J. Sci. Technol. Environ. Inform. | Volume 10, Issue 02, 717-726 | https://doi.org/10.18801/jstei.100220.72
Article type: Research article, Article received: 10.11.2020; Revised: 18.11.2020; First published online: 30 November 2020.
Article type: Research article, Article received: 10.11.2020; Revised: 18.11.2020; First published online: 30 November 2020.
Effect of available solar irradiance on vertical farming in semi-open urban places
Md. Moniruzzaman, Khokan Kumar Saha, Md. Mostafizar Rahman and Md. Moinul Hosain Oliver
Department of Agricultural Engineering, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Gazipur-1706, Bangladesh.
✉ Corresponding author: [email protected] (Oliver M.M.H.).
Department of Agricultural Engineering, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Gazipur-1706, Bangladesh.
✉ Corresponding author: [email protected] (Oliver M.M.H.).
Abstract
Building a vertical farm in unused residential and commercial spaces is a challenge. It is particularly hard to decide upon a space where varying degrees of lighting conditions may prevail at different times of a day. This experiment was focused on how innovative micro-irrigation technology could be coupled with vertical farms. In this regard, three storied racks were designed to accommodate multiple one-feet-square tubs large enough to hold five Indian spinach (BARI Puishak- 2) plants at a time. Sandy loam soil was used for farming along with recommended doses of fertilizers. Different lighting conditions (2- 145 W/m2 average solar irradiance) were employed on the fifth floor of an urban building. Drip emitters were coupled in the system for irrigation. The management allowed deficit was kept to a maximum of 50% of the readily available moisture below the field capacity. The results suggested that drip irrigation systems provide higher water productivity (up to 31.82 kg/m3) compared to the in-field conditions when BARI Puishak-2 is grown in vertical farming. Water productivity of spinach was improved by optimized set-up of a drip irrigation system. The study also concluded that vertical farming is only suitable for indoor places where plenty of direct sunlight or diffused sunlight (not below 70 W/m2) is available. The economic analysis suggests that vertical farms under direct sunlight can be made profitable (BCR>1) in the long run.
Key Words: Micro-irrigation, BARI Puishak-2, Lighting conditions, Drip emitters, Vertical farming, Water productivity, Benefit Cost Ratio (BCR)
Building a vertical farm in unused residential and commercial spaces is a challenge. It is particularly hard to decide upon a space where varying degrees of lighting conditions may prevail at different times of a day. This experiment was focused on how innovative micro-irrigation technology could be coupled with vertical farms. In this regard, three storied racks were designed to accommodate multiple one-feet-square tubs large enough to hold five Indian spinach (BARI Puishak- 2) plants at a time. Sandy loam soil was used for farming along with recommended doses of fertilizers. Different lighting conditions (2- 145 W/m2 average solar irradiance) were employed on the fifth floor of an urban building. Drip emitters were coupled in the system for irrigation. The management allowed deficit was kept to a maximum of 50% of the readily available moisture below the field capacity. The results suggested that drip irrigation systems provide higher water productivity (up to 31.82 kg/m3) compared to the in-field conditions when BARI Puishak-2 is grown in vertical farming. Water productivity of spinach was improved by optimized set-up of a drip irrigation system. The study also concluded that vertical farming is only suitable for indoor places where plenty of direct sunlight or diffused sunlight (not below 70 W/m2) is available. The economic analysis suggests that vertical farms under direct sunlight can be made profitable (BCR>1) in the long run.
Key Words: Micro-irrigation, BARI Puishak-2, Lighting conditions, Drip emitters, Vertical farming, Water productivity, Benefit Cost Ratio (BCR)
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Article Citations
MLA
Moniruzzaman, M. et al. “Effect of available solar irradiance on vertical farming in semi-open urban places.” Journal of Science, Technology and Environment Informatics 10(02) (2020): 717-726.
APA
Moniruzzaman, M., Saha, K. K., Rahman, M. M. and Oliver, M. M. H. (2020). Effect of available solar irradiance on vertical farming in semi-open urban places. Journal of Science, Technology and Environment Informatics, 10(02), 717-726.
Chicago
Moniruzzaman, M., Saha, K. K., Rahman, M. M. and Oliver, M. M. H. “Effect of available solar irradiance on vertical farming in semi-open urban places” Journal of Science, Technology and Environment Informatics 10(02) (2020): 717-726.
Harvard
Moniruzzaman, M., Saha, K. K., Rahman, M. M. and Oliver, M. M. H. 2020. Effect of available solar irradiance on vertical farming in semi-open urban places. Journal of Science, Technology and Environment Informatics, 10(02), pp. 717-726.
Vancouver
Moniruzzaman, M, Saha, KK, Rahman, MM and Oliver, MMH. Effect of available solar irradiance on vertical farming in semi-open urban places. Journal of Science, Technology and Environment Informatics. 2020 November 10(02): 717-726.
Moniruzzaman, M. et al. “Effect of available solar irradiance on vertical farming in semi-open urban places.” Journal of Science, Technology and Environment Informatics 10(02) (2020): 717-726.
APA
Moniruzzaman, M., Saha, K. K., Rahman, M. M. and Oliver, M. M. H. (2020). Effect of available solar irradiance on vertical farming in semi-open urban places. Journal of Science, Technology and Environment Informatics, 10(02), 717-726.
Chicago
Moniruzzaman, M., Saha, K. K., Rahman, M. M. and Oliver, M. M. H. “Effect of available solar irradiance on vertical farming in semi-open urban places” Journal of Science, Technology and Environment Informatics 10(02) (2020): 717-726.
Harvard
Moniruzzaman, M., Saha, K. K., Rahman, M. M. and Oliver, M. M. H. 2020. Effect of available solar irradiance on vertical farming in semi-open urban places. Journal of Science, Technology and Environment Informatics, 10(02), pp. 717-726.
Vancouver
Moniruzzaman, M, Saha, KK, Rahman, MM and Oliver, MMH. Effect of available solar irradiance on vertical farming in semi-open urban places. Journal of Science, Technology and Environment Informatics. 2020 November 10(02): 717-726.
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