7.2.3 Key Idea of AeroHydro Culture at High Groundwater
Levels
AeroHydro culture is defined as plants grown at high GWL with oxygen and
nutrients supplied from the land surface to the peatland. Thus, the AeroHydro culture
system is composed of two key parts: groundwater level management and land
surface management.
In submerged conditions, oxygen is a limited element because the oxygen
solubilization into the water is too low. Thus, plants cannot grow well in this
submerged condition. Therefore, conventional culture systems have been developing technology to reduce groundwater levels by drainage, which is referred to here as
“drainage-oriented water management” (Fig. 7.2, right side). However, drainageoriented water management has been causing disasters in peatland ecosystems due to
fires and microorganism decomposition, which were recently accelerated by El
Niño.
7.2.4 Key Ideas in AeroHydro Culture Media
Here, the AeroHydro culture system is proposed to enhance storage-based water
management (Fig 7.2, left side). The key concept of this AeroHydro culture system
Peatland Surface
O 2
Nutrient
Water
Ground Water Level
Lateral Root
(Aerial Root)
Main Root
AeroHydro Culture
Irrigation System
(storage-oriented
water management)
Peatland Surface
Water
Ground Water Level
Main Root
Conventional Culture
Drainage System
(drainage-oriented
water management)
Lateral Root
Fig. 7.2 The innovative AeroHydro culture system for plant growth at high groundwater levels
with “storage-based water management” (left side). Conventional culture system for plant growth
and peat degradation at low GWLs with “drainage-based water management” (right side)
7 Principles of AeroHydro Culture
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