Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Hydroponic system'

This report includes research into how to automate a small scale system for hydroponics. Hydroponics is a growing technique which features a soil-less environment were the plants roots are exposed to a nutrient-enriched water solution. The research focused mainly on how to regulate the pH and the level of nutrient in the water solvent and finding a system to automate that process. In the research fully grown basil plants were used as test specimens, with the plants roots submerged in a water solvent. The water solvent had sensors that were connected to a micro controller making it possible to monitor the presence of nutrients and pH in the solvent. If the micro controller deemed that the pH and/or the nutrient level was too high or too low, the micro controller would adjust the solvent by activating pumps adding pH down buffer solution and/or nutrient solution to the solvent. The research proved that a way to automate a small scale hydroponics system is by building a computerized system consisting of: • Micro controller. • pH sensor. •EC sensor (to measure nutrient level in solvent). • Temperature sensor. • Fluid pumps connected to pH- and nutrient reservoirs<br>I denna rapport följer en forskning om hur ett system för hydroponics kan automatiseras. Hydroponics är en odlingsteknik som utesluter nyttjandet av jord. Istället får plantorna näring och vatten via en näringsrik vattenlösning som dess rötter är i kontakt med. Forskningen fokuserade huvudsakligen på hur man reglerar pH och nivån av näringsämnen i en vattenlösning och skapa ett system för att automatisera denna processen. I undersökningen användes fullvuxna basilikaväxter som prover med plantornas rötter nedsänkta i en vattenlösning. Vattenlösningen hade sensorer som var anslutna till en mikrostyrenhet som gjorde det möjligt att övervaka nivån av näringsämnen och pH i vattenlösningen.  Om mikrokontrollen ansåg att pH- och/eller nivån av näringsämnen var felaktig så skulle mikrostyrenheten justera vattenlösningen. Detta skedde genom att mikrostyrenheten aktiverade vätskepumpar som tilsatte pH-buffer och/eller näringslösning. Forskningen visade att ett sätt att automatisera ett hydroponicsystem är att bygga ett datoriserat system som består utav: mikrostyrenhet. pH mätare. EC mätare (används för att mäta näringsnivån i vattenlösningen). Temperaturmätare. Vätskepumpar anslutna till behållare inehållandes pH- och näringslösning.

Hydroponics is a method of cultivating plants without the use of soil. Soil acts as a growth medium which gives plants stability, provides nutrients and allows roots to be kept wet without drowning. In hydroponics the soil’s functions are replaced by synthesized methods. Stability comes from a substrate (i.e. LECA, rockwool perlite).The 16 essential nutrients are solved in water which are distributed to plants’ roots by different techniques. To generate photosynthesis natural light is replaced by artificial light, especially red light in the proximity of 660 nm. Hydroponics has been used as a cultivation method for at least 2000 years. During the 20th century industrial applications became common since plastics allowed for complex systems engineering. The method also makes it possible to grow the same amount of crops with approximately 10% water usage and 25% of the area compared to conventional cultivation. During the past few years systems for home use has emerged but the product genre is still in its cradle. This master thesis covers a new conceptual design of a hydroponic home system. The project was carried out at Omecon AB in Stockholm as a consulting design project. Omecon AB is an engineering consultant agency within mostly mechanical construction looking to widen the competence base. Using a design process based on Human-Centered Design the project involved the stakeholders users, extreme users, Omecon AB, plant experts, electronics engineering and service as well as plastics design engineering. Additional/supplemental economical–, ecological– and social sustainability aspects has been considered during all phases of the process. By using the Human-Centered Design process the problem range is expanded from its initial state which results in a more complete end result. Common methodology altered with some unorthodox twists has been utilized throughout the project. The final result is a conceptual hydroponic system for home environment which is designed as an interior design product as well as a high-performance cultivation system. By using natural materials such as wood and steel the users expands its life span and thus mitigates the negative environmental impact. Another aspect which prolongs the products life span is the modular usage which lets users vary and choose their preferred settings. All manufactured materials included in the final concept were flow resources and the parts were engineered to be easily separable for future replacement and recycling. A new type of pot was invented along with a new way of adjusting the height-wise position of lamps. The aeroponic technique, which was applied to this concept, is generally considered to generate the largest plants and thus comprises higher performance compared to other home systems. The use of substrate was also eliminated which decreases continous material consumption within hydroponics.<br>Hydroponik är en metod för att odla växter utan jord. Jord i odling agerar som ett växtmedium som ger plantor stabilitet, tillför näringsämnen och tillåter rötter att vara i väta utan att dränka dem. I hydroponik ersätts jordens funktioner med syntetiska metoder. Stabilitet ges av ett substrat (t.ex. LECA-kulor, stenull eller perlit). De 16 essentiella näringsämnena löses i vatten och distribueras till plantors rötter med hjälp av olika tekniker. For att skapa fotosyntes ersätts naturligt ljus med artificiellt ljus. Speciellt rött ljus i närheten av 660 nm. Hydroponik har använts som odlingsmetod i åtminstånde 2000 år. Under 1900-talet blev industiella applikationer vanliga eftersom plast möjliggjorde tillverkling av komplexa system. Metoden tillåter även att odla samma mängd grödor med 10% av vattenmängden och 25% av ytan jämfört med konventionell odling. Under de senaste åren har system avsedda för användning hemma blivit vanligare men produktgenren är fortfarande ung. Det här examensarbetet täcker en ny konceptuell design av ett hydroponiskt system för hemmabruk. Projektet utfördes på Omecon AB i Stockholm som ett konsultarbete inom design. Omecon AB är en konsultfirma som mestadels är verksamma inom mekanikkonstruktion men de vill vidga sin kompetens. Genom användning av en designprocess som har baserats på Human-Centered Design har projektet involverat intressenterna användare, extrema användare, Omecon AB, växtexperter, en elektronikingenjör samt plastkonstruktion. Vidare har aspekter inom ekonomisk–, ekologisk– och social hållbarhet beaktats genom alla faser av processen. Via användning av Human-Centered Design-processen har problemrummet expanderats från den initiala utgångspunkten vilket resulterar i ett mer komplett slutresultat. Vanlig metodik varvat med okonventionella anpassningar har använts genom projektet. Slutresultatet består av ett konceptuellt hydroponiskt system för hemmabruk som är designat som en inredningsprodukt samt ett odlingssystem med hög prestanda. Genom användning av naturliga material som trä och stål förlänger användarna produktens livslängd och på så sätt förmildras den negativa klimatpåverkan. En annan aspekt som förlänger produktens livslängd är moduläriteten som låter användare variera och välja deras föredragna inställningar. Alla tillverkade material inkluderade i slutkonceptet var flödesresurser och delarna konstruerades så att de går lätt att separera för framtida ersättning och återvinning. En ny typ av kruka uppfanns tillsammans med ett nytt sätt att justera höjden av lamporna. Den aeroponiska tekniken, som används is konceptet, är allmänt ansedd att generera de största plantorna och innefattar därför högre prestanda jämfört med andra hydroponiska hemmasystem. Användning av substrat eliminerades också vilket minskar kontinuerlig materialkonsumption inom hydroponik.

This report investigates how to build a compact, optimizable and at the same time user friendly hydroponic systemfor growing plants as efficiently as possible. Hydroponics grows plants using water with dissolved nutrients instead of soil, allowing faster and more efficient growth.The focus has been on the implementation and the usability of such a system, centering around monitoring and to some degree controlling important parameters for growth such as humidity, air temperature, nutrition concentration and light intensity, colour and exposure time. The plant is enclosed in a confined space with artificial lighting which allows thorough control of the light environment. In order to achieve the desired level of control over the growth parameters, several sensors along with a microcontroller were used. A touch screen with a custom built graphical user interface was also connected to allow the user to control and monitor important aspects of growth conditions. The conclusion drawn from this project is that there is ahigh order of optimizability within the boundaries of this project. The measured factors are easily read on an intuitive, easily navigated touch screen for direct feedback. Regarding the lights’ effect on plant growth, the conclusionis drawn that plants grow well with many types of lights, but more time is needed to thoroughly investigate different light exposure times, colour and intensity.<br>I denna rapport undersöks hur man kan bygga ett kompakt, optimerat och samtidigt användarvänligt hydroponiskt system för att odla växter så effektivt som möjligt. Hydroponiska system får plantor att växa genom att användavatten med näring istället för jord, vilket tillåter snabbare och mer effektiv tillväxt. Fokuset i denna rapport har varit på implementeringen och användbarheten av ett sådant system, med tyngpunkt på övervakning och till viss grad styrning av viktiga faktorer i en plantas tillväxt såsom luftfuktighet, temperatur, näringskoncentration och ljusintensitet, färg och exponeringstid. Växten är innesluten i ett begränsat utrymme med artificiellt ljus, vilket tillåter genomgående kontroll av ljusmiljön. För att uppnå önskad kontroll av tillväxtparametrarna, användes ett flertal sensorer tillsammans med en mikrokontroller. Till detta kopplades en pekskärm med ett egen tillverkat användargränssnitt, som tillåter användaren att kontrollera och övervaka viktiga aspekter i tillväxten. Slutsatsen från detta projekt är att det finns en hög grad av optimerbarhet inom denna konstruktion. De uppmätta parametrarna kan enkelt avläsa ljusexponering, ljusintesitet och färg.

Vertical hydroponic farming is a developing sector that has the potential to mitigate the adverse effects of conventional farming while also meeting the demands of rapidly urbanizing populations. The global food system is responsible for up to 30% of anthropogenic GHG emissions, with primary production accounting for the majority of these emissions. Hydroponic farming is a type of crop production in which the plants grow without the use of soil. It is mainly done indoors. Hydroponic production has various advantages for the food system, including water efficiency, space efficiency, year-round production, and system productivity. Despite many advantages mentioned in the literature, hydroponic farming has certain drawbacks, including a reliance on electricity to grow, a limited choice of crops appropriate for hydroponic cultivation, and a higher product price.This paper examines the obstacles and describes how integrated modular farms might be implemented in Sweden to improve urban food resilience. This project aims to design a modular solution for a closed hydroponic farm using various data gathering and design methodologies. In one year, the designed hydroponic system generates about one ton of lettuce in a one-square-meter area while saving 91.27% of water compared to conventional farming methods. The secondary goal was to assess the designed system's long -term viability interms of social, environmental, and economic sustainability indicators and study the structure from an engineering standpoint.

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento CientÃfico e TecnolÃgico<br>Although it had been early developed aiming to search on the plants mineral nutrition, the hydroponic gained more importance between the growers due to possibility a better nutritional control that confers greater plant quality and minor incidence of pests. Some hydroponic systems have been considered for the lettuce grown, between them NFT (Nutrient Film Technique) and Floating System. This last one consists of the use of great amounts of nutrient solution in tanks where the plants are floating on plates with its roots flooded. This system has been showing promising for hot climates where the high temperatures can to limit the growing in other systems as the NFT. Therefore, a trial was carried out to evaluate the floating system in its diverse characteristics as stability of the electrical conductivity and pH, availability of dissolved oxygen to the plants and temperature of the nutrient solution. Also was evaluated, through the total fresh weight and root length, the cultivars VerÃnica and Vera, which are spread out between the growers that use hydroponic systems, in regards to its adaptability to the floating system. Each one of the cultivars were submitted at two levels of electrical conductivity (1,5mS/cm and 2,5 mS/cm) and two levels of artificial aeration (20min/h and 60min/h) in split-split-plot design. The study showed that the cultivar Vera was significantly better than VerÃnica concerning to the total fresh weight and root length. It did not have significant difference between the studied levels of electrical conductivity and artificial aeration in the development of the plants. It could still be observed that the system revealed sufficiently steady in regards to the evaluated parameters.<br>Embora tenha sido desenvolvida primeiramente com o objetivo de pesquisar sobre a nutriÃÃo mineral das plantas, a hidroponia ganhou bastante importÃncia entre os produtores devido à possibilidade do controle nutricional mais estreito que confere maior qualidade Ãs plantas e menor incidÃncia de problemas fitossanitÃrios. VÃrios sistemas hidropÃnicos tÃm sido propostos para o cultivo de alface, entre eles o NFT (Nutrient Film Technique) e o sistema de leito flutuante (Floating System). Este Ãltimo consiste da utilizaÃÃo de grandes quantidades de soluÃÃo nutritiva dispostas em tanques onde as plantas ficam flutuando sobre placas de material leve com suas raÃzes imersas. Este sistema tem se mostrado promissor para climas quentes onde as altas temperaturas podem ser limitantes ao cultivo em outros sistemas como o NFT. Diante do exposto foi realizado trabalho no sentido de avaliar o sistema de leito flutuante em suas diversas caracterÃstica como estabilidade da condutividade elÃtrica e pH, disponibilidade de oxigÃnio dissolvido Ãs plantas e temperatura da soluÃÃo nutritiva. TambÃm foram avaliadas, atravÃs da matÃria fresca total e comprimento radicular, os cultivares VerÃnica e Vera, os quais sÃo os mais difundidos entre os produtores que utilizam o sistema hidropÃnico, quanto à sua adaptabilidade ao sistema de leito flutuante. Para isso cada cultivar foi submetido a dois nÃveis de condutividade elÃtrica (1,5mS/cm e 2,5 mS/cm) e dois nÃveis de aeraÃÃo artificial (20min/h e 60min/h) utilizando o delineamento em parcelas subsubdivididas. O estudo mostrou que o cultivar Vera foi significativamente superior ao VerÃnica em relaÃÃo à matÃria fresca total e comprimento radicular. NÃo houve diferenÃa significativa entre os nÃveis de condutividade elÃtrica e aeraÃÃo artificial estudados no desenvolvimento das plantas. PÃde-se observar ainda que o sistema mostrou-se bastante estÃvel em relaÃÃo Ãs variÃveis avaliadas.

Food systems are considered one of the most important anthropogenic activities contributing to climate change. On the other hand, climate change influences the conditions for growth with more frequent droughts and heatwaves. This contradiction poses a significant challenge to future food systems, which need not only become more sustainable, but also increase its production to feed a growing population, as stated in both the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and the Swedish action plan on food. This has given rise to alternative ways of producing food, such as urban farming and, in particular vertical hydroponic farming, where food is grown indoors in a controlled environment with artificial lighting and with a minimum use of water and without pesticides. In this study, a vertical hydroponic farm located in Stockholm, Sweden, is examined using life cycle assessment in terms of environmental sustainability. The farm, located in a basement space, works together with the building in a symbiotic network, where the farm provides the building with excess heat from the lighting, and in turn obtains carbon dioxide from an office floor. The findings from the study show that electricity is a major contributor to the environmental performance of the farm, along with the infrastructure employed. The impacts of water use in the farm, is very low, along with the impacts associated with the delivery of the crops; illustrating the advantages of producing food locally. By substituting the synthetic fertilizers employed to biofertilizers, and by substituting the plastic bag material to renewable material, reductions in greenhouse gases are possible. The symbiotic development between the farm and the building is shown very beneficial to the farm, highlighting the importance of synergies between actors in urban areas.<br>Livsmedelsindustrin anses vara en av de största antropogena drivkrafterna bakom klimatförändringarna. Å andra sidan så förändrar klimatförändringar i sig förutsättningarna för hållbar odling, med mer frekventa torrperioder, extrem värme och extrem nederbörd. Denna konträra situation ställer stora krav på framtidens livsmedelsindustri, som dessutom måste producera mer mat för att mätta en ökande befolkning; ett åtagande som står angivet både i FN:s globala mål och i den svenska Livsmedelsstrategin. Många forskare menar att dagens livsmedelsindustri inte kommer klara denna omställning, och att alternativa metoder för att producera mat behövs. Urban odling har föreslagits som en del av lösningen, och i synnerhet vertikal hydroponisk odling där grödor växer inomhus i en kontrollerad miljö med artificiell belysning, låg vattenanvändning och utan bekämpningsmedel. Den här studien undersökte en vertikal hydroponisk odling i Stockholm, och bedömde dess miljömässiga hållbarhet med hjälp av en livscykelanalys. Odlingen, som sker i en källarlokal, samarbetar med den omslutande byggnaden i en urban symbios, där odlingen förser byggnaden med spillvärme från belysningen, och får i sin tur koldioxid från en kontorslokal. Enligt resultat från studien bidrar elektriciteten till den största miljöpåverkan, men även infrastruktur har stor påverkan. Vattenanvändningen i odlingen är däremot väldigt låg, och miljöpåverkan från leveransen av varorna är mycket låg, vilket belyser fördelarna med att odla mat lokalt. Odlingen kan bland annat minska sin miljöpåverkan genom att byta ut det nuvarande konstgödslet till biogödsel och genom att byta ut plastpåsarnas material till förnybar plast. Symbiosen mellan odlingen och byggnaden visade sig vara väldigt gynnsam, vilket vidare belyser vikten av samspel mellan olika aktörer i den urbana miljön.

Master of Science<br>Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering<br>Stacy L. Hutchinson<br>The energy sector needs to transition to renewable energy to provide energy and economic security in the future (Murray & King, 2012). Liquid biofuels are an important renewable fuel in this transition because they are the preferred renewable energy source in the transportation sector (Lange, 2007), and the only renewable energy alternative for the aviation industry [International Air Transport Association (IATA), 2015]. Biofuels produced from food crops (first-generation biofuels) are being produced at an industrial scale, but they create several environmental and social conflicts (Mohr & Raman, 2013). Currently, there is a demand for the next generation of biofuels to resolve the environmental and social conflicts associated with first-generation biofuels. Salicornia, a salt tolerant oil seed crop (Panta et al., 2014), is one feedstock that might be able to resolve some of those conflicts because it can be irrigated with saline water (Warshay et al., 2017). The ability of Salicornia to tolerate saline environments suggests that it might be able to be cultivated in a hydroponic system designed to treat industrial wastewater. A hydroponic system designed to treat industrial wastewater and produce Salicornia as a biofuel feedstock could prevent some of the detrimental effects of industrial sources of saline water on terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems (Gerhart et al., 2006), and produce a feedstock that resolves some of the issues with first-generation biofuels. The first step in the development of the proposed hydroponic system is to determine if Salicornia can be cultivated with industrial wastewater in a hydroponic system. Studies were conducted with two sources of industrial wastewater, Flue Gas Desulfurization (FGD) wastewater and Cooling Tower Blowdown Water (CTBW), to determine how the composition of water affects the germination, survivability, early seedling growth, and lignocellulosic composition of Salicornia. The composition of water was shown to have no effect on seed germination and visual signs of phytotoxicity. These studies found that full strength CTBW and 20% FGD wastewater could be used to cultivate Salicornia in a hydroponic system if nutrients are added. Full strength FGD wastewater was shown to have a negative impact on seedling growth. These studies also found that Salicornia is not a good lignocellulosic biofuel feedstock because of its low lignocellulosic composition (e.g. 14.9-9.1% glucan, 13.2-6.7% xylan, 5.2-2.4% arabinan, and 9.8-6.2% lignin). However, a large percentage of the extractives content is unidentified and could have a monetary value. Additional research is needed to determine if a hydroponic system that cultivates Salicornia is able to provide any water quality treatment.

The world’s population is growing at an average of 1.2 percent per annum and forecasts see the global population reaching 9.6 billion by 2050. This places great demands on the sustained production capacity of agricultural organisations to meet the desperate need for nutrition. This problem will continue to persist if production methods do not evolve to improve production and quality. Hydroponics and Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) was first seen in Rome during the 1st Century. Then sixteen Centuries later Greenhouses were developed in France and England as experimental hydroponics for basic laboratory research. Rapid expansion took place from about the 1950’s in areas where traditional openenvironment agriculture was difficult or impossible such as the deserts of Iran, Abu Dhabi and California. Sixty-five years later in 2015 hydroponics and CEA are well established around the world with thousands of hectares under propagation. Hydroponics is a method of agricultural production that has been refined over the years to become an exact science. Through the application of technology and know-how the physiological processes within plants can be manipulated and controlled to produce superior results. These results require less land area and less water to accomplish. It can be seen, based on this development, that hydroponics is such an evolution that has the capacity to meet the needs of a growing global population and its nutritional needs. The challenge lies, though, in the scientific understanding and application of knowledge in growing and managing a hydroponics farm. This study seeks to determine the internal data and external information needs of farmers in the hydroponics industry. This data and information will be integrated into a Farm Management Information System (FMIS) model that will be used for decision making, report generation and documentation. The problem leading to this study is the dissemination of data and information sources that are currently underutilised and difficult to access. In determining the internal data and external information needs, an empirical study was conducted using structured interview. Thirty farm managers were interviewed to assess what their current information system consisted of, whether they had a need for an FMIS and what internal data and external information was needed which related to four functional components of hydroponic farming. The results of this study indicate that there is a need for an FMIS for the hydroponic industry in South Africa. The results also indicate that managers are not fully satisfied with the performance of their current information system and would be interested in considering alternative information systems. Data points relating to the four functional components were assessed and integrated into an FMIS model for the hydroponic industry. This model sets out to integrate internal data and external information for purposes of decision making, report generation and documentation.

Kyoto University (京都大学)<br>0048<br>新制・課程博士<br>博士(農学)<br>甲第21155号<br>農博第2281号<br>新制||農||1059(附属図書館)<br>学位論文||H30||N5129(農学部図書室)<br>京都大学大学院農学研究科地域環境科学専攻<br>(主査)教授 川島 茂人, 教授 星野 敏, 教授 藤原 正幸<br>学位規則第4条第1項該当

CoordenaÃÃo de AperfeÃoamento de Pessoal de NÃvel Superior<br>Traditional soil based strawberry production currently faces some obstacles, both by excessive use of pesticides, as the diseases caused by fungi and other pathogens and ergonomic difficulties of cultivating the soil. Strawberry soilless cultivation combined with greenhouse and the use of substrate promotes some advantages such as: eliminating the use of products for soil disinfection, precocity, increased yields, better crop management conditions and crop protection against adverse weather conditions, pest attacks and diseases.. The objective of the study was to evaluate yield and nutrition of four strawberry cultivars in three cropping systems in Serra da Ibiapaba â CearÃ. The experiment was conducted in 3 x 4 factorial design, randomized blocks, with three cultivation systems arranged in strips (soil, hydroponic in gutters and bags), with four strawberry cultivars (Oso Grande, Albion, and Camarosa and Festival) and five replications. Coconut fiber was used as substrate in the hydroponic systems. In the period between the sixth and thirty-eighth week after transplanting, the number and average fruit weight, yield per plant and yield were determined. From the beginning of flowering, leaves were collected every two months to determine the levels of macro and micronutrients. Hydroponic gutter and bag systems increased the number of fruits per plant, but did not increase average fruit weight. The strawberry yield in hydroponic cultivation system was superior to soil cultivation. Cultivar Festival presented more fruits than the other cultivars in hydroponic systems. The Oso Grande and Festival cultivars stood out as the average fruit weight and yield, respectively, and may be recommended for hydroponic cultivation for the region of Serra da Ibiapaba. Based on the leaf nutrient contents, it is suggested adjustments in concentrations of phosphorus and magnesium in the nutrient solution used in hydroponic strawberry crop. Keywords: Fragaria x ananassa, cultivar, nutrients, crop system,<br>O cultivo do morangueiro no solo enfrenta atualmente alguns entraves, tanto pelo uso excessivo de defensivos, como pelas doenÃas causadas por fungos e outros patÃgenos e as dificuldades ergonÃmicas do cultivo no solo. O cultivo em sistemas sem solo combinado com ambiente protegido e o uso de substrato proporciona algumas vantagens como: eliminaÃÃo do uso de produtos destinados à desinfecÃÃo do solo, antecipaÃÃo do inÃcio das colheitas, aumento da produÃÃo, proteÃÃo da cultura Ãs condiÃÃes meteorolÃgicas adversas, ataque de pragas e doenÃas e melhores condiÃÃes de manejo da cultura. O experimento teve como objetivo avaliar a produÃÃo e nutriÃÃo de quatro cultivares de morango em trÃs sistemas de cultivo na Serra da Ibiapaba â CearÃ. O experimento foi conduzido em esquema fatorial 3 x 4, em blocos casualizados, sendo trÃs sistemas de cultivo dispostos em faixa (solo, hidropÃnico em calhas e em s a c o l a s ), com quatro cultivares de morangueiro (Oso Grande, Albion, Camarosa e Festival), com cinco repetiÃÃes. No sistema hidropÃnico foi utilizado como substrato fibra de coco. No perÃodo entre a sexta e trigÃsima oitava semana apÃs o transplantio, foi determinado o nÃmero e peso mÃdio de frutos, produÃÃo por planta e produtividade. A partir do inÃcio do florescimento, foram coletadas a cada dois meses folhas para determinaÃÃo dos teores de macro e micronutrientes. Os sistemas hidropÃnicos em calha e em sacolas aumentaram o nÃmero de frutos por planta, porÃm nÃo aumentaram o peso mÃdio de frutos. A produtividade do morangueiro cultivado no sistema hidropÃnico foi superior ao cultivo no solo. A cultivar Festival apresentou maior nÃmero de frutos em relaÃÃo as demais cultivares nos sistemas hidropÃnicos. As cultivares Oso Grande e Festival destacaram-se quanto a peso mÃdio de frutos e produtividade, respectivamente, sendo recomendadas para cultivo hidropÃnico para regiÃo da Serra da Ibiapaba. Com base nos teores de nutirentes na folha sugere-se ajustes nas concentraÃÃes de fÃsforo e magnÃsio na soluÃÃo nutritiva utilizada no cultivo hidropÃnico do morangueiro. Palavras-chaves: Fragaria x ananassa, cultivar, sistema de cultivo, nutrientes.

With a continued worldwide trend in population shift from rural to urban areas predicted to increase, new approaches to agricultural production must be considered and implemented. Little academic interest has been applied to determining economically viable urban agriculture crop production sites for business investment. A feasibility model to aid investors in selecting appropriate sites for the development of urban agriculture food production within population centers was created. Lettuce crop trials were performed from August 2015 to December 2015 at the University of Arizona Controlled Environment Agriculture Center to validate the productivity of a unique high density hydroponic system designed for the rooftop environment. The feasibility model is based on this system and with a minimal number of inputs, ranging from size of growing space to growing media costs, determines a wide range of useful outputs. These outputs include crop productivity within the facility, material inputs and a cost breakdown of starting a new agricultural venture. The model utilizes multiple sheets within one excel document to give the user a clear and organized financial perspective of a hypothetical growing operation in the main sheet. With this model, investors into urban agriculture will have a means to gain an objective view of financial considerations before substantial investment is completed.

Denna rapport behandlar en fallstudie i ett kandidatexamensarbete som utförts tillsammans med en livsmedelsbutik i Stockholmsområdet och som grundar sig i intervjuer, platsbesök och vetenskapliga artiklar. Där livsmedelsbutiken har ett intresse av att implementera en odling i form av ett hydroponiskt system direkt i sin butik.  I fallstudien har det undersökts hur implementering av odling i butik genom ett samarbete med ett odlingsföretag skulle fungera och se ut för butiken. Studien har begränsats till två olika odlingsföretag i Sverige, som har varsitt koncept på hur odlingen kan implementeras, gemensamt för dem är att de använder vertikal odling i form av hydroponiska system. Där det ena företaget erbjuder vertikal odling i en odlingscontainer och det andra vertikal odling inne i ett växthus. Båda företagens olika odlingskoncept har redan implementerats i två andra livsmedelsbutiker inom samma koncern som livsmedelsbutiken i Stockholm befinner sig i.  Fallstudien har genomförts genom att först skapa en bred bakgrund genom litteratursökningar i olika databaser kring relevanta nyckelord för att sedan genomföra intervjuer med båda odlingsföretagen och livsmedelsbutikerna. Därefter har kunskap och svar från respondenterna i intervjuerna sammanställts och ett förslag har tagits fram om vilket odlingsföretag som lämpar sig bäst för livsmedelsbutikens ändamål.  Resultatet visar att möjligheterna och fördelarna vid en implementering av hydroponisk odling för livsmedelsbutiken i Stockholmsområdet att implementera hydroponisk odling är flera och överväger till största del de möjliga utmaningarna. Dessutom gynnas flera av hållbarhetsmålen till livsmedelsbutikens koncern genom implementering av en hydroponisk odling i butiken. Vidare gynnas även några av de Förenta Nationernas Globala mål och även livsmedelsbutikens egna hållbarhetsmål.<br>This report is the result and outcome of a bachelor's thesis project conducted during the spring of 2021. The report presents the performed case study of a grocery store, in the area of Stockholm, where the company is aiming to implement a hydroponic self-cultivation inside their grocery store. The work is based on conducting interviews and reviewing established scientific articles in the field.  In the case study, it has been investigated how a potential collaboration between the grocery store and a cultivation company can be established. The study was limited to investigating two cultivation companies active on the Swedish market. These two cultivation companies have different solutions of how the cultivation can be implemented on the store area, but both offer vertical hydroponic solutions. Further, both systems of the individual cultivation companies’ have been implemented in other grocery stores that can be used as reference for validation of data.  The literature review of existing publications were conducted by searching in different databases by using the keywords of this work, for the researcher to increase knowledge to create guides for the interviews and for creating the theoretical frame of reference. Thereafter, literature findings and answers from the interviewees were compiled, analyzed and discussed to make a proposition of which cultivation company is best suited for a potential collaboration, with regard to the grocery stores’ wishes of implementing a hydroponic solution.  The results show that several of the grocery stores’ sustainability goals would benefit from a potential implementation of a self-cultivation. Also, implementing a hydroponic farm on the store area would increase the grocery store’s contribution towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:28:31Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2007-01-25Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T18:57:48Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 sanchez_sv_me_jabo.pdf: 656340 bytes, checksum: 8e649f75039e1236f6fe05b62ced4d09 (MD5)<br>Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)<br>Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)<br>Devido a mudanças no hábito alimentar o consumo de alface vem aumentando, sendo seu fornecimento diário, o ano todo. Sendo assim, o cultivo hidropônico tem sido adotado por muitos produtores. Apesar disso, muitas cultivares ainda não são adaptadas a essa tecnologia. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o desempenho de cinco cultivares de alface em dois ambientes de cultivo no sistema hidropônico, tipo NFT, no período de 06/02 a 07/04 de 2006 em Ribeirão Preto, estado de São Paulo, Brasil. Para isso as cultivares Pira Roxa, Pira Vermelha, Locarno, Crespona gigante e Verônica foram avaliadas em casa de vegetação convencional e climatizada em sistema NFT (Técnica do fluxo laminar de nutrientes). O delineamento experimental foi em blocos casualizados, sendo cinco cultivares em três blocos. A colheita foi realizada aos 61 dias da semeadura sendo avaliadas a massa fresca e seca da parte aérea, caule e raízes; número de folhas maiores que 10 cm e número total de folhas. A cultivar Crespona gigante não diferiu da cv. Verônica em massas fresca e seca da parte aérea, mas foi superior às cultivares Pira Vermelha, Pira Roxa e Locarno. As cultivares Pira Roxa e Pira Vermelha sugeriram melhor adaptação, indicando maior resistência ao pendoamento. Não houve efeito significativo para a interação, cultivares e ambientes, mostrando que as cultivares comportaram-se de forma semelhante nos dois ambientes. Houve um maior consumo de água pelas plantas de alface na casa de vegetação convencional em relação à climatizada, provavelmente devido às maiores temperaturas e à menor umidade relativa do ar. A extração de nutrientes pelas folhas de alface (média de cinco cultivares) obedeceu a seguinte ordem decrescente: K>N>Ca>Mg>P>S>Fe>Mn>Zn>Cu.<br>Due to changes in feeding habits, lettuce consumption has been increasing and must be supplied daily throughout the year. As a result, many producers have adopted hydroponics cultivation. In spite of this, many cultivars are not yet adapted to this technology. The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of five lettuce cultivars grown in two environmentals in NFT (Nutrient Film Technique) hydroponic system in the period from Feb/06 to Apr/07 2006 in Ribeirão Preto, state of São Paulo, Brazil. To accomplish this, cultivars Pira Roxa, Pira Vermelha, Locarno, Crespona gigante, and Verônica were evaluated in conventional and climatizated greenhouse in the NFT system. A randomized-block experimental design was used, consisting of five cultivars in three blocks. Harvest was performed 61 days after seeding. Evaluations were made for fresh and dry mass of the aerial part, stem, and roots; number of leaves larger than 10 cm; and total number of leaves. Cultivar Crespona gigante in fresh weight and dry matter of the aerial part did not differ from cultivar Verônica, but it was superior to them cultivars Pira Roxa, Pira Vermelha and Locarno.The cultivars Pira Roxa and Pira Vermelha suggested a better adaptation, showing better resistance to bolting. There was no significant effect of the cultivars OE environments interaction, demonstrating that the cultivars had similar behaviors in both environments. There was a larger consumption of water by the lettuce plants under the conventional greenhouse conditions in comparison to the acclimated one, probably due to their higher temperatures and lower air relative humidities. The extraction of nutrients by leaves lettuce plants (average five to cultivate) obeyed to the followed the decreasing order: K>N>Ca>Mg>P>S>Fe>Mn>Zn>Cu.

Resumo: Devido a mudanças no hábito alimentar o consumo de alface vem aumentando, sendo seu fornecimento diário, o ano todo. Sendo assim, o cultivo hidropônico tem sido adotado por muitos produtores. Apesar disso, muitas cultivares ainda não são adaptadas a essa tecnologia. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o desempenho de cinco cultivares de alface em dois ambientes de cultivo no sistema hidropônico, tipo NFT, no período de 06/02 a 07/04 de 2006 em Ribeirão Preto, estado de São Paulo, Brasil. Para isso as cultivares Pira Roxa, Pira Vermelha, Locarno, Crespona gigante e Verônica foram avaliadas em casa de vegetação convencional e climatizada em sistema NFT (Técnica do fluxo laminar de nutrientes). O delineamento experimental foi em blocos casualizados, sendo cinco cultivares em três blocos. A colheita foi realizada aos 61 dias da semeadura sendo avaliadas a massa fresca e seca da parte aérea, caule e raízes; número de folhas maiores que 10 cm e número total de folhas. A cultivar Crespona gigante não diferiu da cv. Verônica em massas fresca e seca da parte aérea, mas foi superior às cultivares Pira Vermelha, Pira Roxa e Locarno. As cultivares Pira Roxa e Pira Vermelha sugeriram melhor adaptação, indicando maior resistência ao pendoamento. Não houve efeito significativo para a interação, cultivares e ambientes, mostrando que as cultivares comportaram-se de forma semelhante nos dois ambientes. Houve um maior consumo de água pelas plantas de alface na casa de vegetação convencional em relação à climatizada, provavelmente devido às maiores temperaturas e à menor umidade relativa do ar. A extração de nutrientes pelas folhas de alface (média de cinco cultivares) obedeceu a seguinte ordem decrescente: K>N>Ca>Mg>P>S>Fe>Mn>Zn>Cu.<br>Abstract: Due to changes in feeding habits, lettuce consumption has been increasing and must be supplied daily throughout the year. As a result, many producers have adopted hydroponics’ cultivation. In spite of this, many cultivars are not yet adapted to this technology. The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of five lettuce cultivars grown in two environmentals in NFT (Nutrient Film Technique) hydroponic system in the period from Feb/06 to Apr/07 2006 in Ribeirão Preto, state of São Paulo, Brazil. To accomplish this, cultivars Pira Roxa, Pira Vermelha, Locarno, Crespona gigante, and Verônica were evaluated in conventional and climatizated greenhouse in the NFT system. A randomized-block experimental design was used, consisting of five cultivars in three blocks. Harvest was performed 61 days after seeding. Evaluations were made for fresh and dry mass of the aerial part, stem, and roots; number of leaves larger than 10 cm; and total number of leaves. Cultivar Crespona gigante in fresh weight and dry matter of the aerial part did not differ from cultivar Verônica, but it was superior to them cultivars Pira Roxa, Pira Vermelha and Locarno.The cultivars Pira Roxa and Pira Vermelha suggested a better adaptation, showing better resistance to bolting. There was no significant effect of the cultivars OE environments interaction, demonstrating that the cultivars had similar behaviors in both environments. There was a larger consumption of water by the lettuce plants under the conventional greenhouse conditions in comparison to the acclimated one, probably due to their higher temperatures and lower air relative humidities. The extraction of nutrients by leaves lettuce plants (average five to cultivate) obeyed to the followed the decreasing order: K>N>Ca>Mg>P>S>Fe>Mn>Zn>Cu.<br>Orientador: Jairo Augusto Campos de Araújo<br>Coorientadora: Sally Ferreira Blat<br>Banca: Glauco Eduardo Pereira Cortez<br>Banca: Luiz Vitor Egas Villela Junior<br>Mestre

Lettuce is becoming an increasingly important vegetable, both as a fresh market product and a ready-to use vegetable, especially in urban areas of South Africa. Nutrient solution concentration is one of the most practical and effective ways of controlling and improving the yield and nutritional quality of crops for human consumption. However, optimal fertilizer concentration for leafy vegetables also depends on the prevailing environmental conditions. This study was carried out to determine the effects of different nutrient solution concentrations and growing seasons on growth, yield and quality of leafy lettuce. The trial was conducted in a black and white shade net structure and the nutrient concentration treatments were 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, and 4.0 mS.cm-1. Measurements taken included: leaf number, leaf area, fresh leaf mass, dry leaf mass, dry root mass, as well as chlorophyll content. The sensory evaluation procedure was only done on plant samples grown during summer and winter seasons. The results showed that growth was less affected by nutrient concentration than by growing season. Regardless of the nutrient concentration, plants grown in summer reached maturity quicker as compared to plants grown in winter. Generally, leaf number, leaf area, leaf area index, fresh leaf mass, dry leaf mass and dry root mass did not significantly increase with increasing nutrient concentrations and therefore, yield was not influenced by nutrient concentrations. Quality was influenced by nutrient concentrations during the summer-autumn seasons where increasing nutrient concentration induced increased chlorophyll content of the leaves. During the winter-spring seasons this phenomenon was not significant. The study demonstrated that growth, yield and quality of lettuce were not significantly influenced by nutrient solution concentrations of 1.0, 2.0, 3.0 and 4.0 mS.cm-1. The sensory evaluation also showed no significant differences on the colour (quality) and flavor of the lettuce samples grown during summer and winter seasons and unfortunately it was not done during autumn and spring seasons. Irrespective of the nutrient solution concentration, growth was influenced by growing season because plants grown during summer reached maturity quicker as compared to plants grown during the other seasons.<br>Dissertation (MInstAgrar)--University of Pretoria, 2012.<br>Plant Production and Soil Science<br>unrestricted

O presente trabalho foi conduzido em estufa plástica, na Escola Agrotécnica Federal de Concórdia, SC, com o objetivo de avaliar o desempenho agronômico da cultura da alface, variedade cultivada Vera, no sistema hidropônico utilizando a água de criação de peixes misturada com diferentes percentuais de macro e micronutrientes na solução nutritiva; e avaliar o incremento de fitomassa seca, analisando os teores de nitrato (NO3 -) nas folhas da alface na colheita. Os seguintes tratamentos foram utilizados: (T1) água mais 100% da solução nutritiva descrita por Castellane e Araújo (1995) (testemunha); (T2) água da piscicultura com 50% da solução nutritiva do tratamento T1; (T3) água da piscicultura com 100% dos micronutrientes da solução nutritiva dos tratamentos T1 e T2; e (T4) somente água da piscicultura. Os resultados evidenciaram que: (a) a água residual da criação de peixes (Tilápia), em açudes no sistema semiintensivo, não é capaz de fornecer os nutrientes necessários para o crescimento e desenvolvimento das plantas de alface para fins comerciais; (b) a produção de alface utilizando o sistema semiintensivo com o uso da água da piscicultura é técnicamente viável em açudes, desde que seja realizada uma adubação complementar para suprir as necessidades nutricionais das plantas; (c) o tratamento T1 (testemunha) foi a que apresentou os melhores resultados, tendo as plantas atingido uma fitomassa verde e seca, respectivamente de 378,70g e 19,97g; (d) o tratamento T2 não apresentou diferença significativa para o tratamento testemunha, com 293,59g e 19,28g, respectivamente, o que demonstra uma efetividade do sistema semi-intensivo, e que o mesmo é perfeitamente viável a partir de ajustes nutricionais; (e) o tratamento T1 foi o que apresentou maior teor de nitrato aos 28 dias após transplante, com 793,3mg.Kg-1 de NO3 -, entretanto, dentro dos limites aceitáveis para o consumo humano das folhas de alface.<br>The present work was carried out in plastic greenhouse, at \'Escola Agrotécnica Federal de Concórdia\', State of Santa Catarina, Brazil, with the purpose of evaluating the agronomic performance of the lettuce crop, cultivar \'Vera\', under hydroponic system using water from fish production mixed with different percents of macro and micronutrients in the nutritive solution; and of evaluating the increment of dry mass, analyzing the leaf nitrate (NO3 -) content of the lettuce at harvest. The following treatments were used: (T1) water with 100% of the nutritive solution described by Castellane and Araújo (1995) (control); (T2) water from fish production mixed with 50% of the nutritive solution of the treatment T1; (T3) water from fish production mixed with 100% of the micronutrients of the nutritive solution of the treatments T1 and T2; and (T4) water from fish production, only. The results show that: (a) the residual water from fish production system (Tilapia) in dams, in the semi-intensive system, is unable to provide the nutrients necessary for growth and development of lettuce plants for commercial proposes; (b) the lettuce production using the semi-intensive system with water from the fish production system is technically feasible in dams, if conducted an additional fertilizer to attend the nutritional needs of plants; (c) the treatment T1 (control) presented the better results, where the plants reached a green and dry mass of 378.70g and 19.97g, respectively; (d) the treatment T2 did not present significant difference to treatment T1 (control), with 293.59g and 19.28g, respectively, which shows an effectiveness of semi-intensive system, and it is perfectly feasible from nutritional adjustments; (e) the treatment T1 (control) presented the highest nitrate content at 28 days after transplant, with 793.3mg.kg-1 of NO3 -, however, within acceptable limits for human consumption of leaf lettuce.

The world is facing a food shortage as the world’s population increases and arable land decreases. Despite this, the food industry is wasteful, and 30% - 40% of all produced food is lost before reaching the end consumer. Emerging technologies aim to increase the amount of food that can be grown per m2 or allow the growing of food in climates or on lands previously impossible. Four main farming techniques utilising these emerging technologies are Controlled Environment Agriculture, Hydroponic Farming, Urban Farming and Vertical farming. When used together, these techniques form the basis for what can be called a Plant Factory. Despite the positive effects these technologies have on the production rate, few Plant Factories have managed to achieve profitability. By creating support for developing the post-harvesting system for a plant factory, this thesis aims to aid in the development of profitable plant factories. The thesis uses Design Research Methodology to achieve this aim in three parts. The first part identifies the underlying factors of the post-harvesting system affecting plant factory profitability. The second presents a set of support components that will aid the developers to improve key factors affecting profitability. The third part is a case study where the support components applicability at targeting the key factors are evaluated, and suggestions for further improvements and testing of the support is suggested.  Further, using Design Research Methodology, the methods used to develop support in this thesis are presented to easily be replicated by other researchers to aid them in developing support for other industries and circumstances. The suitability of the developed support was tested using the principles of an initial DS-II. The developed support proved very useful for the investigated case, and with its conditions, the application evaluation was considered a partial success. Two key factors were successfully improved and indicated that the intended support is ready for a comprehensive DS-II. A third support component needs more work to provide the intended support fully. Therefore a second  PS iteration is recommended before a comprehensive DS-II is done to increase its value.

Kyoto University (京都大学)<br>0048<br>新制・課程博士<br>博士(農学)<br>甲第22508号<br>農博第2412号<br>新制||農||1078(附属図書館)<br>学位論文||R2||N5288(農学部図書室)<br>京都大学大学院農学研究科応用生命科学専攻<br>(主査)教授 加納 健司, 教授 三芳 秀人, 教授 宮川 恒<br>学位規則第4条第1項該当

O presente trabalho é um estudo da utilização da forragem hidropônica como opção para alimentação de ruminantes em épocas do ano em que há escassez de alimentos volumosos. O experimento foi realizado em ambiente protegido, no Instituto Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, em Sertão, Brasil, no ano de 2009, com o objetivo de avaliar o efeito da densidade de semeadura e da idade de colheita na produtividade e na composição bromatológica de milho produzido em substrato de feno de aveia. Adotou-se o delineamento experimental inteiramente casualizado, com quatro repetições, utilizando parcelas de 1,0 m2 (1,0 x 1,0 m). As densidades foram distribuídas em esquema fatorial (3 x 2), constituído de 3 densidades de semeadura (1,0; 2,0 e 3,0 kg.m-2). A fertirrigação foi usada do 3º ao 17º dia. Foram realizadas duas colheitas, aos 10 e 17 dias, onde foram determinadas a massa de matéria verde e seca (kg.m-2), a altura das plantas e os teores de PB, FDA, FDN e NDT. Os resultados foram submetidos à análise estatística pelo teste de Tukey ao nível de significância de 5%. Não houve diferença estatística para os valores obtidos pela análise bromatológica em relação às densidades de semeadura utilizadas. A massa de matéria seca aos 17 dias para a densidade de 3,0 kg.m-2 sofreu redução e diferenciou estatisticamente das demais. Para a utilização da forragem verde, a colheita pode ser realizada aos 17 dias (não houve diferença significativa em relação às densidades de semeadura de 2,0 e 3,0 kg.m-2).<br>The present work is a study of the use of hydroponic forage as an option for feeding ruminant during period of the year with food scarcity. The experiment was carried out in greenhouse, at Federal Institute of Rio Grande do Sul in Sertão, Brazil, in 2009, with the objective of evaluating the effect of the sowing density and crop age in the productivity and bromatological composition of maize under hydroponic system, produced under oat hay substrate. The statistical design was completely randomized, with four replications, using plots of 1,0 m2 (1,0 x 1,0 m). The densities were distributed in outline factorial (3 x 2), constituted of 3 sowing densities (1.0, 2.0 and 3.0 kg.m-2). The fertirrigation was used from the 3rd to the 17th day. There were two harvests, at 10 and 17 days, which were determined the green and dry mass (kg.m-2), the plant height and the PB, FDA, FDN and NDT content. The results were submitted to the statistical analysis by the Tukey test (P > 0.05). There was no statistical difference between values obtained by the bromatological analysis related to the sowing densities. The dry matter at 17 days using the seeding rate of 3.0 kg.m-2 was statistical lower than others treatments. For the use of the green forage, the harvesting can be performed at 17 days (there was no significant difference in relation to seeding rates of 2.0 and 3.0 kg.m-2).

Com o objetivo de analisar a rentabilidade econômica da produção de mudas de alface produzidas em bandejas com diferentes volumes de substrato e formato de célula, foram realizados levantamentos de custos de um produtor de mudas localizado no estado de São Paulo, nas safras de verão e de inverno. Para avaliar os custos de produção para cada safra de cultivo, foi usado a metodologia adotada pelo Centro de Estudos Avançados em Economia Aplicada (CEPEA), onde se calcula o Custo Total de produção pela soma entre o Custo Anual de Recuperação do Patrimônio (CARP) e o Custo Operacional (CO). O CARP é uma metodologia que considera o fator depreciação e custo de oportunidade do capital imobilizado para aquisição dos bens envolvidos, e o CO envolve todos os custos operacionais da atividade (viveiro de produção de mudas). O custo total de produção por área (m2), custo total de produção por muda e custo total de produção por bandeja foram superiores na safra de inverno em relação à safra de verão. Para o custo de produção por muda, os valores obtidos seguiram a seguinte ordem (R$): 84 células &gt; 105 células &gt; 128 células achatada alta &gt; 128 células achatada baixa &gt; 128 células cônicas &gt; 200 células cônicas. Já para o custo de produção por bandeja, a ordem foi a seguinte: 84 células &gt; 105 células &gt; 128 células achatada alta &gt; 128 células achatada baixa &gt; 200 células cônicas &gt; 128 células cônicas. Para o lucro da atividade, a ordem dos lucros foi (R$): 128 células achatada alta &gt; 128 células achatada baixa &gt; 84 células &gt; 105 células &gt; 200 células cônicas &gt; 128 células cônicas. Além da rentabilidade econômica, dois experimentos foram conduzidos no viveiro especializado na produção de mudas, durante os períodos de 25 de dezembro de 2015 a 3 de fevereiro de 2016 e 26 de janeiro a 26 de fevereiro de 2016. Os períodos de cultivo foram de 28 e 40 dias para o primeiro ciclo (mudas convencionais e \"mudões\", respectivamente) e de 31 dias para todas as bandejas, no segundo ciclo. Os experimentos (primeiro e segundo ciclo) foram instalados em delineamento experimental inteiramente casualizado com quatro repetições, sendo os tratamentos constituídos por 6 diferentes tipos de bandejas para produção de mudas (128 células com formato cônico,128 células achatada baixa, 128 células achatada alta, 84 células, 105 células e 200 células com formato cônico). As mudas convencionais são destinadas para a produção hidropônica com uso de berçário, e os \"mudões\" para sistemas de cultivo hidropônico sem uso de berçário. As características agronômicas avaliadas foram massas frescas e secas das partes aéreas e das raízes, área foliar, comprimento total, área superficial, diâmetro médio, volume total e número total de raízes. Para mudões, que são destinados ao cultivo hidropônico sem a utilização da fase de berçário, as bandejas de 105 células resultaram em mudas com crescimento similar àquelas produzidas em bandejas de 84 células. Através desses resultados é possível recomendar as bandejas de 105 células por possibilitarem maior rendimento por área ao produtor de mudas. As mudas produzidas em bandejas de 84 e 105 células foram mais desenvolvidas, em geral, no primeiro ciclo do que no segundo ciclo. Para mudas convencionais, de maneira geral, as bandejas de 200 células cônicas resultaram em menor desenvolvimento das plântulas comparadas às bandejas de 128 células cônicas, achatadas baixas e achatadas altas. As bandejas de 200 células cônicas resultaram em maior massa fresca da parte aérea, área foliar, comprimento total das raízes e número total de raízes no segundo ciclo em relação ao primeiro, devido ao período de cultivo ter sido superior no segundo ciclo (31 dias após a semeadura).<br>The objective of this study was to analyze the economic profitability of lettuce seedling production in trays with different cell volume and format through cost survey of production related to a grower located at Sao Paulo State. In order to evaluate the production costs for each growth period, the methodology adopted by Center of Advanced Studies on Applied Economy (CEPEA) was used to calculate the Total Cost of Production by the sum between the Annual Cost of Recovery (CARP) and the Operating Cost (CO). The CARP is a methodology that considers the factor of depreciation and opportunity cost of immobilized capital to acquire the assets involved, and the CO involves all operational costs of the activity (nursery of seedling production). The total cost of production per square meter (m2), total cost of production per seedling and total cost of production per tray were higher in the winter season as compared to the summer season. For the production cost per seedling, the values obtained were in the following order (R $): 84 cells&gt; 105 cells&gt; 128 flattened high cell&gt; 128 flattened low cell&gt; 128 conic cells &gt; 200 conic cells. For the cost of production per tray, the order was as follows: 84 cells&gt; 105 cells&gt; 128 flattened high cells&gt; 128 flattened low cells &gt; 200 conic cells &gt; 128 conic cells. For the profit of the activity, the order of profits was (R $): 128 flattened high cells &gt; 128 flattened low cells &gt; 84 cells&gt; 105 cells&gt; 200 conic cells&gt; 128 conic cells. Besides the economic profitability, two experiments were conducted in the nursery specialized in the seedling production of lettuce during the periods of December 25, 2015 to February 3, 2016 and January 26 to February 26, 2016. The growing periods were 28 And 40 days for the first cycle (conventional seedlings and \"large seedlings\", respectively) and 31 days for all trays in the second cycle. The experiments (first and second cycle) were installed in a completely randomized experimental design with four replicates, and the treatments consisted of 6 different types of trays for seedlings production (128 cells with conical shape, 128 flattened low cells, 128 flattened high cells, 84 cells, 105 cells and 200 cells with conical shape). The conventional seedlings are destined for hydroponic production with the use of nursery phase and the \"large seedlings\" are used to hydroponic systems without of nursery phase. The agronomic characteristics evaluated were fresh and dry masses of the aerial parts and roots, leaf area, total length, surface area, mean diameter, total volume and total number of roots. For \"large seedlings\", trays of 105 cells resulted in seedlings with growth similar to those produced in trays of 84 cells. Through these results, it is possible to recommend the trays of 105 cells because they allow greater yield per square meter to the grower of seedlings. The seedlings produced in trays of 84 and 105 cells, in general, were more developed in the first cycle than in the second cycle. For conventional seedlings, the trays of 200 conical cells resulted in lower seedling development as compared to trays of 128 conical cells, flattened low and flattened tall cells. The trays of 200 conical cells resulted in higher fresh shoot mass, leaf area, total root length and total number of roots in the second cycle as compared to the first, because the growing period was higher in the second cycle (31 days after sowing).

Submitted by (lucia.rodrigues@ufrpe.br) on 2016-10-11T14:44:47Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Ricardo Andrade Wanderley.pdf: 1025084 bytes, checksum: 6e914f9adffda90721f08f0275a3264c (MD5)<br>Made available in DSpace on 2016-10-11T14:44:47Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Ricardo Andrade Wanderley.pdf: 1025084 bytes, checksum: 6e914f9adffda90721f08f0275a3264c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-07-29<br>The use of waters under appropriate conditions of management should not offer great problems for irrigation. In the semi-arid area of the Brazilian Northeast that presents a hydrological deficit, the inadequate management of the irrigation practice, allied to the incomplete leaching and to the intense evaporation, result in an increasing of the salts in the surface and/or undersurface layers of the soil due to the insufficient salt balance commonly verified in those areas. In this way, aiming to evaluate the soil salty process of the Moxotó – PE irrigation project, submitted to the application of both rejects of desalt machine and of desalt machine after use in the lettuce cultivation in the nutrient laminate flow (type NFT) as a hydroponic technical system, it was realized an experiment in soil columns installed in the Soil Mechanic and Residue Use Laboratory of the Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco. The treatments were delineated in a randomized blocks with factorial arrangement of two soils (clayly and sandy), two types of reject (reject of desalt machine and reject of the hydroponic system) and five salty concentrations (0,53; 1,16; 1,90; 3,52; 4,60 dS m ֿ¹), with three replicates. The evaluated components in the extract of the saturated paste were the electric conductivity (EC), soluble cations and the relationship of sodium adsorption relationship (SAR). In the leached solution it was determined the electric conductivity, the soluble sodium, the pH. The calcium, magnesium and potassium soluble concentrations increased independently of the quality of the reject used, and this increasing was proportional at the electric conductivity levels applied. The use of the irrigation volumes equivalent to three volumes of pores, using rejects both of desalt machine and of hydroponic system didn't provide the neither salty process nor sodium process of the soils studied (EC > 4,00 dS m-¹ and SAR > 13). The drainage water was characterized as a material potentially pollutant in terms of the concentration of soluble salts, verifying decreasing in the saturated hydraulic conductivity values of the soils.<br>O uso de águas sob condições adequadas de manejo não deveria oferecer maiores problemas para irrigação. Na região semi-árida do Nordeste brasileiro que apresenta um déficit hídrico, o manejo inadequado da prática da irrigação, aliada à lixiviação incompleta e a intensa evaporação, resulta num aumento dos sais nas camadas superficial e/ou subsuperficial do solo em decorrência da insuficiência do balanço de sais comumente verificado nessas áreas. Desse modo, objetivando avaliar o processo de salinização de solos do perímetro irrigado do Moxotó–PE, submetidos a aplicação de rejeito de dessalinizador e rejeito de dessalinizador depois de ser utilizado no cultivo de alface no sistema hidropônico técnica do fluxo laminar de nutriente (tipo NFT), realizou-se um experimento em colunas de solo instalado no laboratório de Mecânica do solo e aproveitamento de resíduos da Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco. Os tratamento foram dispostos em um delineamento de blocos casualizados com arranjo fatorial de dois de solos (argiloso e arenoso), dois tipos de rejeito (rejeito de dessalinizador e rejeito da hidroponia) e cinco concentração salinas (0,53; 1,16; 1,90; 3,52; 4,60 dS m ֿ¹), com três repetições. Os componentes avaliados no extrato da pasta saturada foram a condutividade elétrica (CE), cátions solúveis e a relação de adsorção de sódio (RAS). No lixiviado determinou-se a condutividade elétrica, o sódio solúvel, o pH. A concentração de cálcio, de magnésio e de potássio solúveis aumentou independentemente da qualidade do rejeito utilizado, e este aumento foi proporcional aos níveis de condutividade elétrica aplicados. A utilização da lâmina de irrigação equivalente a três volumes de poros, utilizando rejeito de dessalinizador e de hidroponia não proporcionou a salinização e nem sodificação dos solos em estudo (CE > 4,00 dS m ֿ¹ e RAS > 13). A água de drenagem caracterizou-se como material potencialmente poluente em termos da concentração de sais solúveis, tornando-se impróprio para reutilização agrícola.

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.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-08-20T14:22:08Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao_Luana_Borges_Affonso.pdf: 1352804 bytes, checksum: 985576a4337a31361054cc90e4f0eaa2 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-03-04<br>This work aimed to study some aspects of the spread and growth of seedlings of strawberry guava. For this, we developed three chapters. The first chapter deals with the rooting of strawberry guava microshoots Irapuã with different concentrations of IBA (0, 1000, 2000, 3000, 4000 mg L-1). We evaluated the survival and rooting percentage, root number, root length, fresh and dry. We observed positive influence of growth regulators on rooting of microcuttings, however, with little difference between concentrations. In chapter two we studied the influence of semi-hydroponic systems and conventional in the development of seedlings produced from Araçazeiro Irapuã micropile. We evaluated the number of shoots, growth of shoots, secondary shoots and plants with shoot length secondary. We did not observe influence of cropping systems in plant development. In the third chapter, was conducted in a semi-hydroponic system microjardim clonal Irapuã strawberry guava, which was conducted monthly collections of microcutting and evaluated the rooting ability of each collection. It was observed that the cultivation of strawberry guava microstumps in semi-hydroponic system is efficient in producing microcuttings, allowing successive collections. The rooting of microcutting microstumps collected in semi-hydroponic system showed low rates of survival and rooting.<br>O presente trabalho teve como objetivo estudar alguns aspectos relacionados a propagação e ao crescimento de mudas de araçazeiro. Para isso, foram elaborados três capítulos. O primeiro capítulo aborda o enraizamento de microestacas de araçazeiro Irapuã com diferentes concentrações de ácido indolbutírico (0, 1000, 2000, 3000, 4000 mg L-1). Foi avaliada a porcentagem de sobrevivência e enraizamento, número de raízes, comprimento das raízes, massa fresca e seca. Foi observado influência positiva do regulador de crescimento no enraizamento das microestacas, no entanto, com pouca diferença entre as concentrações. No capítulo dois foi estudado a influência dos sistemas semi-hidropônico e convencional no desenvolvimento das mudas de araçazeiro Irapuã produzidas a partir de microestacas. Foi avaliado o número de brotações, crescimento de brotações, plantas com brotações secundárias e comprimento das brotações secundárias. Não foi observado influência dos sistemas de cultivo no desenvolvimento das plantas. No terceiro capitulo, foi conduzido em sistema semi-hidropônico um microjardim clonal de araçazeiro Irapuã, onde foi realizado coletas mensais de microestacas e avaliada a capacidade de enraizamento a cada coleta. Foi observado que o cultivo de microcepas de araçazeiro em sistema semi-hidropônico é eficiente na produção de microestacas, permitindo sucessivas coletas. O enraizamento das microestacas coletadas de microcepas em sistema semi-hidropônico apresentou baixas taxas de sobrevivência e enraizamento.

Submitted by Sandra Pereira (srpereira@ufrrj.br) on 2017-03-30T12:28:08Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2010 - Marco Andre Alves de Souza.pdf: 5657340 bytes, checksum: becf46e090a1ebcc4a731b733c77fb6a (MD5)<br>Made available in DSpace on 2017-03-30T12:28:08Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2010 - Marco Andre Alves de Souza.pdf: 5657340 bytes, checksum: becf46e090a1ebcc4a731b733c77fb6a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-01-18<br>Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cient?fico e Tecnol?gico - CNPq<br>The cultivation of aromatic specimens for obtaining essential oils have great economic importance, mainly by increasing demand in the food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industry. Brazil is the largest producer of essential oil, however, is what earns less in money value, because, its production is mainly of orange essential oil, with low added value. The essential oil of M. arvensis is rich in menthol (70-80%), a natural products with higher demand in daily life of modern man. Currently, Brazil has become a major importer of menthol which has contributed negatively to the brazilian trade balance. Thus, for the development of this work was chosen to be a specimens of economic interest and social demand, the Mentha arvensis. The purpose of study was to evaluate whether changes in light intensities and different levels of phosphorus promote changes in biomass production and nutrition, with consequences for the biosynthesis of essential oils. We also analyzed the influence of leaf age on the quality of essential oil. To this end, the plant of M. arvensis was grown under the effect of different conditions, which allowed the analysis of the levels of soluble fractions, of photosynthetic pigments, the activities of enzymes related to nitrogen assimilation and the anatomical and histochemical study of trichomes, morphological structure where it is produce the essential oil. The study also included analysis of the expression of genes related to the route of menthol synthesis. The essential oil was obtained by extraction with hydrodestillation in modified Clevenger and the chemical analysis of substances obtained by GC-MS. The Kovats index was used to collaborate in identification of the main substances in essential oil. The results showed that the essential oil quality is determined by physiological conditions and leaf age and that the production is dependent on the synthesis efficiency and density of trichomes on the leaves. In addition, it was found that different concentrations of phosphorus affected some aspects of plant metabolism, which reflected the production of biomass in the soluble fraction, with consequences on production and quality of essential oils. Also showed that variations in light levels affected the expression of six of the eight genes involved in the route of synthesis of menthol, in plants of M. arvensis and that changes in gene expression are probably associated with a transcription factor, which could be acting on the whole pathway. All of this information showed that environmental conditions and / or nutritional affected some aspects of plant metabolism, which reflected the production of biomass, of trichomes and on the expression of genes related to the route of menthol, which reflect on the quality and the production of essential oils<br>O cultivo de esp?cies arom?ticas para a obten??o de ?leos essenciais tem grande import?ncia econ?mica, principalmente, pela crescente demanda nas ind?strias de alimentos, de cosm?ticos e a farmac?utica. O Brasil ? o maior produtor de ?leo essencial, entretanto, ? o que menos arrecada em valores monet?rios, pois, sua produ??o ? basicamente de ?leo essencial de laranja, com baixo valor agregado. O ?leo essencial de Mentha arvensis L. ? rico em mentol (70-80%), uma dos produtos naturais com maior demanda no dia-a-dia do homem moderno. Atualmente, o Brasil tornou-se um grande importador de mentol o que tem contribu?do negativamente para a balan?a comercial brasileira. Deste modo, para o desenvolvimento deste trabalho escolheu-se a planta M. arvensis. O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar se varia??es nas intensidades luminosas e diferentes concentra??es de f?sforo promovem altera??es na produ??o de biomassa e em aspectos nutricionais, com reflexos na bioss?ntese de ?leos essenciais. Tamb?m foi avaliada a influ?ncia da idade da folha sobre a qualidade do ?leo essencial. Com esta finalidade, a planta de M. arvensis foi cultivada sob o efeito de diferentes condi??es, o que permitiu a an?lise dos teores das fra??es sol?veis, dos pigmentos fotossint?ticos, das atividades das enzimas relacionadas com a assimila??o do nitrog?nio e o estudo histoqu?mico e anat?mico dos tricomas secretores, estrutura morfol?gica onde ? produzido o ?leo essencial. Tamb?m foram realizadas analises da express?o dos genes relacionados com a rota de s?ntese do mentol. O ?leo essencial foi obtido por hidrodestila??o em Clevenger modificado e as analises qu?micas das subst?ncias realizadas por CG/EM. A utiliza??o do ?ndice de Kovats auxiliou na identific??o das principais subst?ncias no ?leo essencial. Os resultados permitiram concluir que a qualidade do ?leo essencial ? determinada pelas condi??es fisiol?gicas e a idade das folhas e que a produ??o ? dependente da efici?ncia de s?ntese e a densidade de tricomas secretores nas folhas. Al?m disso, foi constatado que as diferentes concentra??es de f?sforo afetaram alguns aspectos do metabolismo vegetal, os quais refletiram na produ??o de biomassa, nas fra??es sol?veis, com conseq??ncias na produ??o e qualidade dos ?leos essenciais. Tamb?m, mostraram que varia??es nos n?veis de luminosidade afetaram a express?o de seis entre os oito genes envolvidos com a rota de s?ntese do mentol, em plantas de M. arvensis e que as altera??es na express?o dos genes provavelmente est?o associados a um fator de transcri??o, o qual deve estar atuando sobre toda a rota metab?lica

As human population increases, the need for water increases in domestic, agricultural, industrial and urban sectors. Wastewater reuse after treatment is gaining acceptance world wide, as availability of fresh water sources decreases. However, it is also important to point out social and cultural differences that still exist in different pars of the world including those where reuse of wastewater for food production or any domestic use is not yet acceptable. The major concerns with effluent reuse are primarily its impact on human health and environmental risk. As a result, effluent reuse should be undertaken with caution after careful consideration of the potential impacts and risks. This thesis examined the potential to use the hydroponics nutrient film technique to grow commercially important crops using secondary-treated domestic wastewater. The crops chosen were a fruit crop (Lycopersicon esculantum - tomato), a leafy crop (Beta vulgaris ssp. cicla - silver beet) and a flower crop (Dianthus caryophyllus - carnation). Secondary-treated domestic wastewater was chosen because of the reduced risk of pathogen and heavy metal contamination in the crops and due to the guideline requirements for use of treated effluent for food crops. The possibility of using the effluent after the hydroponics treatment for further irrigation was also studied. The ability of secondary-treated effluent to supply adequate nutrients to the crops was assessed relative to a commercially available hydroponics solution (Chapter 3). The amount of time the solution was left in the system (nutrient solution retention time) was dependant on the plant uptake of the solution. The results obtained showed that the nutrients in secondary treated effluent was adequate for the carnations, but not for the food crops. The food crops from both treatments were compared to the produce purchased from a supermarket. The food crops showed signs of nutrient deficiency, particularly nitrogen. Based on the findings of the first experiment, the nutrient solution retention time was amended to 14 days. The carnations were not tested with the shorter nutrient solution retention time (NSRT) because they performed well in the previous trial with the longer nutrient solution retention time. The edible food crops performed better and did not show signs of nutrient deficiency when the nutrient solution retention time was reduced to 14 days. Further statistical analysis was conducted with the data from Chapters 3 and 4. Nutrient and water balances were calculated and the possible reason that the plants grown in the 14-day nutrient solution retention time took up more water, was a result of increased nutrients and better growth. A simple model was constructed to calculate height of the plants using multiple regression. The model was validated against the data collected from this study. The experiment conducted in Chapter 6 determined the nutritional quality of the food crops. The harvests from the wastewater and commercially available hydroponics solution were compared to produce purchased from a supermarket and tested for total caroteniods, total soluble solids and ascorbic acid concentrations. The nutritional quality of the wastewater grown produce was comparable to those grown in the hydroponic solution and those purchased. The risk of pathogen contamination to food crops and the die-off of pathogens in the hydroponic channels were studied in Chapter 7. This was tested by spiking the commercial hydroponic medium with Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium and monitoring bacterial pathogen die-off in the secondary treated domestic wastewater. The pathogen quality of the crop was tested in all treatments as well as on organically grown produce found at a local supermarket. The results of this experiment did not show any contamination on the surface of the food crops or within the food crops. This study demonstrated that growing tomatoes, silver beet and carnations using secondary-treated domestic wastewater was successful when the nutrient solution retention time was adjusted to the optimum level. In arid, developing and remote communities, this system is ideal as it conserves and reuses water for commercially important crops without compromising the health of the environment or of human beings. It can also be implemented in urban areas, as the system can be scaled according to the availability of space. In addition to this, the effluent after going through this system can be used for open irrigation as it meets the World Health Organisation guidelines. However, a number of additional concerns need further investigation. They include the transmission risk of other types of pathogen, which depends on the source of wastewater, and the effects of hormones and antibiotics on food crops and their effect on human health.

As human population increases, the need for water increases in domestic, agricultural, industrial and urban sectors. Wastewater reuse after treatment is gaining acceptance world wide, as availability of fresh water sources decreases. However, it is also important to point out social and cultural differences that still exist in different pars of the world including those where reuse of wastewater for food production or any domestic use is not yet acceptable. The major concerns with effluent reuse are primarily its impact on human health and environmental risk. As a result, effluent reuse should be undertaken with caution after careful consideration of the potential impacts and risks. This thesis examined the potential to use the hydroponics nutrient film technique to grow commercially important crops using secondary-treated domestic wastewater. The crops chosen were a fruit crop (Lycopersicon esculantum - tomato), a leafy crop (Beta vulgaris ssp. cicla - silver beet) and a flower crop (Dianthus caryophyllus - carnation). Secondary-treated domestic wastewater was chosen because of the reduced risk of pathogen and heavy metal contamination in the crops and due to the guideline requirements for use of treated effluent for food crops. The possibility of using the effluent after the hydroponics treatment for further irrigation was also studied. The ability of secondary-treated effluent to supply adequate nutrients to the crops was assessed relative to a commercially available hydroponics solution (Chapter 3). The amount of time the solution was left in the system (nutrient solution retention time) was dependant on the plant uptake of the solution. The results obtained showed that the nutrients in secondary treated effluent was adequate for the carnations, but not for the food crops. The food crops from both treatments were compared to the produce purchased from a supermarket. The food crops showed signs of nutrient deficiency, particularly nitrogen. Based on the findings of the first experiment, the nutrient solution retention time was amended to 14 days. The carnations were not tested with the shorter nutrient solution retention time (NSRT) because they performed well in the previous trial with the longer nutrient solution retention time. The edible food crops performed better and did not show signs of nutrient deficiency when the nutrient solution retention time was reduced to 14 days. Further statistical analysis was conducted with the data from Chapters 3 and 4. Nutrient and water balances were calculated and the possible reason that the plants grown in the 14-day nutrient solution retention time took up more water, was a result of increased nutrients and better growth. A simple model was constructed to calculate height of the plants using multiple regression. The model was validated against the data collected from this study. The experiment conducted in Chapter 6 determined the nutritional quality of the food crops. The harvests from the wastewater and commercially available hydroponics solution were compared to produce purchased from a supermarket and tested for total caroteniods, total soluble solids and ascorbic acid concentrations. The nutritional quality of the wastewater grown produce was comparable to those grown in the hydroponic solution and those purchased. The risk of pathogen contamination to food crops and the die-off of pathogens in the hydroponic channels were studied in Chapter 7. This was tested by spiking the commercial hydroponic medium with Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium and monitoring bacterial pathogen die-off in the secondary treated domestic wastewater. The pathogen quality of the crop was tested in all treatments as well as on organically grown produce found at a local supermarket. The results of this experiment did not show any contamination on the surface of the food crops or within the food crops. This study demonstrated that growing tomatoes, silver beet and carnations using secondary-treated domestic wastewater was successful when the nutrient solution retention time was adjusted to the optimum level. In arid, developing and remote communities, this system is ideal as it conserves and reuses water for commercially important crops without compromising the health of the environment or of human beings. It can also be implemented in urban areas, as the system can be scaled according to the availability of space. In addition to this, the effluent after going through this system can be used for open irrigation as it meets the World Health Organisation guidelines. However, a number of additional concerns need further investigation. They include the transmission risk of other types of pathogen, which depends on the source of wastewater, and the effects of hormones and antibiotics on food crops and their effect on human health.

Thesis (MScAgric)--University of Stellenbosch, 2003.<br>ENGLISH ABSTRACT: An open air hydroponic production system (OHS) is based on classic hydroponic principles, with the difference that it lacks climatological control because the plants are not produced in greenhouses and are cultivated in the outside environment. In these systems the plant is provided with all the essential nutrients through the irrigation system, which is scheduled according to accurate measurements of the available soil water, in three to seven pulses a day. The rationale is that, by delivering nutrients each day, the mixes can be representative of what the plant actually requires for that specific phenological stage. The aim of this study was to monitor the usefulness and impact of OHS on table grape production within the framework of a case study. For this purpose, it was necessary that all factors involved in the development and growth of the plant should be studied and integrated in a multidisciplinary approach. Currently very limited information exists on basic guidelines for the effective implementation of these systems for table grape production, particularly with regard to local conditions. As a start, and to establish some guidelines and measurable parameters for the implementation of these systems, vegetative growth parameters were analysed within the framework of yield and fruit quality. The experiments were performed in a commercial vineyard in the Paarl region and the cultivars used were Dan ben Hannah (DBH) and Waltham Cross (WC). Relevant soil and climatic conditions, irrigation scheduling, fertiliser application, as well as cultivation practices, were taken into account. The soil maps provided information on the soil types identified in the blocks prior to the establishment of the two cultivars. The conventionally treated vines were irrigated and fertilised according to historical block data, and the OHS-treated vines according to programmes established by two different consultants. The experimental layout included a comparison of conventional cultivation methods and vines that had been switched over from conventional methods to OHS in the middle of 2000. All measurements within the different treatments were done at specific measuring points laid out statistically. Ten phenological stages were chosen to monitor the various aspects throughout the season for both cultivars treated conventionally and hydroponically. All relevant climatic parameters were collected for this specific production unit. The growth, fertility and quality indicators of these cultivars under the mentioned cultivation practices are discussed and established through quantitative analysis One of the aims, namely to show that established table grape vines could adapt from micro-irrigation to drip irrigation within two seasons in terms of root adaptation, was proven in this study. Initially the soil types were identified as Cartref, Clovellyand Glenrosa for both cultivars. The WC block contained an Avalon and the DBH a Westleigh soil type as well. The soil pits in all four treatments revealed the soil type to be a Tukulu form with differences in the clay content. Active roots developed underneath the drip lines for the OHS-treated cultivars, while the roots were still evenly distributed over the entire soil profile for the conventionally treated vines. Also, both cultivars adapted to OHS in terms of yield and production within two seasons, especially WC, which produced a higher yield in the 2001/2002 season than in the previous four seasons. DBH showed a strong vegetative reaction to OHS in terms of excessive vegetative growth, which had an indirect effect on fruit quality and bud fertility. A higher rate of bud mite infection in the OHS-treated vines also had a negative influence on bud fertility. The excessive vegetative growth was due to a rainy 2001/2002 growth season, in combination with the irrigation and fertiliser programmes. The irrigation and fertiliser programmes were changed from the 2000/2001 to the 2001/2002 season because of the change in consultants. As a result of this change, the OHS-treated vines were given very high nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and micronutrient applications in the 2001/2002 season. The penetration of light in the canopy of the OHS-treated DBH was lower than in the conventionally treated DBH as a result of the above-mentioned factors, but the situation in Waltham Cross was the opposite. In the winter season of 2001, both OHS-treated cultivars were not fully adapted to the new system, as their pruning mass was lower than in the conventionally treated cultivars. No significant differences were determined for the winter cane starch content of both cultivars under conventional and OHS treatments. Effective fertiliser uptake proved to be suboptimal, especially in the case of calcium. Fruit analyses showed a lower calcium content in the OHS-treated fruit, which led to a poor skin cell structure and higher Botrytis infection during cold storage. The OHStreated cultivars showed more compact bunches, with an overall smaller rachis structure, which was another reason for the higher Botrytis infection during cold storage. However, the more compact rachis structure could not be explained on the basis of the elemental analyses. The OHS-treated DBH showed a more intense red berry colour, while the OHS-treated WC had a higher Fosscan Brix value. Both OHS-treated cultivars therefore ripened earlier than the conventional treatments. One of the advantages of the use of OHS in table grape production shown in this study was the ability to manipulate the phenology of the grapevine to provide fully ripened grapes a few days earlier than the conventionally treated grapes. This kind of advantage could be used to manipulate the production of table grapes for a better market window. Despite its limitations, this study concluded that the use of OHS for table grape production might be a useful tool for future production management, but that accurate management regarding irrigation and nutrient applications is a prerequisite. This will have to be developed systematically through experimentation to fully unlock the potential of the OHS management system for table grape production. This study provides a starting point for future research to elucidate these aspects and has clearly shown that even established vineyards can be switched to OHS in a relatively short period of time. It is envisaged that the advantages of this system, as long as the correct management protocols are in place, could have a positive effect on the production of high quality fruit for the international market.<br>AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: 'n Oop hidroponiese produksiestelsel (OHS) is gebaseer op klassieke hidroponiese beginsels, met die verskil dat OHS nie klimatologies beheer kan word nie. Die plante word nie in glashuise of tonnelsisteme verbou nie, maar wei onder buitelug toestande. Binne hierdie sisteme word die plante van alle noodsaaklike voedingstowwe deur die besproeiingstelsel voorsien. Hierdie voedingstowwe word in drie tot sewe pulse per dag volgens akkurate beskikbare grondwaterbepalings geskeduleer. Die rasionaal is dat, deur die daaglikse lewering van voedingstowwe, die mengsels verteenwoordigend is van die plant se behoefte vir 'n spesifieke fenologiese stadium. Die doel van die studie was om die bruikbaarheid en impak van OHS op tafeldruifproduksie binne die raamwerk van 'n gevallestudie te monitor. Alle faktore wat by die groei en ontwikkeling van die plant betrokke is, moet in 'n multidissiplinêre benadering bestudeer en geïntegreer word. Daar is tans slegs beperkte inligting oor die basiese riglyne en effektiewe implementering van dié sisteme vir tafeldruifproduksie wat spesifiek is vir plaaslike toestande. As 'n beginpunt, en om sekere riglyne en meetbare parameters vir die implementering van die sisteme te vestig, is vegetatiewe parameters binne die raamwerk van opbrengs en vrugkwaliteit geanaliseer. Alle eksperimente is in kommersiële wingerdblokke in die Paarl-omgewing uitgevoer. Die kultivars wat vir die studie gebruik is, is Dan ben Hannah (DBH) en Waltham Cross (WC). Alle relevante grond- en klimaatstoestande, sowel as besproeiingskedulering, bemestingprogramme en verbouingspraktyke is vir die projek in ag geneem. Ou grondkaarte het inligting ten opsigte van die verskillende grondtipes wat voor die vestiging van die verskillende kultivars geïdentifiseer is, verskaf. Die wingerde, onder konvensionele behandeling, is volgens historiese blokdata besproei en bemes, terwyl die wingerde onder OHS volgens geskeduleerde programme wat vanaf konsultante verkry is, besproei en bemes is. Die eksperimentele uitleg het 'n vergelyking van konvensionele verbouingsmetodes en wingerde wat in die middel van 2000 van konvensionele na OHS-verbouing oorgeskakel is, ingesluit. Alle metings en analises binne die verskillende behandelings het by spesifieke statistiesbepaalde punte plaasgevind. Tien fenologiese stadia is gekies om die verskillende aspekte vir beide kultivars onder konvensionele en OHSbehandeling gedurende die seisoen te monitor. Alle relevante klimaatsdata is vir die spesifieke produksie-eenheid aangevra. Alle groei-, vrugbaarheids- en kwaliteitsparameters van die kultivars onder die bogenoemde behandelingsmetodes is bespreek en gevolglik deur kwantitatiewe analises bepaal. Een van die doelwitte, naamlik om uit te vind of reeds gevestigde ouer wingerde in terme van wortelaanpassing binne twee seisoene kan aanpas van mikrobesproeiing na drup OHS, is deur die studie bevestig. Aanvanklik was die grondtipes geidentifiseer as die vorme, Cartref, Clovelly en Glenrosa vir beide kultivars, met 'n Avalon vorm adisioneel by WC, en 'n Westleigh vorm by die DBH. Grondprofiele het egter getoon dat die grondtipes vir al vier behandelings 'n Tukulu vorm is met verskillende klei inhoude. Aktiewe wortels het vir die OHS-behandelde wingerde onder die druppers ontwikkel, terwyl die wortels in die konvensionele behandeling steeds eweredig oor die hele grondprofiel versprei was. Beide kultivars het ook in terme van opbrengs en produksie binne twee seisoene ná die oorskakeling van die konvensionele behandeling na OHS aangepas. WC het in die 2001/2002 seisoen 'n hoër opbrengs gelewer as in die vorige vier seisoene. Afgesien van die goeie aanpasbaarheid, het DBH 'n sterk vegetatiewe groeireaksie ten opsigte van die OHS-behandeling getoon, wat 'n indirekte effek op vrugkwaliteit en oogvrugbaarheid geopenbaar het. 'n Hoër mate van knopmiet infeksie in die OHSbehandelde stokke kon ook 'n negatiewe bydrae tot oogvrugbaarheid gemaak het. Die sterk vegetatiewe groei kon aan die hoër reënval gedurende die 200112002 groeiseisoen, tesame met die besproeiings- en bemestingsprogramme, toegeskryf word. Die besproeiings- en bemestingsprogramme is verander van die 2000/2001 seisoen na die 2001/2002 seisoen weens die aanstelling van 'n ander konsultant. As gevolg van hierdie verandering het die OHS-behandelde stokke baie hoë toedienings van stikstof, fosfaat, kalium en mikroelemente in die 2001/2002 seisoen ontvang. Sonligpenetrasie in die wingerdlower van die OHS-behandelde DBH was laer as in die konvensionele behandeling as gevolg van die bogenoemde faktore. Die situasie vir WC was egter die teenoorgestelde. Tydens die winterseisoen van 2001 was beide oorgeskakelde kultivars nie ten volle by die nuwe OHS-behandeling aangepas nie, soos gesien kan word in die laer lootmassas in vergelyking met die konvensionele kultivars. Geen beduidende verskil is vir die hoeveelheid stysel in die winterlote van beide kultivars onder konvensionele en OHS-behandeling verkry nie. Effektiewe voedingstofopname was suboptimaal, veral betreffende kalsium. Vruganalises het 'n laer kalsiuminhoud in die OHS-behandelde druiwe getoon, wat aanleiding gegee het tot 'n swakker seistruktuur in die druiwedoppe en 'n hoor mate van Bottytis-infeksie gedurende koelopberging. Die OHS-behandelde kultivars het meer kompakte trosse getoon met kleiner trosraamwerke, wat ook aanleiding kon gegee het tot 'n hoër Botrytis-infeksie. Die kleiner trosraamwerke kon nie deur voedingstofanalises verklaar word nie. Die OHS-behandelde DBH het 'n hoër kleurintensiteit getoon, en die OHS-behandelde WC het 'n hoër suikerinhoud getoon ten opsigte van die konvensionele behandeling. Beide OHS-behandelde kultivars was dus vroeër ryp as die konvensionele behandelings. Een van die voordele van OHS wat uit die studie voortspruit, is die vermoë om wingerdfenologie te manipuleer om ryper druiwe vroeër in die seisoen te verkry. Hierdie tipe voordeel kan aangewend word om druiwe vir "n beter markvenster te produseer. Hierdie studie, tesame met al sy beperkinge, kom tot die gevolgtrekking dat die gebruik van OHS vir tafeldruifproduksie 'n nuttige instrument vir toekomstige produksiebestuur is, maar dat die optimale bestuur van besproeiing en bemesting as kritiese faktore beskou moet word. Hierdie faktore sal sistematies deur intensiewe navorsing ontwikkel moet word om die volle potensiaal van OHS te ontsluit, spesifiek vir tafeldruifproduksie. Hierdie studie kan as 'n beginpunt gebruik word vir toekomstige navorsing vir meer toegeligte verklarings van die bogenoemde aspekte, veral met die voordeel dat reeds gevestigde wingerde maklik en vinnig by OHS kan aanpas. Die voordele van OHS kan 'n groot positiewe invloed op die produksie van hoër kwaliteit tafeldruiwe vir die internasionale mark hê, mits die regte bestuursriglyne in plek is en toegepas word.

With the recent development of nanotechnology, there has been increased production of engineered nanomaterials but limited containment strategies, resulting in inevitable release of a large amount of engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) in the environment. Many ENPs have potential adverse impacts on the environment, and one of the most commonly used ENPs, silver nanoparticle (AgNP), has attracted increased global concern. The current study focused on phytotoxicity of AgNPs to a model plant, Arabidopsis thaliana. Silver nanoparticles were introduced into the growth medium for the wild type A. thaliana plants and root uptake and translocation of AgNPs were examined in hydroponic growth condition. We also conducted growth stage based phenotypic analysis by growing A. thaliana throughout its life cycle in soil. The result indicated that: (1) wild type seeds germination was not affected by either AgNPs or their dissolved Ag+ ions; (2) AgNPs exposure resulted in a concentration- and size- dependent inhibition effect to the root elongation; (3) confocal and electron microscopy indicated that AgNPs could be taken up by seedling roots, yet most of AgNPs attached to the surface of seedling root cap; (4) AgNPs and their dissolved Ag+ ions at tested concentrations had little influence on the vegetative growth of A. thaliana, but they accelerated the floral development; and (5) the effect on the floral development stage reduced the quality of second-generation (F1) seeds, as indicated by their lower germination rate. In conclusion, AgNPs displayed both acute and chronic phytotoxicity to A. thaliana.

Rapid advancement of nanotechnology has caused serious concerns about the potential release and accumulation of engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) in the environment. As the most popular ENP in commercial products, the phytotoxicity of AgNPs has been extensively investigated. While it is now generally agreed that AgNP itself exerts unique toxicity to plants in addition to that of dissolved silver ion, the accumulation and fate of different forms of silver in plant tissues are unknown. The first part of this study investigated the phytotoxicity, accumulation and transport of Ag with different physical and chemical characteristics (e.g. ionic, nanoparticles, and bulk) in two agricultural crop species: Glycine max (soybean) and Triticum aestivum (wheat). The results showed that different forms of Ag demonstrated differential toxicity to these two species, with the Ag+ at the same nominal concentration displaying the strongest effect on plant growth. Exposure to 5 mg/L of elemental Ag in different forms all resulted in significant deposition on the root surface but its morphology and distribution patterns varied considerably. Internalization was observed for all forms of Ag. However, when Ag enters into plant roots, the upward transport efficiency from roots to shoots varied with both Ag type and plant species. In addition to AgNPs, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) has also attracted significant attention due to their broad applications. However, most previous toxicity studies have been heavily geared towards animal and human cell lines, with limited information available for the AuNP plant interactions. The second part of this study concentrated on elucidating the impact of surface coating on the phytotoxicity and plant uptake of AuNPs by Phaseolus vulgarisi (bush bean). The results showed that the impact of 5 mg/L of AuNPs on several physiological processes of plants was insignificant, regardless of the surface coating materials. However, AuNPs with different surface properties displayed significant differences in some biochemical parameters including the concentrations of hydrogen peroxide in plant roots and the activities of some enzymatic antioxidants. Similar to AgNPs, deposition of AuNPs on plant root surface was observed for all coatings. Surface coatings also affected the internalization of AuNPs in plant root cells and their subcellular localization. Overall, the study demonstrated that the physical and chemical properties of Ag and Au NPs play important roles in their interactions with plants and consideration of the unique properties of nanoparticles is critical in assessing their food safety concerns.

Syfte: En långsam utveckling av levande väggar i Sverige beror bland annat på bristande erfarenhet och kunskap inom byggbranschen. Tidigare studier visar bland annat utmaningar gällande teknikens anpassning till ett svenskt klimat och ett krävande underhåll beroende av kompetens, planering och samverkan. Målet med studien är att analysera ett hållbart underhåll utifrån teknik och underhållsplanering av systemet levande väggar för att kunna besvara dessa problem. Metod: Studien är av kvalitativ karaktär där använda metoder är dokumentanalys, intervju och observation. Dokumentanalys ger en lägesbild av implementerade lösningar i södra Sverige och strategier för underhållsplanering. Intervju med relevanta aktörer bidrar med erfarenheter om teknik, underhåll och planering. Observation bekräftar information om teknik. Resultat: Studien visar på att ingen av de studerade konstruktionslösningarna kan anses fullständigt hållbara, men det finns systemlösningar som har mer eller mindre hållbara egenskaper. Levande väggar har starka sociala och ekologiska fördelar, där växtligheten bidrar till att öka ekosystemtjänsterna i urban miljö. En mindre resursanvändning är nödvändig för en hållbar teknik, där naturlig bevattning, lokala tåliga växter, varaktig konstruktion samt återvunna materialkomponenter främjar hållbar miljö och ekonomi. Filtdukssystem är enklare i design medan modulsystem är mer flexibelt. Ett gemensamt mål bland studerade projekt är att skapa ett så underhållsfritt system som möjligt där väggen får leva på naturlig väg. Acceptans för vilande växter under vinterhalvåret kan sänka krav på underhållet. Teknisk övervakning underlättar men manuell tillsyn är vital för väggens överlevnad. Frekvensen på underhållet varierar från projekt till projekt där kundens önskemål, placering, typ av vägg, storlek, växtval och årstid påverkar. Därför är det viktigt med planering och kontinuerlig utvärdering av behov. Majoriteten av studerade projekt har ingen tydlig underhållplanering, men studien visar på framgångar av ett tydligt gemensamt mål, tidig involvering av driftpersonal, platsanalys, målinriktad underhållsplan och erfarenhetsåterkoppling. Konsekvenser: Studiens slutsats är att tekniken för levande väggar behöver utvecklas för att för att lämna ett mindre fotavtryck på miljö och ekonomi. Utvecklingen går mot ett så underhållsfritt system som möjligt, men den manuella tillsynen kan inte ersättas helt av avancerad teknik. Varje anläggnings unika förutsättningar kräver noggrann planering och kontinuerlig utvärdering av behov. Begränsningar: Studien behandlar levande väggar i ett svenskt urbant klimat, där resultatet baseras på erfarenheter från projekt utförda i södra Sverige. Annan geografisk placering skapar andra förutsättningar för teknik och underhåll. Mer generella antaganden kan göras gällande underhållsplanering. Fler intervjuer med underhållstekniker kan bidra med andra aspekter i analysen.<br>Purpose: A slow development of living walls in Sweden is partly due to lack of experience and knowledge in the construction industry. Former studies point at challenges of adapting the technique in a Swedish climate and the importance of planning, knowledge and cooperation for the maintenance. The objective of the study is to analyse a sustainable maintenance by technique and maintenance planning of the system living walls in order to answer these challenges.   Method: The study is based on a qualitative approach where the methods are document analysis, interview and observation. Document analysis gives a status report of the implemented living walls in Sweden and introduces strategies for maintenance planning. Interview with relevant participants contributes with experiences concerning technique, maintenance and maintenance planning. Observation confirms the information about the technique. Findings: The study shows that none of the observed solutions can be considered completely sustainable, though they do have some sustainable qualities. Living walls have strong social and ecological benefits, where the vegetation contributes to increase ecosystem services in urban environment. A less use of resources is necessary for a sustainable technique where the use of stormwater, local resistant plants, lasting construction and recycled components promotes a sustainable environment and economy. The felt system is simpler in its design while the modular system is more flexible. A common objective among the observed projects is to create a maintenance-free solution as possible. Acceptance for resting plants during winter can lower the demands of the maintenance. Technical monitoring facilitates the maintenance but the manual handling of living walls is crucial. The frequency of the maintenance varies from each project where the client’s choice, placement of the wall, type of solution, size, plant choice and season affect. Therefore, it is important with planning and constantly evaluating a walls needs. The majority of the observed projects do not have a maintenance plan but the study shows success by a common objective, site analysis, goal-oriented maintenance plan and experience feedback. Implications: The conclusion of the study is that the technique of living walls needs to be evolved to leave a smaller footprint on the environment and the economy. The development is towards a maintenance-free solution but the manual handling can not be replaced by advanced technique. Every projects individual conditions demands thorough planning and continuous evaluation of the wall. Limitations: The study discuss living walls in the Swedish urban climate, where the result is based on experiences from projects developed in the southern part of Sweden. Other geographical placement causes different conditions for technique and maintenance. General assumptions can be made concerning the maintenance planning. More interviews with maintenance staff can contribute with other aspects to the analysis.

About 150 rhizobacteria and 49 rhizosphere fungi were isolated from the rhizosphere of grasses and sedges at Nylsvley Nature Reserve, Limpopo Province, South Africa. The rhizobacterial isolated were mostly Gram negative (72%) and rod shaped (73%). The dominant fungal genera were Trichoderma, Aspergillus, Pencillium, Neosartorya and Fusarium. The antagonistic activity of the above isolates were determined in a dual culture assay against a range of plant pathogens namely Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, Pythium irregulare, Penicillium digitatum, Fusarium solani and Geotrichum candidum. All rhizosphere fungal isolates showed positive antagonism against G. candidum (100%) and F. solani (100%). The rhizobacterial isolates showed positive antagonism against G. candidum (71%) and C. gloeosporioides (76%). The growth promotion and biocontrol activity of the rhizosphere isolates that showed broad-spectrum antagonistic activity against the fore mentioned pathogens were further evaluated on Canadian peat substrate under greenhouse condition. Although most of the rhizosphere isolates resulted in improved fresh leaf weight in comparison with the non-inoculated control in final growth promotion experiments, no statistical difference could be found in increasing leaf weight by one of the tested isolates. Some isolates and BactolifeTM prevented root infection by Pythium. However, only isolate 68B showed significant prevention of root infection compared to the Pythium inoculated control. The selected rhizobacteria, fungal and commercial biocontrol products that showed the most effective growth promotion and biocontrol activities were further evaluated in a re-circulating hydroponic system. Overall, isolate BSB (Bacillus subtilis) consistently enhanced the fresh leaf and root weight by 29.82 and 24.31% compared to the untreated control. Treatments with rhizobacteria isolate 91B and 43B significantly increased fresh leaf weight and suppressed Pythium root infection of lettuce. Isolate 91B and 121B significantly decreased the incidence of Pythium after the 1st and 2nd week of inoculation respectively. The combination of rhizobacteria BSB and 43B showed a synergistic effect as reflected in increased fresh leaf weight and total biomass per plant whilst suppressing root rot caused by Pythium group-F. Copyright 2003, University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. Please cite as follows: Begashaw, L 2003, Utilisation of rhizosphere microflora in the biocontrol of root rot and growth enhancement of lettuce under hydroponic systems, MSc dissertation, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, viewed yymmdd < http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-05092005-103113 / > E642/ag</gm><br>Dissertation (MSc (Agric))--University of Pretoria, 2006.<br>Microbiology and Plant Pathology<br>unrestricted

Controlled environment agriculture offers a solution to challenges including less available land, water deficits, and consumer demand for pesticide free produce. However, control of soil-borne diseases is a major limiting factor. The goal of this dissertation was to examine predictions of the hypothesis that border cells function to protect plant health by controlling microorganisms associated with plants grown in hydroponic culture. Border cells separate from root tips upon immersion in water, and appear to have important roles in the defense mechanisms of plant roots. The general objectives were (1) to study the delivery of border cells in hydroponics; (2) to evaluate interactions between border cells and microorganisms in hydroponics; and (3) to explore approaches to alter border cell production for improved root disease control. In this study it was confirmed that border cells can be released continuously into the solution of hydroponic culture suggesting that plants grown in this system may use extra energy in the production of new border cells. Free border cells interacted with microorganisms present in the hydroponic solution by secreting an extracellular capsule. Previous studies showed that proteins are a key component of this capsule, including lectins. The interaction of pea lectin and Nectria haematococca spores therefore was explored. Results demonstrated that pea lectin agglutinates fungal spores in a hapten-specific manner, and inhibits their germination. Lectin had no negative effect on root development suggesting that it could be used as a potential control for soil-borne diseases in hydroponics. To control the production of border cells, subsequent studies measured the impact of a transient exposure of root tips to different metabolites secreted by root caps and border cells. Exposure to specific metabolites altered the production of border cells without measurable effects on root growth and development. This is in contrast to results obtained with altered gene expression. For example, gene silencing of a border cell specific gene resulted in altered root growth.

Thesis (MTech (Horticultural Science))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2016.<br>Hydroponics, i.e. plant cultivation in mineral-rich water is a synergy between plant, human, and machine. For decades the hydroponic garden has been offered on horticultural markets, and was repeatedly innovated to better meet consumer horticultural needs. Currently, platform convergences with electronic control systems can possibly enable more efficient products for direct consumer hydroponic cultivation. This means that, like many appliances in the home; hydroponic plant cultivation can become somewhat automated. Marketing and product innovation can help calibrate optimal New Product Development NPD of hydroponic gardens for people. The literature review grasps how consumers are subjected to a changing environment together with changing technology such as hydroponics, plant nutrition, and even garden automation. Market research frameworks namely Morphological Analysis (MA) and Conjoint Analysis (CA) are the tools deployed here for profiling and prioritising these products for horticultural consumers. Firstly, a qualitative analysis identifies conceptual sets for structures, inputs, and controls, which all harmonise into new intersections cultivation, hydroponics, and automation and the e-garden concepts. The MA next produces, and organises secondary data into constraints for the CA. Here, general hydroponic cultivation is first decomposed into all its many component parts which collectively describe the whole, where these parts are then classed along various attributes namely: garden plane xA, automation xB, performance xC, organics xD, and price xE So garden plane is composed of level and vertical gardens, garden automation is composed of manual and automatic gardens, garden performance is composed of casual and high-performance gardens, garden organics is composed of non-organic and organic gardens, and garden price although quantitative is simply composed of R2500 and R5000. These classes of attributed data can now become treated as categorical factors using indicator or dummy variables. Secondly, the CA determines how these attributes are most preferred by horticultural consumers at garden centre clusters. This involves measuring respondent preferences levels, to compute the part-worth utility for each attribute found in the MA. Factors such as garden organics, price, and automation hold adjusted alpha significance. Mainly, garden organics contributed to response effects, while price has negative slope and is second, while automation comes third. A combination of garden automation and organics is found to optimise consumer utility for Hydroponic Garden(s) HG.This research illuminates how horticultural consumers may prefer various HG, by understanding HG and how they can better benefit these people.

The goal of this study was to prove that aquaponic systems can produce lettuce of equal growth and quality compared to hydroponic lettuce production and to determine the stocking density of fish required for plant growth. Aquaponics is the integration of recirculating aquaculture and hydroponic plant production. The project had four objectives. The first objective was to determine the biomass of fish required for plant growth to develop a fish to plant density ratio. The second objective was to compare lettuce grown with aquaponic water and a hydroponic solution under the same environmental conditions. The third objective was to compare the quality of lettuce grown with aquaponics water plus nutrient supplementation with a hydroponic solution. The fourth objective was to determine the nitrogen dynamics in the aquaponic system and to compare the nutrient composition of lettuce grown with aquaponics water with nutrient supplementation and hydroponic solution. It was determined that under the specified environmental conditions 5 kg m⁻³ of Nile tilapia (O. niloticus) fed 2% of their body weight daily yields on average 4.7 kg m⁻² of lettuce (L. sativa cv. Rex) in 35 days. There was no significant difference (p ≤ 0.05) in biomass or chlorophyll concentration index in lettuce (L. sativa cv. Rex) grown with aquaponics water and nutrient supplements versus a hydroponic solution. The aquaponics solution generated equal biomass and chlorophyll concentration indexes compared to the hydroponic solution. Aquaponics water plus supplementation can yield L. sativa cv. Rex with equal biomass accumulation and chlorophyll concentration indexes compared to hydroponics lettuce. Nutrients added to the aquaponics system consisted of iron, manganese, and zinc. These nutrient concentrations became depleted in the aquaponics water over time and were not replenished via the fish feed. Dolomite was added to the aquaponics system every two weeks to increase the buffering capacity of the water and maintain optimal pH levels. Aquaponics lettuce had similar nutrient composition to hydroponic lettuce. One head of L. sativa cv. Rex (176.75 ± 31.03) will assimilate approximately 5.96 grams of nitrogen (3.38% per dry gram lettuce). One kilogram of fish will yield 6.4 lettuce heads (1,128 grams) and fixate 38.13 grams of nitrogen.

By 2050, it is estimated that food production will need to increase by 70 percent in developed countries and 100 percent in developing countries to meet the demands of future populations. In countries such as the United Kingdom - where the opportunities for increasing food production are limited due to the lack of available land - urban agriculture is seen as a possible solution to meeting increased food demand. However, many cities in the United Kingdom exhibit high building densities and the availability of space at ground level for agricultural activities is in short supply. As a result, the practice of urban agriculture in high-density cities is typically portrayed as a succession of purpose-built edifices that are filled with lettuces or livestock; illustrating a method of food production that is dependent on substantial investment and the demolition of existing buildings to succeed. Within this thesis, these large utopian agricultural skyscrapers are pushed to one side, and existing buildings become the focus of the research; so as to work with cities as they exist today rather than against them. The aim of this thesis is to determine the productivity of building integrated technical food systems and to understand the challenges that face their integration within existing buildings in the future, to calculate the cumulative impact of building integrated technical food systems on UK food security and to understand the potential benefits of building integrated technical food systems such as employment opportunities and the increase in green infrastructure. The delivery of this thesis is not dependent on a pre-existing hypothesis that building integrated technical food systems will drastically improve food security. Instead, this thesis relies on the design of real-world experiments, the development of simulated studies and the construction of logical arguments to quantify and qualify the potential impacts of building integrated technical food systems.

The major problem of salinity n regions of intensive cultivations such as Ierapetra, has started to affect the crop production. This project was designed to study the effects of salinity on several biochemical and physiological parameters in two hybrids of eggplant as grafted and non-grafted. The two hybrids were the Solanum melongena L hybrid Habana and Solanum melongena L hybrid Vernina. The concentrations that were chosen (12.5 25, 50, 100, 150 and 200mM) represent a scale of salt concentration and were cultivated as self rooted plants in soil, hydroponically and hydroponically as grafted. Grafting also seems to play an important role for salinity tolerance. To corroborate the different parameters were used as indicators of salinity affection and quantified. Plant height and number of leaves were affected in all three experiments and for all plant types whether grafted or not. Similar were the results for the dry and fresh weight of stem leaves and fruits. For the physiological function of the plants factors such as chlorophyll fluorescence and photosynthetic rate were affected especially at higher concentrations of NaCL. The chlorophyll content in the leaves, which was also measured, was negatively affected in all hybrids. Biochemical measurements the K and Na concentrations in dry leaves and the enzyme activity of APX, GPX and SOD were also made. The K and Na ion concentrations were similar with other studies presenting a reduction of K and raise of Na as the concentration of salt was rising. Unfortunately the enzyme activity was not affected at the specific experiment so it was not able to find exactly how the salinity affects this factor. Overall the results of grafted plants were better than as self rooted and the Solano torvum plant used as rootstock is more tolerant than the Tomato Resistar also used as rootstock.

Greenhouse cultivation is a growing industry, especially in mild climates, much due to the ability toadjust the growing conditions and increased water utilization efficiency. The most important aspect onthe cultivation is the indoor temperature. The variation in temperature is due to the Swedish climatewhere the highest and lowest outdoor temperature respectively varies greatly during the year. To enableoptimal indoor climate additional heating is required during colder periods. Presently, most of theexisting greenhouses utilizes combustion of fossil fuels for heating, which contributes to the climatechange through the emissions of greenhouse gases. One way to circumvent this impact is to exchangethe fossil fuels with biogas. Combining biogas production and greenhouse cultivation enables synergiesand a more closed cycle of material flow can be achieved. However, this combination is rather immaturedue to lacking previous research, giving this report its main purpose, to examine the synergies andsustainability of combining a greenhouse with small-scale biogas production. Initially, an extensive literature study was carried out followed by a simulation based on the obtainedknowledge. The simulation was comprised of two greenhouses with different geometries, one with theshape of an arch with polyethylene-film cladding and the other with a sawtooth roof with glass cladding,both with two layers. The other properties such as internal area and volume are more or less the samefor the simulated greenhouses. Useful data such as outdoor temperature, rainfall and solar irradiationetc. was obtained for the city of Enköping, Sweden. The calculations for the models were carried out inthe program Microsoft Excel. In order to evaluate the feasibility of these models a reference greenhousewas studied, which had similar properties and conditions. The optimal temperature for tomato cultivation is 20° C, and to maintain this level over the entire yearit was found that the heat requirements were 89 500 kWh for the arched greenhouse and 94 400 kWhfor the sawtooth greenhouse. In comparison with the reference greenhouse, the heat requirement wasaround 200 kWh per m2 and year less in the simulated greenhouses. Furthermore, it was found thataround 31 800 kWh of cooling is required over the year (249 kWh per m2 and year) for the archedgreenhouse and 30 900 kWh per year (241 kWh per m2 and year) for the sawtooth greenhouse, to keepthe indoor temperature at 20 °C. Moreover, two to three possible harvests annually gives the yield of 3456-5184 kg tomatoes per year. Both the simulated greenhouses are feasible concepts, however thesawtooth greenhouse is a better option due to its increased longevity and lower contribution ofgreenhouse gas emissions over time. Furthermore, more research needs to obtain a fully closed cycle.

Analyse de la diversité inter et intra-spécifique des paramètres de l’architecture des systèmes racinaires chez les Solanacées. Les racines des plantes jouent un rôle important pour garantir productivité et résistance à de nombreux stress. Dans le nouveau contexte agricole, l’importance de ce système racinaire et de sonarchitecture sont remises au premier plan. Notre étude porte sur la dynamique de l’architecture racinaire des solanacées, qui contient un ensemble d’espèces horticoles importantes pour l’alimentation. Notre travail porte sur 32 génotypes, parmi 3 groupes d’espèces: aubergines, piments et tomates.Dans cette étude, nous proposons tout d’abord une analyse de la diversité inter et intraspécifique de l’architecture racinaire à travers l’évaluation d’un ensemble de traits qui sont aussi les paramètres d’un modèle dynamique de simulation (ArchiSimple : Pagès et al, 2012). Cette première évaluation a été faite en pots, en utilisant un milieu très favorable à la croissance des plantes et à l’enracinement. Nous montrons que les traits racinaires choisis présentent en effet des variations d’origine génétique, généralement plus fortes entre espèces qu’au sein des espèces. Nous avons également observé des corrélations entre certains traits qui révèlent des compromis ou des coordinations dans les processus de développement.Pour aller plus loin dans la signification des traits racinaires choisis et leur stabilité vis‐à‐vis des conditions environnementales, nous avons également évalué ces traits en conditions de culture hydroponique. C’est un milieu reconnu comme radicalement différent, intéressant pour les possibilités de visualisation des racines qu’il offre. Un dispositif avec des rhizotrons hydroponiques a été construit spécifiquement pour cette expérimentation. Nous avons confirmé, dans ces nouvelles conditions, les différences d’origine génétique entre les différents génotypes utilisés. De plus, nous avons comparé de manière systématique les valeurs de traits mesurés avec celles de la précédente expérimentation. Certains traits se révèlent stables ou très corrélés (e.g. diamètres, distances interramification)alors que d’autres présentent des différences beaucoup plus fortes (e.g. vitesses de croissance, vitesses d’émergence des racines adventives).Une troisième expérimentation, utilisant différentes combinaisons de greffage entre génotypes, nous a permis d’approfondir la question du contrôle des traits par des interactions au sein de la plante: soit à courte distance au sein du système racinaire, soit à plus longue distance parle système aérien. Deux traits importants ont été étudiés (le diamètre apical et la densité de ramification) en utilisant des combinaisons de génotypes ayant des valeurs contrastées par rapport à ces traits. Il en ressort des réponses très différentes, avec un effet marqué du greffon sur les111RésuméBui H.H. (2015), Diversité inter- et intra-spécifique des paramètres racinaires chez les Solanacées diamètres, révélant qu’une partie au moins du contrôle de ce trait est effectuée par le système aérien, et un effet faible ou inexistant du greffon sur la densité de ramification, révélant un contrôle local de ce trait, par des interactions à courte distance entre les racines. Cette expérimentation par greffage a montré un potentiel très intéressant pour mettre en lumière divers mécanismes de contrôle des traits au sein de la plante entière.Cette étude mérite d’être prolongée par des analyses plus systématiques des déterminismes de variation des traits de l’architecture racinaire, et par des simulations par modèle qui permettront de synthétiser les conséquences des variations de traits sur les performances globales des systèmes racinaires pour la prospection du sol<br>Analysis of the inter and intra specific diversity of the parameters of the root system architecture in the Solanaceae.Plant roots play an important role to ensure the productivity and the resistance to manystresses. In new agricultural context, the importance of root system and its architecture are placed tothe forefront. Our study focuses on the root architecture dynamics of Solanaceae, which contains aseries of important horticultural species for the alimentation. Our work was based on 32 genotypesbelonging to three groups of species: aubergines, capsicums, and tomatoes.In this study, we propose firstly an analysis of inter‐ and intra ‐ specific diversity of rootarchitecture through evaluating a set of traits which are also the parameters of a dynamic simulationmodel (ArchiSimple: Pagès et al, 2012). The experiment in pots with a very favorable condition forplant growth and rooting was conducted for the first evaluation. It showed that the selected roottraits present an effect of genetic ‐ originated variations and this effect is usually stronger amongspecies than within species. We also found correlations between certain traits, which revealcompromises or coordinations in the developmental processes.In order to go deeper into the signification of selected root traits and their stability toenvironmental conditions, we also evaluated these traits in hydroponic culture. This environment isradically different, and interesting for its possibilities to visualize the roots. An experimental setupwith hydroponic rhizotrons was specially built for this experiment. In the new conditions, the genetic‐ originated differences between different genotypes used also were found. In addition, wecompared systematically the traits values with those of the previous experiment. Certain traits arestable or highly correlated (e.g., apical diameter, inter‐branch distance), while others are muchdifferent (e.g., root growth rate, emission rate of adventitious roots).In a third experiment, we used different grafting combinations between genotypes todeepen the question of the control of root traits by interactions within plant: either short distancecontrol within root system or long distance control by aerial system. Two important root traits (apicaldiameter and branching density) have been studied by grafting between genotypes which havecontrasting values on these traits. The different responses appear: a significant effect of scion ondiameters, which indicate that at least of this trait is controlled by shoot system, and a weak effect orno effect of scion on branching density, revealing the local control of this trait, by short distanceinteractions between the roots. This experiment showed a great potential of grafting to highlightvarious control mechanisms of root traits within whole plant.AbstractBui H.H. (2015), Diversité inter- et intra-spécifique des paramètres racinaires chez les Solanacées 113This study deserve to be extended by more systematic analysis of determinisms of variationsof root architecture traits, and by using simulation model which allow to integrate the consequencesof traits variations on global performances of root system for prospecting of soil

This thesis combines two current trends - the Internet of Things and Urban Agriculture. It describes technologies for wireless sensors communication in smart homes and hardware for their implementation. Based on these technologies smart hardware for automatic plants growing is implemented and connected to cloud with remote access via iOS mobile application.