Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Aeroponics'

Today in farming of vegetables large amounts of water and pesticide are used, the farming is also weather and climate dependent and in Sweden the farming season is short. So, there is a need to make farming more efficient and determine how to make farming more stable and independent from unpredictable events. The goal of this project is to develop a prototype which make it possible to improve the resource usage and at the same time automate the process to increase the predictability. This project is going to use aeroponics which is way of growing in the air without soil and a single board computer is going to be used.

Thesis (MScAgric)--Stellenbosch University, 2014.<br>ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The potato can be considered as one of the most important food crops in many African countries. The potential of this crop is reflected in the large increase in area of production where Africa showed the highest rate of growth within the developing world over the past twenty years. The multiplication rate of potatoes is very low compared to other crops. Therefore it is essential to investigate methods of increasing the number of minitubers produced from disease free in-vitro plantlets. There is a number of potato propagation procedures that are currently being used worldwide to multiply seed potatoes. As aeroponics is still a relatively new technique that has not been researched extensively for the production of minitubers, a study relating to the production practises including the nutritional requirements of potato minitubers produced in a aeroponic system were undertaken. Potato plantlets, cv BP1, were grown aeroponically at two different densities (20 and 30 plants/m2) and four harvest intervals (7, 10, 14 and 18 days). The interaction between harvesting intervals and plant densities did not influence plant growth, minituber quality or yield. Best results were realised when harvesting every 7 days with a higher total tuber number over the growing period. Harvest interval also influenced the phosphorus and copper concentration in minitubers. To study the effect of Calcium (Ca) application rate, potato plantlets of cultivars Up-to-date, Mnandi, Buffelspoort and BP1 were grown at four different Ca levels (8.40, 6.75, 5.10 and 3.45 meq/L). The interaction between Ca application levels and cultivars significantly influenced the percentage stolon branching. BP1 had more stolons at the lowest Ca application level and Buffelspoort had more stolons at the full Ca application levels. However, low Ca treatments produced the highest yield. The minituber number and weight harvested were three times more for Mnandi. An aeroponic study on the irrigation frequency (20, 30, 40 and 50 minutes interval) was conducted on four potato cultivars (Up-to-date, Mnandi, Buffelsoort and BP1). Significant differences were noted in the interaction between irrigation frequencies and cultivars for the percentage tuberised plants and stolon and tuber dry mass. When irrigated every 40 minutes, 48% of the Buffelspoort plants produced tubers. Plant height was also significantly affected by the interaction between irrigation frequencies and potato cultivars, with Mnandi producing taller plants when irrigated every 30 minutes. Total tuber number and tuber fresh and dry weight was higher at the irrigation frequency of 20 minutes. The interaction between irrigation frequencies and cultivars on the response to macro and trace elements was not significant for sodium and iron but was for phosphorus, potassium, calcium, zinc and aluminium. A field study was conducted in a greenhouse where potato seed of BP1 obtained from the first trial were graded into different sizes (Small: >20, medium: 20–40 and large: > 40 mm of diameter) and stored at 3 different temperatures (3, 16 and 25oC) for 2 supplementary months before being planted. Sprouting capacity was mostly influenced by temperature regardless of other factors applied to potato seed minitubers such as harvest intervals and sizes. The higher storage temperature of 25oC resulted in tubers with a higher number of sprouts, longer sprouts and with a higher sprouting capacity.<br>AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Aartappels is een van die belangrikste voedselgewasse in baie lande in Afrika. Die potensiaal van die gewas word gereflekteer in die groot toename in produksie areas, met Afrika wat die vinnigste van al die ontwikkelende lande gegroei het die laaste 20. In vergelyking met ander gewasse is die tempo van planvermeerdering by aartappels baie stadig. Dit is dus essensieel om metodes te ondersoek wat sal help om die aantal miniknolle wat per in vitro plantjie verkry kan word te verhoog. Daar is heelparty plant vermeerderings prosedures wat tans wêreldwyd gebruik word om saad aartappels te vermeerder. Aangesien aeroponika nog steeds ʼn relatiewe nuwe tegniek is wat nog nie ekstensief ondersoek is vir die verbouing van miniknolle nie, is ‘n studie geloods om te kyk na die produksie praktyke, wat insluit die voedingsbehoeftes van aartappel miniknolle in ʼn aeroponika sisteem. Aartappel plantjies, kultivar, BP1, is aeroponies verbou by twee plant digthede (20 en 30 plante/m2) en vier oesintervalle (7, 10, 14 en 18 dae). Die interaksie tussen oesintervalle en plantdigtheid het geen effek gehad op plant groei, miniknol kwaliteit of opbrengs nie. Die beste resultate is verkry waar die knolle elke 7 dae geoes is met ‘n hoër totale aantal knolle oor die groeiseisoen. Die oesinterval het ook ‘n effek gehad op die fosfaat en koper konsentrasie van die miniknolle. Om die effek van die Kalsium (Ca) toedieningspeil te ondersoek is aartappel plantjies; kultivars Up-to-date, Mnandi, Buffelspoort en BP1 gekweek by vier verskillende Ca peile (8.40, 6.75, 5.10 en 3.45 meq/L). Die interaksie tussen Ca toedienings peile en kultivars het ‘n beduidende effek gehad op die persentasie stolon vertakking. BP1 het meer stolons gehad by die laagste Ca toedieningspeil en Buffelspoort het meer stolons gehad by die volle Ca toedieningspeil. Die hoogste opbrengste is egter waargeneem by die laagste Ca toedieningspeil. Die aantal miniknolle en oes massa was drie keer meer vir Mnandi. ‘n Aeroponiese studie op die besproeiingsfrekwensie (20, 30, 40 en 50 minuut intervalle) is gedoen met vier aartappel kultivars (Up-to-date, Mnandi, Buffelsoort en BP1). Beduidende verskille is opgemerk in die interaksie tussen besproeiings frekwensie en kultivars vir die persentasie plante met knolle en stolon en knol droë massa. Met besproeiings elke 40 minute het 48% van die Buffelspoort plante knolle produseer. Plant hoogte is ook beduidend beïnvloed deur die interaksie tussen besproeiingsfrekwensie en aartappel kultivar met Mnandi plante wat hoër was wanneer dit elke 30 minute besproei is. Die totale aantal knolle en knol vars- en droë massa was hoër wanneer daar elke 20 minute besproei is. Die interaksie tussen besproeiings frekwensie en kultivars op die makro- en mikro element inhoud van die knolle was nie beduidend vir natrium en yster nie, maar wel vir fosfaat, kalium, kalsium, sink en aluminium. ‘n Potproef is gedoen in ‘n kweekhuis waar aartappel saad van BP1 verkry vanaf die eerste proef nadat knolle verdeel is in verskillende grootte klasse (klein: < 20mm, medium: 20-40mm en groot: >40mm) en gestoor is by drie verskillende temperature (3, 16 en 25oC) vir 2 addisionele maande voor plant. Spruit ontwikkelings kapasiteit was meestal beïnvloed deur temperatuur ten spyte van ander behandelings soos oes intervalle en knol grootte. Die hoër bergings temperatuur 25oC het aanleiding gegee tot knolle met ‘n hoër aantal spruite, langer spruite en ‘n hoër spruit ontwikkelings kapasiteit.

This thesis deals with the history of a method of plants cultivation without original substrate. The method is hydroponics and its subsequent development is called aeroponics. This work outlines the design of the whole aeroponic system including a control unit. The control unit has been designed to control the injection of nutrient solution, which is essential to the life of plants.Further, the control unit performs the control of lighting period, temperature, air flow and also regulation of nutrient solution pH. The control unit also keeps records of all data necessary for the monitoring process and for the evaluation of time differencies in the system.

Climate change and rapid urbanization have caused several vulnerabilities for the global food system, and alternative farming methods are required to solve this ongoing crisis. Zero acreage farming can be a sustainable farming a to geoponics, as it is developing worldwide, and in Stockholm, this provides an opportunity to produce food year-round. In addition to that, it makes the food system more resilient and increases food security. The thesis aimed to explore the possibilities of zero-acreage farming on household rooftops in Stockholm and achieve the demand for tomatoes with an aeroponics growing system. With the help of GIS software, 4269 flat and slant roofs with a total available area of 3815121 m2 are found to implement a greenhouse. The GIS study shows that the south sector had the better potential for more extensive operations considering buildings, more population, and broader roads where transportation will be made more accessible. The central sector had the least potential for zero acreage farming because those regions have heritage values and narrow streets, making the transportation and supply chain difficult. The result of the aeroponics growing system reveals that the Stockholm tomato demand can be achieved in a 12780 m2 area with 95% water saving and 90% less global warming potential (GWP)compared to geoponics or conventional farming. Further on, this thesis suggests aeroponics as a sustainable alternative way of growing crops to minimize the impact on the environment caused by geoponics over the centuries.

MOTIVATION: The value of family mealtime has been well documented by decades of academic research. Children from families, (regardless of race, class or income), that routinely sit down to a meal together, suffer less depression, obesity and substance abuse. They also stay healthier and do better in school (Benefits 2018). There are nutrition, health, social, and mental benefits to eating with others. Research has shown that people eat more fruits and vegetables and other nutrient-rich foods when they share a meal with others. They also drink less soda and eat less fried foods (Benefits 2018). Eating meals together teaches children better communication skills and the opportunity to learn more words (Benefits 2018). PROBLEM: In environments that have limited fresh fruits and vegetables, yet numerous sweet and salty snack food, food insufficiency, and infrequent family meals have been found to be associated with poor dietary intake and/or obesity. (Mason 2014). People and families may make decisions based on their environment or community. For example, a person may choose not to walk or bike to the store or to work because of a lack of sidewalks or safe bike trails. Community, home, child care, school, health care, and workplace settings can all influence people’s daily behaviors. Therefore, it is important to create environments in these locations that make it easier to engage in physical activity and eat a healthy diet (Adult 2018). If we know that eating nutritious meals together at home equals can reduce stress, obesity, and depression, and lead to a happier life, why do people still make other choices? Lack of food education? Resources? Time? METHODS: Direct observational and objective data was collected through a survey to better understand the choices that people make. Research through articles, books, and documentaries will support my findings on the benefits of community kitchens and gardens. Precedents include Shalom Farms, Feed More, and other community kitchens in the country RESULTS: Despite intense nationwide efforts to improve healthy eating, progress has plateaued, and health biases remain (Berge 2017). Community kitchens have been associated with enhanced food skills, improved community food security, and improved social interactions (Iacovou 2013). Studies of community kitchen-based nutrition and cooking instruction program for parents and children suggests increased enjoyment of cooking and decreased consumption of meals away from home (Iacovou 2013). REFLECTIONS & CONCLUSIONS: How might a community cooking school, garden, and table where members share knowledge, resources, and labor to prepare, cook, and consume food improve the member’s health? A kitchen-based nutrition and cooking instruction program for parents and children would bring food freedom, or the right to food, implying that sufficient food is available, that people have the means to access it, and that it adequately meets the individual’s dietary needs and an environment to learn basic cooking techniques and food gardening. This community cooking school and garden will highlight healthful eating, incorporating young children into growing their own produce, cooking, and emphasizing the emotional and social benefits of family meal time. In this space, a variety of programs for all experience and income levels would be available year round. Every class would end with a meal around the table, because eating together is as important as what’s on the plate.

In a world with an ever growing population, the ability to grow food eciently is essential. One way to improve the eciency is by automation. The purpose of this project is therefore to investigate how the identification of a plant’s stage in its growth cycle that can be made autonomous. This was done with the method of measuring the amount of green pixels in an image of the plant. To be able to answer our research questions a demonstrator was built. The demonstrator is a greenhouse with a non regulated aeroponic system, a regulation system for humidity and an identification system for determining the plant growth stage. The plant chosen to test the identification system was basil. The identification system successfully identified the stage of plants well into the adult stage, in the seed stage and in the middle of the sprout stage. It was however not always successful in the identification of plants transitioning from the sprout stage into the adult stage.<br>I en värld med en ständigt växande befolkning är förmågan att odla mat effektivt nödvändig. En metod för att öka denna effektivitet är genom automatisering. Syftet för detta projekt är därför att undersöka hur identifieringen av en plantans stadie i dess växtcykel kan automatiseras. Detta gjordes genom att mäta antalet gröna pixlar i en bild av plantan. För att kunna svara våra forskningsfrågor byggdes en testmiljö. Testmiljön bestod av ett växthus med ett oreglerat aeroponiskt system, ett regulationssystem för luftfuktighet och ett identifikationsssystem för att avgöra en plantas stadie i dess växtcykel. Plantan som valdes för att testa identifikationssystemet var basilika. Identifikationssystemet som togs fram kunde med framgång identifiera stadiet av en planta som är långt in i dess vuxna stadie, i förstadiet eller i mitten av dess groddstadie. Plantor som precis övergått från grodd till vuxet stadie blev däremot inte alltid identifierade korrekt.

Orientador: Sylvio Luis Honorio<br>Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia Agricola<br>Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-08T08:41:42Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Portugal_EdilbertoPrinci_D.pdf: 3108115 bytes, checksum: 834974ae808b2dc8cae3ca812f9976ba (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006<br>Resumo: A Stevia rebaudiana, um arbusto que tem na produção de esteviosídeos seu principal produto de interesse, foi objeto deste trabalho. Considerando sua cadeia produtiva, existem lacunas que necessitam pesquisas, tanto no aspecto agronômico, como o emprego de espécies fúngicas micorrízicas, quanto procedimentos pós-colheita, dos quais a secagem é um dos fatores. O presente trabalho teve como objetivos, identificar uma espécie de fungo micorrízico arbuscular eficiente e sua relação com o desenvolvimento e concentração de esteviosídeos em plantas de estévia, cultivadas em campo, hidroponia e aeroponia, selecionar substrato adequado para o desenvolvimento da colonização micorrízica, avaliar sistemas de secagem no teor de esteviosídeos e determinar as isotermas de sorção da estévia. Para seleção de fungo micorrízico foram testadas sete espécies, sendo cinco de um banco de culturas e duas isoladas da própria cultura da estévia. O ensaio foi conduzido em casa de vegetação em vasos com solo esterilizado e cinco repetições. Foram determinados a massa seca total da parte aérea e de folhas, teor e quantidade acumulada de esteviosídeos nas folhas e colonização micorrízica. Para seleção de substratos, foram testados nove produtos comerciais, utilizando-se como planta indicadora uma gramínea (Brachiaria humidicola) e como parâmetro avaliado a taxa de colonização fúngica no sistema radicular. Plantas de estévia inoculadas ou não com o fungo micorrízico Glomus intraradices foram cultivadas em três sistemas distintos, campo, aeroponia e hidroponia. Foram realizadas três colheitas em épocas distintas e determinada a massa da matéria seca total da parte aérea e de folhas, teor e acúmulo de esteviosídeos nas folhas e colonização micorrízica. Foram testados três processos de secagem, ao sol, secador a gás e estufa elétrica com circulação forçada de ar, à temperatura de 45oC. Os processos foram avaliados em função do teor de esteviosídeos nas folhas. A determinação da umidade de equilíbrio nas folhas de estévia foi realizada nas temperaturas de 30 e 45oC e, as isotermas de sorção foram tratadas com os modelos matemáticos de BET, BET linear, Peleg, GAB, Halsey, Langmuir, Oswin, Henderson e Chung e Pfost. A espécie Glomus intraradices foi a mais eficiente para o desenvolvimento da estévia e acumulação de esteviosídeos. O substrato Rendmax Citrus sem adubação propiciou as melhores condições para a colonização micorrízica nas raízes da gramínea. Dentre os sistemas de cultivo estudados a hidroponia mostrou-se o menos eficiente para o cultivo de estévia. Em aeroponia obteve-se maior produtividade em termos de matéria seca da parte aérea, enquanto no campo maior quantidade acumulada de esteviosídeos. Não se observou diferença entre a secagem na estufa e no secador para qualquer das épocas de colheita. O teor de esteviosídeos nas folhas de plantas secadas ao sol foi sempre inferior, com perda de até 20% em relação aos outros dois sistemas. Os modelos que apresentaram melhor ajuste, nas temperaturas de 30 e 45oC, foram GAB e HALSEY. O modelo BET LINEAR também mostrou bom ajuste, mas somente para a temperatura de 45oC<br>Abstract: Stevia rebaudiana, a shrub mostly interesting for its production of steviosides, was the object of this work. In regard to its productive chain, further researches must be done, not only in agronomical aspects, but also in the utilization of mycorrhizal fungal species, as well as in the post-harvest processes, namely the drying one. The present work aimed at the identification of an efficient arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal species and its influence in the development and concentration of steviosides in stevia plants grown in hydroponic and aeroponic systems; to select an adequate substrate for the development of mycorrhizal fungi; to evaluate drying systems in steviosides rates and to determine stevia?s isotherms of sorption. For the mycorrhizal fungi selection seven species were tested, five from a germplasm bank and two were isolated from their own stevia culture. Five assays in pots with sterilized soil were carried out in a greenhouse. The total dry mass of the aerial parts and of the leaves, the rate and accumulated quantity of steviosides in the leaves as well as the mycorrhizal colonization were determined. Nine commercial substrates were tested for the rate of colonization of the root system of an indicating gramineous plant (Brachiaria humidicola). Stevia plants that were inoculated (or not) with the mycorrhizal fungus Glomus intraradices were cultivated in three different growing systems, field, aeroponic and hydroponic. Three harvests were carried out in different periods and the total dry mass of the branch and leaves sections, contents and accumulated steviosides in the leaves and mycorrhizal colonization were determined. Three processes for drying leaves were tested: by sunlight, gas dryer and electrical stove with forced air circulation, at 45oC. The processes were evaluated in relation to the steviosides rate of the leaves. The equilibrium moisture content for stevia leaves was done at 30oC and 45oC, while the isotherms of sorption were tested for the best fit by mathematical models of BET, BET linear, Peleg, Gab, Halsey, Langmuir, Oswin, Henderson and Chung and Pfost. The Glomus intraradices species was the most efficient for the stevia development and accumulation of steviosides. The Rendmax Citrus substrate without manure rendered the best conditions for the mycorrhizal colonization in the gramineous roots. Among the growing systems studied, hydroponics turned out to be the least efficient for stevia cultivation. Aeroponics brought the highest production in terms of dry mass from the aerial parts, while in the field a larger accumulated quantity of steviosides was obtained. No difference was observed between the stove and gas drying processes at any of the harvesting periods. The steviosides rate from the leaves dried by sunlight was always inferior, coming to a loss of 20% in relation to the others. The best fit models were GAB and HALSEY. The BET LINEAR fitted by 45ºC<br>Doutorado<br>Tecnologia Pós-Colheita<br>Doutor em Engenharia Agrícola

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:33:38Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2007-02-16Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T18:45:39Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 factor_tl_dr_jabo.pdf: 1184559 bytes, checksum: 1d1f31e77720e9609bfe091b4de87222 (MD5)<br>Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)<br>Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)<br>Este trabalho teve por objetivo descrever sistemas hidropônicos de cultivo que utilizam as técnicas DFT Deep Flow Technique e aeroponia, bem como avaliar o comportamento produtivo e a viabilidade econômica da produção de minitubérculos de batatasemente, cultivares Agata e Monalisa, em comparação ao sistema de Calha Articulada (NFT). O experimento foi realizado em ambiente protegido, no período de maio a setembro de 2005, na Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) FCAV, Jaboticabal, SP, no Setor de Plasticultura, com latitude de 21º15 15, longitude de 48º18 09 e altitude média de 595 m. Adotouse o delineamento experimental de blocos casualizados com parcelas subdivididas, sendo os três sistemas hidropônicos de cultivo os tratamentos principais e as duas cultivares de batata os tratamentos secundários. Os sistemas hidropônicos descritos na presente pesquisa são tecnicamente viáveis, haja vista que as produtividades nos sistemas DFT e Aeroponia foram, respectivamente, semelhante e superior as obtidas no sistema NFT (calha articulada), tradicionalmente utilizado no Brasil. Dentre os sistemas, o aeropônico apresentou maior taxa de multiplicação de minitubérculos e melhor retorno financeiro do investimento. Com a cultivar Monalisa obtevese maior taxa de multiplicação de minitubérculos quando comparado a Agata. O sistema NFT é considerado mais viável a partir de R$ 0,40 o minitubérculo para um ciclo de produção ano 1 ou R$ 0,30 cultivandose por dois ciclos de produção ano 1 . Os sistemas DFT e aeropônico são viáveis economicamente em todas as condições analisadas, inclusive na menos favorável, R$ 0,20 o minitubérculo e um ciclo de produção ano 1.<br>The objective of this work was to the describe hydroponics systems that use DFT Deep Flow Technique and aeroponic technique, as well to evaluate the productive behavior and the economic viability of the basic seed potato minitubers in these systems, compared to the articulated PVC Gutter (NFT) system, using the Agata and Monalisa cultivars. The experiment was realized in a protected ambient from May to September of 2005, at Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) FCAV, in Jaboticabal, SP, in the Plasticulture Sector (latitude 21 º15 15, longitude 48 º18 09 and mean altitude 595 m), following the experimental design randomized blocks in a split plot scheme. The DFT and aeroponic systems, described in this research, are technically feasible and both have shown that the productivity in these systems was similar and superior to the ones reached in the NFT system (articulated gutter), traditionally used in Brazil. Among the systems, the aeroponic presented greater rate of tubers multiplication and better financial return of the investment. It was obtained a bigger multiplication rate of minitubers with Monalisa cultivar when compared with the Agata. The NFT system is considered more feasible from R$ 0,40 the minituber for one production cycle per year or R$ 0,30 cultivating for two production cycles per year. The DFT and aeroponic systems are economically feasible in all analyzed conditions, even in the less favorable one, R$ 0,20 the minituber and one production cycle per year.

Orientador: Jairo Augusto Campos de Araújo<br>Banca: Joaquim Gonçalves de Pádua<br>Banca: Simone da Costa Mello.<br>Banca: Glauco Eduardo Pereira Cortez<br>Banca: Maria Inez Espagnoli Geraldo Martins<br>Resumo: Este trabalho teve por objetivo descrever sistemas hidropônicos de cultivo que utilizam as técnicas DFT Deep Flow Technique e aeroponia, bem como avaliar o comportamento produtivo e a viabilidade econômica da produção de minitubérculos de batatasemente, cultivares Agata e Monalisa, em comparação ao sistema de Calha Articulada (NFT). O experimento foi realizado em ambiente protegido, no período de maio a setembro de 2005, na Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) FCAV, Jaboticabal, SP, no Setor de Plasticultura, com latitude de 21º15’15, longitude de 48º18’09 e altitude média de 595 m. Adotouse o delineamento experimental de blocos casualizados com parcelas subdivididas, sendo os três sistemas hidropônicos de cultivo os tratamentos principais e as duas cultivares de batata os tratamentos secundários. Os sistemas hidropônicos descritos na presente pesquisa são tecnicamente viáveis, haja vista que as produtividades nos sistemas DFT e Aeroponia foram, respectivamente, semelhante e superior as obtidas no sistema NFT (calha articulada), tradicionalmente utilizado no Brasil. Dentre os sistemas, o aeropônico apresentou maior taxa de multiplicação de minitubérculos e melhor retorno financeiro do investimento. Com a cultivar Monalisa obtevese maior taxa de multiplicação de minitubérculos quando comparado a Agata. O sistema NFT é considerado mais viável a partir de R$ 0,40 o minitubérculo para um ciclo de produção ano 1 ou R$ 0,30 cultivandose por dois ciclos de produção ano 1 . Os sistemas DFT e aeropônico são viáveis economicamente em todas as condições analisadas, inclusive na menos favorável, R$ 0,20 o minitubérculo e um ciclo de produção ano 1.<br>Abstract: The objective of this work was to the describe hydroponics systems that use DFT "Deep Flow Technique" and aeroponic technique, as well to evaluate the productive behavior and the economic viability of the basic seed potato minitubers in these systems, compared to the articulated PVC Gutter (NFT) system, using the ‘Agata’ and ‘Monalisa’ cultivars. The experiment was realized in a protected ambient from May to September of 2005, at Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) FCAV, in Jaboticabal, SP, in the Plasticulture Sector (latitude 21 º15’15, longitude 48 º18’09 and mean altitude 595 m), following the experimental design randomized blocks in a split plot scheme. The DFT and aeroponic systems, described in this research, are technically feasible and both have shown that the productivity in these systems was similar and superior to the ones reached in the NFT system (articulated gutter), traditionally used in Brazil. Among the systems, the aeroponic presented greater rate of tubers multiplication and better financial return of the investment. It was obtained a bigger multiplication rate of minitubers with Monalisa cultivar when compared with the Agata. The NFT system is considered more feasible from R$ 0,40 the minituber for one production cycle per year or R$ 0,30 cultivating for two production cycles per year. The DFT and aeroponic systems are economically feasible in all analyzed conditions, even in the less favorable one, R$ 0,20 the minituber and one production cycle per year.<br>Doutor

The present study was firstly aimed at producing the AM fungal inocula by using soil-based and soil-less culture techniques, including the in-vitro axenic technique, and secondly to assess the infectivity and effectiveness of the inocula so produced in glasshouse and field conditions. Indigenous AM fungi from 5 different sites of New South Wales were successfully propagated and multiplied using the pot-culture and atomizing disc aeroponic culture techniques, and their infectivity was measured using the MPN bioassay method. The coarse and fine sand mix was proven to be very effective for the production of AM fungal inocula. The findings indicated that aeroponic culture technique is far superior to that of conventional pot-culture technique, and could possibly substitute the most commonly used pot-culture technique of AM fungal inoculum production. The ultra-sonic nebulizer technology could possibly be an alternative to conventional aeroponic systems for producing AM fungal isolates in commercial quantities. The introduction of the sheared-root inoculum of Glomus intraradices, produced by the ultra-sonic nebulizer technique, into agricultural soils can substantially reduce the intake of P-fertilizers as much as 50% of the recommended level. The study also indicated that soil phosphorus is a critical factor in limiting mycorrhizal colonization, possibly limiting mycorrhizal responses.The research suggests that various commercially produced single or 'cocktail' inocula may work on mycorrhiza dependent plants in soils where the indigenous AM flora is either not abundant and/or efficient. Furthermore, ecophysiology of the same AM species have different effects on plant growth.<br>Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Orientadores: Paulo Martins Leal, Nilton Nelio Cometti<br>Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia Agricola<br>Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-05T08:12:05Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Mary_Wellington_D.pdf: 1605348 bytes, checksum: a8e234dda57614d82e240a264ada7f6c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2005<br>Resumo: O uso da tecnologia do cultivo protegido e hidroponia no Brasil para a produção de hortaliças e plantas ornamentais passou por diversas fases de adaptação, visando sempre a atender às necessidades de oferta e qualidade dos produtos com a preocupação de se minimizar os custos de produção e os efeitos negativos do clima. A grande maioria destas adaptações partiu da iniciativa dos próprios agricultores, utilizando-se de diferentes materiais e outros artifícios para contornar problemas do seu dia-a-dia. Com os objetivos de analisar o sistema construtivo de estrutura de bambu para utilização em casa de vegetação e testar diferentes sistemas de controle ambiental, visando à produção na entressafra do morangueiro. Foram realizados cinco experimentos na área do campo experimental da Faculdade de Engenharia Agrícola/UNICAMP, no período compreendido entre Fevereiro de 2002 e Janeiro de 2004.No primeiro experimento testou-se o uso de vigas e colunas construídas com de colmos de bambu da espécie Bambusa tuldoides Munro. As vigas e colunas foram estruturadas com espaçadores de plástico, especificamente desenhados para facilitar e padronizar a construção, conferindo-lhe maior resistência e estabilidade. Foram avaliados três espaçamentos entre colunas (2,0; 2,5 e 3,0m) sob diferentes esforços de carga, dos quais o melhor resultado foi obtido com o espaçamento de 2,5m. Nos outros experimentos o objetivo foi estudar o controle ambiental aplicado ao cultivo do morangueiro para produção na entressafra no Estado de São Paulo, cultivado em sistema NFT e aeroponia sem e com zona de resfriamento. Foram avaliados: massa fresca de cada pseudofruto/planta e massa total de pseudofrutos/planta, número de pseudofrutos e de estolhos/planta. Utilizou-se as cultivares: Campinas; Sweet Charlie; Seascape; Oso Grande e Tudla. Também foi analisado o microclima gerado pelos sistemas aeropônicos A produtividade dos sistemas aeropônicos sem e com resfriamento foi inexpressiva, porém influenciaram sobre a temperatura da solução nutritiva e do microclima dentro das bancadas. Os tratamentos envolvendo o controle de fotoperíodo e vernalização promoveram a produção durante o período de entressafra<br>Abstract: The use of the hydroponic technology and the Brazilian horticulture and ornamental plants had many different phases of adaptation and always looking for the necessity to offer and the quality of the production with the concern to minimise the production cost. Also to at the negative effects of the climate. The majority of these adaptations start with the farmers and they used different materials to fix their day to day problems. With the objective to analyse the constructive system of the bamboo structure for use in the vegetation house and to test different environmental control systems with the aim to look at the production between the harvest of the strawberry plants. In the period between February 2002 and January 2004 five experiments of this type were carried out at the experimental station at the College of Agricultural/Unicamp Engineering. In the first experiment they tested the use of beams and columns of colmos of Bambusa tuldoides Munro species of bamboo. The beams and columns had been structured with plastic spacers specifically made to standardize the construction, due to greater resistance and stability. Three spaces between columns (2,0, 2,5 and 3,0m) under different load efforts had been evaluated, and the best result was obtained with the spacing of 2,5m. In the other experiments the objective was to study the ambient temperature control applied to the culture of the strawberry plants for production in the period between harvests in the state of São Paulo, cultivated in NFT system and aeroponics with and without and a cooling zone. They had evaluated cool and total mass of fruit/plant, the number of fruits and stolon/plant. The varieties used had been: Campinas; Sweet Charlie; Seascape; Oso Grande and Tudla. The microclimate generated for the aeropônico system with cooling zone was also analyzed. The treatments involving the control of photoperiod had promoted the production during the period of period between harvests. Despite the aeroponics systems with and without cooling, produced during the period between harvests, the productivity was good, however they had influenced inside on the temperature of the nutritional solution and the microclimate of the different plant groups<br>Doutorado<br>Construções Rurais e Ambiencia<br>Doutor em Engenharia Agrícola

Questo lavoro trae i presupposti teorici da quanto trattato nel corso del seminario LED 2016 (Landscape Education for Democracy) coordinato dal Prof. Deni Ruggeri della NMBU di Oslo, sul tema del rapporto tra paesaggio e democrazia. Parallelamente è stato condotto un percorso di avvicinamento e conoscenza della città di Zingonia e della sua comunità. Fondata nel 1965 ad opera del costruttore Renzo Zingone, essa ha vissuto una vicenda tanto breve quanto travagliata che restituisce oggi una realtà complessa dal punto di vista sociale ma al tempo stesso ricca di sfide ed opportunità. L’occasione di sintesi è stata il LED workshop che si tenuto a Zingonia a giugno 2016, sotto la responsabilità del Prof. Luigi Bartolomei dell’Università di Bologna. La tesi dunque muove da questa esperienza per formulare la proposta di una strategia di rigenerazione urbana che mira alla riconnessione della comunità con il proprio paesaggio.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1997.<br>Typescript. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 141-150).

Content removed due to copyright restriction: Appendix IV. Managing fruit soluble solids with late-season deficit irrigation in drip-irrigated processing tomato production (HortScience 40: 1 857-1861 ).<br>Improved fertilizer and irrigation management has become increasingly important for tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) grown for processing. To reduce potential nutrient loss to the environment due to excessive supply, fertilizer recommendations should reflect plant demand determined in an optimal root environment. An aeroponics experiment examined the effect of low and high nutrient supply during vegetative growth, fruit development and fruit ripening. The use of aeroponics in a glasshouse environment allowed control of fertility directly at the root surface. A further experiment applying aeroponics results was established in the field using drip-fertigation. Both studies were conducted at Massey University, Palmerston North. Across experiments, fruit yield was largely determined by vegetative growth in the 6-8 weeks after transplanting; high fruit yields (> 90 Mg ha-1) were associated with improved vegetative growth, and in particular larger leaf area. Mild N deficiency was the principal cause of poor vegetative growth in low nutrient supply treatments. Higher yield resulted from greater fruit number. Reinstating adequate fertility after vegetative growth stopped and fruit number was determined did not increase fruit yield. For maximum fruit yield, plant uptake of N and K was 9.4 and 13.8 g plant-1, respectively (equivalent to approximately 210 and 310 kg ha-1 at a medium planting density). Greatest nutrient uptake occurred during fruit development. Where practical, fertilizer application should be concentrated during fruit growth. Heavy late-season K fertigation did not increase the soluble solids concentration (SSC) of fruit. Although offering considerable flexibility in nutrient fertigation, the use of drip irrigation often results in undesirably low SSC. Late-season irrigation management strategies to increase fruit SSC without excessive yield loss were subsequently investigated in drip-irrigated fields. Two experiments were conducted at the University of California, Davis. Irrigation cutoff prior to fruit ripening reduced fruit set, decreased fruit size, and increased the incidence of fruit rots, making this approach uneconomical. Irrigation cutback to 25-50% of reference evapotranspiration imposed at the onset of fruit ripening (approximately 6 weeks preharvest) was sufficient to improve fruit SSC and maintain Brix yields (Mg Brix solids ha-1) compared to the current grower practice (late cutoff). Irrigation cutbacks imposed during ripening did not cause excessive canopy dieback, nor were fruit culls or rots increased when the crop was harvested at commercial maturity. Fruit colour and pH were not adversely affected by irrigation cutback. Brix monitoring of the earliest ripening fruit (when 30-60 % of the fruit surface shows a colour other than green) can help classify fields as to the severity of irrigation cutback required to reach desirable fruit SSC at harvest. Combined, these techniques offer considerable flexibility in managing fields for improved fruit SSC levels.

碩士<br>國立中興大學<br>土壤環境科學系<br>87<br>It seems to be common that most researchers of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) either used mixed inoculum or ignored what species they used. They are more interested in the inoculation effect of AMF on the crop growth. Recently, some scientists switched their attention to the species specificity, because different AMF species may be suitable for different hosts or environmental conditions. The key step to study the relationship between them is to produce pure inoculum of AMF. Without pure culture of spores, could not run any further experiment. Up to dates, there are three major inoculum production techniques of AMF, i.e., pot culture, aeroponical culture and root organ culture.In this study, an aeroponic system was set up to assay the effect of different phosphorus concentrations on the spore production of Entrophospora kentinensis, originally described from Taiwan. A correspondent pot culture of bahia（Paspalum notatum）was made to reconfirm the nutrient effect on the spore production. The P concentration of nutrient solution may express certain inhibition on the spore production and colonization of Entrophospora kentinensis, and this effect seems to be dominated by the P requirement of host plant. The P requirement of plant is normally more at high light intensity than at low light intensity, because of active plant growth. Therefore, the strength of P in nutrient solution was relative to the P requirement of plant. Between two P concentrations (0.18 and 0.09 mg L-1) of nutrient solution, the higher P solution could be depressive to the spore production and colonization, if host plant grew at low light intensity and temperature. However, the same P concentration may show opposite effect when host plants grow under high light intensity and temperature.Similar inhibition effect on the spore production and colonization of Entrophospora kentinensis was also observed in pot cultures at higher P fertilization (16 mg L-1), if compared with the other treatment of P (8 mg L-1). In this experiment, the correlation between spore production and root colonization was not concluded.After two consecutive experiments, more than one species of spores was produced in aeroponic systems, even though pure spores of E. kentinensis were carefully isolated as starter inoculum. There were four more species identified, namely Glomus microaggregatum, G. intraradices, G. mosseae and G. pansihalos. The hyphal system of Entrophospora kentinensis is different from four other species. The diameter of external hyphe of Entrophospora kentinensis is smaller than that of internal hyphae; nevertheless, the hyphal diameter of four Glomus species are quite the reverse. Furthermore, the intracellular hyphal growth (such as hyphal coils) seems more in Entrophospora kentinensis than that in the four Glomus species.Besides, the most distinctive feature for external hyphae of Entrophospora kentinensis is that they very often form a hyphal net, which bridge the gaps across roots. However, most external hyphae of Glomus species extend along the root surface. If compared with other four species of Glomus, the colonization rate of Entrophospora kentinensis along root axis is relatively slow, and this phenomenon was referred to the difference in hyphal morphology and the type of hyphal growth. To build up a hyphal net interconnecting roots is more difficult and time-consuming than to extend a single hypha concordantly with the root growth. Because the root growth in aeroponic culture is faster than hyphal colonization of Entrophospora kentinensis , the colonization rate started to decline at mid—term of experiment. If the growth rate of plant root could be adjusted somehow, it may be useful in maintaining or even promoting colonization of Entrophospora kentinensis. The decline of colonization of E. kentinensis, however, was not observed in sandy pot cultures. Slower root growth rate and medium in pot culture (such as sand or pearlite), that may serve as infrastructure for further hyphal growth, are assumed two possible explanations.Competition between E. kentinensis and G. intraradices may occur, when both infect the same host plant. When both species colonize the same host plant, the spore production of G. intraradices is more than that of single species in aeroponic culture. pH in the nutrient solution of aeroponic culture seems to place certain selection pressure on the fungal species, when more than one species mixed with the inoculant, E. kentinensis. Glomus mosseae and Glomus pansihalos only appeared in experiment Ⅱ when the nutrient solution was slightly alkaline. Glomus intraradices seemed to fit in wider spectrum of pH range, so it appeared in two experiments.In order to pursuit the truth, pure inoculum was thought necessary to run the experiments, but it is very difficult to handle especially in an open environment. Even the spores of target species were carefully picked up, it is still hard to detect the hyphal sections of other species on the spores at microscope. If the activity of the hyphal fragment of other species was stronger than the target species, the contaminated species may overgrow and become the dominant species. After this study, we suggest researchers to check the purity of inoculum and spore production before and after the experiments.Contamination seems not easy to be avoided either in pot culture or in aeroponic systems, because these two systems are operated in open condition. In the future, we expect to see an innovative combination between root organ culture and aeroponic systems, which may guarantee the inoculum quality and provide a better model to study the mechanism of spore production in different nutrient condition.

碩士<br>國立中興大學<br>農藝學系所<br>105<br>Plant factory is one kind of new production system in a controlled environment with light, temperature, humidity, gas, water and nutrient supply. It provides opportunities for improving quality, purity, consistency, bioactivity, space saving and biomass production on a commercial scale. Due to the high input cost, it required to develop a more efficient management. In this research, two leafy vegetables arugula (Diplotaxis tenuifloia) and red flame (Lactuca sativa L. var. crispa) were selected as high price and short growing season crops and conducted to test the feasibility of organic aeroponic culture in fully controlled plant factory. The results showed that there are no risk of nutrient molding and block of suppling nozzle during organic nutriculture. Two leafy vegetables showed poor stem and root growth in later growing stage. By raising supply frequency and concentration of organic nutrients, shoot growth of arugula was increased to normal level while the growth of red flame remained unchanged. Comparison of organic and inorganic nutriculture of arugula showed that plants in inorganic nutriculture grown faster and accumulate more biomass than organic nutriculture during late growth stage even increasing in macro and micro organic elements. Finally, mixing different sources of organic nutrients and shortened experimental period indicated that there were no significant growth differences between organic and inorganic nutrient culture and nitrate residues always agreed with regulation. Further improvement on organic recipe and increasing the supplying period of nutrient will provide the feasibility of operation for organic aeroponic culture.

碩士<br>國立中興大學<br>農藝學系所<br>103<br>Wasabi (Wasabia japonica Matsum) is a perennial shade-tolerant plant of the Cruciferae, and difficult to grow because of its unique environmental requirements, which limit wasabi production in the world. The limited area suitable for wasabi production has resulted in inability to meet increasing market demand and prices rise steadily. High prices have stimulated research into other production systems and currently controlled environment provides the potential opportunities for high-value wasabi production on a commercial scale. In this study, plants were grown in fully controlled plant factory with aeroponic culture. The responses of photosynthesis, chlorophyll fluorescence, chlorophyll and H2O2 in leaf were investigated in a changing light and CO2 enviroment during vegetative stages. The plants of different growth stages were harvested monthly and divided into leaf, petiole, root, rhizome, and axillary bud. The yields of different plant parts, contents of sinigrin and allyl isothiocyanate in each part were measured. The results of chlorophyll fluorescence, chlorophyll and H2O2 concentration indicated that light intensity below 400 μmol m-2 s-1 was more suitable for the acclimatization of young wasabi plants. Light-carbon dioxide response curves, characteristic of chlorophyll fluorescence, and light intensity data of natural-grown habitat supported that wasabi plants grow normally under 250 to 400 μmol m-2 s-1 and 800 ppm CO2 condition. Wasabi plants grown under this controlled facility produced 174 g FW leaf, 420 g FW petiole, 105 g FW root, 74 g FW rhizome, and 9 g FW axillary bud in average per month during 14-month-old plant. The tissue concentration of sinigrin was found in leaf (0.37 mg g-1 FW), petiole (0.25 mg g-1 FW), root (0.23 mg g-1 FW), rhizome (1.71 mg g-1 FW), and axillary bud (0.95 mg g-1 FW). The highest tissue concentration of allyl isothiocyanate was found in the rhziomes, in average 2174 mg kg-1 (fresh weight basis). Although the rhizome is the most valuable part of plant, other parts such as the leaves and petioles, which have some of pungent taste, are also used.

碩士<br>國立高雄科技大學<br>環境與安全衛生工程系<br>107<br>In recent years, agricultural producers have mostly used automatic or semi-automatic control of greenhouse or shading net as agricultural facilities in order to improve the quality and yield of crops. However, Taiwan is a subtropical region and most of it is exposed to sunlight after noon or rainy season. It is easy to cause high temperature and high humidity in the indoor cultivation space, which in turn affects the growth of lily (Lilium). To improve the shortcomings of existing agricultural facilities, this experiment was conducted from April 2017 to May 2019 and selected in the Fengshan shade net house attempts to use the semi- open roof type aeroponic cultivation system to conduct a feasibility evaluation test for cut lily cultivation. The results of this experiment show that the design of this system, including set up plant cultivation chamber (3mm thickness x L1000mm x W1000mm x H700mm, Material: SUS304) and externally covered with 30mm thermal insulation cotton. In addition, the system will be equipped with a timing evaporative cooling equipment / temperature and humidity sensor combine timing spray irrigation device and the upper cover of the chamber will be designed with additional openings to enable the system to achieve rapid temperature/humidity control、instant irrigation and adjustment internal light source of the plant cultivation chamber. In system performance test result that shows, although the system at the start-up stage, the temperature, humidity, wind speed and luminosity values of the 550mm height section in the cultivation chamber can provide the initial growth and cultivation requirement of cut lily, but cut lily (Lilium 'Donato') plant growth test results show that the base fertilizer of this irrigation has not been adjusted to the optimal concentration, so it is easy to cause damage to the roots of the lily and affect subsequent growth. Therefore, although the current test has completed the performance test of aerosolized hardwood, and the feasibility of cultivating cut lily, it is necessary to improve the proportion of existing cut lily formula and improve the existing artificial spray to avoid excessive fertilization and affect lily follow-up growth.

Urban Agriculture. Diploma Thesis. Brno 2016 Thesis is describing problematics of urban agriculture. Papers goal is to introduce the problematic of urban agriculture to the reader in form of literature research, to describe influences of urban agriculture on environment, economy and on social aspects. Further, thesis describes advantages and disadvantages of urban agriculture and its hazards. Other important aspect is food security regarding developing countries.

碩士<br>銘傳大學<br>生物科技學系碩士班<br>107<br>Lettuce is a highly recommended vegetable for health. But it is difficult to plant in the summer outdoor environment in Taiwan. Therefore, it is quite popular to plant by using hydroponic cultivation, and even aeroponic cultivation methods, in addition to the conventional method of soil cultivation. In this study, we chose to use the romaine Lettuce as the materials, trying to plant them under the same environmental conditions by different method, and compare the growth oefficency, the polyphenol content of the extract and the scavenging ability of the oxidative free radicals. The romaine lettece cultivated in the culture soil as the control group. The results show that in terms of growth, the inclined back aeroponic cultivation facility has the best production efficiency, and the lettuce produced has the largest average biomass at two different independent studies. There is not much difference in the content of polyphenols between different extraction methods, but in the analysis of α,α-diphenyl β-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging ability, the controversial result was presented. This experiment is a preliminary attempt to explore the effects of different cultivation methods on plant growth and nutrient composition. There is still considerable for improvement in experimental design and implementation.

碩士<br>銘傳大學<br>生物科技學系碩士班<br>107<br>This study attempts to construct a traditional hydroponic system and an inclined back aeroponic cultivation system under the same environmental conditions, and is used for the cultivation of Fu-Shan lettuce, as a reference for assessing the differences in plant growth efficiency and nutrient composition between different systems, and Lettuce grown in soil as a control. It has been found that the planting method of hatched back-type gas cultivation has obvious advantages in plant growth, both in plant biomass and in length, which is superior to other groups. There was no significant difference in the determination of the polyphenol content in the plant extract. In the 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) oxidative free radical scavenging ability, different batches of experiments showed opposite data, and the research results need further research confirmation. The new hatchback gas cultivation has advantages in planting efficiency, and its mechanism needs to be discussed later.