Optimizing Plant Growth Substrates

Co-PIs: Drs. John Oakey and Cynthia Weinig

Project Name: Hydrogel Plant Growth Substrates With Intact Microbiomes for Controlled Environment Agriculture

One area that the industry has largely failed to optimize is plant growth substrates (PGS), which are largely still composed of sterile mats of fibrous minerals called rockwool. The key objective of this project is to develop a fundamentally unique PGS that is vastly superior to rockwool.

HOw this research affects the public

indoor hydroponic farm

Problem

Current plant growth substrates used indoor hydroponic farming are largely still composed of sterile mats of fibrous minerals called “rockwool” that lack beneficial bacteria normally found in soil.

Solution/Product

The key objective of this project is to develop a fundamentally unique plant growth substrate that encapsulates beneficial bacteria.

Wyoming Impact

Wyoming has a short growing season, so being able to create a more efficient substrate to be used in indoor hydroponic farming can give Wyoming citizens and surrounding states more options to grow plants indoors lessening the distance and cost of delivering plant based items to Wyoming.