WO2015178409A1 - Cultivation apparatus and cultivation method - Google Patents

Abstract

A cultivation apparatus according to the present invention is provided with: a culture medium part in which a crop is grown; and a cultivation-liquid supply mechanism for supplying a cultivation liquid to the culture medium part. The culture medium part is provided with: a frame; particles for filling the inside of the frame; and an area in which capillary action is used to supply the cultivation liquid to at least an intermediate-layer section of a layer formed by the filling particles.

Description

Cultivation apparatus and cultivation method

The present invention relates to a cultivation apparatus and a cultivation method.

In soil cultivation of crops, there are various problems such as continuous cropping failure, growth failure of the whole crop by suppressing root elongation due to soil hardness, the effect of pests and decrease in yield due to soil aging. In recent years, hydroponics has attracted attention as a cultivation method for solving these problems, and various devices have been developed.

In this hydroponics, generally, the medium is not used, and the root of the plant is directly immersed in the culture solution. In conventional hydroponic cultivation, it is necessary to supply a large amount of oxygen to the root to avoid root rot of the plant, and the root by an oxygen supply structure such as a circulatory pump or a cultivation liquid circulation pump that can send air along with the cultivation liquid circulation Oxygen is supplied to (see JP 2013-9644 A).

JP 2013-9644 A

However, in the conventional cultivation apparatus, it is difficult to say that oxygen is sufficiently supplied, and there are disadvantages such as an increase in management cost of the apparatus.

In addition, under conditions where the roots are soaked as in hydroponics, the excess supply of water may lead to a decrease in taste due to an increase in the water content of the crop obtained. In order to maintain or improve the taste of crops, it is known to perform high sugar content treatment by applying water stress such as drought stress or osmotic stress, but more appropriate moderate water stress should be applied. The cultivation apparatus which can do is desired.

Also, conventional soil cultivation requires a large amount of soil. Therefore, the mass of soil becomes very large and it is difficult to provide a farmland on a scaffold or the like. When there is a difference in height between farmlands, a large amount of labor and cost are required for leveling.

The present invention has been made based on the above-described circumstances, and can stably apply an appropriate water stress to a crop and supply sufficient oxygen to the root of the crop at low cost to prevent root rot. An object is to provide a cultivation apparatus and a cultivation method that can be avoided and can reduce the amount of soil used compared to soil cultivation.

A cultivation apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention made to solve the above-described problem is a cultivation apparatus including a medium part for growing a crop and a cultivation liquid supply mechanism for supplying the cultivation liquid to the medium part. The culture unit has a frame, particles filled in the frame, and a region in which the cultivation liquid is supplied by capillary action to at least a middle layer of the layer formed by the filled particles.

Further, the cultivation method according to one aspect of the present invention is a cultivation method for supplying a culture solution to a medium part on which a crop is grown, and the medium part includes a frame body and particles filled in the frame body. And a region in which at least a middle layer of the layer formed by the filler particles has a region where the cultivation liquid is supplied by capillary action, and the cultivation solution is supplied to the crop through the region.

According to the cultivation apparatus and cultivation method according to the embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to stably apply an appropriate water stress to a crop, and supply sufficient oxygen to the root of the crop at low cost to avoid root rot. The amount of soil used can be reduced compared to soil cultivation.

It is a mimetic diagram showing the cultivation device concerning a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the cultivation apparatus which concerns on 2nd embodiment of this invention. It is a graph which shows the yield and sugar content in medium amount evaluation. It is a typical top view which shows arrangement | positioning of the pot frame in a farmland height difference evaluation. It is a graph which shows each temperature change of greenhouse temperature, storage part liquid temperature, and culture medium part temperature.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Cultivation apparatus 2 Medium part 3 Storage part 4 Frame body 5 Filling particle 6 Cultivation liquid supply area 7 Liquid feeding part 8 Root water-permeable sheet 9a First waterproof sheet 9b Second waterproof sheet 11 Moisture sensor 12 Moisture tension sensor 13 Control part 14 Supply pipe 20 Cultivation liquid supply mechanism 21 Water level salinity adjustment mechanism 31 Cultivation device 32 Medium part 33 Storage part 34 Frame body 35 Filled particles 36 Cultivation liquid supply area 37 units 38 Water level adjustment mechanism 39 Water level meter 40 Control part 41 Supply pipe 42 Temperature Total 43 Heaters 50 Agricultural land 51a First pot frame 51b Second pot frame 51c Third pot frame P Crop

[Description of Embodiment of the Present Invention]
A cultivation apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is a cultivation apparatus that includes a medium part for growing a crop and a cultivation liquid supply mechanism that supplies a cultivation liquid to the medium part, and the medium part is a frame. And a particle filling the inside of the frame, and a region where the cultivation liquid is supplied by capillary action to at least the middle layer of the layer formed by the filling particle.

In the cultivation apparatus, the culture medium portion has a frame body and particles filled in the frame body, and at least a middle layer portion of the layer formed by the filled particles develops a capillary phenomenon so that the culture solution is in the culture medium portion. By having the area to be supplied, excessive supply of the cultivation liquid is avoided, and an appropriate moisture stress can be stably applied to the root of the crop. Moreover, the said area | region where culture solution is supplied by capillary phenomenon is large compared with a liquid phase, and is excellent in air permeability. Thereby, even if there is no oxygen supply structure, root rot due to lack of oxygen can be effectively suppressed, and equipment costs and operation costs can be reduced. In addition, since it is only necessary to fill the frame with particles of soil or the like in an amount capable of causing capillary action in the above region, the amount of soil used can be greatly reduced compared to conventional soil cultivation, and the medium part can be reduced in weight. . Thereby, it can be set as the structure which provides farmland on the scaffold formed with cheap materials, such as a resin pipe, and the height difference of farmland can be easily adjusted by adjustment of a scaffold. Here, “moisture stress” means, for example, drought stress caused by exposure of crops to low humidity conditions, and osmotic stress caused by high osmotic pressure due to high concentration of salt in the environment surrounding the crops. To do.

The culture solution supply mechanism includes a storage unit that stores the culture solution, and a liquid supply unit that is disposed between the medium unit and the storage unit, and the liquid supply unit capillaries the culture solution in the storage unit. It is good to supply to the bottom part of the particle | grains in a culture-medium part. Since the culture solution supply mechanism includes such a storage unit and a liquid supply unit, the culture solution can be easily and reliably supplied into the culture unit even if the culture unit and the storage unit are separated. Moreover, since the cultivating solution is fed unidirectionally from the storing unit to the medium unit by supplying the cultivating solution in the storing unit to the bottom of the particles in the medium unit by capillary action, the level of the disease through the stored water is horizontal. Propagation can be prevented.

It is good to have a mechanism to adjust the water level or salinity of the cultivation liquid in the storage part. Thus, by making it possible to adjust the water level or salinity of the cultivation liquid in the storage part, it is possible to control the drought stress or osmotic stress applied to the root part of the crop, so that the sugar content of the crop to be harvested can be further increased. it can.

It is good to have a temperature adjustment mechanism that adjusts the temperature of the cultivation liquid in the storage part. Thus, the temperature of the culture medium can be adjusted to be an appropriate temperature for the growth of the crop by adjusting the temperature of the culture solution in the reservoir. Moreover, since the operating cost required for adjusting the temperature of the cultivation liquid is lower than the operating cost of an air conditioner or the like that adjusts the temperature, the medium temperature can be adjusted at a lower cost than when adjusting the temperature using a conventional air conditioner or the like. . Moreover, since the culture medium temperature is closely linked with the temperature of the cultivation liquid, it is easy to adjust the culture medium temperature.

It is preferable that at least the bottom of the frame body is a root-permeable water-permeable sheet. Thus, by using at least the bottom part of the frame as a root-permeable water-permeable sheet, it is possible to prevent the root part of the crop in the medium part from being immersed in the storage part. As a result, root rot prevention and moisture stress can be more effectively exhibited. Moreover, contamination of the storage part can be prevented.

As the particles, soil is preferable. By using the particles as soil in this way, the middle layer of the layer formed by the filler particles can exhibit the capillary phenomenon more reliably and effectively. As a result, root rot prevention and moisture stress can be more effectively exhibited.

As the soil, sand is preferable. By using sand as the soil as described above, the ratio of the gas phase to the liquid phase in the middle layer of the layer formed by the filler particles can be further increased, and the oxygen supply capacity can be effectively increased. Sand is less susceptible to root disease because it has a lower organic content and fewer microorganisms than soil. Accordingly, it is possible to omit or simplify the circulating filter treatment of the cultivation liquid necessary for hydroponics and the sterilization of the cultivation apparatus. Furthermore, since sand is physicochemically stable, even if it is used for many years, continuous cropping failure is unlikely to occur and it can be used continuously, and root disease is unlikely to occur. Moreover, since sand has a single grain structure, the reproducibility of capillary action and the uniform diffusibility of water are higher than other soils having a aggregate structure, and it is easy to adjust moisture. As a result, a high-quality crop can be cultivated at a low cost. Here, “sand” means, for example, debris having a diameter of 0.01 mm or more and 2 mm or less in which capillary water is retained in the pores by deposits of unconsolidated fragments.

The height of the capillary rise of the layer formed by the filler particles is preferably 3 cm or more and 300 cm or less. By setting such a capillary rise height, the degree of freedom in device design can be increased, and the workability of farm work can be improved.

The particles preferably contain 50% by mass or more of single particles having a particle size of 0.1 mm or more and 1 mm or less. By configuring the particles in this way, the middle layer more effectively exhibits capillarity, and further increases the ratio of the gas phase to the liquid phase in the middle layer, thereby further improving root rot due to lack of oxygen. Can be suppressed. Here, the “particle size” is based on the number of particles on the sieve and the openings of each sieve by using the sieves defined in JIS-Z8801-1 (2006) and applying the particles in order from the sieve with the largest openings. It is the average particle diameter calculated.

The tap density of the particles is preferably 1.00 g / cm ³ or more and 3.00 g / cm ³ or less. Thus, by setting the tap density of the particles within the above range, the middle layer portion can exhibit the capillary phenomenon more effectively, and the ratio of the gas phase to the liquid phase in the middle layer portion can be increased to increase oxygen. Root rot due to lack can be more effectively suppressed. Here, the “tap density” means the bulk density of the powder, and is a value measured according to JIS-Z2512 (2012).

Further, another cultivation method according to one aspect of the present invention is a cultivation method for supplying a culture solution to a medium part on which a crop is grown, and the medium part is filled in the frame body. And a region to which the cultivation liquid is supplied by capillary action in at least the middle layer of the layer formed by the filler particles, and the cultivation liquid is supplied to the crop through the region.

In this cultivation method, since the cultivation liquid is supplied to the crop from the region where the cultivation liquid is supplied by the capillary phenomenon of the layer formed by the filler particles in the frame, excessive supply of the cultivation liquid is avoided, and the root of the crop is avoided. Stable and moderate moisture stress can be applied. In addition, the above-mentioned region where the cultivation liquid is supplied by capillary action has a large gas phase compared with the liquid phase and excellent air permeability, so that even if there is no oxygen supply structure, sufficient oxygen can be supplied to the root of the crop and root rot can be prevented. It can be effectively suppressed. In addition, since the cultivation method only needs to fill the frame with particles of soil or the like in an amount that can cause capillary action in the region, the amount of soil used can be greatly reduced compared to conventional soil cultivation, Can be reduced in weight. Thereby, the said cultivation method can be set as the structure which provides farmland on the scaffold formed with cheap materials, such as a resin pipe, and can adjust the height difference of farmland easily by adjustment of a scaffold.

[Details of the embodiment of the present invention]
Hereinafter, an embodiment of a cultivation apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[First embodiment]
The cultivation apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 mainly includes a medium part 2 for causing the crop P to grow and a culture liquid supply mechanism 20 for supplying the culture liquid to the medium part 2. The culture medium part 2 includes a frame 4, a filling liquid 5 filled in the frame 4, and a cultivation liquid supply region in which the cultivation liquid is supplied by capillary action to at least the middle layer of the layer formed by the filling particles 5. 6. The cultivation liquid supply mechanism 20 includes a storage section 3 that stores the cultivation liquid and a liquid feeding section 7 that supplies the cultivation liquid to the bottom of the filled particles 5 in the culture medium section 2. Moreover, the said cultivation apparatus 1 is equipped with the water level salt concentration adjustment mechanism 21 which adjusts the water level and salt concentration of the cultivation liquid in the said storage part 3, the root | penetration water-permeable sheet 8, the 1st waterproof sheet 9a, and the 2nd waterproof sheet 9b. .

<Medium part>
The culture medium part 2 includes a frame 4, a filling liquid 5 filled in the frame 4, and a cultivation liquid supply region in which the cultivation liquid is supplied by capillary action to at least the middle layer of the layer formed by the filling particles 5. 6 and is a part where the crop P is grown.

(Frame)
The frame body 4 holds the filler particles 5 and prevents the roots of the crop P from penetrating out of the frame body 4.

The frame body 4 is a bottomed cylindrical body. The planar shape of the frame 4 is not particularly limited, but a shape that can be superimposed is preferable from the viewpoint of transportation, and a circular shape is more preferable. Further, the bottom of the frame 4 is constituted by a root-permeable water-permeable sheet 8. Thus, by making at least the bottom part of the frame 4 into the root water-permeable sheet 8, the root part of the crop P in the culture medium part 2 can be prevented from being immersed in the storage part 3.

In addition, although not only the bottom part of the frame 4 but a side part and an upper part are good also as a structure which makes the root impermeable sheet 8, the viewpoint of improving the water retention of the culture medium part 2 makes only the bottom surface the impermeable sheet 8. It is preferable.

The lower limit of the average inner diameter of the frame 4 is preferably 6 cm, and more preferably 9 cm. On the other hand, the upper limit of the average inner diameter of the frame 4 is preferably 23 cm, and more preferably 15 cm. When the average inner diameter of the frame body 4 is less than the lower limit, the root of the crop P cannot be sufficiently spread, and there is a risk of poor growth. On the other hand, when the average inner diameter of the frame body 4 exceeds the upper limit, the mass of the culture medium portion 2 may be too large. The “average inner diameter” means a value obtained by averaging the diameters of circles having the same area as the shape of the inner surface of the frame body 4 in plan view (diameter in terms of a perfect circle) in the height direction of the frame body 4.

Although it does not specifically limit as a material which comprises the part except the bottom part (root shield water-permeable sheet 8) of the frame 4, The paper, sheet-like resin, etc. which have air permeability and water permeability are mentioned. The sheet-like resin may be a woven fabric or a non-woven fabric. Among them, a porous resin film is preferable, and a porous resin film obtained by stretching a fluororesin film such as polytetrafluoroethylene is more preferable. *

The root water-permeable sheet 8 may be disposed only on the bottom surface portion of the frame body 4, but may also be laid in an area other than the frame body 4 in a plan view as shown in FIG. Since the root-permeable water-permeable sheet 8 has water permeability, by laying in this way, it exhibits functions such as waterproofing and light-shielding without interfering with the feeding of the cultivation liquid. The bottom of the frame body 4 and the root-permeable water-permeable sheet 8 may be bonded, or the frame body 4 may be placed on the root-permeable water-permeable sheet 8.

Although it does not specifically limit as a raw material of the root | root water-permeable sheet 8, For example, paper, a woven fabric, etc. are mentioned.

The lower limit of the average thickness of the root impermeable sheet 8 is preferably 0.1 mm, and more preferably 0.2 mm. On the other hand, the upper limit of the average thickness of the root impermeable sheet 8 is preferably 5 mm, and more preferably 3 mm. When the average thickness of the root-permeable water-permeable sheet 8 is less than the above lower limit, the root-shielding property may be impaired. On the contrary, when the average thickness of the root impermeable sheet 8 exceeds the upper limit, the cost of the root impermeable sheet 8 may be too high.

(particle)
The middle layer portion and the lower layer portion of the layer formed by the filler particles 5 filled in the frame body 4 are included in the cultivation liquid supply region 6 that develops the capillary phenomenon. The filler particles 5 are not particularly limited as long as the layer formed by filling exhibits a capillary phenomenon. For example, soil, fine pumice such as pumice sand, pulverized particles of porous volcanic rock, granular rock wool, coral sand , Coral, charcoal and the like. You may use these in mixture of 2 or more types. Of these, soil is preferable as the filler particles 5 from the viewpoint of ensuring good capillary action and returning to natural soil when it becomes unnecessary.

Examples of the soil include commercially available horticultural soil, vermiculite, bentonite, zeolite, sand, Kanuma soil, Akadama soil, and true sand soil. Among these, sand is preferable. By using sand as the soil, the ratio of the gas phase to the liquid phase can be further increased, and the oxygen supply capacity can be effectively increased. Thereby, even if there is no oxygen supply structure, root rot due to lack of oxygen can be effectively suppressed. In addition, since sand has a lower organic matter content and a lower microbial population compared to general soil, root disease is unlikely to occur.

The lower limit of the single particle size of the packed particles 5 is preferably 0.1 mm, and more preferably 0.15 mm. On the other hand, the upper limit of the particle size is preferably 1 mm, more preferably 0.6 mm. When the said particle size is less than the said minimum, there exists a possibility that the space | gap part of the cultivation liquid supply area | region 6 may decrease too much, and it may become excessively humid and a germ may propagate easily. On the contrary, when the particle size exceeds the upper limit, the gap in the cultivation liquid supply region 6 becomes too large and the capillary phenomenon becomes weak, and there is a possibility that a predetermined amount of the cultivation liquid cannot be supplied to the root.

The lower limit of the content ratio of the single particles having a particle size of 0.1 mm or more and 1 mm or less of the filled particles 5 is preferably 50% by mass, and more preferably 80% by mass. When the content rate of the said single grain is less than the said minimum, the capillary phenomenon which the cultivation liquid supply area | region 6 exhibits becomes weak, and there exists a possibility that a predetermined amount of cultivation liquid cannot be supplied to a root part.

The lower limit of the tap density of the particles constituting the filler particles 5, preferably from 1.00 g / cm ^3, more preferably 1.65 g / cm ^3, more preferably 1.70 g / cm ^3. On the other hand, the upper limit of the tap density of the particles is preferably from 3.00 g / cm ^3, more preferably 1.85 g / cm ^3, more preferably 1.83 g / cm ^3. When the tap density of the particles is less than the lower limit, the gap in the cultivation liquid supply region 6 becomes too large, the capillary phenomenon becomes weak, and there is a possibility that a predetermined amount of the cultivation liquid cannot be supplied to the root. On the other hand, when the tap density of the particles exceeds the upper limit, there is a possibility that the void portion of the cultivation liquid supply region 6 becomes too small and becomes excessively humid, and various bacteria are likely to propagate.

The lower limit of the capillary height of the layer formed by the filled particles 5 is preferably 3 cm, more preferably 10 cm, and even more preferably 20 cm. On the other hand, the upper limit of the capillary height of the layer formed by the filler particles 5 is preferably 300 cm, more preferably 200 cm, and even more preferably 40 cm. By setting the capillary height of the layer formed by the filler particles 5 within the above range, the degree of freedom in device design can be increased and the workability of farm work can be improved. When the capillary height of the layer formed by the filler particles 5 is less than the lower limit, the cultivation liquid cannot be supplied to the root of the crop P, and the crop P may be poorly grown. Conversely, if the capillary height of the layer formed by the filler particles 5 exceeds the above upper limit, it may be difficult to apply moisture stress to the root.

The height of the capillary rise (m) h is the surface tension (N / m) of the cultivation liquid, T is the contact angle (°) of the cultivation liquid, ρ is the density (kg / m ³ ) of the cultivation liquid, and gravity. When (m / s ² ) is g, and the mass 10% particle diameter (m) of the packed particles 5 is r, the following equation (1) is obtained. Here, the “mass 10% particle size” means the particle size when the passing mass percentage read from the particle size accumulation curve is 10% in accordance with JIS-A1204 (2009) “Soil particle size test method”. D (10% particle size D ₁₀ ) is meant.
h = 2T cos θ / ρgr (1)

In one frame 4, the lower limit of the average flow rate of the cultivation liquid at a position where the height from the bottom surface of the frame 4 of the cultivation liquid supply region 6 is 0 cm is preferably 0.2 L / hr, and 0.3 L / hr. Is more preferable. If the average flow rate of the cultivation liquid is less than the lower limit, the crop P is less than the required water absorption rate, and therefore the crop P may be dried up due to running out of water. In addition, an average flow velocity is the average of the numerical values obtained by measuring the passing amount (L) of the cultivation liquid that passes through the bottom surface of the frame 4 and reaches the cultivation liquid supply region 6 with five or more independent frames 4. Value.

Under conditions where the average flow rate of the cultivation liquid in the cultivation liquid supply region 6 is sufficiently large, there is a point where the water absorption speed of the crop P is equal to or less than the average flow rate in the cultivation liquid supply region 6, and thus the crop P absorbs water indefinitely (this The amount of water absorption is called the maximum water absorption day). If the water level of the liquid level of the storage part 3 to be described later is gradually lowered from this state, the water supply speed is gradually lowered and the water absorption is restricted (the water absorption amount at this time is referred to as the limited water absorption amount). In the said cultivation apparatus 1, since the water absorption daily amount of the crop P can be estimated from water consumption daily amount, water absorption amount can be restrict | limited to arbitrary ratios. Since the water supply continues even if the average flow rate of the cultivation liquid is restricted, the culture medium part 2 is less likely to be dried than the case where the amount of water supply is restricted, and the risk of damaging the root part is small. The decrease in the amount of water retained in the culture medium part 2 due to the water supply speed limitation can also be measured by the decrease in the weight of the culture medium part 2. Therefore, the administrator can manage moisture without an expensive moisture sensor.

The lower limit of the filling height of the packed particles 5 is preferably 1 cm, more preferably 3 cm, and even more preferably 5 cm. On the other hand, the upper limit of the filling height of the packed particles 5 is preferably 50 cm, more preferably 30 cm, and even more preferably 15 cm. When the filling height of the filling particles 5 is less than the above lower limit, the roots of the crop P may break down the capillary structure of the cultivation liquid supply region 6, which may cause poor growth. On the contrary, when the filling height of the filling particles 5 exceeds the above upper limit, the mass of the culture medium part 2 may be too large.

The lower limit of the water retention amount of the cultivation liquid in the cultivation liquid supply region 6 is preferably 0.04 L, more preferably 0.05 L, and even more preferably 0.10 L. On the other hand, the upper limit of the water retention amount of the cultivation liquid in the cultivation liquid supply region 6 is preferably 2L, more preferably 1.5L, and even more preferably 0.6L. When the water retention amount of the cultivation liquid in the cultivation liquid supply area 6 is less than the above lower limit, there is a case where the risk that the crop P is completely destroyed when water supply from the storage unit 3 is lost due to a failure of the cultivation apparatus 1 or the like. is there. On the other hand, when the water retention amount of the cultivation liquid exceeds the above upper limit, the mass of the culture medium part 2 may increase, or the adjustment of the water retention amount may be difficult. The water retention amount refers to a volume conversion of a value obtained by subtracting the mass of the culture medium part 2 in the dry state from the mass of the culture medium part 2 in the water retention condition.

<Culture solution supply mechanism>
The culture solution supply mechanism 20 includes a storage unit 3 that stores the culture solution, and a liquid feeding unit 7 that is disposed between the culture medium unit 2 and the storage unit 3.

(Liquid feeding part)
The liquid feeding part 7 is a sheet body. The liquid feeding part 7 is disposed between the culture medium part 2 and the storage part 3 so that a part thereof is immersed in the storage part 3 to be described later, and the cultivation liquid in the storage part 3 is pumped by capillary action. Then, it is supplied to the bottom of the packed particles 5 in the medium part 2 through the root-permeable water-permeable sheet 8. Since the culture solution supply mechanism 20 includes the liquid feeding unit 7, the culture solution can be easily and reliably supplied into the culture unit 2 even if the culture unit 2 and the storage unit 3 are separated.

The liquid feeding part 7 is not particularly limited as long as it can pump the cultivation liquid by capillary action and can be supplied to the bottom part of the filled particles 5, and examples thereof include a nonwoven fabric, a rock wool sheet, a felt sheet, and a urethane sheet. Among these, non-woven fabrics are preferred from the viewpoint of appropriate capillary action and appropriate water absorption.

The lower limit of the water permeability of the liquid feeding part 7 is preferably 0.01%, more preferably 1%. On the other hand, as an upper limit of the water permeability of the liquid feeding part 7, 40% is preferable and 30% is more preferable. When the water permeability of the liquid feeding part 7 is less than the said minimum, there exists a possibility that the quantity of the cultivation liquid supplied to the bottom part of the filling particle | grains 5 in the culture medium part 2 may become inadequate. On the contrary, when the water permeability of the liquid feeding part 7 exceeds the said upper limit, there exists a possibility that the cost of the liquid feeding part 7 and the said cultivation apparatus 1 may become high too much. Here, the water permeability represents the ratio of water that has passed to the back surface of the liquid feeding unit 7 when water is sprayed from the surface of the planar liquid feeding unit 7.

The lower limit of the average thickness of the liquid feeding part 7 is preferably 0.5 mm, more preferably 0.7 mm. On the other hand, as an upper limit of the average thickness of the liquid feeding part 7, 2 mm is preferable and 1.5 mm is more preferable. When the average thickness of the liquid feeding part 7 is less than the above lower limit, the strength of the liquid feeding part 7 may be reduced and may break. On the contrary, when the average thickness of the liquid feeding part 7 exceeds the said upper limit, there exists a possibility that the cost of the liquid feeding part 7 may become high.

The lower limit of the pumping height of the liquid feeding section 7 is preferably 3 cm, more preferably 10 cm, and further preferably 20 cm. On the other hand, as an upper limit of the pumping height of the liquid feeding part 7, 300 cm is preferable, 200 cm is more preferable, and 40 cm is further more preferable. When the pumping height of the liquid feeding part 7 is less than the said lower limit, the quantity of the cultivation liquid supplied to the bottom part of the filling particle | grains 5 in the culture medium part 2 may become inadequate, and there exists a possibility that water drainage may occur. On the contrary, when the pumping height of the liquid feeding part 7 exceeds the said upper limit, there exists a possibility that the cost of the liquid feeding part 7 may become high. Here, the pumping height is measured by the following method. First, a sheet obtained by cutting the liquid feeding section 7 into a width of 4 cm and a length of 120 cm is coated with a polyethylene film having an average thickness of 0.03 mm (the sheet is inserted into a film formed by thermocompression bonding to cover the periphery). Set as a measurement sample, and place it on a stand that allows the measurement sample to be suspended vertically. At this time, the upper and lower portions are opened by 5 cm so as to be in contact with the liquid surface. And let the average value of the value which measured the height pumped up from the liquid surface in 24 hours 5 times be pumping height.

(Reservoir)
The storage part 3 is comprised from the water-impermeable storage tank holding a cultivation liquid. The storage unit 3 is disposed away from the culture unit 2. Specifically, the storage unit 3 is disposed below the culture unit 2 and in a region that does not overlap with the culture unit 2 in plan view. By arranging the storage unit 3 in such a region, it is possible to more reliably prevent the root of the crop P from entering the storage unit 3 and to share one storage unit 3 among the plurality of culture medium units 2. Can do. The storage tank of the storage unit 3 is open at the top to facilitate the supply of the cultivation liquid, and the second waterproof sheet 9b is laid on the bottom and side surfaces to prevent the cultivation liquid from leaking out. The first waterproof sheet 9a and the second waterproof sheet 9b may be formed from a single sheet.

A part of the liquid feeding part 7 is immersed in the storage part 3, and the cultivation liquid is supplied to the bottom of the packed particles 5 in the culture medium part 2 through the liquid feeding part 7. Since the cultivating solution is unidirectionally fed from the storage unit 3 to the culture unit 2, it is possible to prevent horizontal propagation of diseases through the stored water found in hydroponics.

It is preferable that the cultivation liquid which the storage part 3 hold | maintains a fertilizer. It is preferable that a fertilizer contains a chemical fertilizer from a viewpoint which can suppress that a germ propagates in the storage part 3. FIG. In addition, you may give a fertilizer directly not only in a cultivation liquid but in the culture medium part 2. FIG.

It is preferable that the upper part of the storage unit 3 is shielded from light by a light shielding material. As this light shielding material, for example, the root water-permeable sheet 8, the first waterproof sheet 9a, and the like can be used. Thus, the storage part 3 is light-shielded, and it can suppress that algae reproduces in the storage part 3. FIG. In addition, in the said cultivation apparatus 1, the cultivation liquid which the storage part 3 hold | maintains does not contact the root of the crop P directly. With these synergistic effects, the storage unit 3 is kept clean, and the growth of germs is suppressed without filtering the cultivation liquid.

<Waterproof sheet>
The 1st waterproof sheet 9a is a sheet | seat laminated | stacked on the upper surface side of the root | blocking water-permeable sheet | seat 8 of the area | regions other than the culture | cultivation part 2 installation area | region, and the liquid feeding part 7, 3 is prevented. Moreover, as above-mentioned, the 1st waterproof sheet 9a can also exhibit the function as a light-shielding material.

The 2nd waterproof sheet 9b is a sheet | seat laminated | stacked on the lower surface side of the root impermeable sheet 8 and the liquid feeding part 7 or the storage part 3, and the cultivation liquid which leaked by isolating the said cultivation apparatus 1 from the ground surface, for example Can be prevented from penetrating underground.

The first waterproof sheet 9a and the second waterproof sheet 9b are not particularly limited as long as they do not pass water and the roots of the crops P. For example, polyolefin film, fluororesin film, biodegradable plastic film, etc. Can be used.

<Water level salinity adjustment mechanism>
The water level salinity adjusting mechanism 21 supplies the water sensor 11 and the water tension sensor 12 embedded in the packed particles 5 of the medium part 2 and the supply of the cultivation liquid that is supplied to the storage part 3 based on the measured values of these sensors. And a controller 13 for adjusting the amount and the salinity.

The moisture sensor 11 detects the amount of moisture held by the culture medium unit 2, and the moisture tension sensor 12 detects the moisture tension between the packed particles 5. The control unit 13 supplies the cultivation liquid from the supply pipe 14 to the storage unit 3 so that a drying stress suitable for the crop P is applied based on the water content in the culture medium unit 2 and the water tension between the packed particles 5. Is controlled, and the water level of the cultivation liquid in the storage part 3 is adjusted. The liquid surface height in the culture medium part 2 after capillary rise can be adjusted by raising and lowering the water level of the cultivation liquid in the storage part 3. Therefore, by adjusting the water level of the cultivation liquid in the storage unit 3 in this way, it is possible to apply a drying stress for high sugar content treatment, and to improve the taste of the crop P.

In conventional hydroponics, it was difficult to control the supply of the cultivation liquid to the crop, but in the cultivation apparatus 1, the moisture content in the culture medium part 2 and the moisture tension between the filled particles 5 are adjusted. Since the liquid level height in the culture medium part 2 after capillary rise can be adjusted based on this, it can adjust so that the supply amount of the cultivation liquid to the crop P may be decreased.

Moreover, the control part 13 is the cultivation supplied to the storage part 3 from the supply pipe | tube 14 so that the osmotic stress suitable for the crop P may be applied based on the moisture content in the culture medium part 2, and the moisture tension between the filling particles 5. Adjust the amount of salt added to the solution. Thereby, since the osmotic pressure of the cultivation liquid with respect to the root part of the crop P can be adjusted, the osmotic stress for high sugar content processing can be applied, and the taste of the crop P can be improved. In addition, when adding salinity to the cultivation liquid in this way, it is sufficient to add an amount of salinity sufficient to adjust the salinity concentration of the cultivation liquid absorbed from the root of the crop P. The amount of salt used can be reduced as compared with the case of direct addition.

Since the cultivation apparatus 1 adjusts the salinity concentration together with the water level adjustment in this way, it is possible to effectively apply moisture stress to the crop P with a smaller amount of salt addition.

[Cultivation method]
The cultivation method is a cultivation method in which a culture solution is supplied to a medium part on which a crop P is grown, and the medium part 2 includes a frame body 4 and packed particles 5 filled in the frame body 4. The cultivation liquid supply area 6 to which the cultivation liquid is supplied by capillary action is provided at least in the middle layer of the layer formed by the filler particles 5, and the cultivation liquid is supplied to the crop P through the cultivation liquid supply area 6. It is a cultivation method.

More specifically, the cultivation method includes a step of supplying the culture solution to the culture medium unit 2 by the liquid feeding unit 7 (cultivation solution supply step), and a water level of the storage unit 3 that holds the culture solution supplied to the culture medium unit 2. A step of applying drought stress to the crop P by adjusting the amount (dry stress step) and a step of applying osmotic stress to the crop P by adjusting the salinity concentration of the cultivation liquid supplied to the culture medium unit 2 (osmotic stress step). .

<Cultivation liquid supply process>
In the cultivation liquid supply step, the liquid feeding unit 7 feeds the cultivation liquid held in the storage unit 3 to the bottom of the culture medium unit 2. This cultivated liquid is supplied to the cultivated liquid supply region 6 of the culture medium part 2 by capillary action of the layer formed by the filled particles 5 in the frame body 4. Specifically, the cultivation liquid is pumped from the storage unit 3 that holds the cultivation liquid by the capillary phenomenon of the liquid feeding unit 7, and is supplied to the bottom of the filled particles 5 in the culture medium unit 2 through the root-permeable water-permeable sheet 8. . Then, the cultivated liquid fed to the bottom of the filler particles 5 is supplied to the root of the crop P through the cultivated liquid supply region 6 by the capillary phenomenon of the layer formed by the filler particles 5.

In the cultivation liquid supply process, a supply amount of cultivation liquid suitable for the crop P is added to the storage section 3 in accordance with the supply state of the cultivation liquid to the culture medium section 2. Specifically, the moisture sensor 11 and the moisture tension sensor 12 detect the amount of moisture in the culture medium part 2 and the moisture tension between the filled particles 5, and based on the detection results, the control unit 13 stores the cultivation liquid 3. Add to the supply. Thereby, the cultivation liquid can be continuously supplied to the crop P.

<Drying stress process>
In the drying stress step, the water level of the storage unit 3 that holds the cultivation liquid is adjusted according to the supply state of the cultivation liquid to the culture medium unit 2, and drying stress is applied by adjusting the water level. Specifically, the moisture sensor 11 and the moisture tension sensor 12 detect the amount of moisture in the culture medium part 2 and the moisture tension between the packed particles 5, and the controller 13 adds to the storage part 3 based on these detection results. Adjust the amount of cultivation liquid supplied. The water level of the culture solution in the storage unit 3 is adjusted by adjusting the supply amount of the culture solution to the storage unit 3. Thus, the liquid level height in the culture medium part 2 after a capillary rise is adjusted by raising and lowering the water level of the cultivation liquid in the storage part 3, and appropriate dry stress is applied to the crop P.

<Osmotic stress process>
In the osmotic stress step, the salt concentration of the culture solution supplied to the culture medium unit 2 is adjusted according to the supply state of the culture solution to the culture medium unit 2, and osmotic stress is applied by adjusting the salt concentration of the culture solution. Specifically, the moisture sensor 11 and the moisture tension sensor 12 detect the amount of moisture in the culture medium part 2 and the moisture tension between the packed particles 5, and the control unit 13 supplies the storage unit 3 based on these detection results. Adjust the amount of salt added to the cultivation solution. Thereby, the osmotic pressure of the cultivation liquid with respect to the root part of the crop P is adjusted, and an appropriate osmotic stress is applied to the crop P.

<Advantages>
Since the cultivation apparatus has a cultivation liquid supply region in which the cultivation liquid is supplied into the culture medium part by developing a capillary phenomenon in at least the middle layer part of the layer formed by the filler particles in the frame body, avoid excessive supply of the cultivation liquid. Therefore, it is possible to stably apply an appropriate water stress to the root of the crop. In addition, since the cultivation liquid supply region to which the cultivation liquid is supplied by capillary action is large in gas phase and excellent in air permeability as compared with the liquid phase, the cultivation apparatus can prevent root rot due to lack of oxygen even without an oxygen supply structure. It can be effectively suppressed.

In addition, the cultivation device only needs to fill the frame with particles such as soil in an amount that can cause capillary action in the cultivation liquid supply region, and can significantly reduce the amount of soil used compared to conventional soil cultivation. The medium part can be reduced in weight. Thereby, the said cultivation apparatus can be set as the structure which provides farmland on the scaffold formed with cheap materials, such as a resin pipe, and can adjust the height difference of farmland easily by adjustment of a scaffold.

Moreover, since the said cultivation apparatus is downward irrigation, it is water saving rather than upper irrigation. This is because the amount of water retained in the upper layer of the medium part is relatively low and evaporation is unlikely to occur. Since evaporation does not easily occur in this way, humidity management and irrigation management of the greenhouse are unlikely to interfere. In the said cultivation apparatus, since the storage tank of a storage part is water-impermeable, it is further water-saving and it can construct | assemble the completely closed cultivation apparatus without drainage. Moreover, since the loss of water due to evaporation is extremely small, the consumption of the cultivation liquid can be measured almost accurately, and the plant growth through the water absorption can be quantified. Furthermore, since the amount of evaporation from the medium part is small and the salt is eluted in the water retained in the medium part, there is an advantage that salt accumulation is less likely to occur compared to upward irrigation or capillary hydroponics. Further, it is easy to flush the culture medium part.

Moreover, the said cultivation apparatus can raise the consumption rate of the cultivation liquid hold | maintained at a culture-medium part by minimizing the amount of culture media, and the cultivation liquid in a storage part and the cultivation liquid in a culture-medium part are substantially homogeneous. It becomes. Thereby, compared with other culture medium cultivation, the influence of the change of a culture solution can also be obtained immediately, and adjustment of pH in a culture medium part etc. becomes easy.

[Second Embodiment]
The cultivation apparatus 31 shown in FIG. 2 mainly includes a medium part 32 for causing the crop P to grow and a cultivation liquid supply mechanism for supplying the cultivation liquid to the medium part 32. The culture medium portion 32 includes a frame 34, a filling particle 35 filled in the frame 34, and a cultivation liquid supply region in which the cultivation liquid is supplied to at least the middle layer of the layer formed by the filling particles 35 by capillary action. 36. The cultivation liquid supply mechanism is configured by a storage unit 33 that stores the cultivation liquid. The cultivation apparatus 31 includes a water level adjustment mechanism 38 that adjusts the water level of the cultivation liquid in the storage unit 33 and a temperature adjustment mechanism that adjusts the temperature of the cultivation liquid in the storage unit 33.

In the cultivation device 1 of the first embodiment, the storage unit 3 and the culture medium unit 2 are separated from each other, whereas the cultivation device 31 does not separate the storage unit 33 and the culture medium unit 32 from each other, and the cultivation liquid supply mechanism. However, the point which does not have a liquid feeding part differs from the cultivation apparatus 1 of 1st embodiment. In addition, since the said cultivation apparatus 31 does not have a liquid feeding part, it does not provide the root | blocking water-permeable sheet 8, the 1st waterproof sheet 9a, the 2nd waterproof sheet 9b, etc. with which the cultivation apparatus 1 is provided. Hereinafter, a different point from the cultivation apparatus 1 of 1st embodiment is demonstrated.

<Medium part>
The culture medium portion 32 includes a frame 34, a filling particle 35 filled in the frame 34, and a cultivation liquid supply region in which the cultivation liquid is supplied to at least the middle layer of the layer formed by the filling particles 35 by capillary action. 36, and is a part for causing the crop P to grow.

The frame 34 has a plurality of minute through holes formed in the bottom portion through which the cultivation liquid passes and the filler particles 35 do not pass, and is placed on a plurality of platforms 37 arranged at the bottom of the storage portion 33. ing. As for this frame 34, the bottom part is immersed in the cultivation liquid, the immersion part of the filling particles 35 becomes a cultivation liquid infiltration layer into which the cultivation liquid has invaded, and the upper part of the cultivation liquid infiltration layer of the filling particles 35 is all the cultivation liquid supply region. 36. Since the cultivation apparatus 31 tends to lack oxygen in the cultivation liquid infiltrated layer, the roots of the crop P are difficult to extend into the cultivation liquid infiltrated layer.

In addition, although it does not specifically limit as a material which comprises the part except the bottom part of the frame 34, for example, a side surface, The part other than the bottom part of the frame 4 of 1st embodiment, for example, the same material as a side surface can be used. . That is, paper, sheet-like resin, etc. which have air permeability and water permeability are mentioned. The sheet-like resin may be a woven fabric or a non-woven fabric. Among them, a porous resin film is preferable, and a porous resin film obtained by stretching a fluororesin film such as polytetrafluoroethylene is more preferable.

<Culture solution supply mechanism>
The cultivation liquid supply mechanism includes a storage unit 33 that stores the cultivation liquid.

(Reservoir)
The storage unit 33 is provided with a plurality of platforms 37 on the bottom, and the culture medium unit 32 is placed on these platforms 37. The storage unit 33 holds the culture solution at a predetermined water level, and the culture unit 32 is placed in the storage unit 33 so that the bottom of the frame 34 is immersed in the culture solution. In addition, it is preferable that the several culture medium part 32 is mounted in the one storage part 33. FIG. By placing a plurality of medium parts 32 in one storage part 33, it is possible to simultaneously and equally adjust the drying stress on the plurality of medium parts 32.

<Water level adjustment mechanism>
The water level adjustment mechanism 38 includes a water level meter 39 provided in the storage unit 33 and a control unit 40 that adjusts the supply amount of the cultivation liquid to the storage unit 33 based on the water level detected by the water level meter 39.

The water level meter 39 detects the water level of the cultivation liquid in the storage unit 33 and notifies the control unit 40 of the detection result.

The control unit 40 obtains the supply amount of the cultivation liquid to be replenished to the storage unit 33 based on the water level detected by the water level gauge 39, and supplies the cultivation liquid from the supply pipe 41. For example, the control unit 40 controls the supply amount of the cultivation liquid so that the water level in the storage unit 33 is always constant, so that the cultivation liquid can be automatically supplied and labor saving of the manager's watering work can be achieved. Can do.

Further, the water level of the storage unit 33 may be adjusted so as to apply a drying stress by controlling the amount of the cultivation liquid supplied to the storage unit 33 by the control unit 40. As above-mentioned, since the liquid level height in the culture medium part 32 after capillary rise can be adjusted by raising / lowering the water level of the cultivation liquid in the storage part 33, the supply amount of the cultivation liquid to the storage part 33 is controlled. Thus, an appropriate drought stress can be applied to the crop P.

Further, the amount of salt added to the culture solution supplied to the storage unit 33 may be adjusted by the control unit 40. Since the control unit 40 can detect the amount of the cultivation liquid retained in the storage unit 33 from the water level detected by the water level meter 39, the addition of salt that causes osmotic stress suitable for the crop P from the amount of the cultivation liquid. The amount can be determined. Thereby, since the osmotic pressure of the cultivation liquid with respect to the root part of the crop P can be adjusted, an appropriate osmotic pressure stress can be applied to the crop P. In addition, when adjusting an osmotic pressure stress, by providing the mechanism which can detect the water | moisture content in the culture medium part 32 and the moisture tension between the filling particles 35 like the cultivation apparatus 1 of 1st embodiment, more suitable osmotic pressure is provided. Can be applied.

<Temperature control mechanism>
The temperature adjustment mechanism includes, for example, a thermometer 42 that is embedded and disposed in the packed particles 35 of the medium unit 32, and a heater that is disposed in the control unit 40 and heats the cultivation liquid supplied from the control unit 40 to the storage unit 33. 43.

The inventors have found that the temperature of the culture medium part is more closely linked to the temperature of the cultivation liquid than the temperature in the greenhouse by the culture medium temperature survey described later. As a result, it has been found that the temperature of the culture medium can be adjusted more efficiently by adjusting the temperature of the cultivation liquid supplied to the culture medium than by adjusting the temperature in the greenhouse with a conventional air conditioner or the like. Based on this knowledge, the temperature adjustment mechanism is a mechanism attached to adjust the temperature in the culture medium part, and is a mechanism for adjusting the temperature of the cultivation liquid.

Based on the temperature of the culture medium part 32 detected by the thermometer 42, the control part 40 controls the heater 43 so that the temperature of the cultivation liquid supplied to the root part of the crop P becomes an appropriate temperature, and the storage part 33. While adjusting the temperature of the cultivation liquid supplied to, the cultivation liquid adjusted in temperature is supplied to the storage part 33. As described above, the temperature of the culture medium part 32 is closely linked to the temperature of the cultivation liquid, and thus the cultivation liquid supplied to the culture medium part 32 is adjusted by adjusting the temperature of the cultivation liquid supplied to the storage part 33 in this way. Thus, the temperature in the culture medium part 32 can be adjusted with high accuracy. Therefore, by providing such a temperature control mechanism, the temperature in the culture medium part 32 can be adjusted easily and effectively compared to the temperature control of the culture medium part by adjusting the temperature in the greenhouse in a conventional air conditioner or the like.

<Advantages>
Since the said cultivation apparatus does not have a liquid feeding part as a cultivation liquid supply mechanism, it can be set as a simple structure and can reduce installation cost. Moreover, since the said cultivation apparatus detects the water level of a storage part with a water level meter, it can adjust the water level of a storage part with high precision.

Moreover, the said cultivation apparatus adjusts the temperature of a culture | cultivation part by adjusting the temperature of a culture solution with a temperature control mechanism. Thereby, the said cultivation apparatus can be drive | operated at low cost compared with the temperature control of the culture medium part by the temperature control in the greenhouse in the conventional air conditioner etc., and can reduce the cultivation cost of a crop.

[Other Embodiments]
The embodiment disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is not limited to the configuration of the embodiment described above, but is defined by the scope of the claims, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the scope of the claims. The

In the first embodiment, the sheet body is used as the liquid feeding section 7, but the liquid feeding section 7 is not limited to the sheet body as long as the culture liquid in the storage section 3 can be supplied to the culture medium section 2. For example, a plate-like or cylindrical supply path connected to the storage part 3 and the culture medium part 2 may be used as the liquid feeding part 7. Moreover, you may use the structure containing what is used suitably as the said filling particle 5 as the liquid feeding part 7. FIG. In other words, for example, fine pumice such as soil, pumice sand, pulverized particles of porous volcanic rock, granular rock wool, coral sand, coral, charcoal, etc., molded into a plate or cylinder, or into a cylindrical frame A structure having a shape that does not collapse due to the passage of the cultivation liquid by filling or the like may be used, and the storage unit 3 and the bottom of the culture unit 2 may be connected via this structure.

Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the cultivation apparatus which adjusts a drying stress and an osmotic pressure stress by a control part was demonstrated, the cultivation apparatus which is not provided with a control part is also in the range which this invention intends. Even if the cultivation apparatus does not include a control unit, the cultivation solution has a region in which the cultivation solution is supplied into the medium portion by expressing capillary action in at least the middle layer of the layer formed by the filler particles in the frame. Therefore, it is possible to stably apply an appropriate water stress to the root of the crop and to effectively suppress root rot due to lack of oxygen.

In the first embodiment, the drying stress and the osmotic pressure stress applied to the crop P by the control unit 13 may be applied simultaneously, or may be applied at different timings suitable for the crop P. Moreover, the said cultivation apparatus is good also as a structure which adds only any one of a dry stress and an osmotic pressure stress.

Moreover, although said 1st embodiment demonstrated the structure provided with the water | moisture-content sensor 11 and the water | moisture-content tension sensor 12 as the water level salinity concentration adjustment mechanism 21, like the said 2nd embodiment, a water level salinity concentration adjustment mechanism is a water level meter. It is good also as a structure provided with the control part which controls the supply amount of the cultivation liquid to a storage part. For example, a water level meter is provided in the storage unit, and the amount of cultivation liquid supplied to the storage unit is adjusted based on this water level, thereby adjusting the drying stress and osmotic pressure stress applied to the crop P. When using a water level meter as the water level salinity adjusting mechanism, the detection target is visible and easy to detect and can be installed at a lower cost than when using a moisture sensor and a moisture tension sensor.

Moreover, in said 1st embodiment, although the cultivation apparatus 1 provided with the root-permeable water permeable sheet 8, the 1st waterproof sheet 9a, and the 2nd waterproof sheet 9b was demonstrated, the cultivation apparatus of a structure which is not provided with these also intends this invention. Within range.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described more specifically with reference to examples. However, the present invention is not limited to the following examples.

<Growth evaluation>
As an example, tomato seedlings were planted in a medium part filled with 4 cm of sand (80% by mass or more of sand particles having a particle size of 0.15 to 0.6 mm) in a pot frame, and the water surface height of 3 cm. The lower part of the culture medium part was immersed in a storage part holding the culture solution of and left for 2 months or longer. At this time, oxygen supply required for hydroponics was not performed, and the supply of the culture solution for maintaining the water level was continued. As a result, even after 2 months, the tomato grew without fruit rot and settled.

In the hydroponic cultivation of the comparative example, maintenance of root respiration by securing dissolved oxygen and prevention of miscellaneous germs are the most important, and a great amount of water management is required. On the other hand, in the cultivation method of the said Example, the effort of oxygen supply equipment, disinfection equipment, and moisture management can be omitted.

<Evaluation of medium amount>
In a medium part filled with 4.3 L of sand (80% by mass or more of sand particles having a particle size of 0.15 mm to 0.6 mm) in a cylindrical pot frame having a height of 30 cm having a plurality of through holes in the bottom part. A tomato seedling was planted, and test No. 1 as an example. It was set as 1 evaluation seedling. Two test Nos. About 1 evaluation seedling, the bottom part of the culture-medium part was immersed in the storage part holding the cultivation liquid of 2 cm of water surface height, and left still for 2 months. Then, high sugar content processing was implemented for one month by applying osmotic pressure stress by adding salt to the cultivation liquid, and a total of 30 fruits were harvested. About the fruit harvested by each evaluation seedling, the sugar content (Brix value) was measured and the yield conversion value (t / 1000 m ² / year) was obtained. In FIG. 3, these average yield conversion values (t / 1000 m ² / year) and average sugar content (° Bx) are shown by a bar graph and a black dot, respectively. Note that error bars in FIG. 3 indicate standard deviations.

Test No. except that the pot frame was cylindrical with a height of 25 cm. Test No. 1 as an example was carried out in the same manner as the evaluation seedling of No. 1. 2 seedlings were evaluated. Two test Nos. A total of 27 fruits were harvested for the 2 seedlings to be evaluated. Evaluation similar to 1 evaluation seedling was implemented. *

Test No. except that the pot frame was cylindrical with a height of 20 cm. Test No. 1 as an example was carried out in the same manner as the evaluation seedling of No. 1. 3 seedlings were evaluated. Two test Nos. A total of 28 fruits were harvested for the three evaluated seedlings. Evaluation similar to 1 evaluation seedling was implemented. *

Test No. as an example In No. 4, a pot frame having a height of 15 cm and a shape in which the upper part 5 cm is a columnar shape, the lower part 10 cm is erected so that the thickness direction is horizontal, and the lower part is constricted is used. The pot frame was filled with sand and planted tomato seedlings. The sand filled in the cylindrical part at the top of the pot frame was 0.5 L. One test no. About 4 evaluation seedlings, this pot frame body is mounted on the bottom of the storage part, and the cylindrical bottom position of the pot frame body is 8 cm above the water surface of the storage part holding the cultivation liquid having a water surface height of 2 cm. It arranged so that it might become a position. In this manner, the cultivation liquid was pumped to the columnar medium portion by capillary action of sand filled in a plate shape at the bottom of the pot frame. In addition, the average thickness of the plate-shaped sand with which the lower part of the pot frame was filled was 1 cm. This test No. Fourteen seedlings were harvested for the four evaluation seedlings. Evaluation similar to 1 evaluation seedling was implemented.

A tomato seedling was planted in a medium part filled with 2.2 L of sand in a cylindrical pot frame having a height of 20 cm having a plurality of through holes in the bottom part, and test No. 1 as an example. 5 seedlings were evaluated. Two test Nos. About the evaluation seedling of 5, it arrange | positioned so that the position of the bottom face of a pot frame may become a position 7 cm above the water surface of the storage part holding the cultivation liquid with a water surface height of 2 cm. And the nonwoven fabric was arrange | positioned between the bottom face of a pot frame, and the water surface of the cultivation liquid of a storage part, and the cultivation liquid was pumped to the culture-medium part by the capillary phenomenon in this nonwoven fabric. These test Nos. A total of 29 fruits were harvested for 5 evaluated seedlings. Evaluation similar to 1 evaluation seedling was implemented.

Test No. Tomato seedlings were planted using the same kind of sand as that used in No. 1 as soil, and test No. 1 as a comparative example. 6 seedlings were evaluated. 14 test Nos. About 6 evaluation seedlings, it cultivated for 3 months without performing high sugar content processing by conventional soil cultivation, and harvested a total of 195 fruits. These test Nos. For the evaluation seedling of No. 6, test No. Evaluation similar to 1 evaluation seedling was implemented.

Test No. Tomato seedlings were planted using the same kind of sand as that used in No. 1 as soil, and test No. 1 as a comparative example. 7 seedlings were evaluated. 12 test Nos. About 7 evaluation seedlings, the high sugar content process was implemented for one month from 2 months by conventional soil cultivation, and a total of 162 fruits were harvested. These test Nos. For the evaluation seedling of No. 7, test No. Evaluation similar to 1 evaluation seedling was implemented.

[Evaluation results]
From the results of FIG. 1 to Test No. 5 and the conventional soil cultivation (test No. 6) in which high sugar content treatment is not performed, test No. 5 is compared. The average sugar content of the fruit of No. 6 was 6.2 ° Bx, whereas 1 to Test No. In No. 5, it was confirmed that fruits having a high sugar content of 6.7 ° Bx to 7.5 ° Bx could be produced.

On the other hand, although the average sugar content of fruits harvested by conventional soil cultivation (Test No. 7) subjected to high sugar content treatment was as high as 7.8 ° Bx, the average yield conversion value was 12.5 t / 1000 m ² / year. And it was relatively small. In contrast, test no. 1 to Test No. The average yield conversion value in the example of 5 is 20.8 t / 1000 m ² / year or more. It was found that a yield of 1.6 times or more of 7 was obtained. From these facts, test no. 1 to Test No. It was found that the cultivation method of No. 5 can produce fruits with a high sugar content that compensates for some of the yield due to the treatment with the high sugar content treatment, that is, the crop can be cultivated with a high balance between sugar content and yield.

Test No. 1 using an ultra-small pot frame with a sand filling amount of 0.5L. The average yield conversion value in No. 4 was 21.4 t / 1000 m ² / year, and it was found that a fruit yield equivalent to that of conventional soil cultivation was obtained. In conventional soil cultivation, 42 L of sand is planted with an average of 2.75 seedlings per bed (1000 mm × 600 mm × 70 mm). That is, since conventional soil cultivation uses 15.3 L of sand per strain, test no. It can be said that the amount of sand used in conventional soil cultivation can be reduced by 96.7% by using No. 4 ultra-small pot frame.

<Agricultural land height difference evaluation>
Using the cultivation apparatus of the first embodiment, the growth state of the crop due to the difference in farmland height was evaluated. Specifically, using a 25 m long farmland 50 provided on a scaffold as shown in FIG. 4, five or six main leaves are provided at three ends of the farmland 50 in the longitudinal direction and at the center. The first pot frame body 51a, the second pot frame body 51b, and the third pot frame body 51c planted with the tomato seedlings developed are mounted. And these tomato seedlings were cultivated until the third inflorescence could be confirmed. The cultivation period is 43 days. The height in the vertical direction of each pot frame is the first pot frame 51a placed on one end side in the longitudinal direction of the farmland 50, the second pot frame 51b placed on the longitudinal center of the farmland 50, and the farmland 50. The height of the third pot frame 51c placed on the other end in the longitudinal direction was higher in order, and the height difference between the first pot frame 51a and the third pot frame 51c was about 3 cm.

Regarding the tomato seedlings planted in the above three pot frame bodies: the first pot frame body 51a, the second pot frame body 51b, and the third pot frame body 51c, there is no difference in growth due to the difference in the placement location in the farmland 50. It was. Thereby, it has confirmed that a tomato seedling could be cultivated by the said cultivation method with equivalent quality, even when there is a certain level difference.

<Medium temperature survey>
Using the cultivation apparatus 1 of the first embodiment, the temperature in the greenhouse, the temperature of the medium part 2 and the temperature of the cultivation liquid in the storage part 3 are measured, and the temperature of the medium part 2 and the temperature in the greenhouse and the storage part 3 are measured. The relationship with the temperature of the cultivation liquid was investigated. A tomato seedling is cultivated using the cultivation apparatus 1, and the time-dependent change of these temperatures in 5.5 days just before a harvest is shown in FIG.

From the results of FIG. 5, it was found that the temperature of the culture medium part 2 is more closely linked to the temperature of the cultivation liquid than the temperature in the greenhouse. Therefore, it can be said that adjusting the temperature of the cultivation liquid supplied to the culture medium unit 2 by the cultivation apparatus 1 in FIG. 1 makes it easier to adjust the culture medium temperature than adjusting the temperature in the greenhouse using a conventional air conditioner or the like.

As described above, according to the cultivation apparatus and cultivation method of the present invention, it is possible to stably apply an appropriate water stress to the crop, and supply sufficient oxygen to the root of the crop at low cost to avoid root rot. Therefore, high quality crops can be cultivated at low cost. Moreover, according to the cultivation apparatus and cultivation method of this invention, the usage-amount of soil can be reduced compared with soil cultivation, and it is easy to provide a scaffold in farmland.

Claims (11)

1. A medium section for growing crops;
   A cultivation apparatus provided with a cultivation liquid supply mechanism for supplying a cultivation liquid to the medium part,
   The cultivation apparatus in which the culture medium part has a frame, particles filled in the frame, and a region where the cultivation liquid is supplied to at least a middle layer of a layer formed by the filled particles by capillary action.
2. The culture solution supply mechanism includes a storage unit that stores the culture solution, and a liquid feeding unit that is disposed between the medium unit and the storage unit.
   The cultivation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the liquid feeding section supplies the cultivation liquid in the storage section to the bottom of the particles in the medium section by capillary action.
3. The cultivation apparatus according to claim 2, comprising a mechanism for adjusting a water level or a salinity concentration of the cultivation liquid in the storage unit.
4. The cultivation apparatus of Claim 2 or Claim 3 provided with the temperature adjustment mechanism which adjusts the temperature of the cultivation liquid in the said storage part.
5. The cultivation apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein at least a bottom portion of the frame body is a root-permeable water-permeable sheet.
6. The cultivation apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the particles are soil.
7. The cultivation apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the soil is sand.
8. The cultivation apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein a height of the capillary rise of the layer formed by the filled particles is 3 cm or more and 300 cm or less.
9. The cultivation apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the particles include 50% by mass or more of a single particle having a particle size of 0.1 mm to 1 mm.
10. The cultivation apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein a tap density of the particles is 1.00 g / cm ³ or more and 3.00 g / cm ³ or less.
11. A cultivation method for supplying a culture solution to a medium part on which a crop is grown,
    The medium part has a frame, particles filled in the frame, and a region in which the cultivation liquid is supplied by capillary action to at least a middle layer of the layer formed by the filled particles,
    A cultivation method for supplying a cultivation liquid to a crop through the region.

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