JPH053731A - Method for feeding solution for water culture or the like - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To properly feed a solution to rock wool, etc., in water culture. CONSTITUTION:Feed of a solution is started on signals from moisture sensors 6 and 7 and the solution is supplied through an integrating flowmeter 3 into rock wool heads 10 up to a prescribed amount determined by water level sensors 9. Excess water in the preset amount based on the aforementioned amount of the fed solution is then supplied. After feeding the solution up to the prescribed amount as described above, excess water is fed in the preset amount regardless of the above-mentioned amount of the fed solution.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a liquid supply method in hydroponic cultivation such as rock wool cultivation.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in such hydroponics, as a method of supplying a plant with a water (solution) containing an appropriate amount of nutrients such as fertilizer, the water content in the rock wool bed or the water level is changed. The detection method, the method for measuring the accumulated solar radiation, and the 24-hour timer are combined, and each sensor determines whether or not the plant needs water (solution). That is, as in the chart shown in FIG. 3, a general method is to start the liquid supply by the signal of each sensor and stop the liquid supply when a predetermined amount or time is reached.

[0003]

However, since the rock wool usually has a length of several meters and the water content of the rock wool itself varies, the conventional method
The liquid supply amount Q1 is not constant depending on the location where the moisture sensor is installed, and it is extremely difficult to install the rock wool bed completely horizontally. This is also a factor causing variations in the liquid supply amount Q1. It was In order to prevent such variations, it is said that it is desirable that the amount of liquid supplied to rock wool in hydroponics is 10 to 15% of a predetermined amount of excess water (over-liquid supply) Q2. Also in the conventional case
As shown in FIG. 3, it is only necessary to determine the over-supply amount Q2 by using a delay timer in a normal supply pump, that is, this over-supply amount Q2 is most suitable for each plant or each growth stage of plants. It was not possible to control the amount of liquid supplied.

The present invention has been developed in view of such a situation, and it is possible to eliminate variations in the liquid supply amount of a solution and to accurately obtain a desired over liquid supply amount.
It is an object to provide a liquid supply method in hydroponics and the like.

[0005]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, at the time of liquid supply in hydroponics, a detection signal from a water sensor, a water level sensor, a timer or the like is used to measure an integrated liquid supply flow rate. A predetermined amount of liquid is supplied, and after this liquid supply, a spillage flow rate of a preset ratio with respect to the integrated liquid supply flow rate is supplied. Further, as another invention, when supplying liquid in hydroponic culture, a predetermined amount is supplied by a detection signal such as a moisture sensor, a water level sensor, a timer,
It is also possible to use a method which is characterized in that after this liquid supply, a spilled water flow of a preset ratio is supplied.

[0006]

In this way, the liquid is supplied up to a predetermined amount by the detection signals from the water level sensor, the water sensor, etc., and the integrated flow rate of this liquid amount is measured. Then, when the predetermined amount is reached, over-liquid supply is performed by multiplying a predetermined constant based on the integrated liquid supply flow rate described above. Further, according to another invention, after the liquid is supplied up to a predetermined amount by the detection signals of the respective sensors as described above, over-liquid supply of a predetermined flow rate is performed regardless of the liquid supply amount.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an embodiment for carrying out the present invention, in which 1 is an automatic valve for liquid supply, 2 is a liquid fertilizer mixing device, 3
Is an integrated flow meter that outputs a pulse according to the flow rate, 4 is the controller of this system, 5 is an input section for inputting data such as the liquid supply amount, 6 and 7 are moisture sensors, 8 is rock wool, 9 is rock wool Water level sensor in bed, 1
0 indicates a rock wool bed. In this configuration, in particular, the automatic valve 1 uses a synthetic resin ball valve or butterfly valve, which has good corrosion resistance due to liquid fertilizer, because water mixed with liquid fertilizer passes through, and an actuator using an electric motor is mounted on these. I'm using one. The liquid fertilizer mixing device 2 may be any mixing device without particular limitation.
A mixing device such as that shown in No. 52636 can be used. In addition, the integrated flow meter 3, the moisture sensors 6 and 7, and the water level sensor 9 are not particularly limited as long as they are compatible with the I / O port (not shown) of the controller 4, and therefore, depending on the embodiment. Shall be selected appropriately.

Therefore, in the first aspect of the invention, that is, an example of a method of performing over-liquid supply at a preset ratio with respect to the integrated liquid supply flow rate is performed as follows. First, FIG.
As shown in the chart (1), the ratio of the over liquid supply amount Q2 to the integrated liquid supply flow rate Q1 is set in the range of 0 to 40% by digital input to the input unit 5 of the controller 4. The ratio of the excess liquid supply amount Q2 changes depending on the type of plant to be cultivated, the stage of development, etc., and is appropriately set according to each condition. After the excess liquid supply amount Q2 is set in advance in this way, the moisture sensor 6
In any of 7 or 7, when a decrease in the amount of water in the rock wool 8 is detected under conditions of strong sunlight, weak sunlight (where water has evaporated, where water has not evaporated), etc., a detection signal is output. It is sent to the controller 4.

Upon receiving this information, the controller 4 opens the liquid supply automatic valve 1, the raw water becomes a solution through the liquid fertilizer mixing device 2, and is introduced into the rock wool bed 10 through the integrating flow meter 3. At this time, the integrated flow meter 3 uses one that outputs an output pulse at every constant flow rate of the solution, for example, every 0.1 l, and the controller 4 counts this pulse to constantly monitor the liquid supply amount. ing. Then, when the liquid supply amount reaches a predetermined amount, the water level sensor 9 informs the controller 4 of this, and the controller 4 calculates the liquid supply flow rate Q1 based on the count number of the output pulse of the integrating flow meter 3 described above. To do. Next, the controller 4 calculates Q2 = Q1 × 10% if an arbitrary ratio Q2 digitally input by the input unit 5, for example, 10% with respect to the integrated liquid supply flow rate Q1, is input, and the overcharge is calculated. Determine the liquid volume Q2. Then, the output pulse of the integrated flow meter 3 is counted again, and when the total liquid supply flow rate Q determined above, that is, Q = Q1 + (Q1 × 10%) is reached, the automatic valve 1 is closed and the liquid supply is completed. To do.

In another invention, that is, an example of a method of supplying a predetermined amount of liquid and then performing a predetermined amount of over-liquid supply is as follows. According to this, as in the embodiment of the first invention, the over-liquid supply amount Q2 is digitally input to the controller 4 from the input unit 5 in advance. However, here, the ratio to Q1 as described above is not determined, but Q2 is determined as an absolute amount. That is, as shown in the chart of FIG. 2, the rock wool bed 10 is provided with a constant over-supply amount Q2 regardless of the accumulated supply amount Q1 which is not constant due to various conditions. Therefore, specifically explaining these operations, if the controller 4 is set in advance with an over-liquid supply amount Q2 of, for example, 10 l, as described above, the liquid supply is accompanied by a decrease in the water content in the rock wool 8. Done. When the water level sensor 9 detects that Q1 has been supplied up to a predetermined amount,
The controller 4 performs over-liquid supply with the above-mentioned set value, Q2 = 10 l. Then, the controller 4 counts the output pulses of the integrated flow meter 3 to calculate that the over-liquid supply of 10 l has been performed, that is, Q =
When the condition of Q1 + 10l is reached, the automatic valve 1 is closed and the liquid supply is completed.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. First, according to the embodiment of the first aspect of the invention, as shown in FIG. 2, the over-supply amount Q2 is determined by the ratio of Q1 which varies depending on various conditions. Since an accurate over-liquid supply amount Q2 can be obtained without worrying about the amount, a constant water level and water content are always maintained. Further, according to another embodiment of the invention, regardless of the value of Q1, the over-supply amount Q2 is input as an absolute value and the integrated flow meter accurately supplies the liquid, so that it is affected by the change in the supply pressure of the raw water. The precise amount of over-filling can be performed without any need. Moreover, since the configuration using such a controller can perform precise liquid supply management in any of the embodiments, different kinds of plants are cultivated for each rock wool bed, and different growth is performed for each rock wool bed. It is easy to grow stage plants.

In this embodiment, each rock wool bed is sequentially controlled, but by changing the program of the controller, a plurality of rock wool beds are simultaneously supplied with liquid and the stop condition is satisfied. It is also possible to adopt a method in which the liquid supply is stopped in order. Moreover, although the input of the set value of Q2 is digital input type,
Depending on the specifications of the implementation, for example, an analog input type using a variable resistor or the like may be used. Further, in addition to the sensors listed here, an integrating pyranometer, a thermometer,
It is possible to perform more precise liquid supply management by adding sensors such as a 4-hour timer that monitor the plant cultivation environment from all angles.

[0013]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the method of the present invention, the optimum liquid supply amount can be obtained regardless of the variation of each sensor and the installation state of the rock wool bed. It is possible to promote the healthy development of plants in hydroponics. Moreover, in any of the methods of the present invention, only when the plant needs the solution, since it is configured to supply only the required amount, without adversely affecting the plant, unlike the conventional, timer By this, it is possible to eliminate the waste of forcibly supplying the liquid at a fixed time every day, that is, regardless of whether or not the plant needs the solution, and exhibits an excellent energy saving effect.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of this embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a chart showing the operation of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a chart showing the operation of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Automatic valve 2 liquid fertilizer mixing device 3 Integrated flow meter 4 controller 5 Input section 6 Moisture sensor 7 Moisture sensor 8 rock wool 9 Water level sensor 10 Rockwool Bed

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. When supplying liquid in hydroponics, a predetermined amount of liquid is supplied by means of a detection signal from a moisture sensor, a water level sensor, a timer or the like, and the liquid is supplied after the liquid supply. A liquid supply method such as hydroponic cultivation characterized in that a spilled water flow of a preset ratio is supplied to an integrated liquid supply flow. 2. When supplying liquid in hydroponics, a predetermined amount is supplied by a detection signal from a moisture sensor, a water level sensor, a timer, etc.,
A liquid supply method such as hydroponic cultivation, characterized in that after this liquid supply, a preset ratio of excess water flow is supplied.