Greenhouse Production Systems
Substrate Culture Systems
Trough Bench System
In a trough bench system, the potted plants are placed in shallow, sloped troughs (gutters) on the top of a rolling bench stand (See Figure 14.10). However, some troughs afford enough room to space two rows of plants side by side. Trough systems are typically constructed from marine-grade aluminum, flat on the bottom with short sides. Troughs are sometimes lined with a capillary mat to counter the tendency for channeling in the shallow flow. In all cases, the trough is mounted on some type of support structure with a slight grade (2 to 3%) from one end to the other to facilitate the flow of nutrient solution.
Advantages and Disadvantages
The advantage of the trough bench system over the ebb-and-flood system is better air circulation through the plant canopy. The space between troughs allows natural convection currents to move up through the bench platform and the plants, which results in drier plants and consequently less foliar disease. Another advantage is the ability to space the troughs for different size pots. When plants are placed in troughs, most growers can easily reach the middle rows in order to provide optimal plant care to every crop.
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