The Application and Optimization of Metal Reflectors to Vertical Greenhouses to Increase Plant Growth and Health

Abstract

An estimated 1,090,000 square miles of farmland will be needed to grow the amount of food to support the world’s population in 2050. Despite cost inefficiency, vertical greenhouse yields outpace the expected yields of their footprint area. The primary cost inefficiency of vertical greenhouses is attributed to artificial lighting. This paper analyzes the effectiveness of cost-effective mylar reflectors to maximize the growth and health of plants in vertical greenhouses. Two vertical greenhouses with three floors were built: one with lighting provided by Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) and the other with mylar reflectors. One soil-filled planting pot was placed on each floor of both vertical greenhouses. To serve as the negative control, three soil-filled planting pots were placed on three distinct petri dishes. Six Brassica rapa seeds were planted in each pot. The pots were watered with 25 millimeters of water each day for ten days. After the ten-day growing period, data points were collected such as plant height, leaf surface area, plant mass, and primary root length. Statistical t-tests revealed that mylar reflectors and LED lighting in vertical greenhouses led to statically similar crop yields, in terms of growth and health. This paper has the potential to increase the feasibility of present-day vertical greenhouses by reducing costs without sacrificing overall growth and health of the crop yield. As this greenhouse is merely a scale model, this study supports the construction of large-scale vertical greenhouses with mylar reflectors. The findings of this study hope to aid international food supply sustenance to support our ever-growing population. KeywordsVertical Greenhouses; Greenhouses; Agricultural Engineering; Mylar Reflectors