palithamahinda@yahoo.com

Nutrient Film Technique for Small scale farmers

M.M.Palitha Mahinda MunasingheFarm Mechanical Instructor (SLTS Class-1)

Polytunnel Construction Technology

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Protected House for Agriculture

Classification based on Types

Propagators & Shade Net Partially controlled• Rain Shelter• Net house• Poly-net house

Fully controlled• Rooftop vent Polytunnel• Roof side vent Polytunnel

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Propagators & Shade Net

• Build Up use with PVC Conduit & wood• Shelter by UV treated polythene

• Build Up use with GI tubes• Roof Shelter by Shade Net

Net houses are basically naturally ventilated and climate controlled. Used for growing vegetables, floriculture, fruit crop for market.

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Poly Tunnels are basically naturally ventilated & climate controlled. Used for growing vegetables, floriculture, planting material acclimatization, fruit crop for market

Poly Tunnel with polyethylene film covering to highly sophisticated and fully automated or manually operated drip and foggers systems

Green houses are climate controlled. Used for growing vegetables, floriculture, planting material acclimatization, fruit crop for market and plant breeding and varietals improvement

It varies from a simple poly-tunnel with polythene sheet covering to highly sophisticated, fully automated systems with Poly

carbonate sheet roofing (double walled), PAR lightings, boom irrigation, rolling benches and full scale computerized systems

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Structure of Net house

Structure of Glass house Structure of Roof side ventPoly-house

Structure of Poly-net house

Greenhouse/Poly-house

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Tunnel (Quonset )greenhouse

Gothic arch Maxi-vent greenhouse

Gable type polytunnel

Classification on the basis of shape

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Structure of Polytunnel/ Greenhouse

Anchor Plates Base Rail Base Plate

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Structure of Polytonal/Greenhouse

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Inside Structure of Polytunnel/Greenhouse

Hanging Misters

Breezy FanNFT Pipe Beds

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Roof Top Extraction Roof Top Vent

Ventilation Louvers Side Ventilation

Polytunnel Ventilation System

Forced Ventilation

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Mist propagation controller Water & Liquid Fertilizer filter

Low Flow Fogger Mist Nozzle

Pressure Compensating Dripper Non-Pressure Compensating Dripper

Water Pump

Submersible Water Pump

Fertigation unit

Other accessories for Polytunnel/Greenhouse

Hydroponic Systems

Passive Systems Wick ( Capillary) Floating Raft

Active Systems Flood and Drain(Ebb and Flow) Deep Water Culture(Bubble-ponics) Nutrient Film Technique(NFT)

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Passive System-Wick

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From the bottom reservoir nutrient solution is drawn up through a number of wicks into the growing media

Grow Tray & Growing Medium

Air stone

Air pump

ReservoirWick

Water and nutrients are drawn up to the roots by capillary action

Passive System- Raft

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Only meant for small plants, raft hydro systems keep plants on a "raft" floating in a nutrient reservoir

Floating Platform with Plants

Air Line Air Stone

Aquarium

Air Pump

Each time the water floods from the lower reservoir into the upper growing tray

The roots are bathed in fresh nutrients

When the nutrient drains back to the reservoir, fresh air is drawn through the root system refreshing oxygen to the roots

Active System- Flood and Drain(Ebb and Flow)

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Provide a constant film of water and nutrients along the bottom of a channel & flowing over the roots at all times. Part of the roots grow down in the nutrient water and parts of the roots above the water line getting fresh air and oxygen

Active Systems-Nutrient Film Technique (NFT)

PVC Tube

Air Pump

Air StoneNutrient Pump

Reservoir

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PVC Pipe Hole Drill Bit Saw

PVC Net pot

How to make NFT system

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Inserting Plants in the Holes

Drilling holes on PVC Pipe

Fixing Water Line to PVC pipe end

Gutting Holes on PVC pipe

Fixing end cap & Water line to end cap

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Method of Cultivation

Using Grow bags Plants growing on PVC pipes

Hydroponics comes from the Latin language and it means working water “Hydro" means "water“ “Ponos" means “Labor" 11/25/2015mmpmm 20

Using PVC pipes for NFT