• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.314-321
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• 2007

This study was conducted to select leaf vegetables suitable for cultivation in apartment verandas and simple and easy fertigation method for home gardening. In order to develop the convenient fertigation method, hydroponics, wick irrigation, and overhead irrigation methods were compared. For the wick irrigation, two types of nutrient sources were used; one was slow release fertilizers mixed with medium and the other one was nutrient solution filled in container located under pots. The growth of leafy lettuce, leaf mustard, and leaf beet was better in both of the wick irrigation methods rather than in overhead irrigation and hydroponics. The wick irrigation method is very easy, so that it is expected to bring a good result from the cultivating and managing point of view, if it brings with commercialized system along with slow release fertilizer. As a result of investigation of environment such as temperature, relative humidity, and irradiance level in apartment verandas in autumn the highest irradiance level during a day was just 48% and 35% in verandas facing south and feeing southeast, respectively, comparing to that in greenhouse. The light environment was investigated as a limiting factor for vegetable growing in verandas. Therefore, to select the vegetables showing good growth under low irradiance environment, nine leaf vegetables such as romaine lettuce, lent lettuce, head lettuce, endive, pak-choi, leaf mustard, garland chrysanthemum, leaf beet, and Chinese chive were grown under 0%, 50%, 70%, 90% shading. Among them, Chinese chive showed the best growth under low irradiance levels. Endive showed line growth reduction according to shading degree, however, even under 90% shading condition, it showed good growth. And then leafy lettuce, garland chrysanthemum, and pak-choi followed. Therefore, these results will be of help in selecting vegetables for veranda gardening with different light levels.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.291-297
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• 2013

The objective of this study was to know the growth response and light use efficiency of leaf lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) 'Yorum Cheongchukmyeon' (green leaf lettuce) and 'Hongyom Jeokchukmyeon' (red leaf lettuce) under different RGB (Red:Green:Blue) ratio in a closed-type plant factory system. The plants were hydroponically cultured with a 12-h photoperiod at $20{\sim}25^{\circ}C$, 60~70% RH and 600~900 ${\mu}mol{\cdot}mol^{-1}$ $CO_2$. The light treatments were combined in three colors LEDs (red, blue, and white) and RGB ratios (1 : 4 : 5, 5 : 0 : 5, 5 : 2 : 3, 7 : 0 : 3, 7 : 1 : 2, and 8 : 1 : 1), however, as the light intensities of treatments were different. Growth characteristic response in both lettuces were significantly as affected by interaction between cultivar and light quality, when they were grown under different light quality conditions. Plant heights of green and red leaf lettuce were the lowest in 1 : 4 : 5 and 8 : 1 : 1, respectively. The highest length and number of leaf were showed 8 : 1 : 1 and 7 : 0 : 3 for the green and 5 : 2 : 3 and 8 : 1 : 1 for the red, respectively. Shoot dry weights of green and red leaf lettuce were the heaviest in 7 : 0 : 3 and 8 : 1 : 1, respectively. Leaf width and leaf shape index were significant about cultivar and light quality. Leaf widths of green and red leaf lettuce were the largest in 8 : 1 : 1 and 5 : 2 : 3, respectively. Leaf shape index of green and red leaf lettuce were the largest in 1 : 4 : 5 and 1 : 4 : 5, respectively. Shoot fresh weight and light use efficiency were significant about cultivar and light quality. Shoot fresh weights of green and red leaf lettuce were the heaviest in 7 : 0 : 3 and 8 : 1 : 1, respectively. Light use efficiencies of green and red leaf lettuce were the highest in 7 : 0 : 3 and 5 : 0 : 5, respectively. These results suggested that the ratio of RGB was 5~7 : 0~2 : 1~3 to cultivate leaf lettuce in a plant factory system.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.203-211
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• 2005

The experiment was conducted to investigate the nutrition absorption pattern in the growth stages and develope the optimal nutrient solution hydroponically grown the tomato in closed substrate culture system with the nutrient solution of National Horticultural Research Station in Japan into 1/2S, 1 S, and 2S. When plant was grown in 1/2 S, the growth and yield were high and the pH and EC in the rooting zone were stable. Suitable composition of nutrient solution for tomato was $NO_3-N$ 7.1, $PO_{4}$-P 2.1, K 4.0, Ca 3.1, Mg 1.2, and $SO_{4}-S\;1.2\;me{\cdot}L^{-1}$ in the early growth stage and $NO_3-N$ 6.5, $PO_4-P$ 2.3, K 3.4, Ca 3.1, Mg 1.1, and $SO_4-S\;1.1\;me{\cdot}L^{-1}$ in the late growth stage by calculating a rate of nutrient and water uptake. To estimate the suitability for the nutrient solution of tomato in a development of optimum nutrient solution of tomato developed by Wonkwang university in korea (WU), plant was grown in perlite substrate supplied with different solution and strengths(S) by research station for greenhouse vegetable and floricultuin in the Netherlands (Proefstation voor tuinbouw onder glas te Naaldwijk; PTG) of 1/2 S, 1 S and 2 S, respectively, The growth was good at the PTG and WU of 2 S in early growth stage, and at the WU 2S in late growth stage. The highest yield of tomato obtained in the WU of 2 S, although blossom-end rot was appeared in all treatments. pH and EC in root zone of WU of 2 S were stable during the early and late growth stage. Therefore when plant was grown in WU of 2 S, N and P content in the nutrient solution need to low, according N and P content of their leaves were high in WU of 2 S.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2019

The study aimed to determine effects of light emitting diode (LED) and the ultraviolet radiation (UVA) light of plant factory on plant growth and ascorbic acid content of spinach (Spinacia oleracea cv. Shusiro). Plants were grown in a NFT (Nutrient Film Technique) system for 28 days after transplanting with fluorescent light (FL, control), LEDs and UVA (Blue+UVA (BUV), Red and Blue (R:B(2:1)) + UVA (RBUV), Red+UVA (RUV), White LED (W), Red and Blue (R:B(2:1)), Blue (B), Red (R)) under the same light intensity ($130{\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$) and photoperiod (16/8h = day/night). All the light sources containing the R (R, RB, RUV, and RBUV) showed leaf epinasty symptom at 21 days after transplanting (DAT). Under the RUV treatment, the lengths of leaf and leaf petiole were significantly reduced and the leaf width was increased, lowering the leaf shape index, compared to the R treatment. Under the BUV, however, the lengths of leaf and leaf petiole were increased significantly, and the leaf number was increased compared to B. Under the RBUV treatment, the leaf length was significantly shorter than other treatments, while no significant difference between the RBUV and RB for the fresh and dry weights and leaf area. Dry weights at 28 days after transplanting were significantly higher in the R, RUV and BUV treatments than those in the W and FL. The leaf area was significantly higher under the BUV treatment. The ascorbic acid content of the 28 day-old spinach under the B was significantly higher, followed by the BUV, and significantly lower in FL and R. All the integrated data suggest that the BUV light seems to be the most suitable for growth and quality of hydroponically grown spinach in a plant factory.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.371-380
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• 2018

Aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different nutrient solutions and various light qualities generated by LED on the growth and glucosinolates contents of watercress (Nasturtium officinale) grown under hydroponics for 3 weeks. The seeds of watercress were sown on crushed rockwool media and raised them for two weeks. They were transplanted in a semi-DFT (deep flow technique) hydroponics system. A controlled-environment room was maintained at $20{\pm}1^{\circ}C$ and $16{\pm}1^{\circ}C$ temperatures and $65{\pm}10%$ and $75{\pm}10%$ relative humidity (day and night, respectively), with a provided photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) of $180{\pm}10{\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$ and a photoperiod of 16/8h. To find out the best kinds of nutrient solutions for growing watercress, Otsuka House 1A (OTS), Horticultural Experiment Station in Korea (HES), and Netherland's Proefstaion voor Bloemisterij en Gasgroente (PBG) were adapted with initial EC of $1.0-1.3dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ and pH of 6.2, irradiating PPFD with fluorescent lamps (Ex-1). Either monochromatic (W10 and R10) or mixed LEDs (R5B1, R3B1, R2B1G1, and W2B1G1) were irradiated with a differing ratio of each LED's PPFD to understanding light quality on the growth and glucosinolates contents of watercress (Ex-2). Although significant difference in the shoot growth of watercress was not found among three nutrient solutions treatments, but the root fresh weight increased by 13.7% and 55.1% in PBG and OTS compared to HES, respectively. OTS increased the gluconasturtiin content by 96% and 65% compared to PBG and HES. Compared with the white light (W10), the red light (R10) showed a 101.3% increase in the shoot length of watercress. Increasing blue light portion positively affected plant growth. The content of total glucosinolates in watercress was increased by 144.5% and 70% per unit dry weight in R3B1 treatment compared with R2B1G1 and W10 treatments, respectively. The growth and total glucosinolates contents of the watercress were highest under R3B1 among six light qualities.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.545-553
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• 2019

This study was conducted to determine whether the water in which nitrate accumulated during long-term fish culture in an aquaponics system without water exchange could be removed and reused as catfish-culturing water. The catfish (Silurus asotus) were cultured in the urban aquaculture system using BFT (Biofloc Technology) aquaculture and an aquaponics system (two rearing tanks, 3 tons each) without exchanging the rearing water. After 151 days (from March to August) of rearing, 2.8 g of fry had grown to an average weight of 171.3 g (total weight, 56.53 kg) and 235.5 g (total weight 71.1 kg), respectively. The overall survival rate was 65% in the urban aquaculture system. However, the survival rate was 77.7% before separation into the two tanks. The survival rates after the separation were 92.9% and 78.0%. In the early biofloc watermaking process, there was a high mortality rate. After water stabilization, the mortality rate decreased and some mortality occurred during the period when the total amount of suspended solids (TSS) increased. The results of monthly blood analysis of the catfish showed that the AST concentration was significantly higher in April. Blood ALT levels and triglycerides showed no difference in the rearing period and the glucose, cholesterol, and total protein levels were significantly higher in July. There was no difference in the other periods. The plants produced by the aquaponics system using catfish-rearing water were lettuce, basil, chard, and red chicory. These showed smooth growth and a total of 148.85 kg of plants were harvested in five months. It was possible to remove nitric acid from the aquaponics system and reuse it as catfish-rearing water. Maintaining proper plant quantity according to the capacity of the catfish showed that the combination of agricultural and aquatic products was possible.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.177-183
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• 2004

The discharge of waste nutrient solution from greenhouse to natural ecosystem leads to the accumulation of excess nutrients that results in contamination or eutrophication. There is a need to recycle the waste nutrient solution in order to prevent the environmental hazards. The amount and kind of nutrients in waste nutrient solution might be enough to grow photosynthetic microorganisms. Hence in the present study, we examined the growth and mass cultivation of cyanobacteria in the waste nutrient solution with an objective of removing N and P and concomitantly, its mass cultivation. Four photosynthetic filamentous cyanobacteria (Anabaena HA101, HA701 and Nostoc HN601, HN701) isolated from composts and soils of the Chungnam province were used as culture strains. Among the isolates, Nostoc HN601 performed faster growth rate and higher N and P uptake in the BG-II ($NO_3{^-}$) medium when compared to those of other cyanobacterial strains. Finally, the selected isolate was tested under optimum conditions (airflow at the rate of $1L\;min^{-1}$. in 15 L reactor, initial pH 8) in waste nutrient solution from tomato hydroponic in green house condition. Results showed to remove 100% phosphate from the waste nutrient solution in the tomato hydroponics recorded over a period of 7 days. The growth rate of Nostoc HN601 was $16mg\;Chl-a\;L^{-1}$ in the waste nutrient solution from tomato hydroponics with optimum condition, whereas growth rate of Nostoc HN601 was only $9.8mg\;Chl-a\;L^{-1}$ in BG-11 media. Nitrogen fixing capacity of Nostoc HN601 was $20.9nmol\;C_2H_4\;mg^{-1}\;Chl-a\;h^{-1}$ in N-free BG-11. The total nitrogen and total phosphate concentration of Nostoc HN601 were 63.3 mg N gram dry weight $(GDW)^{-1}$ and $19.1mg\;P\;GDW^{-1}$ respectively. Collectively, cyanobacterial mass production using waste nutrient solution under green house condition might be suitable for recycling and cleaning of waste nutrient solution from hydroponic culture system. Biomass of cyanobacteria, cultivated in waste nutrient solution, could be used as biofertilizer.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.305-311
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• 2012

To investigate the influence electrical conductivity (EC) of nutrient solution and light intensity on growth of red leafy lettuce, fresh and dry weights, number of leave, chlorophyll concentration and production efficiency were evaluated through nutrient film technique system. The levels of EC were 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 3.0, and $6.0dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$, and those of light intensity were 120, 150, and $180{\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$. Under photoperiod of 16 h/day, the temperature was maintained in the range of $20{\sim}25^{\circ}C$. Planting density was $10{\times}10cm$ (100 plants/$m^2$). When red leafy lettuce were grown in the EC range of $0.5{\sim}1.5dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$, the fresh and dry weights decreased as the EC levels and light intensity were lowered, however, Hunter's a value showed no significant differences among the treatments of EC and light intensity levels (Ex. 1). The fresh and dry weights and production efficiency ($g{\cdot}FW/kw$) were the highest in the treatment of $3.0dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ and $180{\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$ when crops were grown under the EC range of EC $1.5{\sim}6.0dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ (Ex. 2). But the fresh and dry weights, number of leaves, and production efficiency of $2.0dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ were the highest when the light intensity was $180{\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$ (Ex. 3). The SPAD value increased gradually as EC levels were elevated. From the above results, we concluded that optimum levels of EC and light intensity were $2.0dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ and $180{\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$, respectively, for production as well as production efficiency of red leaf lettuce in plant factory.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.271-277
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• 2021

In this study, experiments of local heating on crown and supplying warm nutrient for energy saving and improving growth of 'Seolhyang' strawberry were conducted. The temperature of inside and crown in greenhouses which were control (space heating 8℃) and test (space heating 5℃+crown heating) was measured. In the control greenhouse, the average of temperature and humidity in December was 7.1℃, 87.2%, respectively. In the test greenhouse, the average of temperature and humidity in December was 5.7℃, 88.7%. The temperature of crown and inside the bed were 7.9℃, 10.8℃ in control, 9.3℃, 12.7℃ in test. During the test period, the total 16,847×10³ kcal of energy was consumed in control greenhouse including space heating. In test greenhouse including space heating, crown heating and warm water supplying, total 9,475.7×10³ kcal of energy was consumed. So, energy consumption in test was 43.8% less than in the control. The total yields of strawberry during test period were 412.7g/plant for test greenhouse and 393.3g/plant for control greenhouse respectively.

• 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 $200{\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$.