Novel production methods in controlled and semi-controlled environments

As arable land decreases and the world population increases, advancements in controlled and semi-controlled environment agriculture are necessary to produce adequate amounts of food. Three such advancements are aquaponics, biochar, and arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) fungi. For Experiment 1, two planting densities of two leafy greens and two fruiting crops were examined in aquaponic systems stocked with bluegill in a hoophouse in Stillwater, OK and grown year-round. Although the two fruiting crops did not produce significantly different fruit yields between the two densities, kale required more space to grow and lower planting density. Aquaponic systems were successfully run yearlong without significant environmental controls beyond water heaters in Oklahoma. For Experiment 2, eastern red cedar biochar was mixed into a peat-based media at four rates (0, 15, 30, and 45% of the total pot volume) and inoculated with five mycorrhizal sources (AMF-, two commercial AM fungi sources, and two extracted native spore sources, prairie and flower farm) to grow geraniums under greenhouse conditions. Biochar rates > 30% negatively impacted plant and AM fungal growth. Mycorrhizal fungi colonization did not mitigate the negative effects of biochar on geraniums, reducing plant vegetative and reproductive growth and increasing nutrient deficiencies. For Experiment 3, different types of biochar (eastern red cedar, leached eastern red cedar, pistachio shell, and hardwood) were added to geraniums at 0, 15, and 30% of the total pot volume. Commercial AM fungi (Mycobloom) was used to inoculate half the pots. Pistachio shell biochar at 15% did not negatively impact geraniums compared to the control, whereas pistachio shell biochar at 30% limited plant growth significantly. Although eastern red cedar biochar at 30% improved AM fungal colonization, AM fungi-plant symbiosis did not improve geranium growth. For Experiment 4, four native AM fungi sources (AMF-, flower farm, vegetable farm, and turf area) were compared to six species of plants (tomato, cucumber, zinnia, marigold, buffalo grass, and Kentucky bluegrass). No AM fungal inoculum was universally applicable to all species, and AM fungal inoculation did not significantly improve plant growth. Vegetable farm and flower farm inoculum had the greatest AM fungi colonization rate compared to AMF- and turf inoculum, but colonization did not significantly improve plant growth.