Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42054324›Full record

ArticlePloS one2026

Layers to leaves: A suite of modular 3D printed hydroponics components for research and education.

Ethan A Shaw, Suraj K Chandramouli, Michael P Dzakovich

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Ethan A ShawDepartment of Pediatrics, USDA-ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0007-0236-670X
Suraj K ChandramouliDepartment of Pediatrics, USDA-ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America.
Michael P DzakovichDepartment of Pediatrics, USDA-ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1375-427X

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Hydroponics is a widely utilized technique to precisely control the plant growing environment and maximize productivity. In some cases, hydroponics systems can be expensive and require specialized expertise to build and maintain. Here, we present a suite of 3D-printed devices that can be constructed into a single or double tower hydroponics system of variable height and composition. This system is easily scalable to fit the needs of a user and can be implemented in a variety of research and educational contexts. Components in this suite can be made from inexpensive plastic filament using household-grade 3D printers. The vertical design of these systems allows for users to maximize space-use-efficiency in growth chambers, greenhouses, or even classrooms. We describe the construction of our system and provide example data from a validation study growing spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) under different salinity conditions. Data generated by our 3D printed system were comparable to those generated using traditional deep water culture. This suite of 3D printed components can be utilized by researchers and educators alike to capitalize on the benefits of hydroponics in a flexible, budget-friendly way.

Indexed as

HydroponicsPlant LeavesPrinting, Three-DimensionalSpinacia oleraceaResearch

Identifiers

PMID42054324
PMCPMC13127910

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC0
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.