Hydroponic Food Production
A Definitive Guidebook for the Advanced Home Gardener and the Commercial Hydroponic Grower, Seventh Edition
By Howard M. Resh
Published August 9th 2012 by CRC Press – 560 pages
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.
Reviews
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 Bio
Howard M. Resh is the Hydroponic Greenhouse Farm Manager for Cuisinart Resort and Spa in Anguilla, British West Indies.
Related Subjects
Name: Hydroponic Food Production: A Definitive Guidebook for the Advanced Home Gardener and the Commercial Hydroponic Grower, Seventh Edition (Hardback) – CRC Press
Description: By Howard M. Resh. 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...
Categories: Crop Science, Agriculture, Botany, Soil Science
