Eric

Cook
ericccook@yahoo.com
1
eccook@Alaska.edu

Hydroponics
907-460-1316

NUTRIENT FILM TECHNIQUE (NFT)

Elements of Hydroponic Systems 2

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
Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) 3

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
Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) 4

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
Example NFT System 5
Cooling, Heating and Aeration 6
 Float Valve for constant tank fill 7

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

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61PPkLu-
abL._SY355_.jpg
External Pump or Submersible Pump 8

http://ecx.imagesamazon.com/images/I/
619jnFYOkdL._SL1200_.jpg
 Screen or Disk Filters 9

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

http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NjAwWDYwMA==/z/ http://www.netafimusa.com/files/
U~gAAMXQhpdRnpBp/$T2eC16N,!zoE9s5nd9!DBRnpBoK!t! images/landscape/manual-filters/
~~60_35.JPG manual-filter-mode.jpg
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, 12

alternating hole positions

Seedling grown for 15 -25 days 13

before being put on the system

Drain Pipes 14
Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) 15
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
Three Stock Tanks (Acid is behind in 16

the picture)
Fertilizer: Tank 1 - everything 17

without nitrogen
Lettuce Formula Magnesium Sulfate
Fertilizer: Tank 2 Calcium Nitrate & 18

Potassium Nitrate
Calcium Nitrate Potassium Nitrate
Small Pump to Mix the Concentrated 19

Nutrient Solution Tanks

What can you use to adjust pH? 20

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

http://www.powergrowsystems.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/
650x650/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/g/e/
Peristaltic Pump Dispenser Injects 21
Stock Solution

http://californiawarewashinglaundryservice.com/
resources/_wsb_508x348_OPP.jpg
Peristaltic Triple Pump 22

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
 Controller 23

u If
you dont have a automatic
Controller, then you are the
controller.
u DirectsDosing when pH or EC of
out of range
Temperature, pH, EC Probes 24

http://agrowtek.com/images/content/GC- http://www.hannainst.com/images/
Pro_Hydro_main.jpg imgHI_1285-5_lg.jpg
Nutrient Film Technique Media - 25

Desirable and essential characteristics

u Holds the Roots
u Doesnt brake apart and clog the system
u Sterile clean and sanitary
u Neutral doesnt give or take nutrients or change pH
Nutrient Film Technique - Media 26

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
Rockwool 27
Sure to Grow 28
Oasis 29
What Can You Grow? 30

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

http://www.floressencetea.com/mm5/graphics/Articles/Watercress.jpg
Variety Selection: Lettuce 31

Summer Winter
u Tip Burn resistant non-central u Low light performance
head forming varieties
u Compact, but fast growing
u Full Sized Varieties minis seem to
tip burn more often uLollo
uOak Leaf uRomaine
uGreat Green Rapids
uSummer Crisp
uLollo
uMultileaf
uSummer Crisp Teide and Muir
uButterhead
uSalanova Incised
uSalanova Sweet Crisp uSalanova Sweet Crip
Winter and Summer Lettuce Varieties 32
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.
Winter, Fall, Spring (Seed Dates: Aug 1 to Mar 15) 33
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(doesnt bulk up the best at times)
Summer (Seed Dates: Mar 15 -Aug 1)
34
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)
Oakleaf 35
 Romaine and Summer Crisp 36

u Romaine Costal Star, Green

Forest
u Summer Crisp Cherokee,
Nevada
Sweet Basil 37
Thai Basil 38
Thanks for coming! 39