No edit summary |
No edit summary |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
'''Farming without sunlight''' is the practice of cultivating food with artificial light (instead of solar irradiation), or alternatively without any light at all. It is done underground, or in a location above ground (for example in windowless rooms in buildings). It is usually done using hydroponics, aeroponics or air-dynaponics systems or container gardens. The artificial light is generally provided by means of [[grow lamp]]s<ref>[http://www.gizmag.com/aerofarms-urban-agriculture/15371/ Underground farming lighting system using LEDs]</ref> or [[daylighting]] systems (as [[light tube]]s).<ref>[http://www.technologyreview.com/blog/deltav/25740/ Underground lighting]</ref> Sometimes, special modifications are done to improve the system even more. These can include water-jacketed lighting system, NFT double pass growing system with moveable racks, ...<ref>[http://www.growingedge.com/magazine/back_issues/view_article.php3?AID=170534 Special features of the South Pole Growth Chamber]</ref> | '''Farming without sunlight''' is the practice of cultivating food with artificial light (instead of solar irradiation), or alternatively without any light at all.<ref>[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/shoots-in-the-dark-farming-without-sunlight-2360833.html Farming without sunlight]</ref> It is done underground, or in a location above ground (for example in windowless rooms in buildings). It is usually done using hydroponics, aeroponics or air-dynaponics systems or container gardens. The artificial light is generally provided by means of [[grow lamp]]s<ref>[http://www.gizmag.com/aerofarms-urban-agriculture/15371/ Underground farming lighting system using LEDs]</ref> or [[daylighting]] systems (as [[light tube]]s).<ref>[http://www.technologyreview.com/blog/deltav/25740/ Underground lighting]</ref> Sometimes, special modifications are done to improve the system even more. These can include water-jacketed lighting system, NFT double pass growing system with moveable racks, ...<ref>[http://www.growingedge.com/magazine/back_issues/view_article.php3?AID=170534 Special features of the South Pole Growth Chamber]</ref> | ||
== Purpose == | == Purpose == | ||
Revision as of 09:37, 19 April 2013
Farming without sunlight is the practice of cultivating food with artificial light (instead of solar irradiation), or alternatively without any light at all.[1] It is done underground, or in a location above ground (for example in windowless rooms in buildings). It is usually done using hydroponics, aeroponics or air-dynaponics systems or container gardens. The artificial light is generally provided by means of grow lamps[2] or daylighting systems (as light tubes).[3] Sometimes, special modifications are done to improve the system even more. These can include water-jacketed lighting system, NFT double pass growing system with moveable racks, ...[4]
Purpose
Farming systems that do not use sunlight are still very uncommon. This is primarily due to the high cost involved. As such, they are currently only popularly used for the cultivation of cash crops such as illicit drugs (ie Cannabis) and for cultivating food in very harsh environments (ie on other planets, on the poles, ...). Another popular use is for growing mushrooms, as underground cavities retain a lot of humidity (which mushrooms require) and as the mushrooms don't need any sunlight at all (they don't photosynthesize). However, they can also be of great value to people who wish to grow their own food, yet do not have aduquate space for this (for example, people living in appartments). As underground farming systems become more cost effective, it can thus be expected that more people will make use of them.
Present systems
- The Lunar greenhouse is an underground farm made by Phil Sadles and Gene Giacomelli of the University of Arizona's Controlled Environment Agriculture Center (CEAC)[5][6] The urine and exhaled air of the astronauts is reused in the system by the plants.[7]