Providing a Research Base for Indoor Lighted Production of Strawberries in a Repurposed Poultry House.

Progress report for ONE22-417

Project Type: Partnership
Funds awarded in 2022: $21,039.00
Projected End Date: 09/30/2023
Grant Recipient: University of Delaware
Region: Northeast
State: Delaware
Project Leader:
Dr. Gordon Johnson
University of Delaware
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Project Information

Project Objectives:

This project seeks to create a research base for lighted indoor hydroponic production of strawberries in a retrofitted poultry house and to provide that information to potential growers. 

Objective 1.  To evaluate different cultivars for adaptability to the indoor production system for productivity and taste.

Objective 2.  To evaluate different planting densities to optimize production and quality  

Objective 3.  To evaluate different lighting regimes to optimize production and quality 

Objective 4.  To evaluate cooling efficiency of repurposed poultry ventilation equipment on strawberries

Objective 5.  To educate potential growers with empty poultry houses on successful house conversion and strawberry production.

 

Introduction:

When poultry growers lose a contract to grow chickens for an integrator, these poultry houses are retired or are left unused, and income is lost. There are over 1200 such houses on the Delmarva peninsula. There is interest in converting these houses into indoor lighted hydroponic growing facilities as a new income source. The long-term vision of Owens Premium Produce is to create opportunities for farmers with retired poultry houses to profit by growing produce for regional markets. To do so, Owens Premium Produce will team with the University of Delaware Cooperative Extension Fruit and Vegetable program and the Delaware Indoor Agriculture Laboratory (DIAL) in Plant and Soil Sciences to provide research, outreach, and training for prospective growers.

A demonstration unit for lighted indoor hydroponic production of strawberries will be created in a retrofitted poultry house.
Protected culture of strawberries is a growing field with most production occurring in the field under low tunnels of in high tunnels. More recently, attention as been paid to greenhouse production of strawberries in off seasons with greenhouse growers marketing strawberries as locally grown.
Interest has been growing for lighted indoor production of strawberries using existing facilities such as warehouses. This project will assess the potential of using empty poultry houses for that production.

Currently, research on indoor lighted strawberry production is very limited. In this project, University of Delaware researchers will conduct optimization research on these strawberries including cultivar evaluations, plant density studies, and lighting program evaluations. Information from these efforts will be extended through electronic resources, field days, grower informational meetings, and on-farm training sessions. An additional goal is to demonstrate how to convert a poultry house to address food safety concerns for produce production.
Delmarva is adjacent to large markets and year-round production of strawberries in these retrofitted poultry houses could provide premium product to these regional markets rather than shipping from California, Mexico, or Florida.

Cooperators

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  • William (Qingwu) Meng (Researcher)
  • William Owens - Producer

Research

Materials and methods:

To evaluate different cultivars for adaptability to the indoor production system a 6-month experiment will be set up using 12 different varieties of strawberries.  Strawberries will be selected according to past research and availability and will consist of repeat blooming types (day neutrals) grown under long days (16 hours light).  The experiment will be in a complete random design with 4, 2-foot troughs for each variety and 4 replications.  Plants will be started in a nursery area and then transplanted to the poultry house.  Data collected will be days to first flower, plant size over time, flowers, fruit number, and fruit size on a weekly basis.  Samples will be collected and frozen for future brix and acidity testing.  Data will be analyzed using JMP statistical software by ANOVA with variety separation by LSD.  A report will be produced and posted on-line for the trial.

To evaluate different planting densities the 2 most desired varieties (for yield and quality) from the variety experiments will be studied.  There will be 3 planting densities, 1, 2, and 4 plants per square foot in each planting trough.  The experiment will be in a complete random design with 4, 2-foot troughs for each density and 4 replications.  Plants will be started in a nursery area and then transplanted to the poultry house.  Data collected will be days to first flower, plant size (crown number) over time, flowers, fruit number, and fruit size on a weekly basis.  Samples will be collected and frozen for future brix and acidity testing.  Data will be analyzed using JMP statistical software by ANOVA with variety separation by LSD.  A report will be produced and posted on-line for the trial.

To evaluate different lighting regimens, four areas will be set up with 2 different light spectra at 2 different light intensities for each spectrum for a series of multi-month experiments using 4 selected varieties with notable differences in vegetative and flower development patterns (as per Dr. Kim Lewers, USDA Beltsville). This experiment will be performed twice over time for two replications. Data collected will be days to first open flower and plant height, plant diameter, flower number, fruit number, and fruit size on a weekly basis. Samples will be collected and frozen for future brix and acidity testing. Pairwise comparisons of data from all treatments across both replications will be conducted with Tukey’s honest significance test.

Note that for these trials once full fruiting is occurring, harvests will occur more frequently with the Owens farm personnel doing berry numbers and weights.  UD Georgetown personnel will visit weekly (biweekly for Newark based researchers). 

To evaluate cooling efficiency of repurposed poultry ventilation equipment on strawberries, infrared temperature sensor measurements will be taken on days where indoor temperatures approach the critical value at mid-morning for strawberries to go into dormancy (86 F).  Strawberry leaf and crown temperatures will be taken throughout the house.  Note that lighting will be provided for 16 hours starting at dusk.  Midday and afternoon will be unlighted.  Ventilation will be done using tunnel fans with evaporative cooling pads on the opposite end.  This information will be used to determine if temperatures can be maintained under the critical value during summer months (June-August)

Research results and discussion:

Project has been delayed by 12 weeks and will start experiments  January 30

Research conclusions:

Project has been delayed by 12 weeks and will start experiments  January 30

Participation Summary

Education & Outreach Activities and Participation Summary

4 Consultations
1 Curricula, factsheets or educational tools
1 On-farm demonstrations
1 Published press articles, newsletters
1 Webinars / talks / presentations
1 Other educational activities

Participation Summary:

45 Farmers participated
5 Number of agricultural educator or service providers reached through education and outreach activities
Education/outreach description:

Information from these efforts will be extended through electronic resources, field days, grower informational meetings, and on-farm training sessions. An additional goal is to demonstrate how to convert a poultry house to address food safety concerns for produce production. Reports on studies will be posted on the University of Delaware Vegetable and Fruit program website. One or more articles on the project will be posted on the UD Weekly Crop Update blog. Two field days will be planned in March and May of 2023 on-farm. A week-long training session will be planned for September of 2023 for prospective growers.

The major audience for these educational efforts will be current and former poultry growers with empty houses seeking new opportunities to use those houses. Other audiences will include extension educators, service providers (NRCS, Conservation Districts, FSA), lenders, and produce buyers.

Tours were conducted in November of 2022 for USDA and University researchers

Talk was given in January 2023 at the Fruit Session of Delaware Agriculture Week on the project.

Learning Outcomes

45 Farmers reported changes in knowledge, attitudes, skills and/or awareness as a result of their participation
Key areas in which farmers reported changes in knowledge, attitude, skills and/or awareness:

Knowledge about the project

Conversion of poultry houses for food safety

 

Project Outcomes

1 Farmers changed or adopted a practice
2 Grants applied for that built upon this project
2 Grants received that built upon this project
$185,000.00 Dollar amount of grants received that built upon this project
1 New working collaboration
Project outcomes:

not applicable at this time

Assessment of Project Approach and Areas of Further Study:

House conversion completion has been delayed by 12 weeks

Information Products

    Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or SARE.