NL1016009C2 - Greenhouse cultivation method for plants at different stages in their growth, involves growing young and older plants in channels or containers at different heights - Google Patents

Abstract

Older plants (2a) are grown in or on top of cultivation channels (10) or cultivation containers (3) low down in the greenhouse (1), and younger plants (2b) are being grown in cultivation channels or containers higher up in the greenhouse, whilst minimising the amount of light blocked out by the younger plants. The heights of the two sets of cultivation channels or containers can be altered for optimum plant care. Independent claims are also included for (a) a greenhouse with two sets of cultivation channels or containers at different levels, those for the younger plants being located above those for the older plants, and (b) a hanger device (5) used in this cultivation method, comprising a substrate block which has at least one planting hole and which is integrated with a plant growth guide having a hanger (7) on its top side.

Description

Method and device for continuous growing of old and new crops.

The invention relates to a new method which aims at an improvement over the method described in Dutch patent no. 1007449. In the known method according to this Dutch patent, use is made in a greenhouse, inter alia, of the same hoisting installation, wherein the level of cultivation troughs in which the old and the new plantings are situated, depending on the duration of the harvest or the time spent. the growth of young plantings is optimally adjustable. In principle, the cultivation can be at a relatively low greenhouse level, ie on or in the ground. This known system may or may not be hoistable and a cultivation gutter may or may not be provided. .

The various cultivation troughs are thereby hung mainly parallel to each other in the horizontal sense. The starting point for this is, among other things, that crop production is partly dependent on light incidence. The young planting is then placed in the growing troughs between the old crop and that young planting must be led up again.

The improvement according to the invention is based on the consideration that improved crop production can still be achieved in the same greenhouse if on the one hand the same benefits can be obtained "at harvest height" while on the other hand the free space at the top of the greenhouse for the young plantings is achieved. can be fully utilized without an adverse reduction of light incidence as a result of the suspension 20 at the top of the greenhouse damaging the desired crop production.

This is now achieved according to the new method in that when the old crop of the producing crop is still in or on first cultivation troughs in or on first cultivation containers at a relatively low greenhouse level, the new crop is then planted in upper second cultivation troughs or second cultivation containers on a considerably higher greenhouse level above the already grown-up old crop, but all this in such a way that the light (incidence) obstruction occurring in the greenhouse as a result of the placement of the upper second cultivation troughs or second cultivation holders with the young new crop is minimal and optionally followed by adjusting the first and second cultivation troughs or cultivation containers to the correct working height for optimum crop maintenance.

A further elaboration of the advantages of the new method is explained in the following description with claims and the drawing.

FIG. 1 is a schematic arrangement of a known greenhouse in which different cultivation troughs or cultivation containers are adjacent to each other at uneven heights; 1016009 "2

FIG. 2 shows, diagrammatically, a greenhouse with crop planting which is located in, on or above the ground and there are still empty suspended cultivation troughs or cultivation holders at the top of the greenhouse intended for young planting;

FIG. 3 shows a greenhouse with crop that has grown well while the upper cultivation troughs 5 or cultivation holders already contain the new plantings;

FIG. 4 shows the same, now cleared greenhouse, where the old crops have since been replaced by the grown new plantings that have been lowered from top to bottom; and FIG. 5 schematically shows a substrate block that is attached to a plant guide which ends in a suspension hook.

10

More advantages are achieved with the use of the improved method according to the invention. The immediate advantage is that the young crop plants can already be planted in the upper growing troughs or growing containers at an early growth stage, if they are still small. The purchase costs of those smaller plantations are now considerably lower, while there is nevertheless no abandonment of production (harvest). As a result, productivity per greenhouse unit becomes more favorable with a further cost saving. Moreover, clearing the greenhouse now means greater freedom of movement for all operations to be performed, without the new planting, which is then still relatively high in the greenhouse, running the risk of being damaged. When lowering the young crop, it is necessary to proceed with caution i.v.m. plant guidance and (temporary) suspension.

For this new double cultivation, the benefits at e.g. tomatoes do rise considerably. For example, an extra production of 1 to 1.5 kg more than standard production can be achieved and production in the later harvesting phase even 2 to 3 kg per m2, which in the case of a harvest after 15 December yields an extra yield of F 60,000 to F 90,000 for an area of 1 ha. Such additional yields can also be realized for other crops, such as bell pepper, by using the invention.

Additional costs arise for hanging and depositing the plants, hanging up and removing drip hoses and the like, but these can then be amply compensated for from the advantages achieved earlier.

Fig. 1 shows diagrammatically how plant holders are arranged at the desired working and / or reaching height in a greenhouse with the aid of a hoisting installation. It goes without saying that you can work with or without a hoisting installation. FIG. 2 101 6009 · 3 shows a greenhouse 1 in which crop plants 2 in crop holders 3 are placed on the floor 4 of the greenhouse 1. The crop holders 3 consist of a substrate block that is enveloped in a plastic foil in which there is a plant opening at the top and at the bottom an opening for water drainage (not shown). The crop plants 2 are arranged in 5 parallel rows in the longitudinal direction of the greenhouse 1. From left to right in Fig. 2, eight rows of crop plants 2 are placed in substrate blocks on the greenhouse floor 4, one crop plant 2a is planted in the greenhouse floor 4 and another crop plant 2b is suspended from a suspension member 5. At the top of the greenhouse 1 there is a construction girder 6 on which schematically L- shaped suspensions 7 are attached with 10 a drip hose underneath for water administration to the plant. In practice, a heating pipe 8 will probably be suspended near the suspended plant or the heating pipe becomes the "suspension rod" for the eel or non-hoistable plant holders. In FIG. 3, the suspensions 7 are provided with substrate blocks in which the young plants 9 are located. As shown in FIG. 4 it appears that the greenhouse has been cleared of the old crops 2 and there is sufficient space left in the greenhouse 1 so as not to damage the young, high-positioned crop plants 9. As soon as the greenhouse 1 has been cleared, the young crop plants must be brought down, either placed on the greenhouse floor 4 or on cultivation troughs 10 suspended from the greenhouse construction, which are only shown schematically here.

The hangers 7 can optionally be of fixed design and be suspended from the greenhouse construction, but such hangers 7 can also be attached to hoisting members (not shown), so that for planting the young crop at a lower working level and subsequently lifting it up to the top. the greenhouse 1 and after clearing, then again lowering the suspensions 7 to the greenhouse floor 4 or to working height, which hoisting means can be put into operation with the usual means therefor.

In FIG. Fig. 5 shows a substrate block 11 in which two plant openings 12 are situated at the top for two crop plants 13 and 14 and in the substrate block 11 a supporting part of a double plant guide 15 is arranged which ends at its upper end in a suspension hook 16. That hook 16 can be suspended from the greenhouse construction or from a liftable cable or wire (not shown).

While in FIG. 2-4 the hangers 7 are located in a vertical plane above the old crop plants 2, the same hangers 7 can also be located in the vertical center plane between two rows of plants 2. In connection with plant growth and the possible removal of incoming light, it will have to be determined which placement 101 60 G 9 ^ 4 of which planters produces the best results. The usual plant guides which are e.g. when tomato plants are used, there will be no need for further description and the same applies to the suspension and installation of the plant feed drippers.

When applying the invention, there is furthermore the advantage that the chance of disease transmission is considerably smaller as a result of the fact that more space is available and that there is no longer direct contact between the different cultivation layers.

CONCLUSIONS

1016009 *

Claims (10)

1. Method for the continuous cultivation of plants in different stages of growth, from so-called old crop to new crop, in the same greenhouse, in such a way that it no longer becomes 'empty', whereby the new crop and parts of the old crop are at an unequal height within the same greenhouse, characterized in that when the old crop of the producing crop is still in or on first cultivation troughs in or on first cultivation holders at a relatively low greenhouse level, the new crop then in upper second cultivation troughs or second cultivation holders are implanted at a considerably higher greenhouse level above the already mature old crop, however, such that the light obstruction occurring in the greenhouse as a result of the placement of the upper second cultivation troughs or second cultivation holders with the young new crop is minimal and if desired possibly followed by adjusting the first and second cultivation troughs or cultivation containers to the correct working height for optimum crop maintenance. 2. Method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that after harvesting at the end of the growing season for the old crop the latter is removed from the first growing troughs or first growing containers. is removed after which the second cultivation troughs or second cultivation containers are lowered / lowered to the lower greenhouse level of the first cultivation troughs or first cultivation containers, all this in such a way that clearing out the old crop culture does not disturb the growth of the new crop culture. 25 Method according to claim 2, characterized in that the movement of the second cultivation troughs or second cultivation holders from the considerably higher greenhouse level to the lower greenhouse level takes place using a suitable hoisting installation arranged in the greenhouse. 30 4. Method as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the same hoisting installation is also put into operation for hanging or hanging. installing cooling or heating pipes 1016009 at the appropriate height A method according to any one of the preceding claims 1-4, characterized in that for the purpose of rooting the new crop in the second growing troughs or second growing containers, the usual preparations are made for the growing medium to be used and plant supporting and guiding members on or near the plants are applied. A method according to claim 5, characterized in that the time for placing the new crop is set empirically, such that, depending on the size of the market demand for harvest production, a crop-growing crop 10 production period advance or resp. renewable. 7. Greenhouse provided with first and second cultivation gutters or cultivation holders which are located on a layer resp. are at a considerably higher greenhouse level and the new crop is always above the old crop. 15 8. Greenhouse equipped with a liftable suspension system to bridge the difference in height level between the lower old crop and the young crop placed above it. 9. Greenhouse provides rows of old crop plants placed at a low level and rows of young crop plants placed at a high level, the latter rows being located in a vertical plane above and / or between the aforementioned rows. 10. Suspension for applying the method according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a substrate block provided with at least one plant openings, which substrate block is integral with a plant guide member which is provided with a suspension member on its upper side. 30 101 60 0 3 "*