JPH1189451A - Water control system for plant production - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain the subject control system capable of keeping a culture medium in proper moisture state and improving quality and uniformity of plants and useful for facilities for raising seedlings of vegetables and flowers in spite of change in environment such as weather by setting water amount-determining means or the like for determining an overhead watering amount or the like to a plurality of culture media. SOLUTION: This water control system is equipped with a culture medium weight-measuring means, e.g. a weight-measuring apparatus 26 for measuring the weight of a specific culture medium and a water amount-determining means for determining an overhead watering amount or water supplying amount from the bottom face to a plurality of culture media based on the measured weight. Furthermore, the culture medium weight-measuring means is equipped with a weight 28 capable of controlling the weight according to growth of plants, a balance 27 in which the weight 28 is connected to the one end, a culture connecting means for connecting a specific culture medium to the other end part of the balance 27 in a suspension- possible manner, a balance raising and lowering means for raising and lowering the midpoint of the balance 27 and a balance inclination detecting means for detecting inclination of raised balance 27 and further preferably a water level control means, e.g. water level controlling vessel 11 for controlling water level of a water supplying vessel 10 based on water-supplying amount from the bottom determined by the water amount determining means.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention belongs to the technical field of a plant production water management system introduced into a plant production facility such as a vegetable / flora raising facility.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, plant production facilities for mass-producing plants such as vegetable seedlings are equipped with a plurality of culture media (including plants and cultivation vessels) placed on a cultivation bed automatically with overhead irrigation or bottom water supply. Water management system for plant production
It is called a water management system. ) Has been introduced.

[0003]

However, in a plant production facility, the production of high-quality and uniform plants is a problem. Particularly, in a grafted seedling raising and seedling facility that performs automatic grafting using a grafting robot, higher quality is required. And uniformity is required. However, since the conventional water management system performs a predetermined amount of overhead irrigation or bottom surface water supply at predetermined time intervals, excessive irrigation or insufficient irrigation is caused based on environmental changes such as the weather. There is a defect that the quality is not allowed to be deteriorated due to occurrence of bending, falling, withering, growth disorder, etc., and that the required uniformity cannot be ensured due to variation in the quality.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in order to solve these problems in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and is intended to automatically control a plurality of culture media placed on a cultivation bed. A plant production water management system that performs overhead irrigation or bottom surface water supply, wherein the plant production water management system includes a medium weight measurement unit that measures the weight of a specific culture medium, and a plurality of culture mediums based on the measured weight. A water amount determining means for determining an overhead irrigation amount or a bottom surface water supply amount is provided. In other words, the weight of the medium that changes according to the degree of wetness of the medium is measured, and the amount of overhead irrigation or the amount of water supplied to the bottom is determined based on the measured weight. It becomes possible to do. Therefore, quality deterioration due to excessive humidity (
It is possible to prevent quality deterioration (withering, poor growth, etc.) due to drying and bending, etc., and it is possible to reduce variation in quality. A uniform plant can be produced.
Further, the medium weight measuring means is characterized in that a specific medium is lifted and the weight is measured. In other words, the specific medium (sample) to be measured can always be cultivated under the same conditions as the other medium, so that the quality of the sample can be ensured, and further, interference with other mediums and the like can be ensured. Since the weight can be measured in a state where the measurement is not performed, the measurement accuracy can be improved. Further, the medium weight measuring means is a weight whose weight is adjusted according to the growth of the plant, a balance in which the weight is connected to one end, and a specific medium which can be hung on the other end of the balance. It is characterized by comprising a medium coupling means for coupling, a balance elevating means for elevating and lowering an intermediate point of the balance, and a balance inclination detecting means for detecting the inclination of the elevated balance. In other words, since the medium weight measuring means is composed of a so-called balance having a simple structure,
Not only can it contribute to cost reduction, but also good maintainability and reliability can be ensured. Also, while placing the medium on the water-absorbent mat laid on the cultivation bed, and immersing the wicking sheet hanging from the water-absorbent mat in the water or nutrient solution in the water supply container to supply the bottom water to the medium,
Water level adjusting means for adjusting the water level of the water supply container based on the bottom water supply amount determined by the water amount determining means is provided. In other words, in a suction-type bottom water supply system utilizing capillary action, the amount of water supplied to the bottom surface can be adjusted according to the weight of the culture medium, so that the culture medium is maintained in an appropriate humidity state regardless of environmental changes such as weather. Can be. Also,
The medium is placed on the water supply container provided on the cultivation bed, and the bottom surface is filled with water or nutrient solution in the water supply container for a predetermined period of time to perform bottom surface water supply to the medium. It is characterized by providing a flood control means for adjusting the flood and the flood time. That is, in the flooded bottom water supply equipment, the bottom water supply amount can be adjusted according to the weight of the culture medium, so that the culture medium can be maintained in an appropriate humidity state regardless of environmental changes such as weather.

[0005]

Next, one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, reference numeral 1 denotes a seedling raising tray used for raising seedlings of vegetables and flowers, and the seedling raising tray 1 has an inverted quadrangular pyramid having an open upper surface and a water absorption hole (drainage hole) formed on a lower surface. A plurality of shaped cells 1a are arranged vertically and horizontally, and the upper ends of the cells 1a are integrally connected. In the present embodiment, a sowing process of loading a medium (culture soil or the like) into each of the cells 1a, a sowing process of sowing a seed at a substantially central position of each of the cells 1a,
After performing soil covering treatment for covering the sown seeds, watering the medium for watering, and sprouting for promoting emergence, the seedlings are raised for a predetermined period to produce rootstock seedlings for automatic grafting. There are a plurality of types of trays 1 having the same overall dimensions and different sizes and numbers of cells 1a, and those that are adapted to the type of seedling to be raised and the seedling raising period are selectively used. I have.

Reference numeral 2 denotes a cultivation bed provided in a greenhouse. The cultivation bed 2 has a plurality of base steel frames 4 arranged side by side on a top surface of a cultivation bench 3 at predetermined intervals. The cultivation table 5 is installed on the base steel frame 4 in a bridging manner.

The cultivation table 5 includes a water-permeable bottom plate 6 made of expanded metal or the like, a wicking sheet 7 and a water-absorbing mat 8 made of rock wool or the like, a root cutting sheet 9 made of a nonwoven fabric or the like. The seedlings are raised by placing a plurality of seedling trays 1 on an upper root cutting sheet 9, and a part of the suction sheet 7 includes a cultivation table 5 and a cultivation bench 3. Between a plurality of water supply containers (water supply gutters) 10 disposed between the water supply containers 1 and 2.
In order to suck up the nutrient solution stored in the water absorption container 10 by the so-called capillary phenomenon, an amount of the nutrient solution according to the water level of the water absorption container 10 is always supplied to the water absorption mat 8, and the nutrient solution that has permeated the water absorption mat 8 in the same manner. In principle, water is absorbed in the culture medium in the seedling raising tray 1.

Since the plurality of water supply containers 10 are communicated via a communication pipe 12 to a water level adjustment container 11 which is provided one for each cultivation bed 2, the nutrient solution level in each water supply container 10 is adjusted to a water level. The nutrient solution in the tank 11 is maintained at the same water level as that of the nutrient solution, but the nutrient solution in the separately provided water storage tank 13 is supplied to the water level adjusting container 11 via the water supply pipe 15 in which the water supply pump 14 is interposed. The nutrient solution in the water level control container 11 can be supplied to the electromagnetic valve 1 for drainage.
6 through the drain pipe 17 interposed
The water level of the water level adjustment container 11 and the water supply container 10 can be arbitrarily adjusted based on the operations of the water supply pump 14 and the drainage electromagnetic valve 16,
In the end, the amount of water supplied to the seedling raising tray 1 on the bottom surface can be adjusted according to the change in the suction amount of the suction sheet 7. In the figure, reference numeral 18 denotes a water level adjusting container 1 from another water supply source (groundwater or the like) via a water supply electromagnetic valve 19.
1 is a water supply line for supplying water, and 20 is a liquid fertilizer mixing device for mixing liquid fertilizer in the liquid fertilizer tank 21 with water in the water supply line 18 at a predetermined ratio.

On the other hand, reference numeral 22 denotes a plurality of fixed or mobile fine mist irrigation nozzles provided above the cultivation bed 2, and the fine mist irrigation nozzle 22 is provided with water or nutrient solution supplied at a predetermined pressure. Is finely atomized and watered overhead in the seedling raising tray 1. However, when fine watering is performed, the surrounding humidity of the seedling raising tray 1 cannot be increased,
The ambient temperature of the seedling raising tray 1 can be reduced based on so-called heat of vaporization.

In this embodiment, the power atomizer 2 is used.
3 is used to supply water or nutrient solution to the fine mist irrigation nozzle 22 at a high pressure, and a water supply line 24 from the power sprayer 23 to the fine mist irrigation nozzle 22 of each cultivation bed 2 is provided with an electromagnetic valve for fine mist irrigation, respectively. 25, the fine mist irrigation for each cultivation bed 2 can be individually executed based on the operation of the fine mist irrigation electromagnetic valve 25,
The amount of fine mist irrigation can be adjusted based on the ON time setting of the electromagnetic valve 25 for fine mist irrigation.

Reference numeral 26 denotes a weight measuring device provided on each cultivation bed 2, and the weight measuring device 26 has a weight 28 suspended from one end of a swingable balance 27 with a predetermined intermediate point as a fulcrum. It is composed of a so-called balance meter. At the other end of the balance 27, a seedling raising tray 1 specified in advance is set.
Since the tray holders 29 (medium coupling means) for suspending the four corners of the sample nursery tray (hereinafter referred to as sample nursery tray) are connected, it is possible to measure the weight of the sample nursery tray 1 (weight comparison). However, since the weight 28 is a water-adjustable variable weight whose weight can be adjusted according to the amount of water injected into the weight, the weight of the weight 28 is changed according to the seedling tray weight (in accordance with the growth of the seedling) in an appropriate humidity state. ), The degree of wetness of the medium in the sample seedling raising tray 1 can be determined.

Numeral 30 denotes a winding drum disposed above the balance 27. The winding drum 30 has a wire 31 connected to an intermediate point of the balance 27 at a lower end thereof, and is electrically driven. Since the wire 31 is wound / unwound with the forward / reverse drive of the motor 32, the balance 27 can be moved up and down based on the forward / reverse drive operation of the electric motor 32. At the time of non-weight measurement, the sample seedling raising tray 1 and the weight 28 are placed on the cultivation bed 2 while the balance 27 is held at the lowered position.
Can be cultivated in the same environment as the other seedling raising trays 1. On the other hand, at the time of weight measurement, the sample seedling raising tray 1 and the weight 28 are raised together with the balance 27 so that they do not interfere with other seedling raising trays 1 and the like. , So that the weights of the two can be compared.

Reference numerals 33 to 35 denote first to third contact sensors. Of the contact sensors 33 to 35, the third contact sensor 35 detects the lower limit position of the balance 27. The first and second contact sensors 33 and 34 are
7 are arranged at the same position above both arms. That is, when the balance 27 is lifted with the winding rotation of the winding drum 30, the balance 27 is inclined according to the weight of the sample seedling raising tray 1, and the inclination direction is first changed to the balance 2
7 is determined based on the detection signals of the contact sensors 33 and 34 that have detected the contact with the sensor 7.

Further, reference numeral 36 denotes a control unit constituted by using a microcomputer. The input side of the control unit 36 detects the water level of the water level control container 11 in addition to the contact sensors 33 to 35 described above. A water level detection sensor 37, a temperature sensor 38 for detecting the temperature in the greenhouse, a humidity sensor 39 for detecting the humidity in the greenhouse, a solar radiation sensor 40 for detecting the amount of solar radiation in the greenhouse, and the like are connected via a predetermined input interface circuit. On the other hand, on the output side, the water supply pump 14, the drainage electromagnetic valve 16, the water supply electromagnetic valve 19,
The liquid fertilizer mixer 20, the power sprayer 23, the fine mist irrigation electromagnetic valve 25, the electric motor 32, and the like are connected via a predetermined output interface circuit. That is, in the control device 36, “tray weight measurement”, “bottom water supply control”, “weather judgment”, “fine mist irrigation control” and the like are registered in advance as a water management control program. Will be described based on the flowchart.

In the "tray weight measurement", first, it is determined whether or not the measurement is in execution by referring to the measurement start flag.
If it is in the non-execution state (flag reset state), it is determined whether or not the current time is the regular measurement time based on comparison with preset regular measurement time data. If it is determined that it is not the regular measurement time, the electric motor 3
2 is kept in a stopped state, but when it is a regular measurement time, a measurement start flag is set and the electric motor 32 is driven upward. Then, in the ascending drive state, it is determined whether the balance 27 has contacted the first or second contact sensor 33, 34, and the first contact sensor 3
When the balance 27 comes in contact with the balance 3, the water level lowering flag is set, and then the motor drive stop processing and the measurement end flag setting processing are executed. On the other hand, when the balance 27 first contacts the second contact sensor 34, After the water level raising flag is set, the motor drive stop processing and the measurement end flag setting processing are executed. After the balance 27 comes into contact with one of the contact sensors 33, 34, the other contact sensors 33, 34 within a predetermined time. When the balance 27 comes into contact with the balance, it is determined that the balance 27 is in a substantially horizontal state, and the motor drive stop processing and the measurement end flag setting processing are executed without setting the water level lowering flag and the water level raising flag. ing. When the measurement end flag is set,
The electric motor 32 is driven downward and the balance 27 is
Determines whether or not has contacted the third contact sensor 35, and based on the determination, executes the motor drive stop processing, the measurement start flag reset processing, and the measurement end flag reset processing to end the periodic weight measurement. ing.

In the "bottom water supply control", first, it is determined whether or not a water level lowering flag or a water level raising flag is set. If the water level lowering flag is set, the drainage electromagnetic valve 16 is switched. Water level control container 11
When the water level raising flag is set, the water supply pump 14 is driven to raise the water level of the water level adjustment container 11. Then, during the water level lowering adjustment, it is determined whether or not the water level has dropped to one step or to the lower limit water level, and based on the determination, the electromagnetic valve 1 for drainage is determined.
6, while the water level rising adjustment is being performed, it is determined whether or not the water level has risen to one step or to the upper limit water level, and based on the determination, the water supply pump 14 is stopped. And reset processing of the water level raising flag.

In the "weather judgment", first, it is determined whether or not the amount of insolation is greater than the fine judgment reference insolation amount (set value). If the judgment is NO, the weather data includes cloudy data (rainy). (Including bad weather such as bad weather), but if it is determined to be YES, it is further determined whether or not the room temperature has risen rapidly. When the sudden rise determination is NO, normal fine data is set in the weather data, while when YES, sudden change data is set in the weather data.

In the "fine mist irrigation control", first, it is determined whether or not the weather data is abruptly changed. If the determination is NO, a comparison is made with the preset regular irrigation time data. It is determined whether the current time is the regular irrigation time and whether the weather data is fine. When it is determined that the time is not the regular irrigation time or when the weather data is not fine, the irrigation amount data functioning as the fine mist irrigation execution determination data and the fine mist irrigation amount command data is maintained in the reset state. On the other hand, if it is determined that the current time is the regular irrigation time and the weather data is clear, the set irrigation amount for fine use (medium volume irrigation, small amount irrigation, no irrigation according to humidity) is added to the irrigation amount data. It is set to execute fine mist irrigation by the “fine mist irrigation execution routine”. On the other hand, when the weather data is abruptly changed, the amount of irrigation for sudden change is set so that the amount of irrigation is larger than the set amount of fine irrigation (large amount of irrigation, medium amount irrigation, small amount of irrigation depending on humidity). Is immediately set in the irrigation volume data, and the fine mist irrigation is executed by the “fine mist irrigation execution routine” regardless of the regular irrigation time. In addition, in this embodiment, in order to prevent that fine mist irrigation is performed continuously,
Immediately after the completion of the fine mist irrigation, the irrigation prohibition timer is set, and the execution of the “fine mist irrigation execution routine” is prohibited until the irrigation prohibition timer elapses.

In the apparatus constructed as described above, water is supplied from the bottom to the seedling trays 1 placed on the cultivation bed 2. The weight of the sample seedling tray 1 is measured, and the amount of bottom water supplied to the plurality of seedling trays 1 is automatically adjusted based on the measured weight. It is possible to maintain the condition, as a result of which
It is not possible to prevent falling down, wilting due to drying, poor growth, and the like, and it is possible to produce uniform seedlings that can respond to automatic grafting with less variation in quality.

Further, since the sample seedling raising tray 1 is always placed on the cultivation bed 2 and is lifted only at the time of measuring the weight, the sample seedling raising tray 1 is cultivated under almost the same conditions as the other seedling raising trays 1. Not to be able to
There is an advantage that the weight can be measured without interfering with other seedling raising trays 1 or the like.

In this embodiment, since the weight of the sample seedling tray 1 is measured using a so-called balance having a simple structure, it is not permissible to contribute to cost reduction, and good maintenance and reliability are ensured. can do.

In this embodiment, the seedling raising tray 1 is placed on the water-absorbing mat 8 laid on the cultivation bed 2, and the water-absorbing sheet 7 hanging from the water-absorbing mat 8 is immersed in the nutrient solution in the water supply container 10. Since the suction-type bottom water supply which supplies the bottom water to the seedling raising tray 1 is adopted, the bottom water supply amount can be adjusted only by changing the water level of the water supply container 10, and as a result, the bottom water supply amount can be adjusted. It is possible to contribute to the simplification of the control, not the permission that can be performed promptly.

The seedling tray 1 placed on the cultivation bed 2 is supplied with bottom water where the cultivated plants are less bent or tilted, and fine mist irrigation that can prevent the cultivated plants from wilting based on the humidifying action and the cooling action. To automatically adjust the ratio between the amount of fine mist irrigation (adjusted water supply by weather judgment) and the amount of bottom water supply (adjusted water supply by sample weight) based on weather judgments. In addition, it is possible to produce high-quality and uniform seedlings free from bending, falling, and withering regardless of weather changes and seasons (especially in summer).

Further, when the weather is other than fine, fine mist irrigation is not performed, so that bending or falling of the seedling due to excessive overhead irrigation can be prevented.

In addition, when the weather suddenly changes to fine, a large amount of fine mist irrigation is performed as compared with the normal fine judgment. Therefore, even if the provisional bottom water supply is controlled conservatively, the amount of transpiration of the seedlings is reduced. In a situation where the amount of water rapidly increases, the transpiration of the seedlings can be suppressed based on the humidifying effect and cooling effect of a large amount of fine mist irrigation, and as a result, the bottom water supply is controlled conservatively and the length of the seedlings is avoided, It is possible to prevent the seedlings from wilting or growth disorders due to sudden changes in the weather.

In the present embodiment, the fine mist irrigation is periodically performed. However, when the temperature suddenly rises due to a sudden change in the weather,
Since fine mist irrigation is performed at times other than the regular irrigation time, quick fine mist irrigation can be performed in response to sudden changes in the weather, thereby preventing seedling wilting and growth disorders due to sudden changes in the weather. be able to.

The present invention is, of course, not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, in the above-described embodiment, a suction-type bottom water supply is adopted. Needless to say, the present invention can also be carried out in a plant production facility employing the flooded bottom water supply, and the flooded bottom water supply equipment will be described below with reference to the drawings.

The submerged bottom water supply system includes a cultivation bed 2
A water-permeable bottom plate 42 and an under tray 43 are laid on a water supply container 41 installed on the upper side, and water or water is supplied to the water supply container 41 for the seedling trays 1 placed on the plurality of under trays 43. Bottom water is supplied by immersing the nutrient solution for a predetermined time. In the flooded bottom water supply system of FIG. 13, since the water supply container 41 communicates with the water level adjustment container 11 having the same function as the first embodiment, the flooding depth of the water supply container 41 and the flooding are set. By adjusting the water time, it is possible to control the amount of water supplied to the seedling raising tray 1 from the bottom.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a plant production water management system.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a cultivation bed.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing input and output of a control device.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a “main routine”.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing “tray weight measurement”.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing “bottom water supply control”.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing “weather judgment”.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing “fine mist irrigation control”.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an operation explanatory view of a conventional example (only overhead irrigation).

FIG. 11 is an operation explanatory view of a conventional example (bottom water supply only).

FIG. 12 is an operation explanatory view of a conventional example (only a conservative bottom water supply).

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing another example of a plant production facility.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view showing another example of a cultivation bed.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 seedling raising tray 2 cultivation bed 7 wicking sheet 8 water absorption mat 10 water supply container 11 water level control container 22 fine mist irrigation nozzle 26 weight measuring device 27 balance 28 weight 30 winding drum 32 electric motor 33 first contact sensor 34 second contact sensor 36 control device 38 temperature sensor 40 solar radiation sensor

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A plant production water management system for automatically performing overhead irrigation or bottom surface water supply on a plurality of culture media placed on a cultivation bed, wherein the plant production water management system includes the weight of a specific culture medium. Medium weight measuring means for measuring,
A water management system for plant production, comprising: an amount of water determining means for determining an amount of overhead irrigation or an amount of bottom surface water supply for a plurality of culture media based on the measured weight. 2. The plant production water management system according to claim 1, wherein the medium weight measuring means lifts a specific medium and measures the weight. 3. The medium weight measuring means according to claim 1, wherein the weight is adjusted in accordance with the growth of the plant, a balance having the weight connected to one end, and a balance connected to the other end of the balance. A plant comprising: a culture medium connecting means for suspending and connecting a specific culture medium; a balance raising / lowering means for raising / lowering an intermediate point of the balance; and a balance inclination detecting means for detecting the inclination of the raised balance. Production water management system. 4. The medium according to claim 1, wherein the medium is placed on a water-absorbent mat laid on a cultivation bed, and a wicking sheet hanging from the water-absorbent mat is immersed in water or a nutrient solution in a water supply container to supply water to the medium. A water level adjusting means for adjusting the water level of the water supply container based on the bottom water supply amount determined by the water amount determining means. 5. The water amount determining means according to claim 1, wherein the medium is placed on a water supply container provided in the cultivation bed, and the water supply means is filled with water or a nutrient solution for a predetermined time to perform bottom water supply to the medium. A water management system for plant production, comprising a flood control means for adjusting a flood depth and a flood time based on the determined bottom water supply amount.