Chungnam Agricultural Research Institute develops multi-tier hydroponic technology for chives

The Chungnam Agricultural Research Institute has developed a multi-tier hydroponic cultivation technology designed to increase the productivity of chives and enable year-round production. This technology is specifically tailored for small-to-medium-sized smart farms.

By transitioning from soil-based cultivation to hydroponics, the method aims to reduce continuous cropping obstacles and improve management efficiency. In trials conducted in small single-span greenhouses, the two-tier cultivation method resulted in an annual yield 2.4 times higher than traditional single-tier cultivation.

Chives are a significant crop in Chungnam, which accounts for approximately 40% of South Korea's total cultivation area with 1,400 hectares. The institute is currently conducting additional research on nutrient solution supply frequency, concentration, and the use of artificial light to establish standardized management criteria before expanding the technology to local farms.