Recipient Organization
COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY
(N/A)
FORT COLLINS,CO 80523
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
As society transitions away from fossil fuel to renewable alternatives, there becomes competition for open land. Agriphotovoltaics (APV) is a potential solution for farming and renewable energy. APV is the integration of solar panels into an agricultural system, commonly placed on a scaffold above the crop, allowing the production of crops and generation of solar energy on the same area of land. Research has demonstrated that the implementation of APV systems can optimize land use, improve crop yields, minimize water use, generate energy, and contribute to resilience in the food and energy production streams. APV systems show promise as a multifaceted solution to some of society's greatest problems including the impacts of climate change, food instability, water shortages and the demand for alternative energy. APV systems need to be further evaluated in the western United States, to determine their potential in the arid and semiarid climates of California, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico. I propose a combined research and extension-based approach to further the knowledge-base of agriphotovoltaics and the development of tools to support farmers in implementing these systems for a more sustainable future. Using a multipronged approach, this project will 1) evaluate fruit and vegetable production in agriphotovoltaic systems in western Colorado and 2) assess the effect of the panels on plant growth and plant health. 3) These research outcomes and other research-based knowledge will be disseminated to local growers and producers interested in installing a system on their own property as well as the non-producer members of the community.Soil samples will be collected and analyzed before, during and after the solar array installation process, to evaluate the impact of the installation process on soil health and soil physical properties. Microclimate conditions will be recorded and analyzed including soil moisture and temperature, humidity, solar irradiance, and air temperature under both treatment and control plots. This will allow us to track and compare any differences in growing conditions and plant performance throughout the growing season. Evaluation of different crop types and varieties will inform best practices for vegetable production under agriphotovoltaic conditions in the American southwest. Through this project we will gain a better understanding of the effects of solar array installation on soil health and soil physical properties. We will also gain further insight into the growing conditions under APV systems to produce vegetables in Western Colorado. We will disseminate research-based knowledge to the producer and general community on the benefits of APV and its potential in Western Colorado to support food and energy production. This work will establish a baseline for the integration of photovoltaics and agricultural vegetable production in Western Colorado.
Animal Health Component
100%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
0%
Applied
100%
Developmental
0%
Goals / Objectives
The overarching goal of my research is to understand how Agriphotovoltaic (APV) systems can maintain or improve food crop yield, while simultaneously generating renewable energy and minimizing water use in vegetable production systems of the arid West. With increased demands on food stability, clean energy, and the adverse effects of climate change in the western United States, APV systemsofferthe opportunity for a multi-pronged solution to some of the most difficult problems society is facing. Climate conditions in the southwestern United States are predicted to become more severe in the next 15 years, including increased temperatures, especially during the summer months, and changes in precipitation. In Mesa County Colorado, the effects of climate change are impacting local agricultural production due to altered precipitation events and changes in seasonal high and low temperatures. Implementing APV systemsin Mesa County could allow farmers toadapt to and help mitigate the impacts of climate change.Despite the promise, the scientific literature of APVsin semi-arid annual fruit and vegetable production systems is scarce. Without quantitative evaluation, farmers could invest millions of dollars in APV systems that are not optimized for their land and crops or, in the worst-case scenario, negatively impact crop production. To build and sustain economically viable APV systems, more peer-reviewed research is needed, and the results need to be disseminated to local producers. Given the complexity of APV systems, farmers also need a decision-making tool kit that will help them evaluate the applicability of implementing APVs on their farm.This proposal is led by the subsequent research objectives that guide my research strategies to further our understanding of food production as part of the APV system in the southwestern United States.Objective 1: Assess the effects of installing and operating an APV system in the western United States on (A) soil health, including compaction, water infiltration and microbial community structure; and (B) microclimate conditions including, soil temperature and moisture, air temperature and relative humidity and photosynthetically active radiation.These results will help us gain a better understanding of the microclimate and soil effects of APV system installation and operation. We will be able to better constrain the environmental conditions associated with APV systems in the southwestern United States, allowing us to be to better model and predict the impacts of APV to improve cost benefit analysis tools. These results will also allow us to optimize conditions for improved energy efficiency and crop productivity.Objective 2: Measure the impacts of APVs on annual fruit and vegetable production, which includes (A) evaluating the produce yields, quality, and labor demands as well as documenting the (B) interseason crop rotation, applicability in semi-arid growing conditions and site-specific seasonality.These results will assist us in establishing cultivars and varieties that demonstrate improved production within an APV system. This will include field set up parameters, irrigation needs and timeline to harvest and potential for crop rotation within a season.Objective 3: Improve the capacity of the Western Colorado Research Center (WCRC) to disseminate knowledge and resources to producers on the impacts of APV systems on crop yield and quality, energy generation and water use in vegetable production systems. To achieve this, I propose to (A) increase growers' understanding of the impact of APVs on crop production by generating outreach material, including fact sheets and research-based information, that summarize the results of this scientific research and other studies conducted in climatically similar regions; and (B) Develop workshops and a decision-making tool kit that will help growers evaluate their needs and understand the processes of implementing APVs on their farm. (C) Increase the awareness of the wider community to include APV and its potential applications to improve food production in the West.Producer targeted resources will be introduced during the Colorado Western slope Agrivoltaics Workshop series at the WCRC to allow time for questions, feedback and collaboration establishing CSU Western Campus as a nexus for APV research, outreach, and education. The combination of outcomes from this project will transform WCRC into the nexus of research, resources, and education for APV on the western slope.
Project Methods
Methods for objective 1 include: At the Bookcliff Community Solar Garden, treatment plots will be set up under the PV array and control plots that do not receive any shade will be set up in the same field. Before, during and after the installation process, soil samples will be collected and analyzed for soil texture, tilth, and compaction. Samples for soil microbial community composition will be sent to Ward Laboratories for Phospholipid Fatty Acid (PLFA) analysis, giving us a snapshot of the microbial community composition. Sensors will be installed for recording microclimate conditions including soil temperature, soil moisture, air temperature, relative humidity, and photosynthetically active radiation in treatment and control plots. Sensors will be set to record several times a day and data will be retrieved from the sensors once a week to keep up with the data and allow for any troubleshooting or changes in collection method.Data analysis and figure generation of the soil and climate variables will be analyzed in R Studio (2023.03) using T-test and ANOVA when appropriate, otherwise non-parametric analysis will be employed. As part of the service from Ward Laboratories, sample results are returned in PDF format, which I then will be able to interpret based on the functional groups identified and quantitative metrics included in the analysis. These results will help us gain a better understanding of the microclimate and soil effects of APV system installation and operation. We will be able to better constrain the environmental conditions associated with APV systems in the southwestern United States, allowing us to be to better model and predict the impacts of APV to improve cost benefit analysis tools. These results will also allow us to optimize conditions for improved energy efficiency and crop productivity.Methods for objective 2 include: Within the treatment and control fields, a randomized block design with five replicates per experimental unit will be implemented. Irrigation input will be quantified to compare water use across treatments. Cultivars will include but are not limited to tomatoes, eggplant, cantaloupe, and chili peppers. Metrics of plant health and production will be recorded along with time to flower, fruit set and harvest. I will measure produce quantity and quality as well as labor demand and logistics of planting in an APV system versus the control. I will also measure the crop rotation timeline throughout the season and any site-specific challenges associated with growing under and APV system.Data analysis and figure generation of the produce health and production variables will be analyzed in R Studio (2023.03) using T-test and ANOVA when appropriate, otherwise non-parametric analysis will be employed.These results will assist us in establishing cultivars and varieties that demonstrate improved production within an APV system. This will include field set up parameters, irrigation needs and timeline to harvest and potential for crop rotation within a season.Methods for objective 3 include: During the construction of the Bookcliff Community Solar Garden I will document the construction process and record a timeline for the preconstruction planning including grant writing, permitting, approval from local municipalities and the bidding and contract process. This information will be formatted in accessible fact sheet form that can be distributed by CSU research scientists, Extension agents and Colorado Master Gardeners. During this time, I will also develop a decision-based tool kit for producers to evaluate their needs and the potential for inclusion of APV at their operation. Similar facts sheets will be created targeted towards the public interested in learning more about the benefits of APV and how they can support local producers in their implementation.Producer targeted resources will be introduced during the Colorado Western slope Agrivoltaics Workshop series at the WCRC to allow time for questions, feedback and collaboration establishing CSU Western Campus as a nexus for APV research, outreach, and education. The combination of outcomes from this project will transform WCRC into the nexus of research, resources, and education for APV on the western slope.