Comparison of Basal Physicochemical Changes of Reused Rockwool Substrate in Hydroponic Tomato Cultivation

Jae Seong Lee; Jong Hwa Shin

doi:10.12791/KSBEC.2024.33.2.114

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2024 Vol.33, Issue 2 Preview Page Next Page

Original Articles

Comparison of Basal Physicochemical Changes of Reused Rockwool Substrate in Hydroponic Tomato Cultivation 수경재배 토마토 재사용 암면 배지의 기초 물리화학성 변화 비교

30 April 2024. pp. 114-119

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Abstract

Rockwool substrate has superior physicochemical characteristics and is often used in crop cultivation. However, rockwool substrate has the disadvantages of high purchase cost and difficulty in disposal. Reuse of substrate can compensate for these disadvantages. Substrate must be disinfected and rehydrated during reuse, and various physicochemical changes during this process must also be considered. This study was to compare the physical properties of two types of rockwool substrates (reused and unused) and to evaluate the reuse potential of rockwool substrate by analyzing the chemical properties of the reused rockwool substrate during the rehydration process. The experiment on substrate physicochemical properties comparison was conducted from March to August 2023 using used rockwool substrates in tomato cultivation and unused rockwool substrates. Drainage time, drainage volume, and substrate weight were measured using load cells installed at the top and bottom of the irrigation monitoring system. The reused rockwool substrate weight and density were higher than those of the unused rockwool substrate, while the average drainage time after irrigation was 1.5 times longer for the reused rockwool than for the unused rockwool. The salinity concentration in different parts of the reused rockwool substrate was found to be lower in the reused rockwool substrate compared to the unused rockwool substrate. The electrical conductivity of the drainage was at its peak at the beginning of the drainage and decreased exponentially as the drainage volume increased. Change in electrical conductivity of the drainage over the irrigation time showed an exponential decay pattern. Through the experiments, the potential reusability of the rock wool substrate was assessed by conducting a comparative analysis of its physicochemical properties.

Keywords

Drainage

Electric conductivity (EC)

Load-cell

Rockwool slab

Substrate

암면은 우수한 물리화학적 특성을 가지고 있어 작물 재배 생산에 많이 사용된다. 그러나 높은 구매 비용과 폐기가 용이하지 않다는 단점이 있다. 배지의 재사용은 이러한 단점을 보완할 수 있다. 배지는 재사용 시 소독 및 재수화 과정을 거쳐야 하며, 이 과정에서 발생되는 다양한 물리화학적 변화 또한 고려하여야 한다. 본 연구는 두 가지 암면배지(재사용, 미사용)의 물리적 특성을 비교하고, 재사용 암면 배지의 재수화 과정에서 발생하는 화학적 특성 분석을 통해 암면 배지의 재사용 가능성을 판단하고자 하였다. 배지 물리화학성 비교 실험은 2023년 3월부터 8월까지 토마토 재배에 사용된 암면배지와 미사용 암면배지를 이용하여 진행되었으며, 재배 기간 동안 암면에 공급된 배양액의 전기전도도와 pH는 각각 1.8-3.5 dS∙m^-1, 5.8-6.0이었다. 배수시간 및 배수량은 관수모니터링 시스템 상단 및 하단에 설치된 로드셀을 통해 측정되었다. 암면배지의 물리적 특성 비교에서 무게와 밀도는 재사용 암면배지에서 높은 경향을 보였으며, 포수 후 평균 배수 시간은 재사용 암면이 미사용 암면에 비해 1.5배 늦었다. 암면 배지의 부분별 염류 농도는 재사용 암면배지가 미사용 암면배지에 비해 낮게 나타났다. 관수 시간에 따른 배액의 전기전도도 변화는 배수가 시작되는 시점에서 가장 컸으며, 배액의 양이 증가할수록 급속하게 작아지는 경향을 보였다. 위 실험 결과를 통해 관수시간 및 관수량과 배액의 전기전도도 변화율은 exponential decay한 관계를 보였다.

키워드

로드셀

배수

배지

암면 슬라브

전기전도도(EC)

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Information

Publisher :The Korean Society for Bio-Environment Control
Publisher(Ko) :(사)한국생물환경조절학회
Journal Title :Journal of Bio-Environment Control
Journal Title(Ko) :생물환경조절학회지
Volume : 33
No :2
Pages :114-119
Received Date : 2023-12-28
Revised Date : 2024-04-29
Accepted Date : 2024-04-29
DOI :https://doi.org/10.12791/KSBEC.2024.33.2.114

Journal of Bio-Environment Control ISSN:1229-4675(Print) 2765-3641(Online) 생물환경조절학회지

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