Nutrient film technique –- crop culture in flowing nutrient solution

Abstract

Tomatoes grown by the nutrient film technique have yielded significantly heavier crops than comparable peat-grown plants, with no loss of fruit quality. Precise control of the root environment and nutrient supply is essential, and automatic control units are integral to the successful operation of the system. Whilst tomatoes are the most commonly-grown NFT crop, lettuces, peppers, chrysanthemums, carnations and strawberries have been grown commercially by this technique.