METHOD FOR CULTIVATING A CROP, CROP PRODUCTION UNIT AND CROP PRODUCTION SYSTEM

Abstract

A crop production system includes a number of crop production units which are coupled to a crop control centre. The crop production units are configured to perform a method for cultivating and producing a crop, where all climatological ambient factors and the light spectrum, which in their mutual relation determine the development of the crop, are regulated and controlled on the basis of a cultivation schedule which can be obtained from the crop control centre. For the purpose of production and development of a growth-promoting agent and/or crop protection agent and for the purpose of breeding a plant variety, one or more plants of a crop are at least substantially exactly reproduced in accordance with the cultivating method.

Claims

1. A method for cultivating a crop comprising: artificially subjecting the crop to a number of growth factors in an at least substantially daylight-free, conditioned environment, which growth factors at least comprise a photosynthetically active radiation spectrum to which the crop is exposed, an ambient room temperature and a leaf evaporation, wherein the crop is subjected during a cultivation period to a predetermined cultivation schedule which imposes a predetermined ratio of water and dry matter in the crop as well as defining a predetermined composition in the dry matter, which cultivation schedule comprises at least for said growth factors growth parameters prescribed therefor which define said growth factors in a predetermined mutual relation and impose the growth factors on the crop in the mutual relation prescribed by the cultivation schedule.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the crop is geared toward a predetermined ratio of inorganic and organic constituents in the dry matter.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the crop is geared toward a fixed composition of minerals and organic substances.

4. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the crop is geared toward a mutual ratio of minerals and organic substances in the dry matter, in particular toward a carbon content in the dry matter, more particularly toward a carbon/nitrogen ratio in the dry matter.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the crop is geared toward an organic composition, in particular toward a content of carbohydrates, fats, amino acids, esters, aromatics, proteins, vitamins, fragrances, pigments and/or flavourings.

6. A method for breeding a plant variety, wherein one or more plants of a new plant variety are at least substantially exactly reproduced with the method as claimed in claim 1.

7. A method for producing a crop protection agent, wherein the crop protection agent is tested on one or more plants of a crop which have been at least substantially exactly reproduced with the method as claimed in claim 1 and have been exposed to a pathogen as well as to the crop protection agent.

8. A method for demonstrating the presence of a pathogen in a carrier, in particular in seed, wherein one or more indicator plants susceptible to the pathogen are cultivated with the method as claimed in claim 1 and are exposed to at least a sample of the carrier.

9. A crop production unit comprising an at least substantially daylight-free, conditioned cultivation environment for receiving and growing a crop therein in a cultivation period, which cultivation environment comprises a dark space with radiating means for generating actinic artificial light with a specific photosynthetically active radiation spectrum and for generating evaporation-regulating radiation, to which radiation spectrum and which evaporation-regulating radiation the crop is at least temporarily exposed, and with climate control means for regulating a number of growth factors, which growth factors comprise at least an ambient room temperature and a relative room humidity, wherein the climate control means and the radiating means are coupled to a control device which is able and configured to receive a cultivation schedule and on the basis thereof to control and set the radiating means and the climate control means during the cultivation period in a mode which imposes a ratio of water and dry matter in the crop determined by the cultivation schedule as well as a composition of inorganic and organic constituents in the dry matter determined by the cultivation schedule, wherein the cultivation schedule comprises prescribed growth parameters for the different growth factors which define the growth factors in a predetermined mutual relation and impose the growth factors on the crop in the mutual relation prescribed by the cultivation schedule.

10. The crop production unit as claimed in claim 9, wherein the control device is provided with telecommunication means and is able and configured to receive the cultivation schedule in digital form via the telecommunication means.

11. The crop production unit as claimed in claim 10, wherein the cultivation schedule comprises a digital data set which is encrypted.

12. A crop production system comprising a number of crop production units as claimed in claim 9 which are coupled to a crop control centre, wherein the crop control centre is provided with data storage means for holding and issuing to the crop production units cultivation schedules from a set of cultivation schedules which can be processed by the crop production units in order to control the artificial lighting means and the climate control means.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] The invention will be further elucidated on the basis of an exemplary embodiment and an accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

[0025] FIG. 1 shows schematically a setup of an exemplary embodiment of a crop production system according to invention;

[0026] FIG. 2 shows a series of plants of the same genotype cultivated according to the invention in varying growth conditions; and

[0027] FIG. 3 shows a schematic overview of the growth factors imposed according to the invention by the cultivation schedule in the setup of FIG. 1.

[0028] The figures are otherwise purely schematic and not drawn to scale. Some dimensions in particular may be exaggerated to greater or lesser extent for the sake of clarity. Corresponding parts are designated in the figures with the same reference numeral.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0029] The plant (re)production system shown in FIG. 1 comprises a central crop control centre PRC where research is done into crop development and specific cultivation schedules are developed on the basis of the research results. These cultivation schedules comprise values over the whole cultivation period in which a crop develops for a number of growth factors which in their mutual relation fully manage, control and determine the development and composition of the crop during the cultivation period. These growth factors comprise a spectrum of actinic artificial light to which the crop is exposed, an ambient room temperature, a leaf evaporation, a relative room humidity and a spatial carbon dioxide concentration in addition to nutrition and watering of the crop.

[0030] These growth factors determining the final development of the crop are shown schematically in FIG. 3. This relates in the first instance to the spatial climate to which the crop is exposed and which is fully controlled within practical limits according to the invention. This involves the room temperature Ia, the relative air humidity Ib and the carbon dioxide concentration Ic. By continuously circulating an airflow with a controlled air speed Id through the space and guiding it outside the space with an air conditioning device this ambient climate is kept at a desired level within acceptable limits. Said parameters Ia, Ib, Ic, Id are prescribed in the cultivation schedule.

[0031] In addition, the cultivation schedule comprises values for watering IIa and fertilizing IIb for selected time intervals during the development of the crop. An evaporation from the crop is a resultant of the above parameters together with the root temperature Ma of the root system and evaporation-regulating (infrared) radiation IIIb on the leaf. Both are prescribed in the cultivation schedule and imposed on the crop with means provided for the purpose. Furthermore, the spectrum of actinic light is also fully controlled according to the invention. Cultivation takes place for this purpose in a daylight-free environment in order to counter the otherwise intervening influence of sunlight, and actinic artificial light is supplied instead. This artificial light comprises on the one hand photosynthetically active radiation IVa (PAR) in the blue and red part of the visible light, but can in addition also comprise other actinic components such as far-red IVb and UV radiation, in accordance with the crop and the desired control of the content thereof. It is thus found that, with all these values prescribed per time interval in such a cultivation schedule, the chemical content of the crop can be fully controlled in terms of a ratio of water/dry matter and in terms of the final dry matter composition of the crop, and can be substantially exactly reproduced.

[0032] The crop control centre PRC has digital storage means on which the developed cultivation schedules are stored and makes these schedules available to crop production units PPU1 . . . 4 which are subscribed to the crop control centre and four of which are shown in the figure. These production units can be provided at a random location, for instance close to an urban area S1, S2 or in a rural area, and both above ground PPU1 . . . 3 and underground PPU4.

[0033] The production units have a central control system for a climate control of the cultivation space and artificial lighting means to which the crop for cultivating is exposed. Daylight is excluded as far as possible from the cultivation space in order to eliminate the disruptive influence of sunlight, and a climate isolated from the surrounding area is otherwise also maintained inside the production unit. Each crop production unit comprises for this purpose climate control means for regulating at least the above stated growth factors, and the crop production units have artificial lighting means in the form of LED fittings with which a controlled light spectrum is generated to the crop which, in addition to photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), can particularly also comprise infrared radiation to enhance the development of the crop.

[0034] The crop production units PPU1 . . . 4 all have telecommunication means with which a connection to the crop control centre PRC can be established and maintained for the transfer of a cultivation schedule R1 . . . R2.2 which is obtained from the crop control centre PRC with a view to cultivating a specific crop in the respective production unit or to a specific cultivation of a crop. This is understood to mean gearing of a crop toward constituent substances as desired. In addition to a single cultivation schedule, multiple cultivation schedules can if desired also be implemented simultaneously here at a production unit, as indicated in the figure for the second production unit PPU-2. These then relate for instance to different crops which are being cultivated simultaneously in the production unit or to different modalities of the same crop thus being geared toward different constituent substances.

[0035] The cultivation schedule comprises all parameters and values of the growth factors shown in FIG. 3 which, together with the climate control means and the artificial lighting means, bring about this control in a production unit. Because this is sensitive business information and extremely valuable, the cultivation schedule is preferably exchanged in an encrypted form, this being represented in the figure by the key symbol. Each accredited production unit comprises telecommunication means with which the cultivation schedule can be received and has an appropriate decryption key for decoding the cultivation schedule. A central processing unit in the crop production unit translates the cultivation schedule to equivalent control commands corresponding thereto for the different components of the climate control means and for the artificial lighting means so that the crop will undergo specific climatological conditions and a light spectrum as intended with the cultivation schedule.

[0036] A text display of an exemplary cultivation schedule for cultivating basil is shown below by way of illustration. The cultivation cycle of basil from sowing to harvesting lasts for 25 days. During this cultivation cycle all relevant growth factors are imposed on the crop in fully controlled manner in accordance with the following schedule. It is noted here that within the context of the present invention the leaf evaporation of the crop will in practice normally be determined by a combination of an optionally specifically imposed root temperature, the relative air humidity and the exposure of the leaf of the crop to evaporation-regulating radiation, such as infrared and far-red radiation, from fittings provided for this purpose. The schedule begins on day 0 with sowing and lasts up to and including day 25 for harvesting. During this period the growth parameters are modified in stepwise manner as follows:

TABLE-US-00001 CULTIVATION SCHEDULE I Parameter: Day 0 .fwdarw. Day 3 .fwdarw. Day 6 .fwdarw. Day 13 .fwdarw. Day 20 .fwdarw. Space Temperature ( C.) 20 22 22 22 25 Root Temperature ( C.) 19 21 21 21 24 Relative Humidity (%) 99 84 78 58 50 Blue (mol/m.sup.2 .Math. s) 0 30 60 60 60 Red (mol/m.sup.2 .Math. s) 0 55 110 110 110 Far-Red (mol/m.sup.2 .Math. s) 0 25 50 50 50 Radiation time (h) 0 16 16 16 16 Concentration CO.sub.2 350 350 1000 1000 1000 (ppm) Air speed (m/s) 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 Substrate P7 P7 P7 P7 P7 Electrical Conductivity 1.0 1.0 2.0 3.5 3.5 pH 5.8 5.8 5.8 5.8 5.8 Nutrition Scheme 4 4 4 4 4

[0037] This schedule results in contents of fragrances and flavourings in the basil thus cultivated in a fully controlled environment which are significantly different when compared to basil resulting from outdoor cultivation. Making use of the above shown cultivation schedule the content of fragrances and flavourings in the final crop can be further increased by exposing the crop to UV radiation for one or more specific daily periods during the cycle. In the following schedule this period begins an hour before photosynthesis starts and continues until half an hour after the crop has also been subjected to the other radiation. This modification is incorporated in the following cultivation schedule and results in a corresponding modified crop composition:

TABLE-US-00002 CULTIVATION SCHEDULE II Parameter: Day 0 .fwdarw. Day 3 .fwdarw. Day 6 .fwdarw. Day 13 .fwdarw. Day 20 .fwdarw. Space Temperature ( C.) 20 22 22 22 25 Root Temperature ( C.) 19 21 21 21 24 Relative Humidity (%) 99 84 78 58 50 Blue (mol/m.sup.2 .Math. s) 0 30 60 60 60 Red (mol/m.sup.2 .Math. s) 0 55 110 110 110 Far-Red (mol/m.sup.2 .Math. s) 0 25 50 50 50 Radiation time (h) 0 16 16 16 16 UV (mol/m.sup.2 .Math. s) 0 0 0 0 5-10 UV period (h) 0 0 0 0 1.5 Concentration CO.sub.2 350 350 1000 1000 1000 (ppm) Air speed (m/s) 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 Substrate P7 P7 P7 P7 P7 Electrical Conductivity 1.0 1.0 2.0 3.5 3.5 pH 5.8 5.8 5.8 5.8 5.8 Nutrition Scheme 4 4 4 4 4

[0038] In addition to gearing toward constituent substances it is also possible to gear toward the appearance (phenotype) of the crop by imposing a predetermined, precisely defined cultivation schedule thereon. This is illustrated in FIG. 2A-H. This relates to basil having in each case the same genotype (species, variety) which has been subjected to different cultivation schedules in respect of a radiation spectrum to which the crop has been exposed, an ambient room temperature, a root temperature, a relative room humidity and a spatial carbon dioxide concentration. Within the same genotype this results in the shown variation in crop structure after the same cultivation period between sowing and harvesting. It is moreover possible to vary nutrition schemes, air speed and root/substrate temperature of the crop. It is important that the crop growth as shown in FIG. 2A-H is fully reproducible by applying the present invention. This means that, using the same cultivation schedule, the same crop growth will always be obtained after the cultivation period.

[0039] Roughly fifty different flavourings and fragrances determine the taste of basil. Five of these, including eugenol, geraniol and linalool, are found to be dominant here. A significantly increased content of these substances is obtained with the following cultivation schedule:

TABLE-US-00003 CULTIVATION SCHEDULE III Parameter: Day 0 .fwdarw. Day 3 .fwdarw. Day 6 .fwdarw. Day 13 .fwdarw. Day 20 .fwdarw. Space Temperature ( C.) 20 22 22 22 25 Root Temperature ( C.) 19 21 21 21 24 Relative Humidity (%) 99 84 80 65 65 Blue (mol/m.sup.2 .Math. s) 0 15 30 30 30 Red (mol/m.sup.2 .Math. s) 0 35 85 85 85 Far-Red (mol/m.sup.2 .Math. s) 0 0 25 50 50 Radiation time (h) 0 20 20 20 20 Concentration CO.sub.2 350 350 1000 1000 1000 (ppm) Air speed (m/s) 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 Substrate P7 P7 P7 P7 P7 Electrical Conductivity 1.0 1.0 2.0 3.5 3.5 pH 5.8 5.8 5.8 5.8 5.8 Nutrition Scheme 4 4 4 4 4

[0040] It is also possible to gear the composition of the dry matter toward the desired proportion of organic and inorganic substances therein. This is a gearing toward the overall carbon/nitrogen ratio in the crop. When this also involves gearing toward the type or composition of organic and/or inorganic constituent substances, it is also possible with a cultivation schedule to respond to the specific wishes and requirements of the grower of the crop. The content of vitamins and/or phytohormones and/or chlorophyll can thus be increased, or creation of amino acids can for instance be stimulated.

[0041] A more specific exemplary embodiment of the method according to the invention is the cultivation of cannabis, or marijuana, in a conditioned, daylight-free aboveground or underground cultivation environment, normally referred to as city farming. Cannabis has a number of main constituents, each with its own specific effect. The eighty constituents only found in cannabis are known as cannabinoids. These affect the receptors in the human body and cause effects in the nervous system and brain.

[0042] THC is the best-known and most frequently encountered cannabinoid in cannabis; this stands for 9-tetrahydrocannabinol. This cannabinoid is responsible for the most important psychoactive effect experienced after consumption of cannabis, it stimulates parts of the brain and thus causes the release of dopaminethis creates a sense of euphoria and well-being. THC also has anaesthetizing effects and alleviates the symptoms of pain and inflammation. In combination they provide a tremendous sense of relaxation.

[0043] Cannabidiol, or CBD, is the second most common cannabinoid in marijuana. This substance has good possible applications in the field of medicine, and is the constituent most highly suitable for medicinal use. It is thought that this non-psychotic constituent reduces and regulates the effects of THC. This means that species which comprise a relatively large amount of CBD in addition to THC cause a much more lucid psychotic experience than species comprising relatively little CBD. CBD has a long list of medicinal properties. The most important are the reduction of chronic pain, inflammations, migraine, arthritis, spasms, epilepsy and schizophrenia.

[0044] The present invention allows the development and reproduction, on the basis of a cultivation schedule geared thereto, of a phenotype within the same genotype cannabis which has such an increased proportion of CBD. Cannabis for medicinal applications can hereby be provided in significantly more efficient manner.

[0045] It is particularly also possible using the invention to comply with a desired value of a selected mineral quality index on the basis of a cultivation schedule adapted thereto, such as for instance the so-called Eric Gun Index (EGI), which represents a mineral composition in the form of a formula in which elementary concentrations of elements such as nitrogen (N), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) and potassium (K) are incorporated. This is a standard, for instance in the case of fruit, with which a predetermined resistance of the crop to specific plant diseases, a desired flavour and/or a storage quality can be imposed, and as it were built in, following picking. In addition to or instead of the EGI, it is also possible here if desired to gear toward another index such as normally applied as standard in the market in the field of a determined crop (type). A relevant parameter can for instance also be found in the ratio of potassium and calcium in the crop. It is also possible to gear specifically toward this if desired by applying a cultivation schedule adapted thereto.

[0046] Not only can the content or appearance (phenotype) of the crop thus be artificially imposed and controlled within the same genotype by subjecting the crop to a cultivation schedule specifically adapted thereto, a resilience or, conversely, sensitivity to plant diseases, particularly as a result of an infection with micro-organisms such as a fungus, bacteria or virus, or to insects can also be influenced by imposing a specific cultivation schedule. An increased resilience results in a better resistance of the crop, and so a reduced susceptibility, while a standard sensitivity can on the contrary serve as standardized test platform for tests with newly developed biocides which can thus be performed in a standardized manner, so that a quicker and more reliable test result can thereby be obtained.

[0047] An increased sensitivity to for instance fungi or viruses can on the other hand also be brought about on the basis of a carefully selected cultivation schedule. This is advantageous if the crop is applied as indicator of the possible presence of a specific fungus or a specific virus in a determined environment. An example hereof is for instance the culture of the plants Nicotiana (tobacco) and Chenopodium (white goosefoot) which are used in virus tests. The sensitivity of the crop to these viruses can be controlled with different cultivation schedules. The same applies for sensitivity to fungi such as for instance downy mildew. The plant can here also be geared toward difference in sensitivity using different cultivation schedules. Not only can the susceptibility to virus or fungus thus be significantly increased or decreased, this can also be repeated in a fully reproducible manner, whereby each plant develops with certainty a standardized, constant susceptibility to a specific pathogen or group of pathogens. It is hereby possible to test in a reliable and standardized manner for the presence of this pathogen, such as a virus, bacteria or fungus, by exposing a thus cultivated indicator plant to a sample of a carrier sampled for the purpose and subsequently determining whether the crop has been adversely affected or not.

[0048] Also important is that the cultivation schedule comprises a complete control of all ambient factors determining the development and content of the crop. The only remaining factor not imposed by the cultivation schedule is the genetics of the crop. Within the bounds of this genetic content of the crop the development of the crop is however imposed wholly by the cultivation schedule and controlled thereby. It is thus possible to ensure that the end product will always have at least substantially the same composition, whereby a reproducibility is achieved which is hitherto unrivalled. This provides a valuable starting point for breeding research into new plant varieties and species and for the development of new crop protection agents, wherein for instance a resistance to plant diseases can thus always be evaluated on the same standardized plant.

[0049] Although the invention has been further elucidated on the basis of only a single exemplary embodiment, it will be apparent that the invention is by no means limited thereto. On the contrary, many variations and embodiments are still possible within the scope of the invention for a person with ordinary skill in the art. Although the examples are limited to basil, cannabis, tobacco (Nicotiana) and white goosefoot (Chenopodium), any crop is in principle suitable for a closed and fully controlled cultivation and cultivation system according to the invention, such as for instance, in addition to herbs, many forms of leaf crop, in particular leaf vegetables and other crops with a specific beneficial constituent substance which can be isolated therefrom, such as, in addition to cannabis, for instance also stevia, with a view to extracting therefrom a sweetener intended for human consumption, as well as crops with fragrances and pigments for perfumes, foodstuffs and the like. The invention does in fact open the way to a wholly new form of horticulture in which it is no longer nature but human beings who control the development of the crop within the boundaries still defined only by the genetic content of the crop.