Plant growth chamber with integrated air conditioning system, periodic irrigation, and adjustable photosynthetic light wavelength

Abstract

The increase in the average temperature due to climate change affects the crop yield production and it can lead to food insecurity. Rapid breeding helps increase crop yield production and improve the overall crop quality. The researchers designed a plant growth chamber with integrated air conditioning system, periodic irrigation, and adjustable photosynthetic light wavelength. The growth rate of the representative plant, green span lettuce, grown in the plant growth chamber is compared to conventional planting. Factors such as growth period rate, dry weight, and overall produce quality are considered. It was found that implementing a 24-hour photoperiod, drip irrigating 50 mL per plant every 2 days, adding vermicast to the cocopeat at a ratio of 1:1 and maintaining a temperature range of 20 to 25 degrees Celsius produced a higher relative growth rate. In consideration of additive nutrients, the addition of vermicast added a substantial increase in the relative growth rate. Quality was also improved due to the correlation of the relative growth rate and plant quality.