Improving water use efficiency in vertical farming: Effects of growing systems, far-red radiation and planting density on lettuce cultivation

Carotti, Laura; Pistillo, Alessandro; Zauli, Ilaria; Meneghello, Davide; Martin, Michael; Pennisi, Giuseppina; Gianquinto, Giorgio; Orsini, Francesco

doi:10.1016/j.agwat.2023.108365

Cited by 32 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 54 publications

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“…The change rule of crop water consumption has a certain relationship with soil environment [ 14 , 15 , 16 ], climatic conditions [ 17 , 18 ], cultivation system [ 19 , 20 ], etc. The water consumption of each stage of crop growth and development can directly represent the water consumption characteristics and water demand of crops and can reflect the sensitivity of crops to water in each growth period, which can be used to infer the critical period and peak period of crop water demand to promote the growth and development of crops to increase yield [ 21 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Irrigation and Fertilization Scheduling for Peanut Cultivation under Mulched Drip Irrigation in a Desert–Oasis Area

Dong,

Shen,

et al. 2024

Plants

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The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of water and nitrogen regulation on the characteristics of water and fertilizer demands and the yield, quality, and efficiencies of the water and nitrogen utilization of peanuts cultivated under mulched drip irrigation in a desert–oasis region. The experiment, conducted in Urumqi, Xinjiang, centered on elucidating the response mechanisms governing peanut growth, yield, quality, water consumption patterns, and fertilizer characteristics during the reproductive period under the influence of water and nitrogen regulation. In the field experiments, three irrigation levels were implemented, denoted as W1 (irrigation water quota of 22.5 mm), W2 (irrigation water quota of 30 mm), and W3 (irrigation water quota of 37.5 mm). Additionally, two nitrogen application levels, labeled N1 (nitrogen application rate of 77.5 kg·ha−1) and N2 (a nitrogen application rate of 110 kg·ha−1), were applied, resulting in seven treatments. A control treatment (CK), which involved no nitrogen application, was also included in the experimental design. The results indicate a direct correlation between the increment in the irrigation quota and increases in farmland water-related parameters, including water consumption, daily water consumption intensity, and water consumption percentage. The nitrogen harvest index (NHI) demonstrated a higher value in the absence of nitrogen application compared to the treatment with elevated nitrogen levels. The application of nitrogen resulted in an elevation in both nitrogen accumulation and nitrogen absorption efficiency within pods and plants. When subjected to identical nitrogen application conditions, irrigation proved to be advantageous in enhancing water-use efficiency (WUE), nitrogen partial factor productivity (NPFP), and the yield of peanut pods. The contribution rate of water to pod yield and WUE exceeded that of nitrogen, while the contribution rate of nitrogen to nitrogen-use efficiency (NUE) was higher. The total water consumption for achieving a high yield and enhanced water- and nitrogen-use efficiencies in peanuts cultivated under drip irrigation with film mulching was approximately 402.57 mm. Taking into account yield, quality, and water- and nitrogen-used efficiencies, the use of an irrigation quota of 37.5 mm, an irrigation cycle of 10–15 days, and a nitrogen application rate of 110 kg·ha−1 can be regarded as an appropriate water and nitrogen management approach for peanut cultivation under mulched drip irrigation in Xinjiang.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Irrigation and Fertilization Scheduling for Peanut Cultivation under Mulched Drip Irrigation in a Desert–Oasis Area

Dong,

Shen,

et al. 2024

Plants

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“…Light is also lost after seedlings are transplanted to pots or substrate blocks. Providing far-red light (700–750 nm) can accelerate early leaf expansion, canopy closure, and subsequent light interception ( Jin et al., 2021 ; Carotti et al., 2023 ) until dynamic spacing is adequate to control ground coverage.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dynamic plant spacing in tomato results in high yields while mitigating the reduction in fruit quality associated with high planting densities

Karpe,

Marcelis,

Heuvelink

2024

Front. Plant Sci.

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High planting densities achieve high light interception and harvestable yield per area but at the expense of product quality. This study aimed to maintain high light interception without negative impacts on fruit quality. Dwarf tomato was grown at four densities in a climate-controlled room—at two constant densities (high and low) and two dynamic spacing treatments (maintaining 90% and 75% ground coverage by decreasing planting density in 3–4 steps)—resulting in ~100, 19, 54, and 41 plants/m2 averaged over 100 days of cultivation, respectively. Constant high density resulted in the highest light use efficiency (LUE; 7.7 g fruit fresh weight per mol photons incident on the canopy) and the highest harvestable fruit yield (11.1 kg/m2) but the lowest fruit size and quality. Constant low density resulted in the lowest LUE and yield (2.3 g/mol and 3.2 kg/m2, respectively), but higher fruit size and quality than high density. Compared to low density, maintaining 90% ground coverage increased yield (9.1 kg/m2) and LUE (6.4 g/mol). Maintaining 75% ground coverage resulted in a 7.2 kg/m2 yield and 5.1 g/mol LUE. Both dynamic spacing treatments attained the same or slightly reduced fruit quality compared to low density. Total plant weight per m2 increased with planting density and saturated at a constant high density. Assimilate shortage at the plant level and flower abortion lowered harvestable fruit yield per plant, sweetness, and acidity under constant high density. Harvestable fruit yield per plant was the highest under dynamic spacing and low density. Under constant high density, morphological responses to lower light availability per plant—i.e., higher specific leaf area, internode elongation, and increased slenderness—coincided with the improved whole-plant LUE (g plant dry weight per mol photons). We conclude that a constant high planting density results in the highest harvestable fruit yield per area, but with reduced fruit quality. Dynamic spacing during cultivation produces the same fruit quality as constant low density, but with more than double the harvestable yield per area.

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“…An integrated approach, therefore, is imperative for increasing food security. For instance, using aeroponic farming systems for vegetable production could be the most promising water-efficient approach to urban agriculture [26,91]. The adoption of innovative technologies has the potential to decrease water consumption while simultaneously preserving or even enhancing crop yields [92].…”

Section: Deficit Irrigation Effects On Productivity and Nutritional Q...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Both water and nutrients, which have not been absorbed by plants, will be recycled after adjusting the EC and pH to the optimal levels. Thus, water use efficiency could be maximized [53,91].…”

Section: Deficit Irrigation Effects On Productivity and Nutritional Q...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Enhancing Productivity and Improving Nutritional Quality of Subtropical and Temperate Leafy Vegetables in Tropical Greenhouses and Indoor Farming Systems

2024

Horticulturae

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The total land used for land-based food farms is less than 1% in Singapore. As a result, more than 90% of Singapore’s food needs are imported. To strengthen food security, Singapore has set a target to develop the capability and capacity of the agri-food industry to locally produce 30% of its nutritional needs by 2030. To achieve this goal, technology is the key to helping farms to “grow more with less”. This review first discusses how aeroponic systems have been adapted for growing all kinds of leafy vegetables in the tropics through the manipulation of root-zone temperature and heat priming to save power energy. Growing vegetable crops indoors and in greenhouses not only allows the growers to achieve high productivity but also enables them to enhance nutritional values. The second part of this paper emphasizes how to achieve substantial yield through deficit irrigation with higher nutritional quality in a cost-effective manner. Growing crops vertically has become increasingly popular, as it increases land use. We establish a commercially viable LED-integrated aeroponic system to grow vegetables vertically. The last part of the paper discusses the impacts of LED spectral quality, quantity, and duration on vegetable production.

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Improving water use efficiency in vertical farming: Effects of growing systems, far-red radiation and planting density on lettuce cultivation

Cited by 32 publications

References 54 publications

Irrigation and Fertilization Scheduling for Peanut Cultivation under Mulched Drip Irrigation in a Desert–Oasis Area

Irrigation and Fertilization Scheduling for Peanut Cultivation under Mulched Drip Irrigation in a Desert–Oasis Area

Dynamic plant spacing in tomato results in high yields while mitigating the reduction in fruit quality associated with high planting densities

Enhancing Productivity and Improving Nutritional Quality of Subtropical and Temperate Leafy Vegetables in Tropical Greenhouses and Indoor Farming Systems

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