Hydroponics

Overview

The Kendeda Building at Georgia Tech is one of the most sustainable buildings in the world because of its certification as a living building. Under the guidelines of the Living Building Challenge, there are 7 petals that buildings must fulfill: Beauty, Equity, Materials, Place, Water, Energy, and Health and Happiness. Of these 7, the Hydroponics team is primarily focused on Place, with an interest in Water. The Place petal focuses on urban agriculture; the process of growing food in a city environment. Given the unique qualities of a hydroponic system - soilless and water efficient - it is an excellent way to fulfill the Place petal.

Hydroponics System

Hydroponic systems are classified as two types: open and closed. For the scope of this project, a closed wick system, which is both convenient and cost-effective, will be used. A simple wick system consists of a tank with a tray of pots resting on the lid. The tank is filled with a nutrient solution that contains the essential macro and micro nutrients that plants need to survive. Holes are cut into the tank lid so synthetic wicks can run from the pots to the nutrient solution below. The pots are filled with a soilless growing medium; typically coconut fiber or vermiculite, a type of mineral. Additionally, an air pump and air stone are used to oxygenate the nutrient solution so the plants do not suffocate. Plants receive nutrients via capillary action as the nutrient solution travels up the wick.

Research

Project Goal

What we're trying to accomplish

Methodology

Quick outline of experiment + materials

Charts and Figures

Final Posters

Fall 2021

Annotated Bibliography

Copy from Teams

Team Members

Name	Major	Years Active
Pallavi Natarajan	Chemical Engineering	Fall 2021 - Present
Cecil Hash	Biology	Fall 2021 - Present
Zohir Khawaja	Civil Engineering	Fall 2021 - Present