A Rotational Cultivation System for Indoor-Grown Lettuce: Feasibility in Terms of Yields, Resource Efficiency, Quality, and Postharvest Storage Capacity

Indoor farming in plant factories with artificial lighting (PFAL) offers optimized growing conditions and higher water, light, and land surface use efficiencies compared to greenhouses or open field agriculture but faces challenges related to energy consumption. The objective of this work is to evaluate the feasibility of using a rotational cultivation system for indoor-grown lettuce production. We compare a rotational cultivation system to a horizontal control cultivation system in terms of yields, resource efficiency, quality at harvest, and postharvest storage capacity. No significant differences were observed in yields, water use efficiency, light use efficiency, or postharvest storage capacity between the systems. Energy and land surface use efficiencies were higher in the rotational cultivation system compared to the control and consistent with the literature. However, a slight trend toward lower fresh and dry weights throughout the cultivation period in the rotational system was noted, correlating with reduced net photosynthesis during the first two hours and at the end of the lighting period. This effect was attributed to decreased stomatal conductance and photosystem II efficiency. Furthermore, the rotational cultivation system modified the quality by modifying the global polyphenol profile of the lettuce compared to the control. Based on yields and efficiencies, we show the feasibility of using a rotational cultivation system for indoor lettuce production.