Location: Application Technology Research
Project Number: 5082-21000-001-102-A
Project Type: Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Sep 1, 2024
End Date: Aug 31, 2025
Objective:
1. Water management: Given that most water supplies are alkaline with high pH in North Dakota, extensive research is needed to determine if high pH water is suitable for Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) systems, such as hydroponic and drip irrigation. This research will also assess the impact of water quality on the growth and production of vegetables in CEA.
2. Automation: This project will focus on designing, constructing, and testing an automatic control system for drip irrigation in the lettuce production system.
3. Energy efficiency: This project will explore the potential of a novel greenhouse film designed to filter the full light spectrum, enhancing solar efficiency and supporting crop growth.
4. Tribal Food Sovereignty: This project will study the propagation and cultivation of culturally important seeds and plants for regional tribal communities.
Approach:
1. Water management: This research will also assess the impact of water quality on the growth and production of vegetables in CEA. The initial focus will be on lettuce and leafy greens, as they are among the most popular vegetables on dining tables. Water and nutrient balances will be quantified to enhance water conservation in CEA production. The specific objectives are to: (1) Evaluate the effects of pH on lettuce production; (2) Compare the lettuce growth using measured water quantity and quality, plant nutrient parameters, and various images for better water and nutrient management; (3) Assess the impact of water quality on the growth and production of other leafy greens; and (4) Develop strategies for optimizing water usage and nutrient delivery to maximize efficiency and conserve resources in CEA systems.
2. Automation: A modified soil potential sensor will be used to automatically control the irrigation amount and nutrient delivery to conserve water and nutrients while maintaining plant health. The system will be tested and compared with measured water quantity and quality data, as well as imagery data. Machine learning algorithms will be applied to model and evaluate the system's performance. The automatic water supply system can lead to more consistent and higher-quality crop production, efficient resource usage, and enhanced sustainability.
3. Energy efficiency: This project aims to explore the potential of a novel greenhouse film designed to filter the full light spectrum, enhancing solar efficiency and supporting crop growth. Additionally, this project may demonstrate a cutting-edge solar module developed in Europe which uniquely filters essential light to plants while converting surplus solar energy into electricity. These advanced solar spectral filtering techniques aim to maximize energy efficiency, improve crop health, enhance temperature control, and generate renewable energy, without adversely affecting the yields of light-sensitive crops in greenhouses. The principal objective is to (1) demonstrate innovative energy efficiency strategies for greenhouses, focusing on spectral filtering technologies in northern climate regions; and (2) collect preliminary data to assess the environmental and economic feasibility of large-scale applications in the future.
4. CEA - Tribal Food Sovereignty: This research activity will focus on the propagation, study and cultivation of culturally important seeds and plants. Select plants/seeds will be researched to better understand ideal growing conditions, their soil constitutes, and their potential for large scale growing projects.
