• 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.32 no.4
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• pp.493-498
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• 2014

The objective of this study was to make growth and yield models for common ice plant (Mesembryanthemum crystallinum L.) using expolinear functional equations in a closed-type plant production system. Three-band radiation type fluorescent lamps with a 12-hours photoperiod were used, and the light intensity was $200{\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$. Nutrient film systems with three layers were used for plant growth. Environmental conditions, such as air temperature, relative humidity and $CO_2$ concentration were controlled by an ON/OFF operation. Leaf area, shoot fresh and dry weights, light use efficiency of common ice plant as function of days after transplanting, accumulative temperature and accumulative radiation were analyzed. Leaf area, shoot fresh and dry weights per area were described using an expolinear equation. A linear relationship between shoot dry and fresh weights was observed. Light use efficiency of common ice plant was $3.3g{\cdot}MJ^{-1}$ at 30 days after transplanting. It is concluded that the expolinear growth model can be a useful tool for quantifying the growth and yield of common ice plant in a closed plant production system.

• 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 CROP SCIENCE
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• v.65 no.4
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• pp.468-476
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• 2020

This study was performed to establish light intensity conditions for producing stem cuttings for aeroponic systems suitable for seed potato production using a closed-type plant production system. Shoot tip cultured plantlets of 'Sumi' and 'Chubaek' potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) were acclimatized, cuttings were collected, and stem cuttings were planted. The seedlings were raised for 40 days at different LED light intensities (60, 120, 180, and 240 μmol·m^-2·s^-1), and were cultivated in an aeroponic system for 80 days. When stem cuttings were raised at 60 μmol·m^-2·s^-1 LED light intensity, the plant height was the longest, at 17.3 cm for 'Sumi' and 16.1 cm for 'Chubaek', and the number of nodes was the highest in both cultivars. The higher light intensities, produced smaller plants with fewer nodes. The leaf areas, SPAD values, and Fv/Fm values differed slightly between cultivars. The fresh weight of stem cuttings, and the production rate of healthy stem cuttings were the highest at 60 μmol·m^-2·s^-1. In the aeroponic system, seedlings raised at 60 μmol·m^-2·s^-1 with LED light intensity showed a difference between the cultivars, but the fresh weight of stems and leaves above the planting plate was the heaviest. In addition, below the planting plate the stem cuttings were longest and the root weight was heaviest at 60 μmol·m^-2·s^-1 LED light intensity. The number of stolons also differed between cultivars, but was greatest for seedlings raised at 60 μmol·m^-2·s^-1 LED light intensity, at 4.2/plant for 'Sumi' and 7.7/plant for 'Chubaek'. At 60 μmol·m^-2·s^-1 LED light intensity, the tuber number and total tuber weight were the best, but the higher the light intensity, the smaller the total tuber number and total tuber weight for both cultivars. In conclusion, when producing potato stem cuttings for aeroponic systems using a closed-type plant production system, the most suitable LED light intensity for raising seedlings was found to be 60 μmol·m^-2·s^-1.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.878-885
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• 2016

A study was conducted to examine the effects of light quality on the growth and phytochemical contents of ice plant in a closed-type plant production system. Seeds were sown in a 128-cell plug tray using rockwool. The seedlings were then transplanted into a deep floating technique system with recirculating nutrient solution (EC $1.5dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$, pH 6.5) in a closed-type plant production system. The nutrient solution was supplied at two weeks after transplanting with 2.0 mM NaCl concentration in all treatments for the development of the bladder cells. The three light sources with different light qualities used were as followed; FL (fluorescent lamps), combined RW LED (red:white = 7:3), and combined RBW LED (red:blue:white = 8:1:1) at $150{\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$ PPFD with a photoperiod of 14/10 hours (light/dark). The results showed that the FL treatment had the greatest growth enhancement effects on the leaf area and the fresh and dry weights of the shoots and roots. The SPAD values were significantly higher under the FL and RBW LED treatments, at 29.8 and 30.6, respectively. No significant difference was observed in salinity under all treatments. Chlorophyll fluorescence was significantly higher under the FL treatment. The total phenol content and antioxidant activity were the highest under the RBW LED treatment. The total flavonoid content was significantly higher under the RBW LED and FL treatments. Hence, the results indicate that the growth of ice plant was maximized under the FL treatment. The phytochemical contents were maximized under the RBW LED treatment.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.386-392
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• 2017

This study was conducted to examine the growth and phytochemical contents of spinach (Spinacia Oleracea L. 'Sushiro') as affected by different fluorescent lamps in a closed-type plant production system. Seeds were sown in a 128-cell plug tray filled in rockwool. The seedlings were transplanted into a DFT (deep floating technique) system with recycling nutrient solution (EC $1.5dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ and pH 6.5) in a closed-type plant production system. The seedlings were grown under 3 types of fluorescent lamp, #S (NBFHF 32S8EX-D, CH LIGHTING Co. Ltd., China), #O (FHF32SSEX-D, Osram Co. Ltd., Germany), and #P (FLR32SS EX-D, Philips Co. Ltd., The Netherlands) at $150{\mu}mol{\cdot}m-2{\cdot}s^{-1}\;PPFD$ with a photoperiod of 14/10 (light/dark) hours. Plants were cultured under condition of $25{\pm}1^{\circ}C$ temperature and $60{\pm}10%$ relative humidity after transplanting. Thirty plants per each treatment were cultivated for $6^{th}$ week after transplanting. And growth and phytochemical contents were measured at $3^{rd}$ and $6^{th}$ week. At the $3^{rd}$ week after transplanting, the parameter values of plant height and leaf width were higher in the #O than the others. However, fresh and dry weights of root were the greatest in the #P. In addition, total phenolic concentration was the greatest in the #P. At $6^{th}$ week after transplanting, the #O had the greatest growth of spinach in the plant height and fresh and dry weights of shoot. The total phenolic contents significantly increased in the #O and showed significantly difference. However, there was no significant difference all treatments in antioxidant activity. Therefore, these results suggest that the #O was suitable for the growth and phytochemical accumulation of spinach in a closed-type plant production system.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.89-94
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• 2016

This study was conducted to determine the optimum nutrient solution, pH, irrigation interval, light intensity and planting density to growth of common ice plant (Mesembryanthemum crystallinum L.) in a closed-type plant production system. Three-band radiation type fluorescent lamps with a 12-h photoperiod were used. Nutrient film technique systems with three layers were used for the plant growth system. Environmental conditions, such as air temperature, relative humidity and $CO_2$ concentration were controlled by an ON/OFF operation. Treatments were comparison of the nutrient solution of Horticultural Experiment Station in Japan (NHES) and the nutrient solution of Jeju National University (NJNU), pH 6.0 and 7.0, irrigation interval 5 min and 10 min, light intensity 90 and $180{\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$, and within-row spacing 10 cm, 15 cm, 20 cm and 25 cm with between-row spacing 15 cm. Optimum macronutrients were composed N 7.65, P 0.65, K 4.0, Ca 1.6 and Mg $1.0mM{\cdot}L^{-1}$. There were no significant interactions between pH 6.0 and 7.0 about shoot fresh weight and shoot dry weight of common ice plant. Irrigation interval 5 min and 10 min was also the same result. Shoot fresh weight and shoot dry weight were highest at $180{\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$. Shoot fresh weight and shoot dry weight were decreased according to increasing the planting density. From the above results, we concluded that optimum nutrient solution, optimum levels of pH, irrigation interval, light intensity and planting density were 6.0-7.0 and 10 min, $180{\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$ and $15{\times}15cm$, respectively for growth of common ice plant in a closed-type plant production system.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.139-145
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• 2016

The objective of this study was to compare the growth and light use efficiency of red leaf lettuce grown under three types of combined light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and fluorescent lamps (FL) in a closed-type plant production system. The eighteen days-old lettuce seedlings of red leaf lettuce (Lactuca sativa L., 'Jeokchima') were transplanted to the close-type plant production system equipped with three types of combined LEDs with red (R, 655 nm), blue (B, 456 nm), green (G, 515 nm), and white (W, 456 nm + 558 nm) (R:B=8:2, R:W:B=8:1:1, R:G:B=8:1:1) and FL. The seedlings were grown under normal growth conditions ($20^{\circ}C$, $181{\pm}4{\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$, 12 h photoperiod) for four weeks. Lettuce plants grown under FL had significantly higher leaf shape index than those under all LED treatments. Although growth of shoots and roots was not show any significant difference among LED treatments, all of the LED treatments induced about 34% higher shoot fresh weight than that of the FL. On the other hands, the total power consumption of FL was 145 kW for 4 weeks, while the mean value of LED treatments was 54 kW, which was about 3 times lower value than that of the FL. The light use efficiency based on dry matter in LED treatments was about 34 mg/W and this was about 3.5 times higher energy saving value than the FL. In conclusion, this study showed that irradiation of optimal combined LEDs in closed-type plant production systems can improve the lettuce growth as well as maximize in light use efficiency through energy saving than the FL.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.67-76
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• 2016

This study was conducted to examine the optimal environmental condition for promoting the growth of sowthistle as affected by light quality and photoperiod in a closed-type plant production system. Seeds were sown in 240-cell plug trays and then germinated for 3 days at a 24-hour photoperiod in a closed-type plant production system with LED lights (R:B:W = 8:1:1). Seedlings were transplanted and grown under 3 types of LED (R:B:W = 8:1:1, R:W = 3:7, or R:B = 8:2) and 4 photoperiods (24/0, 16/8, 8/16, or 4/20 hours) with $230{\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$ light intensity at a density of $20cm{\times}20 cm$. The experimental design was a randomized complete block design. Plants were cultured for 40 days un der the condition of $21{\pm}2^{\circ}C$ and $70{\pm}10%$ relative humidity after transplanting. Plants were fed with a recycling nutrient solution (pH 7.0 and EC $2.0dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$) contained in a deep floating tank. Fresh weight and dry weight of shoot or root, leaf length, and leaf area were the greatest in the photoperiod of 24/0 (light/dark) with RW LED. The highest number of leaves occurred in the photoperiod of 16/8 (light/dark) with RB LED, while the incidence of tip burn was higher in the photoperiod of 24/0 (light/dark) compared to the other treatments. Chlorophyll value was the highest in the 16/8 (light/dark) photoperiod and there was no significant difference by light quality. Chlorophyll fluorescence was the lowest in the photoperiod of 24/0 (light/dark) compared with other treatments. Therefore, in terms of economic feasibility and productivity for Ixeris dentata Nakai cultivation in a closed-type plant production system, the results obtained suggest that plants grew the best when kept in a photoperiod of 16/8 (light/dark) and light quality of combined LED RW (3:7).

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.106-110
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• 2016

In this study, a planting density-growth-harvest (PGH) chart was developed to easily read the growth and harvest factors such as crop growth rate, relative growth rate, shoot fresh weight, shoot dry weight, harvesting time, marketable rate, and marketable yield of common ice plant (Mesembryanthemum crystallinum L.). The plants were grown in a nutrient film technique (NFT) system in a closed-type plant factory using fluorescent lamps with three-band radiation under a light intensity of $140{\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$ and a photoperiod of 12 h. Growth and yield were analyzed under four planting densities ($15{\times}10cm$, $15{\times}15cm$, $15{\times}20cm$, and $15{\times}25cm$). Shoot fresh and dry weights per plant increased at a higher planting density until reached an upper limit and yield per area was also same tendency. Crop growth rate, relative growth rate and lost time were described using quadratic equation. A linear relationship between shoot dry weight and fresh weights was observed. PGH chart was constructed based on the growth data and making equations. For instance, with within row spacing (= 20 cm) and fresh weight per plant at harvest (= 100 g), we can estimate all the growth and harvest factors of common ice plant. The planting density, crop growth rate, relative growth rate, lost time, shoot dry weight per plant, harvesting time, and yield were $33plants/m^2$, $20g{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}d^{-1}$, $0.27g{\cdot}g^{-1}{\cdot}d^{-1}$, 22 days, 2.5 g/plant, 26 days after transplanting, and $3.2kg{\cdot}m^{-2}$, respectively. With this chart, we could easily obtain the growth factors such as planting density, crop growth rate, relative growth rate, lost time and the harvest factors such as shoot fresh and dry weights, harvesting time, marketable rate, and marketable yield with at least two parameters, for instance, planting distance and one of harvest factors of plant. PGH charts will be useful tools to estimate the growth and yield of crops and to practical design of a closed-type plant production system.