Good point! This might also simplify the logistics of removing and discarding 120 kg of plant matter each month (or at least you’ll be getting a much larger benefit from all that effort). I guess it’s also a little bit pessimistic in terms of not counting any indigestible calories, but I think it’s a very nice way to think about it. (I might add this to the post, can I credit you?)
I suspect the biggest disadvantage of doing it this way is that it limits in terms of the species of plants you might use. Ideally, what you want is some species of plant that simultaneously:
Has very high photosynthetic photon flux density.
Has a high ratio of carbon / dry plant matter (although this varies little between plants).
Has a low ratio of water / dry plant matter.
Spends a low percentage of synthesized glucose on respiration / maintenance and a high percentage on creating more plant mass.
Is logistically easy to prune / discard.
I’m not sure what would satisfy this. Maybe some kind of grass, with some kind of automated mower? It’s an interesting problem.
Edit: Another advantage of grass would be that you could perhaps cut it and let it dry before removing, which would reduce by ~80% the amount of mass you need to discard. At least if you’re OK with lots of extra humidity in the room. And assuming it doesn’t decompose much while drying...
Good point! This might also simplify the logistics of removing and discarding 120 kg of plant matter each month (or at least you’ll be getting a much larger benefit from all that effort). I guess it’s also a little bit pessimistic in terms of not counting any indigestible calories, but I think it’s a very nice way to think about it. (I might add this to the post, can I credit you?)
I suspect the biggest disadvantage of doing it this way is that it limits in terms of the species of plants you might use. Ideally, what you want is some species of plant that simultaneously:
Has very high photosynthetic photon flux density.
Has a high ratio of carbon / dry plant matter (although this varies little between plants).
Has a low ratio of water / dry plant matter.
Spends a low percentage of synthesized glucose on respiration / maintenance and a high percentage on creating more plant mass.
Is logistically easy to prune / discard.
I’m not sure what would satisfy this. Maybe some kind of grass, with some kind of automated mower? It’s an interesting problem.
Edit: Another advantage of grass would be that you could perhaps cut it and let it dry before removing, which would reduce by ~80% the amount of mass you need to discard. At least if you’re OK with lots of extra humidity in the room. And assuming it doesn’t decompose much while drying...