Indoor growing of two grape tomato cultivars in two different-size DWC hydroponic systems

Description

The production of food worldwide depends primarily on the availability of light and water. Consequently, it is feasible to cultivate crops in various settings: open fields, greenhouses, or Plant Factories with Artificial Lighting (PFALs). PFALs offer the potential for high productivity and resource efficiency, but their success hinges on factors such as crop selection, market prices, electricity costs, and labor expenses across different countries. Leafy vegetables, particularly lettuce, dominate PFAL production. However, recent research has extended to include medicinal herbs, berries, and tomatoes. The challenge with tomato cultivation lies in its need for relatively more vertical space. To address this, researchers are experimenting with dwarf or mini tomato varieties to assess their economic viability within PFALs. In our study, we evaluated the growth and productivity of indoor tomatoes using two mini cultivars (orange and yellow) and two different-size Deep Water Culture (DWC) hydroponic systems.