PLANT GROWING METHOD AND APPARATUS Russian patent published in 1999 - IPC

FIELD: agriculture, in particular, hydroponic growing of plants in tubes by exposing plant rootage to dispersed nutrient solution. SUBSTANCE: method involves arranging vegetative tubes of variable section depending on plant volume in spiral path on apparatus provided with spherical surface; positioning apparatus for turning and rotation about central vertical axis. Apparatus is connected to electric generator and is rotated by energy generated due to inclination of plant to light sources disposed within vegetative tubes. Rotation of apparatus is facilitated by gravity due to growth of plants which are interconnected to define single circuit, as well as by pulsed outbursts of aerosol and discharge of gaseous mixture providing periodical drying of plant rootage and release of breathing metabolites. Apparatus has automatic control system providing optimized growing process for various plants under specific weather conditions, with maximum complex utilization of energy due to nature of light-demanding plants, natural increase in plant volume during growing and specific features of hydroponic growing method being taken into account. EFFECT: increased efficiency, intensified plant growing process and reduced labor consumption. 3 cl, 14 dwg