Unclogging NFT Emitter and Inlet Tubes
A grower’s worst nightmare is to walk into their controlled environment production facility and see a nutrient film technique channel full of wilted or dead plants. The likely culprit is a clogged NFT system needs immediate attention. Here are a few simple tricks to help unclog emitters and/or inlet tubes. Check to see if your system has the type of emitter that can be taken apart. If you do, carefully unscrew the two parts, and within it you will find a baffle disk that controls the flow of water. Gently remove any algae or debris from within the emitter and baffle. If this does not alleviate the problem, the next step is to insert the nozzle from a can of compressed air (ie. gas duster, canned air, etc.) into the tubbing. Press down on the trigger to release the compressed gas into the tubing, which should release any material that has clogged the system. These steps can also be taken as a preventative measure to ensure your system is free of clogs.
Roberto Lopez
Associate Professor and Floriculture/Controlled Environment Extension Specialist, Michigan State UniversityRoberto G. Lopez is an Associate Professor and Floriculture/Controlled Environment Extension Specialist at Michigan State University. He has an appointment in research, teaching and extension. His area of expertise is; controlled environment specialty crop production; Lighting applications for greenhouses and indoor vertical production; light-emitting diodes; young plant propagation.
