Cultivation system, cultivation method, and program

Abstract

To provide a technique capable of cultivating crop plants with a large dissolved oxygen demand.SOLUTION: A cultivation system has: a plurality of unit cultivation tanks 2a in which, in order to cultivate crop plants 51 which demands oxygen and whose roots 51b are submerged, water of a first water level WP1 for submerging the crop plants and the roots is present; pumps 3 which are arranged by each of the plurality of unit cultivation tanks 2a, and move water to other unit cultivation tanks 2a; and a controller 1 which executes control regarding cultivation of the crop plants 51. The controller 1 comprises a water replacement control part 111 which controls drive of the plurality of pumps 3 to perform mutual replacement of water such that, in each of the plurality of unit cultivation tanks 2a, water returns from the first water level WP1 to the first water level WP1 after passing through a second water level WP2 at which the roots 51b are exposed and oxygen in air can be supplied, and so as to increase a dissolved oxygen amount.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a cultivation system, a cultivation method, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] A conventional hydroponic cultivation device is configured to keep the water level of the culture solution inside the device constant when cultivating crops (see, for example, Patent Document 1 below). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2019-165644 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the conventional technology, the water level of the culture solution in the hydroponic cultivation device is kept constant, and the culture solution is circulated, but this technology is not sufficient when cultivating crops that have a high dissolved oxygen requirement.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a technique that makes it possible to cultivate crops that have a high dissolved oxygen requirement. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, a cultivation system according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises: A plurality of unit cultivation tanks each containing a crop that requires oxygen and has its roots submerged, and a first water level in which the crop and the roots are submerged; A pump arranged for each of the plurality of unit cultivation tanks to move the water to other unit cultivation tanks; A control device that executes control related to the cultivation of the crop; A cultivation system having The control device includes: The device is provided with a water exchange control means for controlling the operation of the plurality of pumps to exchange the water in each of the plurality of unit cultivation tanks from the first water level, through a second water level at which the roots are exposed and oxygen from the air can be supplied, and then back to the first water level, so as to increase the amount of dissolved oxygen.

[0007] A cultivation method and a program according to one aspect of the present invention are methods and programs corresponding to a cultivation system according to one aspect of the present invention. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, a technique is provided that makes it possible to cultivate crops that have a high dissolved oxygen demand. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overview of services that can be realized by the cultivation system of the present invention. [Diagram 2] 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a cultivation system of the present invention and an example of the functional configuration of a control device. [Diagram 3] 3 is a block diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of a control device in the cultivation system of FIG. 2. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing state transitions related to control by the control device of the cultivation system of this embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a cultivation system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] 6 is a diagram showing an example of a cultivation tank and a pump in the cultivation system of FIG. 5. [Figure 7] 6 is a diagram showing an example of a state in which a crop to be cultivated is held by a lid body in the cultivation system of FIG. 5. FIG. [Figure 8] This figure shows an example of the effect of year-round strawberry harvesting and cultivation methods. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] First, an overview of services that can be realized by the cultivation system of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overview of a service that can be realized by the cultivation system of the present invention (hereinafter, referred to as "this service").

[0011] This service allows users to grow crops that have a high dissolved oxygen requirement indoors and harvest them themselves, or allows users to gather customers and let them experience harvesting the crops. In addition, the cultivation system that provides this service realizes efficient cultivation of crops and enables crop cultivation and harvesting throughout the year.

[0012] The above-mentioned "crops with high dissolved oxygen demand" are crops that can be grown hydroponically, such as root vegetables, strawberries, ginseng, and crops of the Allium family. Additionally, crops such as those from the Cannabaceae family, Asteraceae family, and herbs are also listed as "crops with high dissolved oxygen demands."

[0013] The above-mentioned "indoors" includes, for example, the inside of lodging facilities such as hotels and inns, and the inside of large commercial facilities, etc. Also included are the inside of gymnasiums, community centers, assembly halls, etc. In addition, the environment may be a room in a building such as a building, or a room in a building dedicated to cultivation. There are no particular limitations as long as the environment is suitable for hydroponic cultivation.

[0014] The following explanation will be given using hydroponic cultivation of strawberries as an example. For example, Hotel H has installed a strawberry growing system so that guests and other visitors can enjoy strawberry picking all year round.

[0015] The cultivation system allows hotel guests and other visitors to pick (harvest) and taste various varieties of strawberries 51a (for convenience, this refers to the achenes and flowering parts) grown in the cultivation system. Through the experience of picking and tasting Strawberry 51a, guests and other visitors become repeat customers of Hotel H. Additionally, guests and other visitors come from a wide range of ages, all of whom want to experience picking and tasting strawberries 51a.

[0016] The cultivation system has a configuration that enables the cultivation and harvesting of strawberries 51a throughout the year. In other words, the cultivation system has a configuration that enables the cultivation and harvesting of various varieties of strawberries 51a regardless of the season.

[0017] In order to enable the cultivation and harvesting of such strawberries 51a, the cultivation system providing this service is configured to include a control device 1, a cultivation tank 2, a pump 3, a water level sensor 4, and a timing device 5 (see Figure 2). The cultivation system further includes a cultivation rack 6, an irradiation device 7, and an intermittent refrigeration treatment device and a short-day treatment device (not shown).

[0018] The cultivation tank 2 has, for example, two unit cultivation tanks 2a, 2a and a cover body 2b. The two unit cultivation tanks 2a, 2a are arranged next to each other in the short side direction. Moreover, the cultivation tank 2 is formed so that the crops 51 (strawberries) can be appropriately arranged and cultivated in the longitudinal direction of the two unit cultivation tanks 2a, 2a.

[0019] The two unit cultivation tanks 2a, 2a are formed in a shape capable of storing water (symbol omitted; in this specification, the culture solution is sometimes referred to as water) at a first water level WP1 in which the roots 51b of the crop 51 (strawberries) are submerged, in order to cultivate the crop 51 which requires oxygen and has its roots 51b submerged.

[0020] A pump 3 and a water level sensor 4 are disposed in each of the two unit cultivation tanks 2a, 2a. A plurality of pumps 3 are provided to move the water from one of the two unit cultivation tanks 2a to the other and from the other to the other. The driving of each of the plurality of pumps 3 is controlled by the control device 1. A plurality of water level sensors 4 are provided to detect a first water level WP1 and a second water level WP2 for exposing the roots 51b to air. Detection signals from the plurality of water level sensors 4 are transmitted to the control device 1, respectively.

[0021] The control device 1 has a function of controlling the driving of each of the plurality of pumps 3 to perform the above-mentioned water exchange. Specifically, the control device 1 has a function of, for example, performing water exchange in each of the two unit cultivation tanks 2a, 2a so that the water level moves from a first water level WP1 to a second water level WP2 at which the roots 51b are exposed and oxygen from the air can be supplied, and then back to the first water level WP1, and so that the amount of dissolved oxygen is increased.

[0022] The cultivation rack 6 has a plurality of shelves for arranging the cultivation tanks 2 in multiple tiers in the vertical direction. The irradiation device 7 serves as a substitute for sunlight and is disposed above the cultivation tank 2. The irradiation device 7 is controlled to be turned on and off by the control device 1. The irradiation device 7 is attached so that the distance from the cultivation tank 2 can be adjusted (the irradiation device 7 is attached so that the light intensity can be adjusted).

[0023] According to the above-described cultivation system, it is possible to increase the amount of dissolved oxygen in the water in the cultivation tank 2, so that crops that have a high dissolved oxygen requirement can be cultivated indoors. In addition, according to the cultivation system, when water is exchanged, the roots 51b are exposed to allow oxygen from the air to be supplied, so that even crops 51 that have a high dissolved oxygen requirement and for which dissolved oxygen alone is insufficient can be cultivated indoors. Moreover, according to the cultivation system, since the irradiation device 7 is provided, the crops 51 can be cultivated even indoors where there is no sunlight.

[0024] Furthermore, according to the cultivation system, since the cultivation tanks 2 are arranged in multiple stages in the vertical direction, it is possible to realize efficient cultivation of the crops 51 per unit space. In addition, according to the cultivation system, it is possible to increase the amount of dissolved oxygen in the water in the cultivation tank 2, which makes it easier to prevent the proliferation of pathogenic bacteria in the culture solution and allows cultivation without the use of pesticides. In other words, it is easier to increase aerobic bacteria, which increases the possibility of being useful for organic cultivation.

[0025] Next, an example of the configuration of the cultivation system will be described. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the cultivation system of the present invention and an example of the functional configuration of the control device.

[0026] The cultivation system shown in Figure 2 is configured to include a control device 1, a cultivation tank 2, multiple pumps 3, multiple water level sensors 4, a timing device 5, a cultivation rack 6 (see Figure 1), an irradiation device 7, and an intermittent refrigeration treatment device and a short-day treatment device (not shown). The control device 1, multiple pumps 3, multiple water level sensors 4, timing device 5, and irradiation device 7 are connected to each other by wiring here, but may also be connected to each other via a network such as the Internet. Although not specifically shown, the cultivation system also includes various sensors for detecting the humidity and temperature within the building in which the system is installed.

[0027] The control device 1 is an information processing device managed by a service provider (not shown) of this service (FIG. 1). Specifically, the control device 1 is remotely managed (as an example) by a server managed by the service provider via a network. The control device 1 executes various processes for realizing this service while appropriately communicating with a plurality of pumps 3, a plurality of water level sensors 4, a timing device 5, and the like.

[0028] The cultivation tank 2 has, for example, two unit cultivation tanks 2a, 2a. The two unit cultivation tanks 2a, 2a are arranged next to each other in the short side direction. The two unit cultivation tanks 2a, 2a are water tanks capable of storing water (culture solution) at least up to a predetermined water level.

[0029] The driving of each of the multiple pumps 3 is controlled by the control device 1. At least one of the multiple pumps 3 is installed in one of the two unit cultivation tanks 2a, 2a, and moves the water (culture solution) in this one unit cultivation tank 2a to the other unit cultivation tank 2a. The pump 3 installed in the other unit cultivation tank 2a moves the water (culture solution) in the other unit cultivation tank 2a to one unit cultivation tank 2a. Each of the plurality of pumps 3 has a pump body 3a having a pump function and a pipe 3b connected to the pump body 3a. The plurality of pumps 3 are each driven under the control of the control device 1 to change the water levels in the two unit cultivation tanks 2a, 2a.

[0030] A plurality of water level sensors 4 are provided to detect the water levels in the two unit cultivation tanks 2a, 2a, respectively. The water level sensors 4 are arranged at predetermined positions in the two unit cultivation tanks 2a, 2a in order to detect at least the first water level WP1 and the second water level WP2 (in FIG. 2, the water level sensors 4 are arranged at positions to detect the first water level WP1, but in reality, they are also arranged at positions to detect the second water level WP2). The water level sensors 4 each transmit a detection signal indicating the detected water level to the control device 1.

[0031] The first water level WP1 is set at a position where the roots 51b (see FIG. 1) are submerged, whereas the second water level WP2 is set at a position where the roots 51b are exposed to air.

[0032] The timing device 5 is a device that measures time, and is connected to the control device 1. The timing device 5 is used, for example, when the control device 1 executes control (described later) for setting an interval at which the driving of the multiple pumps 3 is stopped for a predetermined period of time.

[0033] The irradiation device 7 is controlled to be turned on and off by the control device 1. The irradiation device 7 serves as a substitute for sunlight, and is disposed above the cultivation tank 2. As the irradiation device 7, for example, an LED lighting device is adopted in this embodiment. The cultivation rack 6 will be described later with reference to FIG.

[0034] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of a control device in the cultivation system of FIG.

[0035] The control device 1 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 12, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 13, a bus 14, an input / output interface 15, an input section 16, an output section 17, a memory section 18, a communication section 19, and a drive 20.

[0036] The CPU 11 executes various processes according to a program recorded in the ROM 12 or a program loaded from the storage unit 18 into the RAM 13 . The RAM 13 also stores data and the like necessary for the CPU 11 to execute various processes.

[0037] The CPU 11, ROM 12, and RAM 13 are connected to one another via a bus 14. An input / output interface 15 is also connected to this bus 14. An input unit 16, an output unit 17, a storage unit 18, a communication unit 19, and a drive 20 are connected to the input / output interface 15.

[0038] The input unit 16 is configured with, for example, a keyboard and is used to input various information. The output unit 17 is configured with a display such as a liquid crystal display, a speaker, and the like, and outputs various information as images and sounds. The storage unit 18 is configured with a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) or the like, and stores various data. The communication unit 19 communicates with other devices via a network including the Internet.

[0039] Removable media 30, such as a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, or a semiconductor memory, is appropriately loaded into the drive 20. A program read from the removable media 30 by the drive 20 is installed in the storage unit 18 as necessary. Furthermore, the removable medium 30 can also store various data stored in the storage unit 18 in the same manner as the storage unit 18 .

[0040] Various processes for providing the present service in FIG. 1 can be executed by cooperation of various hardware and software constituting the cultivation system in FIG. 2 including the control device 1 in FIG.

[0041] Returning to FIG. 2, an example of the functional configuration of the control device 1 will be described. In the CPU 11 (see FIG. 3) of the control device 1, a water replacement control unit 111 and an irradiation control unit 112 function.

[0042] The water exchange control unit 111 controls the driving of the multiple pumps 3 to exchange the water with each other. Specifically, the water exchange control unit 111 controls the operation of multiple pumps 3 to exchange water in each of the two unit cultivation tanks 2a, 2a so that the water level moves from a first water level WP1 to a second water level WP2 at which the roots 51b (see Figure 1) are exposed and oxygen from the air can be supplied, and then back to the first water level WP1, while increasing the amount of dissolved oxygen.

[0043] The water replacement control unit 111 acquires detection signals from the multiple water level sensors 4, a signal from the timing device 5, and the like in order to control the operation of the multiple pumps 3. In addition, the water exchange control unit 111 controls the operation of the multiple pumps 3 as described above to repeatedly exchange water between the two unit cultivation tanks 2a, 2a, and after this repetition, further executes control to provide an interval to stop the operation of the multiple pumps 3 for a predetermined period of time.

[0044] The interval is provided in order to expose every corner of the roots 51b (see FIG. 1) to air (expose to oxygen) and allow the roots to absorb oxygen. The interval time is, for example, about 300 seconds for a long cultivation tank 2 (unit cultivation tank 2a is 12 cm deep (water level 10 cm) x 10 cm wide x 700 cm long) as described below and shown in Figures 5 to 7 (however, the time will vary depending on the humidity and temperature inside Hotel H, the strength of pump 3 (flow rate), fertilizer concentration, etc.).

[0045] The water replacement control unit 111 controls the operation of multiple pumps 3 to repeatedly fill the roots 51b (see Figure 1) with water (to wet the roots 51b) and, conversely, drain the water, in order to keep the roots 51b (see Figure 1) wet without drying them out.

[0046] The irradiation control unit 112 controls at least one of the irradiation time and the irradiation amount for the multiple irradiation devices 7.

[0047] Next, state transitions related to the control by the control device 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing state transitions related to the control by the control device of the cultivation system of this embodiment.

[0048] In FIG. 4, the control executed by the control device 1 includes a steady-state control S1 and an interrupt control S2. In the steady-state control S1, a first steady-state control S11 related to the water replacement process and a second steady-state control S12 related to the interval process are executed. In response to this, in the interrupt control S2, a first interrupt control S21 related to the intermittent refrigeration process and a second interrupt control S22 related to the short-day process are executed. Incidentally, the interrupt control S2 is useful control since it leads to year-round harvesting of the crop 51 (strawberries).

[0049] A state transition from one processing state to another processing state is executed when a predetermined condition (hereinafter, referred to as a "state transition condition") is satisfied. In addition, in FIG. 4, the state transition conditions are indicated by adding a symbol including a "J" to an arrow indicating a transition from one processing state to another processing state.

[0050] In the first steady-state control S11 for the water exchange process in the steady-state control S1, the water exchange control unit 111 controls the operation of the multiple pumps 3 to cause each of the two unit cultivation tanks 2a, 2a to go from the first water level WP1 to the second water level WP2 at which the roots 51b (see FIG. 1) are exposed and oxygen from the air can be supplied, and then return to the first water level WP1. The state transition condition J11 is satisfied by the first steady-state control S11 for the water exchange process. Then, when the state transition condition J11 is satisfied, the state transitions from the first steady control S11 related to the water replacement process to the second steady control S12 related to the interval process, thereby satisfying the state transition condition J12.

[0051] In the second steady-state control S12 for interval processing, the water replacement control unit 111 stops for a predetermined time the operation of the plurality of pumps 3. Then, when the operation of the plurality of pumps 3 has been stopped for the predetermined time, the state transition condition J13 is satisfied, and the state transitions from the second steady-state control S12 for interval processing to the first steady-state control S11 for water replacement processing.

[0052] On the other hand, in the interrupt control S2, when the state transition condition J21 is satisfied, the state transitions from the steady control S1 to the first interrupt control S21 related to the intermittent refrigeration process. In the intermittent refrigeration process, crops 51 (strawberries) in a state of hydroponic cultivation are placed in a container filled with water and delivered to a refrigerator. In this embodiment, the temperature inside the refrigerator is set to 10°C and the refrigerator is left standing for 72 hours. No light is required during this time. After the 72 hours of standing, the crops 51 in a state of hydroponic cultivation are removed from the refrigerator and container and returned to their original cultivation location. When the crops 51 in the hydroponic state are returned to their original cultivation location, the state transitions from the first interrupt control S21 related to the intermittent refrigeration process to the steady state control S1, thereby satisfying the state transition condition J22.

[0053] On the other hand, in the interrupt control S3, when a state transition condition J23 is satisfied, the state transitions from the steady control S1 to a second interrupt control S22 related to the short-day processing. In the short-day treatment, the irradiation time by the multiple irradiation devices 7 is set to 10 hours. That is, the light period is set to 10 hours and the dark period is set to 14 hours. When the irradiation time is set, the state transitions from the second interrupt control S22 related to the short-day treatment to the steady-state control S1, thereby satisfying the state transition condition J24.

[0054] In the hydroponic cultivation of crop 51 (strawberries), the dissolved oxygen requirement is high, so hydroponic cultivation methods for other crops often do not work well. Also, although the stems and leaves of crop 51 (strawberries) grow, whether the fruit (strawberries 51a) can be harvested all year round is another matter. Since the fruit develops from flowers, an operation method that satisfies the conditions for flowering (flower bud formation) is required. Crop 51 (strawberries) can be broadly divided into two types: everbearing strawberries and one-season strawberries. Most strawberries are the latter, one-season strawberries, which only flower in one season (spring) in the natural environment. Flower bud formation is influenced by temperature, light, and fertilizer concentration (nitrogen content), but in order to harvest fruit all year round, it is necessary to adjust the temperature, light, and fertilizer concentration (nitrogen content) to allow flower bud formation all year round. The cultivation system of this embodiment is capable of forming flower buds all year round, thereby enabling cultivation of the crop 51 (strawberries) and harvesting of the crop 51 all year round. By combining the above-mentioned intermittent chilling treatment and short-day treatment, it is possible to further promote flower bud formation. For this promotion, it is effective to repeat the intermittent chilling treatment several times, such as placing the plants in a refrigerator or other environment at around 10°C for 48 hours or more.

[0055] Next, the cultivation system of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the cultivation system of this embodiment. Fig. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a cultivation tank and a pump in the cultivation system of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a state in which a crop to be cultivated (a hydroponic crop 51) is held on a lid in the cultivation system of Fig. 5.

[0056] In Figures 5 to 7, the cultivation system includes a control device 1 (see Figure 1), a cultivation tank 2, multiple pumps 3, multiple water level sensors 4 (see Figure 2), a timing device 5 (see Figure 2), a cultivation rack 6, an irradiation device 7, and an intermittent refrigeration treatment device and a short-day treatment device (not shown).

[0057] The cultivation tank 2 is configured to include two unit cultivation tanks 2a, 2a and a plurality of lid bodies 2b. The number of unit cultivation tanks 2a, 2a is not limited to two, but in this embodiment, they are arranged side by side in the short direction of the unit cultivation tanks 2a, 2a. As for the size, as described above, the unit cultivation tank 2a has a depth of 12 cm (water level 10 cm) × width of 10 cm × length of 700 cm.

[0058] The plurality of lid bodies 2b are arranged in a line in the longitudinal direction of the two unit cultivation tanks 2a, 2a. The plurality of lid bodies 2b are formed in a shape that covers the upper opening so as to straddle the two unit cultivation tanks 2a, 2a. A plurality of circular through holes (reference numbers omitted) are formed in the plurality of lid bodies 2b. The plurality of through holes are formed to match the diameter of the pot 52 used when cultivating the crop 51 (strawberries). The plurality of through holes are arranged, for example, in a staggered pattern.

[0059] Each of the multiple pumps 3 includes a pump body 3a and a pipe 3b. The pump body 3a has a pump function and is disposed at the bottom of the unit cultivation tank 2a. One end of the pipe 3b is connected to the pump body 3a, and the other end is disposed on the side of the upper opening of a unit cultivation tank 2a other than (adjacent to) the unit cultivation tank 2a in which the pump body 3a is disposed. The other end of the pipe 3b is disposed in a position not to come into contact with the water stored in the unit cultivation tank 2a.

[0060] For example, by disposing the other end of the pipe 3b as in this embodiment, the water drained from the other end falls on the water surface in the unit cultivation tank 2a. That is, it is particularly effective in terms of increasing the amount of dissolved oxygen, preventing water stagnation, and distributing fertilizer. Regarding the distribution of fertilizer, oxygen and fertilizer present in the water are absorbed by the roots 51b, but if the water has poor fluidity and is stagnant, when considering the distribution of oxygen and fertilizer in the entire water, they will be thin near the roots 51b and thick elsewhere, resulting in bias. With the cultivation system of this embodiment, instead of simply moving water, the fertilizer can be mixed overall, just like oxygen, so that the bias can be minimized. In other words, water stagnation can be eliminated. In addition, since an environment with a lot of oxygen can be created, it is possible to slow down the growth rate of bacteria or eliminate them, and as a result, it is possible to affect the density of bacteria that cause diseases.

[0061] The cultivation rack 6 is composed of multiple posts 6a extending vertically (up and down) from the floor, a shelf 6b parallel to the floor, and multiple shelves 6c arranged vertically at predetermined intervals from the shelf 6b. In this embodiment, the cultivation rack 6 is assembled so that the cultivation tanks 2 can be arranged in four stages in the vertical direction. In the case of FIG. 1, the control device 1 is disposed at the end of the bottom shelf 6b (this is an example and is not limiting). The cultivation tanks 2 are placed on the bottom shelf 6b and on the multiple shelves 6c above it. In addition, the irradiation devices 7 are attached below each of the multiple shelves 6c. That is, the irradiation devices 7 are also attached in multiple stages, similar to the cultivation tanks 2. The irradiation devices 7 are attached so that the distance from the cultivation tank 2 can be adjusted (the irradiation devices 7 are attached so that the light intensity can be adjusted). It is preferable that the cultivation rack 6 be made movable by providing casters or the like at the ends of the multiple supports 6a.

[0062] The intermittent refrigeration processing device (not shown) is a device related to the above-mentioned intermittent refrigeration processing, and is configured to include a refrigerator and the like. The short-day treatment device is an apparatus relating to the above-mentioned short-day treatment, and includes an irradiation device 7.

[0063] Next, the effects of the year-round strawberry harvesting and cultivation method will be explained with reference to Figure 8. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the effect of a year-round strawberry harvesting and cultivation method.

[0064] As shown in Figure 8, the year-round strawberry harvesting and cultivation method requires three elements: a hydroponic cultivation device, multi-stage cultivation, and an operation method for harvesting fruit all year round. This allows for efficient year-round cultivation and harvesting.

[0065] That is, the cultivation system described in this embodiment is effective in the "hydroponic cultivation device." The cultivation system is an intermittent hydroponic cultivation system that is necessary for cultivating crops 51 (e.g. strawberries) that require a large amount of dissolved oxygen, because the water exchange control unit 111 of the control device 1 controls the driving of the multiple pumps 3 to exchange water in each of the two unit cultivation tanks 2a, 2a from the first water level WP1 through the second water level WP2 at which the roots 51b are exposed and oxygen in the air can be supplied, and then back to the first water level WP1, and the amount of dissolved oxygen is increased. In addition, the cultivation system can increase the amount of dissolved oxygen in the water in the cultivation tank 2, which makes it easier to prevent the proliferation of pathogenic bacteria in the culture solution and allows cultivation without the use of pesticides. In other words, it is effective because it can easily increase aerobic bacteria and increase the possibility of being useful for organic cultivation.

[0066] Furthermore, in "multi-tiered cultivation," since the cultivation system described in this embodiment arranges the cultivation tanks 2 in multiple tiers in the vertical direction, efficient cultivation of crops 51 (e.g., strawberries) per unit space (per unit area) can be achieved.

[0067] Furthermore, in the "operational method for harvesting fruit all year round", the intermittent refrigeration process described in this embodiment contributes to the crops 51 bearing fruit, since hydroponic crops 51 (e.g. strawberries) are placed in containers filled with water and delivered to a refrigerator. In addition, the short-day treatment described in this embodiment, for example, by setting the light period to 10 hours and the dark period to 14 hours, lengthens and darkens the dark period, which contributes to the crop 51 bearing fruit.

[0068] Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and modifications, improvements, etc. within the scope that can achieve the object of the present invention are considered to be included in the present invention.

[0069] Furthermore, the system configuration shown in FIG. 2 and the hardware configuration of the control device 1 shown in FIG. 3 are merely examples for achieving the object of the present invention, and are not particularly limited.

[0070] In addition, the functional block diagram shown in Fig. 2 is merely an example and is not particularly limited. In other words, it is sufficient that the cultivation system in Fig. 2 is provided with a function capable of executing the above-mentioned various processes as a whole, and the functional blocks and databases used to realize this function are not particularly limited to the example in Fig. 2.

[0071] Furthermore, the locations of the functional blocks and databases are not limited to those shown in FIG. 2 and may be arbitrary. For example, at least a part of the functional blocks and databases arranged on the control device 1 side may be provided in a server managed by a service provider or in another information processing device (not shown).

[0072] Furthermore, the above-described series of processes can be executed by hardware or software. Furthermore, one functional block may be configured as a single piece of hardware, a single piece of software, or a combination of both.

[0073] When the series of processes is executed by software, the program constituting the software is installed into a computer or the like from a network or a recording medium. The computer may be a computer implemented with dedicated hardware. Furthermore, the computer may be a computer capable of executing various functions by installing various programs thereon, such as a server, a general-purpose smartphone, or a personal computer.

[0074] A recording medium containing such a program may be composed not only of a removable medium (not shown) that is distributed separately from the device body in order to provide the program to the user, but also of a recording medium that is provided to the user in a pre-installed state in the device body.

[0075] In this specification, the steps of describing a program to be recorded on a recording medium include not only processes that are performed chronologically according to the order, but also processes that are not necessarily performed chronologically but are executed in parallel or individually.

[0076] To summarise the above, the cultivation system to which the present invention is applied is sufficient as long as it has the following configuration, and can take on a variety of different forms. That is, the cultivation system to which the present invention is applied (for example, the cultivation system of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2) is A plurality of unit cultivation tanks (e.g., unit cultivation tanks 2a, 2a in FIG. 1) each containing a crop (e.g., crop 51 in FIG. 1) that requires oxygen and has its roots (e.g., roots 51b in FIG. 1) submerged, and water of a first water level (e.g., first water level WP1 in FIG. 1) in which the crop and the roots are submerged, are present; A pump (e.g., pump 3 in FIG. 1) arranged for each of the plurality of unit cultivation tanks to move the water to other unit cultivation tanks; A control device (e.g., the control device 1 in FIG. 1 ) that executes control related to the cultivation of the crop; A cultivation system having The control device includes: A water exchange control means (e.g., water exchange control unit 111 in FIG. 2) that controls the operation of the plurality of pumps to exchange the water in each of the plurality of unit cultivation tanks from the first water level through a second water level (e.g., the second water level WP2 in FIG. 1) at which the roots are exposed and oxygen in the air can be supplied, and then returns to the first water level and increases the amount of dissolved oxygen. It will be enough if you have this.

[0077] This has the effect of providing a technique that makes it possible to cultivate crops that have a high dissolved oxygen demand.

[0078] In addition, the cultivation system to which the present invention is applied (for example, the cultivation system of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2) is A plurality of water level sensors (e.g., water level sensor 4 in FIG. 2) arranged in each of the plurality of unit cultivation tanks to detect the water level; A timing device (e.g., timing device 5 in FIG. 2 ); Further equipped with The water replacement control means may control the operation of the pumps based on the detection results of the water level sensors and the time measurement results of the timing device.

[0079] This has the effect of contributing to the cultivation of crops that have a high dissolved oxygen demand.

[0080] In addition, the cultivation system to which the present invention is applied (for example, the cultivation system of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2) is The water exchange control means includes: The operation of the plurality of pumps is controlled to repeatedly exchange the water in the plurality of unit cultivation tanks; After the repetition, a control may be further executed to provide an interval during which the driving of the plurality of pumps is stopped for a predetermined period of time.

[0081] This has the effect of contributing to the cultivation of crops that have a high dissolved oxygen demand.

[0082] In addition, the cultivation system to which the present invention is applied (for example, the cultivation system of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2) is The plurality of unit cultivation tanks are arranged in a plurality of stages in the vertical direction (for example, a multi-stage arrangement as shown in FIG. 5 ), Each of the plurality of stages further includes a plurality of irradiation devices (e.g., the irradiation device 7 in FIG. 1) for irradiating the crops present in the unit cultivation tank; The control device further includes an irradiation control unit (e.g., the irradiation control unit 112 in FIG. 2) that controls at least one of an irradiation time and an irradiation amount for the plurality of irradiation devices; It would be sufficient to further include the above.

[0083] This has the effect of enabling efficient cultivation per unit area to be achieved.

[0084] The cultivation method to which the present invention is applied is as follows: A plurality of unit cultivation tanks each containing a crop that requires dissolved oxygen contained in water and water that directly supplies the dissolved oxygen to the roots of the crop, for cultivating the crop; A pump arranged for each of the plurality of unit cultivation tanks to move the water to other unit cultivation tanks; A control device that executes control related to the cultivation of the crop; A method for cultivating the crop, the method being carried out by a cultivation system having a water exchange control step of exchanging the water in each of the plurality of unit cultivation tanks by controlling the operation of the plurality of pumps so that the water level changes from a first water level to a second water level at which the roots are exposed and oxygen in the air can be supplied, and then returns to the first water level, and so that the amount of dissolved oxygen is increased; Including the above.

[0085] This has the effect of providing a technique that makes it possible to cultivate crops that have a high dissolved oxygen demand.

[0086] In addition, the cultivation method to which the present invention is applied is as follows: an intermittent temperature control step of removing the crops from each of the plurality of unit cultivation tanks, keeping the crops at a temperature equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature for a predetermined time, and returning the crops to the plurality of unit cultivation tanks after the predetermined time has elapsed, the step being repeated a predetermined number of times; It is sufficient to further include the above.

[0087] This has the effect of enabling the fruit to be harvested all year round.

[0088] In addition, the cultivation method to which the present invention is applied is as follows: The crop is a short-day plant, and a short-day treatment step is performed to maintain the light intensity of the environment in which the plurality of unit cultivation tanks are placed constant for a predetermined period of time in order to cause the crop to bear fruit; It is sufficient to further include the above.

[0089] This has the effect of enabling the fruit to be harvested all year round.

[0090] The program to which the present invention is applied is A plurality of unit cultivation tanks each containing a crop that requires dissolved oxygen contained in water and water that directly supplies the dissolved oxygen to the roots of the crop, for cultivating the crop; A pump arranged for each of the plurality of unit cultivation tanks to move the water to other unit cultivation tanks; A control device that executes control related to the cultivation of the crop; In the cultivation system having the above, a computer for controlling the control device is provided. A water exchange control step of exchanging the water in each of the plurality of unit cultivation tanks by controlling the operation of the plurality of pumps so that the water level changes from a first water level to a second water level at which the roots are exposed and oxygen in the air can be supplied, and then returns to the first water level, and so that the amount of dissolved oxygen is increased. The control process may be performed as follows.

[0091] This has the effect of providing a technique that makes it possible to cultivate crops that have a high dissolved oxygen demand. [Explanation of symbols]

[0092] 1···control device, 2···cultivation tank, 2a···unit cultivation tank, 3···pump, 4···water level sensor, 5···timing device, 6···cultivation rack, 7···irradiation device, 11···CPU, 51···crop, 51a···strawberry, 51b···root, 111···water exchange control unit, 112···irradiation control unit, WP1···first water level, WP2···second water level

Claims

1. A plurality of unit cultivation tanks each containing a crop that requires oxygen and has its roots submerged, and a first water level in which the crop and the roots are submerged; A pump arranged for each of the plurality of unit cultivation tanks to move the water to other unit cultivation tanks; A control device that executes control related to the cultivation of the crop; A cultivation system having The control device includes: a water exchange control means for exchanging the water in each of the unit cultivation tanks from the first water level through a second water level at which the roots are exposed and oxygen in the air can be supplied, and then returning to the first water level, so as to increase the amount of dissolved oxygen, by controlling the operation of the plurality of pumps. Equipped Cultivation system.

2. A plurality of water level sensors that detect the water level are arranged in each of the plurality of unit cultivation tanks; A timing device; Further equipped with The water replacement control means controls the operation of the pumps based on the detection results of the water level sensors and the time measurement results of the timing device. The cultivation system according to claim 1.

3. The water exchange control means includes: The operation of the plurality of pumps is controlled to repeatedly exchange the water in the plurality of unit cultivation tanks; After the repetition, a control is further executed to provide an interval for stopping the driving of the plurality of pumps for a predetermined period of time. The cultivation system according to claim 2.

4. The plurality of unit cultivation tanks are arranged in a plurality of stages in a vertical direction, Each of the plurality of stages further includes a plurality of irradiation devices for irradiating the crops present in the unit cultivation tank; The control device further includes an irradiation control means for controlling at least one of an irradiation time and an irradiation amount for the plurality of irradiation devices; The cultivation system according to claim 1 , further comprising:

5. A plurality of unit cultivation tanks each containing a crop that requires dissolved oxygen contained in water and water that directly supplies the dissolved oxygen to the roots of the crop, for cultivating the crop; A pump arranged for each of the plurality of unit cultivation tanks to move the water to other unit cultivation tanks; A control device that executes control related to the cultivation of the crop; A method for cultivating the crop, the method being carried out by a cultivation system having a water exchange control step of exchanging the water in each of the plurality of unit cultivation tanks by controlling the operation of the plurality of pumps so that the water level changes from a first water level to a second water level at which the roots are exposed and oxygen in the air can be supplied, and then back to the first water level, and the amount of dissolved oxygen is increased; A cultivation method comprising:

6. an intermittent temperature control step of removing the crops from each of the plurality of unit cultivation tanks, keeping the crops at a temperature equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature for a predetermined time, and returning the crops to the plurality of unit cultivation tanks after the predetermined time has elapsed, the step being repeated a predetermined number of times; The cultivation method according to claim 5, further comprising:

7. The crop is a short-day plant, and a short-day treatment step is performed to maintain the light intensity of the environment in which the plurality of unit cultivation tanks are placed constant for a predetermined period of time in order to cause the crop to bear fruit; The cultivation method according to claim 5, further comprising:

8. A plurality of unit cultivation tanks each containing a crop that requires dissolved oxygen contained in water and water that directly supplies the dissolved oxygen to the roots of the crop, for cultivating the crop; A pump arranged for each of the plurality of unit cultivation tanks to move the water to other unit cultivation tanks; A control device that executes control related to the cultivation of the crop; In the cultivation system having the above, a computer for controlling the control device is provided. A water exchange control step of exchanging the water in each of the plurality of unit cultivation tanks by controlling the operation of the plurality of pumps so that the water level changes from a first water level to a second water level at which the roots are exposed and oxygen in the air can be supplied, and then returns to the first water level and the amount of dissolved oxygen is increased. A program that executes control processing including:

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