hydroponic systems
Buckets with underflow connector tubing are needed for larger plants .
PRODUCTION ADVANTAGES WITHIN THESE WATER CULTURE SYSTEMS
It is due to the high concentration of oxygen in the nutrient water that most water culture systems exercise superiority over other systems using grow media . The roots are immersed in and saturated with nutrified and oxygenated water all the time . Properly balanced and maintained RDWC systems will provide maximum yield . With well-oxygenated root systems , the plant can convert sugars and starch into energy for plant vigor . Though photosynthesis occurs only during daylight hours for a plant , respiration occurs ( and needs to occur ) all the time . Therefore , it is the recirculating water culture systems that will typically dominate this category . It becomes easier to boost oxygen levels and keep it that way for a large number of plants . Root volume and water uptake requirements are primarily determined by plant transpiration demand . So , the amount of light provided is also a major contributor to obtaining greater production . So , which of these WC systems will be more productive than the other ? It is clear that most static systems are going to be limited in the capacity to provide concentrated amounts of oxygen and nutrient continuously . The NFT and four-inch PVC recirculating systems are appropriate for smaller plants and , if designed properly , are capable of providing just as great a concentration of oxygen and nutrient as the other systems . The single-bucket DWC system can also provide these concentrations , but may be cumbersome to maintain proper levels if a large number of plants are involved . The RDWC underflow system would be the choice for a greater number of large mature plants , while the top feeding would be optimum for seedlings and younger plants . With all the DWC systems ( except static ), a well-designed and properly maintained system will be capable of producing maximum crop yield over basic grow media techniques .
“ PROPERLY BALANCED AND MAINTAINED RDWC SYSTEMS WILL PROVIDE MAXIMUM YIELD .”
48 Maximum Yield USA | February 2017