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The canopy characteristics of crops are essential aspects for assessing crop growth status and conducting phenotype analysis. As one of the key indicators to measure crop growth situation, accurate canopy coverage assessment can provide a strong foundation for crop growth and yield monitoring. Considering plant growth differences, this study investigated the statistical method for assessing canopy coverage using visual technology, focusing on lettuce as the research subject. Firstly, a multi-variety and multi-growth stage hydroponic lettuce image dataset was constructed, which lays a data foundation for the construction of a semantic segmentation model. Secondly, in order to ensure the precision of semantic segmentation, this study proposed a Channel-Axial-Spatial attention mechanism module from the perspective of feature enhancement. To satisfy the lightweight demands of practical model deployment, this study replaced the original backbone network of PSPNet with MobileNetv3, greatly reduced model complexity while minimizing model performance degradation. Finally, we developed a group lettuce canopy coverage acquisition system by employing Python in conjunction with PyQt5 and embedded the pre-trained models CAS-PSPNet and MobileNetv3-PSPNet into the system for effectiveness verification. By integrating the proposed attention mechanism module with PSPNet, the integrated model outperformed FCN, Unet, SegNet, Deeplabv3+, GCN, ExFusion, ENet, BiseNet, FusionNet, LinkNet, RefineNet, LWRefineNet, and PSPNet in semantic segmentation of lettuce plant groups, achieving a Mean Intersection over Union of 0.9832. The Mean Intersection over Union of PSPNet based on lightweight improvement is 0.9717, and the model size is 9.3M. The results show that the proposed semantic segmentation method can accurately capture the crop canopy coverage, offering a feasible solution for real-time crop growth monitoring.

Accurate identification of crop varieties is an important aspect of smart agriculture, which is not only essential for the management of later crop differences, but also has a significant effect on unmanned operations in planting scenarios such as facility greenhouses. In this study, five kinds of lettuce under the cultivation conditions of greenhouses were used as the research object, and a classification model of lettuce varieties with multiple growth stages was established. First of all, we used the-state-of-the-art method VOLO-D1 to establish a variety classification model for the 7 growth stages of the entire growth process. The results found that the performance of the lettuce variety classification model in the SP stage needs to be improved, but the classification effect of the model at other stages is close to 100%; Secondly, based on the challenges of the SP stage dataset, we combined the advantages of the target detection mechanism and the target classification mechanism, innovatively proposed a new method of variety identification for the SP stage, called YOLO-VOLO-LS. Finally, we used this method to model and analyze the classification of lettuce varieties in the SP stage. The result shows that the method can achieve excellent results of 95.961, 93.452, 96.059, 96.014, 96.039 in Val-acc, Test-acc, Recall, Precision, F1-score, respectively. Therefore, the method proposed in this study has a certain reference value for the accurate identification of varieties in the early growth stage of crops.

Population growth and poor agricultural practices demand an improvement in the efficiency of food production. Urban hydroponic crops represent a potential solution to this challenge. However, the use of drinking water for urban agriculture is not a priority. Consequently, rainwater harvesting can reduce the use of drinking water for other purposes than human consumption. This study evaluated the efficiency of rainwater harvesting for the production of hydroponic crops in an Andean city. We developed a rainwater harvesting model to analyze the efficiency and optimization of two hydroponic production scenarios: (1) domestic production (30 plants) and (2) small-scale commercial production (200 plants). We found an efficiency of 99.71 and 75.79%, for scenarios 1 and 2, respectively. The 75.79% efficiency is given by the presence of low precipitation periods, which in the case of the study area are sporadic. Furthermore, scenario 2 could reach efficiencies of 100% if the roof capture area increases up to 40 m2. Rainwater harvesting in Andean cities, with sustained precipitation throughout the year, is enough to supply water for domestic and small-scale commercial hydroponic production with basic household modifications. We show promising results by combining rainwater harvesting and hydroponic crops for improving urban food and water security.

Objetivou-se com este trabalho conhecer a sustentabilidade de duas unidades de produção de alface, uma na modalidade tradicional e outra na modalidade hidropônica, em Dourados - Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil. Para avaliação da sustentabilidade, aplicou-se a ferramenta Sistema de Impacto Social de Atividades Agropecuárias (APOIA-SOCIAL), que consiste em um conjunto de planilhas eletrônicas, integradas por 16 indicadores da contribuição de uma dada atividade agropecuária. Quatro aspectos essenciais de avaliação são considerados: i) Emprego, ii) Economia, iii) Saúde e iv) Gestão e Administração. Utilizou-se o método qualitativo, caracterizado como descritivo-exploratório, fundamentados também com dados do Censo Agropecuário de 2006, realizado pelo Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística e revisão bibliográfica. A atividade que sobressaiu foi a horticultura hidropônica, que obteve 0,73 de índice de sustentabilidade, valor acima da linha de base de utilidade dos indicadores (igual a 0,70). Apesar do desempenho satisfatório, alguns indicadores apresentaram valores de utilidade baixos, podendo prejudicar a sustentabilidade das atividades nestas unidades de produção familiar.

Aquaponics, a combination of fish farming and soilless plant farming, is growing in popularity and gaining attention as an important and potentially more sustainable method of food production. The aim of this study was to document and analyze the production methods, experiences, motivations, and demographics of aquaponics practitioners in the United States (US) and internationally. The survey was distributed online using a chain sampling method that relied on referrals from initial respondents, with 809 respondents meeting the inclusion criteria. The majority of respondents were from the US (80%), male (78%), and had at least a high school degree (91%). The mean age of respondents was 47±13 years old. Most respondents (52%) had three years or less of aquaponics experience. Respondents typically raised tilapia or ornamental fish and a variety of leafy green vegetables, herbs, and fruiting crops. Respondents were most often motivated to become involved in aquaponics to grow their own food, for environmental sustainability reasons, and for personal health reasons. Many respondents employed more than one method to raise crops, and used alternative or environmentally sustainable sources of energy, water, and fish feed. In general, our findings suggest that aquaponics is a dynamic and rapidly growing field with participants who are actively experimenting with and adopting new technologies. Additional research and outreach is needed to evaluate and communicate best practices within the field. This survey is the first large-scale effort to track aquaponics in the US and provides information that can better inform policy, research, and education efforts regarding aquaponics as it matures and possibly evolves into a mainstream form of agriculture.

Efficient management of soil nutrients is essential for optimizing crop production, ensuring sustainable agricultural practices, and addressing the challenges posed by population growth and environmental degradation. Smart agriculture, using advanced technologies, plays an important role in achieving these goals by enabling real-time monitoring and precision management of nutrients. In open-field soil cultivation, spatial variability in soil properties demands site-specific nutrient management and integration with variable-rate technology (VRT) to optimize fertilizer application, reduce nutrient losses, and enhance crop yields. Hydroponic solution cultivation, on the other hand, requires precise monitoring and control of nutrient solutions to maintain optimal conditions for plant growth, ensuring efficient use of water and fertilizers. This review aims to explore recent trends in soil and solution nutrient sensing technologies for open-field soil and facilitated hydroponic cultivation, highlighting advancements that promote efficiency and sustainability. Key technologies include electrochemical and optical sensors, Internet of Things (IoT)-enabled monitoring, and the integration of machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) for predictive modeling. Blockchain technology is also emerging as a tool to enhance transparency and traceability in nutrient management, promoting compliance with environmental standards and sustainable practices. In open-field soil cultivation, real-time sensing technologies support targeted nutrient application by accounting for spatial variability, minimizing environmental risks such as runoff and eutrophication. In hydroponic solution cultivation, precise solution sensing ensures nutrient balance, optimizing plant health and productivity. By advancing these technologies, smart agriculture can achieve sustainable crop production, improved resource efficiency, and environmental protection, fostering a resilient food system.

The genus Trichoderma is widely used in agriculture as a biological agent and biofertilizer, enhancing crop yield and quality. However, its use in hydroponic systems is limited. This study evaluated the potential of Trichoderma asperellum as a growth promoter for lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) cv. Starfighter RZ in a floating-root hydroponic system (FHS). T. asperellum strains (TaMFP1 and TaMFP2) were isolated from soil and identified morphologically and molecularly. The experiment used a completely randomized design with the following four treatments (n = 4): root spraying with TaMFP1, TaMFP2, T. harzianum (Trichospore®), and uninoculated plants (control). After 30 days, morphological, biochemical, and quality parameters were analyzed. All Trichoderma treatments significantly increased plant height (19.0%), root length (25.7%), total fresh biomass (76.4%), total dry biomass (82.63%), and number of leaves (18.18%). The nitrate levels in leaves were unaffected by TaMFP1 and TaMFP2, while Trichospore® reduced the nitrate content by 24.94%. The foliar nitrogen content increased with specific treatments, though the phosphorus and magnesium levels decreased. Visual quality traits, including appearance and firmness, remained unchanged. T. asperellum strains TaMFP1 and TaMFP2 enhanced vegetative growth without compromising quality, demonstrating their potential as sustainable tools for hydroponic lettuce production in controlled environments.

Microalgae are attracting the interest of agrochemical industries and farmers, due to their biostimulant and biofertiliser properties. Microalgal biostimulants (MBS) and biofertilisers (MBF) might be used in crop production to increase agricultural sustainability. Biostimulants are products derived from organic material that, applied in small quantities, are able to stimulate the growth and development of several crops under both optimal and stressful conditions. Biofertilisers are products containing living microorganisms or natural substances that are able to improve chemical and biological soil properties, stimulating plant growth, and restoring soil fertility. This review is aimed at reporting developments in the processing of MBS and MBF, summarising the biologically-active compounds, and examining the researches supporting the use of MBS and MBF for managing productivity and abiotic stresses in crop productions. Microalgae are used in agriculture in different applications, such as amendment, foliar application, and seed priming. MBS and MBF might be applied as an alternative technique, or used in conjunction with synthetic fertilisers, crop protection products and plant growth regulators, generating multiple benefits, such as enhanced rooting, higher crop yields and quality and tolerance to drought and salt. Worldwide, MBS and MBF remain largely unexploited, such that this study highlights some of the current researches and future development priorities.

Organic fresh products are appreciated and are gaining a good reputation regarding human health and environmental concerns. Despite the fact that hydroponics are commonly used in vegetable production, growers are looking for sustainable cultivation systems. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the effect of using an organic-based nutrient solution (NS) derived from fish waste in a hydroponic system on the vegetative growth and production of lettuce compared to a conventional inorganic NS. Plant growth, yield, physiological and nutrient content parameters were determined. The results revealed that the overall growth and fresh biomass of the organic NS grown lettuce were relatively lower than those of the inorganic NS. Stomata density was significantly higher in inorganic grown lettuce compared to the organic one. However, the total chlorophyll, carotene, phenolic compounds, and flavonoid contents, as well as antioxidant activity were significantly higher in lettuce grown in organic NS compared to the inorganic one. Leaf nutrient content at harvest was significantly impacted by the type of used fertilizer. Based on these findings, in hydroponic system, organic liquid fertilizer derived from fish waste (as an alternative NS source) requires further improvements to achieve optimal growth and yield comparable to that of conventional inorganic NS.

Selenium is a significant nutrient source for humans and plants. Currently, inorganic selenium, including selenate and selenite, is used to cultivate selenium-rich crops to manage people’s selenium deficiency problems. Garlic, being a major accumulative plant in the Allium genus, can absorb selenium concentrations beyond 1000 mg/kg when grown in soils rich in selenium. In this study, garlic samples were germinated in a soilless medium and transfered to hydroponic cultivation medium containing three different levels of sodium selenite (Na 2 SeO 3 ). The total amount of selenium in the roots and leaves of lyophilized 150 μM garlic extracts was 43.8 ± 33.2 and 62.7 ± 16.4 mg/kg (n = 4), while the total amount of selenium in the enzyme-extracted leaves and roots was 10.3 ± 2.0 and 10.6 ± 5.9 mg/kg (n = 4). Furthermore, selenium speciation analysis revealed that MeSeCys and SeMet as the main organoselenium compounds in garlic. Additionally, unknown selenium species were detected, indicating the need for further research to identify them.