Support for cultivating plant and method of growing plant

Abstract

A vessel for growing a plant, comprising: a base material 11 in the from of a vessel which is capable of accommodating therein at least a part of a plant; and a hydrogel-forming polymer 12 having a crosslinked structure disposed in the inside of the vessel-form base material 11 . When such a vessel is used, the transferring operation for the plant can be automated, and the transferring damage to the plant can be reduced at the time of the transferring operation for the plant.

1 . A plant-supporting polymer capable of forming a hydrogel, which has a crosslinked structure.  
     
     
         2 . A support for cultivating a plant, comprising a hydrogel-forming polymer having a crosslinked structure according to  claim 1;  the hydrogel-forming polymer showing a decrease in the equilibrium water absorption thereof along with an increase in temperature in the temperature range of not lower than 0° C. and not higher than 70° C., the equilibrium water absorption being reversibly changeable with respect to temperature.  
     
     
         3 . A support for cultivating a plant according to  claim 2 , wherein at least water is retained in the crosslinked structure of the hydrogel-forming polymer so as to form a hydrogel containing the hydrogel-forming polymer.  
     
     
         4 . A support for cultivating a plant according to  claim 2 , wherein a nutrient is retained in the crosslinked structure.  
     
     
         5 . A support for cultivating a plant according to  claim 2 , wherein a plant growth-regulating substance is retained in the crosslinked structure.  
     
     
         6 . A support for cultivating a plant according to any of claims  2 - 4 , wherein the dimension in a dry state is in the range of 0.1 μm-1 cm, and the shape thereof is any of micro-bead-type, fiber-type, film-type, sponge-type or indeterminate-type.  
     
     
         7 . A soil-modifying agent, comprising a hydrogel-forming polymer having a crosslinked structure according to  claim 1;  the hydrogel-forming polymer showing a decrease in the equilibrium water absorption thereof along with an increase in temperature in the temperature range of not lower than 0° C. and not higher than 70° C., the equilibrium water absorption being reversibly changeable with respect to temperature.  
     
     
         8 . A soil-modifying agent according to  claim 7 , wherein at least water is retained in the crosslinked structure of the hydrogel-forming polymer so as to from a hydrogel containing the hydrogel-forming polymer.  
     
     
         9 . A soil-modifying agent according to  claim 7 , wherein a nutrient is retained in the crosslinked structure.  
     
     
         10 . A soil-modifying agent according to  claim 7 , wherein a plant growth-regulating substance is retained in the crosslinked structure.  
     
     
         11 . A soil-modifying agent according to any of claims  7 - 10 , wherein the dimension in a dry state is in the range of 0.1 μm-1 cm, and the shape thereof is any of micro-bead-type, fiber-type, film-type, sponge-type or indeterminate-type.  
     
     
         12 . A support for cultivating a plant, comprising, at least a carrier for supporting a plant; and 
 a soil-modifying agent, comprising a hydrogel-forming polymer having a crosslinked structure according to  claim 1;  the hydrogel-forming polymer showing a decrease in the equilibrium water absorption thereof along with an increase in temperature in the temperature range of not lower than 0° C. and not higher than 70° C., the equilibrium water absorption being reversibly changeable with respect to temperature.    
     
     
         13 . A support for cultivating a plant according to  claim 12 , wherein the plant-supporting carrier comprises at least one kind of carrier selected from: soil, gravel, sand, pumice, carbide, peat, vermiculite, bark, pearlite, zeolite, rock wool, sponge, peat-moss, crushed coconut shell and crypo-moss.  
     
     
         14 . A support for cultivating a plant according to  claim 12 , wherein the hydrogel-forming polymer has been added to the plant-supporting carrier in an amount of 0.1-10 wt., in terms of the weight in a dry state.  
     
     
         15 . A method of cultivating a plant, comprising: 
 disposing a plant-cultivating support at least around a plant; and    cultivating the plant while supporting the plant by the plant-cultivating support; 
 the plant-cultivating support comprising a hydrogel-forming polymer having a crosslinked structure according to  claim 1;  the hydrogel-forming polymer showing a decrease in the equilibrium water absorption thereof along with an increase in temperature in the temperature range of not lower than 0° C. and not higher than 70° C., the equilibrium water absorption being reversibly changeable with respect to temperature.  
   
     
     
         16 . A method of cultivating a plant according to  claim 15 , wherein the plant is cultivated in a vessel having a closed-type lower portion.  
     
     
         17 . A method of cultivating a plant, comprising: 
 disposing a plant-cultivating support at least around Kilo a plant; and    cultivating the plant while supporting the plant by the plant-cultivating support;    the plant-cultivating support comprising a plant-supporting carrier, and a soil-modifying agent added to the carrier in an amount of 0.1-10 wt., in terms of the weight in a dry state; the soil-modifying agent comprising a hydrogel-forming polymer having a crosslinked structure according to  claim 1;  the hydrogel-forming polymer showing a decrease in the equilibrium water absorption thereof along with an increase in temperature in the temperature range of not lower than 0° C. and not higher than 70° C., the equilibrium water absorption being reversibly changeable with respect to temperature.    
     
     
         18 . A method of cultivating a plant according to  claim 16  or  17 , wherein the cultivation is conducted under a non-sterilized condition.  
     
     
         19 . A method of cultivating a plant according to  claim 17 , wherein the cultivation under a non-sterilized condition is conducted in open-air field or facility.  
     
     
         20 . A method of cultivating a plant according to  claim 17 , wherein the cultivation is conducted in a vessel having a closed-type lower portion.  
     
     
         21 . A vessel for growing a plant, comprising: 
 a base material in the form of a vessel which is capable of accommodating therein at least a part of a plant; and    a hydrogel-forming polymer disposed in the inside of the vessel-form base material; the hydrogel-forming polymer having a crosslinked structure according to  claim 1 .    
     
     
         22 . A vessel for growing a plant according to  claim 21 , wherein the hydrogel-forming polymer is fixed in the inside of the vessel to be retained therein.  
     
     
         23 . A vessel for growing a plant according to  claim 22 , wherein the hydrogel-forming polymer is retained in the inside of the vessel in the form of a continuous layer.  
     
     
         24 . A vessel for growing a plant according to  claim 22 , wherein the hydrogel-forming polymer is retained in the inside of the vessel in a non-continuous state.  
     
     
         25 . A vessel for growing a plant according to  claim 22 , wherein the hydrogel-forming polymer is in the form of powder or particles, and has a dimension of 0.1 μm-5 mm in a dry state.  
     
     
         26 . A vessel for growing a plant according to  claim 22 , wherein the hydrogel-forming polymer is retained in the inside of the vessel by the medium of a layer of a sticking agent or adhesive.  
     
     
         27 . A vessel for growing a plant according to  claim 1 , wherein the hydrogel-forming polymer shows a decrease in the equilibrium water absorption thereof along with an increase in temperature in the temperature range of not lower than 0° C. and not higher than 70° C., the equilibrium water absorption being reversibly changeable with respect to Kilo temperature.  
     
     
         28 . A vessel for growing a plant according to  claim 21 , which has a closed-type lower portion.  
     
     
         29 . A sheet for growing a plant, comprising: 
 a base material in the form of a sheet; and    a hydrogel-forming polymer disposed on at least one of the surfaces of the sheet; the hydrogel-forming polymer having a crosslinked structure according to  claim 1 .    
     
     
         30 . A sheet for growing a plant according to  claim 29 , wherein the hydrogel-forming polymer is fixed on the surface of the sheet to be retained thereon.  
     
     
         31 . A sheet for growing a plant according to  claim 29 , wherein the hydrogel-forming polymer is retained on the surface of the sheet in the form of a continuous layer.  
     
     
         32 . A sheet for growing a plant according to  claim 29 , wherein the hydrogel-forming polymer is retained on the surface of the sheet in a non-continuous state.  
     
     
         33 . A sheet for growing a plant according to  claim 29 , wherein the hydrogel-forming polymer is in the shape of powder or particles, and has a dimension of 0.1 μm-5 mm in a dry state.  
     
     
         34 . A sheet for growing a plant according to  claim 29 , wherein the hydrogel-forming polymer is retained on the surface of the sheet by the medium of a layer of a sticking agent or adhesive.  
     
     
         35 . A sheet for growing a plant according to  claim 29 , wherein a sticking agent or adhesive is disposed on the surface which is disposed opposite to the surface on which the hydrogel-forming polymer is disposed.  
     
     
         36 . A sheet for growing a plant according to  claim 29 , which has a partition from capable of providing at least one cell.  
     
     
         37 . A Sheet for growing a plant according to  claim 29 , wherein the hydrogel-forming polymer shows a decrease in the equilibrium water absorption thereof along with an increase in temperature in the temperature range of not lower than 0° C. and not higher than 70° C., the equilibrium water absorption being reversibly changeable with respect to temperature.  
     
     
         38 . A method of growing a plant, comprising: 
 (a) culturing a plant under a ventilation-restricted condition by using a gel-type support comprising at least water and a hydrogel-forming polymer having crosslinked structure according to  claim 1;  and    (b) cultivating the plant under a ventilation non-restricted condition by using the gel-like support disposed in contact with the plant after the culturing, substantially as it is.    
     
     
         39 . A method of growing a plant according to  claim 38 , wherein the hydrogel-forming polymer is in the form of powder or particles.  
     
     
         40 . A method of growing a plant according to  claim 38 , wherein the water in the step (a) constitutes a component of a liquid culture medium.  
     
     
         41 . A method of growing a plant according to  claim 38 , wherein the gel-like support is one which has been obtained by causing the hydrogel-forming polymer to absorb the water.  
     
     
         42 . A method of growing a plant according to  claim 38 , wherein the gel-like support is shrunk so as to discharge the liquid culture medium after the step (a) and before the step (b).  
     
     
         43 . A method of growing a plant according to  claim 38 , wherein the gel-like support is further caused to absorb a liquid after the step (a) and before the step (b).  
     
     
         44 . A method of growing a plant according to  claim 6 , wherein the liquid is a fertilizer for cultivation.  
     
     
         45 . A method of growing a plant according to  claim 38 , wherein the gel-like support is shrunk so as to discharge the liquid culture medium, and the gel is further caused to absorb a liquid after the step (a) and before the step (b).  
     
     
         46 . A method of growing a plant according to  claim 38 , wherein the liquid culture medium is one containing a saccharide.  
     
     
         47 . A method of growing a plant according to  claim 38 , wherein the culturing in the step (a) is conducted under a sterilized condition.  
     
     
         48 . A method of growing a plant according to  claim 38 , wherein the culturing in the step (a) is conducted in a vessel having a plurality of sections with respect to a plurality of plants disposed in the respective sections.  
     
     
         49 . A method of growing a plant according to  claim 38 , wherein the gel-like support is used in a state such that it has been mixed with another porous material.  
     
     
         50 . A method of growing a plant according to  claim 38 , wherein the porous material comprises at least one kind of carrier selected from: pearlite, vermiculite, pumice, ceramic, zeolite, sponge, sponge gourd fiber, rock wool, crushed coconut shell, bark, peat moss, Bakuhan-stone, carbide, and wool.  
     
     
         51 . A method of growing a plant according to  claim 38 , wherein the hydrogel-forming polymer is one obtained by crosslinking a polymer compound having an LCST (Lower Critical Solution Temperature).