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Collaborative project: Ion-selective control for resource-efficient nutrient supply with respect to plant requirements in recirculating, hydroponic indoor vertical farms - subproject C (Nutrient_Ctrl_IVF)
Project
Project code: 2818909C20
Contract period: 01.04.2022
- 31.03.2025
Budget: 131,500 Euro
Purpose of research: Applied research
Keywords: greenhouse cultivation/protected cultivation, sensor technology, fertilization, other root crops, other aquatic organisms, urban agriculture, resource protection, resource efficiency, plant nutrition, horticulture, nutrients
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 long-er period of time. A temporary opening of the nutrient solution circuit and the associated dis-carding of the nutrient solution (current practice) is prevented with the use of ion-selective sen-sors. In the proposed project, NUTRI-STAT analysis modules measure the main nutrients nitrate, potassium and dihydrogen phosphate. The sensors are integrated with control electron-ics 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 continuous-ly measure the individual nutrient content in the hydroponic solution and implement ion-specific dosing. Duckweed and sweet potato are used as model cultures, as they are particularly suita-ble 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
- Crop Production
- 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 A
- Collaborative project: Ion-selective control for resource-efficient nutrient supply with respect of plant requirements in recirculating, hydroponic indoor vertical farms - subproject B
