Developing an Automated Aeroponic Research Tool (AART)
Conference Year
January 2021
Abstract
Aeroponics is the process of growing plants in a nutrient rich mist instead of soil. Aeroponics has several advantages over other growing methods, such as faster leafy plant growth and more efficient water and land use. When combined with Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA), the practice of altering the environment in which the crops are grown, extremely resource efficient (although energy intensive) growth can be achieved. With small changes to the growing conditions, it is also possible to alter, among other things, the taste, texture, and nutritional potential of the crop. Many companies (as well as organizations such as NASA) have recognized the potential of controlled environment aeroponic farming and several already produce high-quality leafy greens such as lettuce and kale in large factory farms. However, the testing to determine the best specific conditions in which to grow crops is tedious and expensive. Many growers without the resources of a large company forego this testing and grow their crop in sub-optimal conditions, often wasting large amounts of energy in the process. The Automated Aeroponic Research Tool (AART) aims to streamline this testing process, allowing it’s operator to quickly determine a specific crop variety’s ideal growing conditions, saving time and potentially vast amounts of energy.
Primary Faculty Mentor Name
Philip M. Lintilhac
Status
Undergraduate
Student College
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Program/Major
Plant Biology
Primary Research Category
Biological Sciences
Developing an Automated Aeroponic Research Tool (AART)
Aeroponics is the process of growing plants in a nutrient rich mist instead of soil. Aeroponics has several advantages over other growing methods, such as faster leafy plant growth and more efficient water and land use. When combined with Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA), the practice of altering the environment in which the crops are grown, extremely resource efficient (although energy intensive) growth can be achieved. With small changes to the growing conditions, it is also possible to alter, among other things, the taste, texture, and nutritional potential of the crop. Many companies (as well as organizations such as NASA) have recognized the potential of controlled environment aeroponic farming and several already produce high-quality leafy greens such as lettuce and kale in large factory farms. However, the testing to determine the best specific conditions in which to grow crops is tedious and expensive. Many growers without the resources of a large company forego this testing and grow their crop in sub-optimal conditions, often wasting large amounts of energy in the process. The Automated Aeroponic Research Tool (AART) aims to streamline this testing process, allowing it’s operator to quickly determine a specific crop variety’s ideal growing conditions, saving time and potentially vast amounts of energy.