Irrigation method in rockwool culture and nutrient solution flow in rockwool mat.

ABSTRACT The optimum flow rate of nutrient solution in hydroponic system can better nourish the crops, allowing healthy and faster growth of lettuce. However, flow also interferes with electric power consumption, so further researches are necessary, mainly on the effect of flow rate, nutrient accumulation and lettuce production. In this context, the aim of this study was to evaluate nutrition and production of head lettuce in relation to the nutrient solution flow in NFT hydroponic system. The treatments consisted of nutrient solution application at the flow rates 0.5; 1; 2, and 4 liters per minute in each cultivation channel. Five replicates per treatment consisted of 15 plants each. The flow in hydroponic systems to produce head lettuce alters the technical performance of the crop. Due to the greater nutrient accumulation in shoot and use efficiency of these elements, the highest production (g/plant) of head lettuce was obtained with a flow rate of 1 L/min of the nutrient solution.

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PERIODICITY OF EXPOSURE OF HYDROPONIC LETTUCE PLANTS TO NUTRIENT SOLUTION1

Revista Caatinga ◽

10.1590/1983-21252020v33n109rc ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 33 (1) ◽

pp. 81-89

Author(s):

CLEITON DALASTRA ◽

MARCELO CARVALHO MINHOTO TEIXEIRA FILHO ◽

PABLO FORLAN VARGAS

Keyword(s):

Nutrient Solution ◽

Block Design ◽

Nutrient Use Efficiency ◽

Production Costs ◽

Fresh Weight ◽

Solution Flow ◽

Nutrient Contents ◽

Randomized Block Design ◽

Nutrient Use ◽

Leaf Accumulation

ABSTRACT A balanced periodicity of the nutrient solution flow is essential for better agronomic performances and low production costs in hydroponic systems. Thus, the objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of periodicity of exposure of lettuce plants to the nutrient solution in an NFT hydroponic system on the production, nutrition, and profitability of this crop. The experiment was conducted in a randomized block design with five replications. The treatments consisted of four periodicities of exposure of lettuce plants to the nutrient solution, consisting of intervals of 60, 30, and 15 minutes between pumping periods of 15 minutes; and uninterrupted flow of the nutrient solution. The plants were harvested at 30 days after transplanting, and 15 lettuce plants of each experimental plot were used to determine total fresh weight; root fresh weight; shoot freshweight; and contents of N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, B, Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn in shoots, roots, and in the diagnostic leaf; accumulation of these nutrients in shoots and roots; and nitrate and ammonium contents in plant shoot. The highest production and profitability of lettuce were found using uninterrupted nutrient solution flow, which provided higher shoot and root nutrient contents to plants, and resulted in a better nutrient use efficiency.

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Turbulent Kinetic Energy Distribution of Nutrient Solution Flow in NFT Hydroponic Systems Using Computational Fluid Dynamics

AgriEngineering ◽

10.3390/agriengineering1020021 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 1 (2) ◽

pp. 283-290

Author(s):

Cesar H. Guzmán-Valdivia ◽

Jorge Talavera-Otero ◽

Omar Désiga-Orenday

Keyword(s):

Fluid Dynamics ◽

Kinetic Energy ◽

Energy Distribution ◽

Turbulent Kinetic Energy ◽

Nutrient Solution ◽

Kinetic Energy Distribution ◽

Solution Flow ◽

Flow Rates ◽

Hydroponic System ◽

Hydroponic Systems

Hydroponics is crucial for providing feasible and economical alternatives when soils are not available for conventional farming. Scholars have raised questions regarding the ideal nutrient solution flow rate to increase the weight and height of hydroponic crops. This paper presents the turbulent kinetic energy distribution of the nutrient solution flow in a nutrient film technique (NFT) hydroponic system using the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method. Its main objective is to determine the dynamics of nutrient solution flow. To conduct this study, a virtual NFT hydroponic system was modeled. To determine the turbulent kinetic energy distribution in the virtual NFT hydroponic system, we conducted a CFD analysis with different pipe diameters (3.5, 9.5, and 15.5 mm) and flow rates (0.75, 1.5, 3, and 6 L min−1). The simulation results indicate that different pipe diameters and flow rates in NFT hydroponic systems vary the turbulent kinetic energy distribution of nutrient solution flow around plastic mesh pots.

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EFFECT OF NUTRIENT SOLUTION FLOW INTERVAL ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF LETTUCE (Lactuca sativa) GROWN IN HYDROPONICALLY DEEP FLOW TECHNIQUE

AGROSCRIPT Journal of Applied Agricultural Sciences ◽

10.36423/agroscript.v1i1.192 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 1 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Suci Sapta Ningrum ◽

Ismail Saleh ◽

Dodi Budirokhman

Keyword(s):

Plant Height ◽

Nutrient Solution ◽

Lactuca Sativa ◽

Continuous Flow ◽

Block Design ◽

Growth And Yield ◽

Solution Flow ◽

Nutrient Flow ◽

Deep Flow Technique ◽

Hydroponic Systems

Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) is one of the vegetables that are commonly cultivated by using hydroponic systems. Some hydroponic systems require high current expenses in particular for the electricity in order to circulate nutrient solution e.g. in the water culture system – deep flow technique (DFT) -. Electricity costs can be reduced by changing from continuous nutrient flow to intermittent nutrient flow. The aim of this research was to investigate the effect of interval nutrient flow on growth and yield of lettuce. The experiment was conducted in Cirebon from February to April 2018. The experiment was arranged by using randomized complete block design with four treatments: (i) continuous nutrient flow (control), intermittent nutrient flow (nutrient flow during (ii) 15 minutes, (iii) 30 minutes, and (iv) 45 minutes). For each intermittent treatment, the nutrient flow was interrupted for 60 minutes. Each treatment was repeated four times. The result showed nutrient flow interval affected to plant height, shoot diameter, and leaf area at 35 days after planting (DAP). Meanwhile, leaves number, root volume, and fresh weight of harvested crops were not significantly different in all nutrient interval treatments. The highest plant height and shoot diameter were detected in the treatment (ii) nutrient flow during 15 minutes and interruption for 60 minutes, the results were not significantly different to the control – continuous flow treatment. It can be concluded the interval nutrient flow can be used as an alternative of the continuous flow of nutrient solution in hydroponically DFT.

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Effect of the Flow Rate on Plant Growth and Flow Visualization of Nutrient Solution in Hydroponics

Horticulturae ◽

10.3390/horticulturae7080225 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (8) ◽

pp. 225

Author(s):

Bateer Baiyin ◽

Kotaro Tagawa ◽

Mina Yamada ◽

Xinyan Wang ◽

Satoshi Yamada ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Plant Growth ◽

Flow Pattern ◽

Nutrient Solution ◽

Flow Rate ◽

Crop Production ◽

Solution Flow ◽

Specific Flow ◽

Image Velocimetry ◽

Swiss Chard ◽

The Ideal

In hydroponics, the flow pattern of nutrient solution in a cultivation container affects the growth of plants. Even if the flow rate of nutrient solution is the same between containers, the flow pattern may differ based on the size and shape of the containers. Therefore, the flow pattern cannot be comprehensively described by flow rate alone. In order to identify the relationship between plant growth, root morphology, nutrient uptake, and flow pattern, a hydroponic cultivation of Swiss chard was carried out. In addition, in order to describe the flow pattern in a specific cultivation container, hydroponic flow patterns were observed via flow field visualization using particle image velocimetry. As a result, with the increase in flow rate, it was found that a specific flow rate can form an ideal flow pattern for plant growth. Under this flow pattern, nutrient absorption is promoted and roots are elongated, thereby absorbing more nutrients and further promoting plant growth. However, when the flow rate exceeds the ideal value, plant growth is hindered. In summary, identifying the ideal nutrient solution flow pattern in hydroponics can facilitate better crop production.

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Irrigation Method of Nutrient Solution Affect Growth and Yield of Paprika 'Veyron' Grown in Rockwool and Phenolic Foam Slabs

Korean Journal of Horticultural Science and Technology ◽

10.7235/hort.2013.12179 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 31 (2) ◽

pp. 179-185 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Kwang Soo Kim ◽

Yong Beum Lee ◽

Seung Jae Hwang ◽

Byoung Ryong Jeong ◽

Chul Geon An

Keyword(s):

Nutrient Solution ◽

Growth And Yield ◽

Irrigation Method ◽

Phenolic Foam

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The Study of Turbulent Nutrient Solution Flows in Difference Hydroponics System Arrangements

Applied Mechanics and Materials ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amm.866.88 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 866 ◽

pp. 88-91

Author(s):

Anchasa Pramuanjaroenkij ◽

Nantana Dabut ◽

Sompong Sutti ◽

Anon Sanboon

Keyword(s):

Heat Transfer ◽

Pump Power ◽

Turbulent Flow ◽

Nutrient Solution ◽

Solution Flow ◽

Ambient Temperatures ◽

Lower Productivity ◽

Individual Solution ◽

Hydroponic Systems ◽

Sunlight Intensity

This work studied the turbulent flow of the nutrient solution which affected the growth of plants in four hydroponic systems; the horizontal (traditional), the vertical cup-grown, the ladder and the droplet systems, which were connected with individual solution pumps which submerged in only one nutrient solution tank to supply the turbulent nutrient solution flow to all systems. Two experiments were done by planting Red Oak lettuce, fluid and ambient temperatures, fluid pH and sunlight intensity were measured 2 times a day from 4 systems placed in the same area and environment during 20 days of the experimental periods. From both result sets, the lower ambient and solution temperatures in the 2nd experiment yielded more productivity. The results also showed that adjusting pipe and hose sizes did not cause the nutrient solution overflow out of the systems, the turbulent flow occurred and the horizontal system could produce the highest productivity. However, the higher pump power was required to produce the turbulent solution, the higher pump power higher heat transfer from the pump to the nutrient solution in the tank since all pumps were placed in the same solution tank, this heated solution caused the lower productivity in this work.

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