• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.393-401
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• 2017

The nitrate ($NO_3{^-}$) accumulation of hydroponically grown leafy vegetables may increase in the condition of a closed-type plant production system with low light intensity due to low activity of enzymes involved in nitrogen assimilation and the use of $NO_3-N$ as major nitrogen source. The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of light intensities, nutrient solution compositions and the time of nutrient solution removal before harvest on nitrate contents of hydroponically-grown lettuces in a closed plant production system. The reduction of nitrate contents in leafy lettuces 'Cheongchima' was higher in the treatments of 'TW' (nutrient solution removal) and '$(NH_4)_2CO_3$' (use of ammonium carbonate as nitrogen source) than those in other treatments, which significantly lowered fresh weight and leaf area of the plants. In the light intensity of $100{\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$, the nitrate content was effectively reduced without causing any growth retardation, by substitution of the nutrient solution composition that $NO_3-N$ was removed ('$NO_3-N$ removal' treatment) or the half strength of standard nutrient solution was applied ('1/2 S' treatment), for 7days before harvest. The effects of light intensity and the time of nutrient solution removal before harvest on growth and nitrate contents in leafy lettuces were investigated. The nitrate contents in leaves under the light condition of $300{\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$ before nutrient solution removal were lower than those of 100 or $200{\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$. The removal of nutrient solution for 7 days before harvest quickly reduced the amount of nitrates in leaves in all the light intensities with a greater degree under the $300{\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$ of light condition, while the 7 days-removal with both 200 and $300{\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$ of light conditions caused decrease in 16~31% of leaf area and 20~35% of fresh weight, compared to the 3 days-removal treatment. The nitrate contents were greatly reduced from 3,018 to 1,035 in $200{\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$, and 2,021 to 480 ppm in the light condition of $300{\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$, with the nutrient solution removal for 3 days before harvest, without causing any deterioration in growth and product quality. The vitamin C contents in leaves were higher in the treatment of nutrient solution removal for both 3 and 5 days before harvest with the light condition of $300{\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$ than those in the light condition of 100 or $200{\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.9-14
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• 1998

Air current speeds were controlled of 0.3, 0.5, 0.7 and 0.9 m.s$^{-1}$ to investigate the effects of air current speeds on the growth of eggplant plug seedlings (Solanum melongena L.) in a wind tunnel under artificial lighting. Growth of plug seedlings was influenced by the magnitude of air current speed and the traveling distance of regulated air flow. Stem length. ratio of length to diameter in stem, plant height .and number of leaves of plug seedlings decreased with the increasing air current speed and were significantly different at 5% level. Net photosynthetic rates of plug stand increased with the increasing air current speed and took a maximum value at the air current speed of 0.7~09 m.s$^{-1}$ . Stem diameter decreased and leaf area increased with the traveling distance of regulated air flow. Fresh weight and T/R ratio of dried weight were not influenced by the air current speed. Optimum control for microclimates inside the plug stand is needed to produce the uniform growth and high quality of plug seedlings in a semi-closed plant Production system under artificial lighting.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.278-284
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• 2023

Recently, a closed-type plant factory has been receiving attention as a advanced agricultural method. It has diverse advantages such as climate-independence, high productivity and stable year-round production. However, high energy cost caused by environmental control system is considered as a challenges of a closed-type plant factory. In order to reduce the energy cost, investigation about energy load which is directly connected to energy consumption needs to be conducted. In this study, energy load changes of a plant factory have been analytically analyzed according to the environmental changes. The target plant factory was a lettuce growing container farm. Firstly, the impact of photoperiod, set temperature and relative humidity change were examined. Under the climate condition of Daejeon in South Korea, increase of photoperiod and set temperature rose a yearly energy demand of a container farm. However, increase of set relative humidity decreased a yearly energy demand. Secondly, the climate environment effect was compared by investigating the energy demand under 9 different climate conditions. As a result, the difference between maximum and minimum value of the yearly energy demand showed 21.7%. Lastly, sensitivity analysis of each parameter (photoperiod, set temperature and relative humidity) has been suggested under 3 different climate conditions. The ratio of heating and cooling demand was varied depending on the climate, so the effect of each parameter became different.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.334-341
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• 2011

This study was conducted to compare the characteristics of heat dissipated from LED lamps with water cooling method and natural cooling method in a closed-type plant production system (CPPS) and to determine the optimum water temperature and flow rate for LED lamps with water cooling method. The experiments were performed in CPPS maintained at temperature of $24^{\circ}C$ and humidity of 70%. As compared to the LED lamps operated at water temperature of $22.5{\pm}1.2^{\circ}C$ and flow rate of $1,521{\pm}3.3\;mL{\cdot}min^{-1}$, air temperature under LED lamps with natural cooling was approximately increased by $1^{\circ}C$ and photosynthetic photon flux was decreased by $10{\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$. PPF illuminated from LED lamps was affected by forward voltage varied by the surface temperature of LED lamps. Forward voltage of LED lamps was decreased with increasing surface temperature and then PPF was proportionately decreased. Five levels ($14^{\circ}C,\;17^{\circ}C,\;20^{\circ}C,\;23^{\circ}C,\;26^{\circ}C$) of water temperature and three levels ($500\;mL{\cdot}min^{-1}$, $1,000\;mL{\cdot}min^{-1}$, $1,500\;mL{\cdot}min^{-1}$) of flow rate were provided to analyze the change of surface temperature and heat exchange of LED lamps. Heat exchange was increased with decreasing water temperature and increasing flow rate. At flow rate of $1,000-1,500\;mL{\cdot}min^{-1}$ and water temperature of 22.0-$22.6^{\circ}C$, surface temperature of LED lamps can be approached to $24^{\circ}C$ that was almost same as air temperature in CPPS. The calorific value generated from LED lamps used in the study was estimated to be $103.0\;kJ{\cdot}h^{-1}$.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.60 no.1
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• pp.70-74
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• 2015

An LED plant factory farm is an alternative way to grow crops regardless of weather, season, and blight in such times of climate change. In recent years, it is a currently active and vibrant research field. The industry, which ranges from leaf vegetables to high value products, is expanding. This study was conducted to test tthe response of LED (Light-emitting diode) irradiation on the growth characteristics and ginsenoside levels indoors, in order to find out suitable light conditions. Ginseng seedling was transplanted from a styrofoam pot ($L{\times}W{\times}D$:$495{\times}315{\times}215mm$, inside diameter) into a closed plant production system in four blue LED (BL) and red LED (RL) different ratios of 1:1, 1;2, 1:3, 1:4 in a temperature range of $20{\sim}25^{\circ}C$, relative humidity of between 55 and 65%, and a 12-hour photoperiod. The LED irradiation shows the highest levels were found at 1:1 of BL and RL ratio at $61.21{\mu}mol\;s^{-l}m^{-2}$, 1:2 ratio $68.55{\mu}mol\;s^{-l}m^{-2}$, 1:3 ratio $63.85{\mu}mol\;s^{-l}m^{-2}$ and 1:4 ratio $62.41{\mu}mol\;s^{-l}m^{-2}$ from highest to lowest respectively. After analyzing from shoot and root 2 yers old ginseng plant which were cultivated under 1:3 irradiation of BL and RL ratio, it generally showed a positive effect under a 1:3 ratio of BL and RL.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.257-266
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• 2023

This study was conducted to investigate the growth characteristics of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L. 'Joeunbaekdadagi') and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L. 'Dotaerang Dia') seedlings by light intensities and CO₂ concentrations in a closed-type plant production system (CPPS). Cucumber and tomato seeds were sown in 50-cell trays and germinated in CPPS at air temperature 25 ± 1℃ and relative humidity 50 ± 10% for 4 days. After germination, the CO₂ concentrations and light intensity treatment were treated at 500 (ambient), 1,000, and 1,500 µmol·mol^-1 and 100, 200, and 300 µmol·m^-2·s^-1 photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD), respectively. The leaf area of cucumber showed the highest value in CO₂ 1,500 μmol·mol^-1. However, the leaf area of the tomato had no significant difference in CO₂ concentrations and light intensities treatments. In cucumber and tomato both seedlings, the growth and quality such as compactness and leaf area rate were increased with the increase of light intensity, and there were highest in 300 µmol·m^-2·s^-1. The root surface and number of root tips of cucumber and tomato seedlings were significantly increased with the increase in light intensity. In conclusion, the regulation of the CO₂ concentrations and light intensity can control the growth and quality of cucumber and tomato seedlings in CPPS, especially, increasing the light intensity can improve more significantly the growth and quality of seedlings.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.105-109
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• 2020

This study was conducted to the improvement of solar light-based artificial light supply system and effect of lettuce cultivation. The artificial light supply system was consisted of units such as light source, power, system measurement and controller. The light source supply was composed of a solar transmitter and an LED lamp. The power supply consisted of an leakage breaker, SMPS, LED controller and relay. The solar transmitter was made of a quartz optical fiber with optimal light transmission. Artificial light used white lamp among LEDs. System measurement and control consisted of touch screen, Zigbee communication module and light quantity sensor. The results of test confirmed that the LED light is automatically activated when the intensity measured by the light intensity sensor is 200 μmolm^-2s^-1 or less. Moreover, the leaf length, root length, chlorophyll content and root fresh weight of optical fiber treatment was hight than LED lamp treatment. Therefore, it can be inferred that the energy-saving solar light collector device can be effective in the indoor lettuce production. However, the use of LED lamp is also recommended to assure the availability of sufficient sunlight in cloudy and rainy days.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.334-341
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• 2000

To develop a nutrient solution for a closed hydroponic system in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) 'Atlantic' and 'Superior' potatoes were grown with the nutrient solutions whose strengths were 0.25, 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 of the concentration of the nutrient solution developed by the National Horticultural Experiment Station in Japan. The best results in potato growth and yield were obtained with 0.5 and 1.0 strength nutrient solutions, and nutrient compositions for potato were determined based on the 1.0 strength nutrient solution; $14.4me{\cdot}L^{-1}\;N,\;4.2me{\cdot}L^{-1}\;P,\;7.5me{\cdot}L^{-1}\;K,\;5.5me{\cdot}L^{-1}\;Ca$, and $3.5me{\cdot}L^{-1}\;Mg$ for stolon growth stage and $14.8me{\cdot}L^{-1}\;N,\;4.0me{\cdot}L^{-1}\;P,\;8.5me{\cdot}L^{-1}\;K,\;6.5me{\cdot}L^{-1}\;Ca$, and $3.0me{\cdot}L^{-1}\;Mg$ for tuber growth stage. To examine the suitability of the nutrient solutions developed for potato, the strengths of 1.0 (PS 1.0S), 0.75 (PS 0.75S), or 0.5 (PS 0.5S) were compared with half-strength of Japanese Horticultural Experiment Station' solution (JH 0.5S). Changes in pH, EC, and mineral concentrations in nutrient solutions depended more on solution strength and growth stage than on the type of nutrient solution. However, most elements in solution remained constant with plant age in PS 0.75S solution during stolon growth stage, and in PS 0.5S solution during tuber growth stage. The greatest growth and tuber yield was obtained in the standard strength solution (PS 1.0S), and potato solution developed in this experiment was recommended for hydroponic culture of potato in a closed system.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.46-54
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• 2016

BACKGROUND: The tobacco whitefly(Bemisia tabaci Gennadius) and western flower thrips(Frankliniella occidentalis Pergande) seriously damaged to several greenhouse crops and transmitted plant viruses such as the Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Virus(TYLCV) and Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus(TSWV). Objective of this study was to elucidate exclusion effects of insect screen nets by various hole sizes and colors for control of the two insect pests in controlled environments such as a closed plant production system.METHODS AND RESULTS: The exclusion effects to various hole sizes of three other colors with 30 individuals of two insect pests was evaluated. B. tabaci was not showed not difference to different colors and sizes. F. occidentalis showed that 0.2 mm black screen was the most effective exclusion than other colors of 0.6 and 0.8 mm.CONCLUSION: The two insects were different reponses to various hole sizes of white and other color screen nets. It was proved that the 0.4 mm white screen net used in this experimental condition was suitable for exclusion of B. tabaci and 0.2 mm black forF. occidentalis.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.330-339
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• 2014

Growth and anthocyanins of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L., 'Mid-season') grown under LED lamps with blue light in the range of 430-470 nm or with red light in the range of 630-670 nm were analyzed in this study. Cool-white fluorescent light was used a s the control. P hotosynthetic photon flux, p hotoperiod, air temperature, relative humidity, and $CO_2$ concentration in a closed plant production system were $201{\pm}2\;{\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$, 16/8 hours (day/night), $22/18^{\circ}C$, 70%, and $400{\mu}mol{\cdot}mol^{-1}$, respectively. At 21 days after light quality treatment, growth characteristics and anthocyanins content of lettuce as affected by the peak wavelength of blue or red LED were significantly different. Among peak wavelengths treated in this stusy, R1 treatment (peak wavelength 634 nm) and R6 treatment (peak wavelength 659 nm) were effective for increasing leaf width, leaf area, shoot fresh weight, and photosynthetic rate of lettuce. B5 treatment (peak wavelength 450 nm) and B4 treatment (peak wavelength 446 nm) increased the anthocyanins concentration and chlorophyll content in lettuce leaves, respectively. Anthocyanins in lettuce leaves increased linearly with decreasing hue value of leaf color and with increasing SPAD value of lettuce leaves. From these results, it was concluded that the red LED with peak wavelengths of 634 nm and 659 nm and the blue LED with peak wavelengths of 450 nm can be used as potential light spectra for increasing the yield and anthocyanins accumulation of leafy vegetable.