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These systems can be further categorized and are differentiated in two groups based on the delivery method of the nutrient solution to the plants, open and closed irrigation. Open systems provide fresh nutrient solution each irrigation cycle, such as: drip systems and hand watering, excess nutrient solution is not captured and reused. Whereas in closed irrigation systems the same nutrient solution is recirculating while being monitored and adjusted accordingly, systems include aeroponics, nutrient film technique, and deep-water culture.

v  In most hydroponic systems maintaining adequate pH levels are of high priority. Acid or bases are used to adjust pH as needed along with liquid oxygen or an air pump is used to ensure the plants are getting sufficient oxygen as well as maintaining pH for nutrients to be more bioavailable for the plants to take up.

Ebb and Flow:

Ebb and flow hydroponics involves a receded table that has Dutch buckets (or regular pots) filled with inert media, such as rockwool, and desired crop. The table is linked to a water reservoir and pump to periodically add nutrient solution into the growing bed of the table. The table is generally a few inches deep, ~1-2 in, just enough to flood the entire bottom portion of the growing medium with water/nutrients that will be absorbed through capillary reaction until the water holding capacity of the medium is met and then slowly drains back into the reservoir. This cycle happens several times throughout the day depending on crop water/fertilizer regime and substrate water/nutrient holding capacity. For commercial use, the water will typically go through a treatment process to reduce the chances of disease and viruses. In a paper written by Geilfus in 2019, he lists the advantages and disadvantages of this production system. The advantages mentioned were that ebb and flow systems scale well, supply sufficient water for water-craving plants, and is also energy efficient when compared to other hydroponic production styles. Some disadvantages Geilfus mentioned were susceptibility to power outage/timer failures, the need for high reservoir capacity, and high volumes of nutrients for solution are needed.

Aeroponics:

v  As mentioned above, aeroponics is a system where the roots of the plant are suspended in air and are intermittently sprayed with oxygen-rich nutrient solution. Often plants are supported with the use of an inert and porous substrate such as hydroton. In 2017 Alshrouf et. al did a meta comparison of various hydroponic-like systems and how they compare to conventional field cultivation, what they found about aeroponics respectively was an astonishing reduction of water usage (approximately 98%), a decrease in fertilizer usage (approximately 60%), and a plummeting drop in pesticide usage; all while maximizing crop yields. Although aeroponics seem to be very efficient, it comes at a cost, it is not as forgiving as conventional hydroponics let alone soil. Whereas soil and some soilless media provide a buffer for things such as pH, nutrients, water, cations, etc... aeroponics provides zero buffer and the slightest power outage or miscalculated nutrient dose could potentially wipe out your crops or drastically reduce yields. Generally, components of an aeroponic system include a nutrient solution reservoir with an oxygen pump that is then propelled through PVC pipe and delivered to the plant via misting nozzles. These nozzles can range from small to larger for different spray patterns, measured in microns. Once the nutrient mist is done spraying, the plant will uptake as much nutrients as it can, and the rest will drip down and be drained back into the nutrient reservoir to be reused. This system can be automated once the correct procedure and calculations have been dialed in, regular check-ups and monitoring of plant health is necessary to ensure things are running properly.

NFT:

Nutrient film technique (NFT) has plants transplanted into inclined channels/gullies using an inert substrate such as oasis. The seedlings themselves are started in these inert substrates and then placed into these channels once germinated; the channels themselves do not have any type of substrate, they are there so that there is enough support to hold the plants in place and upright. Some channels can be lined with a film, but often are not, extruded food-grade PVC channels are an example material used for these channels, having no film lining to them. Oxygenated nutrient solution is passed through these channels to provide adequate resources for the roots and plant and then drained to be treated and reused. In Marijuana Grower’s Bible John Cervantes explains the importance of proper gully incline in relation to volume and airflow of nutrient solution; these are key aspects for optimizing a successful seed to harvest crop rotation. He then further explains that these gullies are usually covered to maintain high humidity and proper photo-protection for the roots against varying outside light sources. This system excels at water use efficiency, being light weight (which makes it easy to clean/move) and is generally placed at waist height to avoid uncomfortable maintenance of the plants. Like aeroponics, if the power were to go out there is a high probability that a problem could arise in your crops due to plants drying out and becoming quickly drought stressed. NFTs are still generally more reliable than aeroponics. A research article focused on commercial application of NFT production of lettuce and celery, written by Mohammed et al in 2016, stated that a major benefit of having a smaller system such as NFTs in comparison to other production styles is that you are able to utilize the space more efficiently creating a small but dense environment that can be promising for producers with a smaller budget/location.

DWC:

Deep water culture (DWC) utilizes polystyrene rafts with drilled holes that float on top of a bed of water mixed with nutrients, so that the roots are always submerged in solution. Similarly, to aeroponics and NFT systems, an inert substrate, such as rockwool, is used to start seedlings/cuttings and when transplanted into the system helps support the plant. A large reservoir of nutrient filled water is used and can be tens of gallons depending on the scale of operation. The water should be filled so that the polystyrene rafts are floating above with space left over for root growth and breathability. In a draft chapter from Ball Redbook 2021, written by Neil Mattson from Cornell University, explained that in DWC systems the roots of the plants do not get as tangled with adjacent plants in the same system, unlike in nutrient film technique, granting DWC the advantage of respacing plants if needed during the crop cycle to give more growing room. Since there is a large sum of aerated, nutrient filled water at the plant’s disposal, it has a more stable approach to electrical outages and can be the main reason that the crop survives a bad storm or other electrical scares. Although there are a lot of benefits from this system there are also downfalls, such as, algal growth in the reservoir and rips/tears in the reservoir lining which can cause crop loss and major water loss.

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