Necessary Parameters of Vertically Mounted Textile Substrates for Successful Cultivation of Cress for Low-Budget Vertical Farming

Elise Diestelhorst; Jan Lukas Storck; Bennet Brockhagen; Timo Grothe; Inken Blanca Post; Thorsten Bache; Rumen Korchev; Anke Rattenholl; Frank Gudermann; Andrea Ehrmann

doi:10.14502/Tekstilec2021.64.276-285

Authors

Elise Diestelhorst Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Engineering and Mathematics, Bielefeld, Germany Author
Jan Lukas Storck Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Engineering and Mathematics, Bielefeld, Germany Author
Bennet Brockhagen Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Engineering and Mathematics, Bielefeld, Germany Author
Timo Grothe Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Engineering and Mathematics, Bielefeld, Germany Author
Inken Blanca Post Bache GmbH, Rheinberg, Germany Author
Thorsten Bache Bache GmbH, Rheinberg, Germany Author
Rumen Korchev Bache GmbH, Rheinberg, Germany Author
Anke Rattenholl Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Engineering and Mathematics, Bielefeld, Germany Author
Frank Gudermann Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Engineering and Mathematics, Bielefeld, Germany Author
Andrea Ehrmann Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Engineering and Mathematics, Bielefeld, Germany Author https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0695-3905

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14502/Tekstilec2021.64.276-285

Keywords:

vertical farming, textile substrates, cress, cost-effectiveness, germination

Abstract

A growing population needs an expansion of agriculture to ensure a reliable supply of nutritious food. As a variable concept, vertical farming, becoming increasingly popular, can allow plant growth for local food production in the vertical sense on, e.g. facades in addition to the classical layered structure in buildings. As substrates, textile fabrics can be used as a sustainable approach in terms of reusability. In our experiment, we investigated which properties a textile should possess in order to be suitable for an application in vertical farming by the example of cress seeds. To determine the best-fitted fabric, four different textiles were mounted vertically, and were provided with controlled irrigation and illumination. Our results showed that a hairy textile surface as provided by weft-knitted plush is advantageous. There, the rooting of cress plants used in this experiment is easier and less complicated than along tightly meshed, flat surfaces, as for woven linen fabrics.

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