NFT vs DWC Hydroponics: What's Right For You?

3 days ago

6 min read

Did you know hydroponics can save up to 90% more water than traditional farming methods? A study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health in 2015 shows that hydroponic lettuce can provide around 11x more yield per square metre, and saves 92% less water per kg of lettuce.

With less water available, less land and the increased demand for fresh vegetables, hydroponics is becoming an appealing option. There are many options for hydroponics. Two popular choices for growing leafy greens and herbs are NFT and DWC.

Which provides better growth, cheaper set-up costs, ease of maintenance and most efficient results?

This article will go through the main differences between NFT and DWC including benefits, drawbacks, costs and which crops are best suited.

Summary:-

NFT (Nutrient Film Technique): A narrow stream of water rich in nutrients is used to feed the plants roots. Best used for leafy greens and herbs.
DWC (Deep Water Culture): This technique suspends the plants roots into a well aerated solution of nutrients. An easy way for beginners to grow.
NFT: Best for saving space and producing leafy greens commercially if there is good water flow.
DWC: Easier and cheaper to set up on a smaller scale.
Water and Electricity: A constant water flow is required for NFT. DWC requires a constant aeration.
Plants will grow well if there is a good balance of nutrients, oxygen, and water temperature. This isn’t dependent on the type of hydroponic.
Depending on your budget, space, choice of crops and what you want to achieve with your farming Agrijoy would recommend choosing a system which best suits your needs.

What Is an NFT System?

These systems work by having a thin film of nutrient rich water flowing down the slope of the channels where the plant roots are. The water is pumped around from the reservoir containing the nutrients. The plants have most of their root mass exposed to the humid air so they can take up oxygen.

Advantages of a NFT System

Water Efficient: As the nutrient is recirculated there is less water wasted.

Space Saving: The channels can be laid out horizontally or vertically in a suitable layout.

Easy Harvesting:The channels are easy to access meaning your crops can easily be monitored and harvested. It is also great for growing leafy crops such as lettuce, basil, spinach and many herbs.

Disadvantages of a NFT System

A reliable power source is needed to keep the water constantly moving. If the pump breaks or gets blocked the plants will quickly become stressed. Larger roots can block up the nutrient flow.

The channels need to be cleaned regularly. NFT is great for someone wanting to grow lots of leafy vegetables in a small area.

What Is a DWC System?

This system keeps the plant roots submerged in nutrient rich water. This can be done by using net pots, lids or floating rafts to hold the plants up. An air pump and air stones are used to provide oxygen to the submerged roots.

Unlike NFT the roots will have constant access to more nutrient solution.

Advantages

Easy to set up: Simple layouts can be set up easily. Constant access to nutrients.

Stable root environment: Larger reservoirs can create a more stable environment for the roots.

Simplicity: Small bucket systems can be set up with very few parts.

Disadvantages

Air pumps need to be reliable to provide enough dissolved oxygen. Warm water with low oxygen can cause root problems. More water is required to fill up larger reservoirs. Raft systems can take up more floor space and require some support. It is a great place to start for beginners wanting to learn about managing nutrients in hydroponics.

NFT vs DWC Hydroponics: What is the Difference?

Understanding the difference between these two growing methods can help you choose the best one.

Comparison Factor	NFT Hydroponics	DWC Hydroponics
Growing method	Thin flowing nutrient film	Roots submerged in nutrient solution
Water movement	Continuous circulation	Aeration; optional circulation
Oxygen supply	Air exposure around roots	Air pump and air stones
Initial setup	More plumbing and channels	Simple for small systems
Space requirement	Suitable for compact layouts	More reservoir space
Water volume	Generally lower	Generally higher
Best crops	Lettuce, herbs, leafy greens	Lettuce, basil, leafy greens
Power failure risk	Roots may dry quickly	Oxygen gradually becomes limited
Maintenance	Pumps, channels, flow	Aeration, reservoir, water quality

They both can be used to grow healthy plants.

NFT vs DWC – Which is the Cheapest?

Cost is an important factor to consider.

NFT Hydroponics Costs

NFT usually requires channels, reservoir, pipework, supports and a water pump.

It can be cheap to install with many parts but can be a good option for leafy green growing due to the increased plant density. The volume of water being cycled is also quite low so some adjustments can be made with ease.

DWC Hydroponics Costs

Small DWC systems can be cheap to build with just a container, net pots, nutrient and aeration. Larger commercial units may require large tanks, rafts and air systems.

Verdict: DWC is often cheaper to set up on a small scale for beginners but NFT can give a better use of space for some commercial leafy green growing. How profitable your system will be will depend on yield, energy, labour and market demand.

Which will Grow Better Plants?

Both systems will help plants grow well if there are enough nutrients and oxygen in the roots. NFT provides constant flow of nutrients and good oxygenation of roots so is a good option for quick growing plants that are not too heavy.

DWC provides constant moisture to the roots and a fairly constant level of nutrients. However, if there is not enough aeration this can impact plants quickly.

Neither system will guarantee quicker growth.

Light levels, nutrient strength, pH, dissolved oxygen levels, water temperature and type of crop will all have a bigger impact.

NFT vs DWC: Considerations for Indian Climates

Growers in India will need to consider high summer temperatures, reliable electricity and water management. Channels in NFT can get hot quickly in direct sunlight causing stress in the root zone. Using insulated reservoirs, shaded channels and backup power can help reduce this.

Reservoirs in DWC will generally be less prone to temperature change due to having more water. However, the nutrient solution will have less dissolved oxygen when it is warm. Good aeration is important.

If you have rooftop gardens or limited space NFT can be a good option if you can manage the electricity and temperature. If you are a beginner trying out leafy vegetables a small DWC unit can make things easier to learn.

How do I decide whether to use NFT or DWC?

Consider your needs when looking to invest.

NFT hydroponics will be better suited to:

Growing lettuce, herbs and other small leafy greens.
Less space to grow.
Easy water flow.
An organised and scalable growing system.

DWC hydroponics will be better suited to:

New hydroponics grower.
Simple bucket or raft systems.
Enough space for nutrient reservoirs.
Ability to constantly aerate and control water temperatures.

If growing large fruiting crops such as tomatoes, cucumber and capsicum, you may find that a drip or Dutch bucket system with a substrate will be best suited to these.

FAQs

1. Is it better to start with NFT or DWC?

DWC systems tend to be easier for beginners, as they require fewer parts in the basic system and are easy to set up. However, you will need to constantly check the aeration, nutrient levels and water quality.

2. Is NFT a more water efficient system than DWC?

Generally NFT will use less water than DWC. However both systems can be set up to recirculate nutrients so this depends on what you are growing, along with how much water is lost due to evaporation, leaking and how well you manage your reservoir.

3. Can I grow the same things on NFT and DWC?

Yes. Both systems can grow lettuce, basil and many leafy green crops. NFT can be useful for smaller crops, whereas DWC can grow leafy crops with a larger root system with the right design.

4. Which system is easier to manage?

DWC systems can be easier to set up for smaller systems. However you will need to constantly check the aeration and clean your reservoir. NFT will require extra checks on your water pumps, channels, blockages and constant nutrients.

Grow your hydroponic farm with Agrijoy

Choosing between NFT and DWC depends on how much space you have, what you are growing, your budget and experience.

NFT would be a great choice for growing leafy greens in a space-saving way. Whereas DWC provides an easy way to get started.

We believe that choosing the right growing system for your goals will help ensure your hydroponic farm is successful.

Whether you are looking at hydroponics for your home or larger farming project, knowing the benefits of NFT and DWC can help you make a more informed investment. Find out more about hydroponic growing with Agrijoy.