2006 Volume 18 Issue 2 Pages 154-159
A treatment system using nutrient solution in hydroponics was developed for year-round stable production of high-quality vegetables. It is possible for quartz porphyry to control the quality of nutrient solution effectively. These qualities include viscosity, because of its pH dependent charge and exchangeable cation. The components system included air pump, a submerged pump and quartz porphyry. Quartz porphyry weighing 10 kg was put into the stainless steel layer in a water tank (0.3m3 volume) and nutrient solution was pumped into the layer by the submerged pump.
The viscosity of nutrient solution in a komatsuna (Brassica rapa L. nothovar)-growing NFT system was decreased by the treatment, which might affect the absorption of nutrient solution by komatsuna plants, because the movement of the water can be influenced by viscosity.
It would be necessary to quantitatively evaluate the relationship between the viscosity of nutrient solutions and the absorption of ions by the roots. Komatsuna plants receiving the treated nutrient solution grew faster and contained more total free amino acid.
The results suggested that the nutrient solution treatment system could be effective for the production of high-quality vegetables.
