Deep water culture

Deep Water Culture (DWC) Basics

• DWC involves using net pots with hydroponic medium
• Airstones are added for oxygenation
• Monitoring pH and EC of nutrient solution is crucial
• Ideal pH for hydroponic crops is 5.5–6.0
• Desired EC for leafy greens is 1.5–2.2

Plant Growth Requirements in DWC

• Roots are suspended in nutrient solution
• Oxygen, temperature, pH, and nutrient concentration are crucial
• Oxygenation methods include air stones and liquid oxygen
• Water temperature affects oxygen retention
• Control of pH, alkalinity, and EC is essential

Deep Water Culture Systems

• Recirculating DWC systems use PVC pipes to link bins
• A pump pulls water through a line into a control bucket
• Spin filter cleans water before reaching the pump
• Disease spread is a disadvantage of RDWC due to pathogen transfer
• Commercial DWC systems like FRT are common in greenhouses

Hydroponic Growing Techniques in DWC

• Seedlings are germinated in soilless media cells for head lettuce and large-leaf greens
• Baby leaf lettuce seeds are sown and germinated in specialized rafts
• DWC systems allow plants to be re-spaced during growth
• Raft cleaning involves scrubbing, sanitizing, and drying

Research and References on DWC

• Food safety handbook for hydroponic lettuce production
• Studies on hydroponic vegetable production and urban agriculture
• Nutrient management in recirculating hydroponic culture
• Effects of dissolved oxygen concentration on lettuce growth
• Bolting response of head lettuce to changes in nutrient composition

Deep water culture Data Sources