Introduction to Agrivoltaic farming
Agrivoltaic farming is the practice of growing crops underneath solar panels. It uses the shaded space left empty under solar panels to grow crop. This is doubling up the land use in this way it could help feed the world’s growing population while providing sustainable energy. According to recent studies, there are shade loving plants which thrive when grown in such environment.
Agrivoltaic farming already in use
Researchers in South Korea have been growing broccoli underneath photovoltaic panels. The panels are positioned 2-3 meters off the ground and sit at an angle of 30 degree providing shade and offering crop protection from the weather.
A study in this project found that the quality of broccoli was not any lower than that of broccoli grown in traditional way.
An Agrivoltaic farming project in Kenya is using solar panels held several meters off the ground, with gap in between them. The shade from the panels protects vegetables from heat stress and water loss.This has resulted in rural farmers being able to grow a greater range of higher-value crops. The project effectively harvests the power of sun twice, the researchers say.
If solar panels can be added to greenhouses, the results could be especially transformative. Greenhouse-based farming reportedly produces 10 times more food than growing in an open field, but it can require 10 times as much power.
14/10/24
This project was alloted to Akash, his internship is about to finish in few days, so I have to continue this project further. This project is on Agrivoltaic farming and under this project we are firstly focusing on plant architecture section. There are some plants such as marigold, okra, chilli, tomato, brinjal, cucumber, chrysanthemum, which are planted in an open field to measure the plant parameters till their full growth. Weekly measurements of plant parameters and daily observation of plants were in process. This measurements were taken to develop a computerized tree generation on HELIOS Software for further comparative study.
- Akash explained me about the whole project
- We went on field to measure plant parameters.
If you are keen to know how this project started from beginning, below I have provided blog link to Akash’s project
https://vadic.vigyanashram.blog/2024/09/28/agrivoltaics-plant-architecture/
Images while taking measurements.
20/10/24 – 21/10/24
- Weekly measurements of plant parameters were taken
- Weeding in field
- Cleared certain doubts regarding parameters to be measured with Akash.
25/10/24
Drenching was done by 90 gm of 0:52:34 in 15 litres of water
Daily observation of plants which includes observation of leaves, flowers, fruits and providing dosing and sprays accordingly. Check soil moisture and provide irrigation to plants.
27/10/24 – 28/10/24
- Weekly measurements of plant parameters were taken.
- Filling data in excel sheet, uploading plant photos on drive.
- Weeding in poly bags.
Link to photos of plants captured weekly
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1BZol6tZFD8qTD1NHvt8fqiKBOnglBTkx
Link to excel sheet
4/11/24
Weekly measurements of plant parameters were recorded.
Took photographs of plants to upload.
6/11/24
Filling measurement data in excel sheet
Link to excel sheet
Link to photos of plants
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Fqx0dBNdwtQIh-eYsZ7WsKQ6kJL9kqKR
Leaf miner on Cucumber leaves were seen
Add 0.5 ml of Gracia insecticide in 500 ml of water. Spraying was done on cucumber leaves at evening 5:00 pm
10/11/24
Yellowing of leaves were observed in cucumber, brinjal and tomato so we did drenching of 13:40:13 (NPK water soluble fertilizer) which is useful in healthy vegetative growth, flowering and fruiting stage of plants.
We took 20 gm of 13:40:13 fertilizer for 10 litres of water ,there are total 90 plants so that per plant will get 100 ml of fertilizer drenching.
11/11/24
Weekly measurements of plant parameters were recorded.
Chilli, tomato, okra, brinjal are at fruiting stage.
Flowering buds are seen on rose and chrysanthemum.
Spraying of insecticide
PALLET ( Propargite 57% EC ) is a insecticide used to control all type of mites and thrips in many crops like brinjal, okra, chillies and other crops. Thrips and mites were observed on leaves of chrysanthemum, chilli, okra and brinjal. To control insects we sprayed insecticide on leaves of plants.
Quantity:
Water – 2 litres
Insecticide- 4 ml
Identification of insects
Fig. Black thrips on chilli
Fig. Yellow mites on Okra
Fig. Black thrips and white flies on Okra
12/11/24
Uploaded data on excel sheet.
Link to excel sheet
Link to photos
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1I6HItvDdpFw11RRC4gRtZHligrFJXuLA
16/11/24
Compost fertilizer was provided to all plants. In quantity of 200 gm per plant. Compost fertilizer helps to grow plant healthier and stronger. It improves organic matter content and then provides essential macro and micro nutrients for plant growth.
18/11/24
Weekly measurements of plant parameters were recorded.
20/11/24
Filling of plant data measurement on excel sheet and uploading photos of plants on google drive.
Link to excel sheet
22/11/24
23/11/24
Insects, flies were seen on leaves in increasing numbers so we hanged yellow sticky flytraps. Yellow sticky traps with pheromone in glue are used to seize the male pests, which are lured by pheromone, thus to reduce the mating between male and female pests, and reduce their next generation and quantity. Yellow pests attracts to yellow colour and fly towards it, gets stick and die.
Did insecticide spraying on leaves of chrysanthemum, chilli and okra.
Name: Orgomite
Quantity: 2 ml in 1 litre water
INTRODUCTION TO LI-COR 6800 PORTABLE PHOTOSYNTHESIS SYSTEM
On 5th Jan, Ravi sir and Nimish sir from APV sunseed visited to our VA campus to provide training on operating the LI-COR 6800 Photosynthesis machine. Following 3 days of hands on practice, we started recording photosynthesis rate measurements through ACI, AQI and VPD curves. For each species of plant a total 30 curves were to be collected. Recently, we have completed strawberry and cucumber and have started for turmeric.
