Systems and methods for efficient fogponic agriculture

Abstract

An integrated modular and scalable fogponics crop growth system for cultivating a crop includes an upper growth chamber housing a leafy portion of a crop, a lower growth chamber housing a root portion of the crop, a nutrient tank and dispenser, and an environmental system. The nutrient dispenser is coupled to the nutrient tank holding a nutrient mixture for sustaining the crop. The dispenser atomizes the nutrient mixture into a nutrient fog using a booster pump and a high pressure pump capable of generating approximately 800 PSI to 1500 PSI. The high pressure pump is operatively coupled to a nozzle configured to dispense the atomized nutrient fog, substantially between 6 microns and 15 microns droplet size, into the lower growth chamber. Temperature and humidity are separately controlled in the leaf area.

1 . An integrated fogponics crop growth system for cultivating a crop, the system comprising:
 an upper growth chamber for accommodating a leafy portion of a crop;   a lower growth chamber for accommodating a root portion of the crop;   a nutrient tank for holding a nutrient mixture for sustaining the crop;   a nutrient disperser coupled to the nutrient tank and for atomizing the nutrient mixture into a nutrient fog, wherein the nutrient dispenser includes a booster pump and a high pressure pump, and wherein the high pressure pump is operatively coupled to a nozzle configured to dispense the atomized nutrient fog into the lower growth chamber; and   an environmental system for maintaining an optimal air mixture at an optimal ambient temperature for the upper growth chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the high pressure pump generates between approximately 800 PSI to 1500 PSI at the nozzle. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the upper growth chamber and the lower growth chamber are constructed using modular structures. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3  wherein the modular structures are shipping containers. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising at least one computerized server for controlling the nutrient dispenser and the environmental system via a local communication channel. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5  further comprising a water preparation controller, a nutrient preparation controller and a root zone controller for controlling the nutrient dispenser via the local communication channel. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the at least one computerized server includes two or more redundant servers. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7  further comprising a master server for monitoring the two or more redundant servers and wherein the master server switches control of the nutrient dispenser and the environmental system between the two or more redundant servers. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the master server and the two or more redundant servers are coupled to a wide area network. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the wide area network includes the Internet. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9  wherein at least one of the master server and the two or more redundant servers securely communicate with one or more remote grower communicators via the wide area network. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a fluid heat exchanger operatively coupled to the lower growth chamber, and wherein the heat exchanger maintains an optimal temperature for the lower growth chamber. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising an irrigation controller for draining the lower growth chamber. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1  wherein a root stem of the crop is located inside a grow pod supported by a support ring which is in turn supported by a floor located between and environmentally separating the upper growth chamber and the lower growth chamber. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14  wherein the support ring includes two or more segments. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14  wherein the crop is suspended inside the grow pod by a plurality of clay balls. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the nutrient fog is substantially between 6 microns and 15 microns. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 1  and wherein the booster pump provides back pressure for the high pressure pump. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a day-time temperature control tank operatively coupled a heat exchanger for controlling temperature in at least one of the upper growth chamber and the lower growth chamber. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a day-time humidity control tank operatively coupled to a heat exchanger for controlling humidity in at least one of the upper growth chamber and the lower growth chamber. 
     
     
         21 - 26 . (canceled)