Open Source Grow Wall Lit Review

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▼This page is a literature review.Feel free to edit this page and add sources and summaries.

A short lit review to determine optimal conditions for growing wheat.

Key words terms (KWT)

1. "hydroponic grow wall"
2. "aeroponic grow wall"
3. "low cost vertical farming"
4. "vertical farming structures"

Strategies

1. Searched Google Scholar with the above keywords

Places for plants to live and grow indoors. Currently cost $8000CAD, want to build them using much less than that.

• aeroponics: helpful and efficient
• hydroponics: helpful and efficient
• low-cost: lots of info for monitoring and control, very little literature about structures

A. M. Beacham, L. H. Vickers, and J. M. Monaghan, “Vertical farming: a summary of approaches to growing skywards,” The Journal of Horticultural Science and Biotechnology, vol. 94, no. 3, pp. 277–283, May 2019, doi: 10.1080/14620316.2019.1574214. Pressure on agricultural land from a rising global population is necessitating the maximisation of food production per unit area of cultivation. Attention is increasingly turning to Vertical Farming (VF) approaches in an attempt to provide a greater crop yield per square meter of land. However, this term has been used to cover a broad range of approaches, from personalor community-scale vegetable and herb growing to vast skyscrapers for commercial production of a wide range of crops. This article summarises the main categories of VF in order to help clarify this emerging but sometimes confusing area of agriculture and discusses how scientific investigation of the potential of VF is currently lacking and will be required to help determine its feasibility as a method to assist meaningfully in global food production.

• lit review of typical vf setups

Vertical farming increases lettuce yield per unit area compared to conventional horizontal hydroponics

D. Touliatos, I. Dodd, and M. Mcainsh, “Vertical farming increases lettuce yield per unit area compared to conventional horizontal hydroponics,” Food and Energy Security, vol. 5, June 2016, doi: 10.1002/fes3.83.

Vertical farming systems (VFS) have been proposed as an engineering solution to increase productivity per unit area of cultivated land by extending crop production into the vertical dimension. To test whether this approach presents a viable alternative to horizontal crop production systems, a VFS (where plants were grown in upright cylindrical columns) was compared against a conventional horizontal hydroponic system (HHS) using lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. cv. “Little Gem”) as a model crop. Both systems had similar root zone volume and planting density. Half-strength Hoagland’s solution was applied to plants grown in perlite in an indoor controlled environment room, with metal halide lamps providing artificial lighting. Light distribution (photosynthetic photon flux density, PPFD) and yield (shoot fresh weight) within each system were assessed. Although PPFD and shoot fresh weight decreased significantly in the VFS from top to base, the VFS produced more crop per unit of growing floor area when compared with the HHS. Our results clearly demonstrate that VFS presents an attractive alternative to horizontal hydroponic growth systems and suggest that further increases in yield could be achieved by incorporating artificial lighting in the VFS.

• vertical > horizontal indoor cea

Technical and Economic Analysis of Aeroponics and other Systems for POtato Mini-Tuber Production in Latin America

J. R. Mateus-Rodriguez et al., “Technical and Economic Analysis of Aeroponics and other Systems for Potato Mini-Tuber Production in Latin America,” Am. J. Potato Res., vol. 90, no. 4, pp. 357–368, Aug. 2013, doi: 10.1007/s12230-013-9312-5.

Producing large quantities of high quality minitubers at low cost is essential for an economically viable supply of seed potatoes. Here we systematize the technical and economic aspects of aeroponics and provide a benchmark comparison of this technology with other mini-tuber production systems as developed in Latin America: conventional, semi-hydroponics, and fiber-cement tiles technology. Research methodologies included: 3-year registration of cash flows and production registers of aeroponics, economic and technical surveys, in-depth inquiry with managers of technologies. Results show that aeroponics as promoted by  the International Potato Center (CIP) has several advantages, including high multiplication rates (up to 1:45), high production efficiency per area (> 900 mini-tubers per m2), savings in water, chemicals and/or energy, and positive economic indicators. The fiber-cement tiles technology from Brazil is also shown to be highly efficient and slightly more robust compared to aeroponics. Preconditions for the successful adoption of the different technologies in developing countries are discussed.

• aeroponics for potatos

Modern plant cultivation technologies in agriculture under controlled environment: a review on aeroponics

I. A. Lakhiar, J. Gao, T. N. Syed, F. A. Chandio, and N. A. Buttar, “Modern plant cultivation technologies in agriculture under controlled environment: a review on aeroponics,” Journal of Plant Interactions, vol. 13, no. 1, pp. 338–352, Jan. 2018, doi: 10.1080/17429145.2018.1472308.

This review paper describes a novel approach to plant cultivation under soil-less culture. At present, global climate change is expected to raise the risk of frequent drought. Agriculture is in a phase of major change around the world and dealing with serious problems. In future, it would be difficult task to provide a fresh and clean food supply for the fast-growing population using traditional agriculture. Under such circumstances, the soil-less cultivation is the alternative technology to adapt effectively. The soil-less system associated with the Hydroponic and Aeroponics system. In the aeroponics system, plant roots are hanging in the artificially provided plastic holder and foam material replacement of the soil under controlled conditions. The roots are allowed to dangle freely and openly in the air. However, the nutrient rich-water deliver with atomization nozzles. The nozzles create a fine spray mist of different droplet size at intermittently or continuously. This review concludes that aeroponics system is considered the best plant growing method for food security and sustainable development. The system has shown some promising returns in various countries and recommended as the most efficient, useful, significant, economical and convenient plant growing system then soil and other soil-less methods.

• demonstrates max efficiency of aeroponics, it's the best

Hydroponics as an advanced technique for vegetable production: An overview

N. Sharma, S. Acharya, K. Kumar, N. Singh, and O. Chaurasia, “Hydroponics as an advanced technique for vegetable production: An overview,” Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, vol. 17, pp. 364–371, Jan. 2019, doi: 10.5958/2455-7145.2018.00056.5.

Currently hydroponic cultivation is gaining popularity all over the world because of efficient resources management and quality food production. Soil based agriculture is now facing various challenges such as urbanization, natural disaster, climate change, indiscriminate use of chemicals and pesticides which is depleting the land fertility. In this article various hydroponic structures viz. wick, ebb and flow, drip, deep water culture and Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) system; their operations; benefits and limitations; performance of different crops like tomato, cucumber, pepper and leafy greens and water conservation by this technique have been discussed. Several benefits of this technique are less growing time of crops than conventional growing; round the year production; minimal disease and pest incidence and weeding, spraying, watering etc can be eliminated. Commercially NFT technique has been used throughout the world for successful production of leafy as well as other vegetables with 70 to 90% savings of water. Leading countries in hydroponic technology are Netherland, Australia, France, England, Israel, Canada and USA. For successful implementation of commercial hydroponic technology, it is important to develop low cost techniques which are easy to operate and maintain; requires less labour and lower overall setup and operational cost.

• benefits of nutrient film technique

Growth Responses and Root Characteristics of Lettuce Grown in Aeroponics, Hydroponics, and Substrate Culture

Q. Li, X. Li, B. Tang, and M. Gu, “Growth Responses and Root Characteristics of Lettuce Grown in Aeroponics, Hydroponics, and Substrate Culture,” Horticulturae, vol. 4, no. 4, p. 35, Dec. 2018, doi: 10.3390/horticulturae4040035.

Aeroponics is a relatively new soilless culture technology which may produce food in space-limited cities or on non-arable land with high water-use efficiency. The shoot and root growth, root characteristics, and mineral content of two lettuce cultivars were measured in aeroponics, and compared with hydroponics and substrate culture. The results showed that aeroponics remarkably improved root growth with a significantly greater root biomass, root/shoot ratio, and greater total root length, root area, and root volume. However, the greater root growth did not lead to greater shoot growth compared with hydroponics, due to the limited availability of nutrients and water. It was concluded that aeroponics systems may be better for high value true root crop production. Further research is necessary to determine the suitable pressure, droplet size, and misting interval in order to improve the continuous availability of nutrients and water in aeroponics, if it is to be used to grow crops such as lettuce for harvesting above-ground parts.

• hydroponics vs aeroponics for root/shoot growth

Getting to the roots of aeroponic  indoor farming

B. Eldridge, L. Manzoni, C. Graham, B. Rodgers, J. Farmer, and A. Dodd, “Getting to the roots of aeroponic indoor farming,” New Phytologist, vol. 228, July 2020, doi: 10.1111/nph.16780.

Vertical farming is a type of indoor agriculture where plants are cultivated in stacked systems. It forms a rapidly growing sector with new emerging technologies. Indoor farms often use soil-free techniques such as hydroponics and aeroponics. Aeroponics involves the application to roots of a nutrient aerosol, which can lead to greater plant productivity than hydroponic cultivation. Aeroponics is thought to resolve a variety of plant physiological constraints that occur within hydroponic systems. We synthesize existing studies of the physiology and development of crops cultivated under aeroponic conditions and identify key knowledge gaps. We identify future research areas to accelerate the sustainable intensification of vertical farming using aeroponic systems.

[1]

A. M. Beacham, L. H. Vickers, and J. M. Monaghan, “Vertical farming: a summary of approaches to growing skywards,” The Journal of Horticultural Science and Biotechnology, vol. 94, no. 3, pp. 277–283, May 2019, doi: 10.1080/14620316.2019.1574214.

[2]

D. Touliatos, I. Dodd, and M. Mcainsh, “Vertical farming increases lettuce yield per unit area compared to conventional horizontal hydroponics,” Food and Energy Security, vol. 5, June 2016, doi: 10.1002/fes3.83.

[3]

J. R. Mateus-Rodriguez et al., “Technical and Economic Analysis of Aeroponics and other Systems for Potato Mini-Tuber Production in Latin America,” Am. J. Potato Res., vol. 90, no. 4, pp. 357–368, Aug. 2013, doi: 10.1007/s12230-013-9312-5.

[4]

“(PDF) A Comparative Cost – Effectiveness Analysis in Different Tested Aquaponic Systems.” Accessed: Dec. 02, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/309184634_A_Comparative_Cost_-_Effectiveness_Analysis_in_Different_Tested_Aquaponic_Systems

[5]

I. A. Lakhiar, J. Gao, T. N. Syed, F. A. Chandio, and N. A. Buttar, “Modern plant cultivation technologies in agriculture under controlled environment: a review on aeroponics,” Journal of Plant Interactions, vol. 13, no. 1, pp. 338–352, Jan. 2018, doi: 10.1080/17429145.2018.1472308.

[6]

N. Sharma, S. Acharya, K. Kumar, N. Singh, and O. Chaurasia, “Hydroponics as an advanced technique for vegetable production: An overview,” Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, vol. 17, pp. 364–371, Jan. 2019, doi: 10.5958/2455-7145.2018.00056.5.

[7]

Q. Li, X. Li, B. Tang, and M. Gu, “Growth Responses and Root Characteristics of Lettuce Grown in Aeroponics, Hydroponics, and Substrate Culture,” Horticulturae, vol. 4, no. 4, p. 35, Dec. 2018, doi: 10.3390/horticulturae4040035.

[8]

B. Eldridge, L. Manzoni, C. Graham, B. Rodgers, J. Farmer, and A. Dodd, “Getting to the roots of aeroponic indoor farming,” New Phytologist, vol. 228, July 2020, doi: 10.1111/nph.16780.

[9]

K. Benke and B. Tomkins, “Future food-production systems: vertical farming and controlled-environment agriculture,” Sustainability: Science, Practice and Policy, vol. 13, no. 1, pp. 13–26, Jan. 2017, doi: 10.1080/15487733.2017.1394054.

[10]

“Food Security Structures Canada - Grow Walls.” Accessed: Dec. 02, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.foodsecuritystructures.ca/growing-systems/grow-walls

[11]

A. Muller et al., “Can soil-less crop production be a sustainable option for soil conservation and future agriculture?,” Land Use Policy, vol. 69, pp. 102–105, Dec. 2017, doi: 10.1016/j.landusepol.2017.09.014.

[12]

M. S. Gumisiriza, P. Ndakidemi, A. Nalunga, and E. R. Mbega, “Building sustainable societies through vertical soilless farming: A cost-effectiveness analysis on a small-scale non-greenhouse hydroponic system,” Sustainable Cities and Society, vol. 83, p. 103923, Aug. 2022, doi: 10.1016/j.scs.2022.103923.

[13]

R. Pertierra Lazo and J. Quispe Gonzabay, “Análisis económico de lechugas hidropónicas bajo sistema raíz flotante en clima semiárido,” lgr, vol. 31, no. 1, pp. 118–130, Feb. 2020, doi: 10.17163/lgr.n31.2020.09.

[14]

Á. Szepesi, “Alternative Production Systems (‘Roof‐Top,’ Vertical, Hydroponic, and Aeroponic Farming),” in Agroecological Approaches for Sustainable Soil Management, 1st ed., M. N. V. Prasad and C. Kumar, Eds., Wiley, 2023, pp. 261–275. doi: 10.1002/9781119911999.ch11.

[15]

A. Min, N. Nguyen, L. Howatt, M. Tavares, and J. Seo, “Aeroponic systems design: considerations and challenges,” Journal of Agricultural Engineering, vol. 54, no. 1, 2023, doi: 10.4081/jae.2022.1387.