Yoshifumi Nishiura

3-D vision system of tomato production robot

To develop a multifunctional robot for tomato production, a 3-D vision sensor was made and attached at the end of the manipulator. The sensor emitted a red and an infrared laser beams to scan the object. Image recognition experiments for the fruit harvesting work and the plant training work were carried out. As for the fruit harvesting work, the location of the red ripe tomato and the other objects could be recognized. For the plant training work, white pole that was used as a prop of the tomato stem and also the tomato plant could be recognized. The 3-D vision sensor would be suitable for these tomato production works.

Change of Ascorbic Acid Level after Grafting of Tomato Seedlings

Grafting is an easy way to produce a new seedling, which can tolerate against various stresses. During the acclimation after grafting, however, the seedlings still suffer a severe water stress. It is well known that water stress produces active oxygen to oxidize ascorbic acid. The concentration of ascorbic acid in the leaves was analyzed by HPLC equipped with an electrochemical detector. The column used was SP-120-5-ODS-BP (DAISO, JAPAN) and elution was performed with 0.1 ᴍ phosphate buffer, pH 3.0. After grafting the seedlings were acclimated under a 6-hr light/dark regimen. The content of ascorbic acid increased gradually during 2 days compared with control. The ascorbate peroxidase showed about constant activity, so the increase of ascorbic acid may be due to its requirement to cure the grafting

Acclimation Environment Control After Grafting - A New Acclimation Method -

Abstract The production system for grafted seedlings consists of mainly three parts. One is the growing process, another one is the grafting process, and the last one is the acclimation process. The acclimation process is very important for grafted seedlings because they are seriously injured. The qualities of seedlings and the management of farmers and seedling producers depend upon the acclimating technologies. Now, we are trying to develop such a grafting robot system which satisfies the conditions in the view of plant histological and physiological standpoints. In this study we show a new acclimation method on the basis of high technologies.

Rice Cultivation by Direct Seeding into Untilled Dry Paddy Stubble: Proposal of a New Seeding Method and Germination Rate with That

Abstract We propose direct seeding into the previous years stubbles as a labor-saving rice cultivation method in untilled dry paddy fields. The effectiveness of this method was determined by conducting a seeding experiment. Three seeding holes at depths of 20 or 40 mm were bored per stubble, and 4 or 7 seeds were sown per stubble. Four sets of experiments were designed with different combinations of seeding depth and seeding number, and each set of conditions was replicated 3 times. Germination rate and stubble width were determined 1 month after seeding. Our results suggest that seeding in stubbles may be effective in preventing bird damage typically noted in shallow seeding but that deep seeding restricts seedling growth through shielding of sunlight.

Robotics and System Technologies for Raising and Grafting Seedlings

Abstract In this paper the grafting seedlings production system was fabricated and investigated on the base of the plant factory concept. The y character grafting experiment was carried out by hand. As the result, the successful rate was 95 % with y character and 93.8 % with Y character. And it took 20 seconds for making one y character grafted seedling and 30 seconds for one Y character grafted seeding. The prototype robot could produce 2 seconds for one V character grafted seeding. And the successful rate was 46.9 % without black skin stems and run off between the scion and the stock that were damaged in this tube grasping. It was found that tube shape to grip the stems was not optimum. Now a y character type robot and a new tube are improving. Those experiments could show the possibilities that fabricated robot could work as 8 persons when the improved soft handling and alignment were carried out.

Cultivation of Lettuce and Considerations of Suitable Item in Plant Factory Adopted Automatic Transportation System

Abstract In a R&D Center for Plant Factory Building B in Osaka Prefecture University was constructed as a project sponsored by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, developing technology and verifying practicality for production of low cost and high quality lettuce are aimed using automatic transportation system. Although almost type of plant can be cultivated in fully controlled plant production systems, however, economic performance of these are not high, because of high running and facility expenses. Most of plant factory system related companies focus on developing fully controlled plant production system where most plant can be cultivated such as outdoor or greenhouse culture. These types of plant production system are very expensive and unfit for commercial system, although most plant can be cultivated in the system. However, a study focused on developing plant and cultivating technique suited to existing plant production systems will help to decrease facility and running expenses. Therefore, in this study, 11 kinds of lettuces were cultivated to considerate suitable item in fully controlled plant cultivation system adopted automatic transportation system. In the result of this study, frilly type lettuce was observed as suitable item for automatic transportation system. Leafy type was observed higher growing rate and heavier fresh weight, but it caused malfunction. Tipburn was a major problem in semi heading type.

Rice Cultivation by Direct Seeding into Untilled Dry Paddy Stubble: Panicle Number and Rice Yield

Abstract We hypothesized that direct seeding into the previous years stubbles in untilled dry rice fields would be a labor-saving rice cultivation method and sought to determine the effectiveness of this method. Three seeding holes (depth, 20 or 40 mm) were bored per stubble, and 4 or 7 seeds were sown in these holes. Four sets of experiments (performed in triplicate) were designed with different combinations of seeding depths and seed numbers. Each experimental plot (2 × 2 m) included 91 stubbles at 150-mm intervals with 300-mm inter-row distances. As a control, 7 seeds were sown in a ditch (depth, 20 mm). Productive panicle number and winnowed paddy yield were determined after harvesting. The experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of our seeding technique.

Visualization of Vessels in Tomato Seedlings Using Girdling

A novel method for the easy and detailed visualization of water pathways (i.e., xylem vessels) involving girdling after staining is proposed. This technique was applied to intact seedlings as well as seedlings whose vessels were intentionally damaged to evaluate the effectiveness of the procedure. The applicability of the technique to grafted fruit-vegetable seedlings was tested using tomato seedlings (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. ‘Momotaro’). The vessels were stained with congo red via the roots prior to girdling. This technique is unique in that it allows the visualization of the vessel network by a simple procedure as well as the continuous and unambiguous observation of the vertical and horizontal networks of vessels. Using the technique, we can observe a complex network of vessels, including vessel branching and vessel regeneration after damage.

Neural Network Model for Distributed Temperature Control

Abstract As precision agriculture in Japan, Microprecision Agriculture program is defined as an ultimate optimized plant production system practiced for plant factories to be compatible environmental safeguards with yield. In fact at the plant factory, some environmental non-uniformity within the interior always exists. However the environmental non-uniformity is still left uncontrolled. In this paper, local temperature controls as a microprecision technology for plant factory will be discussed.

Growth of turf grasses for indoor use under artificial lighting sources

Abstract Practical techniques for maintaining vigorous plants in indoor areas have not been achieved because of the difference on the level between optical radiation for the human eye and plant photosynthesis. Especially stadiums are not the best environments for plant growth with regard to optical radiation and so on. A special plastic tray and soil keeping system to grow natural turf in indoor areas are introduced. Then the level of lighting, the kind of lamps and self recovery of turf grasses after the simulated pressure of players were searched.