Urban farming with hydroponics

URBAN
FARMING WITH
HYDROPONICS
By:
Dr. Hamed Faghiri
(Charley)
2019
1

INTRODUCTION
2
© 2018 HAMED FAGHIRI (CHARLEY) ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

What does come to your mind when
you see the word agriculture?
Agriculture
Intensive
Modern
Chemical
Investment
Food
Urban
Organic
GMO
Waste
Sustainable
Pesticide
Traditional
3

What is
Agriculture?
4
Agriculture defines as the science, art, or occupation concerned
with cultivating land, raising crops, and feeding, breeding, and
raising livestock; farming.
Science, art, nature, experience, investment and etc.
There are plenty of the methods and techniques involve in
agriculture in all around the world.
Agriculture is the first step of the health chain which begins by
food
Each agriculture methods and techniques has its own advantages
and disadvantages
Many of the methods and techniques are not applicable in all
parts of the world even they show the good results in particular
places.

Can We?
Provide a
sustainable, safe
and abundant food
and water supply
for 10 billion
people?
Repair Earth’s
damaged
ecosystems,
increase the
agricultural
products, and
creating more jobs
AND
5

GLOBAL FOOD AND
AGRICULTURE
CHALLENGES
6

Depleting Fresh-water Sources
Challenge:
80% of all freshwater is used in agriculture
7

Population Growth & Urbanization
Challenges:
Growing cities
80% urban population by 2050
Increasing demand for food in cities
8

Billion
People
Not including grazing
lands
Agricultural
Footprint
7
9

World Population Growth
0
2
4
6
8
10
Billion
Developing
Regions
Industrialized Regions
1750 1800 1850 1900 1950 2000 2050
Sources: United Nations Population Division and Population References Bureau, 1993
By theyear 2050 thehuman population will
increase by another 3 billion individuals
10

3
Billion
People
7
Billion
People
Forecasting Agriculturally Driven Global Environmental
Change
David
Tilman, etal. SCIENCE
Vol 292—April, 2001
Agricultural
Footprint
+
11

Negative Effects of Agriculture
Challenges:
Pesticide and chemical use
Agricultural runoff Ocean
Acidification
12

Food Transport
Challenges:
Food Waste (1/3)
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Damaging the whole environment and nature
13

Can We?
Provide a
sustainable, safe
and abundant food
and water supply
for 10 billion
people?
Repair Earth’s
damaged
ecosystems,
increase the
agricultural
products, and
creating more jobs
AND
14

WE CAN AND WE DO
IT BY
URBAN FARMING
15

SOME OF THE AGRICULTURE
METHODS
DEFINITION, ADVANTAGES,
DISADVANTAGES
16

Modern/ Intensive Agriculture
Intensive farming is the latest technique
used to yield high productivity by keeping
large number of livestock indoors and using
excessive amount of chemical fertilizers on
a tiny acreage. It is carried out to meet the
rising demand for cheap food and prevent
future shortages.
Intensive farming is an agricultural system
that aims to get maximum yield from the
available land. This farming technique is
also applied in supplying livestock. You
could say that under this technique, food is
produced in large quantities with the help
of chemical fertilizers and pesticides that
are appropriately used to save such
agricultural land from pests and crop
diseases.
17

Advantage
of Modern/
Intensive
Agriculture
◦ High yield.
◦ It helps the farmer to easily supervise and monitor the land and
protect his livestock from being hurt or hounded by dangerous
wild animals.
◦ Less expensive products.
◦ Aids in solving the worldwide hunger problems to a great extent.
This means that common people can now afford a balanced
and nutritious diet.
◦ The space, equipment, and other requirements for farming are
less and more economical.
◦ The EPA (Environment Protection Agency) has set certain rules
and regulations on how livestock, pesticides, and animal
manure are to be maintained. The farmers, who follow these set
rules help to provide an affordable, safe, and healthy produce
to all alike.
◦ Another advantage is that large productivity of food is possible
with less amount of land. This leads to economies of scale and
directly contributes towards meeting the ever-growing demand
for food supplies.
18

Disadvantage
of Modern/
Intensive
Agriculture
◦ Intensive farming involves the use of various kinds of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and
insecticides. Apart from this, it is also associated with farms that keep livestock above
their holding capacity, which in turn leads to pollution, various diseases, and infections
brought about by overcrowding and poor hygiene.
◦ Reports and studies reveal that intensive farming affects and alters the environment in
multiple ways. Forests are destroyed to create large open fields, and this could lead to
soil erosion. It affects the natural habitat of wild animals. Use of chemical fertilizers
contaminates soil and water bodies, such as lakes and rivers.
◦ Pesticides sprayed on crops not only destroy pests and contaminate the crops, but also
kill beneficial insects. Heavy use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers also affects the
workers (who spray the pesticides) and the people residing nearby. Eventually, these
chemicals are passed on to human beings, who consume the agricultural produce.
◦ Fruits and vegetables purchased from farms that promote intensive farming are covered
with invisible pesticides. These cannot be washed off easily. Exceeding the use of
pesticides affects the health of human beings severely, leading to skin allergy, physical
deformity, and congenital disease.
◦ Statistics show a direct relation between the consumption of food procured from
intensive farming sites and an increase in the number of cancer patients and children
born with defects. Researchers opine that consumption of inorganic poisonous
vegetables, fruits, poultry, and meat could probably be one of the reasons for causing
such damage in the human body.
◦ There are many hybrid varieties of livestock, plants, and poultry available today. The
livestock and poultry are injected with medicines and other chemicals to increase the
yield.
19

Traditional
Agriculture
◦ Traditional agriculture, the most practiced form
of agriculture around the world, became
commonplace following the two world wars, as
it was during that era that knowledge about
chemistry greatly increased. Traditional
agriculture is based on treating the soil and
plants with products that are more likely than
not noxious, and more likely than not
synthetically produced in a laboratory. These
products are used to prevent disease or pests
from blighting the plant.
20

Advantage
and
disadvantage
of Traditional
Agriculture
◦ Advantages:
◦ The crops are pure without fertilizers hence the crops are
fresher and it more healthy.
◦ They can be sold with a higher price as it is pure.
◦ The waste of the crops can be used as fertilizers for the soil
after decomposition.
◦ Disadvantages:
◦ Farmers in traditional farming have to spent mainly about
15 hours to harvest the crops compared to high-tech
farming.
◦ It takes a long time to harvest hence being sold more
expensive prices to earn back the time taken to mature
the crops.
◦ Soil is used in traditional farming. Hence, decomposition
takes up majority of the time. Also, this places the crops in
a high risk of getting soil disease.
◦ Pesticides are used to prevent pests from attacking the
crops. Hence, plants are not so healthy.
21

Sustainable
Agriculture
◦ Sustainable are farming practices that are
conducted with three main aims;
◦ Environmental conservation
◦ Economic profitability
◦ Social equity
◦ It can merely be referred to as responsible
farming.
◦ It is farming with a goal of obtaining better
yields and protecting the environment as well.
◦ This will support farming even in several years to
come.
22

Advantage
of the
Sustainable
Agriculture
◦ It does not advocate for the use of chemicals and commercial
fertilizers .
◦ This reduces certain harmful effects on the environment that can
pollute it.
◦ This preserves the natural ecosystem, thus, healthy produce.
◦ It promotes the culture of raising animals through feeding on
natural feeds.
◦ There is better protection of animal species, creating a natural
balance in the ecosystem.
◦ Farmers are able to bring up healthy animals.
◦ These can fetch the best prices in the market.
◦ Biodiversity is yet another advantage of sustainable agriculture.
◦ It advocates for the production of various kinds of plant and
animal species.
◦ Plants are cultivated in rotations.
◦ This leads to enriched soil and also prevention of the spread of
diseases and pests outbreaks.
23

Disadvantage
of the
Sustainable
Agriculture
◦ It limits the proper use of land.
◦ It also hinders the full exploitation of land, labor and
capital.
◦ This is because it advocates for the use of productive
resources sparingly.
◦ It is also hard to maintain the fertility of soil by simply
rotating crops.
◦ Income that is generated from farming is also very
limited due to sparingly use of land.
24

Organic
Agriculture
◦ is a method or in other term known production
systems used to produce food and fiber. It
involves much more than choosing not to use
pesticides, genetically modified organisms,
fertilizers, growth hormones and antibiotics.
◦ Organic farming is an ecological management
strategy to maintain and enhance the soil
fertility and prevent soil erosion.
◦ Organic farming promotes ecological balance
and conserves biodiversity.
25

Advantage
of the
Organic
Agriculture
◦ Farmers can reduce their production costs because they do not need to
buy expensive chemicals and fertilizers.
◦ Healthier farm workers.
◦ They improve plant growth and physiological activities of plants.
◦ In the long term, organic farms save energy and protect the environment.
◦ It can slow down global warming .
◦ There is an increasing consumer are willing to pay more for organic foods.
◦ Fewer residues in food.
◦ More animals and plants can live in the same place in a natural way. This is
called biodiversity.
◦ Pollution of ground water is stopped.
◦ They reduce the need for purchased inputs.
◦ Poison-free
◦ Food Tastes Better
◦ Food Keeps Longer
◦ Organic fertilizer is considered as complete plant food.
◦ Organic manures produce optimal condition in the soil for high yields and
good quality crops
26

Disadvantage
of the Organic
Agriculture
◦ Organic food is more expensive because farmers do
not get as much out of their land as conventional
farmers do. Organic products may cost up to 40%
more.
◦ Food illnesses may happen more often.
◦ Organic farming cannot produce enough food that
the world’s population needs to survive. This could
lead to starvation in countries that produce enough
food today.
27

HYDROPONIC
28

What's
hydroponics?
•Hydro : Water
•Ponos : Labor
Greek definition
•The science of growing plants in a medium
other than soil, using essential plant nutrient
elements dissolved in water.
Modern definition
•Completely water – Krathy / Deep Flow
Techniques
•Some media – Nutrient Film Techniques
•Complete media – dripping method / sub-
irrigation (flood & drain)
3 Main categories
29

Why hydroponics ?
Controlled environment
agriculture, whereby optimum
condition is given to support
plants' growth with specific
• Temperature
• Humidity
• Lighting condition
• Availability of nutrients
• Water
With objectives of
• Optimizing plants' growth to
achieve
• Higher yield per land area with
• Shortening harvesting time
• Multiple crops cycles
• Proximity to consumers' market
30

The hydroponic is
suitable for
◦ Suitable for:
◦ Highly suitable for commercial farming
◦ Veggies such as Lettuces, strawberry, herbs
◦ Fruit crops such as tomatoes, melons, chill
◦ Exotic flowers such as rose, marigold
◦ Clinical plants
◦ Is not suitable for:
◦ Roots such as carrots, potatoes, pumpkins, water melon, onions, bulbs
◦ Shrubs and tree...
◦ But there are alternative such as aeroponics and dripping methods
31

The
hydroponics
Pros & Cons
• No need to irrigate the plant manually
• No crop rotation
• No weeds
• Less fertilizer
• Tendency of uniformity
• Shorter crop duration
• Clean
• Less manpower needed
• Greater control
• Ease of starting off new plants
• Higher yield
• Lower operation cost
Advantages
• High startup cost
• Higher entry level – knowledge base industry
Disadvantages
32

What's the
core in
hydroponics?
◦ Lighting + Nutrient !
◦ Nutrient stock solution.
◦ A scientifically formulated solution composition for
growing plants. It provides every nutrient necessary for
plant growth and is adequate for most plants at all
stages.
◦ Supply a total of 13 elements, specially formulated (some
general application, some specified purposes) include
trace elements.
◦ Usually in concentrated solution form.
◦ Powder form can be found, but not so desirable.
33

The
essential of
plant
growth
Growing Media
Water
Mineral (fertilizer / nutrient)
Lighting
Oxygen / Carbon dioxide / Ethylene gas (CH4)
Humidity
Temperature
34

Growing media
or Soil ?◦ Understanding the role of soil :
◦ To hold and support the plant
◦ Provide necessary minerals / nutrient for growth
◦ Act as a “sponge” to store water & make available to plants
◦ Contents :
◦ Dust / stones / sands + minerals + micro-organisms
◦ Pro
◦ It's “free” and thus traditionally used
◦ Cons
◦ “Dirty” + Labor intensive
◦ Need to condition the soil (lime, compost, organic waste, etc)
◦ Time consuming + uncertainties + $$$
◦ Don't know what's in the soil - need analysis for fertility
◦ Can get over cropping – resulting in poor harvest
◦ Run-off is a common problem
◦ Weather dependent
◦ Diseases prone and hot bed for pests (insects' eggs)
◦ Non-homogenous - great uncertainties
◦ Nutrient get depleted over months / years of cultivation, especially in
potted plant
35

Alternate
growing
media
◦ Soil / dust : traditionally used
◦ Air : orchids / air plants /
aeroponics
◦ Water : lilies / duckweed / water
hyacinth
◦ Inert media
◦ Organic
◦ Peat moss / Coco peat
◦ Coconut husk
◦ Tree bark / wood
shaving
◦ Charcoal
◦ Inorganic
◦ Sand / gravel / small
pebbles
◦ LECA
◦ Rock wool
◦ Perlite / Vermiculite
◦ Synthetic
◦ Fibers
◦ Plastic Resin
36

water
◦ Role of water in plants :
◦ Water is a fluidic media that allow transportation of nutrients to various part of the plants
◦ It maintains the cell rigidity & turgidity for structural growth
◦ Serves as part of the 'raw material' necessary for photosynthesis & metabolism
◦ To protect & cool the plants against high temperature
◦ Water hardness :
◦ TDS – Total dissolved solids (salts) < 200 ppm
◦ A measurement on the amount of solids – be it organic or inorganic, that is dissolved in the water
◦ Dissolved element within water : calcium / chlorine / sodium (ground water), bicarbonates, sulfates +
organic matters
◦ Measurement by conductivity of water, readout in ppm
◦ Some data :
◦ City Tap water < 70 ppm
◦ Distilled water < 20 ppm
◦ RO (Reserve osmosis) < 0 ppm
◦ Seawater > 10,000 ppm
◦ WHO World health organization on Drinking water quality states that < 1000 ppm is acceptable, though
some taste might be present
37

Testing Water
quality
◦ Using an EC meter
◦ Pro
◦ Just read off
◦ Automatically temperature compensated
◦ Might comes with a pH reading too
◦ Cons :
◦ Cost - Price
◦ Only read off TDS
◦ Precaution :
◦ Need calibration every 12mths to ensure
accuracy
38

PH
A figure expressingthe
acidity or alkalinityof a
solution on a logarithmic
scale on which 7 is neutral,
lower values are more
acid and higher values
more alkaline.
39

Nutrients
◦ Minerals
◦ Sixteen plant food nutrients are essential for proper crop development. Each is
equally important to the plant, yet each is required in vastly different amounts.
Understanding their roles will play a part in diagnosing deficiency / over-dosing and
optimizing growth.
◦ Primary nutrients – needed in major quantity for growth
◦ Nitrogen / Phosphorus / Potassium
◦ N : P : K ratio
◦ Secondary nutrient – needed in lesser amount
◦ Calcium / Magnesium / Sulphur
◦ Micro-nutrients (< 3ppm or 3 mg / litres)
◦ Iron, Manganese, Copper, Zinc, Boron, Molybdenum, chlorine
◦ Others
◦ Oxygen, Carbon, hydrogen
40

◦ Nitrogen (N)
◦ This is by far considered the most important number when looking at the ratio.
Nitrogen is good for that green color that everyone wants for their lawn as it promotes
the growth of the leaves and part of chlorophyll, which is the green pigment of the
plant responsible for photosynthesis.
◦ Applying too much causes stress, burn or death of the lawn.
◦ Phosphorus (P)
◦ Phosphorus is needed for the photosynthesis, respiration, cell development. Promotes
early root formation & growth
◦ Vital to seeds formation & hasten maturity.
◦ Helps plants withstand stress.
◦ Potassium (K)
◦ Important for fruit formation.
◦ Activate enzymes and improve quality of seeds & fruits.
◦ Calcium (Ca)
◦ Utilized cell division & formation
◦ Improved in nitrogen metabolism
◦ Increase fruit setting, especially in tomatoes & peanuts.
◦ Magnesium (Mg)
◦ Key element of chlorophyll production.
◦ Improves phosphorus intake.
◦ Influences earliness & uniformity of maturity.
◦ Iron (Fe)
◦ Promotes formation of chlorophyll.
◦ Various iron source : Ferrous sulphate or Iron chelate : Fe-EDTA, Fe-DTPA, Fe-EDDHA
41

FUNCTIONALITY
OF MACRO
ELEMENTS
Elements Mobility Functionality
Nitrogen Mobile Component of proteins,
nucleic acids & chlorophyll
Phosphorous Mobile Present in nucleic acids & ATP
Potassium Mobile Activate enzymes in
photosynthesis & respiration,
ion transport & stomata
Calcium Immobile Cell wall component
Magnesium Mobile Part of chlorophyll molecule,
activate enzymes in
photosynthesis
Sulphur Immobile Important in proteins formation,
respiration & photosynthesis
42

FUNCTIONALITY
OF TRACE
ELEMENTS
Elements Mobility Functionality
Iron Immobile Chlorophyll synthesis,
enzymes
Copper Immobile Component of
enzymes, chlorophyll &
protein production,
respiration
Manganese Immobile Enzymes & chloroplast
Zinc Immobile Activates enzymes
Boron Immobile Cell wall & provide
structural integrity, cell
division & elongation
Molybdenu
m
Immobile Nitrogen fixation
43

Typical formulation
◦ Hoagland formulation (formulated by Hoagland & Amon in 1938s)
◦ N 210 ppm (Nitrate)
◦ K 235 ppm
◦ P 31 ppm
◦ Ca 200 ppm
◦ Mg 48 ppm
◦ S 64 ppm
◦ Trace elements
◦ B 0.5 ppm
◦ Fe 1 to 5 ppm
◦ Mn 0.5 ppm
◦ Zn 0.05 ppm
◦ Cu 0.02 ppm
◦ Mo 0.01 ppm
44

COMMERCIAL
FARMING –
FOR
REFERENCE
Vegetables EC (us/cm-1)
level
Fruiting veg /
Herbs
EC (us/cm-1)
level
Anti-choke 0.8 – 1.8 Okra 2.0 – 2.4
Beans 2.0 – 4.0 Strawberry 1.8 – 2.2
Broccoli 2.8 – 3.5 Tomato 1.8 – 5.0
Cabbage 2.5 – 3.0 Zucchini 1.8 – 2.4
Capsicum 1.8 – 2.2 Basil / Lemon
Balm
1.0 – 1.6
Cucumber 1.7 – 2.5 Mint 2.0 – 2.4
Egg plants 2.5 – 3.5 Parsley 0.8 – 1.8
Lettuce 0.8 – 1.2 Rosemary 1.0 – 1.6
Spinach 1.8 – 2.3 Thyme 0.8 – 1.6
45

Suggested nutrient level
◦ Suggested nutrient level (Base on our nutrient stock
solution of EC 1650uS/cm)
◦ Lettuce / Naibai : 0.8x
◦ Pakchoy / CaiXin : 1x
◦ Red Amaranth / Spinach : 1x
◦ Mint / Basil : 0.8x
◦ Parsley / Rosemary : 0.7x
◦ Eggplant : 1.5x
◦ Pepper Bell / Capsicum : 1.2x
◦ Okra / Ladies' finger : 1.25x
◦ Strawberry : 1.1x
46

Light
◦ The essential of all living things
◦ Light is necessary to support metabolism, photosynthesis & respiration
◦ For growth, cells development, transpiration, glucose food production & for flowering & fruiting
◦ Natural :
◦ Sunlight
◦ Open field, Greenhouse, Half-sheltered sheet
◦ Artificial :
◦ Indoor environment such as plant factory
◦ Autumn / Winter to compensate lack of sunlight
◦ Sources
◦ Traditionally : HID such as Sodium Lamp, Metal Halide
◦ Recent year : Full spectrum cold florescence lamp CFL, Light Emitting Diodes (Blue + Red + IR)
◦ Lack of light, and the plant will become
◦ Stem Leggy or lengthy
◦ Developed weak, long stem
◦ Leaves – pale green
◦ Will not bear flowers nor fruits
47

The correct
light spectrum
◦ Visible spectrum : 400 – 700nm
◦ Chlorophyll A : growth ~400-500nm
◦ Chlorophyll B : fruiting & flowering 640-680nm
◦ Artificial Light source
◦ Sodium lamp
◦ Metal Halide
◦ Full spectrum fluorescence lamp
◦ Overtaking by LEDs in the recent years
◦ Lamp distance usually < 15cm from plants
◦ Suitable either for smaller plants, or you need to
shift the lighting as the plants grow
◦ Wide diffusing angle + high heat emitting for
high wattage LEDs
48

THE
HYDROPONICS
METHODS
49

Configuration 1 :
Wick / krathy
◦ a. Simplest & cheapest method
◦ b. suitable for almost any plant
◦ c. any 'double-wall' container
◦ d. an 'older brother' of DFT
◦ Requirement
◦ 2 containers of almost same size
◦ supporting media: Soil or inert material : leca
◦ Nutrient water
◦ Variation
◦ Aeration, such as those airpot
◦ No wick
50

How ?
◦ You need :
◦ Netpot
◦ A bigger container that the netpot
can go in
◦ Inert media such as Leca / pebbles /
vermiculite / perlite
◦ Nutrient solution
51

Steps
◦ Transplant your desired plants by washing
away the soil
◦ Place it inside the netpot, and if possible,
allows some roots to pop out
◦ Cover up the plant with the inert media
◦ Place the netpot with plant inside your
desired container
◦ Fill the container with nutrient water till it
touches the root, or slightly above the base
of the netpot
52

Configuration 2 :
DFT / DWC
◦ An extension to Krathy method
◦ A commercial setup
◦ Commonly used for vegetable production,
with plants grown on Styrofoam
◦ Product cycle 4-6 weeks, not longer
53

Small scale setup
Commercial
Scale
setup
AgriGrow
Kathray Basic
kit
54

NURSERY
55

Commercial
DFT setup
◦ This technique allows planters to grow plants
without soil, relies mainly on aerated and
fertilized water, which ensures that the plants
receive proper oxygen and nutrition. Deep flow
techniques also aids in maintaining the
adequate temperature for the plants to thrive
in and develop. In some cases, PVC pipe tubes
are used to build this system.
◦ Commonly used in aquatic crops to ensure
that aquatic crops receive the adequate
nutrients. Often used in flooded, wet, warm
environments, the deep flow technique has
been shown to be particularly beneficial to
watercress, rice, and water chestnut, lettuces,
Chinese baicai, chye xi . This technique is also
used in regions where it is impossible or difficult
to grow fresh and leafy vegetables.
56

Configuration
3 :
Ebb & flow
method
(Flood &
drain)
◦ A sub-variety of DWC / DFT method, whereby a timer is used
◦ Majority different is in the flood & drain cycle, which can be in a
20-40min flood-drain cycle
◦ Timing cycle differ in the day & night, as plants need resting
during the night
◦ Allow oxygenation of the root zone during the dry cycle
◦ Suitable for bigger plants such as tomatoes, bell pepper, chilli,
melons
◦ Pro
◦ Open up to more plants varieties
◦ Suitable for fruiting plants
◦ Cons
◦ Need greater experience
◦ Greater cost as timer, electric valve & feedback system are
involved
57

58

Auto pot
◦ Auto irrigation system, allowing wet & dry
cycle
◦ Do not use any electricity, pump nor
pressurized water
◦ Simply work by gravity pressure
◦ Ingenious design via a smart valve -
“watering” the plant as-&-when it needs
◦ Works like our flashing system in washroom
◦ Pro
◦ Ease of setup, fast startup
◦ Minimum maintenance
◦ Ensure plants will get water
◦ Suitable for almost any plant !
◦ Con
◦ Cost
◦ Not precise
◦ Not quite suitable for commercial
59

AUTO POT
60

Configuration 4 :
Nutrient Film
Techniques (NFT)
◦ The NFT system is one of the most popular setup with home
hydroponic growers, mainly because of it's fairly simple
maintenance. However NFT systems can be a bit tricky in design.
◦ It is best suited for growing smaller quick growing plants like lettuce,
herbs and baby greens. Plants such as tomatoes, chilli, pepper bell,
etc that do not like too much water will find this system suitable
◦ Pro
◦ Lesser usage of water, saving up to more than 80% of the water
◦ Lesser maintenance needed
◦ Suitable for more plants
◦ Cons
◦ Higher entry level
◦ Slower growth as compared to DFT
◦ Catastrophe in the event of power failure !!
◦ Aeration required but not necessary
61

Nutrient Film
Techniques (NFT)
◦ The main characteristic design of an
N.F.T. System is that they all have a very
shallow nutrient solution cascading
downward through the channels
Where the bare roots of the plants
come in contact with the water, and
can absorb the nutrients from it.
◦ The major downside to an N.F.T. systems
is that the plants are very sensitive to
interruptions in the flow of water from
power outages (or whatever reason).
The plants will begin to wilt very quickly
any time the water stops flowing
through the system.
62

NUTRIENT
FILM
TECHNIQUES
(NFT)
63

Configuration
5 : Drip
system
◦ Commercial setup,
perfect by Israel
farmers.
◦ It feeds the plant as &
when it needs.
◦ Pro
◦ Minimum usage of
water
◦ Can grow almost
any plants
◦ Precise control of
feeds
◦ Con
◦ Need great
experience
64

Drip system
◦ Also known as trickling system or micro
irrigation system
◦ Widely used in outdoor garden to supply
nutrient to individual plants
◦ Designed to improve water efficiency
◦ Instead of spraying water to plants, it
uses emitters to discrete water in a slow
dripping manner
◦ Suitable for larger fruiting plants such as
◦ Melons
◦ Leek
◦ Peas
◦ Tomatoes
◦ Pumpkins
◦ Cucumber
◦ Radishes
◦ Zucchini
65

Configuration
6: Aeroponics
◦ Spray the water to the
root
◦ Pro
◦ Minimal usage of
water
◦ Can grow almost
any plants,
including rooting
vegetables such as
groundnuts,
potatoes, carrots
◦ Con
◦ Need great
experience
◦ Setup cost
◦ Maintenance cost :
Nozzle
66

Configuration
7: Hybrid
system
A : Aquaponics system : Ecosystem
where Fish + Plant coexist together
(Main focus is on the fish, not the
plants)
◦ Insufficient nutrient for the plants
to grow well
◦ Take longer to harvest as
compared to normal system
◦ Need to resolve ammonia
(mainly from fish / food wastes)
◦ Plants need more nitrate for
grown
◦ Using roots mat as filters
◦ Fish is the main asset, not the
plants
◦ Need to monitor water quality
such as pH, DO, EC
◦ Need to closely monitor
ammonia → nitrite → nitrate
cycle
67

Configuration
7: Hybrid
system
B : Deep flow + NFT
system
◦ A unique system
design whereby a
system can be switch
from DFT to NFT or
vice versa
68

STARTING YOUR FIRST
WATER CULTURE
GARDEN
69

Which system?
Kratky?
Deep Water
culture ?
NFT ? Dripping ? Aeroponics ?
Hybrid system
such as
Aquaponics ?
Deciding factors Cost
Scales – space
available
Type & amount
of plants desired
to harvest
What's needed Space Sunlight Nutrient Time & interest
70

Krathy / DWC
(Simplified)
◦ What do you needed
◦ Nutrient
◦ Supporting media such as Leca
◦ Containers / Reservoir
◦ Growth sponge
71

Fertilizer
◦ packed in 2 bottles of A & B instead of single bottle
◦ Consist of full 13 elements : 3 macro, 3 secondary, 7 micro
◦ Almost no impurities, depending on grade of the mineral
used
◦ Immediate uptake by plants
◦ Suitable for foliar application
◦ Suitable for both soil & water culture
◦ Usually comes in 100X concentration
◦ Higher grade enable 150X or even 200X
◦ => packing more in lesser volume
◦ Comes in liquid or power form
◦ A well formulated hydroponics stock solution will have the
following
◦ Suggested concentration
◦ Resultant EC @ specified temperature
◦ Balance pH
◦ Traceability
◦ Our nutrient offers
◦ 150:1 ratio
◦ EC of ~ 1650uS/cm @ 30 degree Celsius,
◦ pH 6.15
72

Q. I have a
reservoir of 42
liters volume.
How much
nutrient
should I used
to achieved
the said EC as
per label ?
◦ A1. Divide 42 liters by the concentration & you will
get the amount needed.
◦ Example : 42,000 ml / 150 = 280 ml
◦ Next, measure 280ml of stock solution A, and pour
into the 42 liters reservoir of water. Mixed well
before measuring another similar 280ml of stock
solution B and pour into the same reservoir.
◦ Pros
◦ Relatively simple to use
◦ Cons
◦ Can only obtained a single point EC application @
1650uS/cm, if the manufacturer written.
◦ Most manufacturer won't have this information
◦ Pointers :
◦ Mix solution A into the water, stir well before mixing in
solution B
◦ DO NOT mix the concentrated form of solo A & B
together. Dilute them with water first ! - for young
seedlings/ plants, use half the suggested amount
◦ For young seedlings, use the ½ recommended
amount !
73

How to pre-
mix your
nutrient
solution
◦ Usual practices would be to measure the
amount of water needed for your plants – i.e.
volume of your storage tank or reservoir, or your
DIY pot, and then calculate the amount of
nutrient needed.
◦ A simpler method would be to pre-mix it using a
container with a known capacity (2 liters
Marigold milk bottle or 1.5 liters soft drink bottle).
◦ For 2 liters, used 13ml of Stock solution A & B
◦ For 1.5 liters, used 10ml of Stock solution A & B.
◦ Half strength for young seedlings – i.e. < 14
days old from germination
◦ Use half the nutrient amount (i.e. 7ml instead
of 13ml. / Use twice the water (i.e. 4 liters
instead of 2 liters)
74

Step 1 :
Seed germination
◦ Wash / Soak the growth sponge
◦ Insert seeds into sponge, ensure there is a thin
layer of water
◦ Place the seeding tray in the dark cool
environment
◦ Keep the sponge moist by wetting every day or
every other day
◦ Check the progress after 2nd day I.e on the 3rd
days
◦ Depending on the seeds, it should germinate
within 3-5 days
75

Step 2 :
Seedling
strengthening
◦ Move the seedlings into the light when
they are about 10mm height
◦ DO NOT place under any sunlight !
◦ Ensure there is a thin layer of water at the
seeding tray !
◦ Apply half-strength nutrient on the 7-10th
day
76

Step 3 :
Transplanting
◦ Transplant into netpot when they are
~ 14 days old
◦ Ensure the root is touching the water
as shown
◦ Bright the seedlings to stronger
lighting such as half / partial sunlight
◦ Apply full strength nutrient
77

Step 4 :
Watching it grow
◦ Top up the nutrient whenever the
water level is down
◦ Change the water every 10 days
78

Step 5 :
Harvesting !
◦ This should occur on the 25 – 35 days.
79

THANK YOU AGAIN FOR
YOUR
PRESENCE AND ATTENTION..
80

Urban farming with hydroponics

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