Aquaponics system and method for cultivating plants using an aquaponics system

Abstract

To provide an aquaponics system and a method for cultivating plants using an aquaponics system, which are likely to develop root rot and should be cultivated while avoiding immersion in breeding water, and which have improved cultivation efficiency. [Solution] The aquaponics system 100 comprises a first storage section 1 that stores breeding water 10 and aquatic organisms A, a plurality of second storage sections 2 that store filler 20 and plants B and discharge the breeding water 10 discharged from the first storage section 1 and supplied from above through drainage holes 221 drilled in the side sections 22, and a recovery section 3 that is provided below the plurality of second storage sections 2 and recovers the breeding water 10 discharged from the plurality of second storage sections 2, and is configured so that the breeding water 10 recovered in the recovery section 3 does not flow back into the plurality of second storage sections 2 through the drainage holes 221.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an aquaponics system and a method for cultivating plants using an aquaponics system. [Background technology]

[0002] Previously, research has focused on cultivating plants using media such as soil in aquaponics systems. Conventional methods require covering the entire plant cultivation container with media, resulting in high media costs. Furthermore, nutrients are absorbed by the media, preventing them from reaching the plants. This poses a problem: plant cultivation efficiency cannot be improved unless the amount of fish cultivated in the aquaponics system is increased. Therefore, a new method has been developed that allocates multiple independent cultivation containers to each of the multiple plants being cultivated, thereby reducing media usage while efficiently supplying nutrients to the plants. This improves plant cultivation efficiency.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses an aquaponics system in which a cultivation tray filled with filler is assigned to each cultivated plant. Furthermore, the cultivation trays are made of a highly permeable material, such as mesh, to allow the culture water (cultivation water) to reach the cultivated plants sufficiently. However, in the aquaponics system disclosed in Patent Document 1, root-accommodating pipes that accommodate the lower parts of the cultivation trays fixed to the cultivation shelves are irrigated with the culture water, which makes the roots prone to rot, and this creates a problem in that plants that should be cultivated without being submerged in the culture water cannot be cultivated efficiently (see paragraphs 0110-0113, Figures 4 and 6 of Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Special Publication No. 2017-503525 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The present invention was devised in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to provide an aquaponics system and a method for cultivating plants using an aquaponics system that improves the cultivation efficiency of plants that are prone to root rot and should be cultivated while avoiding immersion in breeding water. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The aquaponics system of the first invention comprises a first storage unit for storing breeding water and aquatic organisms, a plurality of independent second storage units for storing filler and plants, and for discharging the breeding water discharged from the first storage unit and supplied from above through drainage holes drilled in the sides, and a drainage system provided below the plurality of second storage units for collecting the breeding water discharged from the plurality of second storage units. and then supplied to the first storage section and a recovery section for recovering the rearing water from the second storage sections, and the second storage sections are configured so that the rearing water recovered in the recovery section does not flow back into the interior through the drainage hole.

[0007] The aquaponics system of the second invention is characterized in that, in the first invention, the recovery section is arranged independently of each other below each of the second storage sections, and supplies the recovered rearing water to the first storage section.

[0008] The third invention relates to a method for cultivating plants using an aquaponics system, and the method includes a water supply step of supplying the culture water discharged from a first container containing culture water and aquatic organisms to a plurality of second containers containing filler and plants from above, the second containers being independent of each other; a drainage step of discharging the culture water supplied in the water supply step through drainage holes drilled in the sides of the second containers; and a recovery step of recovering the culture water discharged in the drainage step using a recovery unit provided below the second containers. and then supplied to the first storage section and a recovery step of recovering the rearing water, wherein the rearing water recovered in the recovery step is configured not to flow back into the plurality of second storage sections through the drainage holes. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the first aspect of the present invention, the multiple second storage units are configured to discharge rearing water discharged from the first storage unit and supplied from above through drainage holes drilled in their sides, and to prevent rearing water collected in the collection unit from flowing back into the unit through the drainage holes. This prevents plants in the second storage units from being submerged in rearing water, allowing the water to be efficiently drained through the drainage holes in the sides. Furthermore, the multiple second storage units discharge rearing water independently through drainage holes drilled in their respective sides. This allows for optimized supply and drainage of rearing water for each plant. This improves the cultivation efficiency of plants that are prone to root rot and should be cultivated without being submerged in rearing water.

[0010] In particular, according to the second aspect of the present invention, multiple collection units are independently arranged below the multiple second storage units, and the collected culture water is supplied to the first storage unit. Therefore, in a circulating aquaponics system, even if one collection unit becomes clogged, the collected culture water can be circulated in the other collection units. This helps prevent a decrease in plant cultivation efficiency.

[0011] According to the third aspect of the present invention, the drainage process is configured to drain the rearing water supplied in the water supply process through drainage holes drilled in the side portions of the multiple second storage units, and to prevent the rearing water collected in the collection process from flowing back into the multiple second storage units through the drainage holes. This allows the plants in the second storage units to be efficiently drained through the drainage holes in the side portions without being submerged in the rearing water. Furthermore, the multiple second storage units independently drain the rearing water through drainage holes drilled in their respective side portions. This allows the supply and drainage of rearing water to be optimized for each plant. This improves the cultivation efficiency of plants that are prone to root rot and should be cultivated without being submerged in rearing water. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an aquaponics system according to this embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic enlarged view of a part of FIG. [Figure 3]FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a modified example of the aquaponics system according to this embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, an aquaponics system 100 as an embodiment of the present invention and an example of a plant cultivation method using the aquaponics system 100 will be described in detail. Note that the components in each drawing are depicted schematically for the purpose of explanation, and for example, the size of each component and the size comparison between each component may differ from those shown in the drawings.

[0014] (Aquaponics System 100) An example of an aquaponics system 100 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0015] As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, an aquaponics system 100 is a system for raising an aquatic organism A and cultivating a plant B using breeding water 10. The aquaponics system 100 includes, for example, a first storage unit 1, a plurality of second storage units 2, and a collection unit 3. The aquaponics system 100 may also include, for example, a physical filtration device 4, a water storage tank 5, a water supply pipe 6, and a drainage pipe 7. Fig. 2 is a partially enlarged view of Fig. 1.

[0016] The aquaponics system 100 supplies, for example, culture water 10 discharged from a first storage unit 1 to a plurality of second storage units 2 that are independent of one another. The aquaponics system 100 may supply approximately the same amount of culture water 10 to each of the plurality of second storage units 2 without adjusting the flow rate. Furthermore, when a plurality of different plants B are housed and cultivated in a plurality of second storage units 2 that are independent of one another, the aquaponics system 100 may adjust the amount of culture water 10 supplied to each of the plurality of second storage units 2 according to the type of plant B, and then supply different amounts of culture water 10.

[0017] In the aquaponics system 100, for example, the culture water 10 contained in the first storage unit 1 is supplied to the second storage unit 2, discharged, and then collected by the collection unit 3. The aquaponics system 100 may be a closed circulation system in which the culture water 10 collected by the collection unit 3 is supplied to the first storage unit 1, or may be a free-flowing system in which the culture water 10 collected by the collection unit 3 is not supplied to the first storage unit 1.

[0018] Aquatic organisms A that can be cultivated using the aquaponics system 100 include animals that live in bodies of water such as rivers, lakes, marshes, groundwater, and oceans, and specifically include, for example, pelagic animals with excellent swimming ability, planktonic animals that cannot swim, and benthic animals that live on the bottom of the water. Examples of pelagic animals include fish (medaka, sturgeon, etc.), cetaceans, squid, and aquatic insects.

[0019] Plants B that can be cultivated using the aquaponics system 100 are plants that can be grown hydroponically, and specifically include plants of the Asteraceae family (leaf lettuce, etc.), Amaranthaceae plants (spinach, Swiss chard, etc.), Amaryllidaceae plants (chives, etc.), Apiaceae plants (parsley, etc.), and Brassicaceae plants (watercress, wasabi greens, etc.). Plants B also include root vegetables (radish, carrot, potato, taro, yam, turnip, burdock, lotus root, etc.) that are prone to root rot and should be cultivated without immersion in the breeding water 10.

[0020] <First storage section 1> The first storage unit 1 stores breeding water 10 and aquatic organisms A. As the first storage unit 1, for example, a known aquaculture tank or the like is used.

[0021] <<Breeding Water 10>> The breeding water 10 is contained in the first container 1. As the breeding water 10, known breeding water used in conventional aquaponics may be used.

[0022] <Second storage section 2> The second storage section 2 stores a filler 20 and a plant B. As the second storage section 2, for example, a potted plant for growing plants is used.

[0023] The second storage section 2 has, for example, a bottom 21 and a side section 22. The second storage section 2 is open, for example, at the top, so that the filler 20 and the plant B can be put in and taken out from above, and rearing water 10 can be supplied from above via a water supply pipe 6.

[0024] The second storage unit 2 discharges the supplied rearing water 10 through drainage holes 221 drilled in the side portion 22. The rearing water 10 discharged from the second storage unit 2 is collected by the collection unit 3, for example, via the drainage pipe 7. The second storage unit 2 is configured so that the rearing water 10 collected by the collection unit 3 does not flow back into the second storage unit 2 through the drainage holes 221. In this case, the plants B in the second storage unit 2 are not submerged in the rearing water 10, and the water can be efficiently drained through the drainage holes 221 in the side portion 22. Furthermore, the multiple second storage units 2 independently discharge the rearing water 10 through the drainage holes 221 drilled in their respective side portions 22. In this case, the supply and drainage of the rearing water 10 can be optimized for each plant B. This improves the cultivation efficiency of plants B, which are prone to root rot and should be cultivated without being submerged in the rearing water 10.

[0025] Examples of configurations that prevent the breeding water 10 from flowing back into the second storage unit 2 through the drainage hole 221 include positioning the second storage unit 2 so that the drainage hole 221 is higher than the collection unit 3, or adjusting the drainage performance of the collection unit 3 so that the water level of the breeding water 10 in the collection unit 3 is lower than the height of the drainage hole 221. Here, at least a portion of the second storage unit 2, including the bottom 21 and side 22, may be positioned inside the collection unit 3, as long as the water level of the breeding water 10 in the collection unit 3 is lower than the height of the drainage hole 221.

[0026] <<Filling material 20>> The filler 20 is contained in the second container 2. As the filler 20, known base soil, supplementary soil, potting soil, artificial soil, etc. used for plant cultivation may be used.

[0027] <<Bottom 21>> The bottom 21 is a portion that corresponds to the bottom plate of the second storage section 2. The bottom 21 may or may not have holes drilled therein, for example, for draining the breeding water 10 supplied to the second storage section 2.

[0028] <<Side portion 22>> The side portion 22 corresponds to the side plate of the second storage portion 2. The side portion 22 is provided with drainage holes 221 for draining the rearing water 10 supplied to the second storage portion 2. By providing the drainage holes 221 in the side portion 22, it is easier to ensure a larger total area of ​​the holes (the sum of the areas of the holes if there are multiple holes) and improve drainage performance compared to when holes are provided in the bottom portion 21. Furthermore, the larger the area of ​​the holes, the less likely they are to become clogged with debris, and even if some of them are clogged, the less likely the drainage performance to decrease. This can improve the cultivation efficiency of plant B, which is prone to root rot and should be cultivated without being immersed in the rearing water 10, and can also prevent a decrease in cultivation efficiency.

[0029] The drainage holes 221 may be shaped, for example, as through-holes drilled one by one in the side portion 22, or as a lattice mesh including a plurality of holes. In the example of Figures 1 and 2, the side portion 22 is a lattice mesh, and each gap between the lattices corresponds to a drainage hole 221.

[0030] The drainage hole 221 may have any size that allows the breeding water 10 to pass through sufficiently and prevents the filler 20 from leaking out.

[0031] <Recovery Section 3> The recovery unit 3 is provided below the plurality of second storage units 2. The recovery unit 3 recovers, for example, the breeding water 10 discharged from the plurality of second storage units 2. As the recovery unit 3, for example, a known aquarium tank or the like is used.

[0032] 3, multiple collection units 3 may be arranged independently of each other below multiple second storage units 2, and the collected culture water 10 may be supplied to the first storage unit 1. In this case, even if one collection unit 3 becomes clogged in the circulation-type aquaponics system 100, the collected culture water 10 can be circulated in the other collection units 3. This makes it possible to prevent a decrease in the cultivation efficiency of the plant B.

[0033] <Physical filtration device 4> The physical filtration device 4 is a known filtration device such as a sponge that physically filters out foreign matter in the breeding water 10. The physical filtration device 4 receives the breeding water 10 from the first storage section 1, for example, and discharges the breeding water 10 into the water tank 5.

[0034] <Water Tank 5> The water tank 5 is a known water storage tank that stores the breeding water 10. The breeding water 10 discharged from the collection unit 3 is supplied to the water tank 5 via a drain pipe 7. The water tank 5 is also supplied with the breeding water 10 discharged from the physical filtration device 4. The water tank 5 may supply the breeding water 10 therein to the first storage unit 1, thereby realizing a closed circulation type aquaponics system 100 in which the breeding water 10 circulates.

[0035] <Water supply pipe 6> The water supply pipe 6 is a known pipe that supplies the rearing water 10 discharged from the first housing part 1 to the second housing part 2. The water supply pipe 6 has a water supply end part 6a, as shown in FIG. 2, for example.

[0036] The water supply end 6a is the end of the water supply pipe 6 that is on the second storage section 2 side. The water supply end 6a is, for example, ring-shaped, and releases the rearing water 10 through one or more holes drilled in the ring shape.

[0037] The water supply end 6a is, for example, positioned above the filler 20 contained in the second storage section 2. The water supply end 6a supplies the rearing water 10 from above to the interior of the second storage section 2, which contains the filler 20, by, for example, discharging the rearing water 10 downward. At least a portion of the water supply end 6a may be contained within the interior of the second storage section 2, as long as it is, for example, positioned above the filler 20 and can discharge the rearing water 10 downward onto the filler 20.

[0038] <Drain pipe 7> The drain pipe 7 is a known pipe that supplies the breeding water 10 discharged from the recovery unit 3 to the water tank 5. The drain pipe 7 has a recovery hole 7a, as shown in FIG. 2, for example.

[0039] The recovery hole 7a is a hole provided at the end of the drain pipe 7 on the recovery unit 3 side. The recovery hole 7a is fitted into a hole drilled in, for example, the bottom plate of the recovery unit 3, and the breeding water 10 in the recovery unit 3 passes through it. For example, one or more recovery holes 7a are provided for each recovery unit 3.

[0040] (Plant cultivation method using the Aquaponics System 100) Next, an example of the operation of the aquaponics system 100 will be described as a plant cultivation method using the aquaponics system 100 in this embodiment with reference to the drawings.

[0041] The operation of the aquaponics system 100 includes, for example, a water supply process, a drainage process, and a recovery process.

[0042] <Advance preparation> As a preliminary preparation for the operation of the aquaponics system 100, an operator places a breeding water 10 and an aquatic organism A in the first storage section 1. The operator also places a filler 20 and a plant B in each of a plurality of second storage sections 2 that are independent of each other.

[0043] <Water supply process> In the water supply step, the aquaponics system 100 supplies the culture water 10 discharged from the first storage unit 1 to a plurality of second storage units 2 that are independent of each other from above.

[0044] <Drainage process> In the drainage process, the aquaponics system 100 discharges the breeding water 10 supplied to the multiple second storage sections 2 in the water supply process through drainage holes 221 drilled in the side sections 22 of the multiple second storage sections 2.

[0045] <Recovery process> In the recovery step, the aquaponics system 100 recovers the culture water 10 discharged from the second storage units 2 in the drainage step using a recovery unit 3 provided below the second storage units 2.

[0046] Furthermore, the rearing water 10 recovered in the recovery step is configured not to flow back into the plurality of second storage sections 2 through the drainage holes 221. In this case, the plants B in the second storage sections 2 are not submerged in the rearing water 10, and the water can be efficiently drained through the drainage holes 221 in the side sections 22. Furthermore, the plurality of second storage sections 2 independently discharge the rearing water 10 through the drainage holes 221 drilled in their respective side sections 22. In this case, the supply and drainage of the rearing water 10 can be optimized for each plant B. This improves the cultivation efficiency of plants B, which are prone to root rot and should be cultivated without being submerged in the rearing water 10.

[0047] The above steps are carried out to complete the operation of the aquaponics system 100. In the operation of the aquaponics system 100, for example, each step may be carried out repeatedly, or each step may be carried out multiple times.

[0048] According to this embodiment, the multiple second storage units 2 are configured to discharge the rearing water 10 discharged from the first storage unit 1 and supplied from above through the drainage holes 221 drilled in the side parts 22, and to prevent the rearing water 10 collected in the collection unit 3 from flowing back into the second storage units 2 through the drainage holes 221. This prevents the plants B in the second storage units 2 from being submerged in the rearing water 10, and allows the water to be efficiently drained through the drainage holes 221 in the side parts 22. Furthermore, the multiple second storage units 2 discharge the rearing water 10 independently through the drainage holes 221 drilled in their respective side parts 22. This allows the supply and drainage of the rearing water 10 to be optimized for each plant B. This improves the cultivation efficiency of plants B, which are prone to root rot and should be cultivated without being submerged in the rearing water 10.

[0049] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, a plurality of recovery units 3 are disposed below the plurality of second storage units 2, each independently of the other, and supply the recovered culture water 10 to the first storage unit 1. Therefore, in the circulation-type aquaponics system 100, even if one recovery unit 3 becomes clogged, the culture water 10 recovered in the other recovery units 3 can be circulated. This makes it possible to prevent a decrease in the cultivation efficiency of the plant B.

[0050] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the drainage step is configured to drain the rearing water 10 supplied in the water supply step through the drainage holes 221 drilled in the side portions 22 of the second storage units 2, and to prevent the rearing water 10 recovered in the recovery step from flowing back into the second storage units 2 through the drainage holes 221. This prevents the plants B in the second storage units 2 from being submerged in the rearing water 10, and allows the water to be efficiently drained through the drainage holes 221 in the side portions 22. Furthermore, the second storage units 2 each drain the rearing water 10 independently through the drainage holes 221 drilled in their respective side portions 22. This allows the supply and drainage of the rearing water 10 to be optimized for each plant B. This improves the cultivation efficiency of plants B, which are prone to root rot and should be cultivated without being submerged in the rearing water 10.

[0051] Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be embodied in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included within the scope and spirit of the invention, and are also included in the scope of the invention and its equivalents as defined in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0052] 100 Aquaponics System 1 First storage section 10 Breeding water 2 Second storage section 20 Filling material 21 Bottom 22 Side 221 Drain hole 3. Collection Department 4. Physical filtration equipment 5. Water Tank 6 Water supply pipe 6a Water supply end 7 Drain pipe 7a Recovery hole A Aquatic organisms B Plant

Claims

1. a first storage section for storing breeding water and aquatic organisms; a plurality of second storage sections independent of each other, each of which stores a filler and a plant, and which discharge the rearing water discharged from the first storage section and supplied from above through drainage holes drilled in the side sections; a recovery unit provided below the second storage units and configured to recover the rearing water discharged from the second storage units and supply the water to the first storage unit; Equipped with The second storage sections are configured so that the rearing water collected in the collection section does not flow back into the second storage sections through the drainage hole. Aquaponics system featuring:

2. The recovery unit is disposed below the second storage units, respectively, independently of one another, and supplies the recovered rearing water to the first storage units. The aquaponics system according to claim 1,

3. a water supplying step of supplying the breeding water discharged from a first storage section containing breeding water and aquatic organisms and supplied from above to a plurality of second storage sections each containing a filler and a plant, the second storage sections being independent of each other; a drainage step of draining the rearing water supplied in the water supply step through drainage holes formed in the side portions of the plurality of second storage sections; a recovery step of recovering the breeding water discharged in the drainage step using a recovery section provided below the plurality of second storage sections and supplying the recovered breeding water to the first storage section; and The rearing water collected in the collecting step is configured not to flow back into the second storage sections through the drainage holes. A method for cultivating plants using an aquaponics system, characterized by:

Images