Project Overview

A large concern of agricultural practices in Appalachia is a shortage of usable land. Due to the roughness of the land, traditional mechanized farming is majorly restricted. Although it may be used in upland plateaus, traditional farming is not sufficient to support food security and agricultural economies in these regions. Only 31% of Appalachian land is rated class I, II, or III, which are the classes that can successfully cultivate crops. [1]

Hydroponic farming has the capability to address these problems. Hydroponic farming is a version of farming that occurs in controlled greenhouses or containers where plants are grown without soil but instead with nutrient-rich water only [4]. Hydroponics need careful measuring and testing of the water to ensure proper nutrient levels and pH range [3].

AppHarvest is one of the many companies using hydroponic systems to solve agricultural problems but is focusing on Appalachia [2]. AppHarvest currently purchases container gardens from two companies, FreightFarms and Crop Box, and installed them at local high schools. These gardens are expensive and not easy to interact with and learn from. AppHarvest desired a more cost-effective system that high schoolers could better learn from (H. Jarosz, personal communication, September 15, 2021). The nutrient dosing system from this project has the potential to introduce students to coding, control systems, and modern agricultural practices.

1] ​Coltrane, R., & Baum, E. (1965). An economic survey of the Appalachian region, with special reference to Agriculture. Economic Research Service, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture.

[2] Spears, V. (2021, September). Lexington School Gets First Appharvest Urban Container Farm. Retrieved from Lexington Herald: https://www.kentucky.com/news/local/education/article254303358.html

[3] Umass Amherst Center for Agriculture, Food, and the Environment. (n.d.). Hydroponic Systems. Retrieved October 21, 2021, from UMass Extension Greenhouse Crops and Floriculture Program: https://ag.umass.edu/greenhouse-floriculture/fact-sheets/hydroponic-systems

[4] USDA. (n.d.). Hydroponics. Retrieved October 21, 2021, from USDA National Agriculture Library: https://www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/hydroponics