Hydroponics : a practical guide for the soilless grower / 2nd ed.

Front cover 1
Preface 6
J. Benton Jones, Jr. 7
Table of Contents 8
Chapter 1 16
Introduction 16
Hydroponic Definitions 16
Historical Past 18
Hydroponics in Space 18
Hydroponics/Soilless Culture 18
Advantages and Disadvantages 19
Advantages 19
Disadvantages 20
The Hydroponic Techniques 20
The Future of Hydroponics 22
Elemental Compound and Ion Symbol Designation 24
Chapter 2 26
How Plants Grow 26
Note 29
Chapter 3 30
Soil and Hydroponics 30
Chapter 4 34
The Plant Root: Its Roles and Functions 34
Water Content and Uptake 34
Ion Uptake 36
Physical Characteristics 39
Aeration 40
Root Surface Chemistry 42
Temperature 42
Root Growth and Plant Performance 43
Chapter 5 44
The Essential Elements 44
Explanation of Terms 48
Content in Plants 48
Function 49
Deficiency Symptoms 50
Excess Symptoms 50
Forms of Utilization 51
Effects on Roots and Elemental Uptake 51
Accumulation in the Rooting Medium 51
Concentration in a Nutrient Solution 52
Nutrient Solution Reagents 52
The Major Elements 52
Nitrogen (N) 53
Content in Plants 53
Function 53
Deficiency Symptoms 53
Excess Symptoms 54
Forms of Utilization 54
Ammonium versus Nitrate 54
Ammonium Toxicity 55
Effect on Roots and Elemental Uptake 55
Concentration in a Nutrient Solution 56
Control of the Concentration 56
Nutrient Solution Reagents 56
Phosphorus (P) 56
Content in Plants 56
Function 57
Deficiency Symptoms 57
Excess Symptoms 57
Concentration in a Nutrient Solution 57
Accumulation in the Rooting Medium 58
Nutrient Solution Reagents 58
Potassium (K) 58
Content in Plants 58
Function 59
Deficiency Symptoms 59
Balance among Cations 59
Excess Accumulation 60
Concentration in a Nutrient Solution 60
Nutrient Solution Reagents 60
Calcium (Ca) 60
Content in Plants 60
Function 61
Deficiency Symptoms 61
Excess Symptoms 61
Accumulation in the Rooting Medium 61
Concentration in a Nutrient Solution 62
Nutrient Solution Reagents 62
Magnesium (Mg) 62
Content in Plants 62
Function 63
Deficiency Symptoms 63
Excess Symptoms 63
Accumulation in the Rooting Medium 63
Concentration in a Nutrient Solution 64
Nutrient Solution Reagents 64
Sulfur (S) 64
Content in Plants 64
Function 64
Deficiency Symptoms 65
Accumulation in the Rooting Medium 65
Concentration in a Nutrient Solution 65
Nutrient Solution Reagents 66
The Micronutrients 66
Boron (B) 67
Content in Plants 67
Function 67
Deficiency Symptoms 67
Excess Symptoms 67
Concentration in a Nutrient Solution 68
Nutrient Solution Reagents 68
Chlorine (Cl) 68
Content in Plants 68
Function 68
Deficiency/Excess 68
Concentration in a Nutrient Solution 68
Copper (Cu) 69
Content in Plants 69
Function 69
Deficiency Symptoms 69
Excess Symptoms 69
Concentration in a Nutrient Solution 69
Nutrient Solution Reagents 70
Iron (Fe) 70
Content in Plants 70
Function 70
Deficiency Symptoms 70
Concentration in a Nutrient Solution 71
Forms of Utilization 72
Nutrient Solution Reagents 72
Manganese (Mn) 72
Content in Plants 72
Function 72
Deficiency Symptoms 73
Excess Symptoms 73
Concentration in a Nutrient Solution 73
Nutrient Solution Reagents 73
Molybdenum (Mo) 74
Content in Plants 74
Function 74
Deficiency Symptoms 74
Concentration in a Nutrient Solution 74
Nutrient Solution Reagents 74
Zinc (Zn) 74
Content in Plants 74
Function 75
Deficiency Symptoms 75
Excess Symptoms 75
Concentration in a Nutrient Solution 75
Nutrient Solution Reagents 76
Summary 76
Chapter 6 78
The Beneficial Elements 78
Cobalt (Co) 80
Silicon (Si) 81
Nickel (Ni) 81
Vanadium (V) 82
Element Substitution 82
New Beneficial Elements 82
Summary 82
Humic Acid 84
Chapter 7 86
The Nutrient Solution 86
Water Quality 87
pH 91
Water and Nutrient Solution Filtering 92
Weights and Measures 93
Reagents 94
Nutrient Solution Formulations 95
Elemental Concentrations in Nutrient Solutions 99
General Purpose/Use Formulations 104
Crop Requirement Adjustments of the Nutrient Solution 104
Nutrient Solution Control 104
pH 116
Temperature 120
Electrical Conductivity (EC) 121
Oxygenation 121
Methods and Timing of Nutrient Solution Delivery 122
Constancy 127
Programmable Controllers 127
Summary 128
Chapter 8 132
Systems of Hydroponic/ Soilless Culture 132
Container Growing 132
Media Hydroponic/Soilless Culture 134
Regulating Water and Nutrient Element Requirements 135
Active and Passive Systems of Nutrient Solution Distribution 136
Chapter 9 138
Systems of Hydroponic Culture 138
Mediumless Hydroponic Systems 138
Standing Aerated Nutrient Solution 138
Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) 142
Aeroponics 157
Medium Hydroponic Systems 158
Ebb-and-Flow Nutrient Solution Systems 158
Drip/Pass-Through Inorganic Medium Systems 160
Inorganic Rooting Medium in Bags or Pots/Buckets 161
Rockwool Slab Medium 163
Chapter 10 168
Organic Media Soilless Culture 168
Physical and Chemical Properties 168
Organic Soilless Mix Formulas 171
Limestone and Fertilizer Additions 174
Growing Techniques 176
Unique Application 177
Chapter 11 182
Hydroponic Cropping 182
Introduction 182
Progressive Developments 187
Nutrient Solution Formulations and Their Use 190
Cultivar/Variety Availability and Selection 190
Grower Skill and Competence 191
Home Gardener/Hobby Hydroponic Grower 192
Outdoor Hydroponics 195
Hydroponic Crops 196
Factors for Success 197
Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill) 202
Introduction 202
Transplant Seedlings 206
Grafting 207
Crop Scheduling 208
Growing Containers and Medium 208
Plant Spacing 213
Cultural Plant Practices 215
Environmental Conditions 217
Water Requirement 219
Flower Pollination 221
Fruit Development and Yield 224
Fruit Quality and Flavor 225
Plant Nutrition 228
Varieties (Cultivars) 234
Nutrient Solution 235
pH 235
Electrical Conductivity (EC) 236
Formulations 238
Nutrient Element Accumulation in the Rooting Substrates 238
Organic Production 240
Outdoor Hydroponics 241
Disease and Insect Control 243
Summary 246
Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) 247
Pepper, Bell Types (Capsicum annum L.) 255
Pepper, Chiles 258
Lettuce (Lacturia) 260
Herbs 267
Microgreens 271
Strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa) 271
Green Bean (Snap Bean) (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) 276
Sweet Corn (Zea mays L. subsp. mays) 278
Okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench] 279
Melons 279
Other Types of Plants 280
Summary for Hydroponically Grown Crops 282
Commonly Used Growing Systems 284
Perlite Bag Culture System 284
Perlite Bucket Culture System 285
Rockwool Slab Culture System 285
The Ideal Hydroponic Growing System 286
Commonly Used Nutrient Solutions 287
Chapter 12 290
The Hydroponic Greenhouse 290
Greenhouse Defined 291
Location Factors 293
Basic Structural Design 295
Flooring 297
Glazing Materials 299
Heating and Cooling 301
Heating 301
Cooling 304
Air Movement 310
Plant Support System 310
Supplemental Lighting 310
Carbon Dioxide Enrichment 313
Climatic Control 318
Backup Systems 318
Sanitation 319
Proactive Management 320
Winter Greenhouse Preparation 320
Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) 320
The Hobby Greenhouse 323
Solar Greenhouse 324
The Solviva Greenhouse 326
The Ideal Greenhouse 326
Common Errors Made in the Design and Operation of a Greenhouse 327
Chapter 13 328
Diagnostic Testing Procedures 328
Water Analysis 329
Nutrient Solution Analysis 329
Water and Nutrient Solution Analysis Methods 330
Sampling Procedures 333
Elemental Analysis of the Growth Medium 333
Plant Analysis 334
Tissue Testing 339
Other Analytical Devices 340
The Internet 342
Being a Diagnostician 343
Summary 343
Best Management Practices (BMP) 344
Chapter 14 346
Pest Control 346
How to Control Pests 347
Insects 348
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) 349
Sanitation 349
Prevention Procedures 349
Cultivar Selection 350
Environmental Conditions and Cultural Practices 350
The Nutrient Solution 351
Chemical Use Regulations 352
Chapter 15 354
Educational Role for Hydroponics 354
Demonstration Project 359
Required Items 359
Growing Requirements 360
Light 360
Plant Species Selection 360
Temperature 360
Moisture 361
Pest Control 361
Procedure 361
Nutrient Element Deficiency Experiments 363
Introduction 363
Procedure 363
Photographic Record 364
Plant Growth Record 366
References 368
Appendix A: Definitions 392
Appendix B: Characteristics of the Essential Elements 402
Nitrogen (N) 402
Phosphorus (P) 404
Potassium (K) 405
Calcium (Ca) 407
Magnesium (Mg) 408
Sulfur (S) 409
Boron (B) 410
Chlorine (Cl) 411
Copper (Cu) 412
Iron (Fe) 413
Manganese (Mn) 414
Molybdenum (Mo) 415
Zinc (Zn) 416
Appendix C: Reference Books 418
Bulletins and Miscellaneous Publications 422
Appendix D: Conversion Factors 426
Common Prefixes 426
Metric Conversion Factors (Approximate) 427
Useful Information and Conversion Factors 428
Comparison of Commonly Used Concentration Units for the Major Elements and Micronutrients in the Dry Matter of Plant Tissue 431
To Convert Molar Units to Parts per Million 431
To Convert lb/acre to Milliequivalents/100 g 432
Conversion Values Useful for Completing Nutrient Solution Calculations 432
Index 434
A 434
B 434
C 434
D 434
E 434
F 435
G 435
H 435
I 436
L 436
M 436
N 436
O 437
P 437
R 437
S 438
T 438
U 438
V 438
W 438
Z 438