Design, Fabrication and Evaluation of a Hybrid Hydro/Aeroponic System

Authors

1 Agricultural institute, Iranian Research Organization for Science and Technology,Ahmadabad Mostoufi, Tehran, Iran

2 Agricultural research institute, Iranian Research Organization for Science and Technology (irost), Ahmadabad mostofi. Tehran

3 Agricultural research institute, Iranian Research Organization for Science and Technology (irost), Ahmadabad mostofi, Tehran. Iran.

Abstract

The water shortage crisis necessitates the implementation of new technologies to increase water productivity. The aeroponics and hydroponics methods can be part of these technologies. In this study a high pressure aeroponics system including two separate units was designed and constructed for conducting research experiments. In this technology, the roots of the plant were suspended in a horizontal arrangement in the air and subjected to periodic spraying of the nutrient solution. The nutrient solution based on Hoagland's formula was transferred by a diaphragm pump and after passing through the filter, it was sprayed on the roots of the plants through the nozzle at regular intervals. Other equipment such as pressure switch, pressure gauge, drain valve, programmable timer, and diaphragm accumulator were used in the hydraulic circuit of the system. The sprayed solution was collected at the end of the chamber and returned to the tank due to the gravity force. The design was such that there is always some solution in the bottom of the tank and the roots can use this solution as well, so this system can be considered as a hybrid type. The results showed that this hybrid method significantly increased leaves and root growth compared to the traditional method. The systems built in this research are part of the path to better use of agricultural water and still need to be optimized. Due to the development of vertical farming and urban agriculture in the world, aeroponics systems can play a significant role in this regard.

Keywords


AeroFarms. (2022). Commercial Farms. Retrieved from https://www.aerofarms.com/farms/
AlShrouf, A. (2017). Hydroponics, aeroponic and aquaponic as compared with conventional farming. American Academic Scientific Research Journal for Engineering, Technology, and Sciences, 27(1), 247-255.
Baras, T. (2018). DIY hydroponic gardens: How to design and build an inexpensive system for growing plants in water: Cool Springs Press.
Cai, J., Veerappan, V., Arildsen, K., Sullivan, C., Piechowicz, M., Frugoli, J., & Dickstein, R. (2023). A modified aeroponic system for growing small-seeded legumes and other plants to study root systems. Plant methods, 19(1), 21.
Chiipanthenga, M., Maliro, M., Demo, P., & Njoloma, J. (2012). Potential of aeroponics system in the production of quality potato (Solanum tuberosum l.) seed in developing countries. African Journal of Biotechnology, 11(17), 3993-3999. doi:10.5897/AJB10.1138
Chowdhury, M., Kabir, M. S. N., Kim, H. T., & Chung, S. O. (2020). Method of pump, pipe, and tank selection for aeroponic nutrient management systems based on crop requirements. Journal of Agricultural Engineering, 51(2), 119-128.
Dannehl, D., Taylor, Z., Suhl, J., Miranda, L., Fitz-Rodriguez, E., Lopez-Cruz, I., . . . Schmidt, U. (2017). Sustainable cities: viability of a hybrid aeroponic/nutrient film technique system for cultivation of tomatoes. International Journal of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, 11(6), 470-477.
De Fazio, M., & Dodd, S. (2018). Aeroponics system with microfluidic die and sensors for feedback control. In: Google Patents.
Farran, I., & Mingo-Castel, A. M. (2006). Potato minituber production using aeroponics: effect of plant density and harvesting intervals. American Journal of Potato Research, 83(1), 47-53. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02869609
Gopinath, P., Vethamoni, P. I., & Gomathi, M. (2017). Aeroponics soilless cultivation system for vegetable crops. Chem. Sci. Rev. Lett, 6(22), 838-849.
Hasrak, S., & Zarghami, R. (2023). Comparison of minituber production in designed aeroponic system and soil cultivation. Acta Physiologiae Plantarum, 45(4), 57.
Hayden, A. L., Brigham, L. A., & Giacomelli, G. A. (2004). Aeroponic cultivation of ginger (Zingiber officinale) rhizomes. Paper presented at the VII International Symposium on Protected Cultivation in Mild Winter Climates: Production, Pest Management and Global Competition 659.
IRNA. (2018). Greenhouse cultivation of saffron, a new method or a profitable mirage. Retrieved from https://www.irna.ir/news/83132406 (In Persian).
Jones Jr, J. B. (2016). Hydroponics: a practical guide for the soilless grower: CRC press.
Kumari, R., & Kumar, R. (2019). Aeroponics: A review on modern agriculture technology. Indian Farmer, 6(4), 286-292.
Lakhiar, I. A., Gao, J., Syed, T. N., Chandio, F. A., & Buttar, N. A. (2018). Modern plant cultivation technologies in agriculture under controlled environment: A review on aeroponics. Journal of plant interactions, 13(1), 338-352. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/17429145.2018.1472308
Lakhiar, I. A., Gao, J., Syed, T. N., Chandio, F. A., Tunio, M. H., Ahmad, F., & Solangi, K. A. (2020). Overview of the aeroponic agriculture–An emerging technology for global food security. International Journal of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, 13(1), 1-10.
Lakhiar, I. A., Gao, J., Xu, X., Syed, T. N., Chandio, F. A., Jing, Z., & Buttar, N. A. (2019). Effects of various aeroponic atomizers (droplet sizes) on growth, polyphenol content, and antioxidant activity of leaf lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.). Transactions of the ASABE, 62(6), 1475-1487. doi:doi: 10.13031/trans.13168
Lakhiar, I. A., Jianmin, G., Syed, T. N., Chandio, F. A., Buttar, N. A., & Qureshi, W. A. (2018). Monitoring and control systems in agriculture using intelligent sensor techniques: A review of the aeroponic system. Journal of Sensors, 2018. doi:https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/8672769
Liu, X., Wang, G., & Gao, J. (2018). Experimental study of ultrasonic atomizer effects on values of EC and pH of nutrient solution. International Journal of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, 11(5), 59-64. doi:10.25165/j.ijabe.20181105.3790
Rohi, z. S. N. A., Kh. (2019). Investigation and comparison of one-year yield of saffron cultivation by two methods of air cultivation (aeroponics) and soil cultivation (row cultivation) in Najaf Abad city. Paper presented at the 6th International Conference on Applied Research in Agricultural Sciences, Iran, Tehtran.  (in persian).
Shahbani, Z., Kafi, M., Naderi, R., & Taghavi, T. (2013). Effect of nutrient spray interval and light quality in root zone on growth characteristics of Anthurium andreanum L. in aeroponic system. Journal of Soil and Plant Interactions-Isfahan University of Technology, 3(4), 105-116 (In Persian).
Souret, F. F., & Weathers, P. J. (2000). The growth of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) in aeroponics and hydroponics. Journal of herbs, spices & medicinal plants 7(3), 25-35. doi:https://doi.org/10.1300/J044v07n03_04
Tunio, M. H., Gao, J., Shaikh, S. A., Lakhiar, I. A., Qureshi, W. A., Solangi, K. A., & Chandio, F. A. (2020). Potato production in aeroponics: An emerging food growing system in sustainable agriculture forfood security. Chilean journal of agricultural research, 80(1), 118-132. doi:doi:10.4067/S0718-58392020000100118
Vassallo, A. (2018). Low Effort Management of Basil (Ocimum Basilicum) Growth in an Aeroponic System.
Ziegler, R. (2005). The vertical aeroponic growing system. Synergyii International Inc.