RU2248120C2 - Plant growing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: agricultural engineering, in particular, soil-free growing of plants in special devices for exposing plant roots to nutritive aerosol.

SUBSTANCE: apparatus has vertical pipe used as carrier member for bed and equipped with plant receiving openings arranged in any order. Plants are supported by means of holders resting with their lower edges upon lower edge of opening. Upper part of holder is tightly fixed in, for example, rings of fastening band. Nozzle fixed in upper (narrow) end of pipe is adapted for spraying of nutritive solution aerosol containing gas mixtures. High conical towers-ridges provide for ecologically clean management, since outbursts of liquid nutritive solutions may be utilized by other plants, for example, fruit trees growing beyond greenhouse or nearby, in open ground. Apparatus may be used for decorative purposes on grounds not suitable for plant growing and for agricultural purposes.

EFFECT: increased efficiency and minimal usage of areas of open ground, as well as of greenhouse.

2 cl, 4 dwg

Description

The invention relates to agriculture, namely to growing plants without land in special devices when exposed to the root system with an aerosol nutrient solution.

Known methods and devices for growing plants without land on vertical surfaces or devices (FR 2747263 A1, 1997; RU 94000713 A1, 1995; EP 0533939 A1, 1993; SU 1780652 A1, 1992; SU 1428311 A1, 1988), and the principle is known the use of aerosol to affect the root system of a plant (RF patent No. 2050123, A 01 G 31/02, 1995; RF patent 2128905, A 01 G 31/00, 1999). Closest to the present invention according to the principle of the arrangement of plants is the invention according to Russian patent No. 2163755, A 01 G 31/02 “Device for growing plants without land on a vertical surface”. In technological methods (aerosol effects on the roots), Russian patent No. 2128905, A 01 G 31/00, 31/02, 31/04 “Method for growing plants and a device for its implementation” is located quite close.

The prototype device according to Russian patent 2163755 contains a system for supplying plants with water and nutrients, modular elements for installing, caring for plants and updating plants, a vertical wall with hollow tubes vertically located and rigidly interconnected with holes for attaching modular elements and for receiving water and nutrients to plants in modules. Each modular element has an inlet and an outlet tube facilitating the inflow and outflow of water and nutrients to plants whose root system is inside a non-decaying porous substrate inside the module.

The device also contains irrigation means with a water storage tank, a pump located in the water storage tank, electrically connected to the control unit and with the distribution tube on the top of the system, as well as a rectangular frame.

This invention allows the cultivation of plants with low weight, such as flowers, stunted berries, table greens. Such a solution is very well suited for elevating the interiors of premises, however, such devices are unsuitable for the industrial cultivation of plants of impressive size (for example, berry bushes such as black currants, gooseberries), which have a large mass of bush and berries.

Another invention (patent of Russia 2128905) involves the non-fertile cultivation of plants in the vegetation tubes of variable cross section with aerosol exposure of the nutrient solution to the root system. To create acceptable growth conditions in the confined space of the growing pipe, drying of the roots and removal of respiratory metabolites by pulsed or other gas mixture is provided. The device is equipped with an automatic control system to optimize the growing process.

This invention from the side of both the method and the device is a very complex solution to very simple problems, and in almost all regions of Russia such a method and device are unacceptable.

In addition, the listed known devices and prototypes are not profitable to use, and sometimes extremely unprofitable, when the price of a cubic meter of space is very high, for example, in autonomous, isolated settlements, ships (especially submarines with long periods of hidden diving), and other

The objective of our invention is to create a relatively simple device that allows very economical use of floor space (both in an open pound and in a greenhouse) for growing high-vitamin foods necessary for the population with great economic benefit in almost any region of Russia and even in extremely limited areas for example in a submarine.

The problem is solved by using a vertical pipe of a variable (preferably cone-shaped) cross section in which holes are made in any order to place plants as a supporting element in the beds. In accordance with the type and characteristics of the plant, the corresponding tool holders are made for them, with their lower edge resting on the lower edge of the hole in the pipe, and the upper part of the tool tray is firmly fixed, for example, in the rings of the mounting hoop. At the upper (narrow) end of the pipe, there is a nozzle from which the aerosol of the nutrient solution is sprayed together with gas mixtures.

In the internal volume of the tower, there may be devices for disinfection and sterilization (for example, bactericidal lamps or ultraviolet burners), as well as devices for sound, electromagnetic, all kinds of wave, particle and any other effect on the root system of plants.

High cone-shaped tower-beds (hereinafter referred to as “towers”) allow environmentally friendly farming because all emissions of liquid nutrient solutions can be disposed of by other plants, for example fruit trees growing outside the greenhouse, or just nearby on open ground (if the towers located outdoors). This approach requires an appropriate arrangement of the site, for example, associated with the supply of once used nutrient solutions to other plant objects.

At the same time, the device and organization of production may include the use of recirculation systems with the regeneration of once used nutrient solutions for their subsequent use. But in this case, non-regenerable mixtures still appear, which must be released into the environment due to inaccessible disposal.

In the present invention, it is preferable to use nutrient solutions after the first use, when it is still possible full and complete utilization of them by other plants in the open ground.

The invention is illustrated by a further description and drawings:

- figure 1 shows a vertical section of a plot of area with towers;

- figure 2 presents one of the options for detailing the principle of use of the device;

- figure 3 displays one of the options for the plan of the site for the complete disposal of the used nutrient solutions;

- figure 4 shows one of the layout of the route of the nutrient solution.

The device for growing plants (figure 1) is a tall, preferably cone-shaped structure 1 with lodges 2 located on its surface for supporting and fixing the plants. The lodges can have special devices for better retention of the root system of the plant. The nutrient solution supply line 3 is located on the upper edge of the towers and is, in addition, a fastener for the overall structure of the site as a whole. In the lower part of the towers there is a collector 4 of nutrient solution, which directs and redistributes the liquid into the pipes 5 for supplying them to the root system of fruit trees 6 (or other plants). The tower in its lower part has an opening 7, with the help of which the air exchange and any qualitative characteristics of the environment surrounding the root system in the internal volume of the tower are regulated during the operating mode. Any devices for adjusting temperature, humidity, air velocity, as well as the degree of electrification, ionization, and changing other parameters (including magnetic, wave, radiation) in gas and aerosol media in the internal volume of the tower can be located in the hole.

The presented arrangement of the tower and trees is typical for the organization of production on open ground without a greenhouse.

Figure 2 gives some detail of the tower for the conditions of its location outside the greenhouse, that is, under the real impact of strong wind loads. To create vertical stability of the tower, the highway has supporting guides 8. The guides can have devices that facilitate sliding on the surface of the inner wide hoop 9, if necessary, turn the tower around the vertical axis for better use of solar energy by plants (for example, in the northern regions of the country).

The nutrient solution supply line has a terminal 10 inside each tower that generates an aerosol stream down along the axis of the tower. The terminal in the simplest case can be represented by a slightly improved nozzle. In more complex cases, the terminal can have any devices for adjusting temperature, humidity, speed of aerosols and gases, as well as the degree of electrification, ionization, and changing other parameters (including magnetic, wave, radiation).

In the areas of the location of the lodgements, the tower is equipped with fixing, supporting hoops 11, the rings of which include hooks 12 of the lodgements. The lower edge of the lodgement rests on the edge of the hole 13 in the tower and is fixed by arbitrary springy legs 14. The plant 15 is located in the trough (not shown) of the lodgement or at some distance between the tower and the lodgement. The root system of the plant may have a wrapper of absorbent material (not shown) for better contact of the nutrient solution with the plant.

The figure 3 presents a variant of the layout of the plot with the location of the towers in the open air, and in figure 4 - the same version with a trunk for distributing the nutrient solution. In both figures there is a reinforced passage 16 for cars, and figure 4 shows the fasteners 17, which in this case are metal strips connecting all the branches of the highway and the highway itself into one strong mounting structure that stabilizes the position of the towers in the area.

The proposed device for growing plants works as follows.

After cleaning the internal volume of the tower 1 through the vacated hole 7, as well as washing and sterilizing the line 3 and the internal volume of the tower (for example, with hot steam) with the holes 7, 13 closed and with the lodgements 2 installed in place, pumping of the internal volume of the tower with aerosol and gas a mixture of the established composition (for each type of plant - its own). Then, starting from the top of the tower, plants 15 of the right size and the required development period (for example, tomato seedlings) are installed in the holes 13. The hole 13 is carefully closed (sealed) with dark porous material around the root zone of the stem, and the plant itself is fixed in the groove of the lodgement 2 or is fixed at a certain distance from the lodgement.

After planting the required number of plants, the tower switches to an operating mode of operation according to predetermined parameters of the quantity and quality of the nutrient aerosol, gas medium, and also the temperature of the internal volume. As the plants grow, the necessary agrotechnical measures (for example, irrigation) are carried out taking into account the peculiarities of plant growth.

Fruit harvesting is carried out in the usual way using a ladder and / or using special devices, including vacuum suction, nets, special cutters, etc.

After harvesting when working with annual crops (for example, tomatoes), the towers are freed from unnecessary plant residues both outside and inside, washed, sterilized with steam or other means, and prepared for a new cycle of use.

When working with perennial crops (e.g. blackcurrant), harvesting does not mean the end of the production cycle. Plants in some regions may remain in place for wintering. For this, the supply of nutritious aerosol and gas mixtures is reduced to the required levels for the state of the “carotid plant” or even stops altogether. In cold periods, to prevent freezing of the root system, the internal volume of the towers is heated by supplying warm air of the required humidity and temperature. Warm air can be supplied through the highway or through separate pipes laid underground especially for winter heating of plants.

In harsh winters (for example, Siberia), the entire area of towers with perennial plants is covered with a thick film and / or opaque material (tarpaulin), and warm air of the required quality and quantity is constantly supplied into the towers.

With the onset of the time of natural awakening of plants, the site is freed from films and material and gradual stimulation of plants begins with the help of nutrient solutions, gas mixtures and temperature-humidity (and other) characteristics of the internal environment in the tower.

The use of the proposed device allows you to regulate the metabolic processes in almost all types of crops grown (tomatoes, bell pepper, blackcurrant, gooseberries, chokeberry, etc.) in order to increase the intensity of the cultivation processes, to achieve the desired content of healthy substances and elements in fruits, and also medical and pharmaceutical components.

The use of devices of this type can drastically reduce the time spent on direct plant maintenance. Even simple external irrigation of equal amounts of bushes, for example blackcurrant, is carried out on tower beds approximately 2.5 times faster than with conventional linear plantings. At the same time, the culture of labor increases and its intensity decreases.

The use of schemes for the rational use of the area allows you to achieve full use of the spent nutrient solution in the absence of environmental pollution of the soil.

The device can be used for decorative purposes in areas that are completely unsuitable for growing plants and agriculture in general.

On the towers you can grow trees (fruit and non-fruit) to the stage of seedlings, followed by transplanting into the ground. Such seedlings develop very well in the soil, at the place of constant planting and are less susceptible to disease.

The device can be of serious interest to practitioners and theorists in the field of plant biology and physiology in general and agriculture in particular.

Claims (2)

1. A device for growing plants on a vertical surface without a substrate, containing modular elements for placing plants with the possibility of replacing them, systems and devices for supplying a nutrient solution and other growth components in the form of aerosols, gas mixtures, characterized in that it is made in the form of a pipe , preferably conical with holes for plant cultivation, and the modular elements are made in the form of lodges for supporting and fixing the plants at the desired angle to the horizon, while the system for The nutrient solution is made in the form of a line and is installed on top of the pipes, providing stabilization of the pipes in the given positions, and a collection of spent nutrient solution and outlet pipes for delivering fluid to the root system of other plants outside this device for nutrient utilization are installed in the lower part of each pipe prevent environmental pollution. 2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the conical pipes are mounted on rotating bases to rotate the device relative to the vertical axis by means of support rails that are installed in the upper part of the pipe with the possibility of sliding along the hoop placed inside the pipe.

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