Huachuca Experiment

[kato13]

Originally Posted by Webstral

For the future (I don't know how distant), I want to run an experiment on carbon dioxide in the greenhouse. Some time ago, I read about a greenhouse experiment in which the carbon dioxide levels in a greenhouse were artificially elevated to more than 200% their natural levels. Plant growth accelerated dramatically. I have been wondering if one could not bump carbon levels to 1000% of their natural levels in a hydroponic hothouse (or cold house, for that matter) to double or triple the growth rate of vegetables that resist "traditional" mechanized agriculture. The drawback to this method is that any workers would need to have a respiration system. Worker safety issues would have to be sorted out in procedure and even in the design of the greenhouse. But it you could get tomatoes every 30 days as a result, the effort might be worthwhile. I must find out how I can get a government grant.

Carbon Dioxide makes up 0.039% of our Atmosphere. Some of the supporting data in this study suggests that humans can tolerate up to 3 or 4% with little to no issues

Storm and Giannetta [14] had 6 participants breathe 4% CO2, for 14 days and found no effects on complex tracking, eye–hand coordination, and problem solving.

http://www.ciop.pl/21104

Four percent is a 10000% increase over atmospheric levels. I'm sure lawyers would be all over you if some type of workplace accident happened, but the science shows that a 1000% increase should be completely safe.


Edit

It looks like OSHA is more strict than i would have expected. (The study that I cited feels these levels should be re-evaluated)

normal outdoor level: 350 - 450 ppm
ASHRAE and OSHA standards: 1000 ppm
maximum allowed concentration within a 8 hour working period: 5000 ppm

build your greenhouse in another country