Our research and production Kaly aquaponic farm with production of up to 45 tons of vegetables per year was put into operation in 2020 and due to continuous technological innovations still maintains its position as the most modern aquaponic workplace in the Czech Republic. In 2021, intensive research was conducted on the farm to optimize the controlled environment in which we produce food – mainly leafy vegetables and herbs. The research team has led projects and continues to this day to work closely with prestigious Czech universities and scientific departments of the Czech Academy of Sciences. How did we manage to start our own seedling production?
Optimizing growing conditions
An evaluation of own experiment with growing lettuce under improved conditions was carried out on the Kaly aquaponic farm in 2021. The experiment focused on a higher degree of air circulation and the duration of artificial light for the crops. We compared lettuce cultivation with and without air circulation in the growing room. In addition, we conducted a second experiment on growing lettuce seedlings to increase the root volume of the lettuce, improve nutrient uptake and, most importantly, shorten the growth cycle of the seedlings by three to five days (depending on the lettuce variety).
In both cases we have achieved success, which confirms the effectiveness of our optimisation measures. By continuously fine-tuning the growing conditions (careful attention to air temperature, humidity, sufficient nutrients, artificial LED lighting, etc.), we have managed to start growing first-class leafy vegetables from seed.
Own seedling production from 2021
In the third quarter of 2021, we successfully started our own seedling production at the Kaly aquaponic farm thanks to careful optimization of growing conditions in a controlled environment. Previously, we were forced to import seedlings from abroad, which not only increased our costs but also limited our quality control. With an optimized approach to cultivation, we can now grow lettuces in just 52 days from sowing to harvest. Lettuces grown from our own seedlings now have an average shipping weight of 190 grams, but some varieties reach almost 230 grams.
This move has not only increased the self-sufficiency of our farm, but also ensured the consistent quality of our aquaponic lettuces and reduced the costs associated with importing seedlings from abroad.