Fig. 2.

Workflow for growing plants in 2D pouch system. Soybean seeds are germinated in vertically stacked germination paper sitting in water. After germination, 5 uniformly growing seedlings are selected and transplanted into the 2D pouches. The pouch growth system is a 16 × 16 inch sandwich with an outermost layer of moisture-resistant, thin, flexible, and clear polyester film followed by a layer of black filter paper for enhanced contrast between the roots and the background, 3 layers of brown germination paper saturated with nutrient solution, and a bottom layer consisting of a 0.125″ thick perforated polypropylene plastic sheet to provide rigidity to the pouch with perforations, enabling better nutrient and O₂ provision to the roots. Subsequently, the 2D pouches are placed in hanging folders suspended in a hydroponic tank filled with 125 L of aerated nutrient solution for growth.