JPH0618496B2 - Plant growth promotion equipment - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an apparatus for improving agricultural productivity by promoting the growth of plants.

Conventional technology Improvement of agricultural productivity is being carried out by various tests and studies as a major solution to the food crisis predicted in the future. Artificial control is in progress. Environmental conditions that affect the growth of plants include light (illuminance, wavelength, sunshine duration), temperature, humidity, CO ₂ concentration, etc., and it requires a lot of energy and cost to optimize these. To do. Therefore, it is considered that there is a limit to the spread of plant cultivation in an artificially controlled environment.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 55-42512 proposes placing a plant in a discharge atmosphere as a method for promoting the growth growth of the plant. This is to discharge the plant by placing a discharge device in the upper part of the experimental tank (desiccator) to form a discharge atmosphere in a closed tank and putting black soil in the germination floor below and placing the plant on the surface. The purpose is to utilize the discharge oxidation for the respiration of plants.

However, in this device, since the discharge atmosphere is formed in the closed tank, the tank may be filled with ozone and adversely affect the plants. Moreover, the use of a desiccator is suitable for experiments but unsuitable for practical use, and there is no solution on how to apply fertilizer. Therefore, it has not reached the stage where it can be used industrially.

By the way, photosynthesis, which is indispensable for the growth of plants, makes oxygen in the presence of chlorophyll and light energy from carbon dioxide in the air absorbed from the stomata and water absorbed from the roots to release oxygen. The produced carbohydrates translocate leaf vegetables such as saladana to leaves, fruit vegetables such as cucumber to fruits, and root vegetables such as radish to roots.

In order for plants to grow, the amount of carbohydrates must be increased, and therefore a) activation of chlorophyll b) improved utilization of light energy c) increased absorption of carbon dioxide d) water E) Increase in absorption rate of e) It is necessary to promote commutation. The present inventor has found that placing a plant in an electric field has an effect on the above items, and has arrived at the present invention.

In addition, plants absorb water and mineral nutrients from their roots. Inorganic nutrients dissolve in water to become ions, and in the state of ions, they pass through the cell membrane and are absorbed.

In order for the nutrient water to be absorbed promptly, it is necessary to f) promote the ionization and g) improve the permeability of the cell membrane. The present inventor has found that the root and the culture solution are placed in an electric field to have an effect on the above items, and has arrived at the present invention.

Problem to be Solved by the Invention An object of the present invention is to provide a device capable of cultivating a plant having a good quality and a large yield by shortening the growth period of the plant.

Means for Solving the Problem and Its Action The above-mentioned object of the present invention is to mount a support member for supporting a plant stem in an upper open tank adapted to circulate a culture solution,
The root of the plant held on the support member is immersed in the culture solution, a flat plate-shaped first electrode is arranged under the root, and the plant is sandwiched between the first electrode and the opposite side. A linear second electrode is arranged, both electrodes are arranged substantially parallel to each other so that a substantially uniform electric field is formed between both electrodes, and intermittent discharge is performed between both electrodes. This is achieved by the plant growth promoting device configured as described above.

Based on such a constitution, it was confirmed that the effect of the electric field on the above-mentioned items appears in the leaves, stems, roots and culture solution of the plant, and the growth of the plant is promoted. At the same time as the growth is promoted, the inferior growth plants that have become extremely inferior are activated by electrical stimulation and become even more competitive with other plants, resulting in an improvement in the quality of the whole plant and the yield. Was also confirmed to increase.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be further described with reference to the embodiments of the accompanying drawings.

Embodiment FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a growth promoting apparatus according to the present invention, in which an upper open tank 1 in which a culture solution 10 is circulated.
A ring-shaped support member 14 made of wire for supporting the plant stem in
Is installed. The root of the plant inserted and held in the support member 14 is immersed in the culture medium 10. A flat plate-shaped electrode 16 is immersed in the culture solution in a substantially horizontal state under the root, and a linear discharge electrode 18 is arranged above the plant 20 in a substantially horizontal state with a space therebetween. A high voltage exchanged from the AC 100V power supply 22 to the DC 12kV by the converter 24 is intermittently applied between the electrodes with an electrode interval of about 100 mm via the switch 26. Thus, an electric discharge is generated between the plate electrode 16 and the linear electrode 18, and the plant is placed in a substantially even electric field to be stimulated.

Experimental Example When the condition of the growth of the Saladana was tested using the apparatus of the present invention, the results are shown in FIG. In this experiment, for comparison,
Experiments were also conducted with the linear electrode 18 of FIG. 1 replaced with a vertically downward needle-shaped electrode. Curve A is the weight ratio of the number of weeks after the emergence of cotyledons and the weight ratio of plants (when the non-energized growth amount is 100 and Ratio). Curve B represents a similar relationship when the same intermittent energization is repeated using a needle electrode. Curve C represents a similar relationship when the same device was used and no current was applied. When the linear electrode shown in FIG. 1 was used, the harvest was quicker by about 9 days and the weight was increased by about 15% as compared with when the electricity was not applied. Therefore, it was found that there was an effect of promoting growth. on the other hand,
When the needle-shaped electrode was used, both the growth rate and the yield were inferior to those in the non-energized state, indicating that the effect of the electric field was exerted on the worse side. It is considered that this is because an unequal electric field is generated between the needle-shaped electrode and the flat plate electrode 16, so that a local impact is given to the plant and an adverse effect is produced.

Further, as a comparative experiment, it was found that when continuous energization was performed, the cotyledon of the plant was darkened and the color was deteriorated in both the linear electrode and the needle electrode, and growth was not promoted. Therefore, it was found that the device of the present invention gives the best results when the discharge is intermittently performed by forming a substantially uniform electric field between both electrodes.

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION As described in detail above, according to the present invention, a device capable of shortening the growth period of plants and cultivating plants of high quality and high yield is provided, which is useful for improving agricultural productivity. That is a remarkable effect.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view showing an embodiment of a growth promoting apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a graph showing a comparison of plant growth rates. 10 ... Culture solution, 12 ... Tank 14 ... Support member, 16, 18 ... Electrode 20 ... Plant, 22 ... Power supply, 26 ... Switch

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A support member for supporting a plant stem is attached in an upper open tank in which a culture solution is circulated, and a root of a plant held on the support member is dipped in the culture solution, A flat plate-shaped first electrode is arranged on the side, a linear second electrode is arranged on the side opposite to the first electrode with the plant interposed, and a substantially uniform electric field is formed between both electrodes. As described above, the plant growth promoting apparatus is characterized in that both electrodes are arranged so as to be substantially parallel to each other, and intermittent discharge is performed between the two electrodes.