I'm sure this
brilliant BYAP thread has already done the rounds here, but the issue they tested for keeps popping up.
In this 2010 trial from Australia, they compared a variety of types of veggies grown in three systems, identical except for the method of supplying
water:
Constant SiphonConstantly FloodedTimed Flood and Drain (15/45 min)
The result from this small 18 month trial is that timed flood-drain wins, hands down, across most plant types with faster plant growth, more worms, and larger fish. It also used less
energy since the pump switched on and off.
The constant-flood and bell siphon systems traded back and forth for 2nd place. In the end, certain kinds of plants did better in constant flood and others with the siphon.
They provided no explanations for why they thought the results were what they were, though others made a lot of speculations across the 40-page
thread. They were trying to be un-biased, so avoided making judgments.
One of the most interesting findings, to me, was that the systems all tracked along a consistent temperature profile. I would have suspected that the flood and drain would have been cooler due to more evaporation, but it didn't happen that way. This might have implications for
cold weather.
The fact that constant flood and siphon systems did just as well as each-other in growth makes me think that constant flood would have the edge over siphon, since you don't need a sump tank. On the other hand, it did produce a lot of slugs.
Flood-drain with an
indexing valve wouldn't need a sump tank either. You would need a
larger pump though.
There are many more pictures, detailed figures, and helpful comments on the thread. It's an education.
Here are some pictures, though this is after 18 months of crop rotation and harvesting:
Siphon
Constant Flood
Flood Drain