{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"TechArticle","id":"TR-RTZ-001","slug":"nutrient-reservoir","canonical_url":"https://flavorotor.com/research/nutrient-reservoir","machine_readable_url":"https://flavorotor.com/research/data/chapters/nutrient-reservoir.json","markdown_url":"https://flavorotor.com/research/markdown/nutrient-reservoir","title":"Nutrient reservoir and root-zone exposure","description":"Reservoir volume, mixing, sequential immersion, oxygenation, sanitation and the variables required for repeatable root-zone exposure.","chapter":"Experimental platform","version":"1.1","updated":"2026-07-26","table_of_contents":[{"id":"function","label":"Function"},{"id":"state","label":"Required reservoir state"},{"id":"mixing","label":"Mixing validation"},{"id":"mass-balance","label":"Volume balance"},{"id":"provenance","label":"FlavoRotor design provenance"}],"html":"<section aria-label=\"Article summary\" class=\"fr-article-summary\"><div><span>In brief</span><p>Reservoir volume, mixing, sequential immersion, oxygenation, sanitation and the variables required for repeatable root-zone exposure.</p></div></section><h2 id=\"function\">Function</h2>\n<p>The reservoir is both the nutrient-solution storage volume and the sequential root-contact zone. This reduces the need for a separate recirculation circuit, but it makes liquid level, mixing, temperature, oxygen and carry-over central experimental variables.</p>\n<h2 id=\"state\">Required reservoir state</h2>\n<div class=\"table-wrap\"><table><thead><tr><th>Variable</th><th>Why it matters</th><th>Minimum record</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Working volume</td><td>converts dose volume into concentration change</td><td>pre- and post-dose volume or level</td></tr><tr><td>Liquid level</td><td>sets immersion depth and time</td><td>continuous or per-cycle level</td></tr><tr><td>Temperature</td><td>affects roots, electrode response and oxygen solubility</td><td>logged °C</td></tr><tr><td>pH</td><td>affects nutrient speciation and uptake</td><td>calibrated pH trace</td></tr><tr><td>EC</td><td>bulk ionic-strength proxy</td><td>temperature-corrected EC trace</td></tr><tr><td>Dissolved oxygen</td><td>root-zone aeration indicator</td><td>DO where instrumentation is available</td></tr><tr><td>Mixing time</td><td>determines when feedback is valid</td><td>step-response test</td></tr><tr><td>Sanitation state</td><td>controls biological carry-over</td><td>cleaning batch and verification</td></tr></tbody></table></div>\n<h2 id=\"mixing\">Mixing validation</h2>\n<p>Inject a harmless conductivity tracer or a small controlled nutrient-stock dose at the normal dosing point. Measure EC at the control sensor and at representative reservoir positions until all readings remain within the predefined mixing tolerance. The maximum observed stabilisation time becomes the minimum feedback delay.</p>\n<h2 id=\"mass-balance\">Volume balance</h2>\n<div class=\"equation\"><div class=\"equation-label\">RTZ-1</div><div class=\"equation-text\">V<sub>R,k+1</sub> = V<sub>R,k</sub> + Σv<sub>dose</sub> + v<sub>water</sub> − v<sub>sampling</sub> − v<sub>loss</sub></div><div class=\"equation-desc\">Reservoir working-volume update for a control interval.</div></div>\n<h2 id=\"provenance\">FlavoRotor design provenance</h2><p>The system-specific configuration on this page is traced to the supplied FlavoRotor engineering records. <button aria-label=\"Open source record I01\" class=\"research-source-trigger\" data-research-source=\"I01\" type=\"button\">[I01]</button> <button aria-label=\"Open source record I02\" class=\"research-source-trigger\" data-research-source=\"I02\" type=\"button\">[I02]</button></p>","text":"In brief Reservoir volume, mixing, sequential immersion, oxygenation, sanitation and the variables required for repeatable root-zone exposure. Function The reservoir is both the nutrient-solution storage volume and the sequential root-contact zone. This reduces the need for a separate recirculation circuit, but it makes liquid level, mixing, temperature, oxygen and carry-over central experimental variables. Required reservoir state Variable Why it matters Minimum record Working volume converts dose volume into concentration change pre- and post-dose volume or level Liquid level sets immersion depth and time continuous or per-cycle level Temperature affects roots, electrode response and oxygen solubility logged °C pH affects nutrient speciation and uptake calibrated pH trace EC bulk ionic-strength proxy temperature-corrected EC trace Dissolved oxygen root-zone aeration indicator DO where instrumentation is available Mixing time determines when feedback is valid step-response test Sanitation state controls biological carry-over cleaning batch and verification Mixing validation Inject a harmless conductivity tracer or a small controlled nutrient-stock dose at the normal dosing point. Measure EC at the control sensor and at representative reservoir positions until all readings remain within the predefined mixing tolerance. The maximum observed stabilisation time becomes the minimum feedback delay. Volume balance RTZ-1 V R,k+1 = V R,k + Σv dose + v water − v sampling − v loss Reservoir working-volume update for a control interval. FlavoRotor design provenance The system-specific configuration on this page is traced to the supplied FlavoRotor engineering records. [I01] [I02]","source_ids":["I01","I02"],"visuals":[],"sources":[{"id":"I01","authors":"FlavoRotor project team","year":2026,"title":"FlavoRotor prototype implementation record","publication":"Internal engineering report","doi":null,"url":"/research/platform","source_type":"internal primary record","relevance":"Documents the built rotating prototype, sensing electronics, dashboard and current validation limitations.","verification":"Derived from the original FlavoRotor project document","verified_on":"2026-07-26","verification_status":"INTERNAL PRIMARY RECORD","verified_against":"Original internal project file and extracted media"},{"id":"I02","authors":"FlavoRotor project team","year":2026,"title":"FlavoRotor v2.0 system architecture","publication":"Internal engineering design report","doi":null,"url":"/research/platform","source_type":"internal primary record","relevance":"Documents the proposed magnetic drive, axial lighting, four-channel peristaltic dosing and imaging architecture.","verification":"Derived from the original FlavoRotor v2.0 engineering document","verified_on":"2026-07-26","verification_status":"INTERNAL PRIMARY RECORD","verified_against":"Original internal project file and extracted media"}]}