JP3117983U - Liquid supply device for horticultural crop cultivation - Google Patents

Abstract

[PROBLEMS] Even an elderly person or a new farmer who has little experience in agriculture switches the conditions of feeding time in nutrient solution cultivation and the condition of fertilizer concentration in feeding solution with a simple operation according to the growing season of horticultural crops, etc. There is provided a liquid supply device for cultivating horticultural crops that can be easily managed.
An irrigation unit is composed of a irrigation unit and a control unit. The irrigation unit includes a fertilizer tank that stores liquid fertilizer, and an irrigation supply pipe that is connected at one end to a water source such as a water supply or a water tank. An electromagnetic valve 9 provided in a part of the irrigation supply pipe 5, a fertilizer supply pipe 6 connecting the fertilizer tank 3 and a predetermined position of the irrigation supply pipe 5, and a fertilizer delivery pump 4 provided in the fertilizer tank 3. The control unit 2 includes a changeover switch for switching an operation setting including a predetermined fertilizer injection speed and a predetermined liquid supply (continuation) time, and controls the fertilizer delivery pump 4 and the electromagnetic valve 9 according to the operation setting. To do.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid supply device that is easily used for hydroponics of horticultural crops and that can be easily managed.

In the agricultural field, farmers are aging, and more labor-saving and barrier-free farming environments suitable for elderly farmers are required. In order to increase the number of new entrants such as successors in agriculture and farmers from other industries, it is necessary to develop a comfortable, hygienic and efficient agricultural work environment. On the other hand, with the increasing number of elderly people and the need for people with disabilities to participate in society, the number of places where people can actually work is limited and there are very few workplaces that can be operated economically without administrative assistance. It is. In the horticultural welfare so far, research and development of assistive devices have been promoted, but it has not yet been possible to provide a place where elderly and disabled persons can work independently. Therefore, the development of social infrastructure for elderly and disabled persons through horticultural welfare is required.
In addition, it is difficult for private companies to hire persons with disabilities due to the prolonged recession, and there is a limit to securing employment of persons with disabilities through the efforts of private companies, and new places of employment are required. Therefore, in order for a person who has no agricultural experience to start a new farming, an apparatus that can easily perform cultivation management work is required regardless of the presence or absence of technology and experience.

In greenhouse horticulture, hydroponic cultivation has been introduced for the purpose of expanding the scale of management and technological advancement. A conventional general liquid supply apparatus used for such hydroponics will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a conventional liquid culture device for nutrient solution cultivation, FIG. 6 (a) is an external shape of a control unit in the device, and FIG. 6 (b) is an internal schematic diagram of the control unit in the device. Show.
As shown in FIG. 5, the nutrient solution cultivation apparatus mixes the liquid fertilizer in the fertilizer tank 20 from the middle of the irrigation supply pipe 15 connected to a water source such as a water supply or a water tank. Is a device that feeds and spreads to the cultivation floor. The liquid fertilizer is mixed by a pump 17 controlled by the control unit 16. As shown in FIG. 6 (a), the control unit 16 is provided with a power switch 16a, an operation mode changeover switch 16b, etc., and is provided inside the control unit 16 as shown in FIG. 6 (b) during operation. Liquid supply is performed according to the settings of the timer 18 and the fertilizer concentration adjustment knob 19.

As a liquid supply device in conventional hydroponics, a high flow rate for executing normal liquid supply is determined in advance in order to prevent the occurrence of excessive liquid supply due to the inertial liquid supply of pumps and motors and to facilitate liquid supply management. A liquid supply device comprising a means for selectively setting a small flow rate for executing liquid supply up to immediately before the preset amount and a flow rate intermediate between these two flow rates, and a liquid feed means controlled by the means (Patent Document 1) Reference) has been developed.
In addition, it is discharged from the hydroponics bed so that an appropriate amount of culture solution can be automatically supplied to the horticultural crops automatically according to the growth of the horticultural crops without causing a delay in the growth of the horticultural crops or a decrease in yield in the hydroponics. The measured amount of drainage is continuously measured for the culture broth, and the amount of water absorbed by the horticultural crops is continuously calculated from the amount of drainage and the amount of fluid supplied, and a new water supply is calculated based on the calculated amount of water absorption. An automatic liquid supply method (see Patent Document 2) and the like in which the liquid amount is determined and the culture liquid is automatically supplied by the determined liquid supply amount are also disclosed.

However, in the hydroponic cultivation apparatus shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the operator himself / herself determines the supply time, the fertilizer concentration in the supply, the number of times of supply, etc., and the timer 18 and the fertilizer concentration adjustment knob 19 are manually operated. Cultivating experience and advanced management skills are necessary, and those who have experienced cultivation can make full use of their previous experience, but for elderly people and new farmers who have no experience in agriculture. Is difficult to use. Similarly, the liquid supply device of Patent Document 1 can set the flow rate in advance by an external input, but not everyone can easily determine the growth state and set the flow rate by an appropriate input.
Further, in Patent Document 2, it is possible to measure the amount of drainage by means of a drainage amount measuring unit that combines a drainage amount measurement auxiliary tool with an electronic balance, and automatically determine the amount of liquid supply based on the measured value or the like. It is impossible to perform liquid supply management that sequentially changes the liquid supply time, the fertilizer concentration in the liquid supply, the number of times of liquid supply, etc. depending on the time. As a horticultural crop, for example, in order to efficiently grow strawberries and the like, it is known that the above-described liquid supply management according to the growing season is important.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 62-193997 JP 2003-219741 A

  The present invention has been made to cope with such problems, and even for elderly people and new farmers who have little agricultural experience, the conditions for the supply time and the fertilizer concentration in the supply of horticulture are horticulture. An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid supply device for cultivating horticultural crops that can be switched by a simple operation according to the growing season of the crop and can easily perform liquid supply management.

A horticultural crop cultivation liquid supply device according to the present invention is a horticultural crop cultivation liquid supply device for supplying a mixed liquid of water and fertilizer to a cultivation floor in horticultural crop cultivation, The apparatus includes a fertilizer tank for storing liquid fertilizer, an irrigation supply pipe having one end connected to a predetermined water source, an electromagnetic valve provided in a part of the irrigation supply pipe, the fertilizer tank, and the irrigation supply pipe. An irrigation unit comprising a fertilizer supply pipe that connects a predetermined position and a fertilizer delivery pump provided in the fertilizer tank, a predetermined fertilizer injection speed and a predetermined liquid supply time are set as one operation setting, and a plurality of A fertilizer delivery pump having a changeover switch for switching the operation setting, and a control unit for controlling the operation of the solenoid valve and the fertilizer delivery pump corresponding to the changeover switch, and controlled by the control unit The liquid fertilizer in the fertilizer tank is mixed with the water in the irrigation supply pipe through the fertilizer supply pipe at a fertilizer injection speed corresponding to the operation setting of the changeover switch, and the electromagnetic controlled by the control unit The valve is characterized in that the liquid is supplied by opening the valve for the liquid supply time corresponding to the operation setting of the changeover switch.
By setting the fertilizer injection rate of the liquid fertilizer into the water in the irrigation supply pipe, the fertilizer concentration in the liquid supply is determined. In addition, the predetermined fertilizer injection speed and the predetermined liquid supply time in the above operation setting are a concentration and a time determined in advance for each growing season of the target horticultural crop.

  The control unit includes an injection speed setting timer for setting a fertilizer injection speed and a liquid supply time setting timer for setting a liquid supply time for each operation setting.

  The control unit has a timer (24 hours), and performs liquid supply according to the operation setting at a predetermined time set by the timer.

  It is characterized by being used as a horticultural crop, especially for strawberry hydroponics.

The liquid supply device for horticultural crop cultivation of the present invention has a changeover switch for switching a plurality of operation settings in which the liquid supply time and the fertilizer injection speed are determined in advance for each target horticultural crop. Just by operating the changeover switch, the supply of horticultural crops can be easily managed.
In addition, since the control unit has a liquid supply time setting timer and an injection speed setting timer, the operator changes the liquid supply time and the fertilizer concentration in the liquid supply for each operation setting according to the growth situation of the horticultural crops, etc.・ Can be set.
Further, since the control unit has a timer, the number of times of liquid supply and its time are set by the timer, and the liquid can be automatically supplied at the time.

  The liquid supply device for cultivating horticultural crops according to the present invention can be used for liquid supply management with simple operations, even for those who have no experience in cultivation technology or cultivation. It is possible to easily carry out hydroponics cultivation of strawberry.

A liquid supply device for horticultural crop cultivation according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 shows a configuration diagram of a liquid supply device for horticultural crop cultivation.
As shown in FIG. 1, the horticultural crop cultivation liquid supply device of the present invention includes a irrigation unit 1 and a control unit 2.
The irrigation unit 1 includes a fertilizer tank 3 that stores liquid fertilizer, an irrigation supply pipe 5 that is connected at one end to a water source such as a water supply or a water tank, and a fertilizer that connects the fertilizer tank 3 and a predetermined position of the irrigation supply pipe 5. A supply pipe 6 and a fertilizer delivery pump 4 provided in the fertilizer tank 3 are provided. The irrigation supply pipe 5 of the irrigation unit 1 includes, in order from the water supply side, a strainer 7 for removing solid impurities in the supply water, a hall valve 8 for manually supplying or stopping water supply by opening and closing the valve, and opening and closing. An electromagnetic valve 9 for starting and stopping water supply, a flowing water meter 10 for measuring the passing flow rate, and a flow rate adjusting valve 11 for adjusting the flow rate are arranged. Operation of the fertilizer delivery pump 4 and the electromagnetic valve 9 is controlled by the control unit 2. As shown in FIG. 1, the fertilizer supply pipe 6 is connected to the irrigation supply pipe 5 after the electromagnetic valve 9 when viewed from the water supply side.
Water from the water source passes through the irrigation supply pipe 5, and after the electromagnetic valve 9 is mixed with the liquid fertilizer from the fertilizer supply pipe 6 to form a nutrient solution, and then the irrigation supply pipe 5 is branched as necessary. The liquid is supplied (irrigated) to the cultivation floor from the discharge hole provided in

The control unit 2 will be described with reference to FIG. 2A shows the external shape of the control unit, and FIG. 2B shows an internal schematic diagram of the control unit.
As shown in FIG. 2A, five buttons (A to E) are arranged on the operation surface of the control unit 2 as the changeover switch 2a for switching the operation setting. Different operation settings are set for each button, and the operation settings are switched by pressing each button exclusively. The changeover switch 2a may be any switch that can exclusively switch operation settings, and may be a dial-type changeover switch or the like in addition to the plurality of buttons shown in FIG.
The control unit 2 includes a power switch (not shown) for turning on / off the power of the control unit, a fertilizer shortage warning lamp 2b that is turned on when the liquid fertilizer in the fertilizer tank 3 is short, and a supply of water only. In order to allow the operator to arbitrarily supply the liquid without depending on the control unit 2 according to the fertilizer injection switch 2c for switching between the liquid and the supply of the nutrient solution (water + fertilizer) and the growth situation The automatic (timer) / manual irrigation changeover switch 2d and a timer 12 for setting a liquid supply (continuation) time, a liquid supply time, and the like are provided. Note that the automatic (timer) / manual irrigation changeover switch 2d can be switched between automatic (timer) operation, manual operation, and operation stop.
In addition, as shown in FIG. 2 (b), the control unit 2 includes five injection speed setting timers 2e and five liquid supply time setting timers 2f corresponding to each button as the changeover switch 2a. There are sometimes provided an emergency stop device 13 for emergency stop of water supply, a relay switch 14 for operating the changeover switch 2a exclusively and controlling the fertilizer delivery pump 4 and the electromagnetic valve 9.

  The operation setting in the present invention consists of a predetermined fertilizer injection speed and a predetermined liquid supply (continuation) time. As shown in FIG. 2 (b), in the control unit 2, the fertilizer injection speed is set by the injection speed setting timer 2e corresponding to each button (A to E) which is the changeover switch 2a, and the liquid supply time is liquid supply. Each is set by the time setting timer 2f. By selecting each button (A to E) on the operation surface of the control unit 2, the operation setting is switched according to the setting of the injection rate setting timer and the liquid supply time setting timer corresponding to the button.

The fertilizer injection speed in the operation setting is a speed at which the liquid fertilizer in the fertilizer tank 3 is mixed into the water in the irrigation supply pipe 5 through the fertilizer supply pipe 6 by the pulse-type fertilizer delivery pump 4, and the liquid supply is performed at this speed. The fertilizer concentration in is determined. Specifically, the number of seconds for executing a predetermined number of fertilizer injections is set by the injection speed setting timer 2e. For example, when the injection speed setting timer 2e is set to 0.3 seconds, 0.198 ml is injected once during 0.6 seconds. In order to enable delicate adjustment, the injection rate setting timer 2e is preferably a switch that can be set steplessly.
FIG. 3 shows the relationship between the value (second) of the injection speed setting timer and the fertilizer concentration (mS) in the liquid supply. The measurement conditions in FIG. 3 were obtained by collecting 100 ml of liquid manure from 10 liters / time, measuring the fertilizer concentration (EC) with a Horiba EC meter, and repeating the measurement three times to obtain an average value. As shown in FIG. 3, the fertilizer concentration increases exponentially as the predetermined number of fertilizer injections is performed at a small time interval, and the fertilizer concentration decreases as the time is increased at a long time interval. In order to facilitate the adjustment of the fertilizer concentration in the liquid supply, the value of the injection rate setting timer 2e is preferably set to 0.3 to 2.0 seconds where the change in fertilizer concentration is not rapid.

The liquid supply time in the operation setting is the time for continuously supplying liquid from the irrigation supply pipe 5 to the cultivation floor, and this is the time for opening the electromagnetic valve 9. The liquid supply time is measured by a liquid supply time setting timer.
In addition, by setting a predetermined liquid supply time with the timer 12 and setting the automatic (timer) / manual irrigation changeover switch 2d to automatic (timer) operation, the liquid supply is automatically performed at the set liquid supply time. Can be performed. In addition, by setting a plurality of times in the 24-hour timer, it is possible to automatically supply a plurality of times a day at a designated time.

  For those who have no experience in cultivation techniques or cultivation, preset fertilizer injection speed and liquid supply time with preset values that are determined based on the type of target horticultural crops and the size of the cultivation floor. However, liquid supply can be managed easily. In addition, the injection speed setting timer 2e and the supply time setting timer 2f allow the operator to finely adjust the supply time and the fertilizer concentration during supply according to the growing conditions of the horticultural crops.

A control method of the horticultural crop cultivation liquid supply device of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 4, 1, and 2. FIG. 4 is a control flow diagram of the horticultural crop cultivation liquid supply apparatus.
When the power source of the control unit 2 is turned on (S1), an energization lamp (not shown) is turned on and liquid supply control is started (S2). The operator presses one of the operation setting buttons to determine the operation setting (S11).
(1) When automatic irrigation by the timer is selected by the automatic (timer) / manual irrigation changeover switch 2d, the solenoid valve 9 is automatically opened at the time set in the timer and the operation setting is supported from there. Supply the liquid by opening the valve for the specified liquid supply time. When manual operation is selected, the solenoid valve 9 opens at that time, and liquid supply corresponding to the operation setting is performed.
(2) When the fertilizer injection switch 2c is “nourishing liquid (water + fertilizer)”, the power of the fertilizer delivery pump 4 is turned on (S8). Here, when irrigation is not performed, that is, when there is no flow of water in the irrigation supply pipe 5, the pump is stopped (S5). When irrigation is being performed, the fertilizer delivery pump 4 is operated (S9), and liquid fertilizer is mixed into the water in the irrigation supply pipe 5 from the fertilizer tank 3 to perform nutrient solution irrigation (S10). When automatic irrigation by the timer is selected by the automatic (timer) / manual irrigation changeover switch 2d, the solenoid valve 9 is automatically opened at the time set in the timer, and liquid supply corresponding to the operation setting is made therefrom. Open the valve for the time.
(3) When the fertilizer injection switch 2c is “water only”, the power of the fertilizer delivery pump 4 is turned off (S4), the pump is stopped (S5), and only water is irrigated without fertilizer (S7).
(4) When the liquid fertilizer sensor in the fertilizer tank 3 detects that the liquid fertilizer (liquid fertilizer) is insufficient, the fertilizer shortage warning lamp 2b is turned on (S3).

  Examples of horticultural crops that can use the horticultural crop cultivation liquid supply device of the present invention include strawberries, tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplants, peppers, melons, spinach, honey bees, lettuce and the like. Moreover, as a cultivation floor used as object, it is a greenhouse of 1a or more, a greenhouse, etc., for example, It can apply easily by changing the magnitude | sizes of the cultivation floor fertilizer tank 3, the irrigation supply piping 5, etc. suitably.

Table 1 shows specific settings for cultivating strawberries as horticultural crops using the horticultural crop cultivation liquid supply apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Table 2 shows the components used in the liquid supply device.
In Table 1, “fertilizer concentration EC” is the fertilizer concentration (mS) in the liquid supply, “injection speed setting timer” is the setting value (seconds) of the injection speed setting timer 2e, and “liquid supply amount A” is the Liquid 1 time, liquid supply amount per share (ml / strain / time), “Number of times” is the number of times of liquid supply per day (times), “Liquid supply amount B” is converted to 10a for cultivation bed The amount of liquid supplied per day (liter / day), “NO ₃ -N” is the amount of nitrate nitrogen per liter (mg / liter), and “liquid supply time” is the continuation per liquid supply Time (minutes / times), “buttons” are buttons (A to E) in the control unit shown in FIG.
In addition, it was set as the strawberry 800 stocks / a, and the liquid supply amount of 1 time 5 liter / min. Cultivation in a greenhouse with a frontage of 5.4m is carried out on an elevated bench, and the medium is cedar skin shredded, mixed with rice bran, chicken dung, and fermenting bacteria and fermented naturally for 6 months. 1 liter (perlite) mixed at a ratio of 2 liters per strain was used. The plant was planted in 2 rows with a bed width of 30 cm and a strain of 20 cm. When planting, basic fertilizers such as coated slow fertilizer (nitrogen: phosphoric acid: potassium = 13: 11: 11%), calcium carbonate, total trace element fertilizer, etc. are applied in the medium, and the fertilizer is already included in the growing season. Therefore, only water was supplied in the initial period (September to December), and liquid fertilizer was supplied according to Table 1 after January. Planting was performed on September 13, 2004, and the vinyl covering of the greenhouse was covered on October 13. The harvest started on November 11, and was harvested twice a week until May 23, 2005.

  The liquid supply device for cultivating horticultural crops of the present invention has a changeover switch for switching a plurality of operation settings in which the liquid supply time and the fertilizer injection speed are determined in advance for each target horticultural crop. Just by operating the changeover switch, it is possible to easily manage the supply of horticultural crops, which can be suitably used for strawberry hydroponics.

It is a block diagram of the liquid supply apparatus for garden crop cultivation which concerns on one Example to this invention. It is an external appearance shape of a control unit, and an internal schematic diagram of a control unit. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the value of an injection speed setting timer, and the fertilizer density | concentration in liquid supply. It is a control flowchart of the liquid supply apparatus for horticultural crop cultivation of this invention. It is a block diagram of the conventional liquid supply apparatus for garden crop cultivation. It is the external appearance shape of the conventional control unit, and the internal schematic diagram of a control unit.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Irrigation unit 2 Control unit 3 Fertilizer tank 4 Fertilizer delivery pump 5 Irrigation supply piping 6 Fertilizer supply piping 7 Strainer 8 Hall valve 9 Solenoid valve 10 Flow meter 11 Flow control valve 12 Timer 13 Emergency stop device 14 Relay switch

Claims (4)

A horticultural crop cultivation liquid supply device for supplying a mixed liquid of water and fertilizer to a cultivation floor in horticultural crop cultivation,
The horticultural crop cultivation liquid supply device includes a fertilizer tank for storing liquid fertilizer, an irrigation supply pipe having one end connected to a predetermined water source, a solenoid valve provided in a part of the irrigation supply pipe, and the fertilizer. A irrigation unit comprising a fertilizer supply pipe that connects a tank and a predetermined position of the irrigation supply pipe, a fertilizer delivery pump provided in the fertilizer tank, and a predetermined fertilizer infusion rate and a predetermined liquid supply time. And a control unit that controls the operation of the solenoid valve and the fertilizer delivery pump in response to the changeover switch.
The fertilizer delivery pump controlled by the control unit transfers liquid fertilizer in the fertilizer tank to water in the irrigation supply pipe via the fertilizer supply pipe at a fertilizer injection speed corresponding to the operation setting of the changeover switch. The liquid supply apparatus for cultivating horticultural crops, wherein the electromagnetic valve mixed and controlled by the control unit opens the valve for a liquid supply time corresponding to the operation setting of the changeover switch and supplies the liquid.   The horticultural crop cultivation according to claim 1, wherein the control unit includes an injection rate setting timer for setting a fertilizer injection rate and a supply time setting timer for setting a supply time for each operation setting. Liquid supply device.   The horticultural crop cultivation liquid supply according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control unit has a timer and performs liquid supply according to the operation setting at a predetermined time set by the timer. apparatus.   The liquid supply device for cultivating horticultural crops according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the device is used for strawberry cultivation.

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