Optimization of Photoperiod and Quality Assessment of Basil Plants Grown in a Small-Scale Indoor Cultivation System for Reduction of Energy Demand
Open accessAbstract
Vertical farming is a novel type of food production in indoor environments with artificial lighting and controlled cultivation conditions. In this context, sustainability in small-scale indoor cultivation systems is crucial. Sustainability can be achieved by optimizing all the cultivation factors involved in the production process. The effects of different photoperiod conditions under different timing during plant development—from sowing to germination and maturity—have been studied in a small-scale indoor cultivation area. The main objective of this research was to investigate the possibilities of an optimized photoperiod for basil plants to reduce the energy demand cost of the cultivation unit. Three different photoperiod treatments (P8D16L, P10D14L, and P11D13L) were applied to basil plants with stable light intensity. Furthermore, the photoperiod was shortened to test the reaction of the biomass from the plants in a reduced energy demand system. The dry biomass produced was measured along with the energy consumed in each treatment. The basil quality was assessed by measuring different physiological indices, such as chlorophyll a (Chl a), chlorophyll b (Chl b), total chlorophyll (Chl tot), the fraction of photosynthetically active irradiance absorbed by the leaf, and leaf temperature. The results of the study showed that a shorter photoperiod did not negatively affect the quantity and quality of the basil plants. Continuously, the evaluation of the energy demand variation under the different photoperiod treatments can provide a significant positive impact on the energetic, ecological, and economic aspects of small-scale food production.
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The marketable portion of plants can convert at most 1-2% of electrical energy into chemical energy.
“the salable part of plants can only fix maximum 1–2% of the electrical energy as chemical energy.”
From How energy innovation in indoor vertical farming can improve food security, sustainability, and food safety? (2020) · cites this paper as Avgoustaki, 2019
The Introduction (page unavailable) says plants use light, including artificial light, to produce chemical energy through photosynthesis. Section 2.3 measures electricity consumed per kilogram of basil leaf biomass, but neither passage establishes that the marketable portion converts at most 1–2% of electrical energy into chemical energy. (LLM, conf=0.76)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThe remaining 98-99% of electrical energy not absorbed by plants becomes heat in the culture room and is removed by air-conditioners (Avgoustaki, 2019).
“The remaining 98–99% of the electrical energy that is not absorbed by plants is converted to heat energy into the culture room and the remaining is removed by air-conditioners to the outside area (Avgoustaki, 2019).”
From How energy innovation in indoor vertical farming can improve food security, sustainability, and food safety? (2020) · cites this paper as Avgoustaki, 2019
Section 4 (Discussion) discusses electricity demand for lighting, fans and pumps, and section 4.2 mentions heating and ventilation. Neither states that 98–99% of electricity becomes heat or that air-conditioners remove it. Searches for the percentage, heat conversion and air-conditioning found no passage addressing those claims. (LLM, conf=0.75)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
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- Authors
- Avgoustaki, D. D.
- Affiliations
- Aarhus University (DK)
- Corresponding author
- Avgoustaki, Dafni Despoina
- Venue
- Energies
- Publisher
- MDPI AG
- Published
- 2019-10-19
- Volume
- 12
- Issue
- 20
- Pages
- 3980
- ISSN
- 1996-1073 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2980682123
- Cited by
- 37
- References
- 26
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 6
- FWCI
- 2.21
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- dx.doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Energies (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Plant Science › Light effects on plants
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Aquatic Science › Innovations in Aquaponics and Hydroponics Systems
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Plant Science › Greenhouse Technology and Climate Control
- Keywords
- Ocimum basilicum, vertical farming, indoor cultivation, energy demand reduction, artificial lighting, dry biomass, chlorophyll content, photosynthetically active radiation, leaf temperature, small-scale food production, sustainability
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