PLANT GROWING APPARATUS Russian patent published in 1997 - IPC

FIELD: agriculture, growing of plants in protected ground. SUBSTANCE: apparatus has growing chamber 1, which is in contact with porous film material 16, feeding channels 7 having drain pipes and inserts 8,9,10 and moisture-conducting material 17 laid onto inserts. Porous resilient film material 18 is laid between materials 16 and 17. Ends of resilient and moisture-conducting materials are inserted into channels 7 with pumps 21 and liquid supply pipelines. Growing chamber has holder 2 with polygonal openings, where conical pots 4 made from resilient material are positioned. Sections of pots perpendicular to axis of pots have circular configuration. Radius of section positioned at distance of (0.3-0.4)H from pot bottom is equal to minimum radius of circle inscribed within polygon, with circle extending tangentially to at least three sides of polygon. Area of pot section positioned at distance of (0.85-1.0)H from pot bottom is equal to (1.0-0.0)S, where S is area of polygon and H is pot height. Electrodes or moisture sensors 40 or salt content sensors 41 are mounted in at least one pot. Pots 4 are mounted for movement relative to porous resilient material. Holder moving drives are connected with pots 4 through control unit 41 and with sensors 40 and 41. EFFECT: increased efficiency, simplified construction and enhanced reliability in operation. 5 dwg