Current trends evidence a growing demand for nutritious, convenient, and ready-to-eat food options. In this scenario, baby-leaf vegetables result appealing in the food market, by combining elevated nutritional value and ease of consumption. Moreover, their short growth cycle and reduced size make them a convenient and ideal crop category for indoor farming, allowing for both multiple harvests and enhanced yield across the year. Furthermore, leafy greens in their juvenile stage have been identified as highly nutritious and valuable products. Kale (Brassica oleracea L.) stands among crops that have recently gained significant attention. Considering the novelty provided by indoor farming technologies and the need for crop diversification beyond well-studied species (e.g., lettuce or basil), this research aimed at identifying improved LED lighting management strategies for baby-leaf kale cultivation in ebb-and-flow hydroponics in a vertical farm. Plants were therefore grown under high planting density (1,950 plants m-2) for 21 days under four distinct light spectra: two red (R) and blue (B) spectra (at RB ratios of 1 and 3, respectively named RB1 and RB3), or in combination with a white (W) background, featuring the same RB ratios (namely W-RB1 and W-RB3). In all the settings, light intensity (220 μmol m-2 s-1) and photoperiod (16 h day-1) were the same among treatments. The adoption of a light spectrum with a higher percentage of R resulted in a greater fresh yield, with the highest performances associated with the treatments W-RB3 and RB3 (on average 4.06 kg m-2), also contributing to enhanced water, land surface and lighting-energy use efficiency. Plants under W-RB3 also obtained the greatest dry weight per sample, while dry matter content increased under RB1 and W-RB1 treatments. Accordingly, the light spectra with a higher RB ratio resulted in the optimal and most profitable strategy to boost baby-leaf kale production in a vertical farming system.
Zauli, I., Carotti, L., Pistillo, A., Pennisi, G., Martin, M., Meneghello, D., et al. (2024). Assessing the role of light quality in baby-leaf kale grown in a vertical farm: Productivity and resource use efficiency. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURAL SCIENCE, 89(5), 1-10 [10.17660/ejhs.2024/025].
Assessing the role of light quality in baby-leaf kale grown in a vertical farm: Productivity and resource use efficiency
Zauli, I.Writing – Original Draft Preparation
;Carotti, L.Writing – Review & Editing
;Pistillo, A.Investigation
;Pennisi, G.
Writing – Original Draft Preparation
;Gianquinto, G.Writing – Review & Editing
;Orsini, F.Writing – Review & Editing
2024
Abstract
Current trends evidence a growing demand for nutritious, convenient, and ready-to-eat food options. In this scenario, baby-leaf vegetables result appealing in the food market, by combining elevated nutritional value and ease of consumption. Moreover, their short growth cycle and reduced size make them a convenient and ideal crop category for indoor farming, allowing for both multiple harvests and enhanced yield across the year. Furthermore, leafy greens in their juvenile stage have been identified as highly nutritious and valuable products. Kale (Brassica oleracea L.) stands among crops that have recently gained significant attention. Considering the novelty provided by indoor farming technologies and the need for crop diversification beyond well-studied species (e.g., lettuce or basil), this research aimed at identifying improved LED lighting management strategies for baby-leaf kale cultivation in ebb-and-flow hydroponics in a vertical farm. Plants were therefore grown under high planting density (1,950 plants m-2) for 21 days under four distinct light spectra: two red (R) and blue (B) spectra (at RB ratios of 1 and 3, respectively named RB1 and RB3), or in combination with a white (W) background, featuring the same RB ratios (namely W-RB1 and W-RB3). In all the settings, light intensity (220 μmol m-2 s-1) and photoperiod (16 h day-1) were the same among treatments. The adoption of a light spectrum with a higher percentage of R resulted in a greater fresh yield, with the highest performances associated with the treatments W-RB3 and RB3 (on average 4.06 kg m-2), also contributing to enhanced water, land surface and lighting-energy use efficiency. Plants under W-RB3 also obtained the greatest dry weight per sample, while dry matter content increased under RB1 and W-RB1 treatments. Accordingly, the light spectra with a higher RB ratio resulted in the optimal and most profitable strategy to boost baby-leaf kale production in a vertical farming system.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
