Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Pro 66 system
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FIGURE 6.8
Pro 66 System of PVC pipe NFT by North American Hydroponics
holds 66 plants. (Courtesy of North American Hydroponics, LLC, Granite Falls,
Washington.)
increased in size to support the additional plant sites. This system is best
for growing lettuce and herbs.
EBB AND FLOW WATER CULTURE SYSTEMS
An ebb and flow system floods the plant roots from below and then drains
back to a nutrient reservoir (Figure 6.9). This is not a continuous flow sys-
tem as is the NFT, but operates on four to eight cycles per day depending
upon environmental conditions and plant growth. A submersible pump in a
reservoir below periodically floods a bedding tray aerating the plant roots
as the solution enters and drains back to the reservoir (Figure 6.10). The
plants sit in a tray insert having holes in it to hold either rockwool blocks
or growing pots where the plants are seeded or transplanted into a perlite
or gravel medium. If rockwool blocks are placed in the plant sites this sys-
tem is water culture; however, if pots with a substrate are used it is really
soilless culture.
American Hydroponics makes several models, the One Tray Econo
System and Two Tray Econo System that are priced at $400 to $600. A
galvanized steel table frame supports one or two 3 × 3 feet black ABS
plastic trays. A 30-gallon reservoir with a cover sits below on a shelf of the
frame. A submersible pump in the reservoir pumps up the nutrient solu-
tion through a plastic pipe to the flood (bedding) tray. A timer operates
the pump. A Gro Well insert accessory is available that is a custom built
insert with thirty-six 1½-inch wells designed for use with rockwool cubes.
