Vine Crop NFT Systems are a popular choice for growing tomatoes, capsicums, beans, cucumbers, Eggplants and other vine crops.
The international production of vine crops is largely dominated by Drip Fertigation systems which are typically non-recirculating (run to waste). In Drip Systems the plants are grown in media filled bags and are intermittently fed with drippers. Most Drip Fertigation systems are not recirculating.
Because of the increasing need to conserve water and nutrient resources the use of NFT systems for Vine Crop production is experiencing a resurgence.
NFT systems which are used for Vine crops are a totally different growing method:
- Nutrient is recirculated 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
- Water and nutrient usage is very efficient
- Gullies are fixed in place so there is no lengthy downtime when crops are changed over after each cycle. The plants just need to be removed from the greenhouse and the gullies are then cleaned and sanitised allowing the next crop to be immediately replanted. Pure Hydroponics uses two-piece clip-on lid gullies for this purpose to make cleaning and sanitation an easy task.
- The capital cost of an NFT system is higher than a Drip Fertigation system (due to it being largely made of UV stabilised PVC) but it is a one of investment that lasts at least 20 years.
- Or, a grower can use 600mm wide Panda film as a low-cost NFT gully on a properly levelled greenhouse floor.
- With a well-designed NFT system and the correct growing technique, a grower can achieve higher yields than a Drip Fertigation system in the same conditions.
System Specifications
- The Vine Crop NFT systems typically use 155x70mm gully or 225x80mm gully with removable lids.
- Gullies are positioned on a sloping floor or on a support stand in single or double rows which are usually 6 metres or 12 metres long.
- Each double row of gully typically has a minimum 850mm wide pathway around all four corners of the bench. This allows easy access at all times and enables trolleys and other equipment to be used around the benches without any restrictions.
- At one end of the NFT gullies is the Feedpipe system which pumps a thin film of nutrient solution into the top of each gully. The feed pipe system has an adjustable control valve to allow at least a 1 litre per minute flow rate to be maintained down each gully.
- Two 4mm I.D feeder microtubes per gully are used so that if one blocks the other can still function. A rubber top hat grommet holds the microtubes in place on each gully.
- At the opposite end of the bench a catchment system is installed. This is usually a light proof gutter with slots to allow the tips of each gully to be inserted. As the nutrient solution flows out of the gullies and into the catchment system it is diverted into a common area where it falls into a vertical return pipe and down into a gently sloping return pipe. The return pipe collects all the return solution from nearby benches and directs it back to the mixing tank in the pump room.
- A sanitation system in the pump room targets any pathogens which may be introduced into the system.
- A minimum 1:40 slope is maintained down each gully to enable a thin film of nutrient solution to be maintained and to prevent any ponding.
- Growers can steer the crops to be more vegetative or generative or to have hard or soft foliage by adjusting the nutrient strength (EC) of the nutrient solution.
Pure Hydroponics can design and supply full NFT Vine Crop Systems to fit an existing greenhouse, or we can supply a turn-key system comprising of an NFT Vine Crop System, greenhouse and climate control.
For growers located in distant countries we also offer a Design and Shopping List service which allows growers to source PVC pipework and common equipment locally. Pure Hydroponics can then assist with any specialist equipment that may not be available such as NFT gullies, dosing control system and NFT system accessories. This keeps the freight and set up costs down for the grower and supports their local economy.
The grower can install the systems themselves using local labour with the assistance of technical drawings and online support from Pure Hydroponics. Or we can supply an onsite installation supervisor to supervise local labour and provide full training once the system is commissioned.
The main objective is to get new growers set up with a properly designed hydroponic system, at the best price possible.
We can then offer a full support package such as online and onsite advisory, nutrition and consumables to ensure the grower can secure their place in the market, repay their investment and be successful.
Please contact Pure Hydroponics for a turn-key NFT Vine Crop System quotation or our Design and Shopping List service.
All interested parties must complete the attached Commercial Design Questionnaire as part of their enquiry.
Commercial System Design Questionnaire
