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The
nutrient film technique was developed in the mid 1960s in
England by Doctor Allen Cooper. He was interested in building
a low cost, large scale system to be used in parts of the
world where soil quality is poor. N.F.T., or Nutrient Film
Technique, is an efficient method of growing plants by providing
a slowly moving film (stream) of fertilizer solution (nutrient)
to roots in a flat-bottomed, gently sloped channel (the gully).The
plant is started in a small root cube in which it remains
for life, and is placed in pre-drilled holes in the gully.
With the help of a small submersible pump and gravity, the
nutrient solution is constantly recirculated through the gullies
and back to the reservoir.
NFT
ensures a continuous flow of nutrient laden solution over
the root system, allowing the plants to feed constantly. This
provides a constant balance and optimum conditions for thriving
plant growth. NFT systems use little or no growing medium,
thereby keeping operating costs down, but because of the lack
of medium to act as a buffer, plants may suffer if a long-term
power failure occurs
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