FABRICATION AND PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF DIFFERENT HYDROPONIC SYSTEM UNDER PROTECTED STRUCTURES
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Date
2018
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Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Raipur
Abstract
Hydroponic culture is possibly the most intensive method of crop production in today’s agriculture industry. In combination with greenhouses or protective covers, it uses advanced technology and is capital intensive. It is highly productive, conservative of water and land, and protective of the environment. There has been increasing interest in the use of hydroponic or soilless techniques for producing greenhouse horticultural crops. The future growth of hydroponics depends greatly on the development of systems of production which are competitive in costs with systems of open field agriculture.
Present study was carried out for Fabrication and Performance Evaluation of Different Hydroponic System under Protected Structures at the centre of excellence on protected cultivation and precision farming (CoE-PCPF), College of Agriculture, IGKV, Raipur (C.G.) during the year 2017-18. The experiment was laid out with six treatments T1 (A-frame PVC pipe), T2 (A-frame UPVC pipe), T3 (A-frame CPVC pipe), T4 (U shape PVC pipe), T5 (U shape UPVC pipe), T6 (U shape CPVC pipe) of hydroponic system. The transplanting of seedlings of lettuce and leafy garlic was done in perforated net pots with a media of coco-pit and vermiculite in 3:1 proportion and clay pellets. Irrigation was applied to the crop by ebb flow technique. The pH and EC of the hydroponic solution were maintained in the range of 5.5 to 6.5 and 1.5 to 2.5 dS/m respectively in the tank.
For applying the water and nutrients solution into the structure, the Ebb and Flow system has been followed. These system is works by temporarily flooding the grow channel with nutrient solution and then draining the solution back into the reservoir. This action is normally done with a submerged pump that is connected to a timer. When the timer turns the pump on nutrient solution is pumped into the grow tray and when it shuts the pump off the nutrient solution flows back into the reservoir. The setting of timer is depending upon the size and type of plants, temperature and humidity and the type of growing medium used. The Ebb & Flow is a versatile system that can be used with a variety of growing mediums.
Hydroponic system in the present study has been fabricated with the help of locally available material which reduced cost of construction substantially. Few specific things which are not easily available in local market viz net pots, clay pellets etc. have been procured thorough online marketing.
Effects of material on the growth of plants and EC and pH level of nutrient solution have also been studied and it is found than material has a very little or no effect on the growth as well as EC and pH aspects of nutrient solution at least in the first year of cultivation which might be changed in later years. Appearance wise good and moderately costlier UPVC pipes can be a better option for the design and construction of commercial hydroponic systems.
A lot of works can be done in the field of hydroponic systems as this technique still is in nascent condition in India. Scientific research in this field is very essential for the wide spread adoption of this technique among urban people to fulfil their nutrient requirements as well as for conservation of vital natural resources. The present study opens the doors for such things to do in future.
Description
FABRICATION AND PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF
DIFFERENT HYDROPONIC SYSTEM UNDER PROTECTED
STRUCTURES
Keywords
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