• Journal of People, Plants, and Environment
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.545-554
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• 2020

Background and objective: Moth orchids in the vegetative stage are suitable for a multi-layer growing environment in a closed-type plant factory which can be a good alternative that can reduce production costs by reducing cultivation time and energy cost per plant. This study was conducted to find out the optimal rhizospheric environment for different irrigation methods without a potting medium and rhizospheric ventilation for the vegetative growth of young Phalaenopsis hybrid 'Blanc Rouge' (P. KV600 × P. Kang 1) and Phalaenopsis Queen Beer 'Mantefon' in a closed-type plant factory system. Methods: The one-month-old clonal micropropagules with bare roots rapped with a sponges were fixed on the holes of styrofoam plates above growth beds, and were watered using the ebb-and-flow (EBB) and aeroponic (AER) methods with Ichihashi solution (0.5 strength) once a day at 06:00 (P) or 18:00 (S), and both (PS). Rhizospheric ventilation (V) was also applied to change the temperature, relative humidity, and CO₂ concentration of the beds. Plants potted into sphagnum moss and watered once a week were used as the control group. Results: After 12 months of treatment, the growth characteristics of the EBB groups were the best among the treatment groups without a medium, but no effect of irrigation timing was observed. V reduced the temperature, relative humidity and CO₂ concentration of the beds. Whereas, EBB+V (ebb-and-flow with ventilation) improved plant growth and reduced the occurrence of disorders and withering. Especially, EBB+V showed a similar performance to the control group. Conclusion: The results indicated that the optimal irrigation method without a potting medium for producing middle-aged potted moth orchids was the EBB system with forced rhizospheric ventilation. Therefore, further studies on the optimal ventilation method and moisture control of the crown need to be carried out to develop the irrigation system without a potting medium for vertical farming in closed-type plant factories.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.405-413
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• 2016

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) is a plant native to the Andean region that has become increasing popular as a food source due to its high nutritional content. This study determined the optimal photoperiod, light intensity, and electrical conductivity (EC) of the nutrient solution for growth and yield of quinoa in a closed-type plant factory system. The photoperiod effects were first analyzed in a growth chamber using three different light cycles, 8/16, 14/10, and 16/8 hours (day/night). Further studies, performed in a closed-type plant factory system, evaluated nutrient solutions with EC (salinity) levels of 1.0, 2.0 or $3.0dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$. These experiments were assayed with two light intensities (120 and $143{\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$) under a 12/12 and 14/10 hours (day/night) photoperiod. The plants grown under the 16/8 hours photoperiod did not flower, suggesting that a long-day photoperiod delays flowering and that quinoa is a short-day plant. Under a 12/12 h photoperiod, the best shoot yield (both fresh and dry weights) was observed at an EC of $2.0dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ and a photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) of $120{\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$. With a 14/10 h photoperiod, the shoot yield (both fresh and dry weights), plant height, leaf area, and light use efficiency were higher when grown with an EC of $2.0dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ and a PPFD of $143{\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$. Overall, the optimal conditions for producing quinoa as a leafy vegetable, in a closed-type plant factory system, were a 16/8 h (day/night) photoperiod with an EC of $2.0dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ and a PPFD of $143{\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.104-109
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• 2019

The crops recommended for the plant factory system are diverse. The importance of planting density in the plant factory is being recognized. The objective of this study was to determine the optimal planting density for growth and quality of kohlrabi in a closed-type plant factory system. The kohlrabi was grown under fluorescent lamps and nutrient film technique system. The growth and quality of kohlrabi were investigated under four different planting densities ($22plants/m^2(15{\times}30cm)$, $27plants/m^2(15{\times}25cm)$, and $33plants/m^2(15{\times}20cm)$). There were no significant interactions between Shoot fresh and dry weights per plant or bulb stem fresh and dry weights per plant and planting density. Shoot fresh and dry weight per area or bulb stem fresh and dry weight per area were the highest at $33plants/m^2$. There were no significant interactions between plant height, leaf area, photosynthetic rate, hardness, and chlorophyll content and planting density. Significant differences in Bulb stem height and diameter, and brix were observed. Bulb stem height and diameter and brix of kohlrabi were the highest at $22plants/m^2$. Based on our results, we conclude that the optimal planting density is $33plants/m^2$ for growth of kohlrabi, however, the optimal planting density is $22plants/m^2$ for quality of kohlrabi in a closed-type plant factory system.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.297-300
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• 2017

Plant factory can control artificially the environments for crop cultivation, so they can produce high quality agricultural products all year round. This study was carried to select suitable kohlrabi cultivar for hydroponics in a closed-type plant factory system. We used three cultivars of red kohlrabi, 'Asac kohl', 'Kolibri', and 'Purple king' as plant materials. The artificial light source was LED light, light intensity and photoperiod were $249{\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$ and 12/12 hours (day/night period), respectively. Hydroponic cultivation type was used circulating deep flow technique. At 43 days after transplanting, fresh weight of whole plant and tuber and leaf area were not significantly different among cultivars. Shoot dry weight and tuber dry weight were highest in 'Asac kohl' cultivar, and number of leaves was highest in 'Purple king' cultivar. Sugar content and yield were highest in 'Asac kohl' cultivar. Considering the growth and marketable yields, 'Asac kohl' was the optimal kohlrabi cultivar for hydroponic cultivation in a closed-type plant factory system.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Bio-Environment Control Conference
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• 1996.05a
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• pp.1-10
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• 1996

Factory-style plant production systems of various kinds are the final goal of greenhouse production systems. These systems facilitate planning for constant productivity per unit area and labor under various outside weather conditions, although energy consumption is intensive. Physical environmental control in combination with biological control can replace the use of agricultural chemicals such as insecticides, herbicides and hormones to regulate plants. In this way, closed systems which do not use such agricultural chemicals are ideal for environmental conservation for the future. Nutrient components in plants can be regulafied by physical environmental control including nutrient solution control in hydroponics. Therefore, specific contents of nutrients for particular plants can be listed on the container and be used as the basis of customer choice in the future. Plant production systems can be classified into three types based on the type of lighting: natural lighting, supplemental lighting and completely artificial lighting (Plant Factory). The amount of energy consumption increases in this order, although the degree of weather effects is in the reverse order. In the addition to lighting, factory-style plant production systems consist of mechanized and automated systems for transplanting, environmental control, hydroponics, transporting within the facility, and harvesting. Space farming and development of pharmaceutical in bio-reactors are other applications of these types of plant production systems. Various kinds of state-of-art factory-style plant production systems are discussed in the present paper. These systems are, in general, rather sophisticated and mechaized, and energy consumption is intensive. Factory-style plant production is the final goal of greenhouse production systems and the possibilities for the future are infinte but not clear.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.193-200
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• 2013

BACKGROUND: Plant factory system of an artificial light type using Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs), fluorescent light, or metal halide lamp instead of sun light is an ultimated method for plant production without any pesticides regardless of seasonal changes. The plant factory is also completely isolated from outside environmental conditions such as a light, temperature, or humidity compared to conventional greenhouse. Light-environment control such as a quality or quantity in the plant factory system is essential for improving the growth and development of plant species. However, there was little report that the effects of various light qualities provided by LEDs on Ledebouriella seseloides growth under the plant factory system. METHODS AND RESULTS: Ledebouriella seseloides seedlings transplanted at urethane sponge were grown in the plant factory system of a horizontal type with LED artificial lights for 90 days. Yamazaki solution for hydroponic culture of the seedlings was regularly irrigated by the deep flow technique (DFT) system on the culture gutters. Electrical Conductivity (EC) and pH of the solution was recorded at 1.4 ds/m and 5.8 in average, respectively during the experimental period. Number of unfolded leaves, leaf length, shoot fresh and dry weight of the seedlings were three times measured in every 30 days after beginning of the experiment. Blue LEDs, red LEDs, and fluorescent lights inside the plant factory were used as light sources. Conventional fluorescent lamps were considered as a control. In all the treatment, light intensity was maintained at $100{\mu}mol/m^2/s$ on the culture bed. Fresh weight of the seedlings was 3.7 times greater in the treatment with the mixture radiation of fluorescent light and blue+red LEDs (1:3 in energy ratio; Treatment FLBR13) than in fluorescent light treatment (Treatment FL). In FLBR13 treatment, dry weight per seedling was two times greater than in FL or BR11 treatment of blue+red LEDs (1:3 in energy ratio; Treatment BR11) during the culture period. Increasing in number of unfolded leaves was also significantly affected by the FLBR13 treatment comparing with BR11 treatment. CONCLUSION(S): Hydroponic culture of Ledebouriella seseloides seedlings was successfully achieved in the plant factory system with mixture lights of blue, red LEDs and fluorescent lights. Shoot growth of the seedlings was significantly promoted by the FLBR13 with the mixture radiation of fluorescent light, blue, and red LEDs under 1:3 mixture ratio of blue and red LEDs during the experimental period compared to conventional light conditions.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.326-331
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• 2018

Crop growth models are useful tools for understanding and integrating knowledge about crop growth. Models for predicting plant height, net photosynthesis rate, and plant growth of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) as a leafy vegetable in a closed-type plant factory system were developed using empirical model equations such as linear, quadratic, non-rectangular hyperbola, and expolinear equations. Plant growth and yield were measured at 5-day intervals after transplanting. Photosynthesis and growth curve models were calculated. Linear and curve relationships were obtained between plant heights and days after transplanting (DAT), however, accuracy of the equation to estimate plant height was linear equation. A non-rectangular hyperbola model was chosen as the response function of net photosynthesis. The light compensation point, light saturation point, and respiration rate were 29, 813 and $3.4{\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$, respectively. The shoot fresh weight showed a linear relationship with the shoot dry weight. The regression coefficient of the shoot dry weight was 0.75 ($R^2=0.921^{***}$). A non-linear regression was carried out to describe the increase in shoot dry weight of quinoa as a function of time using an expolinear equation. The crop growth rate and relative growth rate were $22.9g{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}d^{-1}$ and $0.28g{\cdot}g^{-1}{\cdot}d^{-1}$, respectively. These models can accurately estimate plant height, net photosynthesis rate, shoot fresh weight, and shoot dry weight of quinoa.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.165-170
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• 2014

The objective of this study was to make growth and yield models of sowthistle (Ixeris dentata Nakai) by using an expolinear functional equation in a closed-type plant production system. The growth and yield of hydroponically-grown sowthistle were investigated under four different planting distances ($15{\times}10$, $15{\times}15$, $15{\times}20$, and $15{\times}25$ cm). Shoot dry weights per plant was the highest at $15{\times}25$ cm, but was the lowest at $15{\times}10$ cm. Shoot dry weights per area was the highest at $15{\times}15$ cm, but was the lowest at $15{\times}25$ cm. The optimum planting density and planting distance for yield of sowthistle were 44 plants/$m^2$ and $15{\times}15$ cm, respectively. Shoot dry weights per plant and per area were showed as an expolinear type functional equation. A linear relationship between shoot dry and fresh weights was observed to be linear regardless of the planting distance. Crop growth rate, relative growth rate and lost time in an expolinear functional equation showed quadratic function form. Radiation use efficiency of sowthistle was $4.3-6.1g{\cdot}MJ^{-1}$. The measured and estimated shoot dry weights showed a good agreement using days after transplanting as input data. It is concluded that the expolinear growth model can be a useful tool for quantifying the growth and yield of sowthistle in a closed-type plant production system.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.32-40
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• 2014

This study was conducted to evaluate the growth response of economical six leafy vegetables that are crown daisy, pak-choi and four kinds of lettuce (Red leaf lettuce, Green leaf lettuce, Head lettuce, Romaine lettuce) by light treatment of LED in plant factory. The light treatments were composed of red, blue, red+farred, red+blue, red+blue+white LEDs, irradiation time ratio of the red and blue LED per minute (1 : 1, 2 : 1, 5 : 1, 10 : 1), and duty ratio of mixed light (100%, 99%, 97%). The following results were obtained in different LED light sources treatments: Shoot biomass and S/R ratio of romaine lettuce were the highest under mixed red+blue LEDs. S/R ratio of head lettuce was higher under mixed red+blue+white LEDs than red+blue LEDs. The others showed no difference in LED light treatment. Shoot biomass, total biomass and S/R ratio of green lettuce, head lettuce and pak-choi were highest in the higher red ratio (5 : 1) on irradiation time of red : blue LED ratios. By the different duty ratio (red+blue and red+blue+white LEDs), Under the mixed light of red+blue, shoot and root biomass of crown daisy and romaine lettuce were high in duty ratio of 100% and 99%, and S/R ratio was highest in all the 6 kinds in duty ratio of 97%. All the 6 kinds showed a fine growth state in low duty ratio (97%). Green lettuce, romaine lettuce and pak-choi showed relatively high shoot biomass and total biomass in low duty ratio of 97% under the mixed light of red+blue+white. S/R ratio of romaine lettuce and head lettuce were highest in the duty ratio of 97% with red+blue+white LEDs. Thus, we can cultivate stably without reference to external factors, if we use appropriate light sources and light quality in closed-type plant factory.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.371-375
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• 2014

This study was carried out to get the basic data to practically design an artificial light-used plant factory system for common ice plant (Mesembryanthemum crystallinum L.) cultivation. The adequate range of light intensity was $120-200{\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$ and the carbon fixed rates was $0.84nmolCO_2{\cdot}cm^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$. When the planting density, light intensity, and yield were $0.0225m^2$ ($15{\times}15cm$), $200{\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$, and 1,000 plants per day, the total number of the plants, cultivated area, and total light intensities were estimated as 25,000 plants, $563m^2$, and $140,625{\mu}mol{\cdot}s^{-1}$, respectively. About 153.2kW with 2,785 fluorescent lights (FL) needed for the electric power and the electricity charges was 2.46 million won for one month. At a harvest rate of 1,000 plants per day in closed-type plant factory, the light installation cost, total installation cost, and total production cost were 27.85, 83.56, and 100.27 million won, respectively. The production cost per plant including labor cost was calculated as 370 won, providing that the cultivation period was 25 days and marketable ratio was 80%. Considering the annual total expenses, incomes, and depreciation cost, the sales cost per plant could be estimated around 970 won or higher.