nutrient application systems
drawing up and blending concentrated stock solutions and other additives to create this balanced nutrient solution . The advantage of this system is that it eliminates the need for a large central nutrient reservoir filled with workingstrength solution and dosage rates can be adjusted as required . It also reduces the amount of labor and time required to make up batch feeding tanks . In recirculating systems such as NFT , DFT , and float or pond systems , automatic controllers are often used to maintain the correct EC and pH level . These units use EC and pH probes permanently installed in the flow of nutrient to measure these parameters at regular intervals . When the controller senses a drop in EC , more stock solutions are automatically dosed into the nutrient flow until a feedback system determines the EC is at the correct level . Water top-ups are also automatically controlled to keep the tank volume consistent . While automatic controllers may seem like the ideal way to reduce time and labor in monitoring a nutrient solution , they can ’ t fully replace manual EC and pH checks as failures are known to occur occasionally even in well-designed equipment . EC and pH probes also
require frequent calibration and checking to ensure reliable monitoring and adjustment of the nutrient solution . In particular , pH probes have a limited lifespan and inaccurate readings from these can lead to crop damage and loss . That ’ s why automated doser units are reliant on correct and regular maintenance .
MISTERS , DRIPPERS , AND EMITTERS
Selecting the correct equipment for your nutrient delivery system is essential . Drippers , misters , and emitters are available in a range of flow rates and working pressures , and they are usually matched to a specific growing substrate and / or crop . Those with lower flow rates are typically used with coarser , freer draining substrates to slow the downward flow of nutrient and help uniformly wet the root zone . Pressure compensating emitters allow for an even flow of nutrient to each plant in the system . Some dippers are designed to prevent unwanted leakage and solution loss between irrigations . Finally , indoor gardens that have a diverse range of plant sizes , maturity levels , and species on the same irrigation system are good candidates for adjustable flow rate drippers . These allow larger plants to receive higher flow rates than smaller plants on the same nutrient distribution system , and flow rates can increase as plants grow .
Dosing system using a one-part hydroponic nutrient concentrate .
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