Agrivoltaic Farming Insights: A Case Study on the Cultivation and Quality of Kimchi Cabbage and Garlic

Abstract

Agrivoltaic systems, which combine the cultivation of crops with solar panel installations, offer a novel solution to the dual challenges of energy production and agricultural productivity. This research verifies the impact of agrivoltaic (APV) conditions on the growth and quality of garlic and kimchi cabbage over two consecutive years in Naju-si, Jeollanam Province, Republic of Korea. In the 2019–2020 cultivation season, both kimchi cabbage and garlic grown under APV conditions experienced weight reductions of 18% and 15%, respectively, when compared to those grown in conventional settings. Intriguingly, despite the altered light conditions of APV leading to microenvironmental changes (mainly 41% light reduction), the quality of these crops, particularly in terms of their sulfur compound concentrations, remained consistent. This suggests that there was no discernible difference in the sensory quality of APV-grown kimchi cabbage and garlic compared to their traditionally grown counterparts. These findings highlight the potential of APV systems in promoting sustainable agriculture by balancing both crop yield and quality. Based on these results, the study suggests three innovative cultivation techniques to enhance crop growth in APV environments.

Current Trends in Quality Science Quality management and safety of food and non-food products

“…Both the type of garlic fertilization used and the scale of cultivation provide the basis for dividing the methods of its cultivation into: home cultivation (in pots), plot cultivation with natural or mineral fertilization and industrial -using chemical protection products in permissible doses. However, according to literature data and practice, the division of garlic cultivation methods is as follows: cultivation from cloves, cultivation from air bulbs, accelerated cultivation using foil tunnels, as well as autumn and spring cultivation (Ko et al, 2023).…”

Fruit Crop Species with Agrivoltaic Systems: A Critical Review

“…and arable crops (i.e., rice, wheat, maize, potato, etc. ), with varying degrees of responsiveness to shade [25][26][27][28][29]. The suitability of AV configurations has also been tested on woody species (i.e., olive, pear) by simulations and modeling approaches [30][31][32].…”

The Early Effects of an Agrivoltaic System within a Different Crop Cultivation on Soil Quality in Dry–Hot Valley Eco-Fragile Areas

“…Research in agrivoltaic systems has primarily focused on the impact of PV shading on crop growth, yield [17], quality [19], and economic benefits [20]. Studies investigating the ecological effects of soil following the construction of PV modules have predominantly been conducted in natural ecosystems, such as grasslands and deserts [21].…”