JP2926207B2 - Soilless cultivation apparatus and method for regenerating culture medium - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facility cultivation, especially a soilless cultivation, that is, a soilless cultivation apparatus which enables cultivation of plants in a special medium not using soil, and a medium for use in the cultivation apparatus. Reproduction method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional traditional plant cultivation method using soil as a medium requires a great deal of labor, time and expense for making a suitable soil, preventing occurrence of continuous cropping failure, and disinfecting the soil. . Therefore, a hydroponic cultivation method that does not use any soil was developed instead, assuming that the root of all these defects is that the medium is soil.

[0003] The hydroponic cultivation method, however, has the advantage of ignoring the conventionally difficult soil, but requires the provision of a large tank for supplying the culture solution in the basement. Significant investment was required.

In recent years, a solution cultivation using rock wool or the like as a medium has been developed as the above-mentioned improved type.
Although an automatic dilution device that automatically mixes water into the fertilizer and adjusts the concentration is essential, the dilution device is significantly smaller than the solution tank required by the hydroponic cultivation method. It was easy and the construction period was short. However, the rock wool used as the culture medium was clogged, and not only could not be regenerated, but also had a serious problem in disposing of it.

Conventionally, when a culture solution is supplied to a solid culture medium containing rock wool, if a stock solution of fertilizer containing calcium is mixed with another stock solution of fertilizer and supplied, calcium precipitates, and calcium is precipitated. Insufficient supply of calcium causes the plant to have insufficient absorption of calcium, resulting in, for example, the bottom of the fruit rot, so-called ass rot. Therefore, conventionally, in order to prevent the adverse effect, a facility is provided which can separately supply the undiluted fertilizer solution containing calcium without mixing it with another undiluted fertilizer solution. However, there has been a concern that the fertilizer stock solution supply equipment becomes large-sized, takes up space, is costly, and its management becomes complicated.

The inventor of the present invention, on February 10, 1993, based on Japanese Patent Application No. 5-45828, provided a medium for soilless cultivation composed of particles having a large number of pores made of coral fossils. Filed.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A first object of the present invention is to recycle a material used as a medium so that the medium does not need to be discarded, replaced, or disinfected. An object of the present invention is to provide a soilless cultivation apparatus having a medium that can be used continuously for a long period of time and a method for regenerating the medium by supplementing the reduced amount.

A second object of the present invention is to provide nitrogen, phosphoric acid,
An object of the present invention is to provide a soilless cultivation apparatus and a method for regenerating a culture medium thereof, in which fertilizer components such as potassium are excellent in fertilizer retention and water retention, so that fertilizer management can be easily performed by temporarily suspending or stopping supply of a fertilizer stock solution.

A third object of the present invention is to provide an antibacterial soilless cultivation apparatus capable of suppressing the growth of bacteria in a culture medium and reducing the diseases of crops originating from roots, and a method of regenerating the culture medium. .

A fourth object of the present invention is to eliminate the necessity of supplying a stock solution of calcium fertilizer, and thus eliminate the need for auxiliary equipment such as a tank, a measuring instrument, and a supply pipe system, which makes the equipment extremely simple and low cost. It is an object of the present invention to provide a soilless cultivation apparatus and a method for regenerating a culture medium thereof, which are easy to control and yet provide sufficient supply of calcium to the crop from beginning to end and can prevent the occurrence of, for example, butt rot.

[0011]

A soilless cultivation apparatus according to the present invention comprises a container having an open top and a large number of pores housed in the container, at least a majority of which is made of coral fossil material. And the pores of coral fossil particles constituting the culture medium are fired at a temperature of 200 to 250 ° C. in an atmosphere in which air is blocked, so that the surface area of the particles not subjected to the heat treatment is reduced. It is formed by enlarging 10 to 50 times as compared with that of the pore.

[0012]

If the pores of the particles described in the preceding paragraph are clogged due to use and the water retention and fertilization are deteriorated, the particles are recovered and fired again under the conditions described in the preceding paragraph. By doing so, reproduction is possible.

The baking atmosphere with the air shut off is formed by putting the particles in a rotary baking furnace and supplying 1 to 100 liters of nitrogen gas or 1 to 50 liters of carbon dioxide gas per second. Is done.

Further, the medium used in the present invention may be supplemented with a slow-acting solid fertilizer, and the supply of the culture solution may be stopped, and the medium may be converted to a supply of only water.

The container for accommodating the culture medium has a structure for accommodating the medium up to the inner bottom surface thereof, a structure in which a shelf is provided in a horizontal direction in the middle thereof, and the culture medium is supported on the upper surface of the shelf but the passage of moisture is allowed. Including.

In the case where the fertilizer containing water is a water-soluble culture solution, a discharge hole of a culture solution supply pipe is provided on the culture medium, and a drain hole is provided on a bottom surface of the container. It is preferable that the end of the drainage hole and the start end of the supply pipe are opened in the culture solution storage tank, and a culture solution forced circulation means is provided with a pump interposed in the supply pipe system.

[0018]

First, the composition of the coral fossil material serving as the culture medium used in the present invention is shown below in the order of wt%. CaCo ₃ 91.67 CaO 51.36 Ca 36.71 MgO 2.20 Na 0.50 Sr 0.11 Si 0.04 P 0.028 Al 0.0055 B 0.0031 As is clear from the above composition list. The main component of the coral fossil material is calcium, and contains a large amount of calcium carbonate CaCo ₃ having a crystalline form of argonite, which is more easily eluted than calcium oxide CaO, which is not eluted. Therefore, if coral fossil particles having such a composition are used as a medium, it is not necessary to supply calcium as a culture solution, and calcium can be supplied in an amount eluted from the medium. In addition, as can be seen from the above composition list, magnesium is present in the largest amount among the trace elements, so that the supply of magnesium becomes unnecessary.

Next, the coral fossil particles having such a calcium content that can be eluted are simultaneously porous, and have a specific surface area of 2.767 m ² / g.
It can be seen that the adsorption capacity is 0.64 ml / g. Therefore, since it is excellent in water retention and fertilization, even if the supply of the undiluted fertilizer solution is temporarily interrupted, it is possible to obtain a buffer performance that does not hinder growth.

When the coral fossil particles having such porosity are further calcined in an atmosphere in a temperature range of 200 to 250 ° C. where the air is shut off, the diaphragm and remnants remaining in the coral fossil are thermally decomposed. And incinerated to form uniformly deep holes with a diameter of 10 to 20 μm.
m, and the specific surface area is about 120 m ² / g
(Approximately 40 times that of the coral fossil particles described in the preceding paragraph), its adsorption capacity reaches approximately 27 ml / g (approximately 40 times the same), and a large amount of water and fertilizer is stored in the extremely deep pores thus formed. You. In addition, since the firing temperature does not exceed 250 ° C., the crystal form of calcium carbonate, which is the main component of the coral fossil particles, does not change into carnite, and the argonite that can be eluted after firing is maintained. In the preserved state, the buffer performance, which is excellent in water retention and fertilization, increases.

The above operation is based on the premise that a culture solution is supplied. However, instead of the culture solution, a slow-acting fertilizer is applied to the medium, and only the supplied water is used. Costless soilless cultivation equipment is also possible.

[0022]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Specific embodiments of a soilless cultivation apparatus according to the present invention and a method for regenerating a culture medium thereof will be described below with reference to the drawings.

Examples of the configuration of the soilless cultivation apparatus according to the present invention will be described in order from a simplified type to a simplified type (see FIG. 4), a storage type (see FIG. 3), a pouring type (see FIG. 1), and a forced circulation type. (See FIG. 2).

Therefore, the basic structure of the present invention is, as is apparent from the simplified system shown in FIG. 4, a container 1 having an open upper surface and formed of, for example, styrene foam or synthetic resin, and a container 1 accommodated in the container 1. Further, at least a large part of the medium 2 is composed of particles having a large number of pores made of coral fossils, a plant 3 planted in the medium, and a fertilizer 4 containing water supplied to the medium. Become.

For fertilization, not only liquid fertilizers but also solid fertilizers are applied or sprayed, or as shown in FIGS. A method corresponding to cultivation, and furthermore, as shown in FIG. 2, the starting end of the supply pipe 5 is placed in a tank 6 containing a culture solution, and the culture solution is provided through a pump 7 in the pipe system. Includes a continuous automatic supply system.

On the other hand, regarding the relationship between the inner bottom surface of the container 1 and the culture medium 2, the simplest method is a close contact type in which the culture medium 2 reaches the inner bottom surface of the container 1 as shown in FIG. It is.

However, taking into account the prevention of spoilage of the culture solution and the smooth supply of oxygen to the rhizosphere, the medium 2 and the container 1
It is desirable to provide a predetermined gap between the two and apart from the inner bottom surface. The gap is formed by providing a shelf 8 in a horizontal direction in the middle of the inside of the container 1, and the culture medium 2 is supported on the upper surface of the shelf 8. Is allowed. Taking these into consideration, a fine mesh is used for the shelf 8 in the embodiment of FIG. Alternatively, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, if a root-preventing sheet material, for example, a nonwoven fabric 9 is interposed between the culture medium 2 and the shelf 8, the extension of the plant 3 below the shelf 8 is suppressed. You.

The water level of the culture solution is 1/3 to 1/2 of the thickness of the layer of the culture medium 2 as shown by a broken line 10 in FIGS.
It is desirable to stay in between to help supply oxygen from above into the medium.

When the inner surface of the container 1 is white, it is desirable to lay a black vinyl sheet 11 along the inner surface of the container 1 in order to assist the root growth and activity of the plant 3.

The outlet 12 for the culture solution from the container 1 is shown in FIG.
3 and 4, but not in those of FIGS. 3 and 4. In FIG. 2, the end of the outlet 12 opens into the culture solution storage tank 6 via the switching valve 13. Therefore, in the embodiment of FIG. 2, the forced circulation of the culture solution becomes possible.

[0031]

[Table 1] Table 1 shows a comparison between two examples of comparison with the rock wool medium and three examples of the medium according to the present invention,
In order to keep the cultivation conditions the same,
m, 30 cm wide and 20 cm high using a foamed styrene box, and planting 20 melon seedlings at the 2 leaf stage per bed, and 20 tomato seedlings at the 8 leaf stage per bed As a result of preparing two types of planting and cultivating for 100 days each, as for the melon, the weight per fruit and the incidence of butt rot, and for the tomato,
The yield per plant and the incidence rate of butt rot are shown by comparative values indicated by numerical values of 100 in the case of the prior art case 1.

In Table 1, the slow-release fertilizer contains nitrogen, phosphoric acid, and potassium each containing 12% each, at a rate of 2 per share.
As a means for giving a slow release effect, a thin coat of fertilizer with a cellulose-based or vinyl acetate-based adhesive or other means was used.

Examples 1, 2 and 3 of the present invention in Table 1
The coral fossil particles used in the above have a particle size of 1 mm
2 kg of a non-fired material having a thickness of 20 mm was used.

As a result, Example 1 in which coral fossil particles were used as a culture medium and the culture broth was flowed or circulated was supplied with the best results, then a slow-release fertilizer was added to the culture medium, and Example 2 in which a culture solution was supplied gave a second good result, and Example 3 in which a slow-release fertilizer was added to the medium and only water was supplied gave a third good result. On the other hand, there was no occurrence of so-called butt rot.

Coral fossil particles are placed in an air-blocking atmosphere
For the details of the means for firing at a temperature of ~ 250 ° C, the description of Japanese Patent Application No. 4-336613 filed by the same applicant will be referred to, and the outline of the means will be described below. The air-blocking atmosphere forming means, comprising: a cylindrical body installed in a posture having a gentle gradient from the outlet to the outlet, a mechanism for giving rotation to the cylindrical body, an atmosphere forming means for shutting off air, and a hot air supply means. As described above, 1 to 100 liters of nitrogen gas or 1 to 50 liters of carbon dioxide gas per second is supplied to the cylindrical body of the firing furnace to create a state in which air containing oxygen in the cylindrical body is excluded, and the atmosphere contains 2 liters.
Hot air adjusted to a temperature of 00 to 250 ° C. is, for example,
It is supplied for 10 to 30 minutes to burn the coral fossil particles. Since the firing temperature range is 200 to 250 ° C,
In this temperature range, the crystal state of calcium carbonate, which is the main component of the coral fossil particles, does not change to carnite, and the argonite is maintained even after firing, so that the elutable state is preserved, and the fine particles are reduced. Deep pores and gaps are formed by melting or burning of dead symbiotic algae, foraminifer shells and partition walls remaining in the pores, and the extremely deeply formed pores provide excellent water retention and fertilizing properties. Enable.

[0036]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, coral containing calcium carbonate having a crystalline form of argonite which is easily eluted as a main component, and having pores which are rich in water retention and fertilizing properties. Since fossil particles are used as a medium,
The supply of the undiluted solution of calcium fertilizer becomes unnecessary, and therefore, there is no need for ancillary equipment such as a tank, a measuring instrument, and a supply pipe system. In addition to the simple and easy operation, the water retention and fertilization of the medium itself provide a buffering function that does not hinder the growth even if the fertilizer stock solution is temporarily suspended or stopped, so inexperienced work It is easy to use even for employees, and failures are reduced.

Furthermore, the medium used in the present invention can be recycled or continuously recycled without causing a bad land phenomenon in comparison with a conventional rock wool medium, and is harmful even when discarded. It is harmless to humans and animals during use, does not need to be disinfected, and can be used continuously for a long period of time by supplying the reduced amount of the medium due to use.

Further, it is apparent from experiments that the medium used in the present invention has the ability to suppress the growth of bacteria in the medium and to reduce the disease of crops caused by roots.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional side view showing a first embodiment (flowing method) of a soilless cultivation apparatus according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway front view showing a second embodiment (forced circulation system) of the soilless cultivation apparatus according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional side view showing a third embodiment (storage method) of a soilless cultivation apparatus according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing a fourth embodiment (simplified method) of a soilless cultivation apparatus according to the present invention;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Container 2 Medium 3 Plant 4 Fertilizer containing water 5 Culture liquid supply pipe 6 Culture liquid storage tank 7 Pump 8 Shelf 9 Nonwoven fabric 10 Water level 11 Black vinyl sheet 12 Outlet 13 Switching valve

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] And 1. A top is opened container, housed within the container, a medium consisting of particles having at least a number of pores mostly has a material of corals, consists, the medium 200 to 25 in an atmosphere where the particles of
By being fired at a temperature of 0 ° C., the specific surface area of a large number of pores in the particles is formed to be 10 to 50 times larger than that of the pores of the material. And soilless cultivation equipment. 2. A support before <br/> SL medium provided inside the intermediate horizontal direction of the container and the shelf to allow the passage of water, and the discharge hole of the culture solution supply pipe which is provided on said medium, said via a drainage hole formed in the bottom of the container, a tank for accommodating the culture is opened starting end of the culture medium supply pipe with the end portion of the drainage holes in the tank, a further pump to the supply pipe system and culture forced circulation means which set <br/>, no soil cultivation device according to claim 1 comprising. 3. A medium comprising a large number of fine pores made of coral fossils, at least for the most part of which is a medium having a particle size of 200 to 25 in an atmosphere in which air is blocked.
By firing at a temperature of 0 ° C., the specific surface area of a large number of pores in the particles is formed to be 10 to 50 times larger than that of the pores of the material. When the culture medium causes clogging of its pores due to use and deteriorates water retention and fertilization, the particles constituting the culture medium are collected, and the particles are removed from the atmosphere in an atmosphere in which air is shut off.
Sintering at a temperature of ° C. 4. A method according to claim 3, wherein a rotary baking furnace containing the particles is prepared as a baking atmosphere forming means in which air is shut off, and nitrogen gas is supplied into the furnace at a rate of 1 to 100 liters per second. A method for regenerating a culture medium for soil cultivation . 5. The soilless cultivation method according to claim 4, wherein 1 to 50 liters of carbon dioxide gas is supplied per second instead of nitrogen gas .
Medium regeneration method.