![]() Virginia State University evaluated three different systems for growing fruiting crops (‘Eros’ peppers and ‘Conchita’ tomatoes): Dutch bucket, NFT, and media bag systems. This same method was used in a spacing trial for spinach in a float bed DWC system. Some trials needed supplemental lighting during winter months, and photosynthetic active radiation (PAR) was recorded to calculate daily light integrals (DLI). When the plants reached full maturity, they were harvested and fresh weight was measured. The plants were sown in rockwool starter plugs in trays in a controlled lab with artificial lighting in a warm environment (+68☏) (Figure 3). Spinach and Parsley TrialsĪt Virginia Tech, four hydroponic systems were used during these trials to compare yield amounts and performance of different cultivars of spinach and parsley. Please note these trials were conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic and data collection was limited due to restrictions caused by differing university policies. We compared spinach and parsley in nutrient film technique (NFT), vertical media stack (stack), flood and drain (F&D), and floating raft deep water culture (DWC) systems, as well as tomatoes and peppers grown in Dutch buckets, NFT, and media bags. The project, “Assessing and Addressing Educational Needs of Exploratory/Beginning Growers of Hydroponic Produce for Local Markets,” was targeted to the needs and questions of new or beginning hydroponic farmers in the state of Virginia. In the following sections, an overview and summary of results from small scale crop trials conducted at Virginia Tech and Virginia State University will be shared. Of course, in addition to your own ‘discovery space’, it is vital to understand the dynamics of full-scale production and to do some concerted exploration as described in Hydroponic Production of Edible Crops: Planning for the Market (Vallotton et al. Of course, in order to do this, you may have to make some investment in this testing, which may or may not result in any profit from selling produce but in the long run is critical data for your decision-making. ![]() It can also improve your understanding of your farming practices and may even reveal a competitive edge. Doing these trials in a smaller setup can help you avoid assuming too much risk before you invest in your process. Depending on the system type you have, you can explore this by adjusting nutrient schedule, media type, or type of system. In this space, you can experiment with different crop varieties and learn about different hydroponic systems, nutrients, grow media, or other ideas you may have so you can begin to understand some of the challenges before you scale up into a larger production setup (Figure 2).įor example, if you decide to adapt your business model to an emerging market, you may need to consider growing a different crop in a new type of system. Whether that is somewhere in the home, greenhouse, or facility, this is a small, pilot size setup where you can explore and practice different growing techniques. Many growers explore production challenges with a ‘discovery space’. As you read this factsheet, please refer to Table 6 for a glossary of terms used throughout this factsheet. Instead, we encourage you to explore additional resources as outlined in Vallotton et al. While this factsheet should prove to be thought provoking, it is not intended to provide exact parameters for growing a specific crop using a particular production system. ![]() We will also offer tips and resources that may help you in your journey in hydroponic production. In this factsheet, we will discuss the benefits of exploring growing techniques, choosing the right system for crop type, and share results from our research trials at Virginia Tech (VT) and Virginia State University (VSU) exploring crop performance in different hydroponic systems. Successfully growing under these circumstances can increase profitability. These considerations are important because growers need to efficiently produce the highest yield and quality of produce. For example, float beds can easily support high density crops because variation in spacing is easy to configure, and while NFT systems are very good for supporting leafy greens (Bumgarner and Hochmuth 2019), these systems may have more limited crop arrangements. These and other questions can help you define your system type. Some questions to consider are: What will the size of the crop be at full yield and how much space is needed around the plant for airflow requirements? Will the crop require vertical space? (Kear et. It is based on crop type, and facility space requirements or limitations. Many decisions need to be made to determine the best system to use in crop production. ![]()
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