ENGINEERING SYSTEMS
CULTIVATION LEAF VEGETABLES aeroponics
by: Ir. Eti Rostika MP
A. Preparation
Preparation of building a
screen house, screen frame house can be made of iron, wood or bamboo, with a
roof of plastic UV and berdindingkan gauze (paranet) that the bottom layer
closed using UV plastic or fiber glass, while kontruksinya adjusted to the
altitude.
* Preparation of planting
tubs, the bath can be made of black plastic with a framework of bamboo, and is
made of fiber, while the lid using stryrofoam placed.
Selection of bath as above
was due to lighter, stronger, shape does not change and does not react with the
nutrient solution.
Bak in the system [B]
Aeroponics [/ B] has an important function, among others:
·
Most
catchers residual nutrient solution flowed or sprayed in the root zone of
plants, the rest of the solution which is not absorbed by plant roots going
back to the nutrient tank as a closed cycle.
·
As
a buffer Styrofoam and plant on it is quite heavy, especially when plants close
to harvest time.
·
As
with the plant roots isolation environment where the temperature inside the
fiber tub is lower than the temperature outside fiber tub that is optimal for
root growth and nutrient solution spraying process.
·
Tub
size used in the aeroponic system is 1 x 4 x 0.5 cm.
·
Bak
plants in the dark and made with high altitude 40-60 cm from the ground. The
end wall perforated aeroponic plant good for 13/16 PE distribution pipe that
lies below the surface of Styrofoam. On top of PE pipes in pairs nozzle / jet
spray JSF 12 Full cercle capacity of 50 liters / hour, pressure of 1.5 bar with
the distance between the nozzle / jet spray 75 cm. For plant tubs 4 cm long, in
pairs 5. Basically tubs made drainage holes for circulation of the nutrient
solution back into the solution tank.
·
Sucking
pressure pump nutrient solution from the solution tank and then to disct
filter, and then flowed through the main pipe to pipe plant is distributed into
a tub so that the nozzle / jet spray produces a soft spray nutrients. The pumps
are used with the power of 125 watts to 4 tubs of plants.
B. Seeding seed
1. Selection of seed
planting
In the selection of these
seeds will be cultivated to be adapted to the requirements grow these plants,
such as air temperature, humidity, weather and altitude cultivation of sea
level. And the age of cultivated plants have a short lifespan, can be planted
in pots intensive and high productivity. The shorter the life of the plant,
then speed up the harvesting process.
2. Growing Media
In the seeding process, in
select rockwool growing medium in the form of solid fibers are easily cut into
pieces and formed according to need. Media rockwool as a growing medium because
it has such advantages, among which the shaft and can hold water very well, so
the plants do not suffer from drought, especially when the plants are still
small
3. Preparation of media for
seedlings and seeds
Seedling media such as
rockwool which has been cut into pieces using a knife with 1x size 1,5 x 1,5
cm, later rockwool which has been cut into pieces collated into a seedling
tray.
Seeds that will apply in
using the water soak ± 30 minutes, the seeds that float directly separated and
in select seed-filled, not rotten and moldy for seedlings.
4. The process of seeding
Pakcoy crop seeding, mustard, lettuce
done by inserting the seeds that have been soaked for ± 30 minutes and at
select viable seedlings. The process of seeding is done by inserting seeds one
by one into chunks of rock wool using tweezers. In the seedling tray, pieces of
rockwool can enter one or two seeds that are customized to the needs and the
types of plants. Tray seedling nursery has been completed in all mudian soaked
with water until saturated, tray input into the darkroom 2-3 days, aims to
plant germination process can take place optimally. Once out of the dark room,
the seeds have germinated input into the screen house for 12 days in a screen
house, has itudi plants in Styrofoam that has been set screen house production
5. The process of seeding
kale using rice husk, seed will be in the nursery at first soak for ± 30
minutes. Husk that will be used first in the wash that dirt in it is lost,
after washing the rice husk in the input into a tub of seedlings with a height
of 5 cm, then create an array with a distance of 5 cm and a depth of 2 cm, the
seed that has been in soak directly planted in the array, then the seeds of
kale closed with husk and cover with black plastic silverware, kamudian in a
shady place for 5 days, after 5 days in open water spinach seeds already grown
leave for 12 days in the nursery. Over in the nursery in flush with nutrient
solution do the watering ½ doses (morning, afternoon and evening) 3 times a day
C. The production process
[/ B]
·
Planting
medium used is Styrofoam
As
temapat air-rockwool plants at planting. Styrofoam was chosen because it is
lightweight, easy to clean and white color can reflect sunlight, helping in the
process of photosynthesis. Installation of Styrofoam must stay on top of
cropping bath may help the ability of Styrofoam in the weight of the plant at
the time of the harvest reached.
·
Nutrient
solution / fertilizer
On
the cultivation of plants with aeroponics system, the provision of nutrient
solution made by administering water equation. Water used must meet certain
standards in order to lower the salt content in water with a pH between 6.5 to
7.0.
Chemicals that are in need
in the manufacture of nutrient solution can be seen in Table 1.
Chemicals Chemical formula
SOLUTION A
1. Calcium Nitrate Ca (NO3)
2 4H2O
2. Iron EDTA Fe EDTA
SOLUTION B
Potassium dihydrogen
phosphate KH2PO4
Potassium Nitrate KNO3
Magnesium Sulfate Mg SO4 7
H2O
Mn Manganese Sulfate SO4 7
H2O
Boric acid H3 BO3
Copper sulphate Cu SO4 5
H2O
Ammonium Molybdate (NH4) 6
MO7 O24. 4H2O
Zinc Sulfate Zn SO4. 7 H2O
How to make the stock a
solution Nutrition
1) Tong / drum A in the
content as much as 90 liters of water, then the input of Calcium Nitrate and
Iron EDTA in stirring until dissolved.
2) Tong / drum B in the
content as much as 90 liters of water, then input Potassium Nitrate, Magnesium
Sulphate, Potassium dihydrogen phosphate, Manganese Sulfate, Boric Acid, Zinc
Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Ammonium Molybdate and all of them in stir until
dissolved.
In a dense
concentration of both solutions A and B do not Baleh nutrient solution
simultaneously incorporated into the container must be separated, because the
solution A and B will occur react or precipitate so can not be absorbed by
plant roots, the plant growth is not normal.
The dosage of each solution
A and B taken one liter and add water as much as 200 liters (2: 1), then the
solution is ready to pour on the plants.
D. The process of planting
[/ *]
Before planting, planting
troughs should be cleaned of moss or other debris. For planting process with
aeroponics system, should also check the state of the nozzle / jet spray that
has been installed and be sure not clogged. Blockage of the nozzle / jet spray
can reduce the intensity of spraying a solution of nutrients to the root zone of
plants.
Seedlings ready for
planting plants that have been taken later in the input in the planting hole in
the Styrofoam to the circumstances in the hole is not too deep or shallow. At
the time of the planting process progresses, sorting is done directly on the
seeds will be planted. The process of planting done in the morning ie 0.7.00 s
/ d 09.30 am and in the afternoon 15:00 s / d 16.00.
·
Maintenance
and care
Once the planting is done,
the process of providing nutrition to be done. In nutrition, conducted by
spraying for aeroponic system. The concentration of nutrient solution that is
provided to the plant gradually increased until the harvesting process. Control
nozzle / spray jet and filter pumps do every 1 hour, this control is useful to
prevent the pump pressure decreases caused by clogged nozzle / jet sprays and
filters that directly affect directly on the strength of the spray pump. Weak
spray pump nutrient solution resulted in not arriving at the plant root zone.
·
The
process of harvesting [/ *]
The process of harvesting
the morning (0.6 s / d 0.9.30) and in the afternoon (15:30 s / d 16:30). The
timing of the harvest is done so that the crop did not experience significant
fluctuations in temperature, large temperature fluctuations can reduce (the
moisture content and quality of the harvest which drastically). Yields were
also laid in the container, the contents of 80% by volume of container capacity
without were pressed. Containers of cultivated crops into the cooling chamber
with a temperature of ± 18ºC. Good harvest for pakcoy, collards, and kale First
Lieutenant as age ± 28 days of planting.
·
The
process of packaging / packing
Perompesan done to crops,
which aims to clean the vegetables from old leaves or leaves are broken as well
as standardization. After perompesan vegetables ready to pack weighed according
to the standard packaging. Root vegetables of the harvest in rompes, but dikut
include in plastic packaging. Standard packaging products with a weight of 250
g / packaging weighed weighing 260-270 gr / packaging, product packaging weight
standards used to prevent severe shrinkage due to the evaporation plant.
Once weighed, [B]
vegetables [/ B] put in plastic packaging carefully. For curly lettuce plants
in containers by using a plastic backet. As for the plant pakcoy, collards, and
kale in containers by using a plastic silt.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. The Directorate General
of Horticulture Production Development, Protection Directorate Hotikultura,
2002, the Farm Development Guidelines for Safe Consumption of Vegetable Crops,
Potato Crops Safe Consumption.
2. Onny Untung. 2004
Vegetable Hydroponic NFT Systems (Nutrient Film Technique) Penebar
Governmental, Bogor.
3. Jos Sutioso. 2002
Concocting Hydroponics Fertilizers Fruit Crops, Vegetables Ttanaman, Ornamental
Plants. Governmental spreader Bogor
