Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

Annual Meeting

The Ohio State University

Columbus, OH

July 17-18, 2018

Multistate Research Project

Annual Station Accomplishments Report

PROJECT NUMBER:   NE-1335         

TITLE:                                     Resource Management in Commercial Greenhouse Production

PROJECT DURATION:            October 1, 2013 – September 30, 2018

EXPERIMENT STATION:        New Hampshire Agriculture Experiment Station

PARTICIPANTS:                     Ryan Dickson

REPORTING PERIOD:            July 1, 2017 – July 17, 2018

REPORT DATE:          5 September 2018        

OBJECTIVES (included as a reminder):

1. To develop up-to-date water and nutrient as well as energy management guidelines for greenhouse crop production and provide stakeholders with educational opportunities that teach proper implementation at their own facilities.
2. To develop these guidelines using research and development involving sensors and control strategies devised by current team members, and through and future collaborations among team members who may become part of this research project.

METHODS (please include your accomplishments where appropriate):

Topic 1: Water and Nutrient Management

1. Develop and test irrigation and fertilization practices to improve water and fertilizer use efficiency in greenhouse production
2. Conduct research to further refine irrigation/fertilization systems

CT: We conducted a series of experiments to understand the role and buildup of biofilm on irrigation pipes. We observed more biofilm on polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipes compared with polyethylene pipes when water flowed at higher frequency. We also observed that biofilms changed the initial surface properties of the PVC pipes. Since biofilm is prevalent in irrigation systems, we wanted to understand the relationship between biofilm and plant disease. Our first replicated experiment on this series indicated poinsettia-root rot incidence was lower in the presence of mature biofilms compared with newly established biofilms. We have conducted experiments to evaluate the feasibly to adopt microbial biofungicides in hydroponics systems. We learned that some biofungicides are incompatible with hydroponic systems because they significantly clog the emitters. We observed that some products reduce plant biomass by more than 30%.

Virginia Tech: Virginia Tech surveyed nursery and greenhouse operators to evaluate their use of BMPs and barriers to implementing new BMPs to assist us in developing publications and resources to assist producers in improving production efficiency and reduce environmental impact (2017). Rachel Mack has begun an M.S. program under Dr. Jim Owen. I am a member of her committee. Rachel is in the process of conducting a water use and irrigation practices survey of greenhouse and nursery operations. (2015) Dr. Jim Owen and I have secured a M.S. student who will conduct a water use and irrigation practices survey of greenhouse and nursery operations this fall. (2014)

Nebraska: Winter-time greenhouse experiments, focusing on cultivars of basil (Ocimum basilicum) (and previously strawberries), grown on a CapMAT II fertigation and watering system, with various levels of fertilizer application were conducted during 2014-2017. The greenhouse used was a classical double-polyethylene tunnel design, with gas heating and mechanical ventilation, located on the University of Nebraska, East Campus. The goal was to discover high value crops that can be grown in Nebraska at these times (Report Date 05/31/2018 Page 1 of 4 United States Department of Agriculture Progress Report Accession No. 1003777 Project No. NEB-21-164 Multistate No. NE1335). Each cultivar and fertilizer study was a factorial, randomized complete block design with six replications. Dry weight, plant oils, and electronic sensor data were analyzed and used for the development, testing and testing of a fuzzy logic inference and classification model, based on the results of the studies. Each greenhouse crop study included a CR1000 (Campbell Scientific, Logan, UT) data logger and   sensors monitoring and recording soil volumetric water content, electric conductivity (EC), soil temperatures Selected flag pots used the Decagon GS3 sensor (Decagon Devices, Pullman, WA ), which were calibrated by Decagon using submitted soil media samples.  Air and relative humidity were measured using the Campbell CS215, Swiss made digital sensor. Photosynthetically-Active Radiation (PAR) was measured using the LiCor LI 190 (LiCor, Inc., Lincoln, NE) at canopy level. The LI 190 sensor was cross-checked with a Hydroafarms Basic Quantum meter (Paradigm Gardens, Omaha, NE). Greenhouse plant production studies can be very complex as the environment, even though controlled by heating and cooling can introduce many uncertain environmental factors, where growers need to plan, adapt, and react appropriately.

Forecasting how quickly a basil crop will reach marketable size will help growers to know when to harvest, for optimal yield and predictable quantity of essential oil. Production timelines were developed for all basil types studied and will be made available on our CEA website (http://agronomy.unl.edu/cea).  Additionally we determined that the commonly grown pesto basils do not produce as much oil as the specialty basils given our off-season growing conditions. Thus, it would take a lot of herbage to make oil distillation cost effective.

If one can predict reliably how much essential oil will be produced from a given amount of dried tissue, then the method and resultant product can be proposed for USP or FDA (depending on active ingredient) for approval. Currently most medicinal and herbal oils and other supplements vary too widely in their composition for that kind of approval. What we determined was that most basil types need a low level of fertilization (100 ppm N from 20-10-20) via capillary mat plus a slow release charge (added when plants are potted) of 9 grams per 6-inch pot.  Doubling the slow release charge may be helpful for fall – winter grown basils, but definitely not for the winter-spring grown crops.  It is questionable whether the added fertilizer was cost effective.

OSU: The Ohio State University began implementing a solar radiation based drip irrigation control for greenhouse strawberry production. The control framework will be refined for the next cropping season. The Ohio State University uses an under-bench misting system for control of tipburn on strawberry plants. During the 2017/2018 season, we have demonstrated that controlling nighttime relative humidity for 5-day integration time worked reasonably well, saving misting water by approximately 40%. The Ohio State University found chlorine/chloramine phytotoxicity when specific cultivars of lettuce are grown using municipal water with specific types of hydroponic system and substrate. We confirmed that young seedlings of butterhead type lettuce were sensitive and a symptom of yellowing/wilting leaves was typically visible within a week of transplanting. Use of NFT with non-organic substrate (such as rockwool plugs) tends to accumulate more chlorine/chloramine in the root zone inside the plug, while DWC system can help in avoiding accumulation in plug (due to its large volume of nutrient solution).  We also demonstrated that treating source water by mixing sodium thiosulfate at 2.5 mg/L concentration eliminated chlorine/chloramine phytotoxicity.

UNH: Project results indicated that peat-based substrates amended with wood fiber and coconut coir may require growers to adjust their fertilizer and irrigation program. Recommendations on fertilizer nitrogen form, substrate lime type and rate, and irrigation frequency for different blends of peat, coir, and wood fiber blends were developed.

NY has seen increased interest in organically grown vegetable transplants for use in field production and direct sales to consumer. Liquid applied organic fertilizers are available but typically cost 5 to 10 times more to apply than conventional fertilizers. Therefore we have focused on more cost effective granular organic fertilizers (GOFs) that can be incorporated into the substrate prior to transplanting. In our most recent study we investigated 4 different GOFs (Sustane 8-4-4, EcoVita 7-5-10, MicroStart 60 plus 7-7-2, and vermicompost 1.7-0.7-1.5) to conventional controlled release fertilizer (CRF, Osmocote Bloom) and water soluble fertilizer (WSF, 20-10-20) for production of tomato transplants at 3 different temperatures (10, 15, 20 °C). the GOFs and CRF were incorporated at the same rate of N (400 mg/L). WSF was applied at 100 mg/L each time plants were watered. Plant development was significantly reduced at warmer temperatures. After six weeks, plant growth and N recover were assessed. At 20 °C, CLF resulted in the largest sized plants; most GOFs resulted in moderate size marketable plants with similar N recovery to CRF. At 15 °C, all GOFs, except vermicompost, performed as well as CRF and WSF. At 10 °C  plant growth was poor regardless of fertilizer treatment. GOFs appear to be a viable option for organic tomato production at 15 to 20 °C.

NY: A research project was conducted intersection of greenhouse fertilization practices and control of a common greenhouse pest: aphids. Integrated Pest Management practices for aphids are of increasing importance due to public pressure to reduce use of neonicotinoid pesticides. Pepper and pansy plants were grown with low and high rates of liquid fertilizer (LF), controlled release fertilizer (CRF), and organic slow release fertilizer (OSRF). A controlled number of green peach or foxglove aphids were then placed on each plants and aphid populations were counted 10-14 days later. For pepper, LF plants had substantially more green peach aphids than CRF or OSRF plants. Aphid population numbers correlated closely to leaf tissue nitrogen. The results suggests for pepper that moderate fertility (such as low rates of liquid feed or CRF/OSRF) can result in marketable plants while substantially reducing aphid infestations. Interestingly aphid populations were much less response to fertility treatments of pansy (potentially because it is a lower feeder) suggesting that the use of fertility to control aphid populations may be species specific.

NY: Microgreens (young leafy greens harvested at the emergence of a true leaf are a relatively new profitable niche crop for greenhouse operations. However, very little information is available in the scientific literature regarding cultural practices. The influence of liquid fertilizer (applied at 0, 50, 100, 150, and 200 ppm N from a complete liquid fertilizer) was evaluated on three brassica microgreens (arugula, mustard and mizuna). All species exhibited increased fresh weight as fertilization increased from 0 to 200 ppm N, with fresh weight about double at 200 ppm N than the unfertilized control. Seeds were sown in a peat/perlite based soilless media. Substrate depth within a flat was also studied and significantly enhanced yields were found when a flat was filled nearly to the top (as opposed to shallow filling to save on substrate).

1. Test irrigation systems in parallel utilizing the same set of greenhouse crops and cultural conditions to develop metrics for their use

1. Develop outreach materials for commercial greenhouse operations for effectively implementing these systems to save water and fertilizer resources

ME: Research at the University of Maine focused in two primary areas over the past five years. We researched capacitance sensor-automated irrigation systems, and we also researched novel propagation systems that utilize less water than conventional plant propagation systems. UMaine’s sensor automated irrigation research focused on developing recommendations for perennial plants, including English lavender, columbine, dianthus, and rosemary. The majority of these plants grow best at 0.25 L^.L^-1 of water in the substrate. The herbs, rosemary and English lavender, do not survive low substrate moisture contents (less than 0.10 L^.L^-1) of water in the substrate. UMaine collaborated with the University of Georgia to utilize sensors that measure both substrate moisture and fertility in a system that automates irrigation and fertigation simultaneously (GS-3 Sensors, Decagon Devices). This system was tested using Hellebore. We found that GS-3 sensors reliably automate substrate moisture, but not fertility. However, there was no incidence of the crown rot in Hellebore during this study. UMaine used two different novel propagation systems to reduce water and improve efficiency of rooting. We propagated Linnaea borealis or Twinflower in a capacitance sensor automated propagation system. Optimum rooting was obtained when substrate moisture was 0.30 to 0.35 L^.L^-1. We have also propaged plants in a propagation system that applied water to the base of the stem in an enclosed container (aeroponics), rather than overhead as in traditional mist. We have used this system to propagate plants including Solenostemon scutellarioides (Coleus), Lantana camara, Syringa pubescens ssp. patula, and, Ilex glabra. For the plants tested, the benefit of this system appears to be that form sooner compared to over-head mist. Plants propagated in aeroponics generally have longer roots, and roots have a greater dry mass compared to over-head mist. There is the potential to save water when propagating plants in aeroponics as well. Coleus propagated using overhead mist used the same amount of water for three typical mist cycles (30 seconds) as plants would use in aeroponics for an entire propagation cycle (several weeks).

CT: CT co-organized 17 education programs focused on basic greenhouse practices and technologies reaching an audience of 2,033 and delivering 42,691 instruction hours. CT published articles 25 on trade magazines and have indirectly reached a total audience of 274,066, delivered 62 outreach presentations on water-related topics, and provided 264 individual diagnoses and recommendations since Feb 2014. I provided individual diagnoses and recommendations to greenhouse growers in CT and outside of CT via direct communication channels (phone, email, or face-to-face visit).

We also developed two tools to assist growers in water management:

• Raudales RE, PR Fisher, B MacKay. (2018) WaterQual in Clean WateR³. http://cleanwater3.org/wqi.asp
• Raudales RE, PR Fisher, B MacKay. (2014) Waterborne solutions in Back Pocket Grower. http://backpocketgrower.com/waterbornesolutions.asp

UNH: Grower workshops, grower presentations, and grower publications are being prepared for fall 2017 and spring 2018.

Virginia Tech: Virginia Tech conducted a workshop on hydroponic production of greenhouse vegetables in March 2017 that included lectures and hands-on demonstrations for about 40 people. Comments after the workshop included appreciation for the training and decision support tools. As a result of the workshop, one attendee has joined our team as an online graduate student starting this fall. All presentations have been posted on the Fresh Produce Food Safety YouTube channel. Dr. Jim Owen and I hosted a 2-day workshop in collaboration with the Water Education Alliance for Horticulture to share knowledge and strategies for dealing with regulations in Virginia, implementing BMPs to ensure water quality and quantity, monitor water quality and manage/audit irrigation delivery. Thirty-one production managers attended. All attendees indicated they currently perform “little” of the management practices covered prior to the program, but had a deeper understanding of water management and the ability and intent to use what they had learned. Followup indicated that two operations have begun to adopt/implement the new technology. (2014)

Nebraska: We have a website established for all Controlled Environment Agriculture information. This current fiscal year from October 1, 2017 to August 15 there were a total of 164 page views with 129 unique views.  From October 2016 to September 30, 2017 there were 233 total page views with 185 unique views. Compared to January 2015 through December 2015, this was a 221% increase in activity (105 page views Jan-Dec 2015) and 264% increase in unique views (70 unique views Jan-Dec 2015). The viewing time average was 2:13 minutes which was similar to Jan-Dec 2015 (2.17 minutes). At the American Society for Horticultural Science meetings, posters were presented on winter greenhouse production of basil. They are cited below and posted on our website http://agronomy.unl.edu/cea. We keep in contact with Leafy Greens in Waterloo, Nebraska. We continue to share information about scheduling, cultivar choices and insect and disease control. They are very interested in the essential oil research as a use for damaged basil that cannot be sold or turned into pesto and now plan to add additional facilities.

NY: has seen increased requests for information on fertilizer recipes for hydroponic greenhouse production of leafy greens and tomatoes. An article was authored and published in a national trade journal article on fertilizer recipes found effective for these crops. Easy to prepare fertilizer recipes using 1 to 3 fertilizer materials and 2 stock tanks were included targeting small to medium size operations. More advanced recipes in which several fertilizer salts are used were also included for larger operations or those interested in more precisely controlling plant fertility. Several operations have reported using the information.

NY: developed an outreach website on substrates and fertilizers for organic vegetable transplant production, available at: http://www.greenhouse.cornell.edu/crops/organic.html The website contains several trade journal articles, extension bulletins and videos.

NY: A series of three extension articles regarding visual symptoms of nutrient deficiencies in hydroponic lettuce, basil, and arugula was developed. The project was completed by a female undergraduate student who grew plants in hydroponic nutrient solutions lacking particular elements of interest. Photos and written symptoms of nutrient deficiencies were documented. The article series has been published both at e-Gro.org and Inside Grower magazine.

Topic 2: Alternative Energy Sources and Energy Conservation

2. Develop guidelines and approaches to improve greenhouse heating system efficiency

NJ: A report on greenhouse energy use was developed for the USDA-NRCS. It discusses the potential for using simulation tools in assessing heat energy use and, in conjunction with other methodologies, improving the efficiency of greenhouse heating. Through various presentations, the operation and efficiency of various greenhouse heating systems has been discussed. These presentations were often accompanied by handout materials that provide additional information on heating systems, their proper operation and strategies for maximum conversion efficiencies.

NY: two software engineering projects (funded by the New York State Energy and Research Development Authority) are underway to develop tools used to determine energy use in Controlled Environment Agriculture operations. The first tool is, Greenhouse Energy Management (GEM), is a computerized tool to optimize electrical and thermal energy use in greenhouses. The tool allows highly selectable user settings for the greenhouse environment (heating, lighting, and carbon dioxide parameters) and estimates electrical and heating costs for locations across the U.S. using typical meteorological year data. The second project is developing an energy model for vertical farms in a warehouse environment including lighting, cooling, heating, and fan costs. Energy costs of plant lighting are substantially higher than supplemental lighting in a greenhouse environment. Cooling and fan costs are also significant. Cooling costs can be reduced by enabling increased ventilation with outside air during months of the year when outside air is cooler than indoors. However, this options reduces the ability to use carbon dioxide enrichment. Overall, our results indicate that vertical production has much higher energy costs and carbon footprint than CEA greenhouse production due to the need to provide all the plants light needs from electricity as well as due to the cooling and dehumidification costs. A comparison was conducted (and paper presented) across 4 diverse geographic locations in the U.S.

NY, NJ: A collaborative research project is investigating energy efficiency and plant growth of greenhouse supplemental lighting with high pressure sodium (HPS) lamps versus new light-emitting-diode (LED) lamps. Five models of LED fixtures and 2 HPS fixtures were evaluated at Rutgers to quantify light output vs. electrical consumption. Interestingly, despite popular claims of LED efficiency, only two LED fixtures had greater efficiency than the HPS fixtures. Plant performance of baby leaf arugula, kale, and lettuce was evaluated at Cornell. Each luminaire had a PAR light sensor and was connected to a computer control system to light to the same constant daily light integral. Very little difference in plant yield was found by light treatment, suggesting that in a greenhouse with supplemental light, energy efficiency is a more important metric than light spectrum. Based on PAR efficacy (µmol/J), the most efficacious LED fixture was 40% more efficacious than the top performing HPS fixture. However, due to the high initial cost, a simple payback for LED was estimated to be about 12 years (in a scenario regarding lighting greenhouse lettuce in upstate New York. Following the initial phase of the project 1 LED (Philips GreenPower LED Toplighting DR/B – Low. B) and 1 HPS model (Gavita Pro 6/750e DE FLEX) were chosen for additional greenhouse trials lighting a larger crop area based on PAR efficacy and plant performance. A lighting array above a ca. 340 square foot growing area in the greenhouse was designed for each of the two models. Using AGi32 lighting design software we were able to achieve 95% light uniformity across the array. The two arrays were used for a year-long study on energy efficiency and plant morphology of hydroponic baby leaf greens.

NY: A simulation tool was developed to compare energy costs and carbon footprint for hydroponic plants grown in a CEA greenhouse versus a vertical/warehouse farm. Vertical farms are gaining popularity due to the ability to grow plants in a small area footprint in an urban area. However,

3. Develop guidelines and approaches for the use of alternative energy sources

NJ: An ongoing collaboration with colleagues in Japan has resulted in a publication on using heat pump systems for greenhouse cooling.

Virginia Tech: Virginia Cooperative Extension provided access to and funding for energy audits and renewable feasibility studies for 66 agricultural operations in Southside and Southwest Virginia. Between 2014 and 2016, 71 farms were accepted into the energy program, 5 farms withdrew, 64 of the 66 remaining farms completed an energy audit with 2 farms delaying their audits, 31 farms have used approximately $214,000 in grant funding along with over $610,000 in individual funds to implement energy retrofits, and 35 farms have funds remaining in their energy accounts for additional improvements. The 64 completed farm energy audits identified potential annual energy savings of 873,968 kWh in electricity and 429,847 gallons of propane with efficiency improvements resulting in a projected 3,151 MTCO2e greenhouse gas emissions reductions and an annual energy-cost savings of $850,734. Approximately 46% of the energy conservation measures had a payback period of less than 5 years. The Agriculture Energy Efficiency Initiative has delivered 20 educational programs on energy efficiency practices and technologies. Partnerships are in place with USDA Rural Development, Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy, Old Dominion Electric Cooperative, and other organizations to support this project. Updated by Dr. Martha Walker on 13 Jan 2017. In continuing our greenhouse energy efficiency project funded by the Tobacco Commission, we conducted a November 2014 workshop for producers on greenhouse energy efficiency principles and what to look for onsite. A licensed auditor conducted a tour of a recently audited greenhouse.  In January 2015, we conducted an inservice training for VCE agents and energy auditor professionals with detailed presentations by Dr. A.J. Both on heating and ventilation systems as well as by Dr. Jennifer Boldt and Adam Hall on the USDA Virtual Grower software. The speakers also led a greenhouse energy efficiency tour of ACF Greenhouses, one of the greenhouse operations participating in the grant program. Latimer J. organizer and presenter. 2014. "Greenhouse Energy Conservation Practices and Opportunities", Getting Started in the Greenhouse Business School, Southern Piedmont AREC, Blackstone, VA, Nov. 11-12, 2014. Audience industry and Extension agents. In April 2014, we were funded by the Tobacco Commission to conduct greenhouse energy efficiency audits, studies and workshops. Agents, energy auditors, and select growers will be trained in the use of the Virtual Grower software. Case studies will be conducted to determine the accuracy of the software in predicting improvements in energy efficiency in audited greenhouses which incorporate suggested improvements.

NY: funding was secured to set up a demonstration wood biomass furnace in a greenhouse to reduce fossil fuel use and produce agricultural charcoal (biochar). The furnace, from ClearStak LLC, has been installed in a commercial greenhouse operation. Initially the project was to use municipal waste wood chips (from yard trimmings). However, size and moisture quality of these chips was not adequate for the furnace. The furnace is currently operating using locally produced wood pellets and in the future we hope to use graded micro-wood chips as a more cost effective solution. The furnace has significantly reduced operational reliance on fossil fuels. The project has reinforced that woodchip quality is important for the auto feed delivery system and efforts are now underway to perfect the grinding, screening, and drying process of the woodchips. In addition, experiments using the biochar projects as a soil or potting mix amendment have been conducted. Biochar from some of the feedstocks tested incorporated into a peat/perlite substrate at 10% by volume led to a significant increase in growth of basil and lettuce.

Topic 3: Sensors and Control Strategies

4. Evaluate and develop novel sensors and environmental control strategies

NJ: Due to of our lamp testing and the resulting product label that contains key product information useful to greenhouse growers interested in using supplemental lighting for crop production, stakeholders (growers, manufacturers) are better informed about the capabilities of plant lighting systems.

Nebraska: Using the sensor data from the spring 2017 basil greenhouse study, we began research with Dr. Walt Stroup, statistician and his graduate student to analyze our GS3 sensor data on soilless mix temperature, moisture and electrical conductivity, by plotting smoothing splines to characterize each variable's response (each variable had over 1400 data points for one growing period). Overall, this process was then be used to relate the data trends to plant growth responses (change in height, total dry weight), in order to propose a generalized additive model. This model, was then used to demonstrate how simultaneous, multiple, changing variables can interact to predict plant response. If successful, such a model could be used to facilitate messy data, involving time series. Broadly speaking this could include climate change, pharmaceutical studies and other problems involving complex systems as well as our controlled environment plant responses. In a sense, we are proposing to "rethink" how extreme time series and big data may be analyzed.

Specifically, the process used to interpret extreme time series (often called messy or big data) involved using the statistical procedure: Generalized Additive Models (GAM).  Using tensor product smoothing equations, we were able to plot the data so we could see the changes in volumetric water content within the pots.  A change point was identified where after about 28 days the amount of water content substantially decreased (blue arrow).  This corresponded to tall plants and lots of roots – thus less space and mix to hold water.  We were also able, using this statistical method, to demonstrate a daily change in the amount of water present within the mix.  This pattern accurately reflected the number of irrigation times each day when the capillary mat delivered water and nutrients. Thus, improved statistical models show promise for accurate prediction of biological events.

Crop Approximate Reasoning Models

OSU: The Ohio State University evaluated film sensors for greenhouse DLI (daily light integral) measurements. Quantifying DLI distributions inside the greenhouse is helpful in refining experimental design of greenhouse research.  Disposable film sensor (Optleaf O-1D, Taisei Fine Chemical Co., Japan; ~$1 per cm sensor strip) was used for measuring DLI of multiple locations over experimental area inside the greenhouse. This sensor is made of acetylcellulose film coated with orange dye that fades under solar radiation. Decay of dye pigment can be quantified by measuring light absorbance (492 nm). A reference film sensor’s decay curve was correlated with DLI recorded by a quantum sensor placed adjacent to the reference film sensor. Inside a glass greenhouse with ~50% transmission, the response time was approximately 2-3 days. We also found that sensor response was different under solar radiation with vs. without supplemental electric lighting, likely due to the difference in light spectra of UV range. Therefore, supplemental lighting should not be used when these sensors were deployed for solar DLI measurements. Within a 250 sq ft canopy area inside a 1,000 sq ft research greenhouse compartment, the maximum DLI difference among 48 measurement locations occurred under sunny days and was more than 40%. These difference should be carefully considered in designing greenhouse experiments.

5. Outreach activities (presentation, publications, demonstrations) to stakeholders

OSU: Talks on greenhouse controlled environment and energy use

• Kubota, C. 2017. Environmental manipulation for desirable responses of crops in controlled environment. Invited talk at Crops in Controlled Environments Convening Event, organized by FFAR (Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research), IBM Thomas J. Watson Research Center, Yorktown Heights, NY.
• Kubota, C. 2017. Understanding greenhouse lighting for crop health. Grower conference of Medina/Erie/Huron Counties. Medina, OH.
• Kubota, C. 2018. Controlled environment plant physiology and technology – Towards sustainable crop production. Maumee Valley Growers Association Meeting, Toledo, OH
• Kubota, C. 2018. Greenhouse lighting basics. Greenhouse Management Workshop, Wooster, OH
• Kubota, C. 2018. Controlled environment for optimum outcomes, Greenhouse Management Workshop, Wooster, OH
• Kubota, C. 2018. Sunlight and supplemental lighting. 2018 Greenhouse Crop Production and Engineering Design Short Course, Tucson, AZ
• Kubota, C. 2018. Whole plant physiology – Critical key to indoor crop yield improvement. Indoor Ag Con 2018, Las Vegas, NV.
• Kubota, C. 2018. Controlled environment agriculture for urban food production. Urban Food Systems Symposium. Minneapolis, MN.
• Kubota, C. 2018. Optimizing input and output in controlled environment agriculture. Ag Tech Worlds Collide, NCSU, Raleigh, NC.
• Kubota, C. 2017. Strawberry production under controlled environment. Invited talk at Canadian Greenhouse Conference, Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada.
• Kroggel, M. and C. Kubota. 2018. One-day greenhouse strawberry training. Columbus, OH.
• Kubota, C. 2018. Lettuce and tomato crop basics. Greenhouse Management Workshop, Wooster, OH
• Kubota, C. 2018. Nourishing the future by controlled environment agriculture (CEA). FFA/Kiwanis Agriculture Day meeting. Sandusky, OH.
• Kubota, C. 2018. Sole source electric lighting in indoor operations. 2018 Greenhouse Crop Production and Engineering Design Short Course, Tucson, AZ
• Kubota, C. 2018. Grafting technologies and their trends. 47^th Tomato Breeders Roundtable, Wooster, OH.

NY: In New York State the greenhouse vegetable industry continues to grow at a rapid pace. According to the latest data available (USDA Census of Agriculture) whole value of greenhouse vegetables increased by 10.6% annual between 2007 and 2012. A meeting was organized for diverse members (producers, suppliers, produce buyers, and financiers) of the controlled environment agriculture (CEA) industry. The board has semiannual meetings and has formed four working committees: Association/Policy, Education, Finance, Research & Development.

Other accomplishments that do not necessarily relate to the NE-1335 Multistate Research Project objectives:

NJ: The published lighting label has been presented to scientific and grower audiences across the US and at a grower meeting in Canada. Several lighting manufacturers have responded positively and indicated they would be adding the proposed label to their products. We plan to continue our outreach efforts for expanded implementation of the label.

Nebraska: This project has provided the opportunity for 7 (5 women; STEM impact) horticulture and plant biology under/graduate students to learn how to seed, pot up, fertigate, scout for pests, harvest, dry and process basil plants. The data these students recorded include height and dry weight. It has also taught these students how to work together as a team to achieve the goals of the project. We have also been able to use these monies to leverage funds to get other grants to complete this research and employ 2 female BSE students. According to a two year on-going BSE UCARE project, a National Instruments, LabVIEW® (LV) state machine, data acquisition system was programmed and tested for investigating thermal leaf response and stomatal control. The state machine also integrated the Al-Faraj, et al (2000) leaf energy, stomatal control model (using LV Control &Simulation feature), with infrared (IRT/c) leaf and thermocouple air temperatures, humidity, soil moisture, and incident net radiation sensors. The system also integrated the operation of a FLIR® E50 infrared imaging camera (using FLIR LV Toolkit). The response data acquired for selected cultivars were analyzed in a UNL undergraduate honors thesis (see publications).

UNH: A variety of outreach presentations on crop fertility, managing the greenhouse environment, integrated pest management have been delivered in New Hampshire and out of state. Private funding has been secured to conduct research and educate growers on using new wood fiber substrates. University of New Hampshire research and extension are collaborating with the USDA and commercial greenhouses in New Hampshire to model light, carbon dioxide, and temperature interactions in the greenhouse. University of New Hampshire research and extension personnel are looking into improving postharvest quality of flowering and edible crops produced in greenhouses.

NJ: A variety of outreach presentations on greenhouse and energy systems have been delivered at local and out-of-state venues. Rutgers University continues to contribute to the GLASE consortium headed by Cornell University and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and funded by NYSERDA that aims to study greenhouse lighting and systems engineering. In 2018, Rutgers University participated in a multidisciplinary and multi-institutional team that received funding under the USDA SCRI program (project title: Cost effective supplemental lighting for CEA crops; the project lead is Marc van Iersel, University of Georgia).

In addition to publications in scientific and popular journals and conference presentation, we held an Empowering Women Farmers Through Farm Management Training (EMWOFA) training for extension educators in Germany, Turkey, and Spain, and training sessions for women farmers in Turkey and Germany throughout 2017 to help women farmers manage their greenhouse businesses better and to prepare business plans. We developed workbooks and e-learning videos to guide producers through developing a business plan. We also created training manuals to help Extension educators and others guide producers in developing a business plan. These are available at: http://www.emwofa.eu/.

MSU: Ph.D. student Kellie Walters and advisor Roberto Lopez quantified the influence of temperature and daily light integral on growth and development of greenhouse-grown sweet basil and the influence of sole-source light intensity and carbon dioxide (CO₂) concentration during seedling development. In general, increasing temperature resulted in greater biomass at higher light intensities. By increasing sole-source light intensity from 100 to 600 µmol·m^‒2·s^‒1, fresh mass of seedling transplants increased resulting in a subsequent harvestable basil yield increase of 80%. Ph.D. student Joshua Craver and advisor Roberto Lopez evaluated the morphological and physiological responses of petunia seedlings to varying light intensities, light qualities, and carbon dioxide (CO₂) concentrations for indoor production. While seedlings showed significantly higher photosynthesis per unit leaf area under increased intensities of blue radiation, the increase in leaf area observed under increased intensities of red radiation ultimately led to greater light interception and dry mass accumulation. Additionally, acclimation to elevated CO₂ concentrations (reduced carboxylation efficiency) may limit potential gains from this input. MS student Alison Hurt and Ph.D. student Kellie Walters and advisor Roberto Lopez evaluated the photoperiodic responses of several foliage annuals. Some species were day neutral while others were obligate short-day plants requiring a 14-h photoperiod or longer to inhibit flower. M.S. student Charlie Garcia and advisor Roberto Lopez evaluated the photoperiodic responses of basil species and cultivars. Ocimum basilicum var. citriodora and Ocimum tenuiflorum can be classified as facultative short-day plants and Ocimum basilicum and Ocimum ×citriodorum as day-neutral plants.

OSU: Comparing commercial substrates for strawberry.