Nanobubble water at Rucon Hydroponics: germination, growth and summer crops
Higher germination in every crop tested, faster seedlings and a resilient basil crop through the summer, from a NanOxy 5.
Summary
Rucon Hydroponics ran nanobubble-treated water against regular water across seedlings, basil and microgreens. Germination was higher in all four crops tested, averaging 80.25% against 69.75%.
Basil seedlings grew visibly faster, with an estimated 25% larger size at the photographed stage. The farm team reported stronger stems and shorter nodal spacing, basil that came through peak summer when the regular-water batch did not, and a slightly heavier microgreens harvest.
- Client
- Rucon Hydroponics
- Equipment
- NanOxy 5 oxygen nanobubble generator
- Water storage
- About 200 litres
- Trials
- Germination in four crops, basil growth and summer survival, microgreens harvest
- Crops
- Mini cucumber, red and yellow cherry tomato, basil, mustard, radish, red amaranth, sunflower
Germination
Every crop germinated better on nanobubble water. The oval red cherry tomato gained the most, 68% against 50%.
| Crop | Nanobubble water | Regular water | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mini cucumber | 83% | 73% | +10 points |
| Red cherry tomato, oval | 68% | 50% | +18 points |
| Red cherry tomato, round | 86% | 80% | +6 points |
| Yellow cherry tomato, round | 84% | 76% | +8 points |
| Average | 80.25% | 69.75% | +10.5 points |
Growth, resilience and harvest
Faster early growth
In side-by-side photographs of basil seedlings in identical trays, the nanobubble seedlings were further developed: seed leaves more fully open, stems longer, and a larger share of the tray past the first-leaf stage. Seed-leaf width against the tray cell gave an estimated 25% larger size (range 15 to 35%).
Stronger seedlings
The farm operator described stronger stems and shorter spacing between nodes in the nanobubble batch.
Basil in peak summer
In peak summer the regular-water basil batch was lost, while the nanobubble batch was comparatively less affected.
Microgreens
Mustard, radish, red amaranth and sunflower were grown on washed, sterilised coco-chip media. The nanobubble batch was reported slightly heavier at harvest.
Notes on the figures
- Germination averages are simple averages of the four reported percentages.
- The 25% growth figure is a visual estimate from side-by-side photographs.
- Summer survival, stem strength and harvest weight are observations reported by the farm team.
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