Plant cultivation device and plant cultivation method using the same

Abstract

To provide a plant cultivation device that enables active control of root temperature through temperature regulation around the roots, and a plant cultivation method using the same.SOLUTION: A plant cultivation device has a lower temperature control space, a cultivation region, and an upper space. The cultivation region is situated above the lower temperature control space. Seedlings are planted in the cultivation region. Temperature regulation is possible within the lower temperature control space. A cultivation tray is placed in the cultivation region. Seedlings are planted in the cultivation tray. The cultivation tray constitutes the upper surface of the lower temperature control space. Also provided is a plant cultivation method using the plant cultivation device.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a plant cultivation device. The present invention also relates to a plant cultivation method using the plant cultivation device. [Background technology]

[0002] When plants, especially strawberries, are grown outdoors, seedlings are planted and grown from summer to autumn, and the fruit is harvested in early summer. The strawberry harvest time can also be brought forward by cultivating them in greenhouses. With greenhouse cultivation, strawberries can be fruited and harvested in winter. The peak season for greenhouse-grown strawberries is January. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2000-93025 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] As mentioned above, the natural harvest season for strawberries is early summer, but the harvest time can be brought forward by cultivating them in greenhouses. However, it is not possible to shift the harvest time of strawberries to midsummer or autumn. That is, after spring, strawberries begin to branch out as liners grow from the plant, and they are unable to flower or bear fruit. The present inventors are not aware of any examples of year-round strawberry cultivation that has been commercially successful. The present invention provides a plant cultivation device capable of cultivating strawberries or the like all year round, and a plant cultivation method using the same. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] An embodiment for solving the above-mentioned problems is a plant cultivation device having a lower temperature-regulated space, a cultivation area, and an upper space, the cultivation area being located above the lower temperature-regulated space, seedlings being planted in the cultivation area, and the temperature within the lower temperature-regulated space being adjustable.

[0006] According to the research of the present inventors, it was found that the flowering and fruiting of strawberries are influenced not only by the temperature on the leaf side but also by the temperature on the root side. According to the research of the present inventors, strawberries grow flower spikes, flower, and fruit when the temperature on the root side and the temperature on the leaf side are in a specific relationship. The plant cultivation device of this embodiment was developed based on this knowledge, and is divided into a lower temperature-controlled space, a cultivation area, and an upper space. In the plant cultivation device of this embodiment, the cultivation area is located above the lower temperature-controlled space, and seedlings are planted in the cultivation area. In the plant cultivation device of this embodiment, the cultivation area is located above the lower temperature-controlled space. Therefore, the lower part of the cultivation area is affected by the lower temperature-regulated space, and by adjusting the temperature in the lower temperature-regulated space, the temperature on the root side can be indirectly controlled. In the plant cultivation device of this embodiment, the temperature in the lower temperature control space can be adjusted, so that the ambient temperature around the roots of the seedlings can be controlled.

[0007] In the above-mentioned aspect, it is preferable that the plant cultivation device has a cultivation tray placed in the cultivation area, seedlings are planted in the cultivation tray, and the cultivation tray forms an upper surface of the lower temperature regulated space.

[0008] In the plant cultivation device of this embodiment, since the upper surface of the lower temperature-controlled space is constituted by the cultivation tray, the bottom surface of the cultivation tray is directly exposed to the temperature environment of the lower temperature-controlled space, so that the plant cultivation device of this embodiment makes it easier to control the temperature around the roots.

[0009] The plant cultivation device of this embodiment is a plant cultivation device having a moving means for moving the cultivation tray.

[0010] According to this aspect, the moving means allows the cultivation tray to be easily moved, for example, from the cultivation area to the harvesting area.

[0011] The plant cultivation device of this embodiment is a plant cultivation device in which the temperature of the upper space is adjustable.

[0012] According to this aspect, since the plant cultivation apparatus has an upper space with adjustable temperature, the leaves of the plants can also be cultivated at an appropriate temperature.

[0013] This aspect is a plant cultivation device in which at least the lower temperature regulating space is buried underground.

[0014] According to this embodiment, at least the lower temperature-controlled space is buried underground in the plant cultivation device, so that the temperature of the lower temperature-controlled space is further controlled underground, where the temperature is more stable than above ground, making temperature control easier.

[0015] This aspect is a plant cultivation method for cultivating plants using the plant cultivation device of the present invention.

[0016] According to this aspect, since a plant is cultivated using the plant cultivation device of the present invention, the roots and leaves of the plant can be cultivated at appropriate temperatures. Effect of the Invention

[0017] The plant cultivation apparatus of this embodiment and the method of cultivating plants using it have the advantage that the atmospheric temperatures of the leaves, stems, and roots of seedlings can be adjusted while cultivation, allowing them to be cultivated at their respective optimum temperatures. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] FIG. 1(a) is a front view of a plant cultivation device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing a schematic configuration of the plant cultivation device of FIG. 1. [Diagram 3]FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the plant cultivation device of FIG. 1 with the cultivation tray removed from the lower structure. [Figure 4] 2A and 2B are cross-sectional views of the plant cultivation device of FIG. 1, in which (a) shows a state in which a cultivation tray is installed on a lower structure, and (b) shows a state in which the cultivation tray has been removed from the lower structure. [Diagram 5] 5A and 5B are cross-sectional views of a plant cultivation device according to another embodiment of the present invention, in which (a) shows a state in which a cultivation tray is installed on a lower structure, and (b) shows a state in which the cultivation tray has been removed from the lower structure. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a cultivation tray. [Figure 7] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing another example of a cultivation tray. [Figure 8] 10A and 10B show yet another example of a cultivation tray, in which (a) is a cross-sectional view thereof and (b) is an exploded cross-sectional view thereof. [Figure 9] 10A and 10B show yet another example of a cultivation tray, in which (a) is a cross-sectional view thereof and (b) is an exploded cross-sectional view thereof. [Figure 10] 1A and 1B show an example of a cultivation tray for hydroponic cultivation, in which (a) is a cross-sectional view thereof and (b) is an exploded cross-sectional view thereof. [Figure 11] FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of a plant cultivation device according to the present invention, in which the part below the cultivation tray is buried underground. [Figure 12] FIG. 2A is a front view of a plant cultivation device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2B is a plan view thereof, both of which include a preparation room. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0019] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described. The plant cultivation device 1 of this embodiment has a lower structure 3 installed in a building 2, and a plurality of cultivation trays 5 installed on the lower structure 3, as shown in FIG. The temperature inside building 2 can be regulated by an air conditioning system. In this embodiment, the cultivation trays 5 are arranged in four rows on the lower structure 3. The first row a and the second row b of the cultivation tray 5 constitute one set of cultivation routes A, and the third row c and the fourth row d of the cultivation tray 5 constitute another set of cultivation routes B. That is, in this embodiment, the cultivation root A and the cultivation root B are configured by a common lower structure 3.

[0020] The lower structure 3 is a large tank with an open top as shown in Fig. 3. That is, the lower structure 3 has a bottom surface 40 and four vertical walls 41, 42, 43, 45, and an upper surface 70 is open. Four pairs of rails 71 are installed near the opening of the lower structure 3. Each of the rails 71 has a right track member 72 and a left track member 73.

[0021] The cultivation tray 5 is made of a material having high thermal conductivity such as metal, and its cross-sectional shape is concave as shown in FIG. The cultivation tray 5 is filled with a medium such as soil, perlite, vermiculite, etc. A plant seedling 6 is planted in the medium. The bottom of the cultivation tray 5 is provided with rollers.

[0022] In the plant cultivation device 1 of this embodiment, a cultivation tray 5 is placed in the opening of the lower structure 3. The rollers of the cultivation tray 5 are engaged with the rails 71, and when an external force is applied, the cultivation tray 5 moves linearly along the rails 71. In this embodiment, the cultivation trays 5 are tightly packed in the opening of the lower structure 3, and the opening of the lower structure 3 is substantially sealed by the cultivation trays 5 to form the lower temperature regulated space 30. Therefore, in this embodiment, the upper surface of the lower temperature regulated space 30 is substantially constituted by the cultivation trays 5.

[0023] As shown in Fig. 2, lighting 26 is installed in the building 2. The lighting 26 emits light suitable for plant growth. As shown in Fig. 2, a general air conditioning system is installed in the building 2, and the temperature and humidity within the building 2 are adjusted. The general air conditioning system uses air conditioners and the like to provide air conditioning.

[0024] A seedling 6 of a plant is planted in the above-mentioned cultivation tray 5. The periphery of the cultivation tray 5 is an area C in which the seedling 6 exists. In the plant cultivation device 1 of this embodiment, the inside of the building 2 is divided into three regions in the height direction. That is, the lower temperature regulated space 30 is located in the lower region of the building 2. The cultivation region C is located above the lower temperature regulated space 30. Above the cultivation region C is the upper space.

[0025] A lower air conditioning device is installed in the lower structure 3, and adjusts the temperature and humidity in the lower temperature regulated space 30. The temperature of the lower temperature-controlled space 30 is controlled by a lower air conditioner. In this embodiment, the bottom surface of the cultivation tray 5 substantially constitutes the upper surface of the lower temperature-controlled space 30, and the bottom surface of the cultivation tray 5 is exposed to the temperature environment of the lower temperature-controlled space 30. Therefore, the culture medium in the cultivation tray 5 is strongly affected by the temperature of the lower temperature regulated space 30. That is, if the temperature of the lower temperature regulated space 30 is lowered, the temperature of the culture medium in the cultivation tray 5 is lowered, and the temperature of the roots of the plant seedlings 6 is lowered. Conversely, if the temperature of the lower temperature regulated space 30 is raised, the temperature of the culture medium in the cultivation tray 5 is raised, and the temperature of the roots of the plant seedlings is raised.

[0026] Temperature controllers 14 and 18 are installed in the lower temperature-controlled space 30, making it possible to adjust the temperature. A cultivation tray 5 is installed in the cultivation area C, and a seedling 6 is planted in the cultivation tray 5. The cultivation tray 5 is provided with a through hole 9 into which the seedling 6 is inserted, and the roots 10 of the seedling 6 extend from the hole 9 into the lower temperature-controlled space 30. At this time, the leaves 11 of the plant are arranged to protrude above the cultivation tray 5, and the leaves 11 are present in the upper space 8.

[0027] Temperature regulators 12 and 13 are installed in the upper space 8 to enable temperature control.

[0028] The temperature controllers 12, 13, 14, and 18 are equipped with a heat pump type air conditioner composed of indoor units 20 to 23 and outdoor units 15, 16, 17, and 19. The outdoor units 15, 16, 17, and 19 are equipped with compressors and outdoor heat exchangers (not shown), and the indoor units 20 to 23 are equipped with expansion valves and indoor heat exchangers (not shown). The outdoor unit 16 and the indoor unit 20 are connected by piping (not shown), and a refrigerant circulates through the piping. The outdoor unit 15 and the indoor unit 22, the outdoor unit 17 and the indoor unit 21, and the outdoor unit 19 and the indoor unit 23 are also connected by piping (not shown), and a refrigerant circulates through the piping.

[0029] At this time, in the lower temperature regulated space 30, air flows from left to right from indoor unit 22 and from right to left from indoor unit 23 as shown by the arrows, while in the upper space 8, air flows from left to right from indoor unit 20 and from right to left from indoor unit 21 as shown by the arrows. In the lower temperature regulated space 30, there are points where air can escape to the outside (not shown), and temperature control is performed including these points.

[0030] When the plant cultivation device 1 of this embodiment is applied to a method for cultivating strawberries, as an example of temperature control, when the outside air temperature is 0°C in winter, the temperature of the upper space 8 is controlled to 5°C to 14°C, and the temperature of the lower temperature regulated space 30 is controlled to 15°C to 18°C. When the outside air temperature is 30°C in summer, the temperature of the upper space 8 is controlled to 16°C to 25°C, and the temperature of the lower temperature regulated space 30 is controlled to 15°C to 18°C. In other words, it is preferable to control the temperature of the upper space 8 to be higher than the outside air temperature in winter and to control the temperature of the lower temperature-controlled space 30 to be higher than the temperature of the upper space 8, and to control the temperature of the upper space 8 to be lower than the outside air temperature in summer and to control the temperature of the lower temperature-controlled space 30 to be lower than the temperature of the upper space 8.

[0031] Therefore, since the temperature control of the upper space 8 has a wider control range than the temperature control of the lower temperature control space 30, if the above conditions are met, there is no need to control the temperature of the upper space 8, and the temperature regulators 12 and 13 in the upper space 8 may be stopped to save energy.

[0032] The planar layout of the plant cultivation device 1 of this embodiment is as shown in FIG. 1(b), and a building 2 includes a cultivation area C and care areas Da and Db. In the cultivation area, the above-mentioned lower structure 3 and cultivation tray 5 are installed. The care areas Da, Db are located at both ends of the cultivation area in the longitudinal direction, and are equipped with equipment (not shown) for caring for and harvesting seedlings. As shown in FIG. 12, a preparation room 101 is provided on the side of the maintenance area Da, and includes a workbench 102, a control panel 103 for a watering device (not shown), a control panel 104 for a temperature regulator, and the like. Further, a transfer device (not shown) is provided in the maintenance areas Da and Db. That is, as described above, the plant cultivation device 1 of this embodiment has the cultivation route A consisting of the first row a and the second row b, and the cultivation route B consisting of the third row c and the fourth row d. In this embodiment, the cultivation trays 5 constituting each route circulate. That is, the cultivation trays 5 in the first row a that constitutes the cultivation route A move in one direction to reach the end of the first row a, receive the required care, transfer to the second row b by a transfer device, and move in the opposite direction. The cultivation trays 5 moving along the second row b reach the leading end, receive the required care, and transfer to the first row a by a transfer device (not shown).

[0033] In the embodiment described above, the lower structure 3 has an open upper portion, and the opening is closed by the cultivation tray 5. According to this embodiment, the cultivation tray 5 is directly exposed to the environment of the lower temperature regulated space 30, and the temperature of the culture medium in the cultivation tray 5 can be directly controlled. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration, and the upper part of the lower structure 3 may be sealed with a sealing member 81 as shown in Fig. 5. The sealing member 81 is preferably made of a material with excellent thermal conductivity such as metal. In this embodiment, the bottom surface of the cultivation tray 5 is in direct contact with the sealing member 81. Therefore, the temperature of the lower temperature control space 30 is transferred to the cultivation tray 5 through the sealing member 81.

[0034] In the above-described embodiment, soil or the like is used as the culture medium, but nonwoven fabric or the like may be used as the culture medium as in the cultivation tray 50 shown in FIG. Also, like a cultivation tray 91 shown in FIG. 8, it may be composed of a tray body 51, a support plate 52, and a cultivation pot 53. The tray body 51 is a container made of metal or the like, and does not leak water. The support plate 52 is a plate having an opening, and is made of a heat insulating material such as foamed resin so that the temperature of the upper space 8 does not affect the lower temperature adjustment space 30 . The cultivation pot 53 is filled with culture medium, nonwoven fabric, etc., and a strawberry seedling 6 is planted in it. The cultivation pot 53 is inserted into an opening in the support plate 52. The tray body 51 contains culture solution and water for watering. The bottom of the cultivation pot 53 is immersed in the culture solution, etc., and the culture solution, etc. is absorbed by the culture medium, etc.

[0035] 9, the tray body 60 is made of foamed resin or the like. The tray body 60 has a large opening 80 at the bottom. However, a waterproof wall is provided around the opening 80, so that the culture solution or the like in the tray body 60 does not leak from the opening 80. According to the cultivation tray 55 of this embodiment, the inside of the cultivation tray 55 communicates with the lower temperature control space 30 through the opening 80. Therefore, temperature-controlled air enters the cultivation tray 55, and the temperature of the strawberry roots can be controlled. The cultivation tray 5 shown in Fig. 10 is a cultivation tray 5 used for normal hydroponic cultivation.

[0036] In another embodiment, in order to make it easier to control the temperature of the lower temperature-controlled space 30, the lower temperature-controlled space 30 is buried underground. As shown in Fig. 11, the space below the cultivation tray is buried underground. By doing so, the temperature of the lower temperature-controlled space 30, which maintains a stable underground temperature, is further controlled, making it easier to control the temperature.

[0037] In this embodiment, the temperature of the lower temperature-controlled space 30 and the upper space 8 is controlled by a heat pump type air conditioner, but this is not limited to this and a normal air conditioner may be used, or piping may be installed in the lower temperature-controlled space 30 and the upper space 8 to flow cold water or hot water to control the temperature of each space.

[0038] In this embodiment, strawberries are used as an example, but the control temperatures vary for each, and the invention can also be applied to other vegetables, such as tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, and cucumbers, and to fruit trees, such as mandarin oranges, mangoes, grapes, and pears. [Explanation of symbols]

[0039] 1 Plant cultivation equipment 2. Building 3. Undercarriage 5 Cultivation tray 6 seedlings 8 Upper space 9 holes 10 root 11 Leaf 12, 13, 14 Temperature controller 15, 16, 17 outdoor unit 18 Temperature controller 19 Outdoor unit 20, 21, 22, 23 Indoor unit 26 Lighting 27 Ceiling 30 Lower temperature control space 40 Bottom 41 Vertical Wall 42 Vertical Wall 43 Vertical Wall 44 Vertical Wall 70 Top side 71 Rail 80 aperture 81 Closing member

Claims

1. A lower temperature regulated space, a cultivation area, and an upper space, the cultivation area being located above the lower temperature regulated space, A plant cultivation device characterized in that seedlings are planted in the cultivation area and the temperature within the lower temperature control space is adjustable.

2. A cultivation tray is placed in the cultivation area, and seedlings are planted in the cultivation tray; The plant cultivation device according to claim 1 , wherein an upper surface of the lower temperature regulated space is formed by the cultivation tray.

3. 2. The plant cultivation device according to claim 1, further comprising a moving means for moving the cultivation tray.

4. 2. The plant cultivation device according to claim 1, wherein the upper space is temperature-adjustable.

5. 2. The plant cultivation device according to claim 1, wherein at least the lower temperature regulating space is buried underground.

6. A method for cultivating plants, comprising cultivating plants using the plant cultivation apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

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