At the World Horti Center, and under the guidance of Bas Dirven of Meteor Systems, along with Cor van Staalduinen and Jeroen Sanders from Vertify, an experiment was conducted to test various water techniques for indoor spinach cultivation.
This was done using hydroponic floating rafts in a pond and in the latest ebb and flow roller container system developed by Meteor Systems. "The latter system is the result of years of research into different water growing techniques to maximize growth with minimal water, even in enclosed environments without the need for sunlight," says Bas.
A significant finding is the difference in water usage. The roots of plants in a pond float in a generous amount of water 24 hours a day, whereas in the ebb-and-flow roller container system, due to the thin layer of water, the roots are not always moist. "The result is that less water is needed to grow spinach year-round."
"However, after the first cultivation cycle, we are not done; the testing continues", says Bas. "The current challenge is to be able to cultivate multiple cycles in the same water, as spinach is known to poison its own water through root exudates. These are substances released by the roots during growth and can serve various functions, such as attracting beneficial microorganisms, improving nutrient absorption, or repelling harmful organisms. These substances include sugars, organic acids, amino acids, and even antibiotics."
For more information:
Meteor Systems 
Minervum 7081
4817 ZK Breda
Tel: +31 (0)76 504 2842
[email protected]
www.meteorsystems.nl
Vertify
Europa 1
2672 ZX Naaldwijk
T: +31 (0)228 563 164
[email protected]
www.vertify.nl
