Plant cultivation unit, plant cultivation device, and plant cultivation method using the same

Abstract

To provide a plant cultivation unit, a plant cultivation device, and a plant cultivation method using the device by which plants can be cultivated throughout the year.SOLUTION: Provided are a plant cultivation unit, a plant cultivation device and a plant cultivation method using the device, in which the cultivation unit has a tray part and a sealed part (cultivation panel) covering an upper part of the tray part, plant roots extend in an area below a sealed part while using the sealed part as a boundary, and plants are raised such that leaves extend on an upper side of the sealed part, where a ventilation opening is provided for the tray part, temperature-adjusted air is introduced from the ventilation opening into a space between the tray part and the sealed part, and a temperature of a space between the tray part and the sealed part can be controlled to a temperature different from the upper side of the sealed part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a plant cultivation unit and a plant cultivation device using the plant cultivation unit. [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. Also, strawberries can be harvested earlier by cultivating them in greenhouses. With greenhouse cultivation, strawberries can be fruited and harvested in winter. The peak harvest 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 cannot flower or bear fruit because runners grow from the plant and start branching. The present inventors are not aware of any commercially successful year-round cultivation of strawberries. The present invention provides a plant cultivation unit, a plant cultivation device, and a plant cultivation method using the same, capable of cultivating plants such as strawberries all year round. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] 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. When the temperature on the root side and the temperature on the leaf side are in a specific relationship, strawberries grow flower spikes, flower, and fruit. The plant cultivation unit of this embodiment has been developed based on this knowledge and has a tray portion and a sealing portion covering the upper part of the tray portion, and is a plant cultivation unit in which plants are planted so that their roots grow below the sealing portion and their leaves grow above the sealing portion.The tray portion is provided with a ventilation opening through which temperature-regulated air is introduced into the space between the tray portion and the sealing portion, making it possible to control the temperature of the space between the tray portion and the sealing portion to a temperature different from that of the upper side of the sealing portion.

[0006] By adopting the above-mentioned embodiment, air can freely flow in and out through the ventilation opening, but conversely, air cannot freely flow in and out above the sealed portion. Therefore, the temperature in the space between the sealed portions can be controlled at different temperatures above and below the sealed portion, and the temperatures on the root side and leaf side of the plant can be controlled to a specific relationship between the temperatures on the root side and the leaf side.

[0007] This aspect is a plant cultivation unit in which the ventilation opening is provided at the bottom of the tray portion, there is a standing wall inside the tray portion around the ventilation opening, and culture solution is introduced into the tray portion.

[0008] According to the plant cultivation unit of this embodiment, the ventilation opening is provided at the bottom of the tray portion, and a vertical wall is present inside the tray portion around the ventilation opening. Therefore, even though there is a ventilation opening, by installing the vertical wall, culture solution can be stored inside the vertical wall.

[0009] This embodiment is a plant cultivation unit having a cultivation pot with an opening on the bottom and a lid on the top, with an opening in the sealing part, the cultivation pot being inserted into the opening in the sealing part, and after a seedling is planted in the cultivation pot, the lid of the cultivation pot is closed.

[0010] According to this aspect, since the bottom surface of the cultivation pot has an opening, the air that has flowed into the cultivation tray through the ventilation opening can flow into the cultivation pot. In addition, after the seedlings are planted in the cultivation pot, the lid of the cultivation pot can be closed to prevent the air in the cultivation pot from escaping from the top surface of the cultivation pot.

[0011] In this embodiment, the support part for supporting the sealing part in hollow has a height higher than the vertical wall surrounding the ventilation opening. Therefore, when the plant cultivation unit is assembled, a space is created above the culture solution, and this space is connected to the cultivation pot, so that the ventilation opening in the tray part is connected to the cultivation pot, and air below the tray part can be sent to the cultivation pot.

[0012] In this embodiment, the tray portion has a culture solution outlet, and excess culture solution in the tray portion is discharged from the culture solution outlet.

[0013] According to this aspect, a vertical wall lower than the vertical wall of the ventilation opening is provided around the culture medium outlet, so that excess culture medium in the tray section flows over the vertical wall around the culture medium outlet and into the culture medium outlet.

[0014] This embodiment is a plant cultivation unit having a water supply section and an eave section provided on either side.

[0015] According to this aspect, the plant cultivation unit has a water supply section and an eaves section provided in either of the enclosed sections, so that the eaves section is provided near the water supply section and blocks the light that hits the water supply section, making it difficult for light to hit the water supply section.

[0016] This embodiment is a plant cultivation unit in which at least the cultivation pots can be replaced with seedlings.

[0017] According to this aspect, since the plant cultivation unit is capable of replacing at least the cultivation pot with a seedling, in the unlikely event that a poorly grown seedling occurs, the cultivation pot can be replaced with another seedling.

[0018] This embodiment is a plant cultivation unit in which a recess is provided in the center of the sealing portion on the surface side of the sealing portion, and the seedlings are planted with their leaves facing toward the recess.

[0019] According to this aspect, a recess is provided in the center of the sealing portion on the surface side of the sealing portion, and the plant cultivation unit is configured so that the leaves of the seedlings face toward the recess. Therefore, by planting the seedlings so that they grow in the recess, the leaves grow in the recess, and as a result, the fruit gathers in the recess, making it easier to harvest and care for the fruit.

[0020] This embodiment is a plant cultivation device having a lower temperature-regulated space that can be adjusted to a predetermined temperature, and the plant cultivation unit, in which the tray section is installed in the lower temperature-regulated space, and temperature-regulated air in the lower temperature-regulated space is introduced into the space between the tray section and the sealing section, making it possible to control the temperature of the space between the tray section and the sealing section to a temperature different from that of the upper side of the sealing section.

[0021] According to this aspect, the plant cultivation device has a lower temperature-controlled space that can be adjusted to a predetermined temperature, and the plant cultivation unit, the tray section is installed in the lower temperature-controlled space, and the temperature-controlled air in the lower temperature-controlled space is introduced into the space between the tray section and the sealing section.Therefore, the air entering from the lower temperature-controlled space fills the gap formed by the tray section and the sealing section, and also enters into the cultivation pot, making it difficult for it to escape from the lid side of the cultivation pot.Therefore, it is possible to control the temperature of the space between the tray section and the sealing section to a temperature different from that of the upper side of the sealing section.

[0022] In this aspect, the plant cultivation device has an upper surface of the lower temperature regulated space formed by the plant cultivation unit.

[0023] According to this aspect, since the upper surface of the lower temperature-controlled space is constituted by the plant cultivation unit, the bottom surface of the plant cultivation unit is directly exposed to the temperature environment of the lower temperature-controlled space. Therefore, according to the plant cultivation device of this aspect, it is easy to control the temperature of the space formed above the cultivation tray, including the gap formed by the cultivation tray and the sealing part.

[0024] In this embodiment, a duct is arranged below the plant cultivation units in the row direction in which the plant cultivation units are lined up, parallel to the row of plant cultivation units, and the duct has a plurality of holes at the top, so that temperature-regulated air flows through the duct and is sprayed out from the holes.

[0025] According to this aspect, a duct is arranged below and parallel to the row of plant cultivation units in the direction in which the plant cultivation units are lined up, and the upper part of the duct has a plurality of holes, so that temperature-regulated air flows through the duct and is sprayed out from the holes.Since the air for temperature control enters directly into the tray portion, it is easier to regulate the temperature of the space formed above the tray portion, including the gap formed by the tray portion and the sealing portion.

[0026] This embodiment is a plant cultivation device in which, by providing a ventilation opening in the tray section, an opening in the cultivation pot, and a vertical wall in the sealing section, air in the duct is sent into the cultivation pot, making it possible to regulate the temperature in the space where the roots of the seedlings are located.

[0027] According to this aspect, by providing the ventilation opening of the tray part, the opening of the cultivation pot, and the standing wall of the sealing part, the air in the duct is sent into the cultivation pot through the gap formed by the cultivation tray and the sealing part, and it becomes possible to regulate the temperature of the gap, the internal space of the cultivation pot, and the internal space of the sealing part. In other words, it becomes possible to regulate the temperature of the space where the roots of the seedlings are present.

[0028] This aspect is a plant cultivation device in which at least the lower temperature regulating space is buried underground.

[0029] According to this embodiment, since the plant cultivation device has at least the lower temperature-regulated space buried underground, the temperature of the lower temperature-regulated space is further regulated underground, where the temperature is more stable than above ground, making temperature control easier.

[0030] This aspect is a plant cultivation method for cultivating a plant using the plant cultivation device.

[0031] According to this aspect, the plant cultivation device of the present invention is used to cultivate plants, particularly strawberries, so that the roots and leaves of the strawberries can be cultivated at appropriate temperatures, making it possible to cultivate them throughout the year. Effect of the Invention

[0032] The plant cultivation unit, the plant cultivation device and the method of cultivating plants using the same of this embodiment have the advantage that the atmospheric temperatures of the leaf and root parts of strawberries can be adjusted while they are cultivated, so that they can be cultivated at their respective optimum temperatures. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0033] [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 an exploded perspective view of the plant cultivation device of FIG. 1 with a tray removed from a lower structure. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the tray portion, the sealing portion, and the cultivation pot according to the present invention, during assembly. [Figure 4] 1 is a bottom perspective view of the tray portion, the sealing portion, and the cultivation pot according to the present invention, during assembly. FIG. [Diagram 5] 1A and 1B are perspective views of a tray portion according to the present invention, in which FIG. [Figure 6] 1A and 1B are perspective views of a closure according to the present invention, (a) viewed from above and (b) viewed from below. [Figure 7]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cultivation pot according to the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cultivation pot according to the present invention, showing a lid portion thereof divided. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a front view of the plant growing unit of the present invention after assembly and planting. [Figure 10] FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of the plant growing unit of FIG. 8 installed on a substructure. [Figure 11] FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing a schematic configuration of the plant cultivation device of FIG. 1. [Figure 12] FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of a plant cultivation device of the present invention buried underground below the cultivation pots. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a front view of another plant growing unit of the present invention after assembly and planting. [Figure 14] 1A and 1B are a cross-sectional perspective view and a plan view of a duct of a plant cultivation device of the present invention, respectively. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0034] 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 plant cultivation units 66 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 plant cultivation units 66 are installed in four rows on the lower structure 3. The first row a and the second row b of the plant cultivation units 66 constitute one set of cultivation routes A, and the third row c and the fourth row d of the plant cultivation units 66 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.

[0035] The lower structure 3 is a large tank with an open top as shown in Fig. 2. That is, the lower structure 3 has a bottom surface 130 and four vertical walls 41, 42, 43, 44, and an upper surface side 70 is open.

[0036] In the plant cultivation device 1 of this embodiment, a plant cultivation unit 66 is installed in the opening of the lower structure 3. Rollers 139 are provided on the frame 138 of the lower structure 3, and when the plant cultivation unit 66 receives an external force, it moves linearly along the frame 138 by rotating the rollers 139, or at least one of the rollers has a power transmission mechanism such as a round belt 140, and a motor (not shown) rotates the rollers via the round belt 140 or the like.

[0037] In this embodiment, the plant cultivation units 66 are tightly packed in the opening of the lower structure 3, and the opening of the lower structure 3 is substantially sealed by the plant cultivation units 66 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 plant cultivation units 66.

[0038] A plant seedling 6 is planted in the plant cultivation unit 66. The area around the plant cultivation unit 66 is a cultivation 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 areas 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.

[0039] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the plant cultivation device 1 of this embodiment is formed by assembling at least a tray portion 5, a sealing portion (cultivation panel) 45, and a cultivation pot 40 to form a plant cultivation unit 66. The plant cultivation unit 66 has a tray portion 5 and a sealing portion (cultivation panel) 45 covering the upper part of the tray portion 5, and is a plant cultivation unit 66 in which plants are cultivated so that their roots grow below the sealing portion 45 and their leaves grow above the sealing portion 45. The tray portion 5 is provided with ventilation openings 56, 57, and temperature-regulated air can enter through the ventilation openings 56, 57 to control the temperature of the space between the tray portion 5 and the sealing portion 45 to a temperature different from that of the upper side of the sealing portion 45.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 7, the cultivation pot 40 is provided with a lid 46 having a hole 9 through which the leaves 11 of the plant can reach the top of the cultivation pot 40. Therefore, the part of the seedling 6 below the leaves 11 is placed inside the cultivation pot 40. The cultivation pot 40 is a small cup-shaped container with openings at both the top and bottom ends. It is made of a synthetic resin such as polyethylene. The material of the cultivation pot 40 is not particularly limited, but examples include a cup-shaped plastic and a water-resistant paper material. The cultivation pot 40 is filled with a medium, a nonwoven fabric, or the like, and a seedling 6 of a plant such as a strawberry is planted therein. The cultivation pots 40 can be taken out one by one, so they can be replaced with the seedlings 6 still planted, and even if a seedling 6 that does not grow well occurs, the entire cultivation pot 40 can be replaced with another seedling 6.

[0041] The lid 68 of the lid part 46 of the cultivation pot 40 has a tapered shape, with its thickness becoming thinner as it approaches the hole 9 at the center of the lid 68, as shown in Fig. 8. In other words, the thickness T of the lid 68 on the outer periphery side is greater than the thickness t of the lid 68 on the inner periphery side. This shape makes it easier to care for the seedlings 6, and also allows the seedlings 6 to be more easily exposed to light, which helps the seedlings 6 grow faster.

[0042] As shown in FIG. 5, standing walls 135, 136 are provided around the ventilation openings 56, 57 of the tray part 5. The standing walls 135, 136 are provided so that the culture medium can be filled in the tray part 5. In order to prevent the culture medium from spilling out of the tray part 5, a culture medium outlet 58 is provided between the ventilation openings 56 and 57 at the bottom 54 of the tray part 5. A circular standing wall 137 is provided around the culture medium outlet 58. The height of the circular standing wall 137 is lower than the standing walls 135, 136. By providing the standing wall 137, it is made easier for excess culture medium to be discharged from the culture medium outlet 58 after the culture medium is filled. The standing wall 137 may be rectangular.

[0043] The tray portion 5 is provided with support portions 102, 105 for supporting the sealing portion 45 in the air. The height of the support portions 102, 105 is higher than the standing walls 135, 136 around the ventilation openings 56, 57. Therefore, when assembled into the plant cultivation unit 66, the support portions 102, 105 create gaps, and the gaps and the ventilation openings 56, 57 form air passages.

[0044] In addition, a culture solution outlet 58 is provided on the bottom 54 of the tray section 5. A circular vertical wall 137 is provided around the culture solution outlet 58. The vertical wall 137 is lower than the vertical walls 135 and 136 around the ventilation opening, so that when the culture solution exceeds the vertical wall 137, the excess culture solution is discharged from the culture solution outlet 58. That is, the bottom 54 of the tray section 5 is filled with the culture solution and absorbed by the roots 10, but the excess culture solution that is not absorbed is not absorbed by the roots 10 and becomes drainage. The excess culture solution that cannot be absorbed is discharged from the culture solution outlet 58 and flows into the gutter 147 of the lower structure 3. The material of the tray section 5 is not particularly limited, but it is preferably made of a foamed resin such as polystyrene foam. In addition, if the tray section 5 is made of a metal with high thermal conductivity such as aluminum, the cooling effect of the culture solution increases, and the temperature of the space where the seedling roots are present can also be adjusted by the water temperature.

[0045] 6, the sealing portion 45 has at least two rows of mounting stands 60, 62 on which the cultivation pots 40 are placed, and has an opening 64 into which the cultivation pots 40 are inserted. A semicircular recess 77 is formed between the mounting stands 60, 62. The diameter of the upper side of the cultivation pot 40 and the diameter of the opening 64 of the sealing portion 45 are approximately equal, and the cultivation pot 40 is engaged by the opening 64 of the sealing portion 45. At this time, the opening 48 on the bottom surface of the cultivation pot 40 communicates with the lower temperature control space 30 through the gap and the ventilation openings 56, 57 of the tray portion 5. A water supply section 84 and an eaves section 86 are provided at the end of the sealing section 45. By doing so, the eaves section 86 makes it difficult for light to penetrate, and it is possible to prevent the occurrence of water-green algae.

[0046] 9, the seedlings 6 are planted in the cultivation pot 40 toward the recess 77 of the sealing part 45. By doing so, the leaves 11 grow toward the recess 77, and the fruits can be collected in the recess 77, making it easy to care for and harvest the fruits without damaging them. The cross-sectional shape of the recess is semicircular in this embodiment, but is not limited to this and may be rectangular or triangular.

[0047] 9, the tray portion 5, the sealing portion 45, and the cultivation pot 40 are assembled to form a plant cultivation unit 66. The seedling 6 is then placed into the cultivation pot 40 from the top, and the lid 68 is placed on the pot 40 so that the leaf portion 11 protrudes above the lid portion 46. The lid portion 46 is, for example, divided into two parts, and it is preferable that when the leaf portion 11 of the seedling 6 protrudes above the lid 68 and the lid 68 is closed, the two halves of the lid 68 are in close contact with each other except for the stem portion of the seedling 6, so as to prevent ventilation.

[0048] As shown in FIG. 9, when the plant cultivation unit 66 assembled in this manner and with the seedlings 6 placed therein has the lid 68 closed, there is almost no ventilation between the front and back sides of the lid 68, and no heat exchange occurs, so that the temperatures of the upper space 8 and the lower temperature-controlled space 30 can be controlled. The tray section 5 is placed in the lower temperature-controlled space 30, and the temperature-controlled air in the lower temperature-controlled space 30 is introduced into the space between the tray section 5 and the sealing section 45, so that the temperature of the space between the tray section 5 and the sealing section 45 can be controlled to a temperature different from that above the sealing section 45. In other words, since the upper part of the plant cultivation unit 66 is in contact with the upper space 8 and the lower part is in contact with the lower temperature-controlled space 30, there is almost no heat exchange between the upper space 8 and the lower temperature-controlled space 30, and the temperatures can be controlled independently of each other.

[0049] When assembling the plant cultivation unit 66, the sealing part 45 is placed on the support parts 102, 105 of the tray part 5. At this time, a gap is generated between the tray part 5 and the sealing part 45 due to the height of the support parts 102, 105. The gap becomes a passage for air from the lower temperature-regulated space 30 to the cultivation pot 40, and the culture medium in the cultivation pot 40 is also under the temperature control of the lower temperature-regulated space 30. By installing the ventilation openings 56, 57 of the tray portion 5, the opening 48 on the bottom surface 50 of the cultivation pot 40, and the support portions 102, 105 of the tray portion 5, an air passage is created, and the air from the ducts 75, 78 leaves the duct hole 74, passes through the ventilation openings 56, 57 of the tray portion 5, and then passes through the air passage formed by the tray portion 5 and the sealing portion 45, and is sent to the inside of the cultivation pot 40, and the temperature of the root space 76 described below is regulated in the same way as the lower temperature-controlled space 30. 9, the root space 76 is a space formed when the tray part 5, the sealing part 45, and the cultivation pot 40 are assembled, and is made up of the gap formed on the upper side of the tray part 5, the internal space of the cultivation pot 40, and the internal space of the sealing part 45. It communicates with the lower temperature control space 30, but is cut off from the upper space 8. Here, the entire space in which the seedling roots exist is included in the root space 76.

[0050] 11 , the temperature of the lower temperature-regulated space 30 is regulated by a lower air conditioner. In this embodiment, the bottom surface of the plant cultivation unit 66 substantially constitutes the upper surface of the lower temperature-regulated space 30, and the bottom surface of the plant cultivation unit 66 is exposed to the temperature environment of the lower temperature-regulated space 30. Therefore, the culture medium of the plant cultivation unit 66 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 plant cultivation unit 66 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 plant cultivation unit 66 is raised, and the temperature of the roots of the plant seedlings is raised.

[0051] Temperature regulators 14 and 18 are installed in the lower temperature controlled space 30, allowing temperature control. A plant cultivation unit 66 is installed in the cultivation area C, and seedlings 6 are planted in the plant cultivation unit 66. Temperature regulators 12 and 13 are installed in the upper space 8, allowing temperature control.

[0052] 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 within the piping.

[0053] 11, the plant cultivation device 1 is divided into a cultivation area C and care areas Da and Db. The plant cultivation device 1 also has a lower temperature regulated space 30 and an upper space 8. The cultivation area C is located above the lower temperature regulated space 30.

[0054] In this embodiment shown in FIG. 11, temperature regulators 12 and 13 are installed in the upper space 8 to enable temperature adjustment. As shown in Figs. 10 and 11, in the lower temperature-controlled space 30, the air exhausted from the indoor units 22, 23 is supplied into the ducts 75, 78 connected to the indoor units 22, 23, and the air flows in the direction of the arrows. The ducts 75, 78 have a plurality of holes 74 on the upper side, and the air exhausted from the indoor units 22, 23 flows out from the holes 74 toward the tray section 5. In the tray section 5, after passing through the ventilation openings 56, 57, the air passes through the gap formed by the tray section 5 and the sealing section 45, and fills the gap, the cultivation pot 40, and the internal space of the sealing section 45, forming the root space 76. Therefore, the temperature of the root space 76 is controlled by the air. The temperature-controlled air is taken in from the ducts 75, 78 and is directly supplied to the root space 76, so that the temperature of the root space 76 is particularly controlled compared to the lower temperature-controlled space 30.

[0055] As shown in FIG. 14, a gutter 147 may be provided in the upper center of the ducts 75 and 78 to allow excess culture medium discharged from the culture medium outlet 58 to flow therethrough.

[0056] In this embodiment, strawberry seedlings 6 are held and cultivated in the plant cultivation unit 66. The strawberry seedlings 6 are held in the cultivation pots 40, and the roots 10 spread across the bottom 54 of the tray portion 5 and the culture solution 47. The temperature around the roots 10 is approximately the same as the temperature in the lower temperature-regulated space 30.

[0057] When the plant cultivation device 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 is controlled to 15°C to 18°C. In other words, in winter, it is preferable to control the temperature of the upper space to be higher than the outside air temperature, and further control the temperature of the lower temperature-controlled space 30 to be higher than the temperature of the upper space 8, and in summer, it is preferable to control the temperature of the upper space 8 to be lower than the outside air temperature, and further control the temperature of the lower temperature-controlled space 30 to be lower than the temperature of the upper space 8.

[0058] 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.

[0059] 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. 12, the space below the plant cultivation unit 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.

[0060] Furthermore, if the part below the plant cultivation unit is buried underground, the underground temperature can be utilized, so that an air vent 142 can be provided in the vertical wall 141 of the tray portion 5 as shown in FIG. 13 to introduce underground air and fill the root space 76 with underground air.

[0061] In this embodiment, the temperature of the lower temperature-controlled space 30 and the upper space 8 is controlled by a heat pump type heating and cooling device, but this is not limited to this and a normal air conditioner may be used, and temperature control of each space can be performed by installing pipes not only in the lower temperature-controlled space 30 but also in the lower temperature-controlled space 30 and the upper space 8 and running cold water or hot water therethrough.

[0062] In this embodiment, the shelves are moved by rollers, but they may be used as fixed shelves without rollers.

[0063] 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]

[0064] 1 Plant cultivation equipment 2. Building 3. Undercarriage 5 Tray section 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 Cultivation Pots 45 Blockade section 46 Lid 48 Aperture 56 Ventilation opening 57 Ventilation opening 58 Culture medium outlet 60 Placement table 62 Placement table 66 Cultivation Units 68 Lid 70 Top side 74 holes 75 Duct 76 Root space 77 Recess 78 Duct 147 Gutter C cultivation area Da Care Area Db Care Area

Claims

1. A plant cultivation unit having a tray portion and a sealing portion covering an upper portion of the tray portion, in which a plant is grown so that its roots extend below the sealing portion and its leaves extend above the sealing portion, A plant cultivation unit characterized in that a ventilation opening is provided in the tray portion, and temperature-controlled air is introduced from the ventilation opening into the space between the tray portion and the sealing portion, making it possible to control the temperature of the space between the tray portion and the sealing portion to a temperature different from that of the upper side of the sealing portion.

2. 2. The plant cultivation unit according to claim 1, wherein the ventilation opening is provided at the bottom of the tray portion, a vertical wall is provided around the ventilation opening inside the tray portion, and a culture solution is introduced into the tray portion.

3. 2. The plant cultivation unit according to claim 1, comprising a cultivation pot having an opening on the bottom surface and a lid on the top surface, the sealing portion having an opening, the cultivation pot being inserted into the opening of the sealing portion, and after a seedling is planted in the cultivation pot, the lid of the cultivation pot is closed.

4. The plant growing unit according to claim 2 , wherein a support portion for supporting the sealing portion in the air is higher than a standing wall surrounding the ventilation opening.

5. 3. The plant cultivation unit according to claim 2, wherein the tray portion has a culture solution outlet, and a standing wall lower than the standing wall of the ventilation opening is provided around the culture solution outlet.

6. 3. The plant growing unit according to claim 2, further comprising a water supply section and an eave section at any one of said closed sections.

7. 4. The plant cultivation unit according to claim 3, wherein at least each of the cultivation pots is replaceable with a seedling.

8. The plant cultivation unit according to claim 3, wherein a recess is provided in the center of the sealing portion on the surface side of the sealing portion, and the seedlings are planted so that their leaves face toward the recess.

9. A plant cultivation device comprising: a lower temperature-controlled space that can be adjusted to a predetermined temperature; and a plant cultivation unit as described in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the tray section is installed in the lower temperature-controlled space, and temperature-controlled air in the lower temperature-controlled space is introduced into the space between the tray section and the sealing section, and the temperature of the space between the tray section and the sealing section can be controlled to a temperature different from that of the upper side of the sealing section.

10. The plant cultivation device according to claim 9, wherein an upper surface of the lower temperature regulated space is formed by the plant cultivation unit.

11. 10. The plant cultivation device according to claim 9, wherein a duct is arranged below and parallel to the plant cultivation units in the row direction in which the plant cultivation units are arranged, and the duct has a plurality of holes at an upper portion thereof, through which temperature-regulated air flows and from which the temperature-regulated air is sprayed.

12. The plant cultivation device according to claim 9, wherein by providing a ventilation opening in the tray section, an opening in the cultivation pot, and a vertical wall in the sealing section, the air in the duct is sent into the cultivation pot, thereby making it possible to regulate the temperature of the space in which the roots of the seedlings are present.

13. The plant cultivation device according to claim 9, wherein at least the lower temperature regulating space is buried underground.

14. A plant cultivation method comprising cultivating a plant by using the plant cultivation apparatus according to claim 9.

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