Hydroponic Food Production

Description: Hydroponic Food Production: A Definitive Guidebook for the Advanced Home Gardener and the Commercial Hydroponic Grower, Seventh Edition is a comprehensive guide to soilless culture with extensively new and updated contents from the previous edition published in 2001. Meant for hobby and commercial growers, the book: Shows the reader how to set up a hydroponic operation with the options of using any of the many hydroponic cultures presently used in the industry to grow vegetable crops Provides background in plant physiology and nutrition essential for growing these crops Describes nutrient formulations and their applications in nutrient solutions with calculations This practical guide to soilless growing practices provides detailed information on how to design, set up, and operate hydroponic culture systems. Featuring more than 500 photographs, drawings, and tables, the seventh edition of this bestselling book has been extensively updated and expanded. The text describes the most successful growing cultures to use with specific crops and details media as well as hydroponic techniques. Chapters cover nutrient uptake and mixing as well as deficiencies and their symptoms, plant nutrition, nutrient solution, water culture, tropical hydroponics and special applications, plant culture, nutrient film technique, gravel culture, and more.

Review: The seventh edition of Hydroponic Food Production is a complete comprehensive guide for the advanced home gardener. It covers media, lights and nearly every method of hydroponic gardening, and provides charts, equations, and diagrams for easy understanding. I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to supercharge their garden and take their indoor gardening skills to the next level. -Matt LeBannister in Hydrolife

Contents: Introduction The Past The Present The Future Suitable Site Characteristics Soil versus Soilless Culture References Plant Nutrition Plant Constituents Mineral and Essential Elements Plant Mineral and Water Uptake Upward Movement of Water and Nutrients Plant Nutrition References Nutrient Solution Inorganic Salts (Fertilizers) Recommended Compounds for Complete Nutrient Solutions Fertilizer Chemical Analyses Fertilizer Impurities Nutrient Formulations Nutrient Stock Solutions Preparing the Nutrient Solution Plant Relations and Cause of Nutrient Solution Changes The Medium Medium Characteristics Water Characteristics Irrigation Pumping of Nutrient Solution into Beds Sterilization of Medium References Water Culture Introduction Raceway, Raft, or Floating System Aeroponics Hydroponic Grass Units Alfalfa and Bean Sprouts Microgreens References Nutrient Film Technique Introduction Early NFT System Later NFT Systems Commercial NFT Systems Nutrient Flow Technique: Vertical Pipes, A-Frame, or Cascade Systems Gutter and Pipe NFT Channel Systems Agri-Systems NFT Hortiplan Automated NFT System Outdoor NFT Watercress Ebb-and-Flow (Flood) Systems A-Frame NFT System Summary References Gravel Culture Introduction Media Characteristics Subirrigation Gravel Culture Trickle Irrigation Design Advantages and Disadvantages of Trickle Irrigation Sterilization of Gravel between Crops Advantages and Disadvantages of Gravel Culture References Sand Culture Introduction Medium Characteristics Structural Details Drip (Trickle) Irrigation System Watering Sterilization of Sand Beds between Crops Sand Culture of Herbs Advantages and Disadvantages of Sand Culture References Sawdust Culture Introduction Growing Medium Bed System Bag System Nutrient Solution Distribution System Advantages and Disadvantages of Sawdust Culture References Rockwool Culture Introduction North American Greenhouse Vegetable Industry World Greenhouse Vegetable Industry Rockwool Composition Rockwool Cubes and Blocks Rockwool Slabs Rockwool Layout Irrigation System Cucumbers in Rockwool Tomatoes in Rockwool Large Greenhouse Operations in North America Harvesting, Grading, and Packing Peppers in Rockwool Recirculating Rockwool Systems Advantages and Disadvantages of Rockwool Culture References Coco Coir Culture Introduction Source of Coco Coir Coco Coir Grades and Characteristics Coco Plugs and Blocks Sustainable Agriculture Greenhouse Technology Tomatoes in Coco Coir Advantages and Disadvantages of Coco Coir Culture References Other Soilless Cultures Introduction Media Hydroponic Herbs Foam Culture Perlite Culture Column Culture Sack Culture Sterilization of Medium Advantages and Disadvantages of Peat and Coco Coir Mixtures References Tropical Hydroponics and Special Applications Introduction Hidroponias Venezolanas Sand Culture in the Tropics Ebb-and-Flood Water Culture of Watercress Rice Hulls-Coco Coir Culture of Tomatoes, Peppers, and Cucumbers Special Applications References Plant Culture Introduction Seeding Seedling Production Plant-Growing Temperature Light Relative Humidity and Vapor Pressure Deficit (VPD) Carbon Dioxide Enrichment Transplanting Spacing Vegetative versus Generative Growth Irrigation (Fertigation) Plant Support Suckering and Training (Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Peppers, and Eggplants) Pollination Physiological Disorders Diseases and Insects Vegetable Varieties Green Grafting Planting Schedules Crop Termination Special Considerations References Appendix 1: Horticultural, Hydroponic, and Soilless-Culture Societies Appendix 2: Greenhouse Production Resources Research Extension Services for Publications Some Soil and Plant-Tissue Testing Laboratories Biological-Control Agents References Special Hydroponic Equipment Appendix 3: Units of Measurement-Conversion Factors Appendix 4: Physical Constants of Inorganic Compounds Appendix 5: Greenhouse and Hydroponic Suppliers Biocontrol Agents Greenhouse Structures, Coverings and Equipment Greenhouse Shading Materials Growing Media and Supplies Irrigation Equipment Seeds Sprout Supplies Bibliography Hydroponics Insect and Disease Control Professional Publications and Research Journals Trade Magazines and Periodicals

Author Biography: Howard M. Resh is the Hydroponic Greenhouse Farm Manager for Cuisinart Resort and Spa in Anguilla, British West Indies.