INTRODUCING A POTENTIALLY ORGANIC HYDROPONICS SYSTEM IN PRODUCTION OF POT GERBERA FLOWERS

Soil-less culture creates a number of superiorities against custom methods and some limitations on the other hand. In this research, we are trying to create a hybrid technique that could possess more benefits and fewer problems compared to both traditional soil culture and Hydroponics. In this hybrid method, the typical nutrient solution cycling system is similar to conventional closed hydroponic systems while the soil remains to be the source of nutrient. An organic soil was gathered from topsoil of a forest area in northern Iran. The water is passed through soil intended to exchange the secretions of roots with soil nutrients and the resulting extracted nutrient solution is recycled back to plant’s root supplying the nutrients to plant. Nitrogen-fixing bacteria in an inline bioreactor were responsible for supplying plant nitrogen demand. The test lasted near six month. The results show that even though the chemical system was superior in leaf count, chlorophyll content, shoot fresh weight and fresh biomass but could not surpass the organic system in root parameters (volume, fresh and dry weight) and dry biomass accumulation. The plants could manage to extract the necessary elements from the soil indirectly. The outcome suggest considering further optimizations towards an organic hydroponic system that could be considered sustainable.