Fruit tree cultivation device and fruit harvesting method

Abstract

To provide a fruit tree cultivation device that can easily harvest a fruit.SOLUTION: Provided is a fruit tree cultivation device comprising: at least one cultivation bed having an open top, a bottom 1 and a pair of walls 2a, 2b; and at least one cultivation pot 3 for planting and cultivating a fruit tree arranged between the pair of walls 2a and 2b and on the bottom 1, the cultivation bed being configured such that the cultivation pot 3 can be tilted toward the one wall portion 2b of the cultivation bed by making the height of one wall portion 2b of the pair of wall portions 2a and 2b lower than the height of the other wall portion 2a.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a fruit tree cultivation apparatus and a fruit harvesting method using the fruit tree cultivation apparatus, and more particularly to a fruit tree cultivation apparatus that allows for easy fruit harvesting. [Background technology]

[0002] Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology has developed an "Advanced Plant Factory Research Facility" for fruit trees, aiming to shorten the life cycle of fruit trees and achieve high yields and year-round production.

[0003] For example, International Publication No. 2014 / 156939 (Patent Document 1) describes a method for cultivating a plant, comprising: applying a first environmental stimulus to the plant to control flower bud differentiation, leaf bud differentiation, or both; applying a second environmental stimulus to the plant to control the timing of germination of flower buds, leaf buds, or both; and applying a third environmental stimulus to the plant by placing the plant in an environment suitable for leaf bud sprouting, flower bud sprouting, stem and leaf development, flowering, and fruiting. The invention described in Patent Document 1 makes it possible to appropriately control factors involved in differentiation into flower buds and leaf buds, flowering and fruiting, leaf bud sprouting, shoot growth, etc., and describes that in a preferred embodiment, leaf buds sprout in tandem with flower buds, and flowering and fruiting are repeated under new stems and leaves, thereby enabling continuous fruit production without a decline in tree vigor.

[0004] Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2017-60464 (Patent Document 2) describes a plant cultivation method including a step of growing a plant under first photoperiod conditions in which the plant is irradiated with blue light until flower bud differentiation, and then a step of growing the plant under second photoperiod conditions in which the plant is irradiated with red light or a mixture of red and blue light until at least flowering. According to the invention described in Patent Document 2, a plant is grown using blue light until flower bud differentiation occurs, and after flower bud differentiation, the plant is irradiated with red light or a mixture of red and blue light instead of blue light to induce flowering, thereby providing a plant cultivation method that can accelerate flowering and increase the number of flowers. In particular, when a plant is irradiated with a mixture of red and blue light, it is described that not only can flowering be accelerated and the number of flowers increased, but also the period of continuous production can be extended.

[0005] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2019-44 (Patent Document 3) describes a plant cultivation method including a first step of placing a plant under first environmental conditions to induce flower buds, a second step of placing the plant under second environmental conditions to induce flowering, and a third step of placing the plant under third environmental conditions to ripen fruit. Patent Document 3 describes that fruit can be formed at a time different from the time of fruiting under natural conditions, and that large fruit and flowers (buds) can be formed on the same branch, which may lead to the realization of a cultivation method that allows for two-season harvesting and year-round shipping. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2014 / 156939 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2017-60464 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2019-44 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] As mentioned above, the inventor is aiming to achieve high-yield, year-round production in fruit cultivation, while also conducting research into the realization of large-scale, automated fruit cultivation. The bottleneck in large-scale fruit cultivation is the labor required for fruit harvesting, and the development of automated harvesting is a top priority. For example, when hand-picking blueberries, it is said that one person can only harvest approximately 20 kg per day. In large-scale production where more than 200 kg are harvested daily, labor costs due to harvesting labor become enormous.

[0008] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a fruit tree cultivation apparatus that allows for easy fruit harvesting. Another object of the present invention is to provide a fruit harvesting method using such a fruit tree cultivation apparatus. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] As a result of extensive research into achieving the above-mentioned object, the inventors discovered that if fruit trees are grown in pots using a cultivation bed in which the height of one side of a pair of walls is lowered, it becomes possible to harvest the fruit by tilting the cultivation pot and shaking the fruit trees, thereby reducing the labor required for harvesting fruit, and have thus completed the present invention.

[0010] Therefore, a first aspect of the present invention is a fruit tree cultivation device comprising at least one cultivation bed having an open top, a bottom, and a pair of wall portions, and at least one cultivation pot for planting and cultivating a fruit tree, arranged between the pair of wall portions and on top of the bottom, wherein the cultivation bed is configured such that the height of one of the pair of wall portions is lower than the height of the other wall portion, and the cultivation pot can be tilted toward the one wall portion of the cultivation bed.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment of the fruit tree cultivation device of the present invention, the device further comprises a band or net, which is stretched so as to support the cultivation pot or the fruit tree planted in the cultivation pot when the cultivation pot is tilted toward one of the walls of the cultivation bed.

[0012] In another preferred embodiment of the fruit tree cultivation device of the present invention, the upper end of one of the wall portions is located at a position lower than 1 / 3 of the height of the cultivation pot, and the upper end of the other wall portion is located at a position higher than 1 / 2 of the height of the cultivation pot.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment of the fruit tree cultivation device of the present invention, the band or net is stretched on the one wall side at a position between the upper end of the one wall and the upper surface of the cultivation pot.

[0014] In another preferred embodiment of the fruit tree cultivation device of the present invention, when the cultivation beds are provided in a plurality of types and are arranged along the width direction of the cultivation beds, the cultivation beds are arranged in a cycle in which the spacing between adjacent cultivation beds alternates between a first spacing of 85 to 125 cm and a second spacing of 45 to 65 cm that is narrower than the first spacing.

[0015] In another preferred embodiment of the fruit tree cultivation device of the present invention, a plurality of the cultivation pots are arranged in the cultivation bed, and the plurality of cultivation pots are arranged with an interval of 10 to 90 cm between adjacent cultivation pots in the cultivation bed.

[0016] In another preferred embodiment of the fruit tree cultivation device of the present invention, the device further comprises a cultivation bench for installing the cultivation bed, and the position at which the cultivation pot is installed is 60 to 80 cm high from the installation surface of the fruit tree cultivation device.

[0017] In another preferred embodiment of the fruit tree cultivation device of the present invention, the device further comprises a heat insulating sheet covering the cultivation pot.

[0018] In another preferred embodiment of the fruit tree cultivation apparatus of the present invention, an air supply device for supplying air into the cultivation pot is further provided.

[0019] A second aspect of the present invention is a fruit harvesting method using a fruit tree cultivation apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, characterized in that fruit is harvested from the fruit tree by tilting the cultivation pot toward one wall of the cultivation bed and shaking or manually picking the fruit planted in the cultivation pot. [Effects of the Invention]

[0020] According to a first aspect of the present invention, a fruit tree cultivation apparatus that allows for easy fruit harvesting can be provided, and according to a second aspect of the present invention, a fruit harvesting method using such a fruit tree cultivation apparatus can be provided. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0021] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example of a cultivation bed. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an example in which two growing beds are arranged in a line along the length of the growing bed. [Figure 3] This is a schematic diagram of an example in which six cultivation beds are arranged along the width direction of the cultivation bed. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an example of cultivation pots arranged in a cultivation bed. [Figure 5] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an example in which multiple growing pots are arranged in a row on the bottom of a growing bed along the length of the growing bed. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an example in which a cultivation bed is installed on a cultivation bench. [Figure 7] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an example of a cultivation bed with a drainage member laid at the bottom. [Figure 8] 1 is a schematic diagram of an example of cultivating fruit trees using an embodiment of the cultivation device of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 9] 1 is a schematic diagram of an example of cultivating fruit trees using an embodiment of the cultivation device of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating one embodiment of the fruit harvesting method of the present invention. [Figure 11]Photographs showing fruits harvested in the hand-picked area of ​​Experiment 1. [Figure 12] Photographs showing fruits harvested in the shaking area of ​​Experiment 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0022] The present invention will be described in detail below. In this specification, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0023] One aspect of the present invention is a fruit tree cultivation device comprising at least one cultivation bed and at least one cultivation pot placed in the cultivation bed. In this specification, this fruit tree cultivation device is also referred to as the "fruit tree cultivation device of the present invention" or the "cultivation device of the present invention."

[0024] The cultivation device of the present invention comprises at least one cultivation bed. The cultivation bed is a device for placing cultivation pots in which fruit trees are planted. There may be one or more cultivation beds, but from the perspective of large-scale fruit tree cultivation, it is preferable that the cultivation device of the present invention comprises multiple cultivation beds. There may be one or more cultivation pots placed in the cultivation bed (or in each cultivation bed if there are multiple cultivation beds), but from the perspective of dense planting and high yield in fruit tree cultivation, it is preferable that the cultivation device of the present invention comprises multiple cultivation pots placed in the cultivation bed (or in each cultivation bed if there are multiple cultivation beds).

[0025] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example of a cultivation bed. As shown in FIG. 1, the cultivation bed has an open upper surface, a bottom portion 1 located on the lower surface, and a pair of wall portions 2a and 2b. The bottom portion 1 is preferably rectangular, and more preferably a rectangular plate-like bottom portion extending in one direction. The length of the bottom portion 1 in the longitudinal direction is preferably, for example, 120 to 125 cm. The wall portions 2a and 2b are opposite each other, and each is formed over the entire length of the bottom portion 1 in the longitudinal direction. In addition, the height of one wall portion 2b of the pair of walls is lower than the height of the other wall portion 2a. The distance between the wall portions 2a and 2b is sufficient as long as one cultivation pot can be placed therebetween, and for example, the internal dimension is preferably 30 to 35 cm. The cultivation bed may be surrounded by walls on all four sides, but it is sufficient as long as it has a pair of wall portions 2a and 2b. It is preferable that the cultivation bed has only the pair of wall portions 2a and 2b as walls.

[0026] The grow beds can be made from a variety of materials or combinations of materials, such as wood, metal, terracotta, pottery, ceramic, plastic (including foamed plastics such as Styrofoam), although plastic grow beds are preferred.

[0027] When the cultivation device of the present invention includes a plurality of cultivation beds, the plurality of cultivation beds may be arranged in a line along the length of the cultivation beds, or along a direction perpendicular to the length, or a combination of these arrangements. In this specification, the direction perpendicular to the length is also referred to as the "width direction."

[0028] In the cultivation device of the present invention, when multiple cultivation beds are arranged in a line along the length of the cultivation beds, it is preferable that adjacent cultivation beds be arranged in a line without any gaps between them from the viewpoint of dense planting and high yield. However, if a walkway for pedestrians is to be provided, adjacent cultivation beds may be spaced apart. When adjacent cultivation beds are arranged in a line without any gaps between them, it is also possible to secure the adjacent cultivation beds by overlapping them by, for example, about 5 cm or less. In this specification, when multiple cultivation beds are arranged in a line along their length, the gap between adjacent cultivation beds refers to the shortest distance along the length of the cultivation beds. Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of an example in which two cultivation beds are arranged in a line along the length of the cultivation beds, where S1 is the gap between adjacent cultivation beds.

[0029] In the cultivation device of the present invention, when multiple cultivation beds are arranged in a row along their longitudinal direction, it is preferable that adjacent cultivation beds are arranged in the same direction, and that each wall portion 2a and wall portion 2b are located on the same side, as shown in Figure 2.

[0030] In the cultivation device of the present invention, when multiple cultivation beds are arranged along the width direction of the cultivation bed, the interval between adjacent cultivation beds is preferably arranged in a cycle in which a first interval of 85 to 125 cm and a second interval of 45 to 65 cm, which is narrower than the first interval, alternate. Here, the first interval is set wide to provide a passage for carts and harvesting equipment, and is preferably 85 to 125 cm, and more preferably 95 to 115 cm. The second interval is set to ensure sufficient distance between fruit tree stumps, and is preferably 45 to 65 cm, and more preferably 50 to 60 cm. In this specification, when multiple cultivation beds are arranged along the width direction, the interval between adjacent cultivation beds refers to the shortest distance along the width direction of the cultivation bed. Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of an example in which six cultivation beds are arranged along the width direction of the cultivation bed, where S2 is the first interval, S3 is the second interval, and the cultivation beds are arranged in a cycle in which S2 and S3 alternate. The cultivation bed shown in FIG. 3 is provided with drainage members, which will be described in detail later.

[0031] In the cultivation device of the present invention, when multiple cultivation beds are arranged along their width direction, it is preferable that adjacent cultivation beds are arranged so that their lower wall portions 2b face each other at a first distance S2, and so that their higher wall portions 2a face each other at a second distance S3, as shown in Figure 3.

[0032] The cultivation device of the present invention includes at least one cultivation pot. The cultivation pot is a container for planting and cultivating fruit trees. In the present invention, it is preferable to cultivate fruit trees in soil, and the fruit trees are preferably planted and cultivated in soil in the cultivation pot. It is preferable that one fruit tree is cultivated in one cultivation pot. There may be one or more cultivation pots, but from the perspective of large-scale fruit tree cultivation, it is preferable that the cultivation device of the present invention includes multiple cultivation pots. There may be one or more cultivation pots placed in the cultivation bed (or in each cultivation bed if there are multiple cultivation pots), but from the perspective of dense planting and high yield in fruit tree cultivation, it is preferable that the cultivation device of the present invention includes multiple cultivation pots placed in the cultivation bed (or in each cultivation bed if there are multiple cultivation pots). For example, it is preferable that one to four cultivation pots are placed in one cultivation bed.

[0033] A cultivation pot is a container with an open top, and various shapes, such as a tub, cylinder, box, or inverted truncated cone, are known. The bottom of a cultivation pot typically has drainage holes. The top and bottom shapes of a cultivation pot include, for example, a circle, a rectangle, or other polygonal shapes. The size of a cultivation pot is classified, for example, by the diameter (internal dimension) of the top edge of the cultivation pot. Here, if the top surface of the cultivation pot is polygonal, the diameter (internal dimension) of the top edge is the diameter of the circle circumscribing the polygon. The size of the cultivation pot is appropriately selected depending on the size of the fruit tree. For example, in the case of grown blueberries, the diameter (internal dimension) of the top edge of the cultivation pot can be, for example, 20 to 40 cm. The height of the cultivation pot can also be appropriately selected. For example, in the case of grown blueberries, the height of the cultivation pot can be, for example, 20 to 40 cm.

[0034] The growing pot can be made from a variety of materials, such as wood, metal, terracotta, earthenware, ceramic, fabric, plastic, or a combination of these materials, although plastic growing pots are preferred.

[0035] In the cultivation device of the present invention, the cultivation pot is placed in the cultivation bed, specifically, between a pair of walls of the cultivation bed and on the bottom of the cultivation bed. Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of an example in which the cultivation pot is placed in the cultivation bed. In Fig. 4, the cultivation pot 3 is placed between a pair of walls 2a, 2b of the cultivation bed and on the bottom 1 of the cultivation bed, but since a draining member is installed on the bottom 1 of the cultivation bed, the cultivation pot 3 is placed on the draining member. In this way, the cultivation pot is placed on the bottom of the cultivation bed, but it does not need to be placed in contact with the bottom of the cultivation bed, and a draining member or the like can be placed between the cultivation pot and the bottom of the cultivation bed.

[0036] In the cultivation device of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 4, the height of one wall 2b of the cultivation bed is lower than the height of the other wall 2a, and the cultivation pot 3 is configured to be tilted toward one wall 2b of the cultivation bed. Tilting the cultivation pot 3 toward wall 2b makes it possible to easily harvest fruits, thereby reducing the labor required for harvesting. While it is possible to shake the fruit trees to drop the fruits without tilting the cultivation pot, this method makes the fruits susceptible to damage when they fall. Therefore, it is preferable to shake the fruit trees while tilting the cultivation pot 3 toward wall 2b, or to harvest the fruits by hand.

[0037] In the cultivation device of the present invention, it is preferable that the position of the upper end of the higher of the pair of wall portions (in FIG. 4, the position of the upper end 4 of the wall portion 2a) is higher than the position P1 that is half the height H1 of the cultivation pot 3. Although not shown, the position of the upper end 4 of the wall portion 2a may also be higher than the upper surface 5 of the cultivation pot, and the position of the upper end 4 of the wall portion 2a may be, for example, 0 to 15 cm higher than the upper surface 5 of the cultivation pot.

[0038] In the cultivation device of the present invention, the position of the upper end of the lower of the pair of walls (in FIG. 4, the position of the upper end 6 of the wall 2b) is preferably lower than a position P2 that is 1 / 3 of the height H1 of the cultivation pot 3. In addition, the position of the upper end 6 of the wall 2b is preferably higher than the bottom surface 7 of the cultivation pot 3, and the position of the upper end 6 of the wall 2b is preferably 5 to 10 cm higher than the bottom surface 7 of the cultivation pot 3, for example.

[0039] As shown in Figure 4, in the cultivation device of the present invention, it is preferable that the position of the upper end 4 of one of the pair of wall portions 2a, 2b, 2a, is higher than position P1, which is 1 / 2 of the height H1 of the cultivation pot 3, and the position of the upper end 6 of the other of the pair of wall portions 2a, 2b, 2b, 2a, 2b, 2b, is lower than position P2, which is 1 / 3 of the height H1 of the cultivation pot 3.

[0040] In the cultivation device of the present invention, when multiple cultivation pots are arranged in a cultivation bed, from the viewpoint of dense planting and high yield of fruit tree cultivation, the multiple cultivation pots are preferably arranged at intervals of 10 to 90 cm between adjacent cultivation pots in the cultivation bed, and more preferably at intervals of 30 to 50 cm. In this specification, the interval between adjacent cultivation pots refers to the shortest distance between the edge of one cultivation pot and the edge of the adjacent cultivation pot. Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of an example in which two cultivation pots 3a and 3b are arranged in a row on the bottom 1 of the cultivation bed along the length of the bed. Here, the distance between cultivation pot 3a and cultivation pot 3b is the interval S4 between adjacent cultivation pots.

[0041] 5 illustrates a case where multiple cultivation pots are arranged in one cultivation bed, but the same applies to a case where the cultivation device of the present invention includes multiple cultivation beds, as long as the multiple cultivation pots are arranged in a line along the length of the cultivation bed. For example, in one embodiment of the cultivation device of the present invention in which multiple cultivation beds are arranged in a line along the length of the cultivation bed, when multiple cultivation pots are arranged in these multiple cultivation beds, the interval between adjacent cultivation pots along the length of the cultivation bed is preferably 10 to 90 cm, and more preferably 30 to 50 cm.

[0042] The above-mentioned preferred ranges for the spacing between adjacent cultivation pots within or along the length of a cultivation bed refer to the spacing between cultivation pots in which fruit trees are planted, from which fruit will be harvested during the harvest season. If the fruit trees are young and have not yet borne fruit, the spacing between adjacent cultivation pots within or along the length of the cultivation bed can be set even narrower. From the perspective of dense planting and high yields in fruit tree cultivation, it is preferable that the spacing between adjacent cultivation pots within or along the length of the cultivation bed be 10 to 90 cm.

[0043] In the present invention, it is effective to tilt the cultivation pot if the cultivation pot is located at a relatively high position. For example, considering that a person 150 cm or taller will be performing the work, from the viewpoint of facilitating fruit harvesting, the position at which the cultivation pot is installed in the cultivation device of the present invention is preferably 60 to 80 cm high from the installation surface of the cultivation device of the present invention, and more preferably 65 to 75 cm high from the installation surface of the cultivation device of the present invention. Here, the installation surface of the cultivation device may be, for example, the ground if outdoors, or a floor if indoors. Furthermore, with regard to the position at which the cultivation pot is installed, the height from the installation surface of the cultivation device refers to the height from the installation surface of the cultivation device to the bottom of the cultivation pot.

[0044] The cultivation device of the present invention preferably further includes a cultivation bench for installing the cultivation bed. In the present invention, since it is effective for tilting the cultivation pots if the cultivation pots are installed at a relatively high position, it is preferable to install the cultivation bed with the cultivation pots placed at a relatively high position using the cultivation bench. In the cultivation device of the present invention, when the cultivation bed with the cultivation pots placed is installed on the cultivation bench, the installation surface of the cultivation device is the surface on which the cultivation bench is installed, such as the ground if outdoors or a floor if indoors.

[0045] In one embodiment of the present invention, the cultivation bench comprises a base for placing the cultivation bed and legs for supporting the base. The base of the cultivation bench is not particularly limited, and may be a variety of top plates including mesh plates, or a base formed by arranging multiple rod-shaped members such as pipes.

[0046] The grow bench can be made from a variety of materials, such as wood, metal, plastic, or a combination of these materials, although a metal grow bench is preferred.

[0047] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of an example in which a cultivation bed 8 is installed on a cultivation bench 9. FIG. 6(a) is a side view, and FIG. 6(b) is a front view. In FIG. 6, the cultivation bench 9 is assembled from multiple pipes, and the base of the cultivation bench 9 is formed by arranging four pipes 10 side by side. The cultivation bench 9 is supported by four legs 11, and two of the four legs 11 on the same side are fixed by a connecting pipe 12 spanning the width of the cultivation bed 8. The four legs 11 may be embedded in the installation surface of the cultivation bed, thereby fixing the cultivation bench to the installation surface. The four pipes 10 forming the base of the cultivation bench 9 are fixed on another connecting pipe 13 spanning the width of the cultivation bed 8. Two cultivation pots 3 are arranged in a row on the bottom 1 of the cultivation bed 8 along the length of the cultivation bed. A draining member is installed on the bottom 1 of the cultivation bed, and the cultivation pot 3 is placed on the draining member. In addition, in FIG. 6, a band 14 is stretched on the wall 2b side, between the upper end 6 of the wall 2b and the upper surface 5 of the cultivation pot 3, using the pipes used for the legs 11. This makes it difficult for the cultivation pot 3 to tip over when tilted, and also makes it possible to easily tip over and quickly erect the cultivation pot 3. In FIG. 6, the height H2 from the installation surface of the cultivation device to the bottom surface of the cultivation pot 3 refers to the height from the surface 15 on which the cultivation bench 9 is installed to the bottom surface 7 of the cultivation pot 3. The installation surface 15 of the cultivation bench 9 in FIG. 6 is the ground.

[0048] The cultivation device of the present invention further includes a band or net, which is preferably stretched so as to support the cultivation pot or the fruit tree planted in the cultivation pot when the cultivation pot is tilted toward the lower wall of the pair of walls of the cultivation bed. The use of the band or net prevents the cultivation pot from tipping over when tilted, and allows the cultivation pot to be easily tilted and quickly erected. Bands and nets can be made of rubber or resin, and examples include car lines. In the cultivation device of the present invention, the band or net is preferably stretched on the lower wall of the pair of walls of the cultivation bed, between the upper end of the lower wall and the upper surface of the cultivation pot. While a band 14 is shown stretched in Figure 6, a net can be used instead. In Figure 6, the upper end of the leg 11 of the cultivation bench 9 is higher than the upper end 6 of the wall 2b of the cultivation bed 8, so the band 14 is stretched using the two legs 11 of the cultivation bench 9 located on the wall 2b side of the cultivation bed 8. However, the method of stretching the band or net is not limited to this. For example, it is possible to stretch the band or net using two pipes (band pipes) separate from the pipes used for the legs 11, and it is preferable to make the band pipes detachable from the pipes used for the legs of the cultivation bench by, for example, swaging. In the cultivation device of the present invention, the distance from the cultivation pot to the band or net is preferably, for example, 1 to 3 cm. In this specification, the distance from the cultivation pot to the band or net means the shortest distance from the edge of the cultivation pot to the band or net, as defined above.

[0049] The cultivation device of the present invention preferably further includes a draining member disposed between the bottom of the cultivation bed and the cultivation pot. The draining member is preferably a slat-like plate member, preferably a rectangular plate member extending in one direction to fit the bottom of the cultivation bed. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of an example of a cultivation bed with a draining member laid on the bottom, showing the draining member 21 installed on the cultivation bed 20 shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 7, the draining member preferably has a groove 22 formed on its upper surface, i.e., the surface on which the cultivation pots are placed, preferably along the length of the cultivation bed. Furthermore, the draining member preferably has a groove 23 formed on its bottom surface, i.e., the surface on the bottom side of the cultivation bed, preferably along the length of the cultivation bed. The groove formed on the upper surface of the draining member and the groove formed on the bottom surface of the draining member may each be one or more.

[0050] The draining member can be made from various materials such as wood, plastic, or a combination of these materials, but a plastic draining member is preferred.

[0051] The cultivation device of the present invention preferably further comprises an insulating sheet for covering the cultivation pot. Covering the cultivation pot with the insulating sheet enables environmental control within the cultivation pot, and in particular prevents the temperature within the cultivation pot from rising. The insulating sheet preferably covers not only the sides of the cultivation pot but also the top surface of the cultivation pot as much as possible. For example, the insulating sheet can be used to cover not only the cultivation pot but also the cultivation bed and cultivation bench. The insulating sheet can be an insulating sheet commonly used in agriculture and horticulture. The insulating sheet is sometimes called a heat-shielding sheet. It is also preferable that the insulating sheet has light-blocking properties.

[0052] The cultivation apparatus of the present invention preferably further comprises an air supply device for supplying air into the cultivation pot. In particular, when the cultivation apparatus of the present invention comprises a heat insulating sheet, it is preferable to comprise an air supply device. For example, by supplying cooled air in summer and heated air in winter into the cultivation pot, it is possible to maintain the temperature of the area in the soil where the fruit tree roots will be spread at an appropriate temperature (13 to 20°C).

[0053] The air supply device is, for example, a device that includes an injection pipe for injecting air into a cultivation pot, and a compressor (e.g., a compressor) for sending air from an air supply source (such as the ambient environment) through a conduit to the injection pipe.

[0054] The cultivation apparatus of the present invention preferably further includes an irrigation device for irrigating fruit trees. The irrigation may be normal irrigation, but is preferably irrigation using a nutrient solution. The irrigation device is preferably a device suitable for drip irrigation. The irrigation device is, for example, a device including a nutrient solution supply source (such as a nutrient solution tank), an injection pipe for injecting the nutrient solution into the cultivation pot, a conduit connecting the nutrient solution supply source and the injection pipe, and a pressure pump (such as a compressor) for sending the nutrient solution from the nutrient solution supply source through the conduit to the injection pipe.

[0055] In the present invention, the target fruit trees are not particularly limited, but suitable examples include blueberries, raspberries, citrus fruits such as mandarins and lemons, cherries, apples, pears, loquats, grapes, mangoes, papayas, dragon fruit, bananas, olives, jack apples, chestnuts, and kumquats.

[0056] Fig. 8 is a schematic diagram of an example of fruit tree cultivation using one embodiment of the cultivation device of the present invention. The fruit tree cultivation device shown in Fig. 8 includes a cultivation bed 30, a cultivation pot 31 placed in the cultivation bed 30, and a cultivation bench 32 for installing the cultivation bed 30. A drainage member 33 is placed between the bottom of the cultivation bed 30 and the cultivation pot 31, and a band 34 is stretched on the lower wall of the cultivation bed 30, from the upper end of the wall to the upper surface of the cultivation pot 31. A fruit tree is planted in the cultivation pot 31 and cultivated.

[0057] Fig. 9 is a schematic diagram of an example of fruit tree cultivation using one embodiment of the cultivation device of the present invention. The fruit tree cultivation device shown in Fig. 9 includes a cultivation bed 30, a cultivation pot 31 placed in the cultivation bed 30, a cultivation bench 32 for installing the cultivation bed 30, and a heat insulating sheet 35 for covering the cultivation bed 30, the cultivation pot 31, and the cultivation bench 32. A drainage member 33 is placed between the bottom of the cultivation bed 30 and the cultivation pot 31, and a band 34 is stretched on the lower wall of the cultivation bed 30, from the upper end of the wall to the upper surface of the cultivation pot 31. A fruit tree is planted in the cultivation pot 31 and cultivated.

[0058] Another aspect of the present invention is a method for harvesting fruit using the above-described fruit tree cultivation apparatus of the present invention, characterized in that the cultivation pots of the fruit tree cultivation apparatus of the present invention are tilted toward the lower wall of the cultivation bed, and the fruit trees planted in the cultivation pots are shaken or manually picked to harvest the fruit from the fruit trees. In this specification, this fruit harvesting method is also referred to as the "fruit harvesting method of the present invention" or "harvesting method of the present invention."

[0059] According to the harvesting method of the present invention, fruit can be easily harvested by tilting the fruit trees, thereby reducing the labor required for harvesting. Furthermore, compared to a method in which fruit is dropped by shaking the fruit trees without tilting the cultivation pots, fruit collection is easier and the risk of the fruit being damaged by hitting the branches of the fruit trees when they fall is reduced. The harvesting method of the present invention preferably involves tilting the cultivation pots of the fruit tree cultivation apparatus of the present invention toward the lower wall of the cultivation bed while shaking the fruit trees planted in the cultivation pots to harvest fruit from the fruit trees.

[0060] In the harvesting method of the present invention, tilting the cultivation pots allows the fruits to fall outside the cultivation beds, so that when harvesting the fruits, shock-absorbing materials (such as sheets) can be spread in the gaps between adjacent cultivation beds arranged along the width direction of the cultivation beds, which are set to provide passageways for carts and harvesting equipment, and the fruits can be dropped onto the shock-absorbing materials. This makes it possible to harvest fully ripe fruits without damaging them.

[0061] Furthermore, in the harvesting method of the present invention, tilting the cultivation pots allows the fruits to fall outside the cultivation bed, so that when harvested, the fruits can be dropped directly onto the harvesting device, for example, making fruit harvesting more efficient. Furthermore, by providing shock absorbing materials at the position where the fruits fall on the harvesting device, it is possible to harvest fully ripe fruits without damaging them.

[0062] The cultivation pot can be tilted, for example, by manually tilting the cultivation pot or by automatically tilting the cultivation pot by providing a tilting mechanism on the cultivation bed, etc. The tilt angle of the cultivation pot is preferably 30 to 60°. In this specification, the tilt angle of the cultivation pot is the tilt angle of the central axis of the cultivation pot.

[0063] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating one embodiment of the fruit harvesting method of the present invention. The fruit tree cultivation device shown in FIG. 10 includes a cultivation bed 30, a cultivation pot 31 placed in the cultivation bed 30, and a cultivation bench 32 for supporting the cultivation bed 30. A drainage member 33 is placed between the bottom of the cultivation bed 30 and the cultivation pot 31. A band 34 is stretched along the lower wall of the cultivation bed 30, from its upper end to the top surface of the cultivation pot 31. A fruit tree is planted in the cultivation pot 31 and cultivated there. In FIG. 10, the cultivation pot 31 is tilted at an angle α with respect to the central axis of the cultivation pot. In this state, fruit can be harvested from the fruit tree by shaking or manually picking the fruit. Furthermore, by placing the band 34 on the tilted side of the cultivation pot 31, the cultivation pot 31 can be supported when tilted.

[0064] Fruit trees can be shaken, for example, by manually shaking the trees or automatically using ultrasonic vibrations, etc. While it is possible to shake the trees directly, it is also possible to shake the trees indirectly by shaking the cultivation pots.

[0065] The fruit tree cultivation apparatus and fruit harvesting method of the present invention can be used for cultivating ordinary fruit trees. For example, the fruit tree cultivation apparatus and fruit harvesting method of the present invention can be suitably used in cultivation methods described in patent documents filed by Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, such as International Publication No. 2014 / 156939, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2017-60464, and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2019-44, as well as academic papers published by the inventors.

[0066] In fruit tree cultivation methods, it is preferable to adjust various parameters such as day length, light intensity, irrigation amount, relative humidity, CO2 concentration, soil pH, and soil EC (electric conductivity, which can be used to estimate fertilizer concentration) to ranges suitable for fruit tree growth. These parameters can be achieved by using various devices, such as light sources, heaters, air conditioners, fans, dehumidifiers, humidifiers, ventilation fans, dry mist, and blackout curtains, either alone or in combination. For this purpose, closed rooms incorporating these devices and using artificial light, or greenhouses using normal sunlight and equipped with these devices, can be used. [Example]

[0067] The present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to examples, but the present invention is not limited to the following examples in any way.

[0068] <Experiment 1> 1) Materials and Methods Objective: To compare hand-picking and shaking blueberry harvesting. Cultivation apparatus: Blueberries were harvested using the cultivation apparatus shown in Figure 8. The cultivation bed was made of polystyrene foam and had a pair of walls and a rectangular, plate-shaped bottom extending in one direction. The length of the cultivation bed was 122 cm, the height of the lower wall was 16 cm, the height of the higher wall was 25 cm, and the distance between the walls (internal dimensions) was 32.5 cm. The cultivation pot was a plastic inverted truncated cone-shaped cultivation pot with a top edge diameter (internal dimensions) of 30.5 cm and a height of 30 cm. The upper end of the higher wall of the pair of walls of the cultivation bed was located higher than half the height of the cultivation pot, and the upper end of the lower wall was located lower than one-third the height of the cultivation pot. The height from the installation surface of the cultivation apparatus to the bottom of the cultivation pot was 71 cm. For detailed structure of the cultivation bench, see Figure 6. The band was made of a mica wire, and the distance from the edge of the cultivation pot to the band was 2 cm. Harvested variety: Southern highbush blueberry 'Misty' (tree height: approx. 155cm) Treatment area: Control area → Fruits were harvested by hand. Sloping areas: Shake the trees to let the fruit fall and harvest.

[0069] 2) Harvesting Control area (pot not tilted) -Harvesting was carried out without tilting the cultivation pot. The blueberries were harvested based on their degree of ripeness, and any residue such as leaves and flowers that fell during harvesting were also collected along with the fruit and examined. The fruits at the top of the tree were difficult to reach, so they were harvested by standing on a platform. Figure 11 shows a photograph of the harvested fruit and the residue that fell at that time. Inclined area (pot tilted) As shown in Figure 10, the cultivation pot was tilted at an angle to shake the fruit trees (branches) and harvest the fruit (tilt angle of the cultivation pot: 45 degrees). Harvesting was carried out by laying a sheet on a cart (65cm long x 100cm wide x 50cm high). After shaking, the fruits and residues collected on the sheet were sorted out. Figure 12 shows a photograph of the harvested fruit and the residue that fell at that time.

[0070] 3) Comparison of harvested fruit number and harvest time Data on harvested fruits and harvest time are shown in Table 1. The sloped plot had more immature fruits and fewer fruits with broken skin than the control plot. In the sloping plot, 19 fruits remained on the tree instead of falling. The sloping plot allowed for a shorter harvest time than the control plot. However, there was almost no difference in the subsequent fruit sorting time. - The sloped plot allowed for harvesting in approximately one-third the time of the control plot.

[0071] [Table 1]

[0072] 4) Comparison of harvest percentages In the control plot and the slope plot, the percentage of normal fruit harvested was approximately 75%, meaning there was no difference in the percentage of normal fruit harvested between the two plots.

[0073] 5) Normal sugar and acidity of fruit There was no difference in the sugar content or acidity of normal fruits harvested from both treatments. The results are shown in Table 2.

[0074] [Table 2]

[0075] 6) Fruit one week after harvest Normal fruits from the control and tilted plots were placed in perforated plastic bags and stored for one week at room temperature (25°C) and in a refrigerator (5°C). There was no effect on the appearance quality of either treatment.

[0076] 7) Conclusion The sloping plots took less time to harvest than the control plots. For example, it took 25.8 days to harvest 6,000 plants in the control plots, but only 9.3 days in the sloping plots. - In the tilted plot, there is no need to determine the degree of ripeness, and harvesting can be done more simply than in the control plot. In the control area, workers had to look up and lift their arms when harvesting from the top of the trees, but in the sloping area, harvesting was possible without having to assume an awkward position.

[0077] <Experiment 2> 1) Materials and Methods Objective: To clarify the effect of the tilt angle of the cultivation pot on shaking harvesting and the differences between varieties due to shaking harvesting. Cultivation equipment: The same cultivation equipment as in Experiment 1 was used to harvest blueberries. Harvested varieties: Southern highbush blueberry 'Misty', 'Sharp Blue' Treatment area: Control area → Fruits were harvested by hand (the cultivation pots were not tilted). 60-degree tilt zone: The plants are tilted sharply and shaken for harvesting (tilt angle of the cultivation pot: approximately 60 degrees). See Figure 10. 40 degree tilt zone: Tilt the plants slightly and shake them to harvest (tilt angle of cultivation pot: approximately 40 degrees). See Figure 10. Harvesting method: Control area: Harvest by hand while rotating the pots as needed. Sloped section: The pot is tilted at 60 or 40 degrees to shake the branches and collect the fruit that falls onto the harvest sheet. · Cart used for harvesting: Harvesting was carried out on a cart measuring 65cm long x 100cm wide x 80cm high, with a sheet laid on top. ·Measurement items: Harvesting time: The control group was measured in seconds for hand-picking. The tilt section is the number of seconds it takes to shake the branch and cause the fruit to fall. Number of harvested fruits: Number of each fruit when distinguished between mature (colored) and immature (green) fruits.

[0078] 2) Harvesting In the sloping plot, the trees were closer to the harvest sheet when the pot was tilted at 60 degrees than when it was tilted at 40 degrees. The angle of the slope was adjusted by directing the car line to the base of the plants at 60 degrees and to the pots at 40 degrees.

[0079] 3) Results: number of harvested fruits, harvest time The results are shown in Table 3. Harvesting time was shorter in the slope plot than in the control plot for both Misty and Sharp Blue. When comparing the shaking harvesting of each variety depending on the tilt angle of the pot, no significant differences were observed between the two slopes, and within the experimental range, short-term harvesting was possible at tilt angles of 40 to 60 degrees. Sharp Blue took almost half the time to shake and harvest compared to Misty, which was shorter.

[0080] [Table 3]

[0081] 5) Summary Effect of tilt angle of cultivation pot on shaking harvest -Since there was no significant difference in harvest time or yield depending on the tilt angle of the cultivation pot, within the scope of this experiment, a tilt angle of 40 to 60 degrees was appropriate. Varietal differences due to shaking harvesting Harvesting time was shorter in the slope plot than in the control plot for both varieties. · Misty took less time to harvest than Sharp Blue. [Explanation of symbols]

[0082] 1 Bottom of the growing bed 2a, 2b Wall of the cultivation bed 3, 3a, 3b Cultivation pots 4 Upper end of wall portion 2a 5 Top of the cultivation pot 6 Upper end of wall portion 2b 7. Bottom of the cultivation pot 8. Growing Beds 9. Cultivation bench 10 Pipes 11 legs 12,13 Connecting pipe 14 bands 15 Installation surface 20 grow beds 21 Draining parts 22,23 Groove 30 grow beds 31 Cultivation Pot 32 Cultivation bench 33 Draining parts 34 bands 35 Heat insulation sheet H1 Height of the cultivation pot H2 Height from the installation surface of the cultivation device to the bottom of the cultivation pot P1 Half the height of the cultivation pot P2 1 / 3 of the height of the cultivation pot S1 Spacing between adjacent cultivation beds S2 First interval S3 Second interval S4 Spacing between adjacent pots α Inclination angle of the cultivation pot

Claims

1. At least one growing bed having an open top, a bottom, and a pair of walls; A fruit tree cultivation device comprising at least one cultivation pot for planting and cultivating a fruit tree, the cultivation pot being disposed between the pair of wall portions and on the bottom portion, The cultivation bed is a fruit tree cultivation device characterized in that the upper end of one of the pair of walls is located at a position lower than 1 / 3 of the height of the cultivation pot, and the upper end of the other wall is located at a position higher than 1 / 2 of the height of the cultivation pot.

2. The fruit tree cultivation device according to claim 1, further comprising a band or net, the band or net being stretched on the side of the one wall at a position between the upper end of the one wall and the upper surface of the cultivation pot.

3. The fruit tree cultivation device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that when the cultivation beds are provided in a plurality of types and the plurality of cultivation beds are arranged along the width direction of the cultivation beds, the plurality of cultivation beds are arranged such that the intervals between adjacent cultivation beds alternate between a first interval of 85 to 125 cm and a second interval of 45 to 65 cm that is narrower than the first interval.

4. A fruit tree cultivation device as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a plurality of cultivation pots are arranged in the cultivation bed, and the plurality of cultivation pots are arranged with a distance of 10 to 90 cm between adjacent cultivation pots in the cultivation bed.

5. The fruit tree cultivation device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a cultivation bench for installing the cultivation bed, and the position at which the cultivation pot is installed is 60 to 80 cm high from the installation surface of the fruit tree cultivation device.

6. The fruit tree cultivation device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising an insulating sheet covering the cultivation pot.

7. 7. The fruit tree cultivation device according to claim 1, further comprising an air supply device for supplying air into the cultivation pot.

8. A fruit harvesting method using the fruit tree cultivation apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, A fruit harvesting method characterized by harvesting fruit from a fruit tree by tilting the cultivation pot toward one wall of the cultivation bed and shaking or manually picking the fruit planted in the cultivation pot.

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