Production and quality of Sim carnations grown hydroponically in rockwool substrate with nutrient solutions containing different levels of calcium, potassium and ammonium-nitrogen

1994 ◽  
Vol 34 (5) ◽  
pp. 691 ◽  
Author(s):  
DO Huett

The effects of 3 nutrient solution formulations on the production and quality of the Sim carnation varieties, Raggio d'Sole, White Sim, Manon and Doria grown in rockwool substrate were evaluated over 12 months in northern New South Wales. The solutions were: a standard (Std) formulation with a K:N ratio of 1.29:1.00, approximating that in mature carnations with N supplied as NO3-; the standard solution with 10% of the N as NH4+ (Std + NH4+); and a formulation with increased Ca and reduced K (High Ca). Production peaks occurred in March and October when the substrate was sampled for leachate nutrient composition and the flowers were assessed for quality. Total flower production from the Std + NH4+ (9.9/plant) and High Ca (9.7/plant) treatments exceeded (P<0.01) the Std solution (8.4/plant) from February to July while production from all treatments was similar (P>0.05) (mean of 10.3/plant) from August to December. Over February-December, production from the Std + NH4+ treatment (20.8/plant) exceeded (P<0.05) the other formulations. In excess of 75% of these flowers were first grade and the numbers of second and reject grades were not affected (P>0.05) by nutrient solution formulation. Stem diameter, stem strength and vase life were unaffected by nutrient formulation while flowers produced in March had thinner (3.11 v. 5.24 mm diameter) and weaker (139 v. 42 mm deflection from horizontal) stems than those produced in October. The pH in rockwool slabs was stable over time and compared to the standard treatment (7.17), it was lower (P<0.01) for the Std + NH4+ (6.13) and High Ca (6.76) treatments. The High Ca formulation increased Ca and reduced K concentrations in leaves, stems and flowers. Nutrient concentrations in youngest fully expanded leaves for all treatments were within the adequate range. The mean K: N ratio in mature carnations was 1.39:1.00 and this ratio with 10% of the N as NH4+ can be recommended in a nutrient formulation for commercial hydroponic carnation production in Australia.

Plants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 1742
Author(s):  
Jinnan Song ◽  
Yali Li ◽  
Jiangtao Hu ◽  
Jaehyeok Lee ◽  
Byoung Ryong Jeong

Peony is an important ornamental plant and has become increasingly popular for cut flower cultivation. However, a short vase life and frequent poor vase quality severely restrict its market value. The study described herein was conducted to investigate the effects of silicon application on the vase life and quality of two cut peony (Paeonia lactiflora Pall.) cultivars, ‘Taebaek’ and ‘Euiseong’. For pre- and/or postharvest silicon application, four experimental groups based on treatments were designed. With silicon treatment, the relevant growth attributes, including the shoot and leaf lengths, stem and bud diameters as well as the leaf width were all remarkably increased. In the postharvest storage, the addition of silicon to the holding solution in the vase was able to significantly extend vase life, delay fresh weight decrease, and improve vase quality, as characterized by the antioxidant enzyme activities and mechanical stem strength. Taken together, silicon application, regardless of the approach, was able to effectively prolong the vase life and enhance the quality of cut peony flowers.


1988 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 127 ◽  
Author(s):  
VQ Nguyen ◽  
R Hermus ◽  
WB McGlasson ◽  
SK Meldrum ◽  
ME Trethowan

The aim of the experiments described in this paper was to identify determinate cultivars suited to production of fresh market tomatoes on raised beds in the inland irrigation areas of the south-west area of New South Wales from January to April. Cultivars that produce high yields of first-grade medium to large fruit, and are smooth, nearly round, firm and an even bright red when ripe are required. The plants should have good leaf coverage to prevent sunburn, and jointless pedicels to facilitate harvesting. The period of maturation of the fruit should be short to permit recovery of the crop with a maximum of 3 harvests. Ten lines including Sunny, a .reference cultivar with jointed pedicels, were evaluated at Richmond in the Sydney Greater Metropolitan Area and at Leeton in the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area, 1984-86. The lines were trickle-irrigated and mulched with black polyethylene film except at Leeton in 1985-86 when a trickle-irrigated, no mulch treatment and a furrow-irrigated treatment were included. The experiments showed that it is possible to produce yields of 50-100 t ha-1 of first-grade fruit with trickle irrigation. No significant advantage was obtained at Leeton in 1985-86 by using polyethylene mulch; however, the mulch largely eliminated the need for hand-chipping of weeds from among the plants. The visual quality of fruit grown at Leeton was excellent but total soluble solids levels were low, ripe fruit were unexpectedly soft, and sensory scores for flavour and general acceptability were only satisfactory. Overall, 2 cultivars that have jointless pedicels, Red Chief and Delta Contender, showed promise. A jointless hybrid line, HARU 83-148, which was bred at Richmond, warrants further evaluation. Some signs of incipient field chilling of fruit were observed at Leeton in fruit harvested after the first week in April.


HortScience ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 40 (4) ◽  
pp. 1010E-1011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brandon Jewell ◽  
Chieri Kubota

Feasible protocols for organic hydroponic production of strawberry are necessary and this study compares the yield and fruit quality of organic and conventional inorganic hydroponic production. Some issues identified with organic hydroponic strawberry production are: 1) dominant ammonium nitrogen form; 2) solution alkalinity; and 3) dissolved oxygen level of nutrient solution. Eighty bare-rooted `Diamante' plantlets were planted in coconut fiber pots with a mixture of coconut coir (30%) and perlite (70%) and grown in a modified nutrient film technique system inside a polycarbonate greenhouse. The organic nutrient solution contains mostly ammonium nitrogen and little nitrate nitrogen. To enhance colonization and activities of nitrifying bacteria, coconut fiber mats were placed in the organic nutrient solution reservoir. A similar system was also introduced for stock solution pre-conditioning where nitrification and pH stabilization were achieved before application to the strawberry plantlets. The organic nutrient solution prior to pre-conditioning had only 1.53 mg·L-1 nitrate nitrogen, although the nitrate nitrogen level increased to 63.2 mg·L-1 after pre-conditioning. The organic nutrient solution pH was 4.5 initially, 8.5 after 24 hours of pre-conditioning, and finally, shifted to and stabilized at 5.7–5.9 after 3 days. Dissolved oxygen level is critical for both nitrifying bacteria activities and plantlet root growth; therefore, oxygen enrichment was achieved by constantly aerating the nutrient solution in the reservoir, which raised the oxygen level from 2.5 to 7.4 mg·L-1. Comparisons of yield and quality of strawberry fruits between organic and inorganic nutrient solutions will be presented and further improvements of hydroponic systems will be discussed.


HortScience ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 847F-847
Author(s):  
Mohamed Benmoussa ◽  
Laurent Gauthier

To achieve high yield and better quality of soilless greenhouse tomato, it is necessary to keep the nutrient concentrations in the root environment at the target levels. Dynamic control of the nutrient solution composition can be used for this purpose. We developed a computer program that dynamically adjusts nutrient solution compositions based on various climatic and agronomic characteristics. The program integrates nutrient uptake and crop transpiration models and is part of a general-purpose greenhouse management and control software system developed at Laval University (GX). The architecture of the system and some simulation results comparing the effect of various control scenarios on the evolution of the composition of nutrient solutions are presented.


2003 ◽  
Vol 48 (10) ◽  
pp. 103-110 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Fehér ◽  
A. Lázár

In the middle of the 1990s the European Environment Agency (EEA) started to develop a data collecting system for surface and subsurface water resources for assessing pressures, states and impacts on European water resources. The main objective of this system was to provide reliable, comparable, homogenous information, and support integrated environmental assessments at European level. The data collecting system for water is called Eurowaternet. The extent and information content of the network makes not only pan-European, but also regional or thematic environmental assessments possible. An extensive programme started in 1997 to support the Phare countries in their accession to the EU with implementation of this data collecting system in their countries. The paper briefly introduces the methodology of the system, but it focuses more on the application of the system in the accession countries, highlighting, through examples, the usefulness of the implemented network and assembled database. The examples present - among several other possible ones - trends of average nutrient concentrations; relationships between catchment size and annual average nutrient concentrations; relationships between catchment size and agricultural usage.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dalila Lopes da Silva ◽  
Renato de Mello Prado ◽  
Luis Felipe Lata Tenesaca ◽  
José Lucas Farias da Silva ◽  
Ben-Hur Mattiuz

AbstractCalcium (Ca) deficiency in cabbage plants induces oxidative damage, hampering growth and decreasing quality, however, it is hypothesized that silicon (Si) added to the nutrient solution may alleviate crop losses. Therefore, this study aims at evaluating whether silicon supplied in the nutrient solution reduces, in fact, the calcium deficiency effects on cabbage plants. In a greenhouse, cabbage plants were grown using nutrient solutions with Ca sufficiency and Ca deficiency (5 mM) without and with added silicon (2.5 mM), arranged as a 2 × 2 factorial in randomized blocks, with five replications. At 91 days after transplanting, the plants were harvested for biological evaluations. In the treatment without added Si, Ca deficiency promoted oxidative stress, low antioxidant content, decreased dry matter, and lower quality leaf. On the other hand, added Si attenuated Ca deficiency in cabbage by decreasing cell extravasation while increasing both ascorbic acid content and fresh and dry matter, providing firmer leaves due to diminished leaf water loss after harvesting. We highlighted the agronomic importance of Si added to the nutrient solution, especially in crops at risk of Ca deficiency.


Author(s):  
Alide M. W. Cova ◽  
Fabio T. O. de Freitas ◽  
Paula C. Viana ◽  
Maria R. S. Rafael ◽  
André D. de Azevedo Neto ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate the growth and accumulation of ions in lettuce grown in different hydroponic systems and recirculation frequencies. The experimental design was randomized blocks with 8 treatments and 4 replicates. The evaluated hydroponic systems were Nutrient Flow Technique (NFT) and an adapted Deep Flow Technique (DFT), the latter with recirculation frequencies of 0.25, 2 and 4 h. Both systems used fresh water and brackish water. Plant growth, accumulation of inorganic solutes (Na+, K+, Cl- and NO3-) and the correlation between dry matter production and Na+/K+ and Cl-/NO3- were evaluated. The salinity of the water used to prepare the nutrient solution caused decrease in growth and K+ and NO3- levels, and increased contents of Na+ and Cl- in the plants. When using fresh water the highest dry matter production was obtained in the NFT system. In case of brackish water the adapted DFT system increased the production, in relation to NFT system (at same recirculation frequency: 0.25 h). It was found that the choice of the type of hydroponic system and recirculation interval for the cultivation of lettuce depends on the quality of the water used to prepare the nutrient solution.


2011 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 107-115 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nada Babovic ◽  
Dejan Markovic ◽  
Vojkan Dimitrijevic ◽  
Dragan Markovic

This paper shows the results obtained in field analysis performed at the Tamis River, starting from the settlement Jasa Tomic - border between Serbia and Romania to Pancevo - confluence of Tamis into the Danube. The Tamis is a 359 km long river rising in the southern Carpathian Mountains. It flows through the Banat region and flows into the Danube near Pancevo. During the years the water quality of the river has severely deteriorated and badly affected the environment and the river ecosystem. In situ measurements enabled determination of physico-chemical parameters of water quality of the Tamis River on every 400 m of the watercourse, such as: water temperature, pH value, electrical conductivity, contents of dissolved oxygen and oxygen saturation. The main reason of higher pollution of Tamis is seen in connection to DTD hydro system. Sampling was performed at 7 points with regard to color, turbidity, total hardness, alkalinity, concentration of ammonium nitrogen, nitrite nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, iron, chlorides and sulphates in samples. The aim of the present work was to evaluate water quality in the Tamis River taking into account significant pollution, which originates from settlements, industry and agriculture, and to suggest appropriate preventive measures to further pollution decreasing of the river's water.


Soil Research ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 47 (6) ◽  
pp. 555 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael G. Jones ◽  
R. Willem Vervoort ◽  
Julie Cattle

Understanding the process by which nutrients and solids enter waterways from pastures in the Great Lakes district, New South Wales, Australia, may assist in maintaining water quality to ensure ongoing environmental and economic sustainability of the region. Rainfall simulations, using a 100-year return storm event, were conducted to determine nutrient and suspended solid concentrations in the runoff of 8 pasture sites in 3 of the catchments in the district. On 5 of the 8 sites, considerable concentrations of N or P were mobilised during the simulated rainfall event, but average nutrient concentrations and total loads across all sites were relatively low and similar to other studies of nutrient runoff from pastures. In addition, low runoff coefficients indicated that runoff is probably not the major pathway for nutrient losses from pasture in this area. Overall, rainfall runoff responses at the sites were similar in the 3 catchments. In contrast, the results suggest that, despite generating more runoff, the sites in the Wang Wauk catchment generated less nutrients in runoff than the sites in the Wallamba and Myall catchments. There was no difference in total suspended solids loads for the sites analysed by catchment. Relationships between soil physical and chemical characteristics and total nutrients loads or cumulative runoff were not strong.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document