The objective is to determine if the combination of AgroSonics and EnSoil algae was more effective in a hydroponics system versus the current combination of AgroSonics with established SOP. We wanted to see if the AgroSonics would enhance the plants with algae or if The algae would inhibit the growth, whether plants were AgroSonics treated or not.
The energy Source of the AgroSonics came from BioCells which were powered by EnSoil algae, making this the first demonstration showing utilization of the same microbial life in the EnSoil algae that is being utilized in the hydroponics table to power a centralized BioCell microbial battery pack with 4 AgroSonics plugged into the battery pack of 12 BioCells.
In this internship the student learned about various aspects of farming and related trades such germination, vegetation, hydroponics systems, SOP’s, clean regenerative and renewable energy, Microbial open loop electricity, precision agriculture, AgroSonic technology and SOP, Data collection, and harvesting.
Materials and Methodology
Two 600 gallon water tanks
One 300 gallon water tank
3000 mL EnSoil algae into one 600 gallon tank
3 mL per gallon EnSoil algae foliage spray once a week
Tropicana Lettuce seeds
Applied 11-11-40, calcium and magnesium. One tablespoon of each per 50 gallons. The same foliar mixture with neem oil insecticide is also applied weekly.
Hydroponic systems are under an indoor/ outdoor greenhouse with mesh walls and plastic roof.
To power a grid of 4 AgroSonics units we used the microbial BioCell energy technology and grid to power the AgroSonic devices. We created a battery pack of 12 BioCells with EnSoil algae as the source of electricity and energy.
In order to keep BioCells active and living, we had to siphon water from the main hydroponic system table that had the extra algae application and we utilized that water to keep the batteries moist enough and active to stay alive, and then return that water back to the hydroponic table, so not to lose too much water and maintain a, humid environment for BioCells. We demonstrated the ability to plug into the same electric grid extra back up microbial BioCells into battery pack and were also able to plug in solar panels into same grid that provide extra amperage to give redundant electricity to the system.
Our observations were that too much algae was not effective in helping the plants to grow bigger and healthier. Even with the AgroSonics, the algae was inhibiting a healthy productive plant. From past studies, the algae that is in the system normally can actually take away from the plants nutritional source. We observed that by adding extra algae through foliage spray and the tank became too much and overwhelming for the plants and took away nutrients from the plants. We observed the ppm in the plant with the extra algae reduce significantly. Even after a couple applications of minerals, calcium and magnesium, the ppm were still low. After about the fourth application, we were able to maintain and sustain the proper amount of ppm in the tank with the extra algae to be sufficient for plants.
We noticed typically the plants with AgroSonics that did not have the extra algae added in the Hydroponic system did a lot better. It was a lot more green and healthier, looking from the beginning and got to a desirable healthier greater biomass quicker than all the other variables.
The plants did not have extra algae added to hydroponics system and no AgroSonics did better than the plants with extra algae added to hydroponics system and AgroSonics.
However, the hydroponics table that did not have any extra algae added and AgroSonics did better than the other variable and control, PC ( Plant control) and PSA (Plant Sonic Algae).
