Performance analysis of hydroponic system on verticulture technique of spinach (Ipomoea aquatica)

Abstract

Verticulture technique is a stratified plant cultivation system carried out vertically, either outdoors or indoors. The vertical cultivation system aims to overcome the decline in paddy fields due to the conversion of land to non-agricultural land. This vertical technique is very suitable for narrow land because it does not take up much space. Verticulture or vertical farming has three techniques, namely Hydroponics, Aquaponics, and Aeroponics. Hydroponic plant cultivation with a tower system is in great demand at this time, because the tower used a vertical pipe with water dripping from the top of the tower. Some of the nutrients are absorbed by plants through the roots and some fall to the bottom of the tower which then returns to the storage container, and is ready to be pumped back to the top of the tower. Tower hydroponics has the advantage that on 1 m2 land with a tower height of 1.5 m we can plant 50-80 plant stems, whereas with the usual method only 25-30 plant stems are obtained. This study aims to design and technical test of a hydroponic system with verticulture techniques on spinach. The design results show that with an area of 3 x 2.5 m2, it has 24 towers and 624 plant holes. Each plant hole has 4-6 plant stems. spinach can grow perfectly compared to control plants. The results of these studies indicate that this system is very suitable for a narrow area.