WO2008084323A2

WO2008084323A2 - Device for aeroponic and hydroponic cultures and related management system.

Info

Publication number: WO2008084323A2
Application number: PCT/IB2007/004170
Authority: WO
Inventors: Giancarlo Costa
Original assignee: Giancarlo Costa
Priority date: 2007-01-05
Filing date: 2007-12-24
Publication date: 2008-07-17
Also published as: SMP200900066B; SMAP200900066A; EP2101560A2; ITVI20070006A1; WO2008084323A3

Abstract

The invention concerns a device (1, 100, 200) for use in aeroponic and hydroponic cultivation systems and comprises a box-shaped body (2, 2a, 2b) open at the top and consisting of a bottom (3) and side walls (4). The nutritional solution (S) is distributed to the roots (R) of the plants (P) cultivated in the device (1, 100, 200) by delivery means (8) installed on the side walls (4). The invention also concerns a corresponding management system.

Description

DEVICE FOR AEROPONIC AND HYDROPONIC CULTURES AND RELATED MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. The invention relates to aeroponic and hydroponic cultures. More in detail, the invention relates to a device for making aeroponic and hydroponic culture systems, and to a corresponding system, particularly suitable for growing vegetables, flowers and small plants in general. It is common knowledge that aeroponic and hydroponic cultures rely on devices in which the plants are usually arranged inside specific containers made of a synthetic or other material and complete with means for irrigating and fertilising the roots of the plants with a given concentration of nutritional substances dissolved in water.

In such devices, the supporting role of the soil is carried out by means for supporting the plants, which may be a panel and/or a sheet, and/or a layer of gauze, and/or a net, and/or an inert material used as a substrate, or other suitable means.

According to a known solution used to make devices for aeroponic and hydroponic cultures, the means for distributing the nutritional solutions are situated on the bottom of the container and are complete with a plurality of holes or nozzles for delivering the nutritional solution to the roots growing inside said container.

In particular, these holes or nozzles can sprinkle or spray the nutritional substances in solution onto the roots suspended in the air underneath the surface on which the plants are supported. A first drawback of this type of arrangement lies in that any solid particles, soil and waste products may become detached from the roots and thus obstruct the holes or nozzles in the means used to distribute the nutritional solution. Moreover, as they grow and extend downwards, the roots themselves may also obstruct these holes or nozzles. This prevents an adequate and even distribution of the nutritional solution over the roots and a consequent optimal growth of the plants.

Another drawback lies in that, with time, the root apparatus developing inside the container tends to form a barrier coming between the nebulizers and the roots. As a result, the roots are no longer wetted over their entire surface area and full length; only the lower tips of the roots are reached and wetted, so the quantity of nutritional substances absorbed by the plants diminishes, preventing their optimal growth and reducing the efficiency of the system as a whole. Another drawback of the known devices for aeroponic and hydroponic cultures consists in that they do not include an efficient system for recycling the nutritional solution, with consequent wastage and the hazardous dispersion of substances that pollute the environment.

Another drawback lies in that these devices do not include an effective, straightforward and cost-effective system for the distribution and management of the nutritional solution. Various solutions have been proposed for making devices for aeroponic and hydroponic cultures, but the results they have obtained have never come up to expectations.

The object of the present invention is to overcome, or at least reduce the above- mentioned drawbacks. In particular, a first object of the invention is to carry out a device and a related system for aeroponic and hydroponic cultures that are particularly suitable for growing vegetables, flowers and small plants in general, and that enable the above-mentioned drawbacks to be overcome.

Another object is to carry out a device and a system capable of irrigating and fertilising the roots of vegetables, flowers and small plants in general with a nutritional solution in such a way as to prevent any particles, soil, waste matter, the roots themselves or anything else from obstructing and/or restricting this irrigating and fertilising action, or at least in such a way as to make this less likely to occur. Another object of the invention is to carry out a device and a system that enable these roots to be wetted substantially over their entire surface area and full length.

Another object is to carry out a device and a system that enable the nutritional solution not absorbed by the root apparatus of the plants to be retrieved and recycled. Another object is to carry out a completely automated system for the delivery and management of a nutritional solution for vegetables, flowers and small plants in general for applications in the field of aeroponic and hydroponic cultures. Another object is to carry out a system that enables the quantities of nutritional substances dissolved in the solution to be automatically controlled and adjusted to constantly maintain an optimal concentration of these nutritional substances. Another object is to carry out a device and a system for aeroponic and hydroponic cultures in which the plants grow in a continual production cycle. Another object is to carry out a device configured so that it can be quickly and easily combined with other similar devices for their assembly in series. Another, not necessarily last object of the invention is to carry out a device and a related system that are economical and easy to manufacture and assemble. The above objects are achieved by a device for use in systems for aeroponic and hydroponic cultures, and by a corresponding system particularly suitable for growing vegetables, flowers and small plants in general, as described and characterised in the corresponding independent claims.

Advantageous embodiments form the object of the dependent claims. The proposed solution advantageously enables the construction of a device and of a system that enable the substantially uniform irrigation and fertilisation of the roots of vegetables, flowers and small plants in general, irrespective of the growth of the root apparatus.

The proposed solution also advantageously enables the construction of a device and of a system capable of increasing the quantity of nutritional substances coming into contact with and absorbed by the roots of the plants. The proposed solution also advantageously enables the construction of a device and of a system that reduce the dispersion of pollutant substances to a minimum, thus complying with the standards concerning pollution control, while also safeguarding the health of operators.

The proposed solution also advantageously enables the construction of a device that enables production costs to be contained by minimising waste. The proposed solution also advantageously enables the construction of a device and of a system that reduce the action required by human operators to a minimum.

The proposed solution also advantageously enables the construction of a device and of a system that can ensure optimal efficiency, consequently enabling a higher productivity to be achieved.

The above-mentioned objects and advantages will become clearer from the description of several preferred embodiments of the invention, given below as non-limiting examples with reference to the attached drawings, wherein:

- figure 1 schematically shows a perspective view of a device carried out according to the invention; - figure 2 shows an exploded perspective view of the device shown in figure l;

- figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the device shown in figure 1 ;

- figure 4 schematically shows a perspective view of another example of embodiment of a device carried out according to the invention;

- figure 5 shows an exploded perspective view of the device shown in figure 4;

- figure 6 shows a cross-sectional view of a component of the device shown in figure 4; - figure 7 shows a view from above of the device shown in figure 6;

- figure 8 shows another cross-sectional view of the device shown in figure 7;

- figures 9 and 10 show a front view and a side view of another component of the device shown in figure 4;

- figures 11 and 12 show a front view and a side view of another portion of the device shown in figure 4;

- figure 13 schematically shows a perspective view of another example of embodiment of a device carried out according to the invention;

- figure 14 shows a longitudinal section of the device shown in figure 13;

- figure 15 shows a cross-sectional view of the device shown in figure 13; - figure 16 shows an exploded perspective view of the device shown in figure 13;

- figures 17 and 18 show a front view and a side view of a component of the device shown in figure 13;

- figures 19a, 19b and 19c each show a cross-sectional view of different examples of embodiment of a device carried out according to the invention;

- figure 20 schematically shows a system for aeroponic and/or hydroponic cultures, which is also the subject of the present invention.

First of all, it should be noted that equivalent parts shown in the different embodiments of the invention are identified by the same reference numbers. References made to positions in the single embodiments can be transferred to the new position using common sense in the event of their positions changing. One embodiment of a device for aeroponic and hydroponic cultures forming the subject of the present invention is schematically shown in figures from 1 to 3, where it is indicated as a whole by the numeral 1. It comprises a box-shaped body 2, that is open at the top and that comprises a bottom 3, and side walls 4.

The body 2 extends mainly along a longitudinal axis 5 and is complete with supporting means 6 designed to provide support for an element E that supports the plants P being cultivated. According to the invention, the nutritional solution S is carried to the roots R of the plants P being cultivated in the device 1 by delivery means 8 installed preferably on at least one of the side walls 4 of the device 1. This advantageously ensures that the nutritional solution S always reaches the roots R, even when they have grown. During said growth, in fact, the roots R tend to extend towards the bottom 3 of the device 1, no longer touching the side walls 4, where the means 8 are advantageously installed, and thus do not obstruct said means 8.

Moreover, this method ensures that the nutritional solution S advantageously also reaches the upper portions of the roots R, enabling the solution S to descend by gravity along the entire length of the root R, substantially covering every part of it, and thus increasing the amount of solution S absorbed by the plant P. More in particular, in the preferred non-limiting embodiment shown in figures from 1 to 3, the delivery means 3 comprise two delivery ducts 9 extending along the full longitudinal length of the device and each complete with one or more nozzles 10 suitable for spraying and/or nebulizing the nutritional solution S and guiding it towards the centre of the box-shaped body 2, in the direction of the roots R of said plants P.

Each delivery duct 9 is removably attached to the side wall 4; more precisely, it engages in a longitudinal seat provided on each longitudinal side wall of the device 1, as shown in figure 3.

Each duct 9 can be attached to the corresponding side wall 4 using fixing means 6 that, in the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated herein, comprise the two above-mentioned seats extending longitudinally along the side walls 4 of the body 2, as shown in figure 3. In other embodiments, said piping is created in a single moulding, together with the whole channel and/or with the side walls. In other embodiments, these fixing means may clearly also consist of other systems, preferably of the snap action type.

The device 1 also comprises at least one inlet duct 11 for delivering the nutritional solution, in communication with each delivery duct 9. Again according to the invention, the device 1 also comprises means 12 for collecting any nutritional solution S that is not absorbed by the roots R and that consequently drops to the bottom 3 of the device 1.

In particular, said collection means 12 comprise at least one collection channel 13 provided in the vicinity of the bottom 3 of the main body 2 and communicating with the outside by means of a drainage duct 14 that enables the excess solution being collected to be discharged.

More precisely, in the preferred non-limiting embodiment shown, the collection channel 13 comprises a groove that extends longitudinally along the bottom of the main body 2. It should be noted, moreover, that the main body 2 has a substantially V-shaped cross-section in the preferred non-limiting embodiment illustrated herein. More in particular, in the embodiment shown herein, the side walls 4 slope towards the bottom 3 at an angle preferably coming between 90° and 120°. This advantageously facilitates the collection and subsequent discharge of the excess solution S that deposits on the bottom 3 of the main body 2.

Clearly, however, said main body 2 may have a cross-section or geometrical shape different from the one previously described, such as a U-shaped or a mixed-line, polygonal, semicircular or curved cross-section, as illustrated, for instance, in the embodiments shown in figures 19a, 19b and 19c. Again according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the body 2 is made of a material that is inert to the nutritional solution S and is preferably synthetic, such as a plastic, and it is manufactured using an extrusion procedure, as further explained below. As for the means 6 for supporting the element E that supports the plants P, which generally consists of a plastic film, these means comprise a rib 61 extending longitudinally to the device 1, and more precisely on the upper outer portion of the side walls of the body 2. The supporting element E can thus be attached to said rib 61. Alternatively, the rib 61 may be replaced by a longitudinal groove. Another embodiment of the device carried out according to the invention, indicated as a whole by the numeral 100 in figures from 4 to 12, differs from the embodiment previously described in that it comprises a main box-shaped body 2a open laterally at one end at least. The body 2a can be closed laterally by means of corresponding removable closing elements 15 and 16, as shown in figure 5. This advantageously also enables the manufacture of the body 2a by means of an extrusion procedure. Moreover, the preferred non-limiting embodiment shown in figures from 4 to 12 differs from the previous embodiment in that the delivery duct 9a, as shown particularly in figures 6 and 8, is integrated in the main box-shaped body 2a. This enables a further simplification of the manufacturing stages of the device 100, and of the main box-shaped body 2a in particular.

It should be noted, moreover, that in this embodiment of the present invention, the body 2a is preferably provided, at one end at least, with first connection means 17, suitable for coupling with second connection means 18 belonging to at least one closing element 15 and 16. More particularly, in the non-limiting embodiment shown in figures 4 and 5, the first connection means 17 are provided at both ends of the body 2a, and consist of the terminal portion of the ducts 9a and of the drainage duct 13.

In the preferred non-limiting embodiment shown herein, the second connection means 18, which belong to the two lateral closing elements 15, 16 - shown in detail in figures 9, 10 and 11, 12, respectively - comprise tubular elements 18a, 18b, suitable for snap connection to the above-mentioned ducts 9a and channel 13.

It should be noted, moreover, that at least one lateral closing element 16 also has at least one inlet duct 11 suitable for communicating with the ducts 9a of the delivery means 8 to enable the delivery of the nutritional solution S, and at least one drainage duct 14 suitable for communicating with the collection channel 13 to enable the drainage of the excess solution S that deposits on the bottom 3. It should also be noted that, in the embodiment shown, the tubular elements 18a and 18b advantageously place the inlet ducts 11 in communication with the delivery means 8 and the collection channel 13 in communication with the drainage duct 14.

This advantageously enables a simplification of the steps for making the device, consequently reducing the manufacturing costs and facilitating its installation. Of course, in other embodiments not illustrated herein, the connection means 17, 18 may comprise tabs or screws, or other equivalent means, and the connection between the ducts may, for instance, be obtained by means of suitable tubular elements.

It should be noted that the device 100 is also complete with supporting means 20 suitable for supporting it and keeping it raised above the ground. This advantageously enables the gravity drainage of any excess solution through the drainage ducts 14.

In the preferred non-limiting embodiment of the invention shown herein, these supporting means 20 comprise feet 21 integrally attached to the main box-shaped body 2a. More in particular, these feet 21 form part of the lateral closing elements 15, 16.

Another non-limiting embodiment of a device carried out according to the invention, indicated as a whole by the numeral 200 in figures from 13 to 18, differs from the previous embodiment in that it comprises a plurality of main bodies 2b, two in the example shown, that are connected together by means of an intermediate element 25 and closed at the ends by the closing elements 15 and 16.

Said intermediate element 25 is complete on both sides, as shown in particular in figures 17 and 18, with the aforesaid second connection means 18 that consist of tubular elements 18b suitable for coupling with the delivery ducts 9b and the drainage ducts 13 of each main body 2b, ensuring their hydraulic connection. This enables a device 200 of the desired length to be created by assembling several main bodies 2b of standard dimensions, thus achieving a modular system. It should be noted, moreover, that on the contact surfaces between two adjacent devices connected to one another, there may be one or more hydraulic sealing elements, consisting for instance of gaskets, to prevent the unabsorbed residual liquid and the solution carried by the delivery means from leaking from the respective ducts.

It is also clear that there may be hydraulic seals (not shown) at all the connection points between the various parts described, to prevent any leakage of liquid. It should be noted, moreover, that the device 200 has both ends closed by corresponding lateral elements 15 and 16, one of which has its inlet ducts 11 and drainage ducts 14 closed by corresponding plugs 30, as shown in figures 14 and 16. Figure 20 schematically shows a system for the aeroponic and/or hydroponic cultivation of plants, indicated as a whole by the numeral 500, that also forms the subject of the present invention, in which devices of the previously-described type are employed.

It is clear, however, that said cultivation system may also be used with devices of a different type, providing they are complete with inlet ducts 11 for delivering the nutritional solution S and drainage ducts 14 for discharging the excess solution deposited in each device 1, 100, 200.

More in particular, the system 500 comprises a device 200, means 501 for storing the various chemical products to be mixed to obtain a nutritional solution for the plants P being cultivated, comprising containers 501a, 501b, ..., 50 Ii placed in communication by means of ducts 502 with at least one tank 503 for storing the nutritional solution S.

The tank 503 is also in communication, by means of a duct 504 carrying the nutritional solution S, with the delivery means 8 provided on the device 200. The system also comprises a duct 505 for returning the nutritional solution S, hydraulically communicating with at least one drainage duct 14 for discharging the excess solution from the device 200.

The proposed system is advantageously of the closed-circuit and automated type, and it also comprises means 506 for collecting the nutritional solution from the tank 503 and carrying it to the delivery means of the device 200. Again according to the invention, the system 500 also comprises means 507 for collecting the excess solution S from inside the device 200 and carrying it back to the tank 503 containing the nutritional solution S.

This advantageously enables the creation of a closed-circuit system in which the nutritional solution is not dispersed, but retrieved for subsequent reuse. This arrangement also prevents the nutritional solution S being delivered, or in excess, from coming into contact with the ground, thus avoiding any soil pollution due to the chemical substances contained in the solution and/or to the pesticides that are used in the various cultivation stages, and that collect on the bottom of each device. Said means 506 and 507 also comprise at least one first hydraulic pump 508 for collecting the nutritional substance and sending it to the delivery means of the device 200, and at least one second pump 509 for sucking the excess nutritional substance discharged through the drainage duct 14 and carrying it to the tank 503. The system 500 also comprises means 510 for regulating the flow of substances from the containers 501a, 501b, ..., 50 Ii towards the tank 503. In the preferred embodiment of the invention described herein, said means comprise valves 511a, consisting of solenoid valves, and pumps 511b governed by a control unit 512. Said control unit 512 preferably comprises an electronic processor by means of which the operator can set the proportions of the chemical products to be delivered in order to prepare the required nutritional solution S. Obviously, the system 500 may also not necessarily include pumps for forcing the solution through the various delivery and/or discharge ducts. It should be noted that the control unit 512 controls the means 506 and 507 that, as mentioned previously, comprise the pumps 508, 509 and the corresponding solenoid valves.

In fact, it is clear that, by having the tanks and the containers of chemical compounds at different levels, it is also possible to exploit the force of gravity, advantageously simplifying the system. The tanks of the concentrated nutritional solutions of macro- and micro-elements preferably contain agitators that use either air or mechanical forces, designed to keep the contents in motion to avoid any precipitation of the ingredients. The agitators may operate either continuously or at intervals, and they may be governed by the control unit 512. The system 500 also advantageously enables the monitoring and any necessary adjustment and/or integration, and/or regeneration to be done in a fully automated manner on the nutritional solution S contained in the collection tank 503.

This is achieved using at least one transducer element, preferably placed inside the tank 503 and suitable for providing information on the composition of the nutritional solution S contained inside the tank 503, in co-operation with the control unit 512.

The control unit is designed to govern the various pumps and the opening/closing of the solenoid valves according to the parameters set by the user and to the data provided by the above-mentioned transducer. The operation of the device and of the system forming the subject of the invention is now described with reference to the system shown in figure 20. First of all, the user specifies on the control unit 512 what type of nutritional solution is suitable for the plants P being cultivated inside the device 200. For example, the required solution may be obtained by suitably mixing two concentrated nutritional solutions of macro-elements, one concentrated solution of micro-elements, a pH corrector acid solution and a pH corrector basic solution, all stocked in a corresponding number of tanks 501a, 501b, ..., 50 Ii. Then the operator can enable the system by starting the pumps and the corresponding solenoid valves that continuously collect the various substances in the pre-set proportions from the corresponding containers and convey them to the tank 503. The nutritional solution S is then drawn from the tank 503 by means of the pump 508 and conveyed to the inlet duct 11 on the device 200 through the duct 504.

The solution S passes through the inlet duct 11 and reaches the delivery ducts 9b and the nozzles 10, through which the solution is distributed over the roots of the plants P.

Any excess solution drops due to gravity and reaches the bottom 3 of the device 200 where, thanks also to the sloping side walls, it reaches the drainage duct 13. Here, thanks also to the drainage pump 509, it is drawn off and carried back to the tank 503 for subsequent reuse after any necessary filtering. It is clear from the above description that the proposed solution enables the achievement of the previously-stated objects and overcomes the previously-described drawbacks. Although the invention has been described with reference to the attached drawings, it may undergo modifications in subsequent stages of its implementation that shall all come within the scope of the invention expressed in the following claims and shall consequently be covered by the present patent. It is also worth noting that where the characteristics mentioned in the following claims are followed by reference signs, these are used merely to facilitate the readability of the claim itself and shall not be seen as limiting its interpretation in any way. It is emphasised, moreover, that all the components may be replaced by other, technically equivalent parts and that any materials may be used, provided that they are compatible with the intended usage, and the various elements may be of any size, according to need.

Claims

1) A device (1, 100, 200) for aeroponic and hydroponic cultures, comprising a box-shaped body (2, 2a, 2b), which is open towards the top and comprises a bottom (3) and side walls (4), characterised in that the nutritional solution (S) is carried to the roots (R) of the plants (P) cultivated in said device (1, 100, 200) by delivery means (8) provided on at least one of said side walls (4).

2) A device according to claim 1), characterised in that said delivery means (3) comprise at least one delivery duct (9) with one or more nozzles (10) suitable for spraying and/or nebulizing the nutritional solution in the direction of the roots (R) of said plants (P).

3) A device according to claim 2), characterised in that said at least one delivery duct (9) is contained in a longitudinal seat on each longitudinal side wall of said device (1).

4) A device according to claim 2), characterised in that said at least one delivery duct (9) is obtained in said box-shaped body (2, 2a, 2b).

5) A device according to claim 2), characterised in that said at least one delivery duct (9) is removably attached to said side wall (4).

6) A device according to claim 5), characterised in that said at least one delivery duct (9) is attached to the corresponding side wall (4) using fixing means (6).

7) A device according to claim 6), characterised in that said fixing means comprise two seats that extend longitudinally along the side walls (4) of said box-shaped body (2).

8) A device according to claim 6), characterised in that said fixing means preferably comprise systems with snap connection.

9) A device according to any of the previous claims, characterised in that said device (1, 100, 200) also comprises at least one inlet duct (11) for the delivery of the nutritional solution that is in communication with said delivery means (8). 10) A device according to any of the previous claims, characterised in that it also comprises means (12) for collecting the nutritional solution (S) not absorbed by the roots (R) that is deposited on said bottom (3).

H) A device according to claim 10), characterised in that said collection means

(12) comprise at least one collection channel (13) placed in the vicinity of said bottom (3) that communicates with the outside by means of a drainage duct (14) that enables the excess liquid collected therein to be discharged. 12) A device according to claim 11), characterised in that said collection channel (13) comprises at least one groove that extends longitudinally along said bottom. 13) A device according to any of the previous claims, characterised in that said main body (2) has a substantially V-shaped cross-section. 14) A device according to claim 13), characterised in that said side walls (4) slope with respect to said bottom (3) at an angle preferably included between

90° and 120°. 15) A device according to any of the claims from 1) to 13), characterised in that said main body (2) has a substantially U-shaped, or mixed-line, or polygonal, or semicircular, or curved cross-section. 16) A device according to any of the previous claims, characterised in that said box-shaped body (2) is obtained using an extrusion or injection procedure. 17) A device according to any of the previous claims, characterised in that it also comprises means (6) suitable for supporting an element (E) that provides support for the plants (P) being cultivated.

18) A device according to claim 17), characterised in that said supporting means comprise a longitudinal rib (61) preferably extending along the upper part of said box-shaped body (2, 2a, 2b).

19) A device according to any of the previous claims, characterised in that said box-shaped body (2a) is open laterally at one end at least, said body (2a) being designed to be closed laterally by means of corresponding removable closing elements (15, 16). 20) A device (200) according to any of the claims from 1) to 18), characterised in that it comprises at least two main box-shaped bodies (2b) preferably connected together by means of an intermediate element (25) and closed at the ends by means of at least one closing element (15).

21) A device (200) according to claim 20), characterised in that said intermediate element (25) is fitted on both sides with the above-mentioned second connection means (18) comprising tubular elements (18b) suitable for coupling with the delivery ducts (9b) and the drainage duct 13 of each main body (2b), to ensure their hydraulic connection.

22) A device according to claims 19) or 20) or 21), characterised in that said box-shaped body (2a) is fitted at one end at least with first connection means (17), suitable for coupling with second connection means (18) forming part of said at least one closing element (15, 16), or with another adjacent device (1, 100, 200).

23) A device according to claims 19) or 20) or 21), characterised in that said main body (2a) is fitted at both ends with first connection means (17) suitable for coupling with second connection means (18) forming part of at least one closing element (15, 16).

24) A device according to claims 22) or 23), characterised in that said connection means comprise a terminal part of the ducts (9a) and/or a terminal part of said at least one drainage channel (13).

25) A device according to claims 22) or 23) or 24), characterised in that said second connection means (18) comprise tubular elements (18a, 18b).

26) A device according to any of the claims from 19) to 25), characterised in that said at least one lateral closing element (16) also has at least one inlet duct (11) suitable for communicating with the duct (9a) of the delivery means (8) to enable the delivery of the nutritional solution (S), and at least one drainage duct (14) suitable for communicating with the collection channel (13) to enable the discharge of the excess solution (S) deposited on the bottom (3).

27) A device (1) according to claim 26), characterised in that said tubular elements (18a, 18b) place the inlet ducts (11) in communication with the delivery means (8).

28) A device according to any of the previous claims, characterised in that it includes supporting means (20), suitable for supporting it and keeping it raised above the ground. 29) A system (500) for the aeroponic and/or hydroponic cultivation of plants, comprising at least one device for aeroponic and hydroponic cultures complete with at least one inlet duct (11) for the delivery of a nutritional solution (S) to the plants (P) being cultivated, characterised in that it also comprises:

- means (501) for storing the various chemical products to be mixed to obtain said nutritional solution, comprising at least one container (501a,

501b, ..., 50Ii);

- at least one storage tank (503) for said nutritional solution (S) communicating by means of one or more ducts with said at least one container (501a, 501b, ..., 50Ii), and also by means of at least one duct (504) for delivering the nutritional solution (S) with the delivery means (8) with which said at least one device (1, 100, 200) is equipped.

30) A system according to claim 29), characterised in that it also comprises a duct (505) for the return of the nutritional solution (S) in hydraulic communication with the at least one drainage duct (14) for emptying the excess solution from inside said at least one device (1, 100, 200).

31) A system according to claims 29) or 30), characterised in that it also comprises means (506) for collecting the nutritional solution from the tank (503) and carrying it to said delivery means of said at least one device (200), said system being of the closed-circuit and automated type. 32) A system according to claim 31), characterised in that said means (506, 507) comprise at least one first hydraulic pump (508) for collecting the nutritional solution and sending it to the delivery means (8) of said at least one device (200).

33) A system according to claims 29) or 30) or 31) or 32), characterised in that it also comprises means (507) communicating with said return duct to collect the excess solution (S) from inside said at least one device (1, 100, 200) and carry it back to said storage tank (503).

34) A system according to claim 33), characterised in that said means (506, 507) comprise at least one second pump (509) for sucking the excess nutritional solution emptied through said drainage ducts (14) and carrying it back to said storage tank (503).

35) A system according to any of the claims from 29) to 34), characterised in that it also comprises means (510) for regulating the flow of substances from said at least one container (501a, 501b, ..., 50Ii) into said storage tank (503), said means comprising valves (511) governed by a control unit (512).

36) A system according to claim 35), characterised in that said control unit (512) preferably comprises an electronic processor by means of which the operator can set the proportions of chemical products to deliver in order to obtain said nutritional solution (S). 37) A system according to any of the claims from 29) to 36), characterised in that said tanks include agitating means to keep the solutions in motion and avoid any precipitation of their contents.

38) A system according to any of the claims from 29) to 37), characterised in that it also comprises suitable means for monitoring the composition of said solution (S) co-operating with a control unit (512) to adjust and/or integrate, and/or regenerate said nutritional solution (S) contained inside said storage tank (503).

39) A system according to claim 38), characterised in that said means comprise at least one transducer element for transmitting information concerning the composition of said nutritional solution (S).

40) A system according to any of the claims from 29) to 39), characterised in that said at least one device is made according to any of the claims from 1) to 28).