CrimeaPRESS reports:
Scientists from the Crimean Federal University are developing automated installations for city farming based on hydroponics — growing plants on artificial media without soil. This was announced by Associate Professor of the Department of Agriculture and Crop Production of the Institute «Agrotechnological Academy» KFU. V. I. Vernadsky Alexander Ilyin. At the moment, specialists have already created prototypes of installations: a mini-farm with a height of 1.2 meters, as well as an average farm with a height of 2 meters.
The unit is a vertical stacked device consisting of a metal frame, lighting, irrigation, nutrient supply and ventilation systems. It is fully automated and controlled via Wi-Fi: the farm is scripted, it wakes up at 4 am and is lit for hours. The periodic activation of the flooding of pallets is programmed , — quotes the press service of the university Alexander Ilyin.
According to the scientist, in addition to working on the installations, university specialists are developing technologies for growing plants in city-farming conditions: they select the most comfortable conditions for them in terms of lighting, humidity, and the supply of nutrients. This allows you to get environmentally friendly products.
Our substrate is not earth, but coconut chips, agrowool or jute rugs. Earth is an organic substance that contains micro and macro elements, various bacteria. The soil as a substrate forgives many mistakes of an inexperienced agronomist. Our substrates are completely devoid of nutrients, and in such conditions, not knowing the requirements of the plant itself can adversely affect its yield. We are engaged in production in closed premises: this allows us to control the cleanliness of the premises, if necessary, we use only biological preparations based on beneficial bacteria, — the specialist notes.
Automated installations of the university are already in demand among farmers. Thus, an agricultural enterprise located in the Bakhchisaray district ordered a mini-plant for growing seedlings. There is a request for installations from restaurants in Sevastopol, as well as the Mriya Resort & SPA hotel.
In the future, we plan to develop a mega-farm, which will be designed for large-scale production, as well as create an aeroponics plant (when nutrients are delivered to the roots of the plant in the form of an aerosol) , – says Alexander Ilyin.
Today, specialists from the Crimean Federal University grow leafy lettuces, microgreens, edible flowers (such as begonia, nasturtium, viola, carnation), strawberries and other crops in the city-farming laboratory.
photo: © Ksenia Gasitsa / Press Service of the Crimean Federal University
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