Crop Cultivation Underneath Agro-Photovoltaic Systems and Its Effects on Crop Growth, Yield, and Photosynthetic Efficiency

Abstract

Agro-photovoltaics (APV) could be the optimal means of sustainable development in agricultural areas once a few challenges are overcome, perhaps the greatest of which is the constant shading from AVP structures. This study examined how the growth and yield of rice, potato, sesame, and soybean crops could be optimized when grown underneath different APV systems. The solar radiation, shading levels, and temperatures during crop cultivation were measured. In addition, the photosynthetic efficiency was measured at different growth stages. Adjacent to the APV systems were the control plots with full sun. In these studies with potato crops grown under APV systems, most growth and yield parameters were similar to those grown in the control plot except for the plant height. On the other hand, sesame crops grown underneath the APV systems had a lower stem length, effective branching number, 1000 seed weight, and a reduced yield of 19% compared to the crops from the control plot. In two distant locations (Paju and Youngkwang), soybean crops grown underneath APV systems at both sites showed increased ungrained ratios per pod and a reduced yield of 18–20% compared to the control plot. Finally, rice crops cultivated underneath the APV systems had a lower panicle number per hill, spikelet number per panicle, 1000 seed weight, and yield reduction of 13–30% compared to the control plot. Overall, crops grown underneath the APV systems had a greater plant height and stem length. Moreover, the solar radiation and PAR underneath the APV systems were also lower than in the control plots. The photosynthetic efficacy in rice plants grown underneath the APV systems was lower than in the control plots. The photosynthetic efficacy may help lower the crop yield when cultivation is underneath an APV system.

Evaluation of Yield and Yield Components of Rice in Vertical Agro-Photovoltaic System in South Korea

“…In our previous study, plant height was not significantly different between the open field and the rooftop APV system in 2018, whereas it did show significance in 2019 [17]. Lee et al [28] installed rooftop APV facilities in three different regions of South Korea that resulted in different rice plants height between the APV system and the control at two locations, whereas the other location of the APV system produced a higher plant height than that in the control plot. The percentage of ripened grains ranged from 90.9% to 93.8% across two years [17].…”

“…The results showed that rice yield differences between the control and under the rooftop APV system were 1.4 t/ha in 2018 and 0.7 t/ha in 2019, which corresponded to yield reductions of 18.7% and 8.9%, respectively, under the rooftop APV system. There are other studies supporting a rice yield reduction under the APV system compared with that under control conditions [26][27][28]. In our present study, we installed a vertical APV system around a rice paddy field.…”

Association between Dynamic Agricoltaic System and Cultivation: Medical Plants Viability, Yields and Qualitative Assessment

“…In another experiment (Schindelea et al, 2020) [13] the potato tuber yield was decreased by 38.2% in crops grown under APV compared to the conventional potato tuber yield. Lee et al (2022) [7] reported that the potato yield was similar in the AV system and the control plot, on the other hand, the yields of sesame, soybean, and rice crops were 19%, 18-20%, and 13-30% lower than those grown in the control plot, respectively. The reduction of light resources (ranged from 25-32%) underneath the AV systems could be directly responsible for the slower growth and development of crop plants in the shade.…”

“…With 1-axial tracking photovoltaics, the modules track the sun horizontally according to the angle of incidence (elevation) or vertically according to the orbit of the sun (azimuth). Biaxial trackers do both while maximizing energy yield Although the AV technology is increasingly being applied all over the world, there is very little accompanying scientific research to examine its impacts on agronomic parameters, such as crop performance and crop yields (Lee et al, 2022) [7]. Some studies (Marrou et al, 2013aand b, Ravi et al, 2016, Amaducci et al, 2018 [8][9][10][11] indicate that the presence of the photovoltaic panels creates, especially in semi-arid and arid regions, a microclimate (temperature and humidity) favorable for plant growth, which can improve the performance of some crops that often suffer from the adverse effects of high solar radiation and concomitant water losses.…”

Association between Dynamic Agrivoltaic System and Cultivation: Viability, Yields and Qualitative Assessment of Medical Plants

“…Additionally, a study [10] investigating the use of tilt-angle solar panels on agricultural land indicates that understanding stomatal behavior and the changes in gas exchange in plants due to shading, fluctuations in solar radiation, and variations in plant water status can significantly enhance both the management of solar panels and irrigation practices. Several studies [11][12][13][14][15] suggest that the presence of photovoltaic panels creates a microclimate (impacting temperature and humidity) that is particularly beneficial for plant growth, especially in semi-arid and arid regions. This climate adjustment can potentially enhance the performance of crops that commonly face challenges from intense solar radiation and concurrent water loss.…”