Fog Water Collection for Local Greenhouse Vegetable Production in the Atacama Desert

Francisco Albornoz (), Camilo del Río, Virginia Carter, Rodrigo Escobar and Lucas Vásquez
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Francisco Albornoz: Centro UC Desierto de Atacama, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 8331150, Chile
Camilo del Río: Centro UC Desierto de Atacama, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 8331150, Chile
Virginia Carter: Centro UC Desierto de Atacama, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 8331150, Chile
Rodrigo Escobar: Centro UC Desierto de Atacama, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 8331150, Chile
Lucas Vásquez: Facultad de Arquitectura, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 8331150, Chile

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 22, 1-15

Abstract: Agricultural production in the Atacama Desert is restricted by extreme aridity and poor soil quality. Between 18° S and 30° S, low stratocumulus clouds regularly cover the southeastern Pacific Ocean reaching the Coastal Cordillera. Thus, marine fog is constantly present in the coastal areas of the desert. Fog can be harvested using fog collectors. However, limited information is available with regards to the variability of fog presence throughout the year and along the coast of the desert. Combining fog water harvest with hydroponic production under greenhouse facilities presents an alternative for sustainable and local fresh food production. In this article, we analyze the potential of fog water collection in two sites (Alto Patache and Falda Verde) distant by about 1000 km within the Atacama Desert. Additionally, in both locations, the environmental conditions within greenhouse structures, the potential energy requirement for environmental conditioning (including the energy production from photovoltaic panels) and the water requirements of vegetable crops under greenhouse conditions were modeled. The annual average of fog water collection registered was 2.9 and 3.3 L per day per m 2 in Alto Patache and Falda Verde, respectively. During the most demanding season for crop evapotranspiration, 2.13 m 2 of fog collectors can supply the water required for 1 m 2 of greenhouse crops. The energy required for water and air pumps in the hydroponic systems can be supplied with photovoltaic systems including eight PV modules and a battery storage capacity of 9.4 kWh. In conclusion, the present study sheds light on the possibilities of massive water collection from fog to be used in local and sustainable food production in the Atacama Desert.

Keywords: fog collectors; desert agriculture; soilless production (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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