Priscilla Trinh

Optimizing Carrot Growth in Static Hydroponic Systems addresses environmental concerns, increasingly fragile supply chains, and fossil energy dependence in industrial agriculture. This study compares different carrot cultivars in a variety of substrates to determine which carrots and substrates yield the most produce (dry-weight) in static hydroponics systems. The focus was on four carrot cultivars: ‘Danvers’, ‘Yaya Hybrid’, ‘Chantenay’, and ‘Imperator’. These cultivars were selected due to their commercial popularity, sugar content, soil type durability, and observed potential from previous research.11,12 Substrates included a mix of non-renewable and renewable materials including: perlite, coconut coir, coarse sand, and vermiculite. Hydroponics is a method of soil-less plant cultivation.1 This method of cultivation suspends plant roots in nutrient solutions needed for growth. Static hydroponics is a subset of hydroponics, similarly employing a nutrient solution as the main body of plant sustenance but requiring no aeration or pumps to circulate water unlike other popular forms of hydroponics.2 Hydroponics is commercially used for leafy greens, however, this research aims to expand its applications to root vegetables such as carrots to diversify dietary nutrients for consumers and provide growers with more options. The compact 2x2 foot system requiring minimal electricity input is low-maintenance and perfect for land/water constrained areas. Furthermore, examining several substrates composed of renewable resources has implications for replenishing soil health and applications across geographic borders. This research is ultimately aimed at providing a means to access nutritious food as a human right in a sustainable manner.