JP2853948B2 - How to irrigate plants - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a watering method for plant cultivation for simultaneously supplying water to a large number of cultivation containers.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional watering method for plant cultivation, a flower pot is positioned above a plurality of watering gutters at appropriate intervals in a longitudinal direction, and a lower end is immersed in water in the watering gutter. There is known a method in which an upper end of a water absorbing material is positioned in soil in a flower pot by penetrating an opening at a lower end of a flower pot, and water in the irrigation gutter is supplied to soil in the flower pot through the water absorbing material. In addition, a water-supplying mat is laid on the bench, water is supplied to the mat from a specific location, and a large number of flower pots placed on the mat are supplied with water from the bottom holes of the flower pots, and the bench is supplied with water. It is also known to remove excess water from the edges of the mat hanging from the sides of the mat.

[0003]

However, of the two conventional methods, the former method of supplying water to the soil in the flowerpot from the water-absorbing material requires that the flowerpot be arranged in accordance with the position of the irrigation gutter. There is a problem, and the latter method of supplying water from a specific place to a mat laid in a bench and supplying water to a large number of flower pots placed on the mat from the bottom hole of the flower pot, There is a problem that it is difficult to keep water uniformly, and that the amount of water supply between flowerpots varies. Further, in the latter method, there is a problem that excess water is drained off from the edge of the mat hanging down from the side of the bench in a state of wasting, thereby causing waste of water.

The present invention solves such a problem, and it is not necessary to arrange a cultivation container such as a flower pot in accordance with the position of an irrigation gutter as in the prior art, and it is possible to keep water almost uniformly over the entire mat. It is another object of the present invention to provide a watering method for plant cultivation capable of saving water.

[0005]

The present invention has the following structure to solve the above-mentioned problems. That is, the present invention lays a water-supplying mat having a water-retaining layer in the lower layer and a water-absorbing layer in the upper layer on a tray having a plurality of openings in the bottom plate, and a string-shaped or tape-shaped water-absorbing material in the opening of the tray. By penetrating up and down, the upper end of the water-absorbing material is brought into contact with the lower surface of the water supply mat, and the lower end of the water-absorbing material is immersed in the water in the irrigation gutter, so that the water in the irrigation gutter passes through the water-absorbing material. In the watering method of plant cultivation, in which the water is supplied to the water supply mat and water is supplied to soil in a cultivation container placed on the water supply mat, the water supply mat is made of a thermoplastic synthetic resin, and the fibers are three-dimensionally formed by needling. A water retention layer composed of a web having a water retention rate of 200% or more entangled with a thermoplastic synthetic resin and having a water absorption of 50 by a birec method.
The gist is that a water-absorbing layer composed of a web having a smooth surface with a permeability of 100 cm ³ / cm ² / s or less and a thickness of 100 mm ³ / cm ² / s or less is laminated. In the present invention, the fineness of the fibers constituting the water-retaining layer is 3 denier or more and 7 or more.
When the denier is less than or equal to denier, the single-filament fineness of the fiber constituting the water-absorbing layer is 0.
The gist is that the denier is 5 denier or more and less than 3 denier. Further, the water supply mat used in the present invention is:
The gist of the present invention is that a deacetylated product of chitin is fixed to at least the water retaining layer.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail. First, in FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numerals 1, 1... Designate a plurality of irrigation gutters arranged in parallel, and a tray 2 made of synthetic resin is provided above these irrigation gutters 1, 1,. The tray 2 has a rising wall 2a around it, and a plurality of openings 4, 4,... Formed at appropriate intervals above the irrigation gutter 1 in a bottom plate portion 3 surrounded by the rising wall 2a. . Reference numeral 5 denotes a water-absorbing material whose lower end is immersed in water in the irrigation gutter 1 and whose upper end penetrates vertically through the opening 4 of the tray 2, and has a string-like fiber bundle such as a rope or a twisted string, or has water absorbency. Non-woven fabric or paper cut into a tape shape is used. 6 is the tray 2
The water supply mat laid on the bottom plate 3 of the
The upper surface has a water absorbing layer, and the lower surface of the water supply mat 6 is in contact with the upper end of the water absorbing material 5. Reference numeral 7 denotes a flowerpot as a cultivation container placed at appropriate intervals on the water supply mat 6, and the flowerpot 7 does not need to be disposed above the opening 4. Thereby, the water in the irrigation gutter 1 is supplied to the water supply mat 6 through the water absorbing material 5, and water is supplied to the soil in the flower pot 7 from the bottom holes of the many flower pots 7 placed on the water supply mat 6. be able to.

In the drawing, a flowerpot 7 is used as a cultivation container, which is placed on a water supply mat 6. However, a box-shaped cultivation container larger than the flowerpot 7 is used to May be placed on the

Next, the water supply mat 6 will be described in detail. First, regarding the web of the water retaining layer, the thermoplastic synthetic fibers used include polyesters such as polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate and copolymerized polyester, polyolefins such as polyethylene and polypropylene, nylon 6, nylon 6 and the like.
6, those made of polymers such as polyamides such as nylon 610 and blends of these are used. As fibers, these polymers are 100%
In addition to the above, a composite of two or more polymers may be used. In addition, as a composite form, any of a lamination type, a core-sheath type, and a hollow type can be used. Further, any of long fibers and short fibers may be used. The single-filament fineness of the thermoplastic synthetic fiber used for the water retention layer needs to be in the range of 3 denier to 7 denier.

[0009] When the denier of the single yarn is 3 denier or less, the needle punch web formed by over-entanglement of the fibers due to the low single yarn denier in the needling process of the web after the opening and lamination has a poor texture. Only a hard, dense web is obtained. Therefore, when the needle punch web obtained at less than 3 denier is used as a water-retaining layer, the single fiber fineness is small, so there are few voids between the fibers, the volume for retaining water is small, and the water retention is reduced.

On the other hand, when the single yarn fineness is 7.0 denier or more, the entanglement between the fibers is small in the needling step, and when formed into a web, the single yarn peels off from the web, and the voids between the fibers are too large to retain water. The water is discharged immediately, causing problems such as plant withering due to insufficient water retention capacity. The water retention capacity is required to be 200% or more according to the measurement method of JIS-L-1096 6.26. (2). If the water retention capacity is less than this, the water retention capacity is insufficient and the water cannot be supplied sufficiently from the water absorbing layer to the plants. In addition, the needling conditions are as follows: when the single yarn fineness of the web constituting the water retention layer is in the range of 3 denier to 7 denier,
50 times / cm ² to 150 times / cm ² is preferable for obtaining a three-dimensionally entangled form and maintaining water retention. In addition, the three-dimensional entanglement means that fibers are entangled three-dimensionally in the thickness direction of the sheet. Further, an important point for maintaining the water retention is the thickness of the water retention layer. If the thickness is small, the water retention is reduced and the plant may die, while if it is too large, root rot occurs. Therefore, the thickness of the water retaining layer is preferably in the range of 2.0 mm to 5.0 mm for plant cultivation. Water retention by the above configuration
It becomes a water retention layer of 200% or more.

Next, regarding the web of the water-absorbing layer, the thermoplastic synthetic fibers used include polyesters such as polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate and copolymerized polyester; polyolefins such as polyethylene and polypropylene; nylon 6; Polymers such as polyamides such as nylon 66 and nylon 610, and blends thereof are used. In addition, as the fiber, these polymers
In addition to 100%, a composite of two or more polymers may be used. In addition, as a composite form, any of a lamination type, a core-sheath type, and a hollow type can be used. Further, any of long fibers and short fibers may be used. The single-filament fineness of the thermoplastic synthetic fiber must be in the range of 0.5 denier or more and less than 3 denier in order to maintain both water absorbability and root cutting property, and preferably 1.0 to 2.0 denier. If the single yarn fineness is less than 0.5 denier,
When pressed by a hot pressing roll, the film is formed into a film and the root cutting performance is improved, but the water absorption is poor. When the single fiber fineness is 3 denier or more, the web obtained after pressing has a large single fiber fineness, so the void between the fibers is too large, the roots enter the voids and cannot move when the pot is moved, and the root is cut off. Troubles such as indispensability occur. A web retaining both water absorption and root cutting performance can be obtained by spreading and laminating the above-mentioned thermoplastic synthetic fibers, and pressing the fibers with a hot pressing roll. In the case of short fibers, a method is generally used in which the fibers are three-dimensionally entangled by needling and then pressed by a hot pressing roll.

On the other hand, in the case of long fibers, the fibers may be spread and laminated and then pressed by a hot pressing roll. The above-mentioned web needs to have a smooth surface, and as a method of making it smooth, it is sufficient to press the web with a flat-press roll. By such treatment, the surface of the web becomes smooth, and the roots of the plant do not enter the water retaining layer. As a measure for preventing roots from penetrating into the water retention layer, there is an air permeability for measuring the amount of voids between fibers, and the air permeability needs to be 100 cm ³ / cm ² / s or less. In order to reduce the air permeability to 100 cm ³ / cm ² / s or less, it is preferable to increase the temperature of the hot pressing roll or use means for increasing the linear pressure of the hot pressing roll. Further, when a material having improved water absorption is required, a hydrophilic oil agent, for example, an oil agent containing a polyether compound such as polyethylene oxide or polypropylene oxide may be attached. Next, when the water supply mat is always put in the water supply groove and water is supplied to the water supply groove, the water absorption mat has a water absorption capacity equal to or higher than the height of the water supply groove, ie, JIS-.
L-1096 6.26. (2) It is necessary to be at least 50 mm by the birec method. If it is less than 50 mm, water will not reach the water retaining layer and the plant will die. It is also preferable to attach an acrylic resin to the web pressed by the hot pressing roll for the purpose of simultaneously improving both the water supply performance and the root cutting performance. Next, to laminate the water retention layer and the water absorption layer,
For example, a polymer powder having a low melting point may be dispersed on the water-retaining layer and heat-treated in a drier, or may be hot-pressed with a hot-press roll. Alternatively, the fibers of either the water-retaining layer or the water-absorbing layer may be made into a core-sheath type composite fiber using a low-melting-point polymer in a sheath portion, and the fibers may be thermally bonded using a heat-pressing roll. The mat thus obtained has an upper layer provided with a layer having water absorption and root cutting performance, and a lower layer provided with a layer provided with water retention performance.

As the water supply mat in the present invention, a mat having such a configuration is used, and a mat having a deacetylated product of chitin fixed to at least a water retaining layer of the mat may be used.

The deacetylated product of chitin, which is an antibacterial and antifungal deodorant component, is obtained, for example, by removing contaminants such as calcium and protein from shells of crustaceans such as crabs and shrimps by acid and alkali treatment. A high molecular weight polymer having an amino group having a molecular weight of hundreds of thousands, which is deacetylated by subjecting chitin to an acid treatment or an enzyme treatment, so-called chitosan, may be mentioned. Further, a relatively low molecular weight polymer having a molecular weight of several thousands to tens of thousands, which is obtained by appropriately decomposing chitosan by an acid or enzyme treatment, may be used. The degree of deacetylation of this chitosan is preferably at least 50% in view of solubility in organic acids and antibacterial properties.

[0015] The degree of deacetylation referred to herein is a value measured by the following method. About 2 g of the sample is put into 200 ml of a 2N aqueous hydrochloric acid solution and stirred at room temperature for 30 minutes. Next, the mixture is filtered through a glass filter to remove the aqueous hydrochloric acid solution, and then poured into 200 ml of methanol and stirred for 30 minutes. This is further filtered through a glass filter, poured into 200 ml of fresh methanol, and stirred for 30 minutes.
After repeating the washing operation with methanol four times, air-drying and vacuum drying were performed.
Take in a 00 ml Erlenmeyer flask, add 40 ml of ion exchanged water and stir for 30 minutes. Further, this solution is neutralized and titrated with a 0.1 N aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide using phenolphthalein as an indicator. The degree of deacetylation (A) is determined by Equation 1.

[0016]

(Equation 1)

Where a is the weight (g) of the sample, f is 0.1
The force value of the aqueous solution of N caustic soda, b is the titer (ml) of the aqueous solution of 0.1 N caustic soda. The water supply mat used in the present invention is formed by applying a deacetylated product of the chitin, for example, an aqueous solution of an organic acid salt of chitosan or a mildly decomposed product of chitosan, and then drying. As a coating method, a usual method such as a dipping method or a spraying method can be used. The coating may be performed at any step in the process of manufacturing the water supply mat, and may be applied to the water retaining layer and the water absorbing layer alone, or after the water retaining layer and the water absorbing layer are laminated, the water-soluble treatment liquid is applied. May be. Alternatively, the coating may be applied only to the water-retaining layer. When the coating is performed after the water-retaining layer and the water-absorbing layer are laminated, the water-soluble treatment liquid may be applied from the water-retaining layer side.

The treatment liquid is adjusted by the following method. First, chitosan or a chitosan mildly decomposed product is swollen in water and then dissolved in an acid. As the acid used for solubilization, organic acids such as formic acid, acetic acid, lactic acid, citric acid, adipic acid, gluconic acid, and tartaric acid can be used.

Drying after application of the treatment liquid is carried out by a usual hot air circulation dryer, and the organic acid salt of the deacetylated chitin is fixed on the surface of the constituent fibers of the mat by evaporating water. The drying temperature is usually lower than the melting point of the thermoplastic polymer constituting the mat by 5 ° C. or more. The coating speed may be the production speed of the mat, usually from several m to 10 m / min, and high-speed processing at a maximum of 100 m / min is possible, and the production speed is not limited at all. Adjustment of the amount of adhesion depending on differences in the coating method, coating speed, treatment liquid viscosity, etc. is performed by a usual method such as changing the spray amount, the squeezing rate or the treatment liquid concentration. As described above, the treatment liquid may be applied on-line in the mat manufacturing process or off-line for applying the mat once wound.

[0020]

According to the method for irrigating a plant according to the present invention, it is not necessary to arrange a cultivation container in accordance with the position of an irrigation gutter as in the prior art.
It is only necessary to place the cultivation container on the water supply mat, and by supplying the water sucked up by the water absorbing material penetrating the plurality of openings of the tray to the water supply mat, it is possible to keep water almost uniformly over the entire water supply mat. It is not necessary to drain excess water from the edge of the water supply mat in a drained state,
Water saving becomes possible. In addition, the lower water retention layer is provided with a function of retaining the absorbed water or water-soluble fertilizer for a required time or discharging an excess amount, and is effectively used for an automatic water absorption system for plant cultivation. Further, by providing a deacetylated product of chitin at least to the water retaining layer, antibacterial and antifungal properties are exhibited even during long-time cultivation. The antibacterial effect of chitosan is described as the inhibitory effect on mold growth and Escheric
hia coli (Escherichia coli), Staphylococcus aureus (Staphylococcus aureus), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Pseudomonas aeruginosa), Baci
It has been reported that it inhibits the growth of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria such as llus subtilis (B. subtilis). The details of the mechanism of these antibacterial effects are unknown, but the cationic amino groups of the quaternized chitosan adsorb anionic constituents in the cell wall of the bacterium, resulting in the inhibition of the biosynthesis of the cell wall, Because the active transport of substances is blocked,
It is presumed that an antibacterial action is exhibited.

[0021]

Next, the present invention will be described more specifically with reference to examples. The performance measurement evaluation and the polymer characteristic value measurement of the water supply mat in the example were performed by the following methods. (1) Water retention performance (measured by the method of measuring the water absorption of JIS-L-1096 6.26. (2)) (2) Water absorption B method (Bilec method) ｛JIS-L-1096
6.26. Measured by the method B (Bilec method) of (2). (3) Air permeability A method (measured by the measurement method of JIS-L-1096 6.27. (1)) (4) Intrinsic viscosity (phenol and phenol (Measured at 20 ° C using a mixed solvent such as ethane chloride)

Example 1 Polyethylene tereph having a melting point of 260 ° C. and an intrinsic viscosity [η] = 0.68
Use a spinneret with a hole diameter of 0.35 mm and 160 holes
At a melting temperature of 285 ° C and a spinning speed of 45
After suctioning with air soccer at 00m / min, wire mesh net
The yarn collected on the top and having a denier of 3 denier after air drawing
I got it. The polyester continuous fiber thus obtained
Needle punch machine (needle; Organ PPD)
-1^# Needle density 70 times / cm at 40)^Two And tertiary fibers
Original confounding, finish weight 250g / m ^Two , 3mm thick water retention
A layer web was prepared. Next, use the same method as the
After obtaining Neil long fiber web, it was heated to 210 ° C
Pressing with a flat surface hot pressing roll at a linear pressure of 50 kg / cm,
A water absorbing layer web with a smooth surface was prepared. More surface
Prevents fluff and prevents roots from entering the mat
Acrylic resin (Dainippon Ink and Chemicals Co., Ltd.)
Bon Coat JH-56 Emulsion Thailand
Was impregnated. Also, to improve water absorption, fat
Mainly acid ester, nonionic activator and cationic activator
The stock solution of the hydrophilic oil agent to be
0.5% based on the weight, and 16% based on the solid weight in the same bath
%. Continue at 160 ° C
Drying was performed with a tar dryer. Finished matte finish
With 50g / m^Two Met. Evaluate the water absorption performance of this mat
As a result, it was 12 cm as measured by a birec method.
In order to evaluate root cutting performance, air permeability and Frazier test
When the air permeability was measured with the testing machine, 14 cm^Three /cm^Two / S
Was. Above the water retention layer to bond the two web layers
1m polyethylene powder^Two After dispersing about 10 g per
 Heat-welded with a 160 ° C heating roll, and a 180 ° C band
It dried through the drier. The mat obtained is finished
310g / m^Two And the thickness was 3.0 mm. Evaluation result of this mat
The results are shown in Table 1.

Examples 2 to 6 and Comparative Examples 1 to 3 Examples 2 to 6 and Comparative Examples 1 and 2 changed the single-filament fineness of polyethylene terephthalate fiber, and Comparative Example 3 was the same except that needle punching was not performed. All were prototyped according to Example 1.

[0024]

[Table 1]

Root cutting properties: The water supply mats of the examples and comparative examples were cultivated in cyclamen pots for 6 months. As a result, the roots extended from the holes under the pots but did not penetrate into the water supply mats. The roots extended from the hole but penetrated the water supply mat. × × Comprehensive evaluation of the water supply mat; Can be used as a water supply mat. 不可能 Cannot be used as a water supply mat. × × As a result, comparative examples are evident from Table 1. In No. 1, the single-filament fineness of the water-retaining layer was large, the voids in the web layer were large, and the water-retaining rate was low. In Comparative Example 2, the single-filament fineness of the water-absorbing layer was large, the voids in the web layer were large, and the air permeability was high,
Rooting property deteriorated. In Comparative Example 3, since the web of the water retention layer was not subjected to the needle punching treatment, the water retention rate was lowered.

Example 7 In Example 7, the chitin deacetylated product was BL
Chitosan having a viscosity of 9.8 centipoise and a degree of deacetylation of 91.6% measured at a sample concentration of 1% by weight and a temperature of 20 ° C. using a mold viscometer was used. After adding 25 parts by weight of ion-exchanged water to 1 part by weight of this chitosan to swell the chitosan, 0.2 parts by weight of glacial acetic acid and 23.8 parts by weight of ion-exchanged water were added to prepare a chitosan-treated undiluted solution. And Also,
The bacteria reduction rate (%) was measured by the shake flask method (a test method for antibacterial effect certified by the Textile Sanitation Processing Council), and the antibacterial property was evaluated. In the above evaluation, K. pneumoniae ATCC4352 was used as a strain to be used.

An aqueous solution of chitosan acetate was applied to the mat obtained in Example 1 from the water-retaining layer side, and the temperature was set to 120 ° C.
With a hot air circulation dryer. Table 2 shows the evaluation results of the obtained mats.

Examples 8 to 11 and Comparative Examples 4 to 7 Examples 8 to 11 and Comparative Examples 4 to 7 change the single yarn fineness of polyethylene terephthalate fiber, Comparative Example 6 does not perform needle punching, and Comparative Example 7 All treatments were carried out in the same manner as in Example 7, except that ion-exchanged water was spray-coated instead of the chitosan acetate aqueous solution. Table 2 shows the evaluation results of the obtained mats.

[0029]

[Table 2]

Root cutting properties: The water supply mats of the examples and comparative examples were cultivated in cyclamen pots for 6 months. As a result, the roots extended from the holes under the pots but did not penetrate the water supply mats. The roots extended from the holes but penetrated the water supply mat… × Evaluation of the water supply mat; Can be used as a water supply mat… ○ Cannot be used as a water supply mat… × Overall evaluation of antibacterial and antifungal water supply mats; As a water supply mat Usable… ○ Unavailable as water supply mat… × As a result, as is clear from Table 2, the reduction rate of bacteria in Comparative Examples 4 to 6 is a large and preferable value, but in Comparative Example 4, the single fiber fineness of the water retaining layer is low. The voids in the web layer became large, and the water retention decreased. In Comparative Example 5, the single-filament fineness of the water-absorbing layer was large, the voids in the web layer were large, and the air permeability was high,
Rooting property deteriorated. In Comparative Example 6, since the web of the water retention layer was not subjected to the needle punching treatment, the water retention rate was reduced. In Comparative Example 7, the effect of the bacterial reduction rate was not observed.

Example 12 A mat was obtained in the same manner as in Example 8, except that the aqueous solution of chitosan acetate was applied only to the water-retaining layer. Table 2 shows the evaluation results of the obtained mats.

[0032]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is not necessary to dispose the cultivation container in accordance with the position of the irrigation gutter as in the prior art, but only to place the cultivation container on the water supply mat.
Also, by supplying the water sucked by the water absorbing material penetrating the plurality of openings of the tray to the water supply mat, water can be substantially uniformly maintained throughout the water supply mat, and furthermore, surplus water is dripped off from the edge of the water supply mat. Since there is no need to eliminate it, water can be saved. In addition, the lower water retention layer is provided with a function of retaining the absorbed water or water-soluble fertilizer for a required time or discharging an excess amount, and is effectively used for an automatic water absorption system for plant cultivation. Furthermore, by giving the deacetylated product of chitin to at least the water retaining layer, the growth of various bacteria and molds is hindered for a long period of time even in a constantly wet state, and the roots of the cultivated plants rot and grow. Without any hindrance, leading to quality stability, prevention of poor growth, labor saving in plant management, and the like.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a method for watering a plant according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a tray used in the watering method for plant cultivation.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Irrigation gutter 2 Tray 2a Rise wall 3 Bottom plate 4 Opening 5 Water absorbing material 6 Water supply mat 7 Flower pot

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A water supply mat having a water retaining layer as a lower layer and a water absorbing layer as an upper layer is laid on a tray having a plurality of openings in a bottom plate portion, and a string-shaped or tape-shaped water absorbing material is placed in the opening of the tray. By penetrating up and down, the upper end of the water-absorbing material is brought into contact with the lower surface of the water supply mat, and the lower end of the water-absorbing material is immersed in the water in the irrigation gutter, so that the water in the irrigation gutter passes through the water-absorbing material. Irrigation for plant cultivation to supply water to the water supply mat and supply water to soil in a cultivation container placed on the water supply mat
In the water method, the water supply mat is made of a thermoplastic synthetic resin.
And three-dimensionally entangled by needling
Water retention layer composed of a web with a water retention rate of 200% or more
And made of a thermoplastic synthetic resin and absorbed by the bi-rec method.
Water is 50 mm or more and air permeability is 100 cm ³ / cm ² /
s or less, consisting of a web with a smooth surface
An irrigation method for plant cultivation, comprising laminating an aqueous layer . 2. The fiber constituting the water retaining layer has a single fiber fineness of 3 d.
Neil or more and 7 denier or less, a single fiber of the water absorbing layer
The method for irrigation of plant cultivation according to claim 1, wherein the yarn fineness is 0.5 denier or more and less than 3 denier . 3. A water supply comprising a water retaining layer and a water absorbing layer laminated on each other.
At least in the water retention layer of the mat, deacetylated chitin
The method for irrigation of plant cultivation according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the water is fixed .