Ben van der Spuy and Gail Beresford standing in front of their solar driven Nutrient Film Technique
hydroponic system
and pH management system that
operate on a diluted solution
principle eliminating the risk of
overdosing and minimizing the
risk of error. The simplicity of the
design plus training provided
after installation makes it possible for clients with minimal hydroponic or agricultural experience to grow plants with relative
ease.
A Net house design was purposely done for this installation. The
net house provides better ventilation for healthy plant growth.
Heat management is the major
concern in hydroponic installations in South Africa. Infrared
radiation from the sun can be
filtered through the dual-colour
knitted net that provides cooler
conditions for the plants. Plants
are exposed to dew. Dew plays a
vital role in maintaining leaf
moisture. The floor was purposely sloped at 1 degree for proper
drainage during rainy days. This
minimizes the risk of high humidity conditions that causes fungus
to spore, one of the major drawbacks of plastic covered greenhouses. Net houses are generally
more cost effective than greenhouses in both installation capital
and maintenance cost. The idea
around the net house is to only
protect for what protection is
really required for. The major
risks identified in this installation
Tomatoes grown in the solar driven NFT Trellis Crop
System
were hale, birds, insects and
heat. The goal was to protect the
plants against those risks.
The number of commercial farmers in South Africa has been drastically declining during the last
number of years. Current food
prices are an indication that
South Africa’s food security is at
risk. It is imperative that we consider these kinds of interventions
seriously to fill up food shortages. Well done to Ben and Gail for
taking the first step towards a
better, greener and more food
secure future! South Africa and
all our neighbouring countries
need more people like you!
Leafy crops also grow extremely well in the Grow
Machines NFT Trellis Crop System