Daily Light Integral and Nutrient Solution Electrical Conductivity for Tomato and Bell Pepper Seedling Production in an Indoor Vertical Farm with Artificial Lighting
Indoor vertical farms (IVFs) provide the conditions for producing seedlings of good quality. However, their effectiveness depends on the daily light integral (DLI) and nutrient management. This study examined the effects of DLI and nutrient solution electrical conductivity (EC) on tomato and bell pe...
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MDPI AG
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Horticulturae |
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| author | Deyalem Yazmin Adame-Adame Daniela Alvarado-Camarillo Luis Alonso Valdez-Aguilar Andrew D. Cartmill Donita L. Cartmill Lluvia de Abril Alexandra Soriano-Melgar |
| author_facet | Deyalem Yazmin Adame-Adame Daniela Alvarado-Camarillo Luis Alonso Valdez-Aguilar Andrew D. Cartmill Donita L. Cartmill Lluvia de Abril Alexandra Soriano-Melgar |
| author_sort | Deyalem Yazmin Adame-Adame |
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| description | Indoor vertical farms (IVFs) provide the conditions for producing seedlings of good quality. However, their effectiveness depends on the daily light integral (DLI) and nutrient management. This study examined the effects of DLI and nutrient solution electrical conductivity (EC) on tomato and bell pepper seedlings produced in an IVF or a greenhouse. Seedlings in the greenhouse were harvested 45 (tomato) and 55 (bell pepper) days after sowing, while those in the IVF were harvested after 30 and 40 days, respectively. The optimal EC was 2.0 for tomato and 2.4 dS m<sup>−1</sup> for bell pepper. Tomato seedlings showed a decreased shoot-to-root ratio in the IVF. Tomatoes in the IVF reached 241% higher total biomass than greenhouse seedlings at 31.7 mol m<sup>−2</sup> d<sup>−1</sup>, while bell peppers had an increase of 333% at 39.6 mol m<sup>−2</sup> d<sup>−1</sup>; however, a DLI of 23.7 mol m<sup>−2</sup> d<sup>−1</sup> was enough to cause an increase of 153% and 264%, respectively. Nutrient concentration decreased in IVF seedlings, which was attributed to a dilution effect; in contrast, the nutrient content of tomato and bell pepper were highest when grown in the IVF when irrigated with solutions at 2.0 dS m<sup>−1</sup> and a DLI of 31.7 mol m<sup>−2</sup> d<sup>−1</sup>. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2311-7524 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Horticulturae |
| spelling | doaj-art-7ce6fd0510e6444ab8e19dcf1ec86fe72025-08-20T03:14:42ZengMDPI AGHorticulturae2311-75242025-04-0111545410.3390/horticulturae11050454Daily Light Integral and Nutrient Solution Electrical Conductivity for Tomato and Bell Pepper Seedling Production in an Indoor Vertical Farm with Artificial LightingDeyalem Yazmin Adame-Adame0Daniela Alvarado-Camarillo1Luis Alonso Valdez-Aguilar2Andrew D. Cartmill3Donita L. Cartmill4Lluvia de Abril Alexandra Soriano-Melgar5Departamento de Horticultura, Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro. Calz. Antonio Narro No. 1923, Saltillo C.P. 25315, Coahuila, MexicoDepartamento de Ciencias del Suelo, Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro. Calz. Antonio Narro No. 1923, Saltillo C.P. 25315, Coahuila, MexicoDepartamento de Horticultura, Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro. Calz. Antonio Narro No. 1923, Saltillo C.P. 25315, Coahuila, MexicoSchool of Agriculture and Environment, Massey University, Palmerston North 4442, New ZealandSchool of Agriculture and Environment, Massey University, Palmerston North 4442, New ZealandInvestigadoras e Investigadores por México-SeCiHTI, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de Coahuila, Blvd. Venustiano Carranza 935, República, Saltillo 25280, Coahuila, MexicoIndoor vertical farms (IVFs) provide the conditions for producing seedlings of good quality. However, their effectiveness depends on the daily light integral (DLI) and nutrient management. This study examined the effects of DLI and nutrient solution electrical conductivity (EC) on tomato and bell pepper seedlings produced in an IVF or a greenhouse. Seedlings in the greenhouse were harvested 45 (tomato) and 55 (bell pepper) days after sowing, while those in the IVF were harvested after 30 and 40 days, respectively. The optimal EC was 2.0 for tomato and 2.4 dS m<sup>−1</sup> for bell pepper. Tomato seedlings showed a decreased shoot-to-root ratio in the IVF. Tomatoes in the IVF reached 241% higher total biomass than greenhouse seedlings at 31.7 mol m<sup>−2</sup> d<sup>−1</sup>, while bell peppers had an increase of 333% at 39.6 mol m<sup>−2</sup> d<sup>−1</sup>; however, a DLI of 23.7 mol m<sup>−2</sup> d<sup>−1</sup> was enough to cause an increase of 153% and 264%, respectively. Nutrient concentration decreased in IVF seedlings, which was attributed to a dilution effect; in contrast, the nutrient content of tomato and bell pepper were highest when grown in the IVF when irrigated with solutions at 2.0 dS m<sup>−1</sup> and a DLI of 31.7 mol m<sup>−2</sup> d<sup>−1</sup>.https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/11/5/454transplant productionplant factoryPPFDLED lightingnutrient managementseedling quality |
| spellingShingle | Deyalem Yazmin Adame-Adame Daniela Alvarado-Camarillo Luis Alonso Valdez-Aguilar Andrew D. Cartmill Donita L. Cartmill Lluvia de Abril Alexandra Soriano-Melgar Daily Light Integral and Nutrient Solution Electrical Conductivity for Tomato and Bell Pepper Seedling Production in an Indoor Vertical Farm with Artificial Lighting Horticulturae transplant production plant factory PPFD LED lighting nutrient management seedling quality |
| title | Daily Light Integral and Nutrient Solution Electrical Conductivity for Tomato and Bell Pepper Seedling Production in an Indoor Vertical Farm with Artificial Lighting |
| title_full | Daily Light Integral and Nutrient Solution Electrical Conductivity for Tomato and Bell Pepper Seedling Production in an Indoor Vertical Farm with Artificial Lighting |
| title_fullStr | Daily Light Integral and Nutrient Solution Electrical Conductivity for Tomato and Bell Pepper Seedling Production in an Indoor Vertical Farm with Artificial Lighting |
| title_full_unstemmed | Daily Light Integral and Nutrient Solution Electrical Conductivity for Tomato and Bell Pepper Seedling Production in an Indoor Vertical Farm with Artificial Lighting |
| title_short | Daily Light Integral and Nutrient Solution Electrical Conductivity for Tomato and Bell Pepper Seedling Production in an Indoor Vertical Farm with Artificial Lighting |
| title_sort | daily light integral and nutrient solution electrical conductivity for tomato and bell pepper seedling production in an indoor vertical farm with artificial lighting |
| topic | transplant production plant factory PPFD LED lighting nutrient management seedling quality |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/11/5/454 |
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