Hydroponics NUTRIENT FILM TECHNIQUE (NFT)

Eric  Cook  

ericccook@yahoo.com  

eccook@Alaska.edu  

907-­‐460-­‐1316  

1

Elements of Hydroponic Systems u Water Delivery System

u Nutrient Injection System

u Media – Something to hold the roots

u Irrigation Catchment

http://hydroponicssystems.co/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/NFT-hydroponics-systems.png

2

Nutrient Film Technique (NFT)

u  The water is pumped from a main tank and distributed

u  Continuous flow of nutrient solution to roots

u  The water gravity drains back to the tank

u  Continuously recycled nutrient solution

http://www.simplyhydro.com/images/content/nft.gif

3

Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) – Water Delivery System u  Holding Tank with aeration and heating or

cooling – control root zone temp

u  Automatic Fill/ Float Valve

u  Pump

u  Filters and Clean outs

u  Distribution Lines

u  Emitters(6 gph is good) with small hoses

u  Tray to hold plants

u  Frame to hold trays – angled for flow

u  Drain pipes

u  Flows back to your Tank http://www.hydroworld.co.za/index_htm_files/78.jpg

4

Example NFT System 5

Cooling, Heating and Aeration 6

Float Valve – for constant tank fill 7

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61PPkLu-abL._SY355_.jpg

http://www.leaderproducts.com.au/images/119.jpg

External Pump or Submersible Pump 8

http://ecx.imagesamazon.com/images/I/619jnFYOkdL._SL1200_.jpg

Screen or Disk Filters 9

http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NjAwWDYwMA==/z/U~gAAMXQhpdRnpBp/$T2eC16N,!zoE9s5nd9!DBRnpBoK!t!~~60_35.JPG

http://www.netafimusa.com/files/images/landscape/manual-filters/manual-filter-mode.jpg

http://www.dripirrigation.com/system/pgphotos/130/tdsphoto/Drip-irrigation-filter.gif?1299720240

Distribution Lines, 6gph Emitter 10

https://www.cropking.com/sites/default/files/styles/340x340/public/EMI1001.png?itok=9NyrJCH-

Growing Trays 11

Trays Spaced 16” apart on center, alternating hole positions

12

Seedling grown for 15 -25 days before being put on the system

13

Drain Pipes 14

Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) – Fertilizer Delivery System u  Stock Tanks

u  Nutrient Solutions

u  Acid or Base for pH Adjustment

u  Injection or Dosing System

u  Controller

u  Monitoring probes for EC and pH

http://www.hidhut.com/images/minifertigator.jpg

15

Three Stock Tanks (Acid is behind in the picture)

16

Fertilizer: Tank 1 - everything without nitrogen

Lettuce Formula Magnesium Sulfate

17

Fertilizer: Tank 2 – Calcium Nitrate & Potassium Nitrate

Calcium Nitrate Potassium Nitrate

18

Small Pump to Mix the Concentrated Nutrient Solution Tanks

19

What can you use to adjust pH?

u  Diluted Sulfuric Acid - Battery Acid – lower pH

u  pH Down - Phosphoric Acid – lower pH

u  PH Up - Potassium Hydroxide & Potassium Carbonate – raise pH

u  Potassium Phosphate – raise pH

20

http://www.powergrowsystems.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/650x650/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/g/e/general_hydroponics_phkit.jpg

Peristaltic Pump Dispenser – Injects Stock Solution

http://californiawarewashinglaundryservice.com/resources/_wsb_508x348_OPP.jpg

21

Peristaltic Triple Pump

u  Two Pumps for fertilizer

u  Third Pump injects acid or base

http://www.ehydroponics.com/upload/product/large/2522-american-hydroponics-peristaltic-triple-pump-id-amp-nd1.jpg

22

Controller

u  If you don’t have a automatic Controller, then you are the controller.

u Directs Dosing when pH or EC of out of range

23

Temperature, pH, EC Probes

http://agrowtek.com/images/content/GC-Pro_Hydro_main.jpg

http://www.hannainst.com/images/imgHI_1285-5_lg.jpg

24

 Nutrient Film Technique – Media - Desirable and essential characteristics u  Holds the Roots

u  Doesn’t brake apart and clog the system

u  Sterile – clean and sanitary

u  Neutral – doesn’t give or take nutrients or change pH

25

Nutrient Film Technique - Media Options u  Rockwool

u  Sure to Grow

u  Oasis

u  Expanded clay pellets in baskets

u  Gravel in Baskets

u  Anything big enough to not clog the system and inert

26

Rockwool 27

Sure to Grow 28

Oasis 29

What Can You Grow?

u  Lettuce

u  Sweet Basil

u  Thai Basil

u  Water Cress

u  Other Salad Greens, Mustards

u  Spinach – under short day – sporadic, more difficult

u  Others

30

http://www.floressencetea.com/mm5/graphics/Articles/Watercress.jpg

Variety Selection: Lettuce

Summer

u  Tip Burn resistant – non-central head forming varieties

u  Full Sized Varieties – mini’s seem to tip burn more often u Oak Leaf u Great Green Rapids u Lollo u Summer Crisp – Teide and Muir u Salanova Incised u Salanova Sweet Crisp

Winter

u Low light performance

u Compact, but fast growing

u Lollo

u Romaine

u Summer Crisp

u Multileaf u Butterhead

u Salanova Sweet Crip

31

Winter and Summer Lettuce Varieties u  In a Nutshell: u  Central head forming varieties are more likely to tip burn than loose

leaf varieties. u  Full sized varieties are less likely to tip burn and Mini or Baby

varieties. u  Fast growing Great Green Rapids and Oakleaf get lanky in the

winter under low light.

u  Varieties that tip burn or bolt the least under high temperature and long day conditions and have good production are recommended for the summer.

  u  Varieties that bulk up well with good yields and compact, non-

floppy form are recommended for the winter.

32

Winter, Fall, Spring (Seed Dates: Aug 1 to Mar 15) Varieties for best yield and quality in low light situations Best u  Green Lollo Livigna

u  Green Multileaf Multy

u  Red Summercrisp Teide*

u  Red Summercrisp Cherokee

u  Green Summercrisp Nevada

u  Romaine Coastal Star

u  Romaine Green Forest

Good

u  Red Lollo Revolution(doesn’t bulk up the best at times)

33

Summer (Seed Dates: Mar 15 -Aug 1) Varieties for long days and high temperatures Best u  Great Green Rapids Tropicana* u  Great Green Rapids Two Star u  Great Green Rapids Green Star u  Red Oakleaf Roxai* u  Red Oakleaf Oscarde

u  Green Oakleaf Panisse* Good u  Red Summercrisp Teide (some tipburn at times) u  Red Summercrisp Cherokee (some tipburn at times)

u  Green Lollo Livigna u  Red Lollo Revolution (some tipburn at times) u  Romaine Coastal Star*(some tipburn at times) u  Romaine Green Forest (some tipburn at times)

34

Oakleaf 35

Romaine and Summer Crisp

u  Romaine – Costal Star, Green Forest

u  Summer Crisp – Cherokee, Nevada

36

Sweet Basil 37

Thai Basil 38

Thanks for coming! 39