Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
  • A01G—HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING
  • A01G31/00—Soilless cultivation, e.g. hydroponics
  • A01G31/02—Special apparatus therefor
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02P—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
  • Y02P60/00—Technologies relating to agriculture, livestock or agroalimentary industries
  • Y02P60/20—Reduction of greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions in agriculture, e.g. CO2
  • Y02P60/21—Dinitrogen oxide [N2O], e.g. using aquaponics, hydroponics or efficiency measures

Definitions

• the application relates to a growing system for plants that are placed in a channel or in a trough without the use of organic growth medium, but are supplied with a nutrient solution, and where the channel or the trough comprises means for drainage of excess nutrient solution and as explained in detail in the preamble of claim 1.
• the channel or the trough is placed with a minor downgrade, and the nutrient solution is supplied at one end of the trough and is drained off at the other end, viz. the lower end, from which end it is returned to a purifying plant in which the content of nutritive salts etc. in the nutrient solution is adjusted and in which the content of oxygen is adjusted, after which the solution is reused.
• Such systems suffer the drawback that the plants placed at the inlet obtain the best growth conditions and the plants placed at the outlet obtain inferior conditions, among other things because the oxygen content decreases during the passage of the nutrient solution through the trough, and because optimum composition of the nutrient solution is present only at the inlet.
• Root exudation is a generic term for root secretions including vitamins, minerals, salts, hormons, by-products from the photosynthesis in the leaves etc. Root exudations provide conditions of growth for microorganisms and pathogenic agents and organisms etc. and therefore these are to be currently removed.
• the growing system according to the invention is configured as defined in the characterizing portion of claim 2 not only an even distribution of the nutrient liquid is achieved but also the feature that the roots of the plants are placed at a distance from the trough or channel support in order to prevent any ingress of cold from a cold support.
• an effective drainage is achieved which has a uniform function irrespective of the fact that the trough or channel is not placed in a sufficiently horisontal position in the transverse direction.
• a distribution of the nutrient solution is achieved in a simpel, however, quite effective manner without the application of other distribution means but a pair of longitudinal ribs which at the same time contributes to ensuring that the plants are correctly placed in the growing system.
• the growing system according to the invention is preferably developed for use in connection with growing of plants where each plant is placed in an independent, small block of inorganic growth medium, for example a block of rock wool or the like, or where each plant is placed in a pot or similar container with inorganic growth medium. If square blocks of inorganic growth medium are applied these are placed in the manner defined in claim 6 or 7. The placing depends among other things on the plant in question.
• This arrangement of the growing system implies that a secure and effective drainage of the nutrient solution and the root decretions is achieved irrespective of the kind of crop that is to be grown in the system, and anaerobic bacteria activity in the root zone is avoided. If the defined configuration is applied it is possible to provide air and fresh nutrient solution to the under side of the growth medium block and this renders the possibility of increased intake of oxygen and reduced unwanted bacteriological activity in the root zone.
• Claims 9 and 10 define further advantageous configurations of the growing system according to the invention by which configurations the distribution of the nutrient solution can be further improved and be made more uniform, and by which a growing system is achieved, which system can be produced in an effective manner and thus also in a competitive manner as to price without affecting the quality as to the characteristic features of the system.
• fig. 1 is a sectional view of the growing system according to the invention, the cover being partly broken away to reveal the inside of the growing system,
• fig. 2 is a plane sectional view along the line II-II of fig. 1,
• fig. 3 is a sectional view corresponding to that of fig. 2, however, in connection with a different application of the growing system, and
• fig. 4 is a plane sectional view corresponding to that of figs. 2 and 3, however, in an improved example embodiment.
• a growing system for plants comprises a number, usually a large number, of such growth troughs in which the plants are continuously provided with a nutrient solution and in which excess nutrient solution is continuously drained off by way of the drain grooves 3 and the drain pipe 12.
• the nutrient solution circulates and is treated in a known manner in a purifying plant where the nutrient solution is regenerated as to the content of oxygen, pH, and the content of nutrients, and where root exudations are removed to secure that the growth troughs are always provided with a fresh, optimum nutrient solution.
• the growth troughs are placed on a support 13 in such a manner that a vague downgrade of the size 0,4-2 % is established.
• the downgrade is marked by the arrow 16 towards the drain pipe 12, for example a downgrade of 0,4 %.
• the growth throughs are often long, from 6 til 12 .
• Each growth trough 1 is usually made of plastic by moulding or extrusion, so that the trough 1 is produced in large lengths that are cut off as required and are provided with suitable end pieces.
• the growth trough comprises a platform 4 which is raised somewhat over the support 13, so that any cold from the support 13 cannot directly be led to the roots of the plants.
• By means of the platform 4 it is possible to place heating pipes or the like in channels or areas 17 in order to achieve a thermic improvement of the conditions of growth.
• a pipe 7 is provided, for example in the form of an integral pipe as shown in the drawing, but, of course an independent pipe can be applied as well. The pipe 7 is applied for the supply of nutrient solution.
• the nutrient solution is led from the pipe 7 through holes or supply pipes 8, for example as shown by a top cap, so that the liquid is appropriately distributed during the supply.
• the platform 4 comprises a longitudinal rib 9, so that on top of the platform a longitudinal area appears for the distribution of the nutrient solution.
• the ribs 9 are relatively low, so that excess nutrient solution is able to leave the area between the ribs either by running over the ribs or by leaving the area at one of the ends. Excess nutrient solution will be led to the drain pipe 12 through the drain grooves 3 at each side.
• the supply pipes are as high as possible in respect of the cover 2, so that the fresh nutrient solution is always sprayed or led on to the roots, even when a relatively compact root mat is created.
• Each plant 10, i.e. supply pipe 8 is provided with liquid in the order of 4-10 litres per hour.
• growth medium blocks for example mineral wool blocks, one block for each plant 10.
• fig. 2 which is a sectional view of fig. 1, is shown how a growth medium block 5, for example a rectangular growth" block, is placed and positioned under an opening 6 in the cover for each growth medium block.
• fig. 2 is shown how the growth medium block 5 is placed between the ribs 9. The figure shows that the block is somewhat smaller than the distance between the ribs, so that the nutrient solution can easily pass and is evenly distributed. There is nothing to prevent the block 5 from filling in the area between the ribs. After a short period of growth the roots 14 grow out through the block 5 as shown in the drawing.
• fig. 3 is shown a sectional view corresponding to that of fig. 2, however, in fig. 3 the growth block is turned approx. 90° in relation to its position in fig. 2, whereby the growth block rests upon the ribs 9. An area or space appear below the growth medium block, which contributes to increasing the possibility of the supply of oxygen and air to the root zone of the plant 10. Root exudations from roots 15 below the growth block 5' can now also be removed. The growth block 5 is turned to position 5' , when the root mat outside the block begins its formation.
• water distribution ribs 9 are applied in fig. 2 and 3 to raise the growth block over the surface of the platform 4', it is of course possible to use other kinds of distance means, for example plastic items that are placed under the blocks and are configured in such a manner that the flow of the nutrient liquid is still unhampered and space are provided for the roots 15.
• Fig. 4 shows a plane sectional view corresponding to that of figs. 2 and 3, however, in an improved embodiment, where two sets of longitudinal ribs 9 and 9' are provided.
• the inner set of ribs 9 is higher than the outer set of ribs 9', cf. fig. 4. This renders the possibility of a yet more precise and even distribution of water. It is for example possible to adjust the distance between the ribs and the heights of the ribs in such a manner that the longitudinal vat that is created between the inner pair of ribs 9 can hold the same quantity of liquid as the two longitudinal vats on each side between the ribs 9 and 9' can hold together.
• the drain grooves 3 at each side are dimensioned to such extent that they have plenty of space for the nutrient liquid to be drained off, also when the root mat is well-developed, it is possible to obtain an optimum distribution of water and a rapid change of water, even with a minor downgrade of the trough or channel.
• the present application shows how a supply pipe 8 for the nutrient solution is placed downstreams after each growth medium block 5, which supply pipe waters the roots of the block concerned as well as part of the root mat of the subsequent block in the direction of flow, as a number of tests have proved that the best possible distribution of the nutrient liquid over the root mat is achieved in this manner. Beyond this, the water distribution ribs 9, 9' improve the distribution of the nutrient solution. However, in order to secure the first block of the row an additional supply pipe 8 is provided in the direction of flow in front of the first growth medium block, so that this block is watered from both sides.

Landscapes

• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Environmental Sciences (AREA)
• Hydroponics (AREA)

Priority Applications (2)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=8154098

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (4)

Cited By (4)

Citations (1)

• 1993
  • 1993-01-18 DK DK9300032U patent/DK9300032U3/da not_active IP Right Cessation
• 1994
  • 1994-01-12 NL NL9420014A patent/NL194027C/nl not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1994-01-12 AU AU58802/94A patent/AU5880294A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1994-01-12 WO PCT/DK1994/000022 patent/WO1994015451A1/en active Application Filing

Patent Citations (1)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events