How Plants and Water Shape Tiny Life in Vertical Farms

Vertical farms are becoming more popular. They let us grow plants in a controlled way. But how do these farms affect the tiny living things on plants? These tiny life forms are called microbes. They can be good or bad for plants. In a recent study, scientists looked at two main sources of microbes in vertical farms. These sources are the water used for irrigation and the material used to grow plants. The study focused on kale and lettuce. The scientists found that the microbes in the water were different from those in the plant-growing material. The study also found that the water was not the main source of microbes on the plants. Rainwater, which was used to top up the water supply, was not the main source of microbes in either the water system or the plant-growing material. The scientists think that the main places where microbes grow are in the irrigation trays and on the plants themselves. The study also looked at how UV-C light, which is used to treat water, and LED lighting affect microbes. UV-C light is known to kill some microbes. The scientists used proxy pathogens to measure the effect of these treatments. The study provides important information about how microbes move and grow in vertical farms. This information can help farmers grow healthier plants. It can also help them prevent the spread of diseases.