Agrivoltaic Farming Insights: A Case Study on the Cultivation and Quality of Kimchi Cabbage and Garlic

Abstract

Agrivoltaic systems, which combine the cultivation of crops with solar panel installations, offer a novel solution to the dual challenges of energy production and agricultural productivity. This research verifies the impact of agrivoltaic (APV) conditions on the growth and quality of garlic and kimchi cabbage over two consecutive years in Naju-si, Jeollanam Province, Republic of Korea. In the 2019–2020 cultivation season, both kimchi cabbage and garlic grown under APV conditions experienced weight reductions of 18% and 15%, respectively, when compared to those grown in conventional settings. Intriguingly, despite the altered light conditions of APV leading to microenvironmental changes (mainly 41% light reduction), the quality of these crops, particularly in terms of their sulfur compound concentrations, remained consistent. This suggests that there was no discernible difference in the sensory quality of APV-grown kimchi cabbage and garlic compared to their traditionally grown counterparts. These findings highlight the potential of APV systems in promoting sustainable agriculture by balancing both crop yield and quality. Based on these results, the study suggests three innovative cultivation techniques to enhance crop growth in APV environments.