With the continued implementation of new equipment and new concepts and methods, such as hydroponics and soilless practices, crop growth has improved and become more efficient. Focusing on the basic principles and practical growth requirements, the Complete Guide for Growing Plants Hydroponically offers valuable information for the commercial grower, the researcher, the hobbyist, and the student interested in hydroponics. It provides details on methods of growing that are applicable to a range of environmental growing systems.
The author begins with an introduction that covers the past, present, and future of hydroponics. He also describes the basic concepts behind how plants grow, followed by several chapters that present in-depth practical details for hydroponic growing systems:
The essential plant nutrient elements The nutrient solution Rooting media Systems of hydroponic culture Hydroponic application factors These chapters cover the nutritional requirements of plants and how to best prepare and use nutrient solutions to satisfy plant requirements, with different growing systems and rooting media, under a variety of conditions. The book gives many nutrient solution formulas and discusses the advantages and disadvantages of various hydroponic systems. It also contains a chapter that describes a school project, which students can follow to generate nutrient element deficiency symptoms and monitor their effects on plant growth.
By:
J. Benton Jones Jr. (GroSystems Inc. Anderson South Carolina USA)
Imprint: CRC Press Inc
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions:
Height: 235mm,
Width: 156mm,
Spine: 13mm
Weight: 386g
ISBN: 9781439876688
ISBN 10: 1439876681
Pages: 223
Publication Date: 13 February 2014
Audience:
College/higher education
,
Professional and scholarly
,
Primary
,
Undergraduate
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active
IntroductionIntroductionHydroponics definedIs hydroponics a science?Hydroponic terminologyHistorical pastThe future of hydroponicsHydroponic practice and the art of hydroponicsValue of the hydroponic methodInternetUnits of measureAbbreviationsHow plants growIntroductionPhotosynthesisSoil fertility factorsThe plant rootWater content and uptakeIon uptakeRoot surface chemistryThe essential plant nutrient elementsIntroductionTerminologyCriteria for essentialityThe major elementsThe micronutrientsContent in plantsFunction in plantsForms of utilizationThe beneficial elementsElement substitutionVisual plant symptoms of elemental deficiency or excessThe nutrient solutionIntroductionWater qualityWater pHWater and nutrient solution filtering and sterilizationWeights and measuresNutrient solution reagentsNutrient solution formulationsGeneral purpose/use formulationsPlant species requirement adjustments of the nutrient solutionNutrient solution controlMethods and timing of nutrient solution deliveryConstancyProgrammable controllersSummaryRooting mediaIntroductionPerliteRockwoolCoirElemental content of perlite, rockwool, and coirSystems of hydroponic cultureIntroductionMediumless hydroponic systemsRooting medium hydroponic systemsHydroponic application factorsIntroductionProgressive developmentsNutrient solution formulations and their useCultivar/variety availability and selectionConstancyGrower skill and competenceFactors for successControlled-environment agricultureOutdoor hydroponicsHome gardener/hobby hydroponic growerEducational roleIntroductionDemonstration projectNutrient element deficiency experimentsReferencesHydroponic reference booksCited ReferencesAppendix A: Measurement factorsAppendix B: Essential element summarization tablesAppendix C: Diagnostic testingAppendix D: Common errors made when plants are grown hydroponicallyIndex
J. Benton Jones, Jr., earned a BS degree in agricultural science from the University of Illinois and obtained MS and PhD degrees in agronomy from the Pennsylvania State University. He has written extensively on hydroponic topics and has been engaged in hydroponic research projects for much of his professional career. Dr. Jones is considered an authority on applied plant physiology and the use of analytical methods for assessing the nutrient element status of rooting media and plants as a means for ensuring plant nutrient element sufficiency in both soil and soilless crop production settings. At various times, he has served as a director of several university and commercial soil and plant analysis laboratories, and he still serves as an advisor for two such laboratories.
