본 연구는 섬유 제조과정에서 발생하는 파쇄섬유 및 버려지는 의류 등의 합성섬유를 과채류 수경재배용 배지로 활용하기 위하여 적용 가능성을 여러 방면에서 검토하였으며 그 결과는 다음과 같다. 물리성 분석에서 합성섬유 배지는 암면에 비해 가비중과 고상률은 약간 낮았고, 기상률과 수분함량은 높았다. 화학성은 pH 6.5, EC 0.03dS·m-1로 암면의 6.6과 0.01dS·m-1와 큰 차이가 없었으며, CEC는 0.39me/100mL로 암면의 3.29me/100mL보다 낮았고, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+등의 양이온 함량은 합성섬유 배지에서 약간 높았다. 모모따로 토마토 재배에서, 합성섬유 배지는 초장, 경경, 화방별 첫꽃 개화소요일수 등 생육은 암면 배지에서와 차이가 없었다. 1과중은 각각 182g과 181g, 상품과율은 각각 93.8%와 92.0%로 두 배지간에 큰 차이가 없었으며, 10a당 상품수량은 합성섬유 배지에서 암면 배지의 97%수준인 12,799kg이었다. 수출오이 재배시, 합성섬유와 암면 배지간의 엽장, 엽폭, 엽수, 경경, 엽록소 함량 등 생육 차이는 없었다. 1과중은 암면 배지에서 높았으나, 상품률은 합성섬유 배지에서 약간 높았다 10a당 상품수량은 합성섬유 배지에서 5,062kg으로 암면 배지에서보다 오히려 2% 증가하였다. 재배기간 동안 근권 양액의 무기이온 농도는 NO3 - 농도만 암면 배지에서 높았을 뿐, NH4+, H2PO4- , K+ Ca2+, Mg2+, SO42- 등의 다른 이온들의 농도는 두 배지간에 유의한 차이가 없었다.
This study was carried out to develop a novel hydroponic medium far fruit vegetable crops by using waste synthetic fibers. In physical analysis of the synthetic fiber medium (SFM), the bulk density and percent solid phase were lower, while the porosity and water content were greater in comparison with the rockwool slab. The SFM had pH of 6.5 and EC of 0.03dS·m-1 both of which are similar to those of the rockwool slab. The CEC of 0.39me/100mL of the SFM was lower than compared with 3.29me/100mL of the rockwool slab. However, concentrations K, Ca, Mg and Na were slightly higher in the SFM than those in the rockwool slab. The 'Momotaro' tomato crop in the SFM gave comparable plant height, stem diameter, days to first flowering, fruit weight and percent marketable yield as the rockwool slab. In the SFM and in the rockwool slab, mean fiuit weight were 182g and 181g, percent marketable yield were 93.8% and 92.0%, respectively. The marketable yield per 10a in the SFM was 12,799 kg, which was 97% of that in the rockwool slab. Growth parameters such as leaf length and width, leaf number, stem diameter and chlorophyll content of an exportable cucumber crop grown in the SFM and the rockwool slab were not different. Fruit weight was greater in the rockwool slab, while percent marketable yield was greater in the SFM. The marketable fruit yield per 10a of 5,062kg in the SFM was 2% greater than that in the rockwool slab. NO3 concentration in nutrient solution during the crop cultivation was higher in the SFM than in the rockwool slab, while concentrations NH4, K, Ca, Mg and SO4 were not different between the two media.