Plant cultivation device and plant cultivation method
Patent Information
- Application Number
- JP2024531309
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2023-03-10
- Filing Date
- 2024-02-16
- Publication Date
- 2025-02-19
- Estimated Expiration
- 2044-02-16
AI Technical Summary
In small cultivation tanks for plants like strawberries, the root mat tends to grow thicker and block the flow of nutrient solution, causing concentration and temperature gradients between the upstream and downstream, which affects plant growth uniformity and productivity.
A plant cultivation device with an inclined bottom surface and dual liquid supply members, including a spout and a drip tube with discharge holes, ensures uniform nutrient solution distribution by guiding it along the inclination, reducing concentration and temperature gradients through controlled supply ratios.
The device enhances uniform nutrient solution distribution, improving plant growth uniformity and productivity by minimizing concentration and temperature gradients, suitable for high-density planting.
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Abstract
Description
[Technical field]
[0001] The present invention relates to a plant cultivation device and a plant cultivation method. [Background technology]
[0002] The thin film hydroponic method (NFT method) is known as a method for cultivating plants. Patent Document 1 discloses a hydroponic cultivation device that includes a cultivation bed having inclined surfaces in at least two directions for holding a plant body and supplying a culture solution to the root system of the plant body, a culture solution supplying means for supplying the culture solution to the inclined surfaces of the cultivation bed, and a culture solution recovery means for discharging the culture solution from the cultivation bed.
[0003] Patent Document 2 discloses a component for hydroponics comprising a cultivation bed tank with a sloped bottom surface, and a planting panel plate with a number of planting holes drilled therein, placed on top of the cultivation bed tank, a seedling stand provided on the bottom surface of the cultivation bed tank below the planting holes, an air space being formed between the underside of the seedling stand and the bottom surface of the cultivation bed tank, and plants being placed on the seedling stand, the component for hydroponics being characterized in that it is provided with a sprinkling member for sprinkling nutrient solution so that the nutrient solution is applied to the roots of the plants on the seedling stand or to the upper surface of the seedling stand.
[0004] Patent Document 3 discloses a plant cultivation device comprising a water-permeable sheet member and a support member that supports the sheet member so as to form a gap between the bottom of a container and the sheet member, which serves as a flow path for nutrient solution. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]
[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2007-89489 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-205426 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2022-171427 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]
[0006] For example, in the cultivation of strawberries, there is a demand for increasing the planting density from the viewpoint of improving productivity. For this reason, in order to increase the number of cultivation tanks that can be installed per unit area, cultivation tanks smaller than those for cultivating other plants such as cucumbers are sometimes used. In small cultivation tanks, there is little room for the root mat to spread on the bottom surface of the cultivation tank, so the root mat tends to grow higher and become thicker. In addition, when the cultivation period is long (for example, 6 to 12 months) as in the case of strawberries, the root mat also tends to become thicker. As a result, there is a problem that the flow of nutrient solution toward the downstream is blocked by the formed root mat, and a gradient in the concentration and temperature of the nutrient solution is easily formed between the upstream and downstream of the flow of the nutrient solution.
[0007] An object of one aspect of the present invention is to provide a technique capable of reducing the gradient in concentration and temperature of a nutrient solution between upstream and downstream of the flow of the nutrient solution. [Means for solving the problem]
[0008] In order to solve the above problems, the plant cultivation device according to the first aspect of the present invention includes a cultivation tank having a bottom surface on which a plant body is placed and the bottom surface is inclined, a first liquid supply member for supplying nutrient solution into the cultivation tank, and a second liquid supply member extending along the inclination direction of the bottom surface, the second liquid supply member having a plurality of discharge holes for discharging the nutrient solution, the plurality of discharge holes being arranged along the inclination direction of the bottom surface. The nutrient solution supplied into the cultivation tank flows on the bottom surface along the inclination direction of the bottom surface. With the above configuration, the plant cultivation device according to the first aspect of the present invention can reduce the gradient of the concentration and temperature of the nutrient solution between the upstream and downstream of the flow of the nutrient solution.
[0009] In the plant cultivation device according to the second aspect of the present invention, in the above-mentioned first aspect, it is preferable that a convex portion on which the second liquid supply member is placed is provided on the bottom surface, and the second liquid supply member is placed on the convex portion. This allows the nutrient solution discharged from the second liquid supply member to be supplied along the side surface of the convex portion, so that the nutrient solution can be well diffused in a direction away from the second liquid supply member.
[0010] In the plant cultivation device according to aspect 3 of the present invention, in the above aspect 2, it is preferable that the convex portion has an inclined portion inclined toward the bottom surface. By having the inclined portion of the convex portion, the nutrient solution is more smoothly diffused in the direction away from the second liquid supply member.
[0011] The plant cultivation device according to aspect 4 of the present invention is preferably configured such that, in any one of aspects 1 to 3 above, a groove is provided on the bottom surface in which a plant body is placed. By providing a groove on the bottom surface, a height difference occurs between the bottom surface of the cultivation tank and the bottom surface of the groove, and the nutrient solution flows into the groove, so that the nutrient solution can be efficiently guided into the groove. As a result, the nutrient solution can be successfully supplied to the plant body placed in the groove.
[0012] In the plant cultivation device according to aspect 5 of the present invention, in the above aspect 4, it is preferable that the grooves extend along the inclination direction of the bottom surface. By providing the grooves along the inclination direction of the bottom surface, the flow of the nutrient solution in the grooves is improved.
[0013] The plant cultivation device according to aspect 6 of the present invention is preferably configured to include a plurality of the grooves and the second liquid supply member is disposed between adjacent grooves in the above aspect 4 or 5. When a plurality of grooves are provided, by disposing the second liquid supply member between adjacent grooves, it is possible to reduce differences in concentration and temperature of the nutrient solution between the grooves.
[0014] The plant cultivation device according to aspect 7 of the present invention, in any one of aspects 4 to 6 above, further includes a positioning member for the plant body, and the positioning member preferably has a plurality of planting holes at positions corresponding to the grooves when the device is placed on the cultivation tank. This allows the plant body to be placed on the grooves facing below the planting holes by inserting the plant body into the planting holes and planting it. The position of the plant body on the grooves in the inclination direction of the bottom surface is also determined.
[0015] The plant cultivation device according to an eighth aspect of the present invention may be configured in such a way that the interval between adjacent planting holes along the inclination direction of the bottom surface is 150 mm or more and 250 mm or less in the seventh aspect. This can improve the light receiving structure and light receiving efficiency when the plant is, for example, a strawberry.
[0016] The plant cultivation device according to a ninth aspect of the present invention may be configured such that, in any one of the above-mentioned aspects 1 to 8, the outer dimension width of the cultivation tank is 250 mm or more and 400 mm or less. This makes it possible to increase the number of cultivation tanks that can be installed per unit area, and as a result, the productivity of plant cultivation can be improved by increasing the planting density.
[0017] The plant cultivation device according to aspect 10 of the present invention is preferably configured such that, in any one of aspects 1 to 9, the bottom surface is inclined in the longitudinal direction, thereby enabling uniform supply of the nutrient solution in the width direction of the cultivation tank even if the width over which the nutrient solution is discharged from the first liquid supply member is narrowed.
[0018] The plant cultivation device according to an eleventh aspect of the present invention may be a strawberry cultivation device in any one of the above-mentioned aspects 1 to 10. The plant cultivation device according to one aspect of the present invention can be suitably used as a strawberry cultivation device, which has a relatively long cultivation period and forms a thick root mat.
[0019] A plant cultivation device according to a twelfth aspect of the present invention is any one of the first to eleventh aspects described above, further comprising a nutrient solution supply amount control device for controlling the amount of nutrient solution supplied, and the nutrient solution supply amount control device preferably controls the amount of nutrient solution supplied from the first and second supply members so that the ratio of the amount of nutrient solution supplied per unit time from the second supply member to the sum of the amount of nutrient solution supplied per unit time from the first supply member and the amount of nutrient solution supplied per unit time from the second supply member is 0.2 or more and 0.4 or less. By controlling the first nutrient solution supply amount and the second nutrient solution supply amount within the above range, the gradient of the concentration and temperature of the nutrient solution between the upstream and downstream in the flow direction of the nutrient solution can be reduced.
[0020] A plant cultivation method according to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention is a method for cultivating plants using the plant cultivation apparatus according to any one of the first to twelfth aspects, comprising: a step of arranging a plant body on the bottom surface, or on the bottom surface of the groove when the bottom surface has a groove on which the plant body is placed; and a step of supplying nutrient solution from each of the first and second liquid supply members onto the bottom surface of the cultivation tank, wherein the nutrient solution is supplied from the first and second liquid supply members such that the ratio of the amount of nutrient solution supplied per unit time from the second liquid supply member to the sum of the amount of nutrient solution supplied per unit time from the first liquid supply member and the amount of nutrient solution supplied per unit time from the second liquid supply member is 0.2 or more and 0.4 or less. The plant cultivation method according to the thirteenth aspect of the present invention can reduce the gradient of the concentration and temperature of the nutrient solution between the upstream and downstream of the flow of the nutrient solution.
[0021] The plant cultivation method according to aspect 14 of the present invention may be such that, in the above aspect 13, at least a part of the plant body is housed in a container having a water-permeable portion. In the plant cultivation method according to one aspect of the present invention, the plant body is planted in a container on the bottom surface of the NFT through which the nutrient solution flows or in a groove provided on the bottom surface. By using a container, the culture medium can be prevented from flowing out according to the flow of the nutrient solution, so that the posture of the plant body can be maintained. As a result, for example, uniform light reception can be promoted. In the case where a positioning member described later is provided, the positioning member and the container can be fixed integrally, which is convenient.
[0022] A fifteenth aspect of the present invention relates to a method for cultivating a plant according to the fourteenth aspect, and preferably further comprises a water-permeable sheet member between the root ball of the plant body and an inner wall of the container, thereby preventing the medium from flowing out of the water-permeable portion due to the flow of the nutrient solution.
[0023] A sixteenth aspect of the present invention relates to a method for cultivating a plant, and in the fifteenth aspect, at least one of the container and the sheet member is preferably formed from a biodegradable material. This eliminates the need for separation when cleaning up after use, reducing the workload. It is also possible to reduce the environmental impact.
[0024] A plant cultivation method according to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention is any one of the thirteenth to sixteenth aspects above, in which the nutrient solution may have an electrical conductivity of 0.2 dS / m or more and 1.0 dS / m or less. Since a nutrient solution having an electrical conductivity within the above range has a low concentration of fertilizer components, the concentration difference in the nutrient solution is likely to significantly affect the growth of the plant. According to the plant cultivation method according to one aspect of the present invention, the concentration gradient of the nutrient solution between the upstream and downstream of the nutrient solution flow can be reduced, so that the method is also suitable for cultivating plants using a nutrient solution with a relatively low concentration of fertilizer components.
[0025] A method for cultivating a plant according to an eighteenth aspect of the present invention may be such that the plant is strawberry in any one of the above-mentioned aspects 13 to 17. The method for cultivating a plant according to one aspect of the present invention is suitable as a method for cultivating strawberries, which form a thick root mat over a relatively long cultivation period. Effect of the Invention
[0026] According to one aspect of the present invention, a technique can be provided that can reduce the gradient in concentration and temperature of the nutrient solution between the upstream and downstream of the flow of the nutrient solution. [Brief description of the drawings]
[0027] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a plant cultivation device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a part of the configuration of the plant cultivation device shown in FIG. 1 with a fixed planting panel plate removed. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the plant cultivation device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, taken along the line AA′ shown in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a top view showing an example of a configuration of a planting panel plate. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0028] <1. Plant cultivation equipment> 〔overview〕 A plant cultivation device according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises a cultivation tank having a bottom surface on which a plant body is placed and the bottom surface is inclined, a first liquid supply member for supplying nutrient solution into the cultivation tank, and a second liquid supply member extending along the inclination direction of the bottom surface, the second liquid supply member having a plurality of discharge holes for discharging the nutrient solution, and the plurality of discharge holes are arranged along the inclination direction of the bottom surface.
[0029] In addition, a plant cultivation device according to another embodiment of the present invention may be configured to include a cultivation tank with an inclined bottom surface, a first liquid supply member for supplying nutrient solution into the cultivation tank, and a second liquid supply member extending along the inclination direction of the bottom surface, wherein a groove is provided on the bottom surface in which a plant body is placed, and the second liquid supply member has a plurality of discharge holes for discharging the nutrient solution, and the plurality of discharge holes are arranged along the inclination direction of the bottom surface.
[0030] The plant cultivation device according to one aspect of the present invention is particularly suitable for cultivating plants by the NFT method. According to one aspect of the present invention, in the plant cultivation device by the NFT method, the gradient of the concentration and temperature of the nutrient solution between the upstream and downstream of the flow of the nutrient solution, which occurs due to the flow of the nutrient solution being blocked toward the downstream by the formed root mat, can be reduced. As a result, the plants can be grown well throughout the entire flow of the nutrient solution in the cultivation tank, and the uniformity of the growth of the entire planted plants can be improved.
[0031] (Nutrient solution) In a plant cultivation device according to one embodiment of the present invention, the nutrient solution supplied into the cultivation tank is not particularly limited as long as it is water used for cultivating plants, but it is preferable that the nutrient solution be water containing a fertilizer component such as nitrogen, phosphorus, or potassium.
[0032] In the plant cultivation device according to one embodiment of the present invention, the nutrient solution supplied from the first liquid supply member and the nutrient solution supplied from the second liquid supply member may have the same composition or different compositions. When the nutrient solution that has flowed through the cultivation tank is collected and returned to the cultivation tank for recirculation, it is preferable to supply nutrient solutions having the same composition from the first liquid supply member and the second liquid supply member, respectively.
[0033] (Plant) In a plant cultivation device according to one aspect of the present invention, the plant body placed on the bottom surface of the cultivation tank or in a groove provided on the bottom surface is a plant seed or a plant seedling. When the seedling is grown using a culture medium, the seedling can be used together with the culture medium for planting, so the plant body is preferably a cell-molded seedling. In one aspect of the present invention, the plant body is planted in a location where a nutrient solution flows. For this reason, it is preferable that at least a part of the plant body is contained in a container having a water-permeable portion. Therefore, in the present invention, "the plant body is placed" also means that the container containing at least a part of the plant body is placed.
[0034] The container may suitably be a pot or other container normally used for plant cultivation. The shape of the container is not particularly limited. The container preferably has a water-permeable portion so that the nutrient solution can penetrate into the container. The water-permeable portion is not particularly limited as long as it has a structure that allows water and nutrient solution to enter and exit and allows rooting. For example, it may have a structure with openings at appropriate intervals or a mesh structure. The water-permeable portion is preferably provided on the bottom surface so that water can be supplied to the plant even when the water depth is shallow, and is preferably provided on the side surface of the container from the viewpoint of ease of rooting and promotion of lateral root development.
[0035] From the viewpoint of preventing the medium from flowing out of the water-permeable portion due to the flow of the nutrient solution, it is preferable to have a water-permeable sheet member between the root ball of the plant body and the inner wall of the container. The water-permeable sheet member is not particularly limited as long as it is a sheet member that does not permeate the medium and is permeable to moisture and components contained in the nutrient solution. In addition to water permeability, the water-permeable sheet member may further have at least one property of water retention that allows water to be retained within the sheet or hydrophilicity that allows water to spread wet on the surface of the sheet, or may further have both water retention and hydrophilicity. By having the water-permeable sheet member further have water retention, the water-permeable sheet member can absorb and retain the nutrient solution, so that the nutrient solution can be efficiently supplied to the plant body. In addition, by having the water-permeable sheet member further have hydrophilicity, the water-permeable sheet member is well compatible with the nutrient solution, so that the nutrient solution can be more uniformly distributed over the entire surface of the water-permeable sheet member.
[0036] Suitable examples of water-permeable sheet members include known agricultural root barrier sheets or root cutting sheets; woven fabrics commonly used as fabrics for clothing, etc. (e.g., woven fabrics made of cotton, polyester, or linen); agricultural nonwoven fabrics (e.g., nonwoven fabrics containing fibers such as cotton, rayon, acrylic, nylon, polypropylene, and polyester); and the like. However, examples include biodegradable plastic sheets such as polylactic acid (PLA) sheets, which eliminate the need for sorting when cleaning up after use, reducing the workload and also reducing the environmental burden. The biodegradable plastic is preferably at least one selected from the group consisting of PLA, poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) (PHBH), Bio PBS, polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT), starch polyester resin, cellulose acetate, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polyglycolic acid (PGA), polybutylene succinate (PBS), polybutylene succinate adipate (PBSA) and polyethylene terephthalate succinate (PETS), and more preferably PLA since it is bio-derived.
[0037] From the viewpoint of reducing the burden on the environment, it is preferable that at least one of the container and the water-permeable sheet member is formed from a biodegradable material. As the biodegradable material, for example, at least one selected from the group consisting of PLA, PHBH, bioPBS, PBAT, starch polyester resin, cellulose acetate, PVA, PGA, PBS, PBSA and PETS is preferable, and PLA is more preferable because it is derived from bio. Since PLA is biodegradable and can be produced from raw materials derived from plants, it can be suitably used as a material for the container and the water-permeable sheet member.
[0038] The plants that can be cultivated in the plant cultivation device according to one aspect of the present invention are not particularly limited. In the plant cultivation device according to one aspect of the present invention, any plant can be cultivated, and examples of such plants include strawberries, herbs, leafy vegetables, and beans. As described above, the plant cultivation device according to one aspect of the present invention is also suitable for cultivating plants that form thick root mats. Examples of plants that form thick root mats include strawberries, herbs, leafy vegetables, and beans. The plant cultivation device according to one aspect of the present invention can be a strawberry cultivation device.
[0039] [Embodiment 1] A plant cultivation device according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to Figs. 1 to 4. Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the plant cultivation device 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing a part of the configuration of the plant cultivation device 1 shown in Fig. 1 with the planting panel plate 40 removed. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the plant cultivation device 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, taken along the line A-A' shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a top view showing an example of the configuration of the planting panel plate 40. In the first embodiment, a groove on which a plant body is placed is provided on the bottom surface of the cultivation tank, and a mode in which the plant body is placed in the groove will be described.
[0040] As shown in FIG. 1, the plant cultivation device 1 of embodiment 1 includes a cultivation tank 10, a water outlet (first liquid supply member) 20, a drip tube (second liquid supply member) 30, and a planting panel plate (positioning member) 40.
[0041] (Cultivation tank 10) The cultivation tank 10 is a place where plants are cultivated. The bottom surface 10a of the cultivation tank 10 is inclined in the longitudinal direction. A water outlet 20 for supplying nutrient solution into the cultivation tank 10 is provided at the most upstream end of the cultivation tank 10 (the end at the highest position above the horizontal plane in the cultivation tank 10).
[0042] Since the bottom surface 10a of the cultivation tank 10 is inclined in a specific direction, the nutrient solution supplied to the cultivation tank 10 from the water outlet 20 flows from upstream to downstream on the bottom surface 10a due to its own weight. In this specification, the direction in which the nutrient solution supplied from the water outlet 20 flows on the bottom surface 10a in the cultivation tank 10 is referred to as the "flow direction of the nutrient solution". The arrow F1 in the figure indicates the inclination direction of the bottom surface 10a. The flow direction of the nutrient solution from upstream to downstream in the cultivation tank 10 is the same as the inclination direction F1 of the bottom surface 10a. By inclining the bottom surface 10a of the cultivation tank 10 in the longitudinal direction, even if the width for discharging the nutrient solution from the first liquid supply member is narrowed, it is possible to uniformly supply the nutrient solution in the width direction of the cultivation tank, and since the nutrient solution outlet of the first liquid supply member is provided in the short side direction of the cultivation tank, the length of the piping can be shortened.
[0043] The inclination of the inclined surface of the bottom surface 10a of the cultivation tank 10 is appropriately set so that the nutrient solution supplied from the water outlet 20 into the cultivation tank 10 has a flow gradient from the most upstream end to the most downstream end in the longitudinal direction. For example, in this embodiment, the bottom surface 10a of the cultivation tank 10 is inclined at a gradient of about 1 / 100 with respect to the horizontal plane, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the bottom surface 10a can be inclined with a gradient in the range of about 1 / 80 to 1 / 200 with respect to the horizontal plane. Note that in this embodiment, the bottom surface 10a is inclined by installing the entire cultivation tank 10 at an incline with respect to the horizontal plane, but the cultivation tank 10 may be installed horizontally by forming the upper surface of the bottom plate of the cultivation tank 10 so that the bottom surface 10a is inclined.
[0044] As shown in Fig. 2, two grooves 11 and one convex portion 12 are provided on the bottom surface 10a of the cultivation tank 10. The grooves 11 and the convex portion 12 extend along the inclination direction F1 of the bottom surface 10a. The convex portion 12 is provided between two adjacent grooves 11.
[0045] As shown in Fig. 3, a plant body P is placed on the bottom surface 11a of the groove 11. By providing the groove 11 on the bottom surface 10a, a height difference occurs between the bottom surface 10a of the cultivation tank 10 and the bottom surface 11a of the groove 11, and the nutrient solution flows into the groove 11, so that the nutrient solution can be efficiently guided into the groove 11. As a result, the nutrient solution can be successfully supplied to the plant body P placed in the groove 11. In addition, by providing the groove 11 to extend along the inclination direction F1 of the bottom surface 10a, the flow of the nutrient solution in the groove 11 is improved.
[0046] The drip tube 30 is placed on the convex portion 12. A groove 12b for positioning the drip tube 30 is provided on the upper surface of the convex portion 12, and the drip tube 30 is placed on the groove 12b. Furthermore, the convex portion 12 has an inclined portion 12a that inclines toward the bottom surface 10a. The shape of the convex portion 12 is not particularly limited, but since the convex portion 12 has the inclined portion 12a on the bottom surface 10a, the diffusion of the nutrient solution from the drip tube 30 placed on the convex portion 12 in a direction away from the drip tube 30 (for example, in the short direction of the cultivation tank 10) is improved.
[0047] 3 illustrates, as an example, a configuration in which two grooves 11 are provided on the bottom surface 10a of the cultivation tank 10, and the protrusion 12 is provided between two adjacent grooves 11, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the number of grooves 11 provided on the bottom surface 10a of the cultivation tank 10 may be one, or may be more than two. The number of protrusions 12 may be determined according to the number of drip tubes 30 provided in the plant cultivation device 1. The position on the bottom surface 10a where the protrusion 12 is provided may be determined according to the position where the drip tube 30 is arranged.
[0048] The size of the cultivation tank 10 can be determined arbitrarily. As an example, the longitudinal length of one bed formed by connecting a plurality of cultivation tanks 10 is preferably 10 m or more, more preferably 15 m or more. In addition, the longitudinal length of each cultivation tank 10 constituting the bed is preferably 1500 mm or less, more preferably 1200 mm or less, and particularly preferably 1000 mm.
[0049] The outer width W1 of the cultivation tank 10 is preferably 250 mm or more, more preferably 280 mm or more. The outer width W1 can be 400 mm or less, preferably 350 mm or less, more preferably 320 mm or less. By setting the outer width W1 of the cultivation tank 10 within the above range, the number of cultivation tanks that can be installed per unit area can be increased, and as a result, the productivity of plant cultivation per unit area can be improved by increasing the planting density.
[0050] From the viewpoint of making the system compact, the inner width W2 of the cultivation tank 10 is preferably 200 mm or more, and more preferably 220 mm or more. There is no particular upper limit to the inner width W2, but it is preferably 90% or less, and more preferably 85% or less of the outer width W1.
[0051] The height H1 from the lower surface of the bottom plate of the cultivation tank 10 to the lower surface of the planting panel plate 40 is preferably 50 mm or more, more preferably 60 mm or more, from the viewpoint of compacting the system. Moreover, the height H1 is preferably 75 mm or less, more preferably 70 mm or less.
[0052] Moreover, the height H2 from the bottom surface 11a of the groove 11 to the underside of the planting panel board 40 is preferably 28 mm or more, more preferably 32 mm or more, from the viewpoint of the relationship with the root ball of the seedling. The upper limit of the height H2 is not particularly limited, but from the viewpoint of strength and heat insulation, it is preferably 60% or less of the height H1, more preferably 55% or less.
[0053] Moreover, the height H3 from the bottom surface 10a of the cultivation tank 10 to the underside of the planting panel board 40 is preferably 35 mm or more, more preferably 40 mm or more, from the viewpoint of ensuring ventilation to the root ball. The upper limit of the height H3 is not particularly limited, but from the viewpoint of ensuring the flow of the nutrient solution in the early stage of cultivation, it is preferably 90% or less of the height H2, more preferably 88% or less.
[0054] The size of the groove 11 is not particularly limited, and can be appropriately set to a size that allows the placement of the plant body P. The width W3 of the opening of the groove 11 is preferably 65 mm or more, and more preferably 70 mm or more, from the viewpoint of reliable supply of nutrient solution. The upper limit of the width W3 is not particularly limited, but from the viewpoint of ensuring a humid space, it is preferably 35% or less of the inner width W2 of the cultivation tank 10, and more preferably 30% or less.
[0055] Moreover, the width W4 of the bottom surface 11a of the groove 11 is preferably 40 mm or more, more preferably 45 mm or more, from the viewpoint of reliably ensuring the flow of the nutrient solution. The upper limit of the width W4 is not particularly limited, but from the viewpoint of ensuring the water depth immediately after planting, it is preferably 90% or less of the width W3, more preferably 85% or less.
[0056] The size of the convex portion 12 is not particularly limited and can be set appropriately. The width W5 of the convex portion 12 is preferably 100 mm or more, more preferably 108 mm or more, from the viewpoint of the diffusibility of the nutrient solution from the drip tube 30. The upper limit of the width W5 is not particularly limited, but from the viewpoint of ensuring a reliable flow of the nutrient solution in the early stages of cultivation, it is preferably 55% or less of the inner width W2 of the cultivation tank 10, more preferably 50% or less. Note that the "width of the convex portion 12" here means the width of the bottom surface of the convex portion 12.
[0057] Moreover, the height H4 from the bottom surface 11a of the groove 11 to the highest point of the convex portion 12 is preferably 5 mm or more, and more preferably 8 mm or more, from the viewpoint of the diffusibility of the nutrient solution from the drip tube 30. The upper limit of the height H4 is not particularly limited, but from the viewpoint of ensuring an effective flow of the nutrient solution in the middle and later stages of cultivation, it is preferably 40% or less, and more preferably 35% or less, of the height H3 from the bottom surface 10a of the cultivation tank 10 to the lower surface of the planting panel board 40.
[0058] The cultivation tank 10 is preferably formed of a heat insulating material. This makes the inside of the cultivation tank 10 less susceptible to the effects of external temperature. Examples of heat insulating materials include known heat insulating materials such as polystyrene foam. Among them, polystyrene foam is inexpensive and lightweight, and therefore can be suitably used as a material for forming the cultivation tank 10. In order to prevent the nutrient solution from leaking from the cultivation tank 10, it is preferable to cover at least the part of the inner surface of the cultivation tank 10 that comes into contact with the nutrient solution with a waterproof sheet or waterproof sheet (not shown). The waterproof sheet or waterproof sheet is not particularly limited as long as it is made of a material that is difficult to permeate moisture or does not permeate moisture at all, and known waterproof sheets or waterproof sheets can be suitably used.
[0059] (20 outlets) The water outlet 20 supplies the nutrient solution into the cultivation tank 10. The configuration of the water outlet 20 is not particularly limited as long as it is capable of supplying the nutrient solution so as to flow over the bottom surface 10a of the cultivation tank 10.
[0060] In this embodiment, the configuration in which the water outlet 20 is provided at the most upstream end of the cultivation tank 10 has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. As long as the nutrient solution can be supplied as uniformly as possible onto the bottom surface 10a of the cultivation tank 10, the position at which the water outlet 20 is provided is not particularly limited.
[0061] (Drip tube 30) The drip tube 30 supplies the nutrient solution onto the bottom surface 10a of the cultivation tank 10. As shown in FIG. 2, the drip tube 30 extends along the inclination direction F1 of the bottom surface 10a. The drip tube 30 has a plurality of discharge holes 31 for discharging the nutrient solution, and the plurality of discharge holes 31 are arranged along the inclination direction F1 of the bottom surface 10a. The drip tube 30 is placed on the convex portion 12.
[0062] As shown in Fig. 2, the nutrient solution discharged from each discharge hole 31 of the drip tube 30 flows along the inclined portion 12a of the convex portion 12 (flow F2 indicated by a dashed arrow in Fig. 2) and flows into the groove 11. In this way, by providing the drip tube 30, the nutrient solution can be supplied along the flow direction of the nutrient solution, and therefore the nutrient solution can also be supplied to the downstream side of the cultivation tank 10. As a result, the gradient of the concentration and temperature of the nutrient solution in the flow direction of the nutrient solution can be reduced.
[0063] The drip tube 30 may be extended along the inclination direction F1 of the bottom surface 10a, and the position on the bottom surface 10a is not particularly limited. However, when a plurality of grooves 11 are provided on the bottom surface 10a of the cultivation tank 10, the drip tube 30 is preferably disposed between adjacent grooves 11. This allows the drip tube 30 to supply the nutrient solution to the two adjacent grooves 11 in the same manner, thereby reducing the difference in concentration and temperature of the nutrient solution between the two adjacent grooves 11.
[0064] In addition, by placing the drip tube 30 on the convex portion 12, a greater difference in height can be created between the discharge hole 31 of the drip tube 30 and the bottom surface 11a of the groove 11, making it easier for the nutrient solution supplied from the discharge hole 31 to flow into the groove 11 due to its own weight.
[0065] In addition, since the nutrient solution can be supplied along the side surface (inclined portion 12a) of the convex portion 12, the nutrient solution is diffused well in the direction away from the drip tube 30 (for example, in the short side direction of the cultivation tank 10). As a result, the gradient of the concentration and temperature of the nutrient solution in the short side direction of the cultivation tank 10 can be made smaller.
[0066] The drip tube may be one that is generally used for drip irrigation, such as Netafim's Streamline.
[0067] In this embodiment, the drip tube 30 is used as an example of the second liquid supply member, but it is not limited to a drip tube as long as it can supply nutrient solution along the inclination direction F1 of the bottom surface 10a. As the second liquid supply member, a tubular member having a plurality of discharge holes arranged along the longitudinal direction of the tube can be suitably used. For example, the Everflow 2000 series manufactured by Mitsubishi Chemical Agri Dream Co., Ltd. TM Any commonly used watering tube can be used.
[0068] In addition, in the present embodiment, an example has been described in which one drip tube 30 is arranged for two grooves 11, but the present invention is not limited to this. The number of drip tubes 30 can be appropriately determined based on the number of grooves 11.
[0069] In addition, in the present embodiment, an example has been described in which the cultivation tank 10 has a plurality of grooves 11 and the drip tube 30 is disposed between adjacent grooves 11, but the present invention is not limited to this. The position at which the drip tube 30 is disposed can be appropriately determined, and the drip tube 30 may be disposed so that there is a groove 11 that is not adjacent to the drip tube 30.
[0070] In addition, in the present embodiment, one drip tube 30 is provided with one convex portion 12, and the drip tube 30 is placed on the convex portion 12. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Since it is sufficient that the drip tube 30 can supply liquid from a position higher than the bottom surface 11a of the groove 11, the drip tube 30 may be placed directly on the bottom surface 10a without providing the convex portion 12 on the bottom surface 10a of the cultivation tank 10. Also, the drip tube 30 may be suspended from the planting panel plate 40 without being placed on the bottom surface 10a of the cultivation tank 10.
[0071] (Planting Panel Board 40) The planting panel plate 40 is placed on the open top of the cultivation tank 10. The planting panel plate 40 is preferably formed of the same insulating material as the cultivation tank 10. This makes the inside of the cultivation tank 10 less susceptible to the effects of external temperature, making it possible to maintain the temperature of the nutrient solution in the cultivation tank 10 at a constant temperature. In addition, by making the depth of the nutrient solution flowing in the cultivation tank shallow and providing a space between the water surface and the underside of the planting panel plate, this space can be made a humid space, making it possible to supply oxygen to the roots of plants growing in the humid space.
[0072] As shown in Fig. 4, a plurality of planting holes 41 are bored at regular intervals in the planting panel plate 40 along the inclination direction F1 of the bottom surface 10a. As shown in Fig. 3, the planting holes 41 of the planting panel plate 40 are provided at positions corresponding to the grooves 11 when the planting panel plate 40 is placed on the cultivation tank 10. This allows the plant body P to be placed on the groove 11 facing below the planting hole 41 by inserting the planting body P into the planting hole 41 and planting it.
[0073] The interval between adjacent planting holes 41 along the inclination direction F1 of the bottom surface 10a (the longitudinal direction of the planting panel board 40 shown in FIG. 4) is not particularly limited, and can be designed appropriately depending on the type of plant to be cultivated. For example, in the case of strawberry plants, the interval S1 between adjacent planting holes 41 along the inclination direction F1 of the bottom surface 10a is preferably 150 mm or more, more preferably 180 mm or more, from the viewpoint of good light receiving system. Also, from the viewpoint of light receiving efficiency, the interval S1 is preferably 250 mm or less, more preferably 220 mm or less. Here, the interval S1 means the distance between the centers of adjacent planting holes 41.
[0074] The shape of the planting hole 41 may be a cylindrical shape as shown in FIG. 4, or may be a prism shape or any other shape. In the plant cultivation device 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 3, the plant body P is placed in the groove 11 in a state where the cell molded seedling P1 is accommodated in the pot (container) P2. For this reason, the shape of the planting hole 41 is preferably similar to the outer circumferential shape of the pot P2. This can reduce the gap between the planting hole 41 and the pot P2, improving the airtightness of the humid space. In addition, the size of the planting hole 41 is preferably slightly larger (for example, about 1 mm to 2 mm) than the outer circumferential shape of the pot P2. This can make it easier to insert the plant body P into the planting hole 41 and plant it. For example, when the shape of the planting hole 41 is a cylindrical shape as shown in FIG. 4, the diameter D1 of the planting hole 41 is preferably 40 mm or more and 55 mm or less.
[0075] In this embodiment, the configuration in which two rows of planting holes 41 are provided has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The number of rows of planting holes 41 may be determined according to the number of grooves 11. When multiple rows of planting holes 41 are provided, the interval S2 between adjacent rows of planting holes 41 is preferably 160 mm or more, more preferably 165 mm or more, from the viewpoint of efficient light reception and panel strength. In addition, from the viewpoint of ensuring the number of planted plants, the interval S2 is preferably 185 mm or less, more preferably 180 mm or less. Here, the interval S2 means the distance between the centers of adjacent planting holes 41.
[0076] The size of the planting panel board 40 is not particularly limited, and can be appropriately determined according to the size of the open upper part of the cultivation tank 10.
[0077] (Other configurations) A nutrient solution supply amount control device (not shown) and a nutrient solution storage tank (not shown) are connected to the water outlet 20 and the drip tube 30, respectively. The nutrient solution storage tank is for storing the nutrient solution to be supplied to the cultivation tank 10, and the configuration thereof is not particularly limited as long as it can store the nutrient solution. The nutrient solution storage tank may be equipped with a sensor (not shown) for measuring the electrical conductivity (EC) value of the nutrient solution, a sensor (not shown) for measuring the pH value, a sensor (not shown) for measuring the temperature of the nutrient solution, and the like. This allows the EC value, pH value, and temperature of the nutrient solution to be controlled to be within a predetermined range.
[0078] The nutrient solution supply amount control device is a device for controlling the supply amount of nutrient solution. The nutrient solution supply amount control device controls a solution delivery pump (not shown) and a valve (not shown). The solution delivery pump supplies the nutrient solution in the nutrient solution storage tank to the water outlet 20 and the drip tube 30. The water outlet 20 and the drip tube 30 are each provided with a valve, and the supply amount of nutrient solution supplied from the water outlet 20 and the drip tube 30 can be adjusted to a predetermined supply amount by changing the opening degree of the valve.
[0079] The nutrient solution supply amount control device preferably controls the first nutrient solution supply amount and the second nutrient solution supply amount so that the ratio of the second nutrient solution supply amount to the sum of the nutrient solution supply amount per unit time from the water outlet 20 (first nutrient solution supply amount) and the nutrient solution supply amount per unit time from the drip tube 30 (second nutrient solution supply amount) is 0.2 or more and 0.4 or less. By controlling the first nutrient solution supply amount and the second nutrient solution supply amount within the above range, the gradient of the concentration and temperature of the nutrient solution between the upstream and downstream in the flow direction of the nutrient solution can be reduced. The nutrient solution supply amount control device may be a terminal that can input the first nutrient solution supply amount and the second nutrient solution supply amount, and may control the opening and closing of valves provided on the water outlet 20 and the drip tube 30, respectively.
[0080] A recovery member (not shown) is provided at the most downstream end of the cultivation tank 10 (the end in the cultivation tank 10 at the position having the lowest height from the horizontal plane) for recovering the nutrient solution that has finished flowing through the cultivation tank 10. The recovered nutrient solution may be returned to the nutrient solution storage tank and supplied to the cultivation tank 10 again.
[0081] (Modification) In the above description, an example has been given of a configuration in which the plant cultivation device 1 includes the planting panel plate 40 as a positioning member, but the present invention is not limited to this. The plant cultivation device according to one embodiment of the present invention may be configured without the planting panel plate 40. Even if the plant cultivation device 1 does not include the planting panel plate 40, the effect of supplying liquid by using the two liquid supply members, the water outlet 20 and the drip tube 30, in combination can be fully achieved.
[0082] [Embodiment 2] A plant cultivation device 2 according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to Fig. 3. The plant cultivation device 2 according to the second embodiment will be described by replacing the reference numeral "1" in Fig. 3 with "2".
[0083] In the above-mentioned embodiment 1, a groove 11 on which a plant body is placed is provided on the bottom surface 10a of the cultivation tank 10 of the plant cultivation device 1, and a plant body P is placed in the groove 11. However, the present invention is not limited to this. A plant cultivation device 2 according to embodiment 2 of the present invention can be configured such that the bottom surface 10a of the cultivation tank 10 does not have the groove 11 on which a plant body is placed, and the bottom surface 10a of the cultivation tank 10 does not have a recess. In this case, the plant body P may be placed on the bottom surface 10a.
[0084] Since the drip tube 30 is placed on the convex portion 12, the nutrient solution can be supplied from a position higher than the bottom surface 10a where the plant body P is placed. This allows the nutrient solution to be spread on the bottom surface 10a in a direction away from the drip tube 30 (for example, in the short direction of the cultivation tank 10), and the effect of supplying the nutrient solution by using the two liquid supply members, the water outlet 20 and the drip tube 30, in combination can be fully exhibited. Note that, among the components of the plant cultivation device 2 according to the second embodiment, the components other than the absence of the groove 11 are similar to the components of the plant cultivation device 1 according to the first embodiment, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted here.
[0085] <2. Plant cultivation method> A method for cultivating plants according to one aspect of the present invention is a method for cultivating plants using the plant cultivation device according to one aspect of the present invention, and includes a step of arranging a plant body on the bottom surface, or on the bottom surface of the groove if a groove is provided on the bottom surface in which the plant body is placed, and a step of supplying a nutrient solution from each of the first and second liquid supply members onto the bottom surface of the cultivation tank. The plant cultivation device according to one aspect of the present invention has already been described, and will not be repeated here.
[0086] (Plant Cultivation Method According to Embodiment 1) As one aspect of the plant cultivation method of the present invention, a plant cultivation method using the plant cultivation device 1 according to the embodiment 1 will be described below with reference to Fig. 3. The plant cultivation method using the plant cultivation device 1 according to the embodiment 1 will also be referred to as the "plant cultivation method according to the embodiment 1".
[0087] (Placement process) In the plant cultivation apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment, a groove 11 on which a plant P is placed is provided on a bottom surface 10a of a cultivation tank 10. Therefore, in the plant cultivation method according to the first embodiment, the arranging step is a step of arranging a plant P on a bottom surface 11a of the groove 11 of the cultivation tank 10 of the plant cultivation apparatus 1. The plant P is a cell-molded seedling P1 accommodated in a pot (container) P2 having a water-permeable portion (not shown). In the arranging step, the pot P2 portion of the plant P is inserted into a planting hole 41 of a planting panel plate 40 and planted, so that the plant P can be placed on the bottom surface 11a of the groove 11 directly below the planting hole 40.
[0088] (Nutrient solution supply process) The nutrient solution supplying step is a step of supplying the nutrient solution onto the bottom surface 10a of the cultivation tank 10 from each of the water outlet 20 and the drip tube 30.
[0089] (liquid supply method) The supply of the nutrient solution from the water outlet 20 may be performed so that the nutrient solution flows in a thin film on the bottom surface 10a of the cultivation tank 10 (i.e., NFT). The supply of the nutrient solution from the drip tube 30 may be performed by a drip irrigation method (e.g., a drip liquid supply method). However, the present invention is not limited to this. The supply of the nutrient solution from the second liquid supply member may be performed so that the nutrient solution is supplied along the inclination direction F1 of the bottom surface 10a, so it is also possible to adopt a watering tube instead of a drip tube as the second liquid supply member. When a watering tube is used as the second liquid supply member, the nutrient solution is supplied by a watering method.
[0090] The sprinkling method can release the nutrient solution over a wider area than the drip irrigation method. In contrast, the drip irrigation method has the advantage that, when a cultivation tank with a small space inside is used, the inside and outside of the cultivation tank are less likely to be soiled by the nutrient solution, making it possible to use it continuously for a long period of time, and the amount of nutrient solution discharged can be accurately controlled. Therefore, when cultivating for a long period of time using a cultivation tank with a small space inside the cultivation tank, it is preferable to use a drip tube as the second liquid supply member and supply the nutrient solution by the drip irrigation method.
[0091] (Amount of nutrient solution supplied) In the nutrient solution supplying step, it is preferable to supply the nutrient solution from the water outlet 20 and the drip tube 30 so that the ratio of the second nutrient solution supply amount to the sum of the nutrient solution supply amount per unit time from the water outlet 20 (first nutrient solution supply amount) and the nutrient solution supply amount per unit time from the drip tube 30 (second nutrient solution supply amount) is 0.2 or more and 0.4 or less. By setting the supply amount of the nutrient solution supplied from the water outlet 20 and the drip tube 30 at the above ratio, it is possible to reduce the gradient of the concentration and temperature of the nutrient solution between the upstream and downstream of the nutrient solution flow.
[0092] (Nutrient solution water level) The total amount of the first nutrient solution supply amount and the second nutrient solution supply amount may be appropriately adjusted so that the water level of the nutrient solution flowing through the cultivation tank 10 in the nutrient solution supply step is a water level suitable for the growth of the target plant. For example, when the target plant is a strawberry, in the very early stage of cultivation, from the viewpoint of reliable nutrient solution supply, the height from the bottom surface 11a of the groove 11 to the water surface of the nutrient solution is preferably 1.5 mm or more, more preferably 2 mm or more. In addition, from the viewpoint of securing a moisture space at the root ball of the seedling, the height from the bottom surface 11a of the groove 11 to the water surface of the nutrient solution is preferably 25 mm or less, more preferably 20 mm or less. Note that since the water level of the nutrient solution in the nutrient solution supply step is a set value, in actual control, the water level of the nutrient solution may be partially or temporarily outside the above range.
[0093] (Temperature of nutrient solution) The temperature of the nutrient solution may be appropriately adjusted so as to be suitable for the growth of the target plant. For example, when the target plant is a strawberry, from the viewpoint of the physiology of the roots, i.e., the overall activity related to the growth of the roots, the temperature of the nutrient solution supplied to the cultivation tank 10 in the nutrient solution supplying step is preferably 13°C or higher, more preferably 15°C or higher. In addition, from the viewpoint of preventing the occurrence of high-temperature damage to the strawberries, the temperature of the nutrient solution supplied to the cultivation tank 10 in the nutrient solution supplying step is preferably 25°C or lower, more preferably 20°C or lower.
[0094] (Electrical conductivity of nutrient solution) The electrical conductivity of the nutrient solution may be adjusted appropriately so as to be suitable for the growth of the plant to be cultivated. For example, when the plant to be cultivated is strawberry, the electrical conductivity of the nutrient solution supplied to the cultivation tank 10 in the nutrient solution supplying step is preferably 0.2 dS / m or more and 1.0 dS / m or less. It is more preferably 0.2 dS / m or more and 0.8 dS / m or less, and even more preferably 0.2 dS / m or more and 0.6 dS / m or less. In this specification, the "electrical conductivity" is a value obtained by immersing an electrical conductivity cell in a test solution using an electrical conductivity measuring meter, measuring the resistance value, and calculating the reciprocal thereof. Since the nutrient solution having an electrical conductivity in the above range has a low concentration of fertilizer components, the concentration difference of the nutrient solution is likely to significantly affect the growth of the plant. According to the plant cultivation method according to one embodiment of the present invention, the gradient of the concentration of the nutrient solution between the upstream and downstream of the flow of the nutrient solution can be reduced, so that the method is also suitable for cultivating plants using a nutrient solution with a relatively low concentration of fertilizer components.
[0095] (Plant Cultivation Method According to Embodiment 2) Hereinafter, as another aspect of the plant cultivation method of the present invention, a plant cultivation method using the plant cultivation device according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 3. The plant cultivation method using the plant cultivation device according to the second embodiment will also be referred to as the "plant cultivation method according to the second embodiment".
[0096] (Placement process) In the plant cultivation method according to the second embodiment, the arranging step is a step of arranging a plant body P on the bottom surface 10a of the cultivation tank 10 of the plant cultivation device 2. Except for the location where the plant body P is arranged, this is the same as the arranging step in the plant cultivation method according to the first embodiment.
[0097] (Nutrient solution supply process) The nutrient solution supplying step is a step of supplying the nutrient solution onto the bottom surface 10a of the cultivation tank 10 from each of the water outlet 20 and the drip tube 30. As in the plant cultivation method according to the first embodiment, in the plant cultivation method according to the second embodiment, the total amount of the first nutrient solution supply amount and the second nutrient solution supply amount may be appropriately adjusted so that the water level of the nutrient solution flowing through the cultivation tank 10 in the nutrient solution supplying step is a water level suitable for the growth of the target plant. However, in the plant cultivation method according to the first embodiment, the preferred water level of the nutrient solution may be determined based on the height from the bottom surface 11a of the groove 11 to the water level of the nutrient solution, whereas in the plant cultivation method according to the second embodiment, the preferred water level of the nutrient solution may be determined based on the height from the bottom surface 10a to the water level of the nutrient solution. Other than this point, the nutrient solution supplying step is the same as in the plant cultivation method according to the first embodiment.
[0098] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims. Embodiments obtained by appropriately combining the technical means disclosed in the respective embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention. [Industrial Applicability]
[0099] The present invention can be suitably used, for example, in the cultivation of plants such as strawberries that form root mats. [Explanation of symbols]
[0100] 1 Plant cultivation device, 10 Cultivation tank, 10a Bottom surface of cultivation tank, 11 Groove, 11a Bottom surface of groove, 12 Convex portion, 12a Sloping portion of convex portion, 20 Water outlet (first liquid supply member), 30 Drip tube (second liquid supply member), 31 Discharge hole, 40 Planting panel plate (positioning member), 41 Planting hole, F1 Sloping direction of bottom surface 10a, P Plant body, P1 Cell molded seedling (plant body), P2 Pot (container)
Claims
1. A cultivation tank having a bottom surface on which a plant body is placed, the bottom surface being inclined; A first liquid supply member for supplying a nutrient solution into the cultivation tank; a second liquid supply member extending along the inclination direction of the bottom surface, The second liquid supply member has a plurality of discharge holes for discharging the nutrient solution, The plurality of discharge holes are arranged along a slope direction of the bottom surface, a protrusion on which the second liquid supply member is placed is provided on the bottom surface, The second liquid supply member is placed on the convex portion. Plant cultivation equipment.
2. The plant cultivation device according to claim 1 , wherein the convex portion has an inclined portion inclined toward the bottom surface.
3. The plant cultivation device according to claim 1 , wherein the bottom surface is provided with a groove in which a plant body is placed.
4. The plant cultivation device according to claim 3 , wherein the groove extends along a direction in which the bottom surface is inclined.
5. A plurality of the grooves are provided, The second liquid supply member is disposed between adjacent ones of the grooves. The plant cultivation device according to claim 3.
6. The plant body further includes a positioning member. The plant cultivation device according to claim 3 , wherein the positioning member has a plurality of planting holes at positions corresponding to the grooves when the positioning member is placed on the cultivation tank.
7. The distance between adjacent planting holes along the inclination direction of the bottom surface is 150 mm or more and 250 mm or less. The plant cultivation device according to claim 6.
8. The outer width of the cultivation tank is 250 mm or more and 400 mm or less. The plant cultivation device according to claim 1.
9. The plant cultivation device according to claim 1 , wherein the bottom surface is inclined in the longitudinal direction.
10. 2. The plant cultivation apparatus according to claim 1, which is an apparatus for cultivating strawberries.
11. A nutrient solution supply amount control device is provided for controlling the amount of the nutrient solution supplied, the nutrient solution supply amount control device controls the amount of nutrient solution supplied from the first liquid supply member and the second liquid supply member so that a ratio of the amount of nutrient solution supplied per unit time from the second liquid supply member to a sum of the amount of nutrient solution supplied per unit time from the first liquid supply member and the amount of nutrient solution supplied per unit time from the second liquid supply member is 0.2 or more and 0.4 or less. The plant cultivation device according to claim 1.
12. A method for cultivating plants using the plant cultivation device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, a step of placing a plant body on the bottom surface, or on a bottom surface of the groove if the bottom surface has a groove in which the plant body is placed; A nutrient solution supplying step of supplying a nutrient solution onto a bottom surface of the cultivation tank from each of the first liquid supply member and the second liquid supply member, A method for cultivating a plant, wherein in the nutrient solution supplying step, nutrient solution is supplied from the first liquid supply member and the second liquid supply member so that a ratio of an amount of nutrient solution supplied per unit time from the second liquid supply member to a sum of an amount of nutrient solution supplied per unit time from the first liquid supply member and an amount of nutrient solution supplied per unit time from the second liquid supply member is 0.2 or more and 0.4 or less.
13. The method for cultivating a plant according to claim 12, wherein at least a part of the plant body is contained in a container having a water-permeable portion.
14. The method for cultivating a plant according to claim 13, further comprising a water-permeable sheet member between the root ball of the plant body and an inner wall of the container.
15. The method for cultivating a plant according to claim 14 , wherein at least one of the container and the sheet member is formed from a biodegradable material.
16. The method for cultivating a plant according to claim 12, wherein the nutrient solution has an electrical conductivity of 0.2 dS / m or more and 1.0 dS / m or less.
17. 13. The method of cultivating a plant according to claim 12, wherein the plant is a strawberry.
