This study aimed to evaluate the growth of Cichorium intybus, Brassica juncea, and Lactuca sativa at varying seed ratios, and to suggest an efficient management plan for sustainable indoor agriculture systems. It was treated with mixed sowing as follows: 30 chicory seeds (chicory alone: CC), 22 chicory seeds + 8 lettuce seeds (C3L1), 20 chicory seeds + 10 lettuce seeds (C2L1), 15 chicory seeds + 15 lettuce seeds (C1L1) as intraspecies, and 30 mustard seeds (mustard alone: MC), 22 mustard seeds + 8 lettuce seeds (M3L1), 20 mustard seeds + 10 lettuce seeds (M2L1), 15 mustard seeds + 15 lettuce seeds (M1L1) as interspecies. The study identified the competitive response in seed germination between Cichorium intybus and Lactuca sativa, and in the C3L1 experimental group, Lactuca sativa had the highest leaf length, root length, chlorophyll content, and fresh weight. Therefore, the higher the ratio of Cichorium intybus, the higher the growth and productivity of Lactuca sativa; however, higher the ratio of Lactuca sativa, the lower the growth of Cichorium intybus. Furthermore, the nitrogen and potassium content in the substrate was the highest in the C3L1 experimental grorp which had the highest seeding rate of the Cichorium intybus. Comparing the groups Brassica juncea and Lactuca sativa, the higher the seeding ratio of Lactuca sativa, the higher the growth and productivity of Brassica juncea. Therefore, a companion seeding of Brassica juncea and Lactuca sativa is beneficial; this could be effective in having a high seeding ratio of Lactuca sativa.

This study evaluated the growth, physiological responses and productivity based on the intercropping ratio of cherry tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.) with basil (Ocimum basilicum L.). on the rooftops to determine out the efficient ratio in urban agriculture. From April to September 2019, an experiment was conducted on the rooftop of Konkuk University Glocal Campus. Cherry tomato and basil were selected as companion plants for eco-friendly urban agriculture on the rooftops. Each plot was created with a width of 100 cm, length of 100 cm, and height of 25 cm. After installing drainage and waterproof layers from bottom to top, substrate was laid out with a height of 20 cm. Intercropping ratio was consisted of a single tomato plant (TC), 2:1 tomato to basil (T2B1), 1:1 tomato to basil (T1B1), 1:2 tomato to basil 2 (T1B2), and a single basil plant (BC), were conducted using a randomized complete plot design with five treatments and three replication (a total 15 plots). Measurements were divided into growth, physiological responses, and productivity parameters, and detailed items were investigated and analyzed by classifying them into plant height, leaf length, leaf width, number of leaves, root length, root collar caliper, chlorophyll contents, fresh weight, dry weight, number of fruit, fruit caliper, fruit weight, and sugar content. Comparative analyses of cherry tomato with basil plants by intercropping ratio, growth, physiological, and productivity responses are determined to be efficient when the ratio of cherry tomato to basil ratio is 2:1 or 1:1.

This study aims to identify the most tolerant species under salinity stress from amongst Asteraceae and Poaceae. The seeds of six species were exposed to different concentrations of CaCl2 (0, 9, 18, 45, 90 mM) and NaCl (0, 17, 34, 85, 170 mM), and germination was measured once every two days. The results indicated that percent germination of the six species of Asteraceae and Poaceae seeds were affected differently by changes in salinity concentration. Seed germination was reduced as salinity levels increase, and longer mean germination times correlated to lower percent germination and earlier germination cessation. Both Asteraceae and Poaceae seeds had the highest germination rates at 18 mM CaCl2 and 34 mM NaCl, and seed germination and growth were severely reduced at salinities greater than 90 mM CaCl2 and 170 mM NaCl. In the seeds of Poaceae, salt resistance was strong in the order of Miscanthus sinensis Andersson, Pennisetum alopecuroides (L.) Spreng., and Phragmites communis Trin. In the seeds of Asteraceae, salt resistance was strong in the order of Dendranthema zawadskii var. latilobum (Maxim.) Kitam, Aster yomena (Kitam.) Honda, and Dendranthema boreale (Makino) Ling ex Kitam.. Overall, the germination rate was higher in Asteraceae than in Poaceae. This study demonstrated that Dendranthema zawadskii var. latilobum (Maxim.) Kitam. is the most tolerant species and that a relationship exists between the salt tolerance of percent germination and the mean germination time in the leaves.

Tropaeolum majus, with a high decorative and food demand for vertical greening systems, has been utilized to revitalize urban agriculture. The effects of number of non-woven fabrics in a non-water environment and the adaptability of T. majus to this system were investigated. Planting ground composition of the container-type wall vertical greening system was made using non-woven fabric in one, two, three, or four layers. The results showed that the soil water content remained the highest when the non-woven fabric comprised 4 sheets. The morphological properties showed more growth with the 4 sheets than with 1, 2, and 3 sheets. In terms of physiological characteristics, chlorophyll content was mostly high in the 4 sheets, while shoot fresh weight value was in the order of 3 sheets > 4 sheets > 2 sheets > 1 sheet, and root fresh weight value was in the order of 4 sheets > 2 sheets > 1 sheet > 3 sheets. The dry weight of the measured values in the shoot was in the order of 4 sheets > 3 sheets > 2 sheets > 1 sheet while no clear difference was found in the root of each treatment. The difference in the flowring characteristics was not different, but in evaluating the characteristics as a whole, the growth in the three layers of non-waven fabric was the best. In addition, the soil moisture content and the growth characteristics were statistically significant as a positive correlation between the groups. Thus, greater the non-woven fabric, the higher is the adaptability of T. majus to dry stress under soil water-free conditions by maintaining soil moisture content. This showed that it represented an effective alternative as a method of vertical greening system for lower maintenance urban agriculture.