JPS63263024A - Hydroponic method and apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for hydroponic cultivation of strawberries, soft vegetables, fruit vegetables, and other plants.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, when raising seedlings for plants such as strawberries, spinach, and soft vegetables such as komatsuna, seedlings are grown by directly sowing them in a seedbed in a field, or by placing soil in an open seedling box. There are also those that are grown in small seedling pots filled with soil. In addition, there are those that use gravel cultivation by putting gravel in the seedling box, and those that use sponge material instead of gravel.
It is grown by holding seeds in cuts made in the sponge body.

NFT hydroponic systems, which grow plants using flowing culture fluid, and various other types of systems are known, but all of these systems grow strong seedlings from seeds in batches, and then grow one or several seedlings. Divide into parts and transplant to the main field, for example, eggplant,
We grow cucumbers, tomatoes, green peppers, Chinese daikon daikon radish, burdock root, other leafy vegetables, and fruit vegetables.

On the other hand, there are some plants that germinate the seeds of vegetables, etc., and use the young plants (sometimes called sprouted vegetables) that are still in the raw W stage to be eaten. Each of these edible seedlings is still small, so some seedlings are sown densely on a bed in a field and harvested early, others are grown in large boxes filled with soil, and others. There are some methods that use hydroponic methods, but in either case, a large number of seeds are sown and grown at once.
As a result, the roots of the densely grown seedlings are simply intertwined,
In order to sell these seedlings to consumers through the distribution process, the intertwined roots must be cut into pieces of suitable size for transportation and consumption.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

However, these are still young plants and are soft and weak, so they are easily damaged when cut, and as a result, they do not last for 5 days, reducing their commercial value. In particular, there was a problem in that it required a considerable amount of effort to cut, weigh, package, ship, etc. those that grow in clusters.

In addition, in the NFT hydroponic system, planted seedlings placed in a drainage ditch are held at regular intervals with wires, and the culture solution flows down in a thin film, but the roots of the plants are always immersed in the culture solution. This can cause root rot, and because it is difficult to absorb oxygen from the air, it has a negative effect on the growth of plants that take oxygen from the air, such as strawberries.

Furthermore, the thin film-like culture solution was left to cool, making it difficult to maintain an appropriate temperature. In addition, if a clogging or malfunction occurs in the circulation system for the culture solution, there are many problems such as the culture solution immediately becoming dry and depleted, and the culture solution not being circulated downstream.

In addition, in the rock wool cultivation mentioned above, cracking of fruits due to poor drainage, corrosion of remaining roots, and PHW4 in the early stage of cultivation
There was a problem with alignment.

The present invention was completed as a result of many years of research by the present inventors in view of the above circumstances, and involves placing a seedling growing pot on a holding mat constantly soaked in culture solution via a root prevention sheet. By supplying culture solution to seedling pots through capillary action, it is possible to grow seedlings in an amount that is easy for consumers to use, to prevent root rot during the growing process, and to absorb sufficient oxygen from the air. The purpose is to provide a hydroponic cultivation method and its equipment.

[Means for solving problems]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention sets up a plurality of seedling growing pots in which a large number of strawberries, soft vegetables, and other plants in the state of young plants can be cultivated in units suitable for consumption and distribution. Then, sow an appropriate number of seeds in each of the seedling-raising pots, place them on a mat holding the culture solution supplied from the drip tube via a root-prevention sheet, and remove the culture solution-holding mat and the seedling-raising pot. The plants are grown while being supplied with a culture solution through the capillary action of the plant, and the root growth direction of the plants is regulated by the root prevention sheet to prevent them from entering the culture solution holding mat, and some of the roots are kept in the air. A hydroponic cultivation method characterized by exposing the seedlings to a state where they can absorb oxygen from the air, and when collecting the seedlings, the seedlings are placed in the distribution process as a unit. A heat exchange pipe and a culture solution holding mat made of a polyester mat are housed in the main body of the device, and plants to be cultivated are sown on the holding mat with a root prevention sheet such as nylon taffeta placed on the polyester mat. A seedling-raising pot consisting of fi[, the seedling-raising pot is formed into one unit when growing and distributed during the distribution process, and a drip tube is provided to supply the culture solution only to the culture solution holding mat, and the seedlings are held by the holding mat. The hydroponic cultivation apparatus is characterized in that the culture solution is supplied to the seedling growing pot by capillary action.

[Effect]

Next, to explain the function of the present invention, due to the capillary action of the holding mat that holds the culture solution supplied from the drip tube, it penetrates the root prevention sheet and is evenly supplied to the seedling pot, which retains water better than rock wool. To grow germinated seedlings in polyester seedling pots with excellent sexiness.

At this time, the growth direction of the plant roots is regulated by the root prevention sheet, preventing them from entering the culture medium holding mat, so that a part of the roots are exposed to the air and can absorb oxygen from the air. be able to.

〔Example〕

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention, which is an apparatus for leafy vegetables A such as spinach, and a waterproof vinyl sheet 2 is spread inside the apparatus main body of a plastic container 1 such as styrofoam. There is one to several layers of culture solution holding mats 3 made of polyester mats, rock wool mats, etc. that hold the culture solution therein.

A heat exchange pipe 4 for adjusting the temperature of the culture solution is appropriately provided at the bottom of the culture solution holding mat 3.

On the upper surface of the culture medium holding mat 3, an appropriate number of hexahedral seedling pots 6 made of polyester fibers with good water retention properties are placed at regular intervals with a root prevention sheet 5 such as nylon taffeta interposed therebetween. be done.

An appropriate number of seeds are sown into the grooves on the top of this seedling-raising pot 6, the plants grow, and eventually the seedling-raising pot 6 is shipped together with the plants, so the quantity and size of the unit are determined to be suitable for consumption and distribution. .

On the other hand, a small amount of a culture solution containing fertilizers suitable for the plant is dripped onto the holding mat 3 through small holes drilled in the lower surface of the drip tube 7 provided in contact with the upper surface of the root prevention sheet 5. be done. Then, this culture solution is supplied in such an amount that the holding mat 3 is constantly moistened, and the culture solution is once dropped to the lower part of the holding mat 3.

The culture solution supplied in this way is sucked up by the capillary action of the holding mat 3 and the seedling-raising pot 6, and the seedlings are grown while uniformly providing an appropriate amount of water and necessary nutrients to the seedlings A in the seedling-raising pot 6. Cultivate.

After germination, the seedlings A will grow inside the polyester mat of the seedling pot 6, but the direction of growth is restricted by the root-preventing sheet 5 such as nylon taffeta at the bottom, and they will crawl sideways to the side of the seedling pot 6. It extends into the space 8 on the other side and can absorb enough oxygen from the air.

Furthermore, if the culture solution exceeds the allowable water content of the holding mat, it will be drained from the drain 9 of the container 1, so the water level of the culture solution will not rise above the holding mat 3 in the container 1.
Only an appropriate amount of water is supplied to the seedling raising pot 6 by capillary action, and even if this supply is temporarily stopped, there will be no effect on the plants since sufficient water is retained.

In addition, underground water is allowed to flow through the heat exchange pipe 4 in the summer to cool the inside of the culture medium, and hot water is allowed to flow in the heat exchange pipe 4 to keep it warm, making it possible to grow crops that are difficult to grow in the summer, such as spinach.

The expanded polystyrene member 10 covering the drip pipe 7 prevents the elongated roots in the seedling growing pot 6 from becoming entangled with the drip pipe 7 or with roots from an adjacent seedling growing pot.

When seedlings are grown and shipped, plants such as spinach can be consumed in the seedling pot 6 and taken out as a unit in the distribution process, and the root tip can retain the culture medium due to the root prevention sheet 5. Since it does not enter the mat 3, the culture solution holding mat 3 will not rot, and the next cultivation can be carried out as it is.

Next, the second embodiment shown in FIG. 2 will be explained. The basic configuration is the same as the first embodiment, but it is suitable for plants whose roots absorb oxygen from the air, such as strawberry B. You can grow plants in pots. In this embodiment, the width of the member covering the drip pipe of the first embodiment is made smaller, the width of the seedling raising bot 6 is made wider, the space 8 on the side of the pot is also made larger, and the upper surface of the lid member 11 is made larger. This is for potted plants such as plastic.

The third embodiment shown in FIG. 3 does not use a solid medium such as a polyester mat, but instead uses rock wool fine cotton 12
Alternatively, raw cotton is used, and fine cotton 12 is spread on a root prevention sheet such as nylon taffeta as in the previous embodiment.

In this example, it became possible to perform streak sowing in the same way as soil cultivation.

The fourth example shown in FIG. 4 is tomatoes and cucumbers.

It is suitable for cultivating fruit vegetables such as melons, and a rock wool mat 13 is placed at the bottom of the seedling growing pot 6 to prevent over-humidity at the bottom and promote root growth.

Next, FIG. 6 shows the overall configuration of an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which a steel plate support 16 is fixed to a pedestal 15 made of pipe supports, and a long container 1 is placed on it. place The height, width, slope, etc. are set as appropriate depending on the target crop.

Seedling raising pots 6 are placed in the container 1 at appropriate intervals, the lids 10 and 11 are closed, groundwater from the well, tap water, rainwater, etc. are supplied from the water supply pipe 17 to the mixing tank 18, and the necessary fertilizer is applied. The prepared culture solution is supplied to the holding mat 3 through the drip pipe 7.

In addition, the culture solution in the holding mat 3 is maintained at an appropriate temperature by supplying water at an appropriate temperature through the heat exchange pipe 4.

In addition to the materials used in the above examples, such as polyester, any medium can also be used.

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to the present invention described above, a plurality of seedling pots are set up in which a large number of strawberries, soft vegetables, and other plants in the seedling state can be cultivated in an amount suitable for consumption and distribution. An appropriate number of seeds are sown in each of the seedling-raising pots, and these are placed on a mat holding the culture solution supplied from the drip tube via a root prevention sheet, and the capillary tubes of the culture solution holding mat and the seedling-raising pot are sown. Since the plant is grown while being uniformly supplied with the culture solution, the growth direction of the roots of the cultivated plants can be regulated by the root prevention sheet to prevent them from entering the culture solution holding mat, and a part of the roots can be kept in the air. They can be grown in conditions where they can be exposed inside and absorb oxygen from the air.

Therefore, not only can root rot due to excessive humidity and drying of the medium be prevented, but the cultivation method and apparatus are suitable for plants that absorb oxygen from the air, such as strawberries.

Furthermore, when harvesting and shipping, the cultivated plants can be easily taken out of the seedling pot without damaging the roots, and can be directly planted or transported to the distribution process.

Furthermore, since no roots remain on the holding mat after cultivation, there is no rotting of the roots, and the generation of pathogenic bacteria can be prevented during the first crop.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawings show embodiments of the present invention. Fig. 1 is a sectional view of the first embodiment used for leafy vegetables, Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the second embodiment used for strawberries, etc., and 3rd @ is a sectional view of the first embodiment used for leaf vegetables. A sectional view of the third embodiment using granular cotton or granular cotton, FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the fourth embodiment used for fruits and vegetables, FIG. 5 is another sectional view of the embodiment, and FIG. 6 is a diagram of the entire structure. FIG. 1... Container, 2... Vinyl sheet. 3... Holding mat, 4... Heat exchange pipe, 5
... Root prevention sheet, 6... Seedling pot, 7...
・Drip pipe, 8...space. 9...Drainage channel 12...Rock wool fine grain cotton. 13...Rock wool mat.

Claims (5)

[Claims] (1) A plurality of seedling-raising pots are set up in which a large number of strawberries, soft vegetables, fruit vegetables, and other plants in the state of young plants can be cultivated in units suitable for consumption and distribution. An appropriate number of seeds are sown in each area, and placed on a mat holding a culture solution supplied from a drip tube via a root prevention sheet, and the capillary action of the culture solution holding mat and seedling pot causes the above-mentioned The plants are grown while being supplied with a culture solution, and the root growth direction of the plants is regulated by the root prevention sheet to prevent them from entering the culture solution holding mat, and a portion of the roots are exposed to the air to prevent the roots from entering the culture solution holding mat. A hydroponic cultivation method characterized in that the soil is in a state where oxygen can be absorbed, and when harvesting, the seedling growing pot is used as a unit when placed in a distribution process. (2) Claim 1, characterized in that the temperature of the culture solution held on the culture solution holding mat is adjustable.
Hydroponic cultivation method described in section. (3) A heat exchange pipe and a culture solution holding mat made of a polyester mat are housed in the device body made of plastic or other appropriate material, and a root-prevention sheet such as nylon taffeta is placed on top of the holding mat. A seedling raising pot made of a polyester mat in which plants to be cultivated are sown is placed thereon, the seedling raising pot is formed into a single unit when placed in the growing and distribution process, and the culture solution is supplied only to the culture solution holding mat. 1. A hydroponic cultivation apparatus characterized in that a tube is provided, and the culture solution held by the holding mat is supplied to the seedling growing pot by capillary action. (4) The hydroponic cultivation device according to claim 3, characterized in that a space is formed in the device main body so that the roots of the plants regulated by the root prevention sheet can grow. (5) Claim 3, characterized in that a rock wool mat is interposed between the seedling raising pot and the root prevention sheet.
or the hydroponic cultivation device according to item 4.