University Records: Aeroponics (Public Information)

[University Of Cambridge]

University of Cambridge press

Date: 24/10/826 A.S.

Subject: A botanical study for the contemporary use of Aeroponics & Hydroponics on artificial environments

Aeroponics and their practical applications in the 30th Century.

Written for the University of Cambridge's Schools of Biology & Botany - Dr. Lindy Brook

This report is public information to be read at leisure. It remains the Intellectual property of the author and the University. Please reference accordingly.

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Introduction

Over the course of the early 20th century four men revolutionized agriculture. In 1911, Vladimir Artsikhovski published his “On Air Plant Cultures” in the “Experience Agronomy” journal, which detailed the first ever usage and proof of concept of the Aeroponics theory. This discovery more than a 1,000 years ago was often overlooked due to excessive demands such as power or water cleanliness. However, modern advances in station power cores and water & air filtration systems may allow humanity to overcome the once prohibitive requirements. In this study we will be taking a critical look at the benefits and drawbacks of Aeroponics. Additionally, I will explain how modern advances in station reactors and water filtration systems can overcome the many challenging demands of the process which prohibited Aeroponic use in earlier times. Lastly we will explore how Aeroponics could be used to combat and alleviate the food shortages often suffered by stations in remote parts of the Sirius Sector such as Zoner Freeports and other remote installations.

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While there are many benefits and drawbacks of Aeroponics I will be focusing on two of the most popular arguments for and against Aeroponics, those being, the advantages of soilless cultures, how this process can minimize the effects of disease and pests on crop yields. Additionally we will be looking at the two major drawbacks including the cost investment to set up and how it requires a more advanced knowledge of farming techniques to be successful. One of the largest arguments against Aeroponics in the modern day, and indeed over the course of the last millennia, has been overall financial cost with particular emphasis being placed on initial investments. Aeroponics is not easy to opt for, being an expensive and time consuming operation. Having space and appropriate soil quality for conventional farming and gardening does require a considerable investment, it was argued that this would be the case in artificial space stations as well. Setting up the controlled, artificial environments for aeroponics also requires substantial investment. Therefore we can begin to see why the concept hasn’t been endorsed sirius wide, as the cost of not only ensuring the artificial environments aboard remote space stations are acceptable but the additional cost of moving the required resources to ensure continued operation is such that most investors would turn elsewhere. Furthermore, the risk of disease and invasive insects was a cause for concern in close knit environments. Additionally, not everyone knows how to deal with the challenges or technicalities of aeroponics, therefore further investment (of time, money and resources) is required in the training and education of those who would be tasked with overseeing, instaling, maintaining and repairing aeroponic facilities. From recycling water to ensuring optimum light, having filtered or screened air to the ensuring nourishment for seeds and plants. Botanists must undergo extensive training and practice to learn the science of aeroponics in addition to learning any know how regarding the technical/mechanical side of aeroponic facilities as well as learning how to combat any issues that may arise. As we may observe then, significant investment of time and resources are required for any development of aeroponics. Distance also serves to be another barrier as the technologies and ability to create aeroponic facilities lies mainly within the Houses, and travel to and from the remote corners of Sirius is highly dangerous and that corporations such as Synth Paste have caused the price of seedlings, cultures, fruits and plants to become far too expensive and the transportation of such items carries a risk of said items never arriving alive.

As for the pros, since aeroponics does not require soil, there is less dependency on land unlike conventional farming or gardening but with the complication of limited area and room to develop. On space stations, room is scarce and rich or fertile soils are not available as abundantly as desired. Being able to grow different kinds of plants, flowers, herbs and shrubs including foods in an environment that relies less on conventional methods can help alleviate food shortages and support the overall health of distant spaceborn populations. Stations can create specific environments needed for specific types of foods, AgTechs don’t have to deal with drought or any major challenge pertaining to the soil provided that an abundance of nutrient rich water is available. Governments and independant space stations can plan large scale aeroponic farms and grow food without requiring fertile soil and there is less need of wide open spaces as aeroponics can be designed in tiers or in dedicated laboratories. Furthermore, the introduction of soil, which is a breeding ground for pests, insects and disease, takes up a considerable amount of time and space in the production food. Contaminated soil, be it through solar radiation or stray microorganisms, may lead to a spaceborn population suffering through an epidemic which they would struggle to contain so far away from civilisation. A soilless environment is not home to any such insects or weeds or pests, or at least it significantly curtails the ability for such microorganisms to develop. There will always be those pathogens which are airborne or waterborne but that can be checked more effectively than trying to protect an entire tract of land. Aeroponics is far more tightly controlled, from the supply of water to checking the air quality in some cases, everything is under stringent filtration. This allows better disease prevention, impeccable pest control and also helps the produce to grow quickly but without the need for artificial fertilizers.

Moving on to some of the largest hurdles for Aeroponics over the last millena, power and water. Here I will explain how modern station reactors energy production methods provide enough energy to allow many installations, with minimal remodeling, could have their own Aeroponics set up with minimal cost or structural change. The modern station reactors come in two primary forms, a “classic” fuel based reactor utilizing some variant of MOX or by using Kruger’s Interchangeable Nuclear Devices. Regardless of the reactor used the energy output is mostly the same. Additionally, most stations have emergency deployable solar sails, which allow for extra power in a pinch. These sources produce plenty of power to make the application of Aeroponics exceptionally enticing for stations located far from civilization where missing a food shipment may mean the difference between life or death. Water is, in addition to oxygen, a major requirement for the success of any aeroponic system. In the absence of soil, which contains many of the vital nutrients that plants require to survive, water must become a suitable replacement in transmitting these nutrients. This can be achieved through hydroponics (indeed, aeroponics as a field is sometimes considered a branch of hydroponics due to the reliance on water to transmit nutrients). Nutrient solutions have been used in the past to great effect, misting the roots of plants to ensure that they are adequately hydrated. There are various means by which this can be achieved, the most effective is ultrasonic hydroponic foggers which create a very fine, nutrient rich mist over the roots of plants which are carried from a reservoir. Ultrasonic hydroponic foggers can be used in conjunction with prior advances such as aeroponic misters or even ebb and flow systems to help improve humidity levels (mimicking a rainforest canopy) and increase nutrient absorption, thus boosting growth rates. PlanetForms Xenobiotic Filters are essential in ensuring that foregin pathogens do not contaminate the air or water that plants absorb which may threaten the health of the plant and/or humans during consumption. It should of course be noted that in sterile, disease free environments, the introduction of a pathogen could very well destroy all cultures due to a lack of natural resistance and exposure. Care therefore must be taken in the admission to hydroponic and aeroponic greenhouses and other such facility to avoid accidental contamination.

As one may observe, the serious introduction of aeroponics into space stations and underdeveloped worlds carries with it many benefits for human habitation and health. The cost of introducing aeroponic and hydroponic laboratories is vastly outweighed by the cost of continually shipping food, water and other basic supplies to and from stations in the remote frontier systems. For stations relying on bio-domes, space and health risk can be minimized by the introduction of aeroponic bays which would no longer rely upon soil which is inevitably exhausted through continued use in a matter of decades. While the expenses of incorporating aeroponics and those with the knowledge to ensure the continued operation of food production through aeroponics are by no means small, long term considerations necessitate alternative methods for food production. Smaller space colonies are at high risk of starvation due to pirate raids against shipping, freak accidents, high prices and/or low income. Quality of food is often low and so human health suffers as a result requiring more investments. With aeroponics however, a cost efficient method can be produced for the benefit of those in the frontier.

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Schools of Biology & Botany
Dr. Lindy Brook
University of Cambridge

Acknowledgements

Miss Bella Lopez (Editor)

Credit to Vulkhard Muller for writing

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