System for cultivating plants and method of operation thereof

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system (1) for cultivating plants, the system (1) comprising: a plurality of cultivation shelves (4) for cultivating plants; a support frame (3) configured to support the cultivation shelves (4) so ​​as to form one or more horizontal cultivation surfaces (Li) extending along a first horizontal direction (K); an aeroponics supply system (6) with spraying devices (8) arranged on the cultivation shelves (4) for spraying liquid onto the cultivation shelves (4) themselves; and a suction duct (15) arranged on the spraying devices (8) for sucking in the sprayed liquid dispersed by the spraying devices (8).

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] [CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS] This application claims priority from Italian Patent Application No. 102019000009603, filed June 20, 2019, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The present invention relates to a plant cultivation system.

[0003] In particular, the present invention relates to the recovery of fertilizer-based liquids sprayed towards plants during aeroponic feeding procedures, preferably, but not necessarily, in vertical farming type cultivation systems, to which the following discussion makes explicit reference without loss of generality. [Background technology]

[0004] As is well known, vertical farming cultivation systems are configured to implement a high-density cultivation process of plants, such as plants / vegetables, in a closed artificial environment, generally without soil / soil or sunlight. The plants are grown on dedicated shelves or trays mounted horizontally on a support frame and distributed on several overlapping cultivation surfaces at gradually increasing heights relative to the support surface of the frame in order to extend the system, including in the vertical direction.

[0005] The plant cultivation process carried out via the above mentioned cultivation systems essentially involves supplying fertilizer based liquid to growing surfaces in a controlled manner while simultaneously illuminating them using artificial light sources.

[0006] In some growing systems of the above types, liquid is supplied to the plants by aeroponics feeding, which essentially involves spraying / nebulising fertiliser liquid towards the growing trays to wet the plant roots.

[0007] During application, a portion of the applied fertilizer solution disperses, i.e. falls downwards, so that the cultivation system is generally provided with a collection system.

[0008] Some collection systems require the use of a hydraulic drainage system that includes a collection tank with a drain opening at the bottom that is placed under the growing surface and connected to a vertical drainage column via an external connection. The drainage system also includes a common liquid collection container that is placed under the first growing surface and hydraulically connected to the drainage column to receive and store the liquid that flows out of the tank. During use, the liquid contained in the tank is drained by gravity from the drain opening towards the drainage column, which constantly carries the liquid by gravity to the tank below.

[0009] The first technical problem of the hydraulic drainage systems mentioned above is that they are particularly prone to clogging, both at the outlet and at the connections. In addition to the cost of interventions, clogging can cause stagnation on the cultivation surface and therefore increase the risk of fungal and bacterial formation and contamination of the plants.

[0010] The second technical problem of the above hydraulic drainage system is that in order to ensure the correct drainage of the liquid, the tank must be equipped with a large number of both drains and vertical columns, this condition affects both the overall size of the system and the cost of its implementation.

[0011] A third technical problem of the above hydraulic drainage system is that a typical collection tank occupies useful space that could be occupied by the first growing surface, and therefore the first growing surface is mounted at a certain minimum height that is higher than the height of the tank itself.

[0012] A known plant cultivation system is described, for example, in US Pat. No. 5,399,633. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0013] [Patent Document 1] China Patent Publication No. 109699488 Summary of the Invention [Means for solving the problem]

[0014] The Applicant has therefore carried out a detailed search aimed at identifying a solution that is easy to implement and economical, capable of overcoming the above mentioned technical problems.

[0015] This object is achieved by the present invention in connection with a cultivation system as disclosed in the corresponding appended claims.

[0016] This object is also achieved by the present invention in relation to a method for operating a cultivation system, as defined in the appended claims.

[0017] The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show non-limiting embodiments thereof. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a cultivation system for the production of plants constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a perspective view, with parts removed for clarity, of a preferred embodiment of a cultivation system for the production of plants, constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention; [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a portion of a cultivation system for the production of the plant shown in FIG. [Figure 4] 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a growing surface of a growing system for the production of plants constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention; [Diagram 5] 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of a portion of a growing surface of a growing system for the production of plants, constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention; [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a top perspective view, with parts removed to clarify the growing aspects, of a growing system for the production of plants, constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention; [Figure 7] FIG. 1 is a bottom perspective view with parts removed to clarify the growing surface of a growing system for the production of plants, constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0019] The present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings to enable those skilled in the art to implement and use it. Various modifications to the described embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the described general principles may be applied to other embodiments and applications without departing from the scope of protection of the present invention as defined in the appended claims. Thus, the present invention should not be limited in scope to the embodiments described and illustrated herein, but should be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and characteristics disclosed and claimed herein.

[0020] The invention is essentially based on the idea of ​​arranging at least one suction duct in the spraying device present in each growing surface in order to suck in the liquid dispersed by the spraying device during spraying. The invention is also based on the idea of ​​arranging a collecting basin below the growing surface in order to collect the liquid dispersed during spraying and to empty it using the suction duct in a basin.

[0021] According to the embodiment shown diagrammatically in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the number 1 generally indicates a schematic representation of a plant cultivation system. Preferably, but not necessarily, the cultivation system 1 may be of the multi-plane vertical farming type (Figures 2 and 3).

[0022] The cultivation system 1 may be placed in a greenhouse container 2, preferably a closed container. The greenhouse container 2 may internally delimit a cultivation environment in which at least one cultivation system 1 is installed (in FIG. 1 two cultivation systems 1 are shown merely as a non-limiting example). The greenhouse container 2 may include at least one pavilion-shaped closed space formed from walls made of transparent material based on glass and / or plastic in order to illuminate the cultivation system 1 via solar radiation.

[0023] It will be appreciated that the greenhouse container 2 is not limited to containers with transparent walls of the type described above, but may include containers formed from walls of opaque material. In one embodiment in which the cultivation system 1 is a vertical farming system, the greenhouse container has walls made of opaque material.

[0024] In the following discussion, the term "plants" is also implied to refer to any plant product, preferably for food use. Plants may include lettuce, leafy greens, vegetables, and aromatic herbs such as arugula, basil, mint, etc. In any case, the above invention is not limited to the above types of food plants, but is generally meant to be applicable to the cultivation of other types of plants, such as flowers, plants, etc., that are grown in conventional types of greenhouses.

[0025] In the following discussion, without loss of generality, explicit reference will be made to the vertical farming cultivation system 1.

[0026] With reference to the embodiment shown in figures 1 and 2, the greenhouse container 2 is closed and may have, for example, a convenient parallelepiped shape that internally delimits a preferably artificial space / environment for cultivation. The term "artificial cultivation environment" is meant to refer to a production area / space (growth area) without soil or above the ground, in which an automated plant cultivation / growth program is carried out. In the artificial cultivation environment, artificial lighting devices (not shown), such as LED devices, may be installed in the greenhouse container 2. These are of known type and will not be described further.

[0027] The cultivation system 1 comprises one or more frames 3 (FIG. 3) arranged on a horizontal plane P and a series of cultivation shelves 4 attached to the frames 3 so as to form one or more cultivation surfaces Li, which are preferably horizontal (varying between 1 and n layers) and overlap each other at corresponding heights above the plane P.

[0028] With reference to FIG. 5, the cultivation shelves 4 forming the shared cultivation surface / level Li are coplanar with each other and arranged alongside each other along the extension direction K, with their relative adjacent sides adjacent to each other. The cultivation shelves 4 are configured to support the growing plants (indicated by V in FIGS. 4 and 5) and can preferably have a substantially rectangular shape and can have the same dimensions. The cultivation shelves 4 can be configured to be rigidly coupled to the frame 3 but also to be easily removed / detached (or separated). According to one embodiment shown in FIGS. 1, 4 and 5, the cultivation shelves 4 preferably comprise thin, flat sheets arranged substantially horizontally with opposite straight longitudinal edges (parallel to the direction K) on respective lateral support clamps 5 attached to the vertical columns of the frame 3 (FIG. 4). The cultivation shelf 4 is preferably made, for example, from a plastic base and is configured such that during plant growth, the roots firmly grip the body of the cultivation shelf 4 such that the roots extend mainly below the lower surface 4a of the cultivation shelf 4 and the useful plant parts extend mainly above the upper surface 4b of the cultivation shelf 4.

[0029] With reference to FIG. 1, the cultivation system 1 further comprises an aeroponic supply system 6 configured to selectively spray liquid at the cultivation shelves 4 present in the cultivation surface Li. It is understood that the liquid may be based on a mixture of water and nutrient substances (fertilizers) suitable for the plants. The aeroponic supply system 6 may be configured to selectively supply liquid in the cultivation surface Li in a controlled manner in terms of the amount, type and / or moment of supply, via spraying. According to an embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the aeroponic supply system 6 may comprise, for each cultivation level / plane Li, at least one delivery pipe or duct 7 through which the liquid circulates, and a series of spraying devices, for example nozzles 8, preferably arranged under the cultivation shelves 4 of the cultivation surface Li to spray the liquid towards the lower surface 4a of the cultivation shelves 4 upwards and hydraulically connected to the delivery duct 7 to receive the liquid.

[0030] According to the embodiment shown in the attached figures, the aeroponic supply system 6 may comprise, for each growing surface Li, at least one delivery duct 7 arranged below the growing shelf 4 and extending along the growing plane Li parallel to the extension direction K of the growing surface Li itself (Figures 1 and 5). According to a preferred embodiment shown in Figures 3 to 7, the aeroponic supply system 6 may comprise four delivery ducts 7, while the nozzles 8 are arranged above the delivery ducts 7 and preferably supported by them. The delivery ducts 7 are preferably essentially straight, parallel to one another, have axes A lying in the direction K and are conveniently coplanar and equidistant from one another (Figure 4).

[0031] According to the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the aeroponic supply system 6 further comprises a supply assembly 9 configured to selectively supply liquid to the supply ducts 7 for supplying the growing shelves 4. The supply assembly 9 is of a known type and therefore will not be described further, unless specified that it may include a liquid containing tank (not shown) and a hydraulic pump (not shown) for drawing liquid from the liquid containing tank and supplying it at the inlet to the ducts 7. The aeroponic supply system 6 may also preferably, but not necessarily, include a solenoid valve 10 connected to the ducts 7 and configured to selectively open or close each opposing duct 7 based on a corresponding command / signal generated by an electronic control unit 11.

[0032] The cultivation system 1 also comprises a suction system 12 configured to suck the sprayed liquid dispersed in each cultivation surface Li. According to a preferred embodiment illustrated in Figures 3, 4 and 5, the suction system 12 comprises, for each cultivation surface Li, a collection tank 14 arranged directly below the cultivation shelves 4 forming the cultivation surface Li and configured to collect and contain the liquid falling during the spraying carried out on the cultivation surface Li itself (Figures 1, 3, 4 and 5).

[0033] The suction system 12 also comprises, for each growing surface Li, at least one suction duct 15 arranged below the growing surface Li so as to be inside the collecting tank 14 and extending along a longitudinal axis B substantially parallel to the extension direction K and to the axis A (FIG. 5). The applicant has discovered that the use of the suction duct 15 in each collecting tank 14 makes it possible to quickly empty each tank in a selective manner, independently of the other planes and independently of the length of the plane itself. Furthermore, the synergistic use of the collecting tanks and the suction ducts in them removes limitations on the maximum dimensions of the system, since the length of the system can be modified as required.

[0034] According to the preferred embodiment shown in figures 1 to 7, the suction system 12 comprises a suction duct 15 which preferably extends over the entire length of the corresponding growing surface Li.

[0035] According to an embodiment shown in Fig. 7, the suction duct 15 has suction through openings 16, through which the liquid contained in the collecting vessel 14 is sucked into the suction duct 15. The suction through openings 16 can be made in the suction duct 15 according to a longitudinal distribution so that the liquid in the collecting vessel 14 (shown as FL in Fig. 4) can be collected over the entire length of the collecting vessel 14. For example, the suction through openings 16 can be formed under the side of the suction duct 15 facing / adjacent to the bottom of the collecting vessel 14 and / or transversely to the bottom of the collecting vessel 14. The suction through openings 16 are preferably circular and can have a diameter of about 6 mm.

[0036] According to a preferred embodiment, the collecting tank 14 extends (along the direction K) below the growing shelf 4 on the growing surface Li over the entire length of the growing shelf 4. The collecting tank 14 preferably comprises a thin layer of a very flexible waterproof material. The applicant has found it convenient to use a film of waterproof fabric. For example, the applicant has found it convenient to use a flexible sheet based on a plastic material (polyvinyl chloride) since it is very easy and economical to install. In laboratory tests carried out by the applicant, it has proved convenient to use, for example, a flexible and waterproof sheet called POLYPLAN Tent Opaque® sold by SATTLER®.

[0037] This layer is preferably made of a light-opaque material so as not to illuminate the plant roots.

[0038] However, it is still understood that the present invention is not limited to layers of highly flexible waterproof material.

[0039] For example, according to one embodiment (not shown), the layer may be based on a rigid material. For example, according to one embodiment (not shown), the layer may be based on a metal or plastic material. For example, according to one embodiment (not shown), the collection tank may comprise an upwardly open rigid receptacle or container, obtained for example by molding and extending below the growing shelf 4.

[0040] The collecting vessel 14 is preferably approximately horizontal. With reference to the embodiment shown in Fig. 4 and Fig. 6, the collecting vessel 14 has two larger sides 14a extending parallel to the direction K and is connected to the vertical columns of the frame 3 at the longitudinal sides of the growing shelf 4. The two edges of the layer forming the two larger sides 14a laterally separate the bottom wall of the collecting vessel 14. The larger sides 14a can preferably be fixed to the frame 3 via opposing lateral holding guides, in which case the opposing lateral holding guides are connected to the frame 3 and the two larger sides 14a of the collecting vessel 14 are inserted by sliding inside the holding guides. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 4, in which the collecting vessel 14 has the aforementioned layers, the larger sides 14a may be enlarged, i.e. preferably circular, and include a cross section with a diameter larger than the thickness of the layers, while the guides may have a cross section approximating (upwards) the diameter of the two larger sides 14a.

[0041] In the embodiment shown in Figures 3 and 4, the bottom wall of the liquid collecting vessel 14 has a cross section along the direction K that is approximately arched or semicircular. Referring to Figure 5, the liquid collecting vessel 14 further has two containing walls 14b on two opposite longitudinal ends, which are orthogonal to the direction K. The two containing walls 14b close two openings present at the ends of the bottom wall to form a liquid collecting receptacle. The two containing walls 14b extend approximately vertically and are configured to form the two smaller sides of the aforementioned vessel. The two walls 14b are preferably configured through the same layer of the bottom wall of the liquid collecting vessel 14 and are joined (e.g. welded along corresponding edges) to the bottom wall of the liquid collecting vessel 14 to form a single body capable of containing liquid.

[0042] The larger side 14a forming the upper edge of the bottom wall, and preferably the lower ends of the two walls 14b, are preferably approximately coplanar (horizontally) and essentially positioned close to each other and almost outside the cultivation shelf 4 on the lower surface 4a of the cultivation shelf 4, on the one hand preventing the sprayed liquid from leaving the frame 3 and on the other hand collecting the sprayed liquid in the layer 14.

[0043] According to a possible embodiment, with reference to Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7, the suction duct 15 runs centrally and straight over the entire length of the growing shelf 4 and is positioned mainly adjacent to the lower part of the collecting tank 14 so as to allow the collecting tank 14 to be completely emptied.

[0044] With reference to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the suction system 12 may further comprise a suction assembly 20 hydraulically connected to the suction duct 15 for selectively suctioning the liquid contained in the liquid collection tank 14. The suction assembly 20 may preferably comprise a hydraulic suction pump (not shown), a collection tank (not shown), a filter (not shown), and a solenoid valve 21. The solenoid valve 21 may preferably be arranged along the suction duct 15 and configured to open and close the solenoid valve 21 based on respective commands / signals provided by the electronic control unit 11. The suction pump may be selectively driven by the electronic control unit 11 based on a pre-set suction program. An electric / electronic liquid detection sensor may be provided in the liquid collection tank 14 (not shown). The operation of sucking up the liquid contained in each liquid collection tank 14 may be controlled based on the detection of an electric / electronic liquid detection sensor (not shown) present in the liquid collection tank 14 itself.

[0045] According to an embodiment shown in Figures 6 and 7, the delivery duct 7 and the suction duct 15 may be supported inside the collection tank 14 via support rods 22 extending transversely to the extension direction K below the growing shelves 4 and rigidly fixed to the upper ends of the vertical columns of the frame 3. The support rods may be equidistant from one another along the direction K.

[0046] The support bar 22 can preferably be essentially arched so as to approximately follow the inner surface of the bottom wall of the collecting vessel 14 and is provided with snap-fastening elements, e.g. tube-holding devices 23 into which the supply duct 7 and the suction duct 15 are inserted. The support bar 22 can preferably hold the layers of the collecting vessel 14 in tension towards the outside. The support bar 22 preferably supports the suction duct 15 below the supply duct 7 and approximately close to the bottom of the vessel 14.

[0047] The method of operation of the cultivation system 1 can be easily deduced from the above and essentially comprises the steps of collecting the dispersed spray liquid in a collection tank 14 arranged directly below the support shelf 4 of the cultivation surface Li and sucking the liquid contained in the collection tank 14 through a suction duct 15 extending into the collection tank 14 along a longitudinal axis B parallel to said direction K, without further explanation.

[0048] The above cultivation system has the advantage of eliminating clogging conditions, thereby making the cultivation environment much cleaner, and has all the advantages in terms of reducing the risk of contamination due to stagnation of the dispersion liquid.

[0049] The cultivation system also eliminates the need for a common collection tank below the first cultivation surface to collect the liquid drained by gravity from the upper tank, thereby allowing the minimum height of the first cultivation surface to be reduced, thereby optimizing the space occupied by the tank itself in the prior art.

[0050] Finally, it will be apparent that changes and modifications can be made to the cultivation system and method described and illustrated herein whilst remaining within the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0051] 1. Cultivation System 2 greenhouse containers 3 Frame 4 Cultivation shelves 4a Top / bottom surface 5 Support Clamp 6. Aeroponics Supply System 7. Delivery Duct 8 Sprayer / Nozzle 9 Supply Assembly 10 Solenoid valve 11 Electronic control unit 12 Suction System 14 Liquid collection tank 14a The Bigger Side 14b Containment Wall 15 Suction duct 16 Suction penetration opening 20 Suction Assembly 21 Solenoid valve 22 Support rod 23 Tube holding device A Longitudinal axis B Longitudinal axis K First direction P horizontal plane Li Cultivation surface / level, cultivation level, cultivation surface / flat, cultivation surface

Claims

1. A system (1) for cultivating plants, comprising: A plurality of cultivation shelves (4) for cultivating plants; a support frame (3) configured to support said cultivation shelves (4) to form one or more horizontal cultivation levels / planes (Li) each extending along a first horizontal direction (K); an aeroponics supply system (6) comprising a spraying device (8) arranged below the cultivation shelf (4) for spraying liquid towards the cultivation shelf (4) itself; In a cultivation system comprising: The cultivation system (1) comprises a suction system (12) for sucking the spray liquid dispersed by the spray device, the suction system (12) being arranged on the spray device (8); The suction system (12) comprises: At least one collection tank (14) arranged directly below a support shelf (4) for the horizontal cultivation level / plane (Li) so as to extend along a direction substantially parallel to the first horizontal direction (K), the at least one collection tank (14) being configured to collect and contain the dispersed spray liquid; at least one suction duct (15) extending inside the collecting tank (14), said suction duct (15) being configured to suck liquid contained in the collecting tank (14) itself; Including, The suction duct (15) is disposed adjacent to a bottom wall of the liquid collection tank (14) and extends along the first horizontal direction (K) over substantially the entire length of the liquid collection tank (14); A cultivation system (1), characterized in that suction through openings (16) are present in said suction duct (15) at intervals along the longitudinal axis (B).

2. 2. The cultivation system of claim 1, wherein the collection tank (14) comprises a thin layer made of a flexible, waterproof material.

3. 3. The cultivation system of claim 1 or 2, wherein the collection tank (14) comprises a flexible sheet made of a plastic material.

4. 3. The cultivation system of claim 2, wherein the thin layer is made of a light-opaque material to prevent light from shining on the roots of vegetables.

5. The cultivation system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the suction duct (15) extends along a longitudinal axis (B) parallel to the first horizontal direction (K) at approximately the center of the collection tank (14).

6. A cultivation system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the suction through opening (16) is formed in the suction duct (15) below the side of the suction duct (15) facing / adjacent to the bottom of the collection tank (14).

7. 7. A cultivation system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the suction through opening (16) is circular and has a diameter of about 6 mm.

8. 8. The cultivation system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the aeroponics supply system (6) comprises at least one delivery duct (7) for liquid, the delivery duct (7) extending inside the collection tank (14) along a relative longitudinal axis (A) parallel to the first horizontal direction (K), and a series of spraying devices (8) connected to the delivery duct (7) and arranged inside the collection tank (14) for spraying the liquid towards the cultivation shelves (4).

9. 9. The cultivation system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the collecting tank (14) has two opposing longitudinal sides (14a) parallel to the first horizontal direction (K) and arranged near the longitudinal sides of the cultivation shelves (4) of a relative cultivation level / plane (Li).

10. 10. The cultivation system according to claim 9, wherein the longitudinal side surfaces (14a) are connected to the support frame (3) via opposing lateral holding guides fixed to the support frame (3), and the two longitudinal side surfaces (14a) of the collection tank (14) are inserted by sliding them inside the opposing lateral holding guides.

11. The cultivation system according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the longitudinal side surfaces (14a) forming the upper edge of the bottom wall are substantially on the same plane and arranged close to each other and on the lower surface 4a of the cultivation shelf (4) outside the cultivation shelf (4), thereby preventing the sprayed liquid from coming out of the support frame (3) and collecting the sprayed liquid in the collection tank (14).

12. 12. A cultivation system according to any one of claims 1 to 11, comprising a suction assembly (20) hydraulically connected to a series of suction ducts (15) associated with corresponding collection tanks (14) for selectively sucking the liquid contained in the collection tanks (14) themselves.

13. 13. The cultivation system according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the delivery ducts (7) and the suction ducts (15) are supported inside the corresponding collecting tanks (14) via supporting rods (22) extending transversely to the first horizontal direction (K) below the cultivation shelves (4) and rigidly fixed at the upper ends of the vertical columns of the support frame (3).

14. The cultivation system according to claim 13, wherein the support rod (22) is arched so as to follow the inner surface of the bottom wall of the collection tank (14).

15. The delivery duct (7) and the suction duct (15) are supported inside the corresponding collection tank (14) via a support rod (22) extending across the first horizontal direction (K) below the cultivation shelf (4) and rigidly fixed at the upper end of a vertical column of the support frame (3), The support rod (22) is arched so as to follow the inner surface of the bottom wall of the liquid collecting tank (14), 3. The cultivation system according to claim 2, wherein the support rod (22) is configured to hold the thin layer of the collection tank (14) in an outwardly stretched state.

16. 16. Cultivation system according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the support rod (22) is provided with snap-fastening elements into which the delivery duct (7) and the suction duct (15) are inserted.

17. 17. The cultivation system according to any one of claims 14 to 16, wherein the support rod (22) supports the suction duct (15) below the delivery duct (7) and near the bottom of the collection tank (14).

18. A method of operating a system (1) for cultivating plants, the system comprising a plurality of support shelves (4) for cultivating plants, a support frame (3) configured to support the cultivation shelves (4) to form one or more horizontal cultivation levels / planes (Li) extending along a first horizontal direction (K), and an aeroponics supply system (6) configured to selectively provide a sprayed liquid towards the support shelves (4) of the cultivation levels (Li), the method comprising the steps of: The method includes the steps of: collecting the dispersed spray liquid through a collection tank (14) arranged directly below the support shelf (4) for the cultivation level (Li) so as to extend along a direction parallel to the first horizontal direction (K), the collection tank (14) being configured to collect and store the dispersed spray liquid; and sucking the liquid stored in the collection tank (14) through a suction duct (15) extending into the collection tank (14) along a vertical axis (B) parallel to the first horizontal direction along substantially the entire length of the collection tank (14) along the first horizontal direction (K), the suction duct (15) being arranged adjacent to a bottom wall of the collection tank (14), 4. A method according to claim 3, characterized in that suction through openings (16) are present in said suction duct (15) spaced apart from one another along the longitudinal axis (B).

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