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Potato growth and yield using nutrient film technique (NFT)Potato plants, cvs Denali and Norland, were grown in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) trays using a continuous flowing nutrient film technique (NFT) to study tuber yield for NASA's Controlled Ecological Life Support Systems (CELSS) program. Nutrient solution pH was controlled automatically using 0.39M (2.5% (v/v) nitric acid (HNO3), while water and nutrients were replenished manually each day and twice each week, respectively. Plants were spaced either one or two per tray, allotting 0.2 or 0.4 m2 per plant. All plants were harvested after 112 days. Denali plants yielded 2850 and 2800 g tuber fresh weight from the one- and two-plant trays, respectively, while Norland plants yielded 1800 and 2400 g tuber fresh weight from the one- and two-plant trays. Many tubers of both cultivars showed injury to the periderm tissue, possibly caused by salt accumulation from the nutrient solution on the surface. Total system water usage throughout the study for all the plants equaled 709 liters (L), or approximately 2 L m-2 d-1. Total system acid usage throughout the study (for nutrient solution pH control) equaled 6.60 L, or 18.4 ml m-2 d-1 (7.2 mmol m-2 d-1). The results demonstrate that continuous flowing nutrient film technique can be used for tuber production with acceptable yields for the CELSS program.
Document ID
20040112117
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Wheeler, R. M.
(NASA Kennedy Space Center Cocoa Beach FL United States)
Mackowiak, C. L.
Sager, J. C.
Knott, W. M.
Hinkle, C. R.
Date Acquired
August 21, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1990
Publication Information
Publication: American potato journal
Volume: 67
ISSN: 0003-0589
Subject Category
Man/System Technology And Life Support
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
Keywords
NASA Discipline Number 61-20
NASA Center KSC
NASA Discipline Life Support Systems
NASA Program CELSS

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