Also known as the reservoir method or floating raft, DWC permits the crops' roots to be suspended in the nutrient solution. The air pump oxygenates the solution which keeps the roots from drowning. DWC should be keep away from light at at times due to algae growth. A primary benefit of this system is that there are no emitters to be clogged.
This technique works like a drip system providing a slow feed of nutrient solution to the growing medium using small emitters to drip nutrients directly to the roots of the crop. When the solution reaches the indicated level inside the bucket, the excess solution is directed into the return line back into the reservoir to be recirculated again.
This system entails a continuous film of nutrient solution running over the plant roots with a slight tilt in the channel that allows the solution to flow using gravity. This permits the roots of the plants to be in contact with the nutrient solution and be exposed to air (oxygen) 24/7 which promotes an optimal growth rate.
