TAILORING HYDROPONIC FACTORS TO CONTROLLED-ENVIRONMENT PRODUCTION OF EMERGING FOOD CROPS

Our research- and education-integrated project aims to improve controlled-environment hydroponic crop production in the U.S. Our overall goal is to investigate horticultural factors with potential to increase crop yield, quality attributes, and resource use efficiency of less studied, but commercially valuable, leafy greens and fruiting crops (e.g., spinach, arugula, pepper, and strawberry). Objective 1. We will develop strategies for nutrient solution optimization to enhance emerging crop yield and quality in hydroponic production systems. Objective 2. We will develop lighting strategies to mitigate common diseases and physiological disorders of emerging hydroponics crops in controlled environments. Objective 3. We will develop, implement, and assess open-source teaching materials and activities in controlled-environment hydroponic production to enhance learning for higher education.