Agricultural Test Site

Transcription

1 6/29/218 Rationale Vegetables under Solar PV Stephen Herbert There is a need for sustainable renewable energy sources. We suggests solar power as an area of greatest promise for Massachusetts. However, traditional ground mounted solar itallatio on farmland remove arable land from potential agricultural use. Agricultural Test Site UMass Farm South Deerfield 16 Panels ~2 kw Solar Array Layout Panels were italled (21) about 7.ft (2.3m) off the ground. There were spaces between panel clusters varying from 2 to ft. Non invasive design was used. Initial crop evaluation was with pasture and grazing with cattle ( ). Broccoli, Swiss Chard, Kale, Pepper under shade and uhaded plots traplanted June 7, 216. Morning Shade Pattern on Test Area prior to Planting Future crops: Common Bean and Cabbage were planted as second summer crops. Cabbage failed because of the heat and drought in

2 6/29/218 Traplanting Broccoli, Swiss Chard, Kale and Pepper Traplanting Broccoli, Swiss Chard, Kale and Pepper in Control Plots First harvest of Swiss Chard, July 11, 216 Broccoli, Swiss Chard, Kale and Pepper growth July 11, 216 Swiss Chard 216 Swiss Chard L P=.77 2 Q * * 2

3 6/29/218 Swiss Chard Fresh Weight per Plant 216 Swiss Chard Fresh Weight per Plant L * Q Swiss Chard Dry Weight per Plant 216 Swiss Chard Dry Weight per Plant L * Q * Broccoli Fresh Weight per Plant 216 Broccoli Total Fresh Weight per Plant L Q L Q 3

4 6/29/218 Broccoli Dry Weight per Plant 216 Broccoli Total Dry Weight per Plant 217 L Q L Q Kale 216 Kale L, Q P=.6 2 L, Q Kale Fresh Weight per Plant 216 Kale Fresh Weight per Plant L * Q * 4

5 6/29/218 Kale Dry Weight per Plant 216 Kale Dry Weight per Plant L P = Q Pepper Fruit Number per Plant 216 Pepper Fruit Number per Plant 217 Fuit Number per Plant L P=.73 Fuit Number per Plant L P=.3 P=.2 Pepper Fruit Fresh Weight per Plant 216 Pepper Fruit Fresh Weight per Plant L P= L P=.2 P=.2

6 6/29/218 Pepper Fruit Dry Weight per Plant 216 Pepper Fruit Dry Weight per Plant L P= L P=..3 P=.2 Common Bean Pod Number per Plant 216 Common Bean Pod Number per Plant 217 Pod number per Plant 2 L Q 1 1 Pod number per Plant 2 Q Common Bean Fresh Weight per Plant 216 Common Bean Fresh Weight per Plant L Q Q 6

7 6/29/218 Common Bean Dry Weight per Plant 216 Common Bean Dry Weight per Plant L Q 4 Q Cabbage Fresh Weight per Plant 217 Q Initial Conclusio 216 All crops, Broccoli, Swiss Chard, Kale, Pepper and Common Bean grew successfully during the drought and heat of the 216 summer in Massachusetts, however, cabbage failed due to heat stress. Leaf temperature was 1 o F cooler under the shade of PV panels on clear days contributing to higher yields of shade plots vs. uhaded. More shade decrease yield in some crops but not all, and bean had higher yield with more shade possibly related to lower heat stress in mid to late summer. Crops were watered daily due to the lack of summer rainfall so moisture availability was not an issue. Initial Conclusio 217 All crops, Broccoli, Swiss Chard, Kale, Pepper (first crops), and Common Bean and Cabbage (second crops) grew successfully during the cooler summer in 217 in Massachusetts. The lack of heat stress on most days in 217 resulted in higher yields of uhaded plots vs. shaded plots. More shade decrease yield in some crops but not all, and the higher yield bean with shade was reversed for uhaded related to lower heat stress in 217. Crops were watered as needed in 217 which had good summer rainfall. 7