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Collaborative project: Ion-selective control for resource-efficient nutrient supply with respect of plant requirements in recirculating, hydroponic indoor vertical farms - subproject A (Nutrient_Ctrl_IVF)
Project
Project code: 2818909A20
Contract period: 01.04.2022
- 31.03.2025
Budget: 607,826 Euro
Purpose of research: Applied research
Keywords: other aquatic organisms, fertilization, resource protection, resource efficiency, urban agriculture, sensor technology, other root crops, nutrients, greenhouse cultivation/protected cultivation, horticulture, plant nutrition
Existing agricultural production methods are facing challenges such as climate change, eu-trophication, phosphorus scarcity and water pollution, as well as increasing urbanisation. One solution to this is vertical, hydroponic plant production in urban areas with an efficient water- and nutrient input. The project Nutrient+CtrlIVF therefore aims to establish NUTRI-STAT anal-ysis modules for the ion-selective control of nutrients in hydroponic crop production in indoor vertical farms (IVF). Currently, the nutrient supply in recirculating hydroponic systems is regu-lated by means of conductivity and pH control. This leads to an oversupply or undersupply of individual nutrients when the nutrient solution is circulated in the cultivation system for a longer period of time. A temporary opening of the nutrient solution circuit and the associated discard-ing of the nutrient solution (current practice) is prevented with the use of ion-selective sensors. In the proposed project, NUTRI-STAT analysis modules measure the main nutrients nitrate, potassium and dihydrogen phosphate. The sensors are integrated with control electronics in a fertiliser unit (fertiliser unit+ISFET) and the measurement and dosing process is modified and adapted for hydroponic cultivation systems. The fertiliser unit+ISFET will continuously meas-ure the individual nutrient content in the hydroponic solution and implement ion-specific dos-ing. Duckweed and sweet potato are used as model cultures, as they are particularly suitable for IVFs due to their nutritional significance and the usability of the entire product. The de-mand-oriented and nutrient-specific fertilisation in urban, vertical cultivation is intended to generate particularly high plant qualities with lower nutrient and water inputs and thus in-creased resource efficiency compared to traditional cultivation systems.
Section overview
Subjects
- Plant Nutrition
- Arboriculture
- Horticulture
- Resource management
Framework programme
Funding programme
Excutive institution
Funding institution
Project management agencies
Associated projects: Nutrient_Ctrl_IVF
- Collaborative project: Ion-selective control for resource-efficient nutrient supply with respect of plant requirements in recirculating, hydroponic indoor vertical farms - subproject B
- Collaborative project: Ion-selective control for resource-efficient nutrient supply with respect to plant requirements in recirculating, hydroponic indoor vertical farms - subproject C
