Hello everyone! I’m Shohei.
This column is about what I felt and experienced at a plant factory in Japan.
When you’ve been in the field for over 10 years, a lot of things happen. I write freely about what I remember.
Please feel free to read it while thinking, “Wow, that’s how Japanese plant factories work.”
Tragedy Strikes Forgotten Growing Bed
One day, I was conducting some cultivation experiments in my small-scale experimental facility.
After all the experiments were finished, I started cleaning up.
I drained the nutrient solution from the beds, turned off the LEDs, and cleaned everything. I thought I had completed the cleanup as usual.
After the cleanup, the facility was left unoccupied for about a month because I didn’t have any experiments to conduct.
When I finally re-entered the laboratory after a while, I realized I had forgotten to clean up the topmost bed!
The nutrient solution had been left in that bed the whole time, and the LED lights had been shining on it continuously.
When I approached to take a closer look, I was met with an unbelievable sight.
The entire bed had turned an eerie green color.
Algae had proliferated on the surface of the nutrient solution, creating bubbles. It looked like a murky, poisonous swamp from a game or a fantasy movie.
The nutrient solution that had been exposed to the LED lights for an extended period had increased in temperature, creating the perfect breeding ground for the algae.
I had to clean it up immediately, but I couldn’t flush it down the drain directly because the algae would clog the pipes.
I had no choice but to scoop out the algae manually. I carefully scooped up the algae bit by bit, all the while being mindful of the potential harm to my body, and put it in a garbage bag.
It took me almost an hour to remove all the algae.
However, the inside of the bed was still covered in a slimy layer of algae. It took even longer to remove the remaining algae.
That experience taught me that the nutrient solution and light that are optimal for plant growth can also create the perfect breeding ground for algae.
This column was published in a collection of know-how to improve on-site skills.
This column is included in the Plant Factory Know-How Collection below.
This know-how collection is packed with useful tips to help you increase profitability, regardless of the specifications or equipment on-site.
This is a must-read for those operating plant factories or indoor farms. Implement the know-how to increase profitability.
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