Aeroponics: Growing Vertical

by Thomas W. Gurley

Overview

Aeroponics: Growing Vertical covers aspects of the emerging technology, aeroponics, which is a sister to hydroponics, involving state-of-the-art controlled environment agriculture. The book begins with an introduction of aeroponics followed by a summary of peer-reviewed technical literature conducted over 50 years involving various aspects of aeroponics. It covers the science and all the patent literature since 2001 to give the reader a comprehensive view of the innovations related to aeroponics.

This book is a useful reference for people interested in learning about how aeroponics works. This book is for novices as well as scientists interested in research activities conducted in countries around the world as well as work in using aeroponics in outer space. Designed for the user interested in research conducted in the past, this a helpful resource for those in the next generation of profitable agricultural endeavors.

Features:

· Comprehensive resource presenting key aspects of aeroponics

· Focus on areas of aeroponics including its history, science, innovations, business, and practice

· Provides a complete overview of the intellectual property associated with aeroponics

· Presents a broad overview of research using aeroponic systems across the globe

· Features information on key start-up businesses and activities that drive this technology

Thomas Gurley earned a BA in chemistry from Houghton College and a PhD in analytical chemistry from Case Western Reserve University and has 40 years industrial chemistry experience with companies including Goodyear, Abbott Labs, and his consulting company, Manning Wood LLC. He holds two Fulbright scholarships to Ukraine and Uganda. He is currently R&D Director for Aero Development Corporation, a manufacturer of aeroponic commercial growing systems. He conducts research in aeroponics as an adjunct professor at Charleston Southern University in South Carolina.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780367374303
Publisher:	CRC Press
Publication date:	05/26/2020
Pages:	284
Product dimensions:	6.12(w) x 9.19(h) x (d)

About the Author

Thomas Gurley earned a PhD in analytical chemistry and has 40 years of industrial chemistry experience with companies including Goodyear, Abbott Labs, and his consulting company, Manning Wood LLC. He holds two Fulbright scholarships to Ukraine and Uganda. He is currently R&D Director for Aero Development Corporation, a manufacturer of aeroponic commercial growing systems. He conducts research in aeroponics as an adjunct professor at Charleston Southern University

Table of Contents

Preface ix

Author xi

Chapter 1 Introduction 1

Professor Despommier 1

Other TED Talks 3

New Technology 3

Vertical Farming Trends 5

Aeroponics at NASA 5

Aeroponics at Disneyworld 7

Ugly Food 8

Vertical Farming Definition 8

Aeroponic Crops 9

Aeroponic Container Farms 10

References 11

Chapter 2 History of Aeroponics 13

References 20

Chapter 3 The Aeroponic Value Proposition 21

Upsides 25

Downsides 26

References 27

Chapter 4 Aeroponic Science 29

Acacia 32

Alfalfa 34

Alpine Penny-Cress 35

Aonla 35

Antioxidants 36

Arugula 36

Asparagus 37

Barley 38

Basil 39

Bean 40

Begonia 40

Biomass 41

Blackberry 42

Broccoli 42

Camphor 43

Carbon Dioxide 43

Carpetweed 44

Chickpea 44

Chrysanthemum 44

Corn 45

Cowpea 45

Cranberry 46

Cucumbers 47

Elm 47

Eucalyptus 48

Evergreen 50

Fir 50

Food Security 51

Fungi 55

Grape 59

Iris 60

Chinese Cabbage 60

Lettuce 61

Lotus 66

Maize 67

Medicinal 72

Muskmelon 76

Nutrients 78

Olive 82

Pea 83

Peanut 84

Pepper 84

Petunia 85

Potatoes 85

Radish 98

Review 98

Rice 99

Roots 103

Saffron 105

Seed 106

Shallot 106

Social Impact 107

Soybeans 107

Space Applications 110

Spruce 112

Strawberry 113

Sunflower 113

Technology 114

Tomato 120

Trees 123

Vegetables 125

Wheat 126

Yams 127

References 128

Chapter 5 Aeroponics Innovations 141

Aeroponics at Disney World 141

Aeroponics at NASA 142

References 165

Chapter 6 Aeroponic Business 167

Tower Gardens (towergardens.com) 167

Alaska 168

Arizona 168

California 169

Colorado 169

Florida 169

Illinois 170

Indiana 170

Louisana 171

New York 171

Oklahoma 172

Start-up Aeroponic Companies 172

Aero Development Corp (thinkaero.co) 172

Aerofarms (aerofarms.com) 175

Aero Spring Gardens (aerospringgardens.com) 181

AEssenseGrows (aessensegrows.com) 181

Agricool (agricool.com) 185

Agrihouse (agrihouse.com) 186

Amplified Ag (amplifiedaginc.com) 187

Cloudponics (cloudponics.com) 187

80 Acres Farms (80acresfarm.com) 190

FarmedHere 191

Green Hygenics Holdings (greenhygienicsholdings.com) 192

Grow Anywhere 192

Gro-pod (gro-pod.co.uk) 195

Growx (growx.co) 198

Helioponics (heliponix.com) 199

Indoor Farms of America (indoorfarmsamerica.com) 200

Indoor Harvest Corporation (indoorharvestcorp.com) 202

James E. Wagner (jwc.ca) 204

Just Green 207

Lettuce Abound Farms (lettuceabound.com) 207

Living Greens (thelivinggreens.com) 208

Plenty (plenty.ag) 210

PodPlants (podplants.com) 213

Riviera Creek (rivieracreek.com) 215

Treevo (treevo.co) 216

True Garden (truegarden.com) 216

References 217

Chapter 7 Practice of Aeroponics 221

Aeroponics vs. Hydroponics 221

Role of Roots and the Uptake of Water and Nutrients 222

Essential Nutrients 223

Group I: C. H, O, N, and S 223

Group II: P, B 223

Group III: K, Mg, Ca, Mn, Cl 223

Group IV: Fe, Cu, Zn, Mo 223

Key Features of a Commercial Aeroponic System 228

Nutrient Solution Main Tank 229

Transfer Lines 231

Sensors 232

Water 235

References 236

Chapter 8 Aeroponics Current Research 239

Lettuce Nutrient Study 240

Leaf Tissue Samples 244

Kale Photoperiod Study 252

Experimental 252

Kale Results 255

Conclusions 262

Future Research Ideas 262

References 264

Chapter 9 Conclusion 265

Index 269