Solanaceous seedling raising facility, and seedling raising method using same

Abstract

A solanaceous vegetable seedling raising facility, comprising a plant factory, an intelligent environmental control system, and an automated seedling raising handling system. The plant factory comprises a plurality of seedling raising handling chambers; and the seedling raising handling chambers respectively provide raising places for different seedling raising stages of solanaceous seedlings. The intelligent environmental control system is configured to monitor the environment in the plant factory, and regulate the temperature, humidity, light intensity, water and fertilizer, CO2 concentration, and substrate in the plant factory on the basis of seedling raising conditions of the solanaceous seedlings. The automated seedling raising handling system is configured to perform automated sowing, grafting and seedling transportation on the basis of a seedling raising process. Also disclosed is a seedling raising method using the seedling raising facility. The facility can accurately regulate various environmental factors in the seedling raising handling chambers, thereby satisfying requirements of the seedlings at different stages, optimizing growth conditions, and thus improving seedling raising efficiency and uniformity. Moreover, the facility can also precisely deliver resources such as water and fertilizers to reduce waste, and automatically perform operations such as sowing and grafting, thereby improving operating efficiency and reducing manual labor intensity.

Description

A seedling facility and seedling method for solanaceous crops Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of seedling cultivation and planting technology, and further to a seedling cultivation facility and method for solanaceous crops. Background Technology

[0002] Seedling facilities for solanaceous crops play a crucial role in modern agricultural production. However, current seedling facilities still exhibit numerous shortcomings in key aspects such as environmental control, sowing efficiency, and seedling quality, directly hindering the healthy growth and final yield of solanaceous seedlings. Traditional seedling facilities typically employ simple greenhouse structures with limited environmental control capabilities, making it difficult to meet the precise requirements of seedlings at different growth stages for environmental parameters such as temperature, humidity, and light. Furthermore, traditional seedling facilities have low levels of automation in key processes such as sowing and grafting, resulting in high labor intensity, low efficiency, and susceptibility to human error. Therefore, developing a facility capable of intelligent environmental control and automated seedling processing is of great significance. In addition, the sowing and seedling processes heavily rely on manual operation, lacking the ability to adjust key growth parameters such as light, temperature, and humidity in real time. This not only leads to poor seedling results but also low efficiency and difficulty in effectively guaranteeing seedling quality. Simultaneously, insufficient automation also affects production efficiency and the overall quality of seedlings.

[0003] In modern agricultural production settings such as large greenhouses and agricultural technology demonstration parks, how to effectively improve the environmental control capabilities of solanaceous seedling facilities and achieve intelligent and precise control of key growth parameters such as light, temperature, and humidity requires the provision of an automated and intelligent seedling facility and supporting seedling methods to address these issues. Summary of the Invention

[0004] To address existing problems, the present invention aims to provide a seedling facility and method for solanaceous crops. This seedling facility is equipped with an intelligent environmental control system that can precisely adjust various environmental factors within the seedling treatment chamber to meet the environmental needs of seedlings at different growth stages. This intelligent management significantly improves the stability of the seedling environment, ensuring seedlings grow under optimal conditions, increasing seedling efficiency, and maintaining seedling uniformity. Simultaneously, the system can precisely control resource allocation, such as water and fertilizer, effectively reducing resource waste and improving resource utilization efficiency. The automated seedling treatment system within the facility can automatically perform operations such as sowing and grafting according to the breeding progress, greatly improving operational efficiency, achieving automation in breeding, and significantly reducing manual labor intensity. Furthermore, the present invention also provides a matching seedling method. This method utilizes the automated seedling treatment system to continuously and rapidly complete seedling tasks, reducing errors inherent in manual operation. For example, the visual module can quickly locate the grafting site, shortening the search and adjustment time during grafting. This not only speeds up the grafting process but also promotes standardization, ensuring that the grafting of each seedling follows a uniform high standard, thereby improving the overall quality of grafting.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution:

[0006] A seedling cultivation facility for solanaceous vegetables includes: a plant factory, an intelligent environmental control system, and an automated seedling processing system; the plant factory includes multiple seedling processing rooms, each providing a cultivation space for different seedling stages of solanaceous seedlings; the intelligent environmental control system monitors the environment within the plant factory and adjusts the temperature, humidity, light, water and fertilizer, CO2 concentration, and substrate within the plant factory according to the seedling conditions of the solanaceous seedlings; the automated seedling processing system automates sowing, grafting, and seedling transportation according to the breeding process.

[0007] In some embodiments, the intelligent environmental control system includes: a temperature and humidity control unit, a light control unit, a CO2 concentration control unit, and a water and fertilizer control unit; the temperature and humidity control unit is used to monitor and control the temperature and humidity in the seedling treatment room; the light control unit is used to monitor and control the light ratio, light intensity, and light duration; the CO2 concentration control unit is used to monitor and control the CO2 concentration; the water and fertilizer control unit is used to prepare and apply nutrient solution, including an irrigation module and a fertilizer control module, the irrigation module is used to automatically irrigate according to the growth status and substrate condition of the solanaceous seedlings, and the fertilizer control module is used to monitor the substrate condition and prepare and apply fertilizer.

[0008] In some embodiments, the temperature and humidity control unit further includes an automatic water spraying module, which is used to automatically spray water according to the humidity in the plant factory and to control the amount and frequency of water spraying.

[0009] In some embodiments, the intelligent environmental control system further includes a liquid recovery module, which is used to recycle and reuse residual irrigation liquid.

[0010] In some embodiments, the automated seedling processing system includes: an automatic sowing unit, a grafting unit, a transplanting unit, and a conveying unit; the automatic sowing unit includes a substrate treatment module, a sowing module, a soil covering module, and an irrigation module; the grafting unit includes: a vision module for monitoring and determining whether the solanaceous seedlings have reached a suitable grafting state, and for monitoring the steps in the grafting process within the grafting area; the transplanting unit is used to transplant the grafted solanaceous seedlings to seedling trays; and the conveying unit is used to convey the solanaceous seedlings to each unit according to the seedling processing procedure.

[0011] The present invention also provides a method for raising seedlings of solanaceous vegetables, using the above-mentioned seedling raising facilities, including the following steps: sowing solanaceous seeds in a seedling tray containing substrate, and then germinating them to obtain seedlings; when the seedlings grow to a predetermined seedling age, grafting the scion seedlings onto the rootstock to obtain grafted seedlings, wherein the scion seedlings are the seedlings to be grafted; after the grafted seedlings have recovered from transplant shock, seedlings are obtained, and the seedlings are cultivated until they emerge.

[0012] In some embodiments, the step of sowing solanaceous seeds in a seedling tray containing substrate includes: placing the treated substrate into the seedling tray, sowing the solanaceous seeds into the individual holes of the seedling tray, covering with vermiculite, and then watering the seedling tray.

[0013] In some embodiments, the germination step includes: covering the seed trays containing the solanaceous seeds with a film, observing the germination every 2-8 hours, and when the germination rate is 30%-40%, removing the film, moving the seed trays into the growth chamber, and providing supplemental lighting.

[0014] In some embodiments, the process of sowing solanaceous seeds in a substrate-filled seedling tray further includes: substrate treatment: soaking the substrate, wherein the substrate is rock wool plug or coconut coir, in a nutrient solution; and / or, the process of sowing solanaceous seeds in a substrate-filled seedling tray further includes: selecting the solanaceous seeds; and / or, the process of grafting the scion seedlings onto the rootstock further includes: disinfecting the grafting environment, separating the rootstock seedlings, and irrigating the rootstock and the scion seedlings with a nutrient solution.

[0015] In some embodiments, the seedling raising method further includes: transplanting and planting management of the seedlings according to the planting plan.

[0016] Compared with the prior art, the solanaceous fruit seedling raising facility and the seedling raising method provided by the present invention have the following beneficial effects:

[0017] 1. The intelligent environment control system provided by the solanaceous fruit seedling raising facility of the present invention is highly intelligent and can precisely adjust the environmental parameters in each seedling raising treatment room according to the specific needs of seedlings at different growth stages, including temperature, humidity, light, carbon dioxide concentration, etc. Thus, it greatly improves the stability and quality of the seedling raising environment, conducts refined management of the seedling raising environment, ensures that the seedlings grow under the best conditions, thereby improving the uniformity of the seedlings, and can also achieve precise delivery of resources such as water, fertilizers, etc., reduce waste, and improve resource utilization efficiency; while the automated seedling raising treatment system can, and this system can also automatically complete a series of operations such as sowing, grafting, and seedling transportation according to the breeding process, greatly improving production efficiency, realizing automation of breeding, and reducing the labor intensity of manual work;

[0018] 2. The present invention also provides a set of seedling raising methods supporting the seedling raising facility. Through the automated seedling raising treatment system of this system, tasks such as sowing, transplanting, and grafting can be completed continuously and quickly, reducing errors caused by manual operations. For example, the vision module can quickly identify the grafting site, reducing the search and adjustment time during the grafting process. The vision module not only improves the grafting speed but also helps to standardize the grafting process, ensuring that the grafting of each plant is carried out according to a unified standard, improving the overall grafting quality. This automated breeding method not only has high breeding efficiency but also saves labor costs, which is of great significance for improving the modernization level of agricultural production and promoting the sustainable development of agriculture. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the drawings and embodiments.

[0020] FIG. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of the solanaceous fruit vegetable seedling raising facility provided by the present invention;

[0021] FIG. 2 is a schematic flow diagram of the solanaceous fruit vegetable seedling raising method provided by the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0022] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the specific embodiments of the present invention will be described below in conjunction with the drawings. Obviously, the drawings in the following description are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those of ordinary skill in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative efforts, and other embodiments can also be obtained.

[0023] To keep the drawings concise, each figure only schematically shows the parts relevant to the invention, and these do not represent the actual structure of the product. Furthermore, to facilitate understanding, in some figures, only one of components with the same structure or function is schematically depicted, or only one is labeled. In this document, "one" not only means "only one," but can also mean "more than one."

[0024] It should also be further understood that the term "and / or" as used in this specification and the appended claims refers to any combination of one or more of the associated listed items and all possible combinations, and includes such combinations.

[0025] In this document, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linking" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to fixed connections, detachable connections, or integral connections; they can refer to mechanical connections or electrical connections; they can refer to direct connections or indirect connections through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal communication between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention based on the specific circumstances.

[0026] Furthermore, in the description of this invention, the terms "first," "second," etc., are used only for distinguishing descriptions and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0027] Example 1

[0028] This embodiment provides a seedling cultivation facility for solanaceous vegetables, including: a plant factory, an intelligent environmental control system, and an automated seedling processing system.

[0029] As shown in Figure 1, the plant factory includes multiple seedling treatment rooms, each providing a cultivation space for different seedling stages of solanaceous vegetables. For example, there are four seedling treatment rooms: a sowing room, a germination room, a grafting room, and a growth room. Solanaceous vegetable seeds are automatically sown in the sowing room. The seed trays are then sent to the germination room for germination. Once the seedlings reach the preset germination rate, they are sent to the growth room for growth. After the seedlings reach the grafting stage, they are sent to the grafting room for grafting. After grafting, the grafted seedlings are sent to the growth room for healing and growth until they emerge.

[0030] It should be noted that the number of seedling treatment rooms mentioned above can be adjusted according to the seedling plan.

[0031] The aforementioned intelligent environmental control system is used to monitor the environment within the plant factory and adjust the temperature, humidity, light, water and fertilizer, CO2 concentration, and substrate within the plant factory according to the seedling conditions of solanaceous vegetable seedlings. In other words, the intelligent environmental control system detects and adjusts the environmental parameters of each seedling treatment chamber based on the different growth stages of the solanaceous vegetable seedlings, providing them with a suitable growth environment.

[0032] The aforementioned automated seedling processing system is used for automated sowing, grafting, and transplanting. Specifically, it automatically completes the sowing of solanaceous vegetable seeds in the sowing room, the grafting process in the grafting room, and the transplanting of the healed grafted seedlings.

[0033] In some embodiments, the aforementioned intelligent environmental control system includes: a temperature and humidity control unit, a light control unit, a CO2 concentration control unit, and a water and fertilizer control unit, specifically:

[0034] The temperature and humidity control unit is used to monitor and control the temperature and humidity of the seedling treatment room. Each seedling treatment room is equipped with a temperature detection module, a temperature adjustment module, a humidity detection module, and an automatic water spraying module. The temperature detection module can detect the temperature of each seedling treatment room in real time through a temperature sensor. The temperature adjustment module (heat pump or air conditioning equipment, etc.) adjusts the temperature according to the temperature value. The humidity detection module can detect the humidity of each seedling treatment room in real time through a humidity sensor. The automatic water spraying module sprays water automatically according to the humidity value and can automatically adjust the water spray volume and spraying frequency.

[0035] The light control unit is used to monitor and regulate the light ratio, light intensity, and light duration. It includes a light sensor, supplemental lighting equipment, and shading equipment. The light sensor is used to detect the position and intensity of sunlight (natural light). When natural light is insufficient, the light control unit will automatically activate the supplemental lighting equipment and automatically adjust parameters such as light intensity to ensure the amount of light required for plant growth. When the light is too strong or no light is needed, the light control unit will activate the shading equipment (such as a shade net) to reduce the light intensity or directly block the light to prevent the plant from being damaged by strong sunlight.

[0036] The CO2 concentration control unit is used to monitor and regulate CO2 concentration. It includes a CO2 concentration detection module, a CO2 concentration boosting module, and a CO2 concentration reducing module. The CO2 concentration detection module can detect the CO2 concentration in real time through a concentration sensor. When the CO2 concentration is insufficient, the CO2 concentration boosting module (such as a CO2 generator) is automatically activated to introduce CO2 into the seedling treatment room. When the CO2 concentration is too high, the CO2 concentration reducing module (such as a fan or CO2 absorption device) is activated to reduce the CO2 concentration.

[0037] The water and fertilizer control unit can mix and apply nutrient solution, including an irrigation module and a fertilizer control module. The irrigation module is used to automatically irrigate according to the growth status of solanaceous vegetable seedlings and substrate conditions. The fertilizer control module is used to monitor substrate conditions and mix and apply nutrient solution. The nutrient solution is made of fertilizer and water.

[0038] Furthermore, the aforementioned intelligent environmental control system also includes a liquid return module, which is used to recycle and reuse the residual liquid (water, nutrient solution, etc.) from irrigation, allowing for repeated irrigation.

[0039] The aforementioned intelligent environmental control system can automatically optimize and adjust the growth environment of solanaceous vegetable seedlings according to their specific needs at different seedling stages, ensuring that the seedlings receive the most suitable temperature, humidity, light, and carbon dioxide concentration. In addition, the intelligent environmental control system has an automatic and efficient management method, which significantly improves energy efficiency, avoids unnecessary energy consumption, and achieves precise resource allocation.

[0040] In some embodiments, the aforementioned automated seedling processing system includes: an automatic sowing unit, a grafting unit, a transplanting unit, and a conveying unit, specifically:

[0041] The automatic seeding unit includes a substrate treatment module, a seeding module, a soil covering module, and an irrigation module. The substrate treatment module pre-treats the substrate used for sowing solanaceous vegetable seeds, including automatically crushing and mixing the substrate to ensure its homogeneity and suitable moisture content (50%–60%), creating an ideal substrate environment. The seeding module sows the treated solanaceous vegetable seeds into the seed trays using precision machinery. The soil covering module covers the seeds with soil after sowing, adjusting the amount of soil according to actual conditions to provide a dark environment for germination. The irrigation module irrigates the seed trays after soil covering, keeping the substrate moist and providing water for seed germination.

[0042] The core component of the grafting unit is the vision module, which monitors and determines whether the seedlings of solanaceous vegetables are ready for grafting, and monitors and guides the grafting process within the grafting area to improve the grafting survival rate. During manual grafting, the vision module captures images of the seedlings using a high-resolution camera and identifies suitable scions and rootstocks. Using image processing technology, it identifies the optimal cutting positions for the scions and rootstocks and transmits the image information to a display screen. Operators can then determine the grafting time and cutting location based on the information in the image. When using mechanical equipment such as a grafting robot, the camera helps identify the grafting position, and the robot makes precise cuts according to the guidance of the vision module. Simultaneously, the vision module monitors the grafting process in real time, guiding the robot to accurately align the scion and rootstock. The vision module can also guide the robot to cut at appropriate angles and depths to meet different grafting needs. Furthermore, with the assistance of the vision module, the robot can correctly use grafting tape or grafting glue to ensure a tight fixation between the scion and rootstock.

[0043] Solanaceous vegetable seedlings can be transplanted into seedling trays using precision machinery.

[0044] The conveying unit is used to transport solanaceous vegetable seedlings to various units according to the seedling treatment process. For example, after the seedlings have been sown, the seedling trays are sent to the germination chamber for germination. Then, the seedling trays that have sprouted are removed from the germination chamber and sent to the growth chamber for growth. The seedling trays in the growth chamber are sent to the grafting chamber, etc., which will not be elaborated here.

[0045] Example 2

[0046] This embodiment also provides a method for raising seedlings of solanaceous vegetables, using the solanaceous vegetable seedling raising facility in Embodiment 1. The steps of this seedling raising method are briefly described below:

[0047] (1) Sowing and germination: In the sowing room, sow the seeds of solanaceous fruits in the seed trays containing the substrate, transfer the seed trays to the germination room for germination, obtain seedlings, and transfer the seedlings to the growth room for cultivation.

[0048] (2) Grafting: When the seedlings grow to the predetermined seedling age, the seedlings are transferred to the grafting room. With the assistance of the visual aid module, the scion seedlings are grafted onto the rootstock to obtain grafted seedlings. The scion seedlings mentioned above are the seedlings to be grafted. The grafted seedlings are then transferred to the growth room for cultivation.

[0049] (3) Healing and seedling establishment: The grafting site of the seedling to be grafted needs a period of time to heal, and then seedling establishment is carried out to obtain the seedlings. The seedlings are then cultivated until they emerge.

[0050] Throughout the seedling process, the aforementioned intelligent environmental control system can precisely control the internal environment of each seedling treatment room, automatically adjusting temperature, humidity, light, CO2 concentration, and nutrient solution. This system can optimize environmental parameters and nutrient solution conditions according to the specific needs of different seedling ages, ensuring that crop growth is not limited by natural conditions, greatly improving the efficiency and stability of seedling cultivation. Thanks to this automated control system, manual intervention is reduced, labor intensity is decreased, and overall production efficiency is significantly improved.

[0051] In some embodiments, the step of sowing solanaceous vegetable seeds in step (1) includes:

[0052] Place the prepared substrate into the seedling tray, sow the solanaceous vegetable seeds into each hole of the tray, cover with vermiculite, and water the tray to keep the substrate moist and ensure that the seeds have enough moisture to germinate.

[0053] In some implementations, the germination step in step (1) includes:

[0054] Cover the seed trays containing solanaceous vegetables with a film and observe the germination every 2-8 hours. When the germination rate reaches 30%-40%, remove the film, move the seed trays into the growing room, and provide supplemental lighting.

[0055] In some implementations, a substrate treatment step is included before step (1): soaking the substrate in nutrient solution, the substrate being rock wool plugs or coconut coir (which should meet the requirements of NY / T 2118). Seedling blocks can also be made from rock wool plugs or coconut coir.

[0056] If rock wool plugs are chosen for sowing, the preferred shape is cylindrical, with dimensions of 20mm (diameter) × 27mm (height), which can be inserted into a 240-hole rock wool seedling tray. The length and width of the seedling tray are 450mm (diameter) × 620mm.

[0057] When using rock wool blocks for the first transplant, the dimensions are: length × width × height = 10cm × 10cm × 6.5cm.

[0058] If coconut coir bricks are chosen for sowing, the dimensions are: length × width × height = 30cm × 30cm × 12 ± 2cm (5kg compressed pack, dimensions before soaking), EC < 0.3mS / cm, pH: 5.8~7.0, Na(BaCl2-H2O) < 1.0mmol / L, K(BaCl2-H2O) < 2.0mmol / L, moisture content < 18%, particle size: 0-6mm. After soaking, fill into a standard 128-well seed tray with 8 × 16 holes, length × width = 54cm × 28cm, single hole diameter 3cm, depth 3.8cm, bottom diameter 1.3cm.

[0059] If coconut coir blocks are chosen for the first transplant, they should be 100% pure, with particles of 0-6 mm, EC < 1, pH 5.8-6.8, and the dimensions after soaking should be: length × width × height = 10 cm × 10 cm × 6.5 cm.

[0060] In some implementations, step (1) is preceded by selecting and disinfecting the seeds of solanaceous vegetables.

[0061] In some implementations, step (2) is preceded by: disinfecting the grafting environment, separating the rootstock, and irrigating the rootstock and scion seedlings with nutrient solution.

[0062] In some implementations, step (3) further includes: transplanting and planting seedlings according to the planting plan.

[0063] The following section uses the cultivation of tomato seedlings as an example, and describes the seedling cultivation method in detail with reference to the solanaceous vegetable seedling cultivation facility in Example 1:

[0064] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, a plant factory is set up with four seedling treatment rooms as an example, namely a sowing room, a germination room, a grafting room, and a growth room. The arrows in Figure 1 show the breeding process of the automated seedling treatment system between the treatment rooms.

[0065] Preferably, the ambient air quality of the above-mentioned seedling raising facilities should meet the requirements of GB 3095. Simultaneously, the seedling raising facilities should possess robust structure, good insulation, and strong fire resistance and disaster resistance. The outer shell of the seedling treatment room should be made of double-sided color steel polyurethane panels with a thickness of not less than 100mm.

[0066] The entire plant factory should be rationally planned according to the total planting area. The length is preferably 25-30m, with 25m being ideal; the span is between 7m-9m, with 8m being ideal; and the height is 4m-5m, with 4.5m being ideal. In other words, the area of ​​a plant factory should be around 200m². 2 Ideally, the maximum number of seedlings that can be raised at one time can reach approximately 200,000 (small seedlings), which facilitates management and control. If the seedling quantity is large, a 200m² planting area is recommended. 2 Simply increase the number of plant factories in the unit.

[0067] Furthermore, the performance requirements of the intelligent environmental control system are as follows:

[0068] Temperature control range: 18-30℃±1℃.

[0069] Relative humidity range: 50% to 100%.

[0070] Light intensity: 250-300 μmol / m² / s.

[0071] CO2 concentration control: 400-2000 μmol / mol.

[0072] Fresh air system: adjustable ratio, with filtration and sterilization equipment.

[0073] Wind speed: 0.5-1m / s, and the wind speed is uniform.

[0074] Irrigation water shall comply with GB 5084 (Standard for Irrigation Water Quality) and shall be treated by ultrafiltration or reverse osmosis during use to ensure that the conductivity of pure irrigation water is ≤50μS / cm.

[0075] Preferably, during the seedling cultivation process, the seedbed should be a multi-layered seedbed with a hot-dip galvanized anti-corrosion and rust-proof metal frame, PVC bed surface, and aluminum alloy frame. It can be a mobile seedbed cart with pulleys and brakes, or a fixed seedbed frame.

[0076] For ease of manual operation, it is recommended to set up 4 layers, with a height not exceeding 2m. The LED supplemental lights installed in the seedbed should have an adjustable red-to-blue ratio, and the light intensity illuminating the top of the plants on each layer should not be less than 250μmol / s / m². 2 The seedbed should be tidal flat, with watering completed within 1-2 minutes and drainage within approximately 5-10 minutes. All of the above-mentioned supplemental lighting, watering, and drainage are automatically controlled by an intelligent environmental control system.

[0077] The specific parameters for the seedbed are shown in Table 1 below:

[0078] Table 1. Parameters for setting up the seedbed

[0079] Five days before using the plant factory, a facility-specific disinfectant, such as 84 disinfectant, should be used to wipe or spray it according to the recommended ratio in the instructions.

[0080] S0, substrate and seed treatment:

[0081] Substrate preparation: The substrate processing module crushes and mixes the substrate, and then loads it into the seed trays.

[0082] If rock wool plugs are used for seedling cultivation, soak all the seedling trays with rock wool plugs in nutrient solution for 1 hour before sowing. This will make the spraying effect better when sowing by machine. The nutrient solution for soaking the seedling trays should have an EC of 1.0mS / cm-1.5mS / cm and a pH of 5.5.

[0083] If coconut coir is used for seedling cultivation, it should meet the requirements of NY / T 2118 and NY / T 2119. The coconut coir must be fully soaked one day before sowing (using clean water) and filled into seedling trays. The effect is better if it is sprayed by machine on the day of sowing. The machine sprays clean water during sowing.

[0084] Seed treatment: The quality of seeds of solanaceous vegetables should meet the requirements of Grade I or above for hybrids and Grade II or above for conventional seeds in GB 16715.3. Seeds with high germination rate and strong germination potential should be selected.

[0085] In this embodiment, the tomato seeds selected are disease-resistant (such as various viral diseases, especially tomato yellow leaf curl virus), high-yielding, high-quality, high-sugar, facility-grown tomato varieties that are suitable for market demand and people's consumption habits.

[0086] Coated or pelleted seeds can be sown directly. Uncoated or pelleted seeds require disinfection by soaking in 55°C hot water for about 20-30 minutes, followed by natural cooling to room temperature. Currently, most tomato seeds, especially modern greenhouse varieties, are already coated or disinfected and do not require further disinfection by hot water soaking.

[0087] S1. Sowing: In the sowing chamber, sow the pre-treated tomato seeds. The sowing module starts the seeder and sows the seeds into each hole at a depth of 0.5cm-1cm. Cover the holes with vermiculite. The automatic water spraying module starts the spraying equipment to thoroughly water the covered seed trays until water seeps out of the drainage holes at the bottom of the seed trays.

[0088] When sowing, the rootstock can be sown at the same time. The rootstock should be selected with a well-developed root system, high resistance to diseases such as bacterial wilt and root rot, and strong and stable grafting compatibility and symbiotic ability with the tomato scion. The rootstock variety should not change the shape, color, taste, or flavor of the fruit after grafting with the tomato, and should not produce deformed fruit, reduce plant growth, or cause excessive vegetative growth.

[0089] In the sowing module, it is advisable to select sowing equipment with functions such as automatic sowing, substrate covering, and spraying. After sowing and before covering with substrate, the machine sowing effect should be checked to ensure that there are no missed or over-sown seeds.

[0090] S2. Germination: After sowing, quickly place the seedling trays into the stacked trays and cover with a thin film. The conveyor unit will then transport the trays from the sowing chamber to the germination chamber for germination. After a period of cultivation, seedlings will be obtained. These seedlings will then be transferred to the growing chamber for further cultivation. The germination temperature is 25℃, and the humidity is 100%. Starting from the second day (40 hours after sowing), observe the seedling emergence every 2-8 hours (every 2 hours during the day, and 8 hours after 10 PM. If some or individual seeds have sprouted by 10 PM, remove the film from the seedling trays and place them in the artificial light seedling nursery, then turn on the supplemental lighting). When the germination rate on the seedling trays reaches 30%-40%, remove the film and quickly transfer the trays to the growing chamber, then turn on the supplemental lighting. Depending on the variety, tomato seeds generally germinate 2-5 days after sowing.

[0091] The intelligent environmental control system adjusts the environmental parameters in the germination chamber and the growth chamber according to the germination conditions. Depending on the planting time required in production, the photoperiod in the growth chamber can be set to 12h / 12h, 14h / 10h, 16h / 8h, 18h / 6h, 20h / 4h (light / dark), etc. It is recommended to use 14h / 10h or 16h / 8h.

[0092] Light intensity set to: 250-300 μmol / m 2 / s (measured approximately 25cm above the lamp). Red-to-blue ratio = 8:2; far-red and ultraviolet light can be added in small amounts as alternatives. Temperature: 24–26℃ / 22–23℃ (light / dark). Relative humidity: 70%–90%. CO2 concentration: 800–1000 μmol / mol (supplemented under light, discontinued under darkness). Tidal irrigation: EC 2.0 mS / cm–2.5 mS / cm, pH 5.5, ensuring the rock wool plug is not short of water (not less than 50% of its maximum water holding capacity).

[0093] The area of ​​the aforementioned germination chamber is generally 20–30 m². 2 The height is 3-4m, and the maximum number of seeds germinated at one time is no less than 200,000. The temperature, control, and gas exchange in the germination chamber are all controlled by an intelligent environmental regulation system. The temperature can be controlled between 18℃ and 35℃, and the relative humidity can be controlled between 50% and 100%. It is best if there is a direct passage between the germination chamber and the growth chamber, or if they are close to each other, to avoid large temperature differences between the two, or large temperature differences during transportation, and to facilitate the handling of seedlings nearby.

[0094] S3, grafting:

[0095] (1) Grafting room setup: The area of ​​the grafting room is generally 20-30m². 2 The height is 4m-5m. The intelligent environmental control system can effectively control the indoor temperature and humidity (humidification is available). During grafting, the indoor temperature can be kept at around 25℃ and the relative humidity at 90%-100%. It is equipped with an operating table and lighting. It is best to build the grafting room and the growth room together, which can be separated by a door. After grafting, the plants can be quickly sent to the plant factory for acclimatization.

[0096] (2) Preparations before grafting: The grafting room needs to be disinfected. If manual grafting is used, prepare a sharp blade (prepare more, and replace it in time if the hand cuts and gets stuck), 75% alcohol (prepare more, and disinfect in time), grafting clips (choose white transparent tubular type, prepare more, generally 1.5-2.5mm can be equipped with some, 2mm is the main one) and other necessary tools.

[0097] Rootstock seedlings: timely transplanting (seedlings can be transplanted one week after emergence). Whether it is a 240-cell rock wool tray or a 128-cell bulk coconut coir tray, seedlings should be transplanted in time, taking out one seedling after leaving one cell. That is, there are 120 seedlings in the 240-cell tray and 64 seedlings in the 128-cell tray.

[0098] Scion seedlings (seedlings to be grafted): No need to separate the seedlings (generally it takes 13-16 days from sowing to grafting).

[0099] When grafting, the scion seedling and rootstock seedling should be of similar size, ideally with two leaves and a bud, and a stem diameter of 2mm. In a growing room, environmental factors such as light intensity, photoperiod, and temperature can be controlled to ensure that the scion seedling and rootstock seedling are of similar size during grafting.

[0100] Two hours before grafting, the rootstock and scion seedlings should be irrigated with nutrient solution to ensure that the plants fully absorb water.

[0101] (3) Formal grafting: The seedlings in the growing room are transferred to the grafting room, and grafting is performed using oblique grafting. With the assistance of a visual module, the scion seedling is grafted onto the rootstock to obtain a grafted seedling. Grafting can be done manually or by machine. Taking manual grafting as an example, the rootstock seedling is cut about 1 cm below the cotyledons, and the scion is cut about 0.5 cm above the cotyledons. The cuts of the scion and rootstock are approximately at an angle of 30-45° (the angles of the scion and rootstock are consistent). The rootstock and scion plants are glued together immediately after cutting, and grafting clips are used to fix the grafting points together. In practice, you can first cut off half of the rootstock seedling, then quickly add the grafting clip, and then quickly insert the scion, ensuring that the scion and rootstock fit tightly together. The vision module can help grafters identify the grafting position more quickly. Grafters only need to cut according to the image on the display screen. The vision module also monitors each step of the grafting process. When problems occur in the manual operation process, it can promptly remind and correct them, greatly improving the accuracy of the grafting process.

[0102] S4, Healing & Recovery:

[0103] Transfer the grafted seedlings to a growing room for healing and recovery, which typically takes 5-6 days. Depending on the variety, the entire process from sowing to the end of the recovery period generally takes about 20 days. After grafting, tomato seedlings should be quickly placed in a high-humidity environment. The following management measures can be used as a reference for the growing room environment:

[0104] The first day (approximately 15 hours) was a dark treatment period, with the temperature and humidity set at 25°C and 100%, respectively.

[0105] The light intensity was set to 100 μmol / m² on the second day (24 hours). 2 / s, the daytime (3h) temperature is set to 25℃, and the nighttime (3h) temperature is set to 23℃, which is equivalent to a cycle every 6 hours.

[0106] On the third day (24 hours), the light intensity was set to 100 μmol / m². 2 / s, the daytime (5h) temperature is set to 25℃, and the nighttime (5h) temperature is set to 23℃, which is equivalent to a cycle every 10 hours.

[0107] On the fourth day (24 hours), the light intensity was set to 200 μmol / m². 2 / s, the daytime (5h) temperature is set to 25℃, and the nighttime (5h) temperature is set to 23℃, which is equivalent to a cycle every 10 hours.

[0108] On the fifth day (24 hours), the light intensity was set to 300 μmol / m². 2 / s, the daytime (5h) temperature is set to 25℃, and the nighttime (5h) temperature is set to 23℃, which is equivalent to a cycle every 10 hours.

[0109] On the sixth day (15 hours), the light intensity was set to 300 μmol / m². 2 / s, the daytime (10h) temperature is set to 25℃, and the nighttime (5h) temperature is set to 23℃. At this time, the seedlings have fully survived and the grafted seedlings can grow in a normal seedling environment.

[0110] The relative humidity (RH) should be set to 100% for 1-2 days after grafting, maintained at 90%-100% for 2-4 days, and maintained at 85%-95% for 4-6 days. The red-to-blue ratio of the LED light source should be set to 8:2, and no far-red or ultraviolet light should be added during the seedling establishment period.

[0111] In summary, the principle for environmental regulation in the growth chamber is to initially withhold light for a period after grafting (e.g., 12-15 hours), followed by moderate light the next day. As long as the plants do not wilt severely, they can be continuously given weak light (e.g., 100 μmol / m² / s). If slight wilting occurs, light should be paused until the plants recover, at which point the relative humidity inside the chamber should be 100%. Gradually increase the light duration and intensity while gradually decreasing the relative humidity, ensuring the plants do not wilt severely. Generally, the plants will recover successfully in 5-6 days, and the grafted seedlings will be fully viable.

[0112] Grafted seedling evaluation criteria:

[0113] (1) Survival rate:

[0114] Excellent: Grafted seedling survival rate ≥ 95%,

[0115] Qualified: 95% > Grafted seedling survival rate ≥ 85%,

[0116] Unqualified: Grafted seedling survival rate <85%.

[0117] Tomato seedlings used in modern greenhouses are expensive, and grafted seedlings are generally required to have a survival rate of ≥95%.

[0118] (2) Seedling Strength Index

[0119] Calculation formula: Tomato seedling strength index = [(stem diameter / plant height) × above-ground dry weight].

[0120] Generally, after successful grafting recovery (6 days after grafting), the graft union between the rootstock and scion should be well healed, the plant should have a high seedling vigor index, dark green leaves, and thick stems. The seedling vigor index calculated using the above formula should be >0.01, with 0.015 being ideal.

[0121] After successful grafting, the survival rate of grafted seedlings using the seedling establishment method provided by this invention is over 95%, and the seedling vigor index is over 0.015.

[0122] 4. Transplanting and planting:

[0123] After the grafted seedlings have recovered from transplant shock, the seedlings are obtained and transplanted into substrate blocks (using the aforementioned rock wool plugs or coconut coir). The seedlings are then separated and cultivated in the growth chamber until they emerge. After the seedlings have recovered, the environmental parameters and irrigation strategies in the growth chamber should still be managed according to the parameters used before grafting.

[0124] Depending on the planting plan, the management of transplanting and planting can be divided into the following types:

[0125] (1) Management of single-headed seedlings

[0126] Due to limited space in the seedling trays, if the planting plan specifies planting small seedlings (three leaves and one bud) with a single head, then they should be transported from the growth room to the designated cultivation greenhouse approximately 3 days after grafting and recovery. Seedlings can grow in the plant factory for about 20-25 days.

[0127] (2) Management of planting large single-headed seedlings

[0128] If there are enough growing rooms, grafted seedlings should be transplanted into rock wool or coconut coir blocks within 2 days after successful acclimatization (the substrate blocks should be fully irrigated with nutrient solution). Transplanting can be done in two stages, with the first transplanting using approximately 100 substrate blocks per m². 2 After 3-5 days, increase the spacing between the substrate blocks again, placing them at a density of 15-20 blocks / m². 2 After about 5-7 days of regrowth, once the seedlings begin to show flower spikes or grow to the vicinity of the supplemental lighting in the seedbed, they are transported from the growth room and transplanted to the designated cultivation greenhouse. Alternatively, a single transplanting can be chosen, where the seedlings in the plug trays are placed directly into the substrate blocks at a density of 15-20 blocks / m². 2This saves labor, but increases the energy consumption of seedling cultivation. Seedlings can grow in the plant factory for about 30-35 days.

[0129] If the plant nursery does not have sufficient light area (plant nurseries have limited space), the substrate blocks can be placed on the seedbed in a natural light greenhouse in advance. After the substrate blocks have fully absorbed the nutrient solution (soak them in the nutrient solution one day in advance), the grafted seedlings can be directly transplanted into the substrate blocks. Refer to the above-mentioned seedling division method and divide the seedlings in two stages. The first division should involve approximately 100 substrate blocks per square meter. 2 After 3-5 days, increase the spacing between the substrate blocks again, placing them at a density of 15-20 blocks / m². 2 After about 5-7 days of regrowth, once the seedlings begin to show flower spikes, they are transported from the plant factory and transplanted to a designated cultivation greenhouse. The seedlings can grow for about 20-25 days in the plant factory and about 10-15 days in the seedbed of the natural light seedling greenhouse. During this time, the temperature in the natural light seedling greenhouse should be controlled at 23-28℃ during the day (depending on whether it's a low-temperature or high-temperature season), ideally around 25℃, and 18-22℃ at night. The humidity in the greenhouse should be 70%-85%.

[0130] (3) Management of 2-3 seedlings after transplanting

[0131] If the planting plan specifies that the seedlings to be planted are multi-headed seedlings, then after the grafting and seedling recovery are successful, the top should be removed after leaving 3 true leaves 2 days later. The top-removed seedlings can grow in the plant factory for another 5-7 days. The total growth time of the seedlings in the plant factory is about 25-30 days.

[0132] (4) Management of planting 2-3 large seedlings

[0133] Based on the initial management of 2-3 seedlings, if the plant factory has sufficient area (adequate light exposure), the topped seedlings from the initial management can be transplanted in advance into 10cm×10cm×6.5cm rock wool or coconut coir blocks (the substrate blocks should be fully irrigated with nutrient solution). Finally, place 15-20 substrate blocks per square meter in the multi-layer seedbed. 2 In this way, the seedlings can grow for about 7 more days in the plant factory. When they emerge from the plant factory, they are ready to be transplanted with flowers to the designated cultivation greenhouse. The seedlings can grow in the plant factory for about 35-37 days.

[0134] Similarly, if the plant factory does not have sufficient light area, the substrate blocks can be placed on the seedbed in a natural light seedling greenhouse in advance. After the substrate blocks have fully absorbed the nutrient solution (soaked in nutrient solution one day in advance), the grafted seedlings can be directly transplanted into the substrate blocks. You can choose to remove the top before transplanting into the substrate blocks, or you can transplant them into the substrate blocks and then remove the top. In the end, the substrate block density will still be 15-20 blocks / m². 2Seedlings can grow for about 20-30 days in artificial light seedling factories and about 7-15 days in seedbeds in natural light seedling greenhouses. During this time, the temperature in the natural light seedling greenhouse should be controlled at 23-28℃ during the day (depending on whether the seedlings are grown in low or high temperature seasons), with 25℃ being ideal, and 18-22℃ at night. The humidity in the greenhouse should be 70%-85%.

[0135] Further, the standards for mature seedlings are: the graft union between the rootstock and scion is well-healed, the stem is short and thick, the grafted seedlings are robust and uniform in growth, the leaves are thick and dark green, the root system is well-developed, and there are no quarantine pests or diseases, nor any mechanical damage. Specifically:

[0136] (1) Single-headed seedlings: plant height is about 10-12cm, stem diameter is about 2-3mm, and number of leaves is 3-4.

[0137] (2) Single-headed large seedlings: The plant height is about 25-50cm (the plant height is determined according to the height limit of the layer in the plant factory), the stem diameter is about 6-9mm, the number of leaves is 7-9, and it is best to have flower spikes.

[0138] (3) 2-3 seedlings: plant height is about 12-15cm, main stem is about 3-4mm thick, number of leaves is 3, side branches are relatively uniform in size, about 5cm in length, side branch stems are thick and dark in color.

[0139] (4) 2-3 large seedlings: plant height is about 25-50cm (the height of large seedlings in plant factories is determined according to the height limit of the layer), the main stem is about 7-10mm thick, and there are 3 leaves; the lateral branches are relatively uniform in size, about 20-30cm, with 4-5 leaves, and flower spikes appear.

[0140] Furthermore, the fertilizer in this embodiment should meet the requirements of NY / T 1107-2020 (water-soluble fertilizers for macroelements), NY 2266-2012 (water-soluble fertilizers for medium elements), and NY 1428-2010 (water-soluble fertilizers for microelements). The formula of the nutrient solution (prepared from fertilizer and water) is as follows:

[0141] Table 2 Nutrient solution mother liquor formula

[0142] Table 2 shows the nutrient solution stock solution formula. The irrigation nutrient solution uses stock solutions A and B in the same proportion, with appropriate amounts of water and HNO3 or NaOH to adjust the pH, to prepare the nutrient solution required for different seedling stages. The nutrient solution EC for soaking rock wool plug trays is prepared with 1.0 mS / cm-1.5 mS / cm and pH 5.5. The nutrient solution for irrigation after seedling emergence is prepared with EC of 2.0 mS / cm-2.5 mS / cm and pH 5.5.

[0143] Furthermore, during the seedling cultivation process, seedling protection should be carried out, which should comply with the GB / T 8321 standard.

[0144] (1) Disease control: Plant factories carry out various disinfection procedures and effectively control humidity in the facilities. The centralized seedling time is short, so fungal diseases generally do not occur. If diseases do occur, they can be controlled in accordance with the requirements of NY / T3931-2021 and TCAMA49-2021.

[0145] (2) Pest control: In the process of control, the principle of "prevention is better than cure" should be followed. Strict management should be carried out before and during the seedling stage. Common pests of tomato seedlings include whiteflies, whiteflies, aphids, etc. Yellow and blue sticky traps can be used to trap them, or 100 times diluted biological soap can be used for control.

[0146] Preferably, production records can also be established during the seedling raising process: production records include key information such as the source of scion and rootstock seeds, the source of seedling substrate, sowing date, grafting date, environmental control measures at different stages of the seedling stage, environmental parameters and irrigation conditions in the facility, and fertilizer and pesticide use, and should be properly preserved for future query and traceability, providing strong data support for later seedling raising.

[0147] In addition, a personnel access control system for the plant factory needs to be established, including:

[0148] (1) No entry for unauthorized personnel: No personnel unrelated to seedling cultivation are allowed to enter the plant factory, including staff in the cultivation area and visitors.

[0149] (2) Strict disinfection principle for seedling workers: Seedling workers must be strictly disinfected when entering the plant factory, including washing hands, changing work clothes, wearing head covers, disinfecting the soles of feet or wearing foot covers, etc.

[0150] (3) Strict disinfection principle for all tools and equipment: All facilities and equipment in the plant factory, as well as all operating tools, sensors, cameras, etc., must be strictly disinfected.

[0151] The above are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various improvements and modifications without departing from the principle of the present invention, and these improvements and modifications should also be considered within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A seedling raising facility for solanaceous vegetables, characterized in that, include: Plant factories, intelligent environmental control systems, and automated seedling processing systems; The plant factory includes multiple seedling treatment rooms, each of which provides a cultivation site for different seedling stages of solanaceous seedlings; The intelligent environmental control system is used to monitor the environment inside the plant factory and to regulate the temperature, humidity, light, water and fertilizer, CO2 concentration and substrate inside the plant factory according to the seedling conditions of the solanaceous seedlings. The automated seedling processing system is used to automate sowing, grafting, and seedling transportation according to the breeding process.

2. The seedling raising facility according to claim 1, characterized in that, The intelligent environmental control system includes: a temperature and humidity control unit, a light control unit, a CO2 concentration control unit, and a water and fertilizer control unit; The temperature and humidity control unit is used to monitor and control the temperature and humidity in the seedling treatment room; The illumination control unit is used to monitor and control the illumination ratio, illumination intensity and illumination time; The CO2 concentration control unit is used to monitor and control the CO2 concentration; The water and fertilizer control unit is used to mix and apply nutrient solution, including an irrigation module and a fertilizer control module. The irrigation module is used to automatically irrigate according to the growth status and substrate condition of the solanaceous seedlings. The fertilizer control module is used to monitor the substrate condition and mix and apply nutrient solution.

3. The seedling raising facility according to claim 2, characterized in that, The temperature and humidity control unit further includes an automatic water spraying module, which is used to automatically spray water and adjust the spray volume and spray frequency according to the humidity in the plant factory.

4. The seedling raising facility according to claim 2, characterized in that, The intelligent environmental control system also includes a liquid return module, which is used to recycle and reuse the residual liquid from irrigation.

5. The seedling raising facility according to claim 1, characterized in that, The automated seedling processing system includes: an automatic sowing unit, a grafting unit, a transplanting unit, and a conveying unit; The automatic seeding unit includes a substrate treatment module, a seeding module, a soil covering module, and an irrigation module; The grafting unit includes a vision module, used to monitor and determine whether the condition of the solanaceous seedlings has reached a suitable state for grafting, and to monitor the steps in the grafting process within the grafting area; The transplanting unit is used to transplant the grafted and healed solanaceous seedlings into a seedling tray; The conveying unit is used to convey the solanaceous seedlings to each unit according to the seedling processing procedure.

6. A method for raising seedlings of solanaceous vegetables, using the seedling raising facility as described in any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: Sow eggplant seeds in seedling trays filled with substrate, then germinate them to obtain seedlings; When the seedlings grow to the predetermined age, the scion seedlings are grafted onto the rootstock to obtain grafted seedlings, wherein the scion seedlings are the seedlings to be grafted. After the grafted seedlings have recovered from transplant shock, seedlings are obtained and cultivated until they emerge.

7. The seedling raising method according to claim 6, characterized in that, The step of sowing solanaceous seeds in a seed tray containing substrate includes: The prepared substrate is placed into the seedling tray, and the solanaceous seeds are sown into each hole of the seedling tray. After covering with vermiculite, the seedling tray is watered.

8. The seedling raising method according to claim 6, characterized in that, The germination process includes: covering the seed trays containing the solanaceous seeds with a film, observing the germination every 2-8 hours, and when the germination rate reaches 30%-40%, removing the film, moving the seed trays into the growth chamber, and providing supplemental lighting.

9. The seedling raising method according to claim 6, characterized in that, The process of sowing solanaceous seeds in a substrate-filled seed tray further includes: Substrate treatment: The substrate, which is rock wool plugs or coconut coir, is soaked in nutrient solution; and / or, The process of sowing solanaceous seeds in a substrate-filled seed tray further includes: Select the seeds of the solanaceous plants; and / or, The procedure before grafting the scion seedlings to the rootstock also includes: disinfecting the grafting environment, separating the rootstock seedlings, and irrigating the rootstock and the scion seedlings with nutrient solution.

10. The seedling raising method according to claim 6, characterized in that, Also includes: The seedlings were transplanted and planted according to the planting plan.

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