Innovative Cultivation of Vegetables on Vertically Moving Beds Controlled by Double Seesaw Mechanics

Aiming at high yield and labor saving production of strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.), an innovative cultivation system was newly developed. By a three-dimensional use of the greenhouse space, a set of the system can support four bed lines vertically moving under operation of the double seesaw mechanics, where heights of the four bed lines can be changed in course of time by the sequence control. This innovative system can support four times planting density as high as the conventional culture system with the stationary bench. The daily integrated values of solar radiation on the respective moving bed lines were significantly depressed, but the two times yield of marketable strawberry was achieved. This suggests that by establishing the suitable logic for the optimum control of the vertical motion of the bed lines, this system can be expected to achieve the higher productivity with the help of the ever-bearing cultivation and the zone control of the bed line environment.