Water storage and drainage in perlite in container cultivation

Abstract

The first modelling to predict the moisture content of perlite in container cultivation was performed. In recent years, information technology-based agriculture (smart agriculture), such as automated cultivation of crops, has received considerable attention. One of the important issues in crop cultivation is how to control soil moisture content to achieve optimal conditions for plants. Models that accurately predict the water content in soil are needed. Perlite is often used in containers as a hydroponic soil. Although methods to maintain the moisture content in containers have been studied in the past, there has been no study on how to maintain the moisture content of perlite. In this study, we develop a measurement system, created a model for the water content and drainage of perlite in a container, and analysed the data. The results reveal for the first time a nonlinear trend in the moisture of perlite in containers. The nonlinear model obtained can be used to establish more efficient water supply methods for perlite used in container cultivation.