Plant growth system
First Claim
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1. A plant growth system comprising:
- one or more plant growth substrates (1,2);
wherein each substrate (1,2) comprises a man made vitrous fibre {MMVF} slab (1) and a MMVF block (2);
wherein each MMVF slab (1) comprises a first upper layer of MMVF in interfacial contact with a second lower layer of MMVF, the first upper layer having a greater density than the second lower layer;
one or more detectors (7) arranged to monitor nutrient levels of at least one of the plant growth substrates (1,2);
at least one irrigation device (6) arranged to supply water to the plant growth substrates (1,2); and
control means (9) connected to said detectors (7) and said at least one irrigation device (6),wherein the supply of water by the at least one irrigation device (6) is controlled by the control means (9) in accordance with an irrigation strategy such that the amount of water provided to the plant growth substrates is metered in dependence on the monitored nutrient levels within the plant growth substrates to control the water content level therein while maintaining nutrient content levels of the plant growth substrate within a desired range;
wherein the one or more detectors (7) are arranged to determine the nutrient level from an electrical conductivity level of fluid in at least one plant growth substrate (1,2);
wherein the electrical conductivity level is maintained within a predetermined range.
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Abstract
A plant growth system is provided, which comprises: one or more plant growth substrates (1); one or more detectors (7) arranged to monitor nutrient levels of at least one of the plant growth substrates; at least one irrigation device (6) arranged to supply water to the plant growth substrates; and control means (9) connected to said detectors and said at least one irrigation device. The supply of water by the at least one irrigation device is controlled by the control means in dependence on the monitored nutrient levels. In this manner, the water and nutrient levels of the substrates can be accurately controlled.
25 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A plant growth system comprising:
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one or more plant growth substrates (1,2); wherein each substrate (1,2) comprises a man made vitrous fibre {MMVF} slab (1) and a MMVF block (2); wherein each MMVF slab (1) comprises a first upper layer of MMVF in interfacial contact with a second lower layer of MMVF, the first upper layer having a greater density than the second lower layer; one or more detectors (7) arranged to monitor nutrient levels of at least one of the plant growth substrates (1,2); at least one irrigation device (6) arranged to supply water to the plant growth substrates (1,2); and control means (9) connected to said detectors (7) and said at least one irrigation device (6), wherein the supply of water by the at least one irrigation device (6) is controlled by the control means (9) in accordance with an irrigation strategy such that the amount of water provided to the plant growth substrates is metered in dependence on the monitored nutrient levels within the plant growth substrates to control the water content level therein while maintaining nutrient content levels of the plant growth substrate within a desired range; wherein the one or more detectors (7) are arranged to determine the nutrient level from an electrical conductivity level of fluid in at least one plant growth substrate (1,2); wherein the electrical conductivity level is maintained within a predetermined range. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for managing irrigation of a plant growth system comprising one or more man made vitrous fibres (MMVF) plant growth substrates (1,2), the method comprising:
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monitoring nutrient levels of at least one of the plant growth substrates; wherein monitoring nutrient levels comprises determining the nutrient content from an electrical conductivity of fluid in at least one plant growth substrate (1,2) using one or more detectors (7) arranged in the at least one of the plant growth substrates; wherein each substrate (1,2) comprises a MMVF slab (1) and a MMVF block (2); wherein each MMVF slab (1) comprises a first upper layer of MMVF in interfacial contact with a second lower layer of MMVF, the first upper layer having a greater density than the second lower layer; providing at least one irrigation device (6) arranged to supply water to the plant growth substrates (1,2); and providing a control means (9) connected to said detectors (7) and said at least one irrigation device (6), supplying water to the plant growth substrates (1,2) by the at least one irrigation device (6), wherein the supply of water is controlled by the control means (9) in accordance with an irrigation strategy such that the amount of water provided to the plant growth substrates is metered in dependence on the monitored nutrient levels within the plant growth substrates to control the water content level therein while maintaining nutrient content levels of the plant growth substrate within a desired range; and maintaining the electrical conductivity level within a predetermined range.
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Specification