Hybrid root zone cultivation

Abstract

The challenge is to develop a method for controlling plant growth by simultaneously implementing different cultivation management practices through the supply of nutrients and water with different properties to the root zone of plants. [Solution] By grafting a plant with a secondary root zone, separate from the main root zone of the main plant, onto the main plant, it is possible to create a plant with multiple root zones. This allows for the simultaneous supply of different nutrients and water to each root zone and cultivation management with different characteristics, which was previously difficult. This discovery led to the completion of the present invention.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention is a technique for increasing one or more secondary root zones outside the main root zone in a main plant by grafting to the plant body, supplying different nutrients and water to each, and controlling growth.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, the root zone of a plant is one zone per individual, and mainly spreads the root zone on the ground, in soil for potted plants, etc., and in water for hydroponics to grow.

[0003] The nutrients and water supplied to the root zone are of one type, and when supplying nutrients and water of different properties, it is necessary to mix them or supply them at different times.

[0004] When the main root zone is extensive on the ground or the like, it is possible to supply different nutrients and water by dividing the range, but it is difficult to grasp the affected range and effect of each.

[0005] When the root zone of the main plant is damaged, in order to maintain growth, there is a method of grafting a同种 plant with a different root zone and providing a new root zone for reinforcement, but this is for the purpose of survival and is not a method of actively utilizing the characteristic of having multiple root zones for cultivation management.

[0006] As a method of creating a plant body having multiple root zones, in JP-A-2005-304495, there is a method of cultivating by grafting and connecting tree bodies as a "tree body joint manufacturing method", but this is a technique for the purpose of forming the external appearance of the tree body, early harvesting, etc., and as a result, it has multiple root zones, but it is not a technique for actively utilizing the characteristic of having multiple root zones such as performing different management on each root zone.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0007]

Patent Document 1

[0008] The present invention aims to develop a method for simultaneously performing cultivation management with different characteristics by supplying nutrients and water of different properties to the root zone of plants. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] As a result of diligent efforts to solve the above problems, the inventors of the present invention discovered that multiple root zones can be conferred to the main plant by grafting a secondary plant with a different root zone onto the main plant, and thus developed the present invention.

[0010] In other words, the present invention is a method that enables different cultivation management, such as different fertilization and water supply, to be performed on each root zone by conferring multiple root zones to a plant.

[0011] By supplying nutrients and water to one root zone while applying drought stress to the other, it becomes possible to simultaneously interfere with the plant body with different properties, which was previously difficult, thereby enabling more precise and complex control of plant growth.

[0012] The primary root zone is underground, in potting soil, or underwater. The secondary root zone consists of a restricted area, such as potting soil or hydroponics, where nutrient and water management is easier.

[0013] Even if the root zone is damaged, the secondary root zone is easy to replace, making it possible to create a new secondary root zone for the main plant.

[0014] When the primary root zone is underground, excessive nutrient supply can lead to nutrient accumulation in the soil, but replacing the primary root zone is difficult. By supplying nutrients to the secondary root zone, it becomes possible to replace the root zone even when excessive nutrient supply becomes a problem.

[0015] Even when the primary root zone becomes excessively dry or wet due to weather conditions, the impact on the plant can be reduced by controlling the water supply to the more manageable secondary root zone.

[0016] When the primary root zone is soil or hydroponics, supplying multiple nutrients requires mixing multiple nutrient solutions, which raises concerns about adverse effects and nutrient concentration. However, these adverse effects and concentration can be avoided by distributing the nutrients across multiple root zones.

[0017] This method allows for simultaneous interference with different root zones, which was previously difficult, such as keeping the primary root zone flooded and the secondary root zone dry.

[0018] The present invention can be applied to any plant that can be grafted. Examples of commercially viable crops include melons, watermelons, and mangoes among fruit vegetables, grapes, apples, peaches, pears, cherries, and kiwifruit among fruit trees, and cucumbers and tomatoes among vegetables.

[0019] Methods of grafting to plants include side grafting (shaving one side of the tip of the main branch of a plant with secondary root zones, inserting it into the area where the bark has been removed from the main plant, and ensuring a tight fit), and joint grafting (shaving one side of the tip of the main branch of a plant with secondary root zones, joining it to the area where the bark has been removed from the main plant, and ensuring a tight fit). [Effects of the Invention]

[0020] This invention makes it possible to simultaneously perform different cultivation management on a single plant. Because it allows for the simultaneous application of interference with different properties (e.g., flooding one while drying the other), which was previously difficult, it enables the development and implementation of new cultivation management methods, such as simultaneously generating different plant responses. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0021] [Figure 1] The overall picture of a plant with multiple root zones [Figure 2] Implementation of different nutrient and water supply to multiple root zones

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0022] In order to describe the present invention more specifically, examples are shown, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0023] With the configuration shown in FIG. 1, a plant body having a secondary root zone is grafted onto a main plant body having a main root zone to impart a secondary root zone.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 2, it becomes possible to supply nourishing water of different properties to a plurality of root zones simultaneously.

EXPLANATION OF SYMBOLS

[0025] 1 Main plant body 2 Main root zone 3 Grafting part 4 Secondary root zone

Claims

1. A method that involves grafting (3) another plant with a different root zone onto a plant body (1), thereby conferring a secondary root zone (4) in addition to the primary root zone (2), making it possible to perform different cultivation management for each root zone.

2. The cultivation management method according to claim 1, characterized in that the plant is a graftable fruit tree or a fruit vegetable or vegetable.

Images