RU2757985C1 - Method and device for growing plants in single or multi-tiered hydroponic installations - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: agriculture.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to agriculture, in particular to the field of plant cultivation. The method for growing plants on single or multi-tier hydroponic installations includes placing plants in perforated containers placed in growing containers so that the nutrient solution is fed into the growing containers, filtered, the nutrient solution is poured from the upper tier of the growing containers to the lower tiers of the growing containers through the overflow channels in the form of tubes. The nutrient solution is poured by gravity through siphon dispensers with a dynamic filter, dosed, in cycles, periodically. The liquid is fed to the bottom of the perforated containers with plants, kept for a set period of time, after which the liquid level decreases, leaving a distance between the bottom of the perforated container with a plant and the surface of the nutrient solution from 5 to 150 mm, hold for a set amount of time, after which the cycle is repeated. The invention also relates to a device for carrying out the claimed method.

EFFECT: creation of optimal nutritional parameters for growing a wide range of plants by the air method, as well as ensuring trouble-free operation of equipment.

6 cl, 6 dwg

Description

The present invention relates to agriculture, to the field of growing plants, including in greenhouses and in opaque rooms with electric lighting, namely, in the production of vegetables, green crops, medicinal plants, berries and flowers.

From the prior art, a device for hydroponic cultivation of plants is known, located in sloped-bottom cuvettes at different levels and equipped with overflow channels in the form of siphons (SU1542489 A1, IPC A01G 31/02, 1971).

The disadvantages of this technical solution are insufficiently adjustable operating parameters of the overflow device, which makes it impossible to grow various types of plants with optimal nutritional parameters for them, lack of filtration of the nutrient solution, which leads to emergency situations through clogging of the overflow channels with overgrown roots and parts of dead root system, other contaminants ; impossibility of using a wide range of cheap polymer pipes produced by the industry as vegetation pipes for growing plants.

There is a known method and device for hydroponic non-extractable plant cultivation, in accordance with which the growing tray is made in the middle part raised to form a site for placing containers with plants, on the sides of this site there are two channels, each of which is designed to accommodate a part of the root system of each plant, while a moisture-retaining material covering is laid inside the growing tray, covering the platform and the walls of the tray extending from the platform, and on top of the growing tray is covered with an opaque film, which is fixed at the edges of the growing tray with clamps and in which through the central frame of the clamp are made holes or cuts for placing containers with plants through them on the site, and at least one drop line is installed in the cavity of each channel for supplying the nutrient solution to the channel. The root system of plants is kept in the air for a certain time. Then the cycle is repeated (RF patent No. 2635396, priority date 07.11.2016, IPC A01G 31/00). However, this method is quite complicated - the need for a special two-channel tray, placed with a slope, dividing the plant root system into two sides so that during the growth of the plant root system, one half of it occupies the left channel of the growing tray, and the other half - its right channel. In addition, this method and device are not intended for use in multi-tiered installations.

The problem to be solved by the claimed invention is the implementation of the method and device for growing plants on single or multi-tiered hydroponic installations by overflowing nutrient solution when growing plants by air, including in multi-tiered hydroponic installations, characterized by simplicity and efficiency that meets modern requirements for the effective cultivation of various types of plants with optimal nutritional parameters for them, environmental friendliness, low production costs, trouble-free operation of equipment.

The problem is solved due to the fact that the claimed method of growing plants on single or multi-tier hydroponic installations includes placing plants in perforated containers placed in growing containers so that the nutrient solution is supplied to the growing containers, filtered, and the nutrient solution is poured from the upper tier. growing tanks to the lower tiers of growing tanks through overflow channels (devices) made in the form of tubes, equipped with siphon dispensers with a dynamic filter, the overflow of nutrient solution to the lower level of the multi-tier hydroponic installation is carried out in dosed cycles (periodically), while the liquid is fed to the bottom of the perforated containers with plants, incubated for a set period of time, after which the liquid level decreases, leaving a distance between the bottom of the perforated container with the plant and the surface of the nutrient solution from 5 to 150 mm, or drain the nutrient th solution completely, withstand a set amount of time, after which the cycle is repeated. In this case, the nutrient solution can be fed into the vegetative container in bulk, drip feeding or aeration by spraying, and the cycles depend on the type of plants grown.

The device for growing plants on single or multi-tiered hydroponic installations includes growing tanks located in tiers, tubes for feeding and overflowing nutrient solution, while the feeding and overflowing device for nutrient solution is made in the form of an adjustable siphon dispenser with a dynamic filter. Vegetation containers are made in the form of pipes with openings for seedling containers, for example, perforated pots for grown plants. The dynamic filter is self-cleaning.

The connector of the growing tanks is made in the form of a shaped tee and contains three sockets with O-rings, two of which are located on the same axis against each other, connecting parts of the growing tanks (pipes) into one horizontal container, the upper bell contains a cover with a hole inside the shaped connecting The device has a filter made in the form of a mesh cylinder with blades; an adjustable siphon dispenser is placed inside the filter. The filter blades are located in a spiral to the generatrix of the cylinder or are located in the upper end of the filter in the form of an impeller. The adjustable siphon dispenser is U-shaped in the form of a siphon tube with an adjustable ascending part or in the form of a cap siphon with an adjustable ascending part.

The claimed technical solution is shown in the figures:

FIG. 1 is a general view of the growing plant.

FIG. 2 - three-socket module for overflow of nutrient solution in section with a U-shaped siphon dispenser, used in the example of the implementation of the vegetation plant.

FIG. 3 - U-shaped adjustable siphon dispenser with adjustable ascending part in section.

FIG. 4 - cap-type siphon dispenser with adjustable ascending part in section.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a dynamic self-cleaning filter.

FIG. 6 is a diagram of the operation of the growing plant.

Where:

1 - body of shaped tee - module for connection, filtration and overflow of nutrient solution P;

2 - the body of the U-shaped adjustable siphon dispenser;

3– self-cleaning filter - mesh;

4 - adjustable sleeve of the ascending part of the siphon;

5 - ruff tip;

6 - cover;

7 - tube feeding the nutrient solution P from the pump;

8 - overflow tube;

9 - deepened bottom;

10, 11, 12 - sockets of the nutrient solution overflow module P;

13 - stuffing box seal;

14 - clamping nut;

15 - a sealing ring;

16 - the body of the overflow cap adjustable siphon;

17 - cap;

18 - movable tube;

19 - dynamic filter frame;

20 - handle;

21 - screw blades (blades);

22 - growing tanks;

23 - siphon overflow device;

24 - multi-tiered vegetation plant;

25 - nutrient solution;

26 - pump;

27 - receiving capacity of the nutrient solution;

28 - solution unit (device for monitoring and correcting the parameters of the nutrient solution).

The claimed method is implemented as follows.

Seedlings of cultivated plants are placed in perforated containers with a small amount of organic, mineral or artificial substrate and placed in growing containers made in the form of pipes with holes in the upper part to accommodate plants located one above the other. In the middle part of each of the growing pipes, a connecting insert is mounted in the form of a shaped tee 1, in which a filtration and overflow of nutrient solution is equipped.

The nutrient solution P is fed into the growing tanks, filtered, the nutrient solution is overflowed from the upper tier of the growing tanks to the lower tiers of the growing tanks through the overflow channels - through the nutrient solution supply tube 8. The growing tanks are filled and the nutrient solution is overflowed to the lower level of the multi-tier hydroponic installation dosed in cycles (periodically), while the liquid is poured into the growing containers up to the level of the lower part of the perforated containers with plants and kept for a specified period of time determined for each category of plants. So, for spicy herbs, this period of time is from one to six minutes, for tomatoes and other nightshades - from six to eight minutes, for cucumbers and other pumpkin seeds - from eight to ten minutes, for salads - from two to five minutes.

After the level of the nutrient solution in the growing tank reaches hmax, the siphon dispenser is triggered and the nutrient solution is drained by gravity into the receiving tank in a single-tier version or overflows to a lower tier in a multi-tiered version of the vegetation installation. At the same time, on the lower tier, the level of the nutrient solution rises. When the level hmax is reached on this tier, the siphon dispenser is triggered, and the nutrient solution is poured by gravity onto the next lower tier. This process continues until the nutrient solution is drained from the lowest tier of the growing plant into the receiving tank.

During the air pause, the level of the nutrient solution in the growing tank is hmin, which corresponds to the distance between the bottom of the perforated container with the plant and the surface of the nutrient solution from 5 to 150 mm, after which the cycle is repeated.

As mentioned, all cycles depend on the type of plants grown, time of day, and ambient temperature. As the temperature rises, the cycle pauses are shortened. With a decrease in temperature and at night, the duration of the cycle pauses increases by 10–30%.

The inventive method can be presented in the following sequence:

1. The pump is turned on, which delivers the nutrient solution from the receiving tank to the upper tier of the growing plant (s) (WU).

2. The level of the nutrient solution in the upper tier of the VU rises from hmin to hmax.

3. The hmax level is selected so that it is slightly higher than the bottom of the pots in which the plants are located.

4. The hmax level is limited by the trigger level of the overflow siphon.

5. As soon as the nutrient solution reaches the hmax level, the siphon of the overflow device is triggered and the nutrient solution is drained into a receiving container for a single-tier version or overflows to a lower tier in a multi-tier version of the growing plant.

6. In this phase of plant nutrition, the substrate (cup filler) is moistened by capillary forces that pull moisture above the level of contact with the nutrient solution.

7. When the level of the nutrient solution hmin in the growing tank of the upper level is reached, the level of the nutrient solution should rise to hmax in the growing tank of the lower level, since the solution was drained there.

8. As soon as the level in this growing tank reaches hmax, the siphon in this growing tank will work and the overflow into the downstream growing tank will begin.

9. Thus, the entire cycle goes from the top tier to the lowest.

10. From the lowest tier, the nutrient solution is drained into a receiving container.

11. The time for filling the growing tanks of each tier is equal to the time for draining. Determined by the capacity of the overflow siphon. Equal to approximately: filling - 8-12 minutes, draining - 8-12 minutes. Thus, for 16-24 minutes, the plant roots are washed with the nutrient solution from top to bottom and top to bottom.

12. The period corresponding to the end of draining and reaching the hmin level before the start of the next filling cycle is called an air pause.

13. After the end of the air pause, the pump is switched on again, which supplies the nutrient solution from the receiving tank to the upper tier of the VU.

14. The operation of the pump is controlled by an automatic system that sets the time of its operation and the pause time in operation (timer, relay, etc.). The pause in the pump operation determines the pause in the air supply of the plant root volume and can be from 30 minutes to several hours.

15. The pause time in the pump is regulated depending on the agricultural technique. We can feed the plants more / less often.

A device for growing plants on single or multi-tiered hydroponic installations includes growing tanks made, for example, of pipes with a diameter of 50-200 mm. These sizes are optimal for use in hydroponic installations in accordance with the proposed method of growing plants. If the diameter of the pipes is less than 50 mm, then there will not be enough free space for the free placement of the roots of the growing plant. If the diameter exceeds 200 mm, then the amount of nutrient solution used will exceed the optimal amount required to ensure the life cycle of the plant. The growing tanks are arranged in tiers, the tubes 8 for feeding the nutrient solution P enter through the cover 6 of the upper bell. The device for feeding and overflowing the nutrient solution is made in the form of an adjustable siphon dispenser with a dynamic filter. The dynamic filter is made self-cleaning due to the presence of blades 21 rotating under the influence of the incoming fluid. hole. Inside the device there is a filter 3 made in the form of a mesh cylinder with blades 21, inside the filter there is an adjustable siphon dispenser, the blades 21 of which are arranged in a spiral on the generating part of the cylindrical frame 19. The blades 21 can be located in the upper end of the filter in the form of an impeller. An adjustable siphon dispenser can be U-shaped in the form of a siphon tube with an adjustable ascending part, or it can be made in the form of a cap siphon with an adjustable ascending part. The ascending part is regulated by an adjustable sleeve 4 (Fig. 2, Fig. 3) and a movable tube 18 (Fig. 4).

An adjustable siphon dispenser and a dynamic self-cleaning filter are combined into a three-socket module for connection to growing tanks made of mass-produced industrial plastic pipes.

The three-socket module for explaining the implementation of the method and device for controlled irrigation of the root system of plants by flooding with dynamic filtration of the nutrient solution is made in the form of a three-socket product adapted for the possibility of connecting growing tanks made of industrial polymer pipes. The body 1 is made with a round recessed bottom 9, in which an adjustable SD1 or SD2 siphon dispenser is fixed for overflowing the nutrient solution, and a dynamic self-cleaning filter 3 with a slight positive buoyancy rotates around it. The housing is closed from above by a lid 6 (Fig. 2) with an opening for the passage of the tube 7, 8 for feeding the nutrient solution. The upper and two lateral ends of the module body 1 are made with sockets with annular extensions at the ends 10, 11, 12 (Fig. 2). Lateral sockets 10, 11 are designed to connect two vegetation pipes, which are not conventionally shown in the drawings.

The adjustable siphon dispenser SD1 for overflowing the nutrient solution consists of a body 2 attached to the deepened bottom 9 with a nut 14 through a rubber seal 15. Adjusting the length of the ascending branch pipe of the siphon dispenser, and with this the level hmin of the nutrient solution constantly present in the growing pipes in the range hmin1 - hmin2 , is carried out by moving the sleeve 4 along the ascending branch pipe of the siphon dispenser.

The hmin level is regulated depending on the type of plants grown and their growth phase. The ingress of parasitic air into the adjustable siphon dispenser is prevented by the stuffing box seal 13 (Fig. 3). The connection of the overflow tube 8 (Fig. 2) to the body of the adjustable siphon dispenser SD1 for overflowing the flowing filtered solution of the FR to a lower level is carried out through the brush tip 5 or in another way.

The adjustable siphon dispenser can also be made on a cap-type device. The body 16 of the overflow cap adjustable siphon dispenser SD2 is attached to the round bottom 9 with nuts 14 through a rubber seal 15. The position of the body 16 relative to the bottom 9 regulates the upper level hmax of the nutrient solution in the growing pipes of each tier. At this level, the entire root system of plants is in the nutrient solution for a certain controlled period of time. The level of the nutrient solution in the range hmin1 - hmin2 is regulated by the position of the movable tube 18 relative to the cap 17. The surfaces are sealed with a gland seal 13. The overflow tube 8 is connected to the cap-type adjustable siphon dispenser SD2 through the brush tip 5 or in another way.

In the process of growing plants by the air method, single roots can be separated from the main root from the root system. Filtration of the solution is carried out by a dynamic self-cleaning filter 3. The filter is made on a plastic frame 19 (Fig. 5), to which a cylindrical mesh filter element 3 is attached. Outside the frame, helical blades 21 are arranged (Fig. 5). The filter can be removed from the overflow module by removing the cover 6 of the upper bell and pulling the filter by the handle 20.

The device operates as follows.

During pauses between feeding cycles in horizontally located growing tanks of a single or multi-tier hydroponic plant (conventionally not shown), attached to the left 11 and right 10 (Fig. 2) sockets of the three-socket nutrient solution overflow module, the nutrient solution is at the bottom of the growing tanks overflow module of nutrient solution at an adjustable hmin level. The aqueous part of the plant root system is in a nutrient solution and consumes nutrients from it.

The required minimum level of the nutrient solution hmin is needed so that moisture evaporates from the liquid mirror and an atmosphere with a high content of saturated water vapor forms in the root volume, which prevents the root hairs from drying out during the air pause.

During pauses, the aerial part of the plant's root system consumes the necessary oxygen from the moist air inside the growing tanks.

During the feeding cycles after turning on the pump, the dose of the nutrient solution P (Fig. 1) through the tube 7 inserted into the hole in the cover 6 of the three-socket nutrient solution overflow module flows down into the blades 21 of the dynamic self-cleaning filter in a stream, while it is sprayed, which achieves a significant saturation of the solution oxygen in the air. Oxygen in the nutrient solution is necessary for plants for successful growth, including for the active absorption of nutrients, such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, as well as for the synthesis of protein and dry matter. A high concentration of dissolved oxygen increases competition between microorganisms, which in turn reduces the development of pathogens. In addition, dissolved oxygen regulates the synthesis of compounds that suppress the development of pathogens.

At the same time, the stream of the flowing nutrient solution with its energy causes the dynamic self-cleaning filter to rotate and washes away impurities from the mesh 3. Large impurities are retained by the dynamic self-cleaning filter, without interfering with the overflow of the nutrient solution, remain in the growing pipes and are removed during seasonal processing. During the feeding of the nutrient solution, its level in the three-socket module of the nutrient solution overflow (Fig. 2) and in the growing tanks gradually increases to an adjustable level hmax, irrigating the air part of the root system and involving it in the process of consuming nutrients from the nutrient solution. Upon reaching the level of the nutrient solution hmax, an adjustable siphon dispenser is activated (Fig. 2, Fig. 3), and the nutrient solution, passing through a dynamic self-cleaning filter (Fig. 2, Fig. 3, Fig. 4), is drained cleanly through tube 8 (Fig. 2, Fig. 3, Fig. 4) into a three-socket module to a lower level of a multi-tiered hydroponic plant. After that, the solution level in the growing tank drops to hmin. The lower (water) part of the plants remains in the residual solution, and the upper (air) part of the roots consumes oxygen from the moist air of the inner volume of the growing pipes. Power cycles are repeated after pauses.

The amount of nutrient solution supplied to the multi-tier hydroponic plant and the air pause time are adjusted depending on the type of plants being grown, their growth phase, temperature and lighting level.

Thus, every time during controlled flooding, 100% of the volume of the plant root system consumes nutrients from the nutrient solution, and during the air pause, almost 100% of the root system consumes the necessary oxygen from the air. With each cycle of feeding the nutrient solution and a change in its level from hmin to hmax, the nutrient solution changes and the air in the root volume is replaced with fresh air in a natural way. The change in the maximum level of the nutrient solution in the range from hmax1 to hmax2 and the minimum level from hmin1 to hmin2 is dictated by the need to regulate the maximum and minimum levels of the nutrient solution in the growing pipes in various cultivation technologies for a wide range of plant species.

Such organization of plant nutrition contributes to the rapid growth of the root system, gives an impetus to the active growth and development of plants, accelerates the metabolism of plants, increases their yield and quality. The time of power cycles and rest pauses depends on environmental conditions (temperature, humidity, lighting) and is regulated by means of control of the hydroponic plant operation (conventionally not shown).

The feeding process is repeated from the upper to the lower level of the multi-tiered hydroponic installation due to the actuation of the siphon dispensers 23, up to the receiving tank 27 (Fig. 6). The solution unit RU 28 (Fig. 6) determines the parameters of the nutrient solution 25 (Fig. 6), corrects it if necessary and returns it to the container 27 (Fig. 6). The pump 26, according to a predetermined program, again supplies the nutrient solution to the multi-tier hydroponic installations 24 (Fig. 6) for growing plants.

The claimed group of inventions makes it possible to regulate the dose of the nutrient solution and the level of the nutrient solution constantly present in the growing tanks, in which the aqueous part of the plant root system is located; regulation of the level and time of irrigation of the aerial part of the plant root system; filtration of the nutrient solution with a dynamic self-cleaning filter, and also allows you to use the energy of the stream of the overflowed nutrient solution to clean the dynamic self-cleaning filter. In the course of feeding the nutrient solution into the growing tanks, the nutrient solution is aerated by airborne spraying of a stream of flowing nutrient solution on the blades of a dynamic self-cleaning filter. Filtration of the nutrient solution can be done with a static filter.

The achieved technical result consists in the possibility of growing a wide range of plants with optimal nutritional parameters for them, with a low cost of cultivated products, trouble-free operation of equipment, and also in the environmental friendliness of the grown plants on multi-tiered hydroponic installations.

The claimed method and device for its implementation can be carried out in the conditions of industrial and farm production of agricultural products.

Claims (6)

1. A method of growing plants on single or multi-tier hydroponic installations, including placing plants in perforated containers placed in growing containers so that the nutrient solution is supplied to the growing containers, filtered, the nutrient solution is poured from the upper tier of the growing containers to the lower tiers of the growing containers through overflow channels in the form of tubes, characterized in that the overflow of the nutrient solution to the lower level of the multi-tier hydroponic installation is carried out by gravity through siphon dispensers with a dynamic filter, dosed in cycles, periodically, while the liquid is fed to the bottom of the perforated containers with plants, kept for the set period of time, after which the liquid level decreases, leaving the distance between the bottom of the perforated container with the plant and the surface of the nutrient solution from 5 to 150 mm, withstand a set amount of time, after which the cycle is repeated. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the nutrient solution is supplied to the growing tanks in bulk or by spraying. 3. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the cycles depend on the type and variety of the plant being grown. 4. A device for growing plants on single or multi-tier hydroponic installations, including growing tanks with planting devices for containers for grown plants located in tiers, tubes for feeding and overflowing nutrient solution, equipped with an adjustable siphon dispenser with a dynamic filter. 5. The device according to claim 4, characterized in that the growing tanks are made in the form of pipes with holes. 6. The device according to claim 4, characterized in that the dynamic filter is self-cleaning.

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