PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method and apparatus which can stably sterilize a hydroponic culture medium without releasing ozone having a risk which causes growth impairment of a plant, such as chlorosis (whitening), with high concentration into the air.SOLUTION: In a hydroponic culture medium 3, a culture medium is sterilized without substantially producing ozone by generating discharge in air bubble by a water dielectric barrier discharge using the gas which contains rare gas, such as at least helium or argon, as the gas for an electric discharge.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1COPYRIGHT: (C)2016,JPO&INPIT【課題】クロロシス(白化)等といった植物の成長障害を引き起こす虞があるオゾンを大気中に高濃度に放出させることなく、水耕栽培用の培養液を安定して殺菌することのできる方法及び装置を提供する。【解決手段】水耕栽培用の培養液3中にて、少なくともヘリウム又はアルゴンなどの希ガスを含むガスを放電用ガスとし、水中誘電体バリア放電により気泡内放電を生じさせることで、オゾンを実質的に発生させることなく、培養液を殺菌する。【選択図】図1
