG. 8 deepens the water tank 13 and raises the water level of the water W so that the leaves 63 of the plant P grown in the cultivation tank 12 are immersed in the water tank 13. And the raising / lowering apparatus 64 for performing raising / lowering of the cultivation tank 12 automatically about 4 to 6 times a day is provided. As in the case of FIG. 1, the cultivation tank 12 has water permeability at the bottom or side surface and does not allow the particles of the medium to pass therethrough. The lifting device 64 includes, for example, a suspension mechanism 66 that suspends the cultivation tank 12 with a string 65 and winds and unwinds the string by driving the motor M, and a control device 67 that controls the operation of the motor M. . The controller 67 descends and rises to the extent that only the cultivation tank 12 can be immersed in the water W about 4 to 6 times a day with a timer or the like, and the entire plant P is turned into the water W about once a day. Control so that it is lowered to the bottom so that it can be soaked. Thereby, not only the root of the plant P but also the moisture of the leaf 63 can be sufficiently maintained.

The particles of the medium 25 preferably have a specific gravity of 1 or more, preferably 1.4 or more so that the particles do not float due to buoyancy or surface tension even if the cultivation tank 12 is immersed in the water tank 13. When the particles float on the water W, they adhere to the leaves 63 or enter between the leaves 63. Therefore, the work of removing particles after harvesting becomes complicated.

  In the cultivation apparatus 60 of FIG. 8, the cultivation tank 12 is raised and lowered, but conversely, the water tank 13 may be raised and lowered. In that case, in addition to suspending, you may make it lift with a support | pillar. Moreover, water is supplied only to the roots by adjusting the water level by filling or removing water W in the water tank 13 while keeping the height of the cultivation tank 12 to be constant or without raising or lowering the cultivation tank 12. It is also possible to switch between the case of performing water supply and the case of supplying water to the leaves. On the other hand, even in the case of the cultivation apparatus 35 that circulates the cultivation tank 12 such as a chain conveyor as shown in FIG. 5, the depth of the water tank 37 is made deeper and the leaves of the plant to be cultivated are immersed in water. Also good. When the number of times the leaves are soaked in water is about once a day, the water level in the water tank 37 may be changed according to the time.

  The cultivation apparatus 70 shown in FIG. 9 includes two large plastic cases 71 and 72 stacked one above the other. The lower case 72 is a water tank and the upper case 71 is a cultivation tank. The lower case 71 is placed on a table 72a having four legs for extracting water. Further, on the upper side of the upper case 71, there is provided a distribution box 73 that accommodates control devices such as a power line intake section, a leakage breaker, and a timer.

  The timer controls the operation timing of the pump 15, and the pump 15 supplies water in the lower case 72 to the upper case 71 several times a day, and a predetermined time (for example, 5 to 20 minutes) elapses. Later, water is returned to the lower case 72 again. Further, the water supply is increased about once a day by a timer so that the leaves of the plant are immersed in water.

  Further, a pump 15 for sending water from the lower case 72 to the upper case 71 is attached to the inside of the lower case 72, and a wiring pipe 74 for passing the power line and control line of the pump 15 extends downward from the distribution box 73. Yes. The wiring pipe 74 is thick so that a power line socket or the like can be passed therethrough. The wiring pipe 74 is fixed to, for example, a disk member 75 attached to the upper case 71.

  As shown in FIG. 10, a large number of box-shaped pods 76 are accommodated in the upper case 71. The pod 76 is a molded product of, for example, a synthetic resin, and has a property that water does not pass through particles constituting the culture medium. And each pod 76 is filled with a culture medium, and a plant is cultivated with those culture media. By dividing into a large number of pods 76 in this way, several types of plants with different planting times and harvesting times can be efficiently cultivated simultaneously.

  As shown in FIG. 11a, in addition to the wiring pipe 74, the disk member 75 is provided with a water supply / drainage pipe 77 that guides water discharged from the pump 15 to the upper case 71 and drains the water from the upper case 71. It extends. As shown in FIG. 11 b, the water supply / drainage pipe 77 is open on the upper surface of the disk member 75. In this embodiment, when the pump 15 stops pumping, a pump is used that causes water to flow downward through the water supply / drainage pipe 77. Therefore, the water supply / drainage pipe 77 doubles as a water supply pipe and a drainage pipe. However, you may provide both separately.

  Further, an overflow pipe 78 rises upward from the disk member 75. The upper end of the overflow pipe 78 is somewhat lower than the upper end of the upper case 71, and when the upper case 71 is about to overflow, water can be drained to the lower case 72. Furthermore, in this embodiment, a somewhat thin translucent float pipe 79 is inserted into the overflow pipe 78, and a level float for confirming the water level of the lower case 72 is inserted into the float pipe 78. . The level float can be formed of a rod-shaped foamed polystyrene or the like, and a scale is put in the float pipe 79.

  As shown in FIGS. 11a and 11b, the disc member 75 is detachably attached to the bottom plate of the upper case 21 with three thumb screws 75a and the like. More specifically, a stainless steel disk-shaped reinforcing plate 75b is attached to the lower surface of the bottom plate of the upper case 21 with three fixing screws 75c, and the wing screw 75a is a burring female screw formed on the reinforcing plate 75b. Screwed on. The disk member 75 is formed with three U-shaped notches 75d for allowing the head of the fixing screw 75c to escape.

  As shown in FIG. 12, in this cultivation apparatus 70, a framework 80 produced by bending a wire is attached to an upper case 71, and a seat cover 81 is covered with the framework. The seat cover 81 is formed by joining a synthetic resin sheet having translucency in a box shape or a triangular prism shape like a tent.

  In any of the above cultivation apparatuses, if the entire cultivation apparatus is covered with a translucent cover (see the seat cover 81 in FIG. 12) or a roof, and plants are grown with sunlight, water, and air, they are strong and nutritious. Highly healthy plants can be harvested. Further, when the cultivation tank is circulated by a conveyor such as the chain conveyor 36 as shown in FIG. 5, when the seedling or the seedling is planted sequentially in the cultivation tank 12, or the harvesting is performed at one place. Can do.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Cultivation apparatus 11 Main body 12 Cultivation tank 13 Water tank 14 Guide wall 15 Pump 16 Water supply piping 17 Support piece W Water K Space 19 Bottom plate 20 Drain port 21 Drain plug 22 Operation rod 24 Medium bottom 25 Medium 25a Particle 26 Wire netting K2 Space P Plant 30 Sheet 31, 32 Cut 35 Cultivation device 36 Chain conveyor 37 Water tank 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43 Sprocket 45 Bottom surface 46 Hook 50 Cultivation device 51, 52 Planter 53 Vertical pipe 54, 55, 56 Connection pipe 60 Cultivation device 63 Leaf 64 Lifting device 65 String M Motor 66 Suspension mechanism 67 Control device 70 Cultivation device 71 Upper case 72 Lower case 73 Distribution box 74 Distribution pipe 75 Disk member 75a Butterfly screw 75b Reinforcement plate 75c Fixing screw 75d Notch 76 Pod 77 Water supply / drainage pipe 78 Overflow pie 79 Float pipe 80 Frame 81 Seat cover

Claims (12)

Fill the cultivation tank with a medium consisting of non-absorbent particles,
Plant seeds or seedlings in the medium,
Then, the cultivation method of the plant which wets the surface of the particle | grains of a culture medium with water by filling water in the said cultivation tank, soaking a culture medium in water, and draining water after progress for a predetermined time.   The cultivation method according to claim 1, wherein when the cultivation tank is filled with water, water is filled to the extent that the leaves of the plant being cultivated are pickled once every few times.   The cultivation method of Claim 1 or 2 which fills water by supplying water to the said cultivation tank, and drains water by draining from a cultivation tank.   The side or bottom of the cultivation tank is water-permeable and does not allow the medium to pass through, and the cultivation tank is filled with water by immersing the cultivation tank in the aquarium, and then the cultivation tank is taken out of the cultivation tank by taking it out of the aquarium. The cultivation method of Claim 1 or 2 which drains water. It is a culture medium used for the cultivation method in any one of Claims 1-4,
A medium composed of non-water-absorbing particles having an average particle diameter of 1 to 6 mm and not floating in water due to buoyancy or surface tension.   The culture medium according to claim 5, wherein the particles have heat resistance capable of withstanding temperatures exceeding 60 ° C. A cultivation tank used for the cultivation method according to claim 1,
A cultivation tank comprising a container main body and an insole that allows water to pass therethrough and does not allow the medium to pass, which is disposed in the container main body with a space between the bottom surface of the container main body. A cultivation tank used for the cultivation method according to claim 1,
A cultivation tank comprising a container main body and a large number of pods arranged in the container main body, each pod having a bottom surface or a side surface through which water passes and a medium does not pass. It is a cultivation apparatus used for the cultivation method of Claim 3,
Manage the aquarium, the cultivation tank arranged in the upper part of the aquarium, the water supply device that supplies water from the aquarium to the cultivation tank by a pump, the discharge device that discharges the water from the cultivation tank, and the water supply time and drainage time A cultivation device equipped with a timer to perform.   The water level when water is supplied by the water supply device is two positions: a low water level where the medium is immersed in water and a high water level where the leaves of the plant being cultivated are immersed in water. The cultivation apparatus according to claim 9. It is a cultivation apparatus used for the cultivation method of Claim 4, Comprising:
A water tank, a cultivation tank arranged at the upper part of the water tank, a lifting device that raises and lowers the cultivation tank or the water tank and immerses or removes the cultivation tank in the water tank, and a control device that manages the operation time of the lifting device And
The cultivation apparatus in which the cultivation tank is such that the side or bottom transmits water and does not allow the medium to pass.   The cultivation apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the aquarium has a depth enough to soak the leaves of the plant in the cultivation tank, and the elevating device soaks the leaves of the plant growing the cultivation tank in the aquarium. .

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