Extended use and optimization of struvite in hydroponic cultivation systems

Arcas-Pilz, Verónica; Parada, Felipe; Rufí-Salís, Martí; Stringari, Gaia; Gonzalez, R.; Villalba, Gara; Gabarrell, Xavier

doi:10.1016/j.resconrec.2021.106130

Cited by 23 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 58 publications

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“…The results of this study indicate that symbiotic development, more specifically urban symbiosis, through synergies with the host building and surrounding businesses, can lead to large environmental performance improvements. The results are consistent with the findings from several previous studies that also show that synergies with regional systems can improve the environmental performance of vertical farms by moving away from a linear approach, see, e.g., and Arcas-Pilz et al (2022). However, this greatly depends on the selected synergies.…”

Section: Urban Symbiosis and Local Marketsupporting

confidence: 91%

“…As the results of this study show, these systems can be multi-functional by providing energy savings for the building, offering locally produced food, utilizing and valorizing residual streams, and increasing awareness of food production in urban areas. Similar assertions have been highlighted in previous studies (Ferreira et al, 2018;Rufí-Salís et al, 2020;Arcas-Pilz et al, 2022). Such development should be encouraged in urban areas to promote urban agriculture, food systems and promote circular economy development in urban areas (Specht et al, 2014;Petit-Boix and Leipold, 2018;Arcas-Pilz et al, 2022).…”

Section: Implications For Urban Design and Sustainable Citiessupporting

confidence: 84%

“…Similar assertions have been highlighted in previous studies (Ferreira et al, 2018;Rufí-Salís et al, 2020;Arcas-Pilz et al, 2022). Such development should be encouraged in urban areas to promote urban agriculture, food systems and promote circular economy development in urban areas (Specht et al, 2014;Petit-Boix and Leipold, 2018;Arcas-Pilz et al, 2022).…”

Section: Implications For Urban Design and Sustainable Citiessupporting

confidence: 84%

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Estimating the Potential of Building Integration and Regional Synergies to Improve the Environmental Performance of Urban Vertical Farming

Martin¹,

Weidner²,

Gullström³

2022

Front. Sustain. Food Syst.

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Vertical farms have expanded rapidly in urban areas to support food system resilience. However, many of these systems source a substantial share of their material and energy requirements outside their urban environments. As urban areas produce significant shares of residual material and energy streams, there is considerable potential to explore the utilization of these streams for urban agriculture in addition to the possibility of employing underutilized urban spaces in residential and commercial buildings. This study aims to explore and assess the potential for developing more circular vertical farming systems which integrate with buildings and utilize residual material and energy streams. We focus on the symbiotic development of a hypothetical urban farm located in the basement of a residential building in Stockholm. Life cycle assessment is used to quantify the environmental performance of synergies related to energy integration and circular material use. Energy-related scenarios include the integration of the farm's waste heat with the host building's heating system and the utilization of solar PV. Circular material synergies include growing media and fertilizers based on residual materials from a local brewery and biogas plant. Finally, a local pick-up system is studied to reduce transportation. The results point to large benefits from integrating the urban farm with the building energy system, reducing the vertical farm's GHG emissions up to 40%. Synergies with the brewery also result in GHG emissions reductions of roughly 20%. No significant change in the environmental impacts was found from the use of solar energy, while the local pick-up system reduces environmental impacts from logistics, although this does not substantially lower the overall environmental impacts. However, there are some trade-offs where scenarios with added infrastructure can also increase material and water resource depletion. The results from the synergies reviewed suggest that proximity and host-building synergies can improve the material and energy efficiency of urban vertical farms. The results provide insights to residential building owners on the benefits of employing residual space for urban food provisioning and knowledge to expand the use of vertical farming and circular economy principles in an urban context.

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Section: Urban Symbiosis and Local Marketsupporting

confidence: 91%

Section: Implications For Urban Design and Sustainable Citiessupporting

confidence: 84%

Section: Implications For Urban Design and Sustainable Citiessupporting

confidence: 84%

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Estimating the Potential of Building Integration and Regional Synergies to Improve the Environmental Performance of Urban Vertical Farming

Martin¹,

Weidner²,

Gullström³

2022

Front. Sustain. Food Syst.

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“…A fuel cycle in which hydrogen is created through solar-electrolysis of water or gasification of renewable-grown biomass and then used in a fuel-cell powered electric-motor vehicle (FCEV) would produce minimal or no pollution on a local, regional, or global scale 19) . With the exception of marine eutrophication, the environmental performance of all lettuce treatments demonstrated a decrease in all effect categories, particularly freshwater eutrophication and mineral resource shortages 20) . It makes use of a fertiliser solution and typically regulated environmental conditions, making it more energy expensive but also more productive than traditional agriculture 21) .…”

Section: Research Backgroundmentioning

confidence: 95%

Development of Sustainable Hydroponics Technique for Urban Agrobusiness

Swaminathan¹,

Saurav²

2022

Evergreen

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In this work develop a system that uses a combination of advancements in fuel cell technology, solar power, and hydroponics. The developed system effectively distributed in the agricultural sector, resulting in a drastic increase in urban farming and the enhancement of traditional rural farming methodologies. Hydroponic farming is a technique by which the crops are grown without soil, it benefits the environmental by eliminating erosion and water consumption by the crops, it also reduces the labor-intensive work involved in traditional framing technique. The introduction of automation in this hydroponic system and improve the monitoring of the consistency of the yield. The implementation of fuel cell technology and solar panels aids in reducing the carbon footprint of the system. As good as it sounds in efficiency and protecting the environment, it is challenging to get the right and ambient conditions for the plants to grow. Water and nutrients must be provided in a required ratio while being constantly monitored with the help of an array of sensors calibrated and coded with Raspberry Pi. The automated system helps us to maintain optimal conditions for plant growth. The primary power supply is provided by a fuel cell or even magnesium salt water fuel cell. which uses an anion exchange membrane to generate electricity to power the automation equipment for the hydroponics system. The function of solar cell is used to facilitate the fuel cell to generate hydrogen which then circulated to the fuel cell. This potentially replaces the need for setting up of massive external power source for electrolysis.

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“…Hydroponic cultivation has been the focal point for urban soilless agriculture in the wake of land scarcity and a growing population (Łaźny et al, 2022 ), and continues to gain popularity due not only to avoidance of contaminated soils while taking active control of plant nutrition and health (Vinci & Rapa, 2019 ; Walters & Stoelzle Midden, 2018 ), but also to save water and to reduce weight load on building structures (Arcas‐Pilz et al, 2022 ). However, the adverse impacts resulting from hydroponic production on surrounding natural ecosystems cannot be overlooked, namely the production, extraction, application, and disposal of fertilizers employed to secure direct plant nutrient uptake (Rufí‐Salís et al, 2020 ; Sanjuan‐Delmás et al, 2018 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nutritional and microbiological effects of vermicompost tea in hydroponic cultivation of maple peas (Pisum sativum var. arvense L.)

Jiang

et al. 2023

Food Science & Nutrition

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Hydroponics receives considerable attentions due to population expansion, soil pollution, and farmland scarcity. However, one significant problem is that its residual effluents are detrimental to the surrounding ecosystem. There is a dire need to find an organic, alternative, biodegradable substrate. Vermicompost tea (VCT) was investigated on its suitability as a hydroponic substrate to provide both nutritional and microbiological benefits. It was found VCT increased the biomass of maple peas (Pisum sativum var. arvense L.), increased stem length, raised the potassium ion content, and promoted the uptake of nitrogen by the roots. Meanwhile, the microorganisms associated with earthworm guts were detected in the maple peas root system, namely the inter‐rhizosphere of maple peas, including Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonadaceae, and Flavobacteriaceae. The presence of these microorganisms in large number indicated the ability for VCT to retain earthworm intestinal microbes via intestinal tract movement, excreting, and other vital activities. In addition, Rhizobia spp., such as Burkholderiaceae and Rhizobiaceae were also identified in VCT. They are critical for legumes as they can form root or stem nodule symbioses to produce growth hormone, vitamins, nitrogen fixation, and protection against plant stress. These findings are consistent with our chemical analysis that VCT‐treated maple peas had increased nitrate and ammonium nitrogen content relative to the control in roots, stems, and leaves, hence increasing maple peas' biomass. The abundance and species of the inter‐root bacterial population were found to change during the experimental period, indicating the importance of microbial balance to the growth and nutrient uptake of maple peas.

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Extended use and optimization of struvite in hydroponic cultivation systems

Cited by 23 publications

References 58 publications

Estimating the Potential of Building Integration and Regional Synergies to Improve the Environmental Performance of Urban Vertical Farming

Estimating the Potential of Building Integration and Regional Synergies to Improve the Environmental Performance of Urban Vertical Farming

Development of Sustainable Hydroponics Technique for Urban Agrobusiness

Nutritional and microbiological effects of vermicompost tea in hydroponic cultivation of maple peas (Pisum sativum var. arvense L.)

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