Open vertical farms: a plausible system in increasing tomato yield and encouraging natural suppression of whiteflies

Abstract

This study evaluated the effectiveness of open vertical farming in increasing tomato yield and also recruiting the presence of ecological service providers in the control of whiteflies. The experiment compared the horizontal farming approach to novel outdoor vertical farm design. Using both raised and flatbeds to represent horizontal farm, tomato plants were grown in a spacing of 3.6 and 2.4 m2 respectively while the vertical farm covered a land space of 1.8 m2 having three arrays with array 1 at ground level, array 2 and 3 were elevated at 110 and 220 cm high respectively. Data collected included the numbers of Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius, 1889) and predatory spiders and; tomato fruit yield (g). Results indicated that the mean number of predatory spiders in the vertical farm from 6 – 10 weeks after transplanting were able to supress B. tabaci populations when compared to the horizontal farm. The total fruit yield harvested indicated that the vertical farm produced more tomato fruit yield compared to the horizontal farm. It is plausible that the practice of outdoor vertical farming may be a step approach solution to land shortages and also a sustainable system for integrated pest management.

Keywords

• Vertical farm
• Bemisia tabaci
• predator-prey interaction
• biological control
• tomato
• insect pest