vertical farming systems used in vertical farming vary and usage mainly depends on the company or farmers’ needs, their capital, location, niche market, and their overall vision.
vertical farms are usually installed in industrial large buildings with high space to grow upwards. Others can also be installed in shipping containers.
Whatever the farm is, it must be large enough to accommodate all the units required to successfully grow plants for example; plant growing room, the water supply/irrigation, storage, handling, and the workers unit.
All these can be located on the same farm but the plants are grown in an entirely separate secluded unit which is the heart of the vertical farm.
Different vertical farming systems are used to grow crops in vertical farms and these utilize soil-free based technics to provide nutrients to plants.
Soil free based growing systems are what make vertical farming very successful because of their effectiveness, eco-sustainability and monetary advantages.
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Best types of vertical farming systems
1.Hydroponics
This is the most commonly used vertical farming systems type. Here plants are grown with their roots submerged in a water-based nutrient solution. the solution is fertilized with nutrients and is continuously circulated throughout the system using a water pump.
Frequent monitoring is done to measure the nutrient level, salinity, and temperature to suit the demands of the plants in the system.
The plants can be supported in the suspension using a soft place plug or gravel can be added at the bottom of the water unit to support the plant roots in the Nutrient film technique hydroponics. Other types of hydroponics also however exist.
Examples of vertical farms that use hydroponics vertical farming systems are vertical roots and bowery farming.
2. Aeroponics
In this type of system, plants are grown suspended in a closed or semi-closed mist environment without soil. The plants are grown on a foam-like material leaving the roots to seep through a mesh-like cap and dangle below into the mist chamber.
The suspended dangling plant roots are then continuously sprayed with a nutrient-rich solution from which they get nourishment. A timer is set connected to the pump to help spray the plant roots at the appropriate time intervals. LED lights are used to provide the plants with energy for photosynthesis.
Aeroponic tower farms are also used in the same manner with plants grown on a soilless medium called rock wool. They are vertical tubular structures with plants merging on either side.
3. Aquaponics
Aquaponics is a farming system that amalgamates hydroponics and aquaculture. Nutrient rich waste water from the fish production unit is pumped to a hydroponic setup to supply nutrients to plants and also to clean it after which it is pumped back to the fish unit.
Advantages of soil-free based vertical farming systems
- There is efficient nutrient delivery and uptake by plants which maximizes growth and enables the plants to flourish and yield high.
- The plants produced are of high quality; very green, clean, leafy, nutritious, and tasty compared to plants produced using normal gaming methods.
- Costs can be reduced greatly in terms of handling, labor and the fact that water is recycled in most systems.
- The systems are very sustainable and eco-friendly for example aeroponics uses 90% less water compared to traditional soil-based farming.
- 100% organic plants can be produced using this system that are free from chemicals like pesticides and herbicides.
Bottomline.
Vertical farming systems used vary depending on the farmer. Some new systems that are a combination exist for example vertical-aquaponics.
Hydroponics is the most widely used vertical farming system. vertical farming is the future. Most people might fear venturing in but you can always start one day at a time by buying a single aeroponic tower, a hydroponic kit, or a small aquaponic unit for your living room and get started today. After a test run, you can then go big!
I just want to know about vertical farming system.