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| Hydroponic Products |
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1. Introduction
Soil-less crop culture systems have been widely adopted by glasshouse growers as a means of:
- increasing yield and quality
- avoiding soil borne diseases
- reducing energy and labour costs
- increasing earliness
Peat has been a popular medium but is now being replaced on an increasing scale by other inert media such as rockwool, perlite and U.F. foam. The Nutrient Film Technique (NFT - production of crops in a flowing film of nutrient) is also popular in a number of areas.
Crop nutrition in inert media and NFT requires special attention because although all nutrients supplied are immediately available to the growing plants, such growing media are incapable of holding a reserve of nutrients and the natural buffering properties of the soil are absent. Consequently the successful culture of crops in inert media requires a more precise approach to nutrition.
2. The 'Solufeed' hydroponic system
The system relies on 3 tanks containing feed inputs for efficient operation. Calcium must have its own tank as it is incompatible with the main fertiliser. Acid may be required and this is normally kept in a separate tank:
Tank A Solufeed
Tank B Calcium nitrate - adjusted according to the level of calcium in the water
Tank C Nitric acid to adjust the pH to the optimum level
Where possible, injectors with EC and pH controllers should be used, or alternatively use dilutors.
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3. Solufeed Hydroponic Feeds
- 'Solufeed' F.
- The original hydroponic feed, and suitable for virtually any crop capable of being grown hydroponically. Contains N, P, K, Mg and trace elements.
'Solufeed' H
- Primarily developed for tomato culture. Used with potassium nitrate or with potassium chloride to provide flexibility in the source of potassium, and to reduce the level of nitrates in 'run to waste' systems.
4. Rates of use and further informationA Technical Information Bulletin on the Solufeed Hydroponic System including rates of use, operating the system and crop experiences is available by clicking here.
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