Low Effort Management of Basil (Ocimum basilicum) Growth in an Aeroponic System
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Empowering individuals in high-density urban environments with the tools to affordably grow their own food with minimal effort could be a solution to sustainably increase global food security. Aeroponic farming could potentially be used to achieve this goal. This study investigates the low effort maintenance of basil (Ocimum basilicum) growth in an aeroponic system. Aeroponic units that were supplied with nutrients and water at the start of a twentyeight- day experiment (experimental treatment) were compared with units where the nutrients and water were replaced on a weekly basis (reference treatment). This experiment was run twice, the first trial under solar light, and the second trial under T5 fluorescent light. The differences in biomass yields between trials was visibly noticeable, however not statistical significantly different. The biomass yields between treatments was not statistically significantly different. At the end of the first trial (solar light), the experimental treatment and reference treatment had mean total wet weights of 0.0182 g and 0.0151 g respectively. At the end of the second trial (T5 fluorescent light), the experimental treatment and reference treatment had mean total wet weights of 1.6564 g and 1.6484 g respectively. Further research using a longer experimental trial with more samples should be conducted to test for statistical biomass variance between treatment groups and between trials.