Development of hydroponics teaching tools for root vegetables

Masanao SATOU1, Toshikazu YAMAMOTO2

1
The United Graduate School of Education Tokyo Gakugei University, Tokyo, Japan
2
Saitama University Faculty of Education, Saitama, Japan

In junior high schools in Japan teach " biological development " as one of technical
education. Among them " biological development " teaches the foundation of agricultural
technology. However, in Japan there are issues such as aging of farmers and declining food
self-sufficiency accompanying it, and innovation in agriculture is required. Therefore, the
plant factory has attracted attention as a new agricultural technology, and it is included in
the learning contents also in technical education of junior high school. Therefore, in this
research, we developed a nutrient cultivating teaching tool that can nurture root vegetables
with the aim of understanding new agricultural technology and fostering innovation ability.

1. Introduction
Technology education in Japan is set as the technology department only in the three years
of junior high school in the compulsory education period (Ministry of Education, Junior High
School Course of Study, 2008). Technology education of the first year of junior high school
and 35 hours per year in the second grade, is set a total of 87.5 hours of 17.5 hours in the
third year. It is the smallest lesson time among the courses set for junior high school. (Figure
1)
 Figure 1. Study time of each subject at a junior high school in Japan

The learning contents of the technical department, material processing, living things
growing, energy conversion, and a four content of the information. (Figure 2)

Figure 2. learning the contents of the technical department in Japan

Learning contents of which are defined in the curriculum guidelines to be revised once in
about 10 years. Current educational guidelines were revised in 2008. The content of
biotechnology development was compulsory from this course of study guidance. (Ministry
of Education, School curriculum guidelines during 2008, 2008)
Biological development was excluded from compulsion at the time of revision of the course
of study in 1977, and it was supposed to be compulsory for 31 years. (Ministry of Education,
School curriculum guidelines during 1977, 1977)Because it was not covered over the long
term, there are problems such as lack of teaching materials and teaching materials, increase
of teachers without teaching experience.Especially, in urban schools, farmland for cultivation
training can not be secured, and it is one of the reasons for insufficient learning. (Group All
Japan Junior High School Technology and Home Economics Study, 2013) Therefore,
development of teaching tools that can carry out cultivation training in indoor is required.
Plant factory technology has developed as a technique to cultivate indoors, and plant
factories are spreading in Japan since the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011. More than
400 plant plants are built in Japan in 2015. (Japan Facilities Horticultural Association, 2016)
However, the current technology is mainly cultivation of leaf vegetables, expansion of
cultivated variety is an issue.
Teaching tools to nourish leaf vegetables have also been developed as technical teaching
tools, but there are no teaching tools to cultivate other kinds of plants. Therefore, in this
research, we developed "tea leaf cultivation tea for root vegetables" that enables cultivation
of root crops indoors.
2. About technology of plant factory
The plant factory, a plant to grow plants environment suitable for the growth of plants by
artificially controlled in the indoor. Light necessary for photosynthesis is classified as "solar
type" using sunlight, "artificial light type" using artificial light such as LED, "combined type"
using sunlight and artificial light together . (MORI, 2015) Using, for example, a sponge instead
of soil, grow plants by circulating nutrient solution containing the nutrients required for the
growth of the plant. The inside of the factory is a clean room, so we do not use pesticides
because disease and pests do not occur. Because it is controlled by a computer, it is possible
to efficiently produce a small number of people. It is a technology that enables the
production of plants anywhere, such as urban areas, cold areas, desert areas.
In Japan, by accident of nuclear power plant by a large earthquake of 2011, soil is no longer
able to production temporarily of agricultural products contaminated by radioactive
substances. As a result, facilities using plants factory technology to produce plants are rapidly
increasing. Leaf vegetables is about 65% being produced in plant factories, about 31% fruit
vegetables, enlarged cultivars there is a problem. (Japan Facilities Horticultural Association,
2016)

3. Learning about bio-cultivation in technical education in Japan

The content of biological training learning is defined as follows in the course of study
guidance.
How to manage conditions suitable for cultivation of living things and cultivation
environment of organisms.
Think about appropriate assessment and utilization of biotechnology-related technologies.
Plan development of living things, cultivate and rearing living things.
Specifically, it is necessary that soil, air, water, fertilizer are necessary for plant growth,
nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphoric acid and potassium are necessary for fertilizer and it
is effective, Learn the importance of work such as pencil core and insect repellent, and
evaluate the technology from environmental and economic relationships. In addition, actually
grow the plant, are experiencing such as the work that have been learned.
In the school of urban areas is the lack of land in order to experience the farm work.
Therefore, it is necessary to cultivate indoors. For example, it is a method of sowing seeds of
leafy vegetables on a sponge, placing it near the window and growing with the light of the
sun.
However leaf vegetables such as lettuce can be cultivated, leaf vegetables can hardly
experience work after germination, so there are problems as practical subjects. Therefore,
teaching tools that can cultivate varieties other than leaf vegetables are required.

4. Development of hydroponics teaching tools for root vegetables

4.1 Development of artificial light source for cultivation
To grow plants indoors are required artificial light for performing photosynthesis. The light
necessary for plant growth is effective for red color with an absorption peak of chlorophyll
around 660 nm and blue color around 450 nm which is the absorption peak of cryptochrome
or phototropin. (Masamoto TAKATUJI, 2011)Therefore, we developed an LED light source for
cultivation using an LED with less power consumption and less heat generation.
Tape LED of super high brightness type was used for LED. The tape LED is a tape shape with
a width of 8 mm and the LEDs are arranged at 15 mm intervals, and it can be used by cutting
it to the required length. (Figure 3)

Figure 3 Tape LED

Moreover, it is suitable for cultivation of plants using nutrient solution because it is waterproof.
The base part is designed in 3D-CAD. (Figure 4) It was manufactured base in the 3D printer
(X Co. Ltd.). (Figure 5)
 Figure. 4 Design drawing of LED base part

Figure.5 3D printer
Tape LEDs were placed on the base part made with a 3D printer and 24 cells of red and blue
LEDs effective for plant growth and 27 cells of high illuminance white LEDs were placed.
(Figure 6) The developed cultivating LED light source was able to secure illuminance of 23000
lux at a distance of 100 mm from the light source.
The cultivation LED is 12V, is powered by the 5A AC adapter, it is possible to light up to three
cultivation LED with AC adapter one.

Figure. 6 LED light source for cultivation

4.2 Examination of artificial soil and cultivation experiment

In order to grow root vegetables, soil is necessary. Soil because taproot unit by adding at
the same time moderate pressure when supporting the main root portion is grown. However,
the plant factory is a clean room so you can not use the soil. So soil substitute of is required.
Plant factories have higher cultivation costs compared with open field cultivation, so
substitutes for soil are easier to manage, and it is necessary to reduce costs by recycling. Also
it must be hygienic. Therefore, it was decided to examine the substance to be a substitute for
soil.
As a candidate, cultivation for the absorbent polymer, plastic ball for a toy gun (BB bullets),
perlite, Charcoal of rice husk, was hydro-ball, vermiculite candidate. (Figure. 7)
Elements of consideration were (1) cost, (2) weight, (3) water retentivity, and (4) reusability.
Cultivation experiments were carried out using these candidates. In cultivation experiments,
candidate materials were placed in containers reusing PET bottles, and cultivation of radish
was carried out. (Figure. 8) Radish seeds were sowed on sponge and planted after
germination. Nutrient solution Hyponex (N: P: K = 6.5: 6: 19) was utilized diluted to 1000-fold.

Figure.7 Soil substitute (candidates)

 Hydro Ball BB bullet Charcoal of rice husk

Figure.8 State of cultivation experiment

Cultivation experiments were conducted in the vicinity of indoor windows, and the LED
light source for cultivation and sunlight were used in combination. Cultivating LED light
source was irradiated for 1 day 12 hours using the program timer. (Figure. 9)

Figure 9 Program timer

In addition, an air conditioner was used so that the temperature inside the room was kept
at 20℃ to 24 ℃. And nutrient solution kept pH and EC constant by exchanging the whole
amount once a week.
The results of the experiment, we were able to harvest in 29 days after sowing. There was
no significant growth difference due to differences in candidate materials. However, objects
such as white fungi occurred in charcoal of rice husk and hydroball. Also, objects such as
green algae were generated in the polymer absorber and pearlite. (Figure. 10)
 Figure 10 charcoal of rice husk (left), the absorbent polymer (right)

Therefore, rice husk charcoal and hydro ball and absorbent polymer and perlite is inferred
that there is a problem in hygiene. Although vermiculite is inexpensively available, it has a
heavier weight compared with BB bullets and there are variations in shape, so the problem
remains in reuse after collection. Therefore, we decided to adopt BB bullet as substitute for
soil.
BB bullet is a bullet for a toy gun played by Japanese children, and it is produced as a
standard item. The diameter is made φ6 + 0 ~ -0.05mm, weight 0.12～0.43G, a plastic such
as ABS resin as raw materials. It can be easily obtained by toy shop or mail order. Since size
and weight are specified in the standard, the recovery is easy and hygienic, it can be
repeatedly used because there is durable.

4.3 Development of cultivation teaching tools

From the results of the experiment, for which it has been confirmed using a BB bullet is

capable of cultivation of root vegetables, it was decided to develop a hydroponics teaching

tools for root vegetables. Assumed cultivation subject to a small root vegetables such as

radish, to be easily grown indoors, it was decided to design as compact as possible.

The size of the device is designed as a height 150mm, including the inner diameter of the
cultivation layer 90 mm, height 120 mm, a nutrient solution jetting unit. This device was

divided into two parts, a cultivation layer and a nutrient injection part, and outputted with

a 3D printer. Nutrient solution injection unit and the cultivation layer, nutrient solution
using a silicon-based caulking agent with waterproof are joined so as not leak to the outside.

A silicone tube is attached to the injection port provided in the lower portion of the nutrient

solution injection part, and a nutrient solution is supplied from a separately provided

nutrient solution tank by a pump.

The nutrient solution was made to eject nutrient fluid from the ejection port which was

opened at three positions in the nutrient solution injection part. (Figure. 11 and 12)
 Figure 11 system conceptual view

Figure 12 Cultivation teaching detail drawing

4.4 Development of BB bullet retrieval device
We developed recovery equipment for recovering BB bullets after cultivation. It devised a

retrieval device using an aluminum punching metal of φ6.0mm. Since BB bullet is φ 6 + 0 ~

-0.05 mm, BB bullet is collected by free fall from hole of punching metal. And a mechanism
to get rid of such large garbage than the BB bullets. Also, to make BB bullets easier to pass

through the punching metal holes, the holes were expanded using a 6.5 mm drill. (Figure 13)

Figure 13 BB bullet retrieval device

4.5 cultivation using hydroponics teaching tools for root vegetables

In the cultivation utilizing the present apparatus, it is necessary to replenish the nutrient
solution at the pump because there is absolutely no water retention in the BB bullets. pump
is controlled by a timer and is set to irrigate the nutrient solution for 5 minutes per hour.
Irrigation amount is 1.5ℓ / min.
The amount of light is insufficient only with the LED light source. For this reason it was
decided to carry out the installation and cultivation in combination with sunlight the device
near a window. In this case it was possible to ensure the illumination of about 50000lux in
the day in fine weather. Also, in order to cultivate even in a cold season, we covered the
equipment with vinyl so that it can be warmed with a simple heating device. (Figure. 14)
 Figure 14 overall view of hydroponics equipment

Radish was cultivated using this device. For 12 hours from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm, the LED was
irradiated and the temperature was controlled to keep the inside of the apparatus at 24 ℃.。
We turned off the LED for 12 hours from 6:00 PM to 6:00 AM, and brought up the temperature
at about 10 ℃.
The nutrient solution was cultivated by making 6 patterns of nitrogen, potassium phosphate,
trace elements combination. (Table 1)

Table 1 Combination of fertilizer (blending ratio)

Phosphoric acid, Trace
Nitrogen
potassium elements
Pattern 1
1 1 1
(Standard concentration)
Pattern 2
2 1 1
(Many-nitrogen)
Pattern 3
1 2 1
(Many-phosphoric acid, potassium)
Pattern 4
0.5 1 1
(Few-nitrogen)
Pattern 5
1 0.5 1
(Few-phosphoric acid, potassium)
Pattern 6
2 2 2
(All-many)
 Every week, the nutrient solution was exchanged for the whole amount.
As a result of cultivation under these conditions, it was possible to harvest a radish after about
40 days.
Harvested radish differed in size by the pattern of nutrient solution. (Table 2)
In pattern 5 (Few-phosphoric acid, potassium) and pattern 6 (All-many), relatively large radish could
be harvested. (Figure 15) Also, pattern 2 (Many-nitrogen) and pattern 3 (Many-phosphoric
acid, potassium), the main root of the radish is small and it is not suitable for edible use.
(Figure 16)

Table 2 nutrient solution the size of the pattern and radish

length(mm) width(mm) weight(g)
Pattern 1
32.6 23.7 14
(Standard concentration)
Pattern 2
30.6 10.2 9
(Many-nitrogen)
Pattern 3
25.7 1.5 5
(Many-phosphoric acid, potassium)
Pattern 4
26.8 25.7 16
(Few-nitrogen)
Pattern 5
29.7 36.2 31
(Few-phosphoric acid, potassium)
Pattern 6
(All-many)
49.1 30.1 29

Figure 15 Radish harvested in pattern 6

 Figure 16 Radish harvested in Pattern 3

5. Conclusion
We developed " hydroponics teaching tools for root vegetables " which made it possible to
cultivate root vegetables indoors. It summarizes the findings of this study below.
① to develop LED light source for allowing cultivation indoors, it was possible to secure
the illumination of 23000Lux.
② consider the artificial soil in order to allow the cultivation of root vegetables, it was
confirmed by experiment that it is possible grown in BB bullets.
③ We developed a teaching aid for root nutrients for cultivating root crops with BB bullets.
④ Developed a recovery device for collecting and reusing BB bullets.
⑤ Cultivation by timer irrigation and confirm that root vegetables can be cultivated.
⑥ It was confirmed that it is suitable to concentrate nutrient solution, Few-phosphoric
acid, potassium or All many.
In the future, we will practice lessons using these devices and confirm the effectiveness of
the teaching equipment.

6.References
Group All Japan Junior High School Technology and Home Economics Study. (2013, 5 25).
Nationwide questionnaire survey report on junior high school technology · home
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Japan Facilities Horticultural Association. (2016). Large Scale Facilities Gardening · Plant
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Japan Facilities Horticultural Association. (2016). Large Scale Facilities Survey on Horticulture
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Masamoto TAKATUJI, Y. M. (2011). LED plant factory. Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun.
Ministry of Education, C. S. (1977, 7 23). School curriculum guidelines during 1977. Retrieved
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