Hydroponic Wheat Fodder Production: Low cost green house system

Green wheat sprout (Triticum aestivum) was produced in a hydroponic fodder production unit of Research Dairy Farm, Department of Dairy Science, Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU), Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh (24⁰43′46.5′′N, 90⁰25′22.8″E). Hydroponic wheat fodder was produced in a low-cost type hydroponic sprouting house (21 × 12 × 10 ft3) for one month and per day production aptitude was 50 kg fresh fodder. This housing system consists of locally available insulating materials i.e. polythene, gunny bag etc., wooden shelves, electric fan, light, thermometer, hygrometer and manual sprinklers. The sprouting unit had two wooden shelves (20 × 1 × 5 ft3) with each a capacity of up to 53 hydroponic aluminum trays (30×12×1.5 inch3 /tray). Growing trays (105) had a seed capacity of 450 g, and 15-20 small pores for excess water drainage. For irrigation, hand sprinklers and tap water were used. Total 8 batches of hydroponic fodder of different stages (from seed to day 8 sprout) were produced continuously in the hydroponic production unit. Every day one batch (day 0) enters into the process and one batch (day 8) was harvested.
Wheat seeds (BARI Gom 26) were collected from the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation BADC, Mymensingh sadar, Mymensingh-2200, Bangladesh. Collected seeds were then sun dried to reduce its moisture at 12-14% for better storage and germination. Planting trays were washed with caustic detergent and disinfected with bleaching powder, and then sun dried before starting a new batch. Every day, weighed seeds (around 6.75 kg; 450g for each of the 15 trays of one batch) were cleaned from debris and other foreign materials through washing by tap water. Later, seeds were soaked in fresh water for 12 hours. Then, all water has been drained out and grains were hanging in a perforated bucket for 1 h (breathing time) to become externally water-free. For germination, grains were wrapped with a cotton cloth and filled into the gunny bag and, about 85% germination took place within 24 hours. Then, germinated and non-germinated seeds were transplanted and sprayed on sterilized aluminum trays. Water was given through sprinklers to the wheat sprout up to 8th day morning at intervals of 3 hours for keeping it moist all the time. Care was also taken to avoid accumulation of water to prevent growth of the fungus. The trays were switched from one row to another each day and from one side to the other to complement the 8-day period from germination state to harvesting time.