Runoff (atau drain-to-waste) mengacu pada larutan nutrisi yang mengalir keluar dari media tanam setelah setiap siklus irigasi dan tidak didaur ulang. Memantau pH dan EC runoff mengungkapkan kondisi aktual di zona akar yang dapat berbeda signifikan dari larutan masukan.
Fakta utama
- Drain-to-waste systems use runoff to flush salt build-up β typically 10β20% runoff per irrigation
- Runoff EC higher than input EC indicates salt accumulation in the medium
- Runoff EC lower than input EC indicates the plant is consuming more nutrients than it receives
- Runoff pH outside 5.5β6.5 signals a root zone chemistry problem requiring correction
- Recirculating systems capture and reuse runoff β less waste but requires regular solution changes
- Coco coir growers typically target 20β30% runoff per feeding to maintain a clean root zone