Hydroponic Food Production : A Definitive Guidebook of Soilless Food-Growing Methods

by Resh, Howard M., Ph.D.

• ISBN13: 9780880072229
• ISBN10: 0880072229
• Edition: 6th
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2001-03-01
• Publisher: Woodbridge Pr Pub

Table of Contents

Introduction	25	(9)
The Past	25	(2)
The Present	27	(1)
The Future	28	(2)
Suitable Site Characteristics	30	(1)
Soil versus Soilless Culture	30	(4)
Plant Nutrition	34	(27)
Plant Constituents	34	(1)
Mineral and Essential elements	34	(3)
Plant Mineral and Water Uptake	37	(7)
The Soil	38	(2)
Soil and Plant Interrelations	40	(1)
Cation Exchange	40	(1)
Soil versus Hydroponics	41	(1)
Transfer of Water and Solutes from Soil (or Nutrient Solution) to Root	42	(1)
Movement of Water and Minerals across Membranes	43	(1)
The Upward Movement of Water and Nutrients	44	(2)
Plant Nutrition	46	(15)
Nutritional Disorders	46	(2)
Symptomatology	48	(4)
Use of a Key	52	(8)
References	60	(1)
The Nutrient Solution	61	(58)
Inorganic Salts (Fertilizers)	61	(3)
Recommended Compounds for Complete Nutrient Solutions	64	(1)
Fertilizer Chemical Analyses	65	(2)
Fertilizer Impurities	67	(1)
Nutrient Formulations	68	(16)
Atomic and Molecular Weights	69	(1)
Calculations of Nutrient Formulations	70	(7)
Calculations for Chemical Substitutions for Fertilizers	77	(3)
Nutrient Formulation Adjustments	80	(4)
Nutrient Stock Solutions	84	(22)
Injector or Proportioner System	84	(5)
Stock Solutions	89	(17)
Preparing the Nutrient Solution	106	(2)
Preparing Normal Strength Solutions	106	(1)
Preparing Stock Solutions	107	(1)
Plant Relations and Cause of Nutrient Solution Changes	108	(11)
Nutrient Analyses	109	(1)
Plant Tissue Analysis	109	(2)
Changing of Solutions	111	(1)
Adjustment of Nutrient Solutions by Use of Electrical Conductivity	112	(4)
Maintenance of the Solution Volume	116	(1)
References	116	(3)
The Medium	119	(10)
Medium Characteristics	119	(1)
Water Characteristics	120	(4)
Irrigation	124	(1)
Pumping of Nutrient Solution into Beds	125	(1)
Sterilization of Medium	126	(3)
References	128	(1)
Water Culture	129	(28)
Introduction	129	(1)
Early Commercial Methods	130	(1)
Raceway, Raft or Floating System	131	(10)
Aeroponics	141	(2)
Hydroponic Grass Units	143	(6)
Alfalfa and Bean Sprouts	149	(8)
Alfalfa Culture	149	(4)
Mung Bean Culture	153	(2)
References	155	(2)
Nutrient Film Technique	157	(69)
Introduction	157	(1)
Early NFT System	157	(2)
Later NFT Systems	159	(3)
Commercial NFT Systems	162	(7)
Nutrient Flow Technique: Vertical Pipes, A-Frame or Cascade Systems	169	(9)
Moveable NFT	178	(5)
Gutter and Pipe NFT Channel Systems	183	(6)
Double-Row NFT	189	(3)
Agri-Systems NFT	192	(8)
Ebb-and-Flow System	200	(3)
Outdoor NFT Watercress	203	(15)
NFT Basil and Mint	218	(6)
Advantages of the NFT Systems	224	(2)
References	224	(2)
Gravel Culture	226	(27)
Introduction	226	(1)
Media Characteristics	226	(2)
Subirrigation Gravel Culture	228	(15)
Frequency of Irrigation	228	(1)
Speed of Pumping and Drainage	229	(1)
Effect of the Irrigation Cycle on Plant Growth	230	(1)
Height of Irrigation	230	(1)
Nutrient Solution Temperature	231	(1)
Greenhouse Subirrigation System	231	(12)
Trickle-Irrigation Design	243	(7)
Advantages and Disadvantages of Trickle Irrigation	250	(1)
Sterilization of Gravel between Crops	251	(1)
Advantages and Disadvantages of Gravel Culture	252	(1)
References	252	(1)
Sand Culture	253	(28)
Introduction	253	(4)
Medium Characteristics	257	(1)
Structural Details	257	(4)
Beds with Plastic Liner	257	(2)
Greenhouse Floors Lined with Polyethylene	259	(2)
Drip (Trickle) Irrigation System	261	(4)
Planning a Drip-Irrigation System	261	(4)
Watering	265	(1)
Sterilization of Sand Beds between Crops	266	(1)
Operation and Productivity of Sand Culture Greenhouses in Arid Lands	267	(3)
Sand Culture of Herbs	270	(3)
Small-Scale Sand-Culture System	273	(4)
Advantages and Disadvantages of Sand Culture	277	(4)
References	279	(2)
Sawdust Culture	281	(30)
Introduction	281	(1)
The Growing Medium	281	(1)
Bed System	282	(3)
Bag System	285	(9)
Nutrient Solution Distribution System	294	(7)
Small-Scale Sawdust-Culture Systems	301	(1)
Advantages and Disadvantages of Sawdust Culture	302	(1)
Bark Culture	303	(8)
References	310	(1)
Rockwool Culture	311	(45)
Introduction	311	(1)
North American Greenhouse Vegetable Industry	311	(1)
Rockwool Composition	312	(1)
Rockwool Cubes and Blocks	313	(2)
Rockwool Slabs	315	(4)
Rockwool Layout	319	(3)
Irrigation System	322	(7)
Cucumbers in Rockwool	329	(6)
Tomatoes in Rockwool	335	(13)
Peppers in Rockwool	348	(3)
Recirculating Rockwool Systems	351	(3)
Advantages and Disadvantages of Rockwool Culture	354	(2)
References	355	(1)
Other Soilless Cultures	356	(60)
Introduction	356	(1)
Media	356	(5)
Peat	356	(1)
Vermiculite	357	(1)
Perlite	357	(1)
Pumice	357	(1)
Soilless Mixtures	358	(2)
Synthetic Foams (Plastoponics)	360	(1)
Coco Coir	361	(1)
Hydroponic Herbs	361	(14)
Growing Herbs in a Peat-Lite Mix	362	(5)
Growing Herbs in Rice Hulls	367	(8)
Foam Culture	375	(6)
Perlite Culture	381	(11)
Perlite Slabs	381	(5)
Perlite Bato Buckets	386	(6)
Column Culture	392	(8)
Sack Culture	400	(6)
Small-Scale Units	406	(3)
Popular Hydroponics	409	(4)
Sterilization of the Medium	413	(1)
Advantages and Disadvantages of Peat Mixtures	413	(3)
References	414	(2)
Tropical Hydroponics and Special Applications	416	(36)
Introduction	416	(3)
Hidroponias Venezolanas	419	(2)
Sand Culture in the Tropics	421	(16)
Ebb-and-Flow Water Culture of Watercress	437	(5)
Rice Hulls-Coco Coir Culture of Tomatoes, Cucumbers and Peppers	442	(4)
Special Applications	446	(6)
References	451	(1)
Plant Culture	452	(61)
Introduction	452	(1)
Seeding	452	(4)
Seedling Production	456	(9)
Tomato Seedling Culture	456	(3)
Cucumber Seedling Culture	459	(3)
Pepper Seedling Culture	462	(1)
Lettuce Seedling Culture	463	(1)
Herb Seedling Culture	463	(2)
Plant-Growing Temperatures	465	(2)
Light	467	(1)
Carbon Dioxide Enrichment	467	(1)
Transplanting	468	(1)
Spacing	469	(1)
Vegetative vs. Generative Growth	470	(2)
Feeding and Watering	472	(1)
Plant Support	472	(2)
Suckering and Trimming (Tomatoes, Cucumbers, and Peppers)	474	(6)
Pollination	480	(4)
Physiological Disorders	484	(1)
Diseases and Insects	485	(18)
Vegetable Varieties	503	(3)
Lettuce	505	(1)
Planting Schedules	506	(2)
Crop Termination	508	(2)
Special Considerations	510	(3)
References	511	(2)
Appendix 1: Hydroponic and Soilless-Culture Societies	513	(1)
Appendix 2: Greenhouse Production Resources	513	(5)
Appendix 3: Units of Measurement---Conversion Factors	518	(1)
Appendix 4: Physical Constants of Inorganic Compounds	519	(2)
Appendix 5: Greenhouse and Hydroponic Suppliers	521	(18)
Bibliography	539	(18)
General Subject Index	557