Fabrication and performance evaluation of A shaped frame hydroponic system for leafy garlic

Abstract

Present study was carried out for Fabrication and Performance Evaluation of A Shaped frame Hydroponic System under Protected Structures at the Centre of Excellence on Protected Cultivation and Precision Farming (CoE-PCPF), College of Agriculture, IGKV, Raipur (C.G.) during the year 2017-18. The experiment was laid out with three treatments T1 (A-frame PVC pipe), T2 (A-frame UPVC pipe), T3 (A-frame CPVC pipe), of hydroponic system. The transplanting of seedlings of leafy garlic was done in perforated net pots with a media of coco-pit and vermiculite in 3:1 proportion and clay pellets. Irrigation was applied to the crop by ebb flow technique. The pH and EC of the hydroponic solution were maintained in the range of 5.5 to 6.5 and 1.5 to 2.5 dS/m respectively in the tank. Hydroponic system in the present study has been fabricated with the help of locally available material which reduced cost of construction substantially. Effects of material on the growth of plants, EC and pH level of nutrient solution have also been studied and it is found that material has a very little or no effect on the growth as well as EC and pH aspects of nutrient solution at least in the first year of cultivation which might be changed in later years. Appearance wise good and moderately costlier UPVC pipes can be a better option for the design and construction of commercial hydroponic systems. Cost analysis of fabricated hydroponic Structure was also done.