NE2335: Resource Optimization in Controlled Environment Agriculture

(Multistate Research Project)

Status: Active

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SAES-422 Reports

Annual/Termination Reports:

[10/31/2024]

Date of Annual Report: 10/31/2024

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 07/28/2025 - 07/28/2025
Period the Report Covers: 08/01/2023 - 09/23/2024

Participants

Brief Summary of Minutes

Accomplishments

Objective 1: To optimize environmental management and control and reduce energy use for high-quality greenhouse and indoor crop production. 1. Develop crop-specific guidelines for light quantity and quality in both supplemental and sole-source lighting applications. Short Term Outcomes:  We conducted a study in a greenhouse with hydroponic lettuce grown in two root zone temperatures (20 or 30 C) and three nitrogen (N) levels (75, 150, or 300 mg/L), which was repeated 4 times (2 times in spring and 2 times in summer). Results showed that root zone temperature of 20 C reduced lettuce yield, regardless of the growing season, indicating that optimal root zone temperature for lettuce is higher than 20 C. High N level (300 mg/L) in summer increased lettuce yield but not in the spring, indicating interactive effect between N level and greenhouse environment.   We conducted a ten-cultivar spinach trial in a deep-water culture (DWC) system with three different nutrient solutions: the original Hoagland nutrient solution, a magnesium (Mg)-enhanced Hoagland nutrient solution, and a potassium (K)-enhanced Hoagland nutrient solution. The results showed that the Mg-enhanced nutrient solution increased the relative chlorophyll content (SPAD value) in spinach leaves. However, the enhanced Mg and K nutrients did not affect the yield of spinach compared to the original Hoagland nutrient solution. Different cultivars resulted in diverse plant morphology and yield. Our results that enhancing Mg and K in nutrient solutions did not increase spinach yield, but enhancing Mg in nutrient solutions can increase the greenness of spinach leaves.   Outputs: We conducted studies over the past year to optimize end-of-production lighting for improving the nutritional value of red leaf lettuce. We compared the effectiveness of various light spectra at enhancing the nutritional quality of indoor-grown lettuce. Our findings indicate that ultraviolet-B and blue light treatments were significantly more effective at improve crop phytonutrients than other spectral regions (ultraviolet-A, violet, and red). In a subsequent study, we further quantified the optimal dosages of ultraviolet-B and blue light for enhancing lettuce quality. We have developed one manuscript (under review) and are in the process writing of a second manuscript based on these results. Activities: Members of the USDA-NIFA funded SCRI project titled ADVANCEA presented at the Cultivate’24 trade show (Columbus, OH) as part of the half-day workshop titled Greenhouse Climate Control – Sensors and Control Strategies. This outreach effort was designed to showcase recent developments and expose commercial greenhouse growers to optimization strategies using environmental control systems. Graduate student Sangjun Jeong’s research (supervised by Genhua Niu and Shuyang Zhen) indicated that blue (B) and green (G) light and temperature interactively regulate growth, morphology, physiology, and phytochemicals of two lettuce cultivars ‘Rex’ and ‘Rouxai’. For example, in ‘Rex’, substituting G light for B light up to 30% increased total leaf area at 20 and 24 ℃, but not at 28 ℃. In ‘Rouxai’, increasing G light from 0% to 40%, coupled with decreasing B from 40% to 0%, linearly increased total leaf area at all three temperatures (22, 24, and 28 C). Health-promoting bioactive compound, e.g., phenolics and flavonoids, and antioxidant capacity consistently decreased with increasing G light (or decreasing B from 40% to 0%), but the decline was more pronounced at warmer temperatures.  2. Investigate the conversion efficiency of electric light sources used for controlled environment crop production. Activities At Rutgers University, we continue to evaluate a variety of horticultural fixtures for light output, light distribution and power consumption using our 2-meter integrating sphere (used to determine fixture efficacy) and a walk-in darkroom (used to determine PAR distribution patterns). In addition, we are continuing research on the environmental impacts of plant lighting systems. We’re using life cycle analysis calculations to assess various lighting technologies and strategies. Information on effectiveness of biostimulants on vegetable transplant growth and quality under controlled environment is limited. At Dallas Center, we investigated the effect of different biostimulants (no application as control, Kelpak, Spectrum DS, MycoApply, and Tribus Continuum) on onion seedling growth under well-watered and drought stressed (50-60% field capacity) conditions. Results showed that all biostimulants significantly increased shoot weight, leaf area, plant height, and root weight compared to the control. Notably, Spectrum DS, MycoApply, and Kelpak specifically enhanced root morphology by increasing root length, root area, and root volume compared to the control, we conclude that the application of the investigated biostimulants shows promise for enhancing drought tolerance in onion seedlings. 3. Investigate environmental control strategies that incorporate artificial intelligence techniques. Activities: As part of the USDA-NIFA funded SCRI project titled ADVANCEA, research at Rutgers university is ongoing that investigates the effectiveness of controlling the environmental conditions in a greenhouse by using artificial intelligence techniques to determine set points based on lettuce crop metrics (e.g., plant growth rate and tipburn status) and energy consumption inputs (by measuring flow rates and temperature changes in a hot-water heating system). 4. Investigate wavelength selective greenhouse coverings and CEAgrivoltaics applications for environmental controls and reduced resource use. Nothing to report this year 5. Co-optimization of environmental variables and enhancing resource use efficiency in indoor crop production. Short Term Outcomes: At Kansas State University, we have successfully produced lettuce crops with the reject water from a reverse osmosis system that has similar yield to crops produced with reverse osmosis and municipal water. Nutrient and ion budgets calculated for production with each water source shed light on the fate of elements in these production systems. At Kansas State University, the uptake of nanoplastics by hydroponic crops is being investigated. We plan to determine if 50 and 200 nm polystyrene nanoplastics (PSN), which is the plastic type often used to construct floating rafts, is absorbed into the root and translocated to the shoots. In an initial study, uptake of 200 nm PSN was blocked in the endodermis. Activity: USDA-ARS researchers have developed photosynthetic light and carbon dioxide response curves in the culinary herbs basil, cilantro, mint, parsley, and sage.  Milestones: Dr. Ying Zhang and her graduated MS student, Tanapol Leelertkij, developed a steady state energy model and a machine learning-based crop growth model to evaluate energy-saving strategies for indoor lettuce production, including shifting photoperiod, utilizing heat-tolerant crops, and adjusting air temperature settings at four different locations (Phoenix, AZ, Los Angeles, CA, Jacksonville, FL, and Boston, MA). The results showed that cultivar selection plays an important role in EUE improvement. Using high-temperature settings with heat-tolerant cultivars can increase the system's EUE. However, increasing the temperature setting alone does not reduce energy consumption significantly because of the increasing amount of energy needed for dehumidification. The geographical location of the indoor farm also affects energy consumption because of the different outdoor climate conditions. Boston, MA, which has the coldest outdoor air temperature, had the lowest energy consumption overall compared to the other three locations. Lastly, changing the photoperiod lighting schedule from daytime to nighttime can dramatically reduce electricity costs by avoiding peak electricity rates. Objective 2: To improve root-zone management of biotic and abiotic factors for high-quality greenhouse and indoor crop production. 1. Select new crops that may be grown all year round in soilless substrates and water culture or using novel production techniques. Short Term Outcomes: The University of Delaware collaborated with an industry partner, Croda, Inc. and found that a calcium-mobilizing biostimulant continued to show high efficacy against tipburn in greenhouse hydroponic lettuce production while maintaining high biomass accumulation. The product was applied in the nutrient solution at varying concentrations on two lettuce cultivars grown under high daily light integrals and controlled tipburn occurrence and severity at the optimal concentration. Outputs: The University of Delaware collaborated with an industry partner, Croda, Inc. on a peer-reviewed publication in HortScience. This paper showed that a chemical biostimulant was effective at reducing tipburn of greenhouse hydroponic lettuce ‘Rex’ without compromising biomass accumulation. UC Davis collaborated with several universities, including Texas A& M and the University of Florida, to review various technologies for efficient thermal environment management. Our review article has been published in the Journal of Cleaner Production. We have explored various dehumidification technologies for cold climates, focusing on the novel state-point liquid desiccant system combined with a solid desiccant and heat exchanger. The results indicate that the performance of dehumidification technologies can vary significantly based on environmental conditions and other factors. The outcomes of this project will be critical for growers in cold climates to select dehumidifiers that offer both energy and water savings. In collaboration with our partners, UC Davis developed semi-transparent solar cells that can be integrated into greenhouse applications. The project outcomes will be crucial for further optimization of specific greenhouse applications. Our research findings have been published in a peer-reviewed journal, ACS Photonics. UC Davis worked with international collaborators to predict greenhouse indoor air temperature using AI, which will be essential for precision control and optimization of the indoor microclimate. The development of machine learning algorithms will be critical tools for digital twins and energy optimization. Activities: The University of Maine built a system for comparing hydroponic and container cultivation of a variety of crops. In the past year, we grew cutflowers including sunflowers, amaranth, cosmos, and zinnias in nutrient film technique, rockwool cubes, and a soilless peat-based commercial growing medium. We also grew the same plants in the field. In general, greenhouse produced cut flowers were earlier than in the field. All greenhouse cultivation practices except container production with rockwool cubes resulted in marketable plants. USDA-ARS researchers have evaluated nutrient management strategies aimed at improving strawberry mother plant growth and daughter plant productivity in controlled environments.  This includes in soilless culture and hydroponic culture.  One study identified that a nitrate-nitrogen (NO3--N) fraction of 70%-80% maximized daughter plant production, depending on cultivar evaluated, and is a slightly lower %NO3- than the 90% NO3--N currently recommended for fruit production.  A second study evaluated nutrient solution electrical conductivity (EC).  Relative to the nutrient solution used for fruit production, an nutrient solution strength of 1.7x (‘Albion’) and 2.7x (‘Monterey’) maximized daughter plant production. Greenhouse trials and germination studies were conducted with onion seed at Utah State to compare biostimulants including three bacterial products Continuum, Spectrum DS, and Tribus; two mycorrhizal products Mighty Mycorrhizae and Myco Apply; one seaweed extract product, seaweed; and one humic acid product, Huma Pro 16. Two studies were conducted to evaluate the salinity tolerance of three landscape species - Hibiscus syriacus ‘JWNWOOD4’ (Pink Chiffon® rose of sharon), Viburnum carlesii ‘Spiro’ (Korean spice viburnum), Vitex agnus-castus ‘SWVACSD’ (lilac chaste tree) – as well as Gleditsia triacanthos (honey locust), Gymnocladus dioicus (Kentucky coffeetree), Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Diabolo’ (‘Diabolo’ ninebark), Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Little Devil’ (Little DevilTM ninebark), Robinia pseudoacacia (black locust), Rosa ‘Radrazz’ (Knockout® shrub rose), Salix purpurea (arctic willow)] in a greenhouse at the Utah Agricultural Experiment Station. Plants were irrigated with a nutrient solution at an electrical conductivity (EC) of 1.2 dS·m-1 (control) or saline solutions at EC levels of 5.0 or 10.0 dS·m-1 for 8 weeks. A separate greenhouse study assessed the salinity tolerance of Penstemon hallii (hall’s penstemon) and Penstemon richardsonii (richardson’s penstemon), with salinity levels ranging from EC 1.0 to 10.0 dS·m-1.  At Utah State University, a greenhouse study evaluated the growth and development of Ceanothus velutinus (snowbrush ceanothus) under various nitrogen concentrations. Seedlings were transplanted into calcined clay and inoculated with 30 mL of soil containing Frankia. The plants were irrigated with controlled released fertilizer (CRF, 15N-3.9P-10K) at rates ranging from 0.0 to 8.4 g·L-1 or a nitrogen-limited nutrient solution, with or without 2mM ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3). Plant growth and photosynthesis were measured, the number of nodules were recorded.  2. Improve the efficacy of organic fertilizer for hydroponic crop production using beneficial microorganisms and controlling rootzone environments (e.g., temperature, dissolved oxygen, and pH). Short Term Outcomes: UC Davis collaborated with the University of Texas at Tyler to test a low-cost electrochemical sensor for detecting nitrate in a hydroponic system. The sensor was tested and validated against spectrometer readings. We presented our research findings at the 2024 EPIC conference. The key milestones for these activities will be the development of a multiplex sensor and its testing in hydroponic systems for sensing other macro- and micronutrients. 3. Develop aquaponic production strategies that optimize plant productivity while improving nutrient use efficiency (e.g., decoupled aquaponics and aerobic/anaerobic digestion of fish waste solids). Outputs: UC Davis trained three PhD students, one master’s student, and four undergraduate students in various aspects of Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA), including energy efficiency, renewable energy, and precision control and monitoring. One undergraduate student receive the third award for undergraduate research competition at the 2024 ASABE annual conference in Anaheim, California. UC Davis presented research findings at workshops and seminars to educate growers about new technologies in energy management and precision control systems. Also, I have presented the research findings in internation symposium in Egypt. UC Davis offered a CEA-related course for students from various disciplines, with about 10 students enrolled last year. Additionally, we taught a new course on sustainable energy systems, with around 20 students enrolled. The course covered sustainable energy technologies and their applications in agriculture, including CEA. Objective 3: To train growers and students on new controlled-environment production and engineering knowledge. 1. Develop and offer an online class in scouting for insects and diseases in controlled environment agriculture. Activities: Cornell University, the University of Maine and the University of Vermont offered this class three times since it was developed in 2022. The class is completely online with synchronous and asynchronous components and is available for greenhouse growers, Extension personnel, and students. Now that the class is developed, we will offer it as needed to continue to train students to scout for insects and diseases. 2. Develop and share curricula for undergraduate and graduate courses in hydroponics and soilless crop production and controlled environment engineering applications for a new program in Agricultural and Environment Technology at UC Davis. Activities: With a recently-funded USDA HEP grant, a certificate in Controlled-environment Agriculture will be developed and taught across two institutions, Kansas State University and University of Missouri, and four university sites: K-State Manhattan, K-State Olathe, UM Kansas City, and UM Columbia. Each site will teach the lecture of one class in the certificate, and all sites will teach the labs for every course. 3. Develop Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) projects in CEA with university undergraduate students. Activities: Kansas State University and Arizona State University have received an Academic Program Section Innovative Teaching Award from the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities to develop and assess a “Food Waste as Fertilizer” Module for use in instruction of CEA coursework. During the spring 2024 semester, we taught a 4-credit undergraduate course titled Indoor Cultivation of High Value Crops and enrolled 18 students. The hands-on component of the course was covered by having students grow crops at home using small commercially-sourced table-top hydroponic growing systems (AeroGarden). In addition, a larger AeroGarden Farm system was used by the students to grow plants hydroponically in the classroom during the semester. The University of Maine is part of a SoTL fellows program and is developing a brief intervention for students in STEM majors, including horticulture classes. Students participate in a square or box-breathing exercise at the beginning of class, once a week. The goal of this intervention is to provide students with a tool to manage stress and anxiety. 4. Develop a hydroponics textbook that can be used for CEA industry members and for classroom use with contributions by many other team members. Activities: At our annual meeting, NE-2335 members discussed next steps for developing the book. We have an outline and will proceed to identify members who can contribute to sections of the outline. 5. Develop a hydroponic training course for growers and organize an annual conference on urban agriculture - controlled environment. Activities: As part of the USDA-NIFA funded SCRI project titled ADVANCEA, a 26-lecture online course titled Introduction to Greenhouse Environmental Control for Crop Production was taught in weekly two-hour class periods from January 4 through March 28, 2024. A total of 138 students, including international students, registered for the course. An updated version of this course will be offered again during the first three months of 2025. Texas A&M hosted their 5th annual conference on Controlled Environment Horticulture in December 2023. The total number of participants was approximately 100 including growers, speakers, students, industry, and exhibitors. We received much positive feedback of our conference. Other accomplishments: A collaboration with faculty in the Rutgers School of Engineering that was part of a NASA-funded grant project resulted in a patent application and a peer-reviewed journal article. A novel method for the delivery of water and nutrients to the plant root zone was developed using electrospray technology. The novel delivery technique was developed for space applications (zero or micro gravity) and was termed Staticaponics. The Rutgers Agrivoltaics Program (RAP) is investigating the opportunities for farmers to install outdoor agrivoltaic systems that retain the opportunity to farm the land, but at the same time generate electricity for on-site farm use or export to the local utility grid. Three different agrivoltaic systems were installed at three university-operated research farms across NJ and the first research and demonstration trials were started at the beginning of the 2024 growing season. A variety of crop and animal experiments are planned for the coming years. The research will also investigate the social and environmental impacts of agrivoltaics.

Publications

Patent Application: Singer, J., SR Pejman, AJ Both, D Specca, and MJ Grzenda. U.S. Application 18/236,765 filed on August 22, 2023. Title: Plant-safe electrospray water and nutrient delivery system. Dissertations, Theses (Published): Paudel A. 2024. Morphological and Physio-Biochemical Responses and Gene Expression Analyses of Landscape Plants Under Salinity Stress (PhD Diss). Utah State University, Logan, UT. 150 p. <a href="https://doi.org/10.26076/788c-4cee">https://doi.org/10.26076/788c-4cee</a> Zhu Y. 2024. Enhancing The Nutritional Quality of Red Leaf Lettuce By Optimizing End-Of-Production Supplemental Led Lighting. M.S. Thesis. Texas A&M University. Jeong S. 2024. Interactive Effects Between Light Spectra and Temperature on Plant Growth, Morphology, And Physiology in Vegetable and Ornamental Crops. PhD Dissertation. Texas A&M University. Omar S. 2024. Evaluation of Agrivoltaic Systems for Enhanced Agricultural Resource Sustainability, PhD thesis. University of California, Davis. Books (Published): None. Book Chapters (Published): Asif, M., Sultan, M., Khan, Z. M., Ahmad, S., Khan, M. U., Ahamed, M. S., & Shamshiri, R. R. 2023. Disaster Risk Reduction Through Agricultural Engineering Technologies. In Disaster Risk Reduction in Agriculture (pp. 489-507). Singapore: Springer Nature Singapore. Refereed Journal Articles (Published): Peterson BJ, M Peronto, Z Fecteau, J Hutchinson, and SE Burnett. 2024. Growth and fecundity of nonnative blue honeysuckle cultivars: comparisons with native and invasive congeners in a Maine field trial. HortScience. Burnett SE, BJ Peterson, I Oliviera, and T Bowers. 2023. Production of dahlias for cut flowers in the Northeastern United States. HortTechnology 33:419-424. Park Y and KA Williams. 2024. Organic hydroponics: A review. Scientia Horticulturae 324:1-10. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2023.112604">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2023.112604</a> Meng Q and I Kelly. 2024. Efficacy and optimal timing of warm-white or red + far-red LED lamps in regulation of flowering in long-day ornamentals. <a href="https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI17762-24">HortScience 59(6):767–776.</a> Kennebeck EJ and Q Meng. 2024. Far-red light and nitrogen concentration elicit crop-specific responses in baby greens under superelevated CO2 and continuous light. <a href="https://doi.org/10.21273/JASHS05352-23">J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 149(2):92–98.</a> Meng Q and SN Severin. 2024. Continuous light can promote growth of baby greens over diurnal light under a high daily light integral. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envexpbot.2024.105695">Environ. Exp. Bot. 220:105695.</a> Kennebeck EJ and Q Meng. 2024. Mustard ‘Amara’ benefits from superelevated CO2 while adapting to far-red light over time. <a href="https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI17522-23">HortScience 59(2):139–145.</a> Biradar K and Q Meng. 2024. Nutrient solution application of a calcium-mobilizing biostimulant mitigates tipburn without decreasing biomass of greenhouse hydroponic lettuce. <a href="https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI17507-23">HortScience 59(1):92–98.</a> Sereshkeh SRP, B Llumiquinga. S Bapatla, MJ Grzenda, D Specca, AJ Both, and J Singer. 2024. Staticaponics: Electrospray delivery of nutrients and water to the plant root zone. Journal of Electrostatics 128:103902. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.elstat.2024.103902">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.elstat.2024.103902</a> Nepal P, Z Wang, M Carnahan, W Maughan, J Hershkowitz, Y Sun, A Paudel, K Forsyth, N Volesky, AR Devkota, JJ Chen. 2024. Morphological and physiological responses of two penstemon species to saline water irrigation. HortScience. 59: 706-715. <a href="https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI17454-23">https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI17454-23</a>. Paudel A and Y Sun. 2024. Effect of salt stress on the growth, physiology, and mineral nutrients of two penstemon species. HortScience. 59: 209-219. <a href="https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI17044-23">https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI17044-23</a> Sun Y, G Niu, JG Masabni. 2024. Growth, gas exchange, and mineral nutrition of ‘Wonderful’ pomegranate irrigated with saline water. Technology in Horticulture. 4:e002. <a href="https://doi.org/10.48130/tihort-0023-0030">https://doi.org/10.48130/tihort-0023-0030</a> Raudales, RE, MA Toro-Herrera, PR Fisher, JK Boldt, and JE Altland. 2024. Paclobutrazol residues in recirculated irrigation water in commercial greenhouses. HortTechnology 34:198-203, doi.org/10.21273/HORTTECH05367-23. Yafuso, EY and JK Boldt. 2024. Development of a hydroponic growing protocol for vegetative strawberry production. HortScience 59:384-393, doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI17523-23. Veazie, P, H Chen, K Hicks, J Holley, N Eylands, N Mattson, J Boldt, D Brewer, R Lopez, and B Whipker. 2024. A data-driven approach for generating leaf tissue nutrient interpretation ranges for greenhouse lettuce. HortScience 59:267-277, doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI17582-23.  Zhang, Q, J Masabni, G Niu. Microbial biostimulants and seaweed extract synergistically influence seedling growth and morphology of three onion cultivars. Horticulturae 2024, 10, 800. <a href="https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10080800">https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10080800</a>. Houcheng L, JE Son, G Niu and Q Li. Growth and quality formation regulated by light in horticulture plants (editorial).  Front. Plant. Sci., vol. 15. <a href="https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2024.1414970">https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2024.1414970</a>. Zhang, Q, J Masabni, G Niu. Organic fertilizer type and dose affect growth, morphological and physiological parameters, and mineral nutrition of watermelon seedlings. PeerJ 12:e16902 <a href="http://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.16902">http://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.16902</a>. Jeong, S, G Niu, S Zhen.  Far-red light and temperature interactively regulate plant growth and morphology of lettuce and basil.  Environmental and Experimental Botany 218.  <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envexpbot.2023.105589">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envexpbot.2023.105589</a>. Zhu, Y, J Singh, B Patil, and S Zhen. 2024. End-of-production blue light intensity and application duration co-regulate anthocyanins and ascorbic acid production in red leaf lettuce. Scientia Horticulturae 335, 113333. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2024.113333">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2024.113333</a> Kang, S., CH Parrish, D Hebert, and S Zhen. 2024. Luminescent quantum dot films increase the radiation capture and yield of lettuce and sweet basil compared to a traditional/neutral-density greenhouse glazing. HortScience 59: 988-996. <a href="https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI17921-24">https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI17921-24</a> Jeong, SJ, G Niu, and S Zhen. 2024. Far-red light and temperature interactively regulate plant growth and morphology of lettuce and basil. Environmental and Experimental Botany, 105589. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envexpbot.2023.105589">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envexpbot.2023.105589</a> Kong, Y, Y Zhu, S Kang, and S Zhen. 2024. Sulfur supplementation enhanced the growth and photosynthesis of lettuce in hydroponic production using one-bag complete fertilizer. HortScience 59:412-420. <a href="https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI17644-23">https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI17644-23</a>     Zhen, S, P Kusuma, and B Bugbee. 2024. Photons at the ultraviolet-visible interface: Effects on leaf expansion and photoinhibition. Scientia Horticulturae 326:112785. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2023.112785">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2023.112785</a> Saleque, AM, AK Thakur, R Saidur, MI Hossain, W Qarony, MS Ahamed, ... & YH Tsang. 2024. rGO coated cotton fabric and thermoelectric module arrays for efficient solar desalination and electricity generation. Journal of Materials Chemistry A, 12(1), 405-418. Nasrin, T, M Mottakin, V Selvanathan, MI Hossain, M Shahiduzzaman, MA Islam, ... & M Akhtaruzzaman. 2023. Performance optimization and defect studies of Pb-free CsSnBr3-based perovskite solar cells. Materials Today Communications, 37, 107000. Qarony, W, MI Hossain, A Tamang, V Jovanov, M Shahiduzzaman, MS Ahamed, ... & D Knipp. 2023. On the Potential of Optical Nanoantennas for Visibly Transparent Solar Cells. ACS Photonics, 10(12), 4205-4214. Rahman, MS, J Han, G Ge, MS Ahamed, & H Guo. 2023. Experimental evaluation of three different dehumidifiers for greenhouses in cold regions. Applied Thermal Engineering, 234, 121324.  Chowdhury, M, TA Ahsan, & MS Ahamed. 2023. Assessment of health hazards of greenhouse workers considering UV exposure and thermal comfort. Smart Agricultural Technology, 5, 100319. Ahamed, MS, M Sultan, D Monfet, MS Rahman, Y Zhang, A Zahid, ... & Y Achour. 2023. A critical review on efficient thermal environment controls in indoor vertical farming. Journal of Cleaner Production, 138923. Abstracts of Papers Presented at Professional Meetings (Published): Nepal P, Z Wang, A Paudel, and Y Sun. 2023. Evaluating two penstemon species for salinity tolerance. HortScience 58(9):S299. Paudel A, Y Sun, A Kaundal. 2023. Response of Punica granatum ‘Wonderful’ to salinity stress. HortScience 58(9): S55-56. Paudel A and Y Sun. 2023. Evaluating two penstemon species for salinity tolerance. HortScience 58(9): S250. Both, A.J. 2024. High tunnel and hoop house construction. Abstract in the Proceedings of the 69th New Jersey Agricultural Convention and Trade Show. February 7. Symposium Proceedings Articles (Published): Both, AJ, B Bamka, T Besançon, DP Birnie, III, C Burgher, D Giménez, S Guran, M Kornitas, P Nitzsche, D Robinson, WR Rucker, E Schoolman, D Specca, K Sullivan, D Ward, M Westendorf, and A Wyenandt. 2024. Lessons learned from three agrivoltaics installations in New Jersey. Submitted for the Proceedings of the Agrivoltaics World Conference, June 11-13, 2024, Denver, CO. Islam, MN, AS Inam, AK Thakur, MS Ahamed, B Ott, and S Tabassum. 2024. A Cost-Effective Electrochemical Sensor for Real-Time Nitrate Monitoring in Hydroponics. LPI Contributions, 3065, p.5102. Meng, Q, C Ranger, J Boldt, and ES Runkle. 2024. A sufficiently high blue photon flux density can promote accumulation of phenolic compounds in hydroponic lettuce. X International Symposium on Light in Horticulture, Seoul, S. Korea. Boldt, J. 2024. A comparison of photosynthetic light response curves of nine tomato cultivars. X International Symposium on Light in Horticulture, Seoul, S. Korea. Popular (Trade Journal) Articles (Published):  Burnett, S. and B. Peterson. 2024. Comparison of dahlia cultivars for postharvest life and field production in the Northeastern United States. Cut Flower Quarterly, Summer 2024:44-46. Presentations (Papers):  Burnett, S., B Peterson, J Hutchinson, RS Ferrarezi, and A Peterson. September 25th, 2024. Arduino Uno can reliably log substrate moisture from a bus of digital sensors and control a drip-irrigation system. ASHS. Honolulu, HI. Schwab, J and S Burnett. September 26th, 2024. Hydroponic, soilless, and field produced cut flower bouquets in the Northeast US. ASHS. Honolulu, HI. Hutchinson, J, B Peterson, and S Burnett. September 26th, 2024. Drought stress responses of North American native Bog Birch and Sweetgale in a sensor-automated system. ASHS. Honolulu, HI. Burnett, S. November 9th, 2023. Outdoor dahlia production for cut flowers. Northeast Greenhouse Conference. Manchester, NH. Burnett, S and N Mattson. November 9th, 2023. Top 10 tips for saving water and fertilizer. Northeast Greenhouse Conference. Manchester, NH. Miller, CT, A Pace, C Hishaw, T Conroy, KA Williams, C Boyer, and D Staats. 2024. Exploring performance of Achimenes in landscape trials in the intermountain west and great plains. ISHS Symposium XIV International Symposium on Flower Bulbs and Herbaceous Perennials.  Pace, A, CR Boyer, CT Miller, and KA Williams. 2024. Consumer preferences for Achimenes in landscape settings. HortScience 59(2S):SR59. <a href="https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI.59.2S.S1">https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI.59.2S.S1 </a>Pace, A and KA Williams. 2024. Comparison of hydroponic butterhead lettuce grown in reject water from a reverse osmosis system, municipal water, and purified water. Southern Region American Society for Horticultural Science Annual Meeting, February 2-4, 2024. HortScience 59(2S):SR59. <a href="https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI.59.2S.S1">https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI.59.2S.S1</a> Berg, G and C. Manica. 2024. Optimization of glycerin rate to preserve cut eucalyptus stems. Oral presentation at National Floriculture Forum Annual Meeting, Biloxi, Mississippi. Cloyd, AR, MB Kirkham, KA Williams, and DL Boyle. Casparian strip is likely barrier to polystyrene nanoplastic uptake in hydroponic lettuce. Presented at Kansas State University Undergraduate Research Symposium, April 11, 2024. Manica, CL, GM Berg, KA Williams, and I Sheshukova. 2024. Optimizing glycerin : water ratios for preserving eucalyptus foliage. Presented at Kansas State University Undergraduate Research Symposium, April 11, 2024. Gross, JM, KA Williams, and J Griffin. 2024. Propagation of hemp cuttings by subirrigation and intermittent mist. Presented at Gamma Sigma Delta Undergraduate Research Showcase, April 19, 2024. Cloyd, A, MB Kirkham, D Boyle, and K Williams. 2024. Casparian strip: likely barrier to polystyrene nanoplastic uptake in hydroponic lettuce. Soil Science Society of America Summer Conference, June 10-12, 2024. San Juan, Puerto Rico. Meng, Q, CM Ranger, J Boldt, and ES Runkle. 2024. A sufficiently high blue photon flux density can promote accumulation of phenolic compounds in hydroponic lettuce (abstr). In 2024 X International Symposium on Light in Horticulture. Acta. Hort.  Biradar, K and Q Meng. 2023. A calcium-mobilizing biostimulant mitigates lettuce tipburn in greenhouse hydroponic production (abstr). HortScience 58(9S):S129. Biradar, K and Q Meng. 2023. Low substrate moisture improves germination while active aeration of the nutrient solution increases growth of greenhouse hydroponic baby spinach (abstr). HortScience 58(9S):S19. Kohler, AE, EM Birtell, ES Runkle, and Q Meng. 2023. Day-extension blue light inhibits flowering of chrysanthemum when the short main photoperiod includes far-red light (abstr). HortScience 58(9S):S249. Meng, Q, E Kennebeck, and I Kelly. 2023. Reduced black cloth application saves on labor while ensuring flowering of chrysanthemum (abstr). HortScience 58(9S):S44. Meng, Q and I Kelly. 2023. Nighttime light quality determines flowering of long-day ornamentals irrespective of timing (abstr). HortScience 58(9S):S226. Meng, Q and SN Severin. 2023. The alternating light pattern and daily light integral interactively determine crop-specific growth responses indoors (abstr). HortScience 58(9S):S286. Christensen E, P Nepal and Y Sun. 2024. Efficacy of plant biostimulants on seedling emergence and growth of onion in greenhouse conditions. Utah State University Organic Farm Field Day, Logan, UT. 21 August 2024. 22 participants.  Christensen E, P Nepal and Y Sun. 2024. Efficacy of plant biostimulants on seedling emergence and growth of onion in greenhouse conditions. CWEL Field Day, Utah State University’s Greenville Research Farm. North Logan, UT, 13 August 2024. 70+ participants. Nepal P and Y Sun. 2024. Efficacy of plant biostimulants on onion growth and production in greenhouse and field conditions. Departmental Seminar. Department of Plants, Soils & Climate, Utah State University, Logan, UT. 15 April 2024. 38 participants. Nepal P and Y Sun. 2024. Effects of nitrogen on the nodulation of Ceanothus velutinus. USU Student Research Symposium, Utah State University, Logan, UT, 9 April 2024. Nepal P, DT Drost, and Y Sun. 2024. Efficacy of plant biostimulants on seedling emergence and growth of onion in greenhouse conditions. Intermountain Sustainability Summit, Weber State University, Ogden, UT, 21 March 2024.   Jeong, S, G Niu, S Zhen. Blue and green light and temperature interactively regulate growth, morphology, physiology and phytochemicals of lettuce. ASHS, Hawaii, Sept 23-27, 2024. Jeong, S, G Niu, S Zhen. Light intensity regulates the interactive effects between far-red light and temperature on lettuce growth, morphology, photosynthesis, and secondary metabolite. ASHS, Hawaii, Sept 23-27, 2024.  Zhang, Q, Joseph M, Genhua N. Biostimulants promoted onion seedling growth and helped mitigate drought stress. ASHS, Hawaii, Sept 23-27, 2024.  Jeong, S, G Niu, S Zhen. Light Intensity Regulates the Interactive Effects between Far-red and Temperature on Lettuce Growth, Morphology, Photosynthesis, and Secondary Metabolite. The X International Symposium on Light in Horticulture, Seoul, Korea, May 19-22, 2024. Liu, J, Q Zhang, J Masabni, and G Niu. 2024. Fine-tuning mineral ratios in organic fertilizers to optimize production of organic watermelon transplants. Lone Star Hort Forum organized by Texas Nursery and Landscape Association, January 7, Grapevine, TX. Zhang, Q, J Masabni, and G Niu. 2024. Spinach cultivar trials in deep water culture hydroponic systems. Lone Star Hort Forum organized by Texas Nursery and Landscape Association, January 7, Grapevine, TX.  Niu, G. Optimizing light and temperature to increase yield and nutrition of leafy greens in indoor farms. Invited seminar, University of Wyoming, March 6, 2024. Niu, G. Microbial-based biostimulants improve plant performance under controlled environment. Controlled Environment Ag Workshop, University of Wyoming, April 23-25, 2024. Jeong, S, G Niu, and S Zhen. 2023. Far-Red Light, Light Intensity, and Temperature Interactively Regulate Lettuce Growth and Morphology. Annual Conference of ASHS, Orlando, FL. July 31 to Aug. 4. Jeong, S, S Park, S Finlayson, G Niu, and S Zhen. 2023. Far-Red Light and Warm Temperature Synergistically Enhanced Hormonal Signaling, Cell Elongation and Expansion but the Impact on Plant Morphology Is Organ-Specific. Annual Conference of ASHS, Orlando, FL. July 31 to Aug. 4. Zhu, Y and S Zhen. 2023. Controlling end-of-production blue light intensity and photoperiod to enhance anthocyanins production in red lettuce. Annual Conference of ASHS, Orlando, FL. July 31 to Aug. 4. Kang, S and S Zhen, 2023. Comparison of Orange Photons with Red Photons: Biomass and Photosynthetic Responses in Green and Red Leaf Lettuce. Annual Conference of ASHS, Orlando, FL. July 31 to Aug. 4. Kashif, M and MS Ahamed. 2024. Potential of Climate-Smart PV Shade Screen Impact on Greenhouse Thermal Loads. ASABE Annual Meeting 2024, July 28-31, Anaheim, California.  Ahsan, TMA and MS Ahamed. 2024. Exploring Trade-offs in Thermal and Economic Performance Across Different Collector Technologies for Solar-Thermally Cooled Greenhouses. ASABE Annual Meeting 2024, July 28-31, Anaheim, California.  Ahamed, H, TMA Ahsan, and MS Ahamed. 2024. Evaluating the Energy Requirement of Indoor Container Farming across Diverse USA Climate Zones. ASABE Annual Meeting 2024, July 28-31, Anaheim, California.  Li, Z; Karimzadeh, S.; Ahamed, M. S. (2024). Detection of Calcium Deficiency in the Growing Stage of Lettuce Using Computer Vision. ASABE Annual Meeting 2024, July 28-31, Anaheim, California.  Karimzadeh, S., Dacceache, A.; & Ahamed, M. S. (2024). A Global Assessment of Lettuce Production: Evaluating the Water-Salinity-Energy-Nutrient Nexus in Open Field and Controlled Environment Agriculture. NCERA 101, Des Moines, Iowa.  Karimzadeh, S., & Ahamed, M. S. (2023). A Global Assessment of Lettuce Production: Water-Energy-Salinity Nexus in Open Field and Controlled Environment Agriculture. AGU23. Other Creative Works: Both, AJ. 2024. Measuring and controlling light. Presentation at Cultivate’24, Columbus, OH. July 13. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension organized the 5th Annual conference on Urban Agriculture – Controlled Horticulture, December 7-8, Dallas, 2023 with approximately 100 participants: growers, students, industry stakeholders, and exhibitors. Workshop Sponsor: Both, AJ. 2024. High tunnels. Hosted a session at the 69th New Jersey Agricultural Convention and Trade Show. February 7. Kale Harbick and Jennifer Boldt were on the organizing committee of the 2024 Joint National Workshop on Sustainable Development of Controlled Environment Agriculture, co-hosted by U.S. Department of Agriculture, Department of Energy, and NASA; Charleston, SC, July 9-12, 2024. Workshop Participant: Boldt, J. July 10, 2024. “Improving light use through managing the growing environment”, Joint National Workshop on Sustainable Development of Controlled Environment Agriculture, Charleston, SC. Boldt, J. July 17, 2024. “Nutrient strategies to increase strawberry daughter plant production in controlled environments”, 2024 Ohio Controlled Environment Agriculture Center (OHCEAC) Conference, Columbus, OH. Boldt, J. July 30, 2024. “Adding CO2 to increase light use”, LAMP webinar series (online webinar). Ahamed, S. US-Egypt Science and Technology Joint Fund Symposium, July 5-6, Cairo, Egypt Ahamed, S. Joint National Workshop on Sustainable Development of Controlled Environment Agriculture, 2024, July 9-12. North Carolina, USA Refereed Journal Articles (Pending): Leelertkij, TG, Y Zhang, K Harbick, and N Bliznyuk. Energy modeling and management for improving energy use efficiency of heat-tolerant lettuce production in container farms. Submitted to <a href="https://www.asabe.org/JA">Journal of the ASABE (2024).</a> Manica, CL, GM Berg, KA Williams, and I Sheshukova. 202X. Optimizing glycerin-to-water ratios for preserving eucalyptus foliage. HortTechnology. In press. Pace, A. and K.A. Williams. 202X. Comparison of hydroponic butterhead lettuce grown in reject water from a reverse osmosis system, municipal water, and purified water. HortScience. In press. Menon, R, AJ Both, and F You. 2024. A life cycle assessment and techno-economic analysis of plant factories. Under review for publication in the Journal of Cleaner Production. Nepal P, A Paudel, Z Wang, and Y Sun. 2024. Effects of nitrogen on the growth and development of Ceanothus velutinus. Submitted to the Journal of Environmental Horticulture.  Wang Z, P Nepal, A Porter, M Kelly, Y Sun, Y Zhang. 2024. Morphological and physiological responses of three ornamental species to saline water irrigation. Submitted to HortScience. Paudel A, M Sanders, and Y Sun. 2024. Nodulation of Ceanothus velutinus. Accepted by Journal of Environmental Horticulture. Brewer, D, K Walters, SP Armstrong, JK Boldt, and RG Lopez. End-of-production cooling alters foliage color, yield, and nutrition of red leaf lettuce. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. Yafuso, E and J Boldt. Adjusting the percent nitrate in nutrient solution to optimize strawberry stolon and daughter plant production. HortScience. Akter, N, L. Cammarisano, G. Taylor, MT Naznin, JC Verdonk, and MS Ahamed. 2024. Impact of Light Spectral Combinations on Morphology, Yield, and Quality of Indoor-Grown Cilantro. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems. (Under Review) Ahsan, TA, MS Rahman, and MS Ahamed. Geothermal Energy Application for Greenhouse Microclimate Management: A Review. Geothermic. (Under Review)

Impact Statements

The University of Maine has a good system for comparing a variety of greenhouse production methods for cut flowers and food. Initial work with four cut flower species indicates that hydroponic cut flower production is viable and results in high quality flowers.
The research mission of Dr. Ying Zhang’s program is to improve resource use efficiency and sustainability of controlled environment agriculture (CEA) systems with interdisciplinary knowledge and technical expertise in Engineering. The main research areas include climatic modeling with computational fluid dynamics, building energy modeling, and climate management. She teaches three courses related to CEA and continuously mentors undergraduate student research in her program to support CEA workforce development. Their findings were presented to our stakeholders, growers, and researchers through presentations and written publications to promote CEA BMP guidelines development.
At Kansas State University, the impact of our research with hydroponic systems will contribute to knowledge about plastic uptake and movement in hydroponically-produced crops; this has human health implications. The impact of our research with wastewater for hydroponic crop production has shown that lettuce can be grown at higher EC than normally accepted; that while heavy metals were not detected in water sources, they were detected in lettuce tissue at levels exceeding FDA recommended limits, suggesting that micro levels accumulate during production or that they are in the fertilizers; and that a wide quality of water sources can produce similar yields of lettuce. We are currently collaborating with Arizona State University and University of Missouri faculty to develop educational resources for university instruction of hydroponic food production that will contribute to an impact of educating our next generation of hydroponics producers.
Tipburn of lettuce is a major crop physiological disorder that severely affects crop quality and leads to economic losses in the controlled-environment agriculture industry. The collaboration between the University of Delaware and Croda, Inc. has identified the optimal concentration of a chemical biostimulant as an effective solution to decrease the lettuce tipburn rating by 88% without affecting yield in greenhouse conditions. This product thus has potential for wider industry adoption to enhance crop quality and harvestable yield.
Nationwide, Cooperative Extension and NRCS personnel and commercial greenhouse growers have been exposed to research and outreach efforts through various presentations and publications. It is estimated that this information has led to improved designs of controlled environment plant production facilities and to updated operational strategies that saved an average sized (1-acre) business a total of $25,000 in operating and maintenance costs annually. Greenhouse growers who implemented the information resulting from our research and outreach materials have been able to realize energy savings of between 5 and 30%.
Salt-tolerant plants for greenhouse and nursery production will enhance specialty crop quality, reduce culinary water usage, decrease inputs, increase economic returns. Improved public access to stress-tolerant plants and increased adoption of these plants in urban landscapes will bolster the competitiveness of the Green Industry
Increased knowledge about plant responses to water stress. Understanding whole plant responses to water stress will allow for the promotion of stress-tolerant plants, aiding in water conservation efforts in urban and residential landscapes.
Effective nutrient management. Optimizing nitrogen management will contribute to the Green Industry by improving specialty crop quality, reducing fertilizer inputs, increasing economic returns, and supporting environmental sustainability through lower nutrient runoff and waste.
Our research in developing improved lighting strategies can benefit CEH growers by improving crop yield and reducing energy costs. We trained 50 undergraduate students in greenhouse technology, indoor production with electric light, and hydroponic crop production.
Dallas, TX. Our 5th controlled environment horticulture (CEH) conference held in December 2023 was well received by the CEH industry. Comments and suggestions by participants were very positive which encouraged us to continue this program. The CEH industry in Texas is developing rapidly as evidenced by the increased number of several hydroponic greenhouse companies and small urban farms including indoor vertical farms and hydroponics and aquaponics companies surrounding major cities (Austin, Dallas, and Houston areas).
We identified more effective lighting strategies to enhance the crop nutritional quality of red leaf lettuces, a group of commercially significant leafy vegetables. Those strategies, when adopted by growers, could improve the cost-effectiveness of electric lighting and improve the profitability.
Our research and educational efforts have made significant strides in optimizing environmental management for greenhouse and indoor crop production, while also advancing knowledge in root- zone management and training the next generation of experts in Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA). By collaborating with prominent institutions such as Texas A& M, the University of Florida, and the University of Texas at Tyler, we have made critical contributions to energy efficiency, precision control, and sustainable technologies in agriculture. Through our work on thermal environment management and dehumidification technologies, we have provided essential insights for growers in cold climates, helping them select dehumidification systems that maximize energy and water savings. Additionally, our development of semi- transparent solar cells for greenhouse applications and our AI-driven predictive models for indoor air temperature have the potential to transform energy use and climate control in controlled environments.
In terms of root-zone management, we have successfully tested low-cost electrochemical sensors for nitrate detection in hydroponic systems. This innovation paves the way for a multiplex sensor capable of detecting a wide range of macro- and micronutrients, which will be pivotal for optimizing nutrient management in greenhouse settings.
Furthermore, our commitment to training and outreach has resulted in hands-on educational experiences for students at various levels, from undergraduate to PhD. By offering courses on CEA and sustainable energy systems, we are equipping the next generation with the skills and knowledge needed to tackle future challenges in controlled-environment agriculture. Our outreach efforts have also empowered growers to adopt cutting-edge technologies for improved energy management and crop production.
In conclusion, our multidisciplinary approach, combining research, technology development, and education, is having a lasting impact on both the agricultural industry and academia, fostering innovation and sustainable practices in controlled-environment agriculture.