ISHS Acta Horticulturae 396: Hydroponics and Transplant Production
YEAR-ROUND PRODUCTION OF SPINACH BY NFT AND DFT IN THE GREENHOUSE |
| Authors: | H. Ikeda, T. Wada, T. Mirin, K. Okabe, A. Tazuke, H. Furukawa |
| Keywords: | Spinacia oleracea, Cultivars, NFT, DFT, Solution Temperature, Soilless culture |
| Abstract:
Seedlings of eighteen cultivars of spinach were grown by a cell tray system using rockwool granule as a substrate. Then, they were cultured by NFT and DFT in the greenhouse in the summer and the winter season, and the effects of the solution temperature on growth and absorption of minerals were studied. The effects of an intermittent flow of the solution on plant growth was also studied. The growth of spinach increased with decreasing the solution temperature and marketable plants were harvested even under high air temperature of the summer season. In the winter season, plant growth increased as the solution temperature increased. However, the effects of solution temperature on the yield were different depending on the cultivars tested. Increased yield was caused by the increased leaf length in summer and the leaf width and number in winter, respectively. The concentration of minerals in the leaves was not so different between the cultivars but was somewhat affected by the solution temperature. Compared with DFT, NFT produced a higher yield of spinach in the summer but a lower yield in winter. Not very much difference in the top fresh weight was obtained between continuous flow and 15/30 (min. in flow/stop). However, the top fresh weight in 15/45 was apparently lower than that in the continuous flow. It was concluded that we would be able to grow spinach year-round by NFT in the greenhouse, if we choose proper cultivars and appropriate solution temperature. | |
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