Taking a bet on hydroponic farming with 8,000 linear meters of ECO system
Source: VFD.com
This is the case for a major seed company in South America, which has incorporated 8,000 linear meters of Hydroponic Systems' ECO system, equipped with a spacer and drainage collection channel. © Hydroponic Systems A practical entry into hydroponic cultivation The ECO system allows for substrate cultivation using a simple and functional solution, designed for growers who need to improve drainage management without the upfront investment of a complex system.
The plant develops in a more controlled environment, with a technical base that facilitates separation from the soil, drainage, and cleaner operation of the facility. The role of the Spacer: aeration, separation and root One of the key elements of the system is the Spacer, a component designed to separate the substrate from the drainage collection area.
© Hydroponic Systems Drainage collection channel The installed system incorporates a drainage collection channel, an essential component for growers seeking to move towards more efficient agriculture. By separating the crop from the soil and working with substrates, defined drainage systems, and controlled fertigation, growers can make more informed decisions.
Why this matters: For operators, this is a water-management story. The useful signal is that direct substrate measurements can help cut drain loss materially without giving up yield or fruit quality, which is exactly the kind of controllable efficiency gain a facility can build on.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does substrate sensing matter in free-drain strawberry systems?
Because drain percentage tells a grower what already happened, while substrate moisture and EC data show root-zone conditions directly. That makes it easier to cut water loss without guessing.
What is the operator takeaway from this trial?
If the thresholds are understood well enough, growers can reduce drain water materially while protecting yield and fruit quality, which makes sensing an operational tool instead of a reporting tool.
