ABSTRACT
To produce 10,000 pounds of
multi-crop fruits, vegetables
and greens monthly using one aeroponic and four hydroponic (float,
flood, stack
& vertical) systems in a 60’ X 30’
greenhouse for local production and
famine relief.
INTRODUCTION
Over a six-month period, we
tested
and documented aero &
hydroponic systems with which each crop generated the highest yield. We
then
designed a greenhouse using the systems which produced the highest
yield for
each type of crop. Microclimates,
cloning and harvesting techniques exist within our 60’ X
30’ foot
greenhouse. Therefore,
our single
greenhouse provides a variety of crops for a nutritional and balanced
diet.
METHOD
We measured and compared
germination
rate, germination time,
flower to fruit ratio, days to harvest and yield for each crop grown. We determined that the
number of days to
harvest can be reduced by up to 18 days using cloning propagation for
all crops
but the greens. The
greens were unable
to be cloned. The
tables below present
our findings.
AEROPONIC
|
Variety
|
Germination Rate
|
Germination Time
(in days)
|
Flower to Fruit Ratio
|
Days to Harvest
|
Yield
|
|
Tomatoes, San Marzano
|
82%
|
6
|
87%
|
58
|
36 lbs.
|
|
Tomatoes, Smarty Grape
|
82%
|
6
|
87%
|
54
|
31 lbs. 6 oz
|
|
Tomatoes, Sweetie cherry
|
82%
|
6
|
87%
|
58
|
34 lbs.
2 oz
|
|
Tomatoes, Brandywine
|
82%
|
6
|
87%
|
66
|
42 lbs.
4 oz
|
|
Tomatoes, Costoluto
|
82%
|
6
|
87%
|
61
|
40 lbs.
9oz
|
|
Peppers, Habanaro
|
71%
|
7
|
82%
|
55
|
28 lbs. 11oz
|
|
Peppers, Peruvian Purples
|
71%
|
7
|
82%
|
59
|
34 lbs. 2oz
|
|
Peppers, Serrano
|
71%
|
7
|
82%
|
59
|
36 lbs. 3oz
|
|
Peppers, King Arthur Red
Bell
|
71%
|
7
|
82%
|
64
|
41 lbs. 14oz
|
|
Basil, Genovese
|
74%
|
7
|
N/A
|
60
|
9 lbs. 2oz
|
|
Basil, Red Osmin
|
74%
|
7
|
N/A
|
60
|
8 lbs. 9oz
|
|
Basil, Sweet
|
74%
|
7
|
N/A
|
60
|
10 lbs. 12oz
|
|
Basil, Thai
|
74%
|
7
|
N/A
|
60
|
8 lbs. 7oz
|
HYDROPOINC
FLOOD SYSTEM
|
Variety
|
Germination Rate
|
Germination Time
(in days)
|
Flower to Fruit Ratio
|
Days to Harvest
|
Yield
|
|
Peas, Snow Sweet
|
83%
|
5
|
86%
|
55
|
6 lbs. 5oz
|
|
Peas, Dwarf Gray Sugar
|
83%
|
5
|
86%
|
55
|
6 lbs. 1oz
|
|
Peas, Sugar Snap
|
83%
|
5
|
86%
|
55
|
7 lbs. 13oz
|
|
Beans, Royal Red
|
74%
|
9
|
89%
|
60
|
7 lbs. 14oz
|
|
Beans, Marvel of Venice
|
74%
|
9
|
89%
|
60
|
7 lbs. 12oz
|
|
Beans, Red Noodle
|
74%
|
9
|
89%
|
60
|
8 lbs. 10oz
|
HYDROPONIC
FLOAT SYSTEM
Variety
|
Germination Rate
|
Germination Time
(in days)
|
Days to Harvest
|
Yield
|
|
Arugula, Astro
|
88%
|
3
|
42
|
3 oz
|
|
Arugula, Rocket
|
84%
|
2
|
38
|
4 oz
|
|
Butter, Butter Crunch
|
74%
|
3
|
35
|
3.7 oz
|
|
Butter, Continuity
|
74%
|
3
|
35
|
3.7 oz
|
|
Butter, Ermosa
|
74%
|
3
|
35
|
3.7 oz
|
|
Butter, Rex
|
74%
|
3
|
35
|
3.7 oz
|
|
Chard, Multi-color
|
84%
|
5
|
52
|
14 oz
|
|
Endive, Bianca Ricca
|
81%
|
4
|
55
|
6.2 oz
|
|
Endive, Frisse
|
81%
|
4
|
55
|
6.2 oz
|
|
Leaf, Anueanue
|
78%
|
3
|
35
|
4.7 oz
|
|
Leaf, Cherokee
|
78%
|
3
|
35
|
4.7 oz
|
|
Leaf, Deer Tongue
|
78%
|
3
|
35
|
4.7 oz
|
|
Leaf, Devils Tongue
|
78%
|
3
|
35
|
4.7 oz
|
|
Leaf, Green Oak
|
78%
|
3
|
35
|
4.7 oz
|
|
Leaf, Mascara
|
78%
|
3
|
35
|
4.7 oz
|
|
Leaf, Nevada
|
78%
|
3
|
35
|
4.7 oz
|
|
Leaf, Red Fire
|
78%
|
3
|
35
|
4.7 oz
|
|
Leaf, Red Oak
|
78%
|
3
|
35
|
4.7 oz
|
|
Leaf, Red Snail
|
78%
|
3
|
35
|
4.7 oz
|
|
Leaf, Sunset
|
78%
|
3
|
35
|
4.7 oz
|
|
Leaf, Tango
|
78%
|
3
|
35
|
4.7 oz
|
|
Mustard Green, Giant Red
|
81%
|
6
|
50
|
1 lb, 1 oz
|
|
Onion, Chives (8 to a
planting)
|
91%
|
4
|
45
|
7 oz
|
|
Onion, Green (6 to a
planting)
|
88%
|
5
|
45
|
14 oz
|
|
Romaine, Flashy Troutback
|
79%
|
3
|
35
|
4.2 oz
|
|
Romaine, Forest
|
79%
|
3
|
35
|
4.2 oz
|
|
Romaine, Little Gem
|
79%
|
3
|
35
|
4.2 oz
|
|
Romaine, Merlo
|
79%
|
3
|
35
|
4.2 oz
|
Variety
|
Germination Rate
|
Germination Time
(in days)
|
Days to Harvest
|
Yield
|
|
Romaine, Outredous
|
79%
|
3
|
35
|
4.2 oz
|
|
Spinach, Reddy
|
52%
|
8
|
40
|
3.3 oz
|
|
Spinach, Rembrandt
|
48%
|
9
|
40
|
3.7 oz
|
|
Spinach, Bloomsdale
|
44%
|
11
|
45
|
4.2 oz
|
HYDROPONIC
STACKER SYSTEM
|
Variety
|
Germination Rate
|
Germination Time
(in days)
|
Flower to Fruit Ratio
|
Days to Harvest
|
Yield
|
|
Strawberries, Alpine
|
64%
|
12
|
94%
|
48
|
2 lbs. 2oz
|
|
Strawberries, Alexander
|
64%
|
12
|
94%
|
58
|
3 lbs. 14oz
|
|
Strawberries, Ozark
|
64%
|
12
|
94%
|
58
|
4 lbs. 1oz
|
|
Strawberries, Seascape
|
64%
|
12
|
94%
|
58
|
3 lbs. 9oz
|
HYDROPONIC
VERTICAL SYSTEM
|
Variety
|
Germination Rate
|
Germination Time
(in days)
|
Days to Harvest
|
Yield
|
|
Mint, Chocolate
|
81%
|
6
|
58
|
9 lbs. 14oz
|
|
Mint, Peppermint
|
81%
|
6
|
58
|
9 lbs. 7oz
|
|
Mint, Spearmint
|
81%
|
6
|
54
|
7 lbs. 9oz
|
|
Carrots, Purple Haze
|
76%
|
8
|
55
|
14.5 oz
|
|
Carrots, White Satin
|
76%
|
8
|
62
|
1 lb. 2.5 oz
|
|
Parsley
|
78%
|
6
|
52
|
4 lbs. 9oz
|
|
Lemon Balm
|
78%
|
6
|
50
|
5 lbs. 2oz
|
|
Marjoram
|
78%
|
6
|
48
|
2 lbs. 3oz
|
|
Thyme
|
78%
|
6
|
45
|
2 lbs. 5oz
|
|
Sage
|
78%
|
6
|
48
|
3 lbs. 8oz
|
|
Tarragon
|
78%
|
6
|
49
|
2 lbs. 3oz
|
MISCELLANEOUS VEGETABLES
Variety
|
Germination Rate
|
Germination Time
(in days)
|
Flower to Fruit Ratio
|
Days to Harvest
|
Yield
|
|
Cucumbers, Lemon
|
74%
|
6
|
87%
|
64
|
12 lb, 9oz
|
|
Eggplant, Japanese
|
75%
|
9
|
84%
|
66
|
14 lb, 2oz
|
|
Squash, Crookneck
|
77%
|
8
|
82%
|
61
|
11 lb, 4oz
|
RESULTS
AND DISCUSSION
Based on our design, we were
able to
produce the following:
|
Product
(all varieties)
|
System Type
|
Number of Plants
|
Monthly Yield
(pounds)
|
Total Yield (pounds)
|
|
Tomatoes
|
Aeroponic
|
64
|
1,120
|
2,240
|
|
Peppers
|
Aeroponic
|
64
|
1,055
|
2,110
|
|
Strawberries
|
Hydro Stacker
|
600
|
1,057
|
2,115
|
|
Greens (ground level)
|
Hydro Float
|
31,600
|
6,990 (40 days)
|
7,705
|
|
Greens (on tables)
|
Hydro Float
|
18,400
|
3,933 (40 days)
|
4,370
|
|
Peas
|
Hydro Flood
|
230
|
968 (64 days)
|
1,840
|
|
Beans
|
Hydro Flood
|
230
|
726 (64 days)
|
1,495
|
|
Cucumbers, Lemon
|
Hydro Vertical
|
100
|
60 (64 days)
|
122
|
|
Eggplant, Japanese
|
Hydro Vertical
|
50
|
33 (64 days)
|
76
|
|
Squash, Crookneck
|
Hydro Vertical
|
50
|
26 (64 days)
|
55
|
Results represent six months of
production during the prime
growing season. Variation of product and season will
affect total yield. Insects
were a minor
problem and controlled
by natural methods.
Our greenhouse design uses
approximately 25 amps of
electricity and can be run by a portable generator or solar panels. Water use with
this design is approximately
70 to 80% less than that of traditional farming.
As the system is enclosed, pollution
of soil
and the water table are eliminated. |
CONCLUSION
Hydroponics as a business model
has
great potential on a
local and/or regional level. Local
grown
produce reduces the needs
for trucking/shipping the product in from
other
areas, which in turn reduces pollution.
Produce grown and sold locally keeps the
money and tax
base at home and
creates additional employment in the local economy.
Our greenhouse can be tailored
to
specific crops as desired
by the resident population. The
ability
to use different aeroponic/hydroponic systems within one greenhouse
generates a
varied and nutritional diet. Greenhouses
can also be tailored to any size for use by an individual family to
large enough
to feed a community. Senior centers, schools, community gardens, urban
areas
(rooftop gardens), even apartment complexes can organize and manage a
greenhouse.
The possibilities are endless. Indian reservations in
remote areas can grow
their own produce. Barges
on rivers in
New York currently use hydroponic technology.
Turning pine cuttings into rooted plants in a matter
of
weeks (rather
than months) for reforestation purposes.
Medicinal plants grow much faster, and with greater
nutritional values. Flowers
can be grown hydroponically.
There are other possibilities.
Aquaponics supplies thousands
of pounds of fish while recycling the water into a hydroponic system
creates an
ecosystem of healthy unpolluted product (fish and vegetables).
Hydroponics generates local
employment, increases the local
economy, provides higher nutritional value, is non-polluting and
provides many
other social benefits. Hydroponics can be a light that shows the way
for
creativity in the truest sense of entrepreneurship.
|
