NL2005853C2

NL2005853C2 - Hydroponic method and device of bulbous plants.

Info

Publication number: NL2005853C2
Application number: NL2005853A
Authority: NL
Inventors: Yun-Shih Ho; ming-yang Fu
Original assignee: Univ Nat Pingtung Sci & Tech
Priority date: 2009-12-10
Filing date: 2010-12-09
Publication date: 2012-10-09
Also published as: TW201119570A; NL2005853A; TWI372598B

Description

Hydroponic method and device of bulbous plants

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention 5 The present invention relates to a hydroponic method and a device, more particularly to a hydroponic method and a device of bulbous plants.

2. Description of the Related Art

Generally, there are two kinds of cultivation of bul-10 bous plants: field culture and soilless culture. Nevertheless, the field culture of bulbous plants is primarily restricted by soilborne diseases which may easily lead to serious dissemination and periodic land fallow. In this way, the continuous production of bulbous plants is limited and less efficient. More-15 over, the cultivation of bulbous plants in Taiwan is concentrated in the mountain area, where soil and water conservation issues can arise. On the other hand, the soilless culture, currently the popular cultivating method of bulbous plants, needs regular replacement of the used medium during the culturing sea-20 sons after each cropping cycle, which makes the continuous production of bulbous plants dramatically inconvenient, uneconomical and wasteful in use of medium.

As disclosed in Taiwanese patent no. 236760, a water control device of hydroponic, system comprises a planting trough 25 with a Styrofoam board placed on it for supporting plants; an inlet pipe and a plurality of inlet aqueducts set on a side of the planting trough for importing the nutrient solution; and an outlet pipe and a plurality of aqueducts set on the other side of the planting trough for outputting the nutrient solution; 30 wherein the outlet pipe is connected to a solution-level regulator and a reservoir. In this way, the nutrient solution in the reservoir will flow into the hydroponic container via the inlet pipe and the inlet aqueduct, and further backflow to the reservoir via the outlet pipe and the outlet aqueduct under the pro- • 35 pulsion of a water pump.

However, the conventional hydroponic system is not suitable for the growth of bulbous plants. In the conventional hydroponic system, the nutrient solution in the planting trough is persistently maintained at a particular level by the solu-40 tion-level regulator in order to permanently soak the roots of 2005853 - 2 - cultivated plants in the nutrient solution. Yet, long-term' soaking may easily lead to the decay of roots or bulbs of the bulbous plants, which will interfere with the growth of the bulbous plants, as well as the quality of blossom.

5 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A primary objective of this invention is to provide a hydroponic method of bulbous plants which can avoid the decay of bulbs .

A secondary objective of this invention is to provide 10 a hydroponic device of bulbous plants that can periodically flow into and drain off the nutrient solution so as to be dramatically beneficial to the growth of bulbous plants.

A hydroponic method of bulbous plants comprises a step of "cultivation", by placing, and cultivating bulbous plants in a 15 hydroponic container, with a chamber further containing the roots of the bulbous plants; a step of "irrigation", by continually irrigating bulbous plants with a nutrient solution until the bulbs are soaking in the solution and the chamber is filled to a high level; a step of "drainage", with an outlet pipe drai-20 ning out the nutrient solution from the chamber until a lower level of solution in the chamber is achieved; and a step of "repeating", by persistently repeating the step of "irrigation" and the step of "drainage".

A hydroponic device of bulbous plants comprises a res-25 ervoir for containing a nutrient solution; a hydroponic container containing a chamber; an inlet pipe having two ends, with one end connecting with the reservoir and the other end connecting with the chamber; and an outlet pipe comprising a circuit portion, a first end and a second end, with the first end con-30 necting to the chamber, the second end connecting to the reservoir, and the access of the second end lower than that of the first end; wherein the circuit portion is at a similar height to the high level of the chamber and the first end is at a similar height to the low level of the chamber.

35 The present invention will become clearer in light of the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments of this invention described in connection with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

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The illustrative embodiments may best be described by referring to the accompanied drawings where: FIG. 1 is a plan illustrating a hydroponic device of bulbous plants.

5 FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a hydroponic method of bulbous plants.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the hydroponic device of bulbous plants in the present invention.

FIG. 4 is another diagram illustrating the operation 10 of the hydroponic device of bulbous plants in the present invention.

All figures are drawn for ease of explanation of the basic teachings of the present invention only; the extensions of the figures with respect to number, position, relationship, and 15 dimensions of the parts to form the preferred embodiments will be explained or will be within the skill of the art after the following teachings of the present invention have been read and understood. Further, the exact dimensions and dimensional proportions conforming to specific force, weight, strength, and 20 similar requirements will likewise be within the skill of the art after the following teachings of the present invention have been read and understood.

Where used in the various figures of the drawings, the same numerals designate the same or similar parts.

25 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to Fig. 1, a hydroponic device of bulbous plants comprises a reservoir 1, a hydroponic container 2, an inlet pipe; 3 and an outlet pipe 4. The reservoir 1 for containing a nutrient solution and the hydroponic container 2 for cul-30 tivating bulbous plants are separately connected with the inlet pipe 3, and the outlet pipe 4, with the inlet pipe 3 and the outlet pipe 4 conducting a circuit of the nutrient solution flowing from the reservoir 1 to the hydroponic container 2 and backflowing to the reservoir 1.

35 The hydroponic container 2 contains a planting trough 21 and a planting board 22, wherein the planting trough 21 has a base plate 211, and a plurality of side boards 212 extending from the peripheral edge of the base plate 211. The plurality of side boards 212 surround the base plate 211 and perform as a 40 chamber 213, with a mouth 214 forming on the top of chamber 213.

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The planting board 22 is installed on the mouth 214 of the chamber 213, with a plurality of planting pores 221 penetrating through two surfaces of the planting board 22.

The inlet pipe 3 has two ends, with one end connecting 5 with the reservoir 1 and the other end connecting with the chamber 213 of the planting trough 21. The inlet pipe 3 also connects with a pump 31, where with the pump further connects to a control unit 32.

The outlet pipe 4 contains a first end 41 and a second 10 end 42, wherein the first end 41 is installed in the base plate 211 of the planting trough 21 to connect to the chamber 213, and the second end 42 is connected with the reservoir 1.

Furthermore, the outlet pipe 4 also comprises a circuit portion 43 and a telescopic portion 44, wherein the circuit 15 portion 43 is set on the top of the outlet pipe 4, with the telescopic portion 44 modulating the height of outlet pipe 4 for the sake of adjusting an inter-height between the circuit portion 43 and the base plate 211 of the chamber 213. Also, an adjusting pipe 45, placed on the first end 41 of the outlet pipe 4 20 and axial-telescopic to the outlet pipe 4, generates an interheight between the base plate 211 of the planting trough 21 and the adjusting pipe 45.

With reference to Figs. 1 and 4, a high level H of the chamber 213 is observed and is at a similar height to the cir-25 cuit portion 43, wherein the height of the high level H will change according to the height of the circuit portion 43. On the other hand, a low level L of the chamber 213 is also shown and is at a similar height to the access of the first end 41, with the alignment of its position changing according to the height 30 of the adjusting pipe 45.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, a hydroponic method for bulbous plants of the present invention comprises a step of "cultivation Si", a step of "irrigation S2", a step of "drainage S3" and a step of "repeating S4".

35 In the step of "cultivation SI", bulbous plants are prepared and cultivated in the hydroponic container 2 by placing the bulbous plants into the plurality of planting pores 221 of the planting board 22, wherein the roots of the bulbous plants will stretch out from the plurality of planting pores 221 to the 40 chamber 213, and the other parts of the bulbous plants, such as - 5 - blooms and leaves, will grow outwards to the exterior from the chamber 213.

In the step of "irrigation S2", the nutrient solution in the reservoir 1 is continually conducted to the planting 5 trough 21 via the inlet pipe 3 until the chamber 213 is filled to the high level H. Precisely, the nutrient solution in the reservoir 1 is driven by the pump 31, with the regulation of the control unit 32 continually guiding the nutrient solution to flow into the chamber 213 of the planting trough 21. In this 10 situation, the roots of bulbous plants can be properly soaked in the nutrient solution. Moreover, when the chamber 213 is filled to the high level H, the pump 31 will stop working at once (see Fig. 1), wherein the stop point of the pump 31 can be adjusted via a flow regulator or a timer, in order to predetermine the 15 working time of the pump 31.

During the step of "irrigation S2", some of the nutrient solution flowing from the reservoir 1 backflows via the outlet pipe 4 due to the principle of communicating vessels. However, because there is a difference in height between the cir-20 cuit portion 43 and the level of the nutrient solution, the nutrient solution will not directly flow back to the reservoir 1 at first.

In the step of "drainage S3", the nutrient solution in the hydroponic container 2 is drained out via the outlet pipe 4 25 according to the siphon principle until the low level L of the chamber 213 is achieved. Precisely, when the high level H of the chamber 213 has been filled with the nutrient solution, the nutrient solution in the planting trough 21 will directly flow through the circuit portion 43 and back to the reservoir 1 due 30 to the similar heights of the circuit portion 43 and the level of nutrient solution. Through the inter-position between the first end 41 and second end 42 of the outlet pipe 4, the nutrient solution will continually backflow to the reservoir 1 and the level of the nutrient solution in the chamber 213 will de-35 crease until it reaches the low level L of the chamber 213 (as shown in Fig. 3). In this situation, most roots except for the minority of the bulbous plants will be directly exposed to the air, which may prevent the roots and bulbs of the bulbous plant from over-soak.

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In the step of "repeating S4", the pump 31 will reoperate and re-conduct the processes in the step of "irrigation S2" and the step of "drainage S3". Therefore, the circulation of the nutrient solution from the reservoir 1, inlet pipe 3, plant-5 ing trough 2, outlet pipe and back to the reservoir 1 will be repeated over and over, thereby periodically supplying nutrition to the roots and bulbs. In this way, the decay of the bulbs can be successfully prevented, and the growth of the bulbous plants as well as the quality of the blooms can be promoted.

10 In the embodiment of the present invention, the work ing time and the on-off frequency of the pump 31 is mainly aligned to the timé requested for releasing the nutrient solution into the planting trough 21 until it reaches the high level H of the chamber 213, and for draining off the nutrient solution 15 from the high level H to the low level L of the chamber 213, respectively. However, the working time of the pump 31 can be prolonged if a longer soaking period is needed for particular bulbous plants. In this situation, the operation of the pump 31 may still persist for a while even if the high level of the solution 20 in the chamber 213 has already been reached. Additionally, either the height of the high level H or that of the low level L is adjustable in the present invention according to the height-modulation of the circuit portion 43 and the first end 41 respectively, wherein the height of the circuit portion 43 is 25 modulated via the telescopic portion 44 and the height of the first end 41 is modulated, by the adjusting pipe 45.

Through the hydroponic device of bulbous plants in the present invention, the nutrient solution can be periodically poured in and drained off the hydroponic container 2 to provide 30 two. different cultivating conditions to the bulbous plants according to the difference between the high level H and the low level L of nutrient solution. Hence, it is sufficient to promote the growth, ventilation and property of the roots and bulbs.

Also, the hydroponic method of bulbous plants in the present in-35 vention is generally based on the siphon principle so that the draining of the nutrient solution can be achieved in a high-efficient and economical process without any extra electric power supply or lift pump.

Thus, since the invention disclosed herein may be em-40 bodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit - 7 - or general characteristics thereof, some of which forms have been indicated, the embodiments described herein are to be considered in all respects illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is to be indicated by the appended 5 claims, rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are intended to be embraced therein.

2005853

Claims

A hydroponic bulb plant apparatus comprising: a reservoir 1, for containing a nutrient solution; a hydroponic container 2 comprising a plant trough 21, the plant trough 21 comprising a base plate 211 and a plurality of side plates 212 extending from the peripheral edge of the base plate 211, the plurality of side plates 212 surrounding the base plate 211 to form a chamber 213 and wherein a mouth 214 is formed on an upper side of the chamber 213; 10 an inlet tube 3, with two ends, one end connected to the reservoir and the other end connected to the chamber 213; and an outlet tube 4, comprising a circuit portion 43, a first end and a second end, the first end being connected to the chamber 213, the second end being connected to the reservoir 1 and the access of the second end being lower than the access of the first end; wherein a high level H of the chamber is at the same height as the circuit portion. 43 and a low level L20 of the chamber 213 are at the same height as the first end, wherein an adjusting tube 45 is arranged at the first end 41 of the outlet tube 4, wherein the adjusting tube 45 is provided with an opening facing the mouth 214 of the hydroponic container 2, wherein the adjustment tube 45 extends movably from the base plate 211 of the hydroponic container 2 to adjust a position of the low level L relative to the base plate 211.

2. A hydroponic device for bulb crops according to claim 1, wherein the inlet tube 3 is connected to a pump and a control unit.

3. Hydroponic device for bulb plants according to claim 1, wherein the hydroponic container is provided with a plant trough 21 and a plant plate 22, with a plurality of side plates 212 extending from the peripheral edge of a base plate 211 of the plant trough 21 and functioning. as the chamber 213, wherein the plant plate 22 is installed at a mouth of the chamber 213 and wherein a plurality of plant holes 221 penetrate through the plant plate 22.

4. Hydroponic device for bulb plants according to claim 2, wherein the hydroponic container is provided with a plant trough 21 and a plant plate 22, with a plurality of side plates 212 extending from the peripheral edge of a base plate 211 of the plant trough 21 and act as the chamber 213 with the plant plate 22 installed at a mouth of the chamber 213 and with a plurality of plant holes 221 penetrating through the plant plate 22.

The hydroponic device for bulb crops according to claim 1, wherein the outlet tube is further provided with a telescopic portion for adjusting the intermediate height between the circuit portion and the base plate of the chamber.

The hydroponic device for bulb crops according to claim 2, wherein the outlet tube is further provided with a telescopic portion for adjusting the intermediate height between the circuit portion and the base plate of the chamber. 2005853