Vertical farming systems (VFS) have been proposed as an engineering solution to increase productivity per unit area of cultivated land by extending crop production into the vertical dimension. To test whether this approach presents a viable alternative to horizontal crop production systems, a VFS (where plants were grown in upright cylindrical columns) was compared against a conventional horizontal hydroponic system (HHS) using lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. cv. “Little Gem”) as a model crop. Both systems had similar root zone volume and planting density. Half‐strength Hoagland's solution was applied to plants grown in perlite in an indoor controlled environment room, with metal halide lamps providing artificial lighting. Light distribution (photosynthetic photon flux density, PPFD) and yield (shoot fresh weight) within each system were assessed. Although PPFD and shoot fresh weight decreased significantly in the VFS from top to base, the VFS produced more crop per unit of growing floor area when compared with the HHS. Our results clearly demonstrate that VFS presents an attractive alternative to horizontal hydroponic growth systems and suggest that further increases in yield could be achieved by incorporating artificial lighting in the VFS.

中文翻译：

---

与常规水平水培法相比，垂直耕作可提高单位面积的生菜产量。

垂直耕作系统（VFS）已被提议作为一种工程解决方案，可通过将作物生产扩展到垂直方向来提高单位耕地面积的生产力。为了测试这种方法是否可以替代水平农作物生产系统，将VFS（植物在直立圆柱体中生长）与使用生菜的传统水平水培系统（HHS）进行了比较（Lactuca sativa L。简历。“小宝石”）作为模型作物。两种系统的根区体积和种植密度均相似。半强度Hoagland的解决方案应用于在室内受控环境房间的珍珠岩中生长的植物，并使用金属卤化物灯提供人工照明。评估每个系统内的光分布（光合光子通量密度，PPFD）和产量（以新鲜重量计）。尽管从VFS的顶部到底部，PPFD和枝条的鲜重显着降低，但与HHS相比，VFS的单位种植面积增加了作物的产量。我们的结果清楚地表明，VFS可以替代水平水培生长系统，并且表明通过在VFS中加入人工照明可以进一步提高产量。