Phytotoxicity of Copper in Greenhouse Crops

Copper is one of the essential micro-nutrient elements for plants, but when in excess, is toxic to plants and other living organisms. Electrolytically generated copper and cupric sulphate are increasingly used by the greenhouse industry to control diseases and algae in hydroponic systems. However, there is little information regarding appropriate strategies for employing copper in greenhouse crop production. We investigated the physiological responses, growth and production of several ornamental crops (miniature rose, chrysanthemum and geranium) and greenhouse vegetable crops (pepper, cucumber, and tomato) with respect to Cu2+ concentration in the root zone. Tests were conducted using plants grown in nutrient solution, Promix and rockwool. Results showed that phytotoxic levels of Cu2+ were dependent on the crop species and growing substrate. Plants grown in nutrient solution exhibited symptoms of phytotoxicity at lower Cu2+ concentrations than those on the solid substrates. The ability of copper to control Pythium aphanidermatum and green algae was evaluated under both laboratory and greenhouse conditions. Copper was effective in suppressing green algae in nutrient solution, but did not control Pythium effectively. This presentation is a comprehensive summary of the research conducted over the last three years by our group on copper application in greenhouse systems.

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Biostimulants as a Tool for Improving Environmental Sustainability of Greenhouse Vegetable Crops

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su12125101 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (12) ◽

pp. 5101 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Sara Rajabi Hamedani ◽

Youssef Rouphael ◽

Giuseppe Colla ◽

Andrea Colantoni ◽

Mariateresa Cardarelli

Keyword(s):

Sustainable Development ◽

Carbon Footprint ◽

Crop Production ◽

Protein Hydrolysate ◽

Total Carbon ◽

Vegetable Crops ◽

Organic Fertilization ◽

Mineral Fertilization ◽

Production Chain ◽

Greenhouse Vegetable

Plant biostimulants have gained great interest from the agrochemical industry and farmers because of their ability to enhance nutrient use efficiency and increase abiotic stress tolerance in crop production. However, despite the considerable potential of biostimulants for the sustainable development of the agricultural sector, the environmental evaluation of the application of biostimulants is still missing. Hence, this is the first study that focuses on the environmental assessment of the biostimulant action of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Glomus intraradices and vegetal-derived protein hydrolysate on two greenhouse vegetable crops, spinach and zucchini squash, under different fertilization regimes. The life cycle assessment from a cradle to gate perspective, which covers all processes related to crop cultivation up to harvest, was carried out to calculate the carbon footprint of the production chain for these two crops. The results of the comparative analysis revealed that the CO2 equivalent emissions of both crops were reduced due to the biostimulant applications. In particular, the effect of the mycorrhization on the reduction of carbon emissions compared to the un-mycorrhized control was higher in zucchini plants under organic fertilization (12%) than under mineral fertilization (7%). In addition, organic fertilization increased the total carbon footprint of zucchini (52%) compared with mineral fertilization. The results also showed that an increase of nitrogen fertilization from 15 to 45 kg N ha−1 in spinach production enhanced the total CO2 emissions per ton of harvested leaves in comparison with treatments that involved the foliar applications of protein hydrolysate together with a lower nitrogen input; this increase was 4% compared to the unfertilized treatment with application of biostimulant. This study can support decision-making in terms of agronomic technique choices in line with sustainable development of vegetable crop production.

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A Solid-matrix, Liquid Hybrid Hydroponic System for Establishing Small-seeded Crop Species

HortTechnology ◽

10.21273/horttech.9.4.668 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 9 (4) ◽

pp. 668-671

Author(s):

Jonathan M. Frantz ◽

Cary A. Mitchell ◽

Jay Frick

Keyword(s):

Nutrient Solution ◽

Hybrid System ◽

Root Zone ◽

Bulk Solution ◽

Solid Matrix ◽

Bulk Liquid ◽

Crop Species ◽

Hydroponic System ◽

The Matrix ◽

Growth System

A solid-matrix-over-liquid (hybrid) growth system was developed for direct sowing of small-seeded crop species into hydroponic culture and compared for performance with a standard solid-matrix, capillary-wick hydroponic system. Seeds were sown directly onto a 3-cm (1.2-inch) deep soilless seed bed occupying 0.147 m2 (1.582 ft2) within a tray. The planted seed bed was moistened by wicking up nutrient solution through polyester wicking material from a 7.0-L (6.6-qt) reservoir just below the matrix seed bed. The hybrid system successfully grew dense [435 plants/m2 (40.4 plants/ft2)], uniform canopies of dwarf Brassica napus L. in a controlled-environment growth room. Seed yield using the hybrid system was twice that achieved with the matrix-based system. Both systems eliminated the labor needed to transplant many small seedlings from a separate nurse bed into a standard bulk liquid hydroponic system. Root-zone pH extremes caused by ion uptake and exchange between roots and unrinsed soilless media were avoided for the hybrid system by the short dwell time of roots in the thin matrix before they grew through the matrix and an intervening headspace into the bulk solution below, where pH was easily managed. Once roots grew into the bulk solution, its level was lowered, thereby cutting off further capillary wicking action and drying out the upper medium. Beyond early seedling establishment, water and nutrients were provided to the crop stand only by the bulk nutrient solution. This hybrid hydroponic system serves as a prototype for largerscale soilless growth systems that could be developed for production of smallseeded crops in greenhouses or controlled environments.

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Bok Choy, an Asian Leafy Green Vegetable Emerging in Florida

EDIS ◽

10.32473/edis-hs1337-2019 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 2019 (6) ◽

pp. 5

Author(s):

Hai Liu ◽

Guodong Liu

Keyword(s):

Graduate Students ◽

Crop Production ◽

Health Benefits ◽

Extension Agents ◽

Vegetable Crops ◽

Green Vegetable ◽

General Overview

Asian vegetable crops are rapidly expanding in Florida in the last decade due to their health benefits combined with their high profitability. These crops can help increase vegetable growers’ income and diversify Florida’s crop production, and they are new to most Floridians. This new 5-page article provides a general overview of bok choy for vegetable growers, crop consultants, certified crop advisors, Extension agents, and graduate students. Written by Hai Liu and Guodong Liu and published by the UF/IFAS Horticultural Sciences Department.https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs1337

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Field Measurements and Simulation of Nitrogen Fate under Citrus Production

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.33.3.498c ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 33 (3) ◽

pp. 498c-498

Author(s):

A. Fares ◽

A.K. Alva ◽

S. Paramasivam

Keyword(s):

Mass Balance ◽

Best Management Practices ◽

Rainy Season ◽

Crop Production ◽

Management Practices ◽

Root Zone ◽

Field Measurements ◽

Irrigation Scheduling ◽

N Leaching ◽

Citrus Production

Water and nitrogen (N) are important inputs for most crop production. The main objectives of nitrogen best management practices (NBMP) are to improve N and water management to maximize the uptake efficiency and minimize the leaching losses. This require a complete understanding of fate of N and water mass balance within and below the root zone of the crop in question. The fate of nitrogen applied for citrus production in sandy soils (>95% sand) was simulated using a mathematical model LEACHM (Leaching Estimation And Chemistry Model). Nitrogen removal in harvested fruits and storage in the tree accounted the major portion of the applied N. Nitrogen volatilization mainly as ammonia and N leaching below the root zone were the next two major components of the N mass balance. A proper irrigation scheduling based on continuous monitoring of the soil water content in the rooting was used as a part of the NBMP. More than 50% of the total annual leached water below the root zone was predicted to occur in the the rainy season. Since this would contribute to nitrate leaching, it is recomended to avoid N application during the rainy season.

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Hydroponic Greenhouse Production of Fresh-market Basil in Colorado

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.33.3.480f ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 33 (3) ◽

pp. 480f-481

Author(s):

C. Elizabeth Succop ◽

Steven E. Newman

Keyword(s):

Nutrient Solution ◽

Root Zone ◽

Organic Fertilizer ◽

Fresh Weight ◽

Organic Solution ◽

Fresh Market ◽

Greenhouse Production ◽

Raised Bed ◽

Certified Organic ◽

Organic Produce

Fresh-market basil has become a viable greenhouse commodity in Colorado. Marketing pressures and profit advantages also encourage the production of certified organic produce. The research objectives were to determine the length of time basil plants were productive in the greenhouse and to compare the production of fresh-market basil grown with three root zone systems and two fertilizer treatments. The three systems were hydroponic rockwool slab culture, hydroponic perlite raised bed culture, and hydroponic peat/perlite/compost bag culture. The two types of hydroponic fertilizer treatments were a salt-based formulated nutrient solution and an organic solution consisting of fermented poultry compost, hydrolized fish emulsion, and soluble kelp. The plants were harvested once per week for fresh weight determination. The results from the two runs show greater productivity for the plants in the perlite system as well as the bag mix system when fertilized with the organic fertilizer compared to salt-based fertilizer. However, productivity of the plants in the rockwool system was greater with the salt-based treatment compared to the organic treatment.

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Silicon Effects on the Root System of Diverse Crop Species Using Root Phenotyping Technology

Plants ◽

10.3390/plants10050885 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (5) ◽

pp. 885

Author(s):

Pooja Tripathi ◽

Sangita Subedi ◽

Abdul Latif Khan ◽

Yong-Suk Chung ◽

Yoonha Kim

Keyword(s):

Root System ◽

Root Morphology ◽

Morphological Traits ◽

Crop Production ◽

Spatial Configuration ◽

Global Climate ◽

Learning Technologies ◽

Climate Change Scenarios ◽

Crop Species ◽

Wide Range

Roots play an essential function in the plant life cycle, as they utilize water and essential nutrients to promote growth and plant productivity. In particular, root morphology characteristics (such as length, diameter, hairs, and lateral growth) and the architecture of the root system (spatial configuration in soil, shape, and structure) are the key elements that ensure growth and a fine-tuned response to stressful conditions. Silicon (Si) is a ubiquitous element in soil, and it can affect a wide range of physiological processes occurring in the rhizosphere of various crop species. Studies have shown that Si significantly and positively enhances root morphological traits, including root length in rice, soybean, barley, sorghum, mustard, alfalfa, ginseng, and wheat. The analysis of these morphological traits using conventional methods is particularly challenging. Currently, image analysis methods based on advanced machine learning technologies allowed researchers to screen numerous samples at the same time considering multiple features, and to investigate root functions after the application of Si. These methods include root scanning, endoscopy, two-dimensional, and three-dimensional imaging, which can measure Si uptake, translocation and root morphological traits. Small variations in root morphology and architecture can reveal different positive impacts of Si on the root system of crops, with or without exposure to stressful environmental conditions. This review comprehensively illustrates the influences of Si on root morphology and root architecture in various crop species. Furthermore, it includes recommendations in regard to advanced methods and strategies to be employed to maintain sustainable plant growth rates and crop production in the currently predicted global climate change scenarios.

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How Can We Realize Sustainable Development Goals in Rocky Desertified Regions by Enhancing Crop Yield with Reduction of Environmental Risks?

Remote Sensing ◽

10.3390/rs13091614 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (9) ◽

pp. 1614

Author(s):

Boyi Liang ◽

Timothy A. Quine ◽

Hongyan Liu ◽

Elizabeth L. Cressey ◽

Ian Bateman

Keyword(s):

Sustainable Development ◽

Crop Yield ◽

Crop Production ◽

Sustainable Development Goals ◽

Positive Impact ◽

Total Yield ◽

Maximum Yield ◽

Guizhou Province ◽

Crop Species ◽

Development Goals

To meet the sustainable development goals in rocky desertified regions like Guizhou Province in China, we should maximize the crop yield with minimal environmental costs. In this study, we first calculated the yield gap for 6 main crop species in Guizhou Province and evaluated the quantitative relationships between crop yield and influencing variables utilizing ensembled artificial neural networks. We also tested the influence of adjusting the quantity of local fertilization and irrigation on crop production in Guizhou Province. Results showed that the total yield of the selected crops had, on average, reached over 72.5% of the theoretical maximum yield. Increasing irrigation tended to be more consistently effective at increasing crop yield than additional fertilization. Conversely, appropriate reduction of fertilization may even benefit crop yield in some regions, simultaneously resulting in significantly higher fertilization efficiency with lower residuals in the environment. The total positive impact of continuous intensification of irrigation and fertilization on most crop species was limited. Therefore, local stakeholders are advised to consider other agricultural management measures to improve crop yield in this region.

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The Impact of Salt Stress on Plant Growth, Mineral Composition, and Antioxidant Activity in Tetragonia decumbens Mill.: An Underutilized Edible Halophyte in South Africa

Horticulturae ◽

10.3390/horticulturae7060140 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (6) ◽

pp. 140

Author(s):

Avela Sogoni ◽

Muhali Jimoh ◽

Learnmore Kambizi ◽

Charles Laubscher

Keyword(s):

Antioxidant Activity ◽

Plant Growth ◽

Mineral Composition ◽

Nutrient Solution ◽

Crop Production ◽

Saline Water ◽

Total Yield ◽

Control Treatment ◽

Antioxidant Power ◽

The Impact

Climate change, expanding soil salinization, and the developing shortages of freshwater have negatively affected crop production around the world. Seawater and salinized lands represent potentially cultivable areas for edible salt-tolerant plants. In the present study, the effect of salinity stress on plant growth, mineral composition (macro-and micro-nutrients), and antioxidant activity in dune spinach (Tetragonia decumbens) were evaluated. The treatments consisted of three salt concentrations, 50, 100, and 200 mM, produced by adding NaCl to the nutrient solution. The control treatment had no NaCl but was sustained and irrigated by the nutrient solution. Results revealed a significant increase in total yield, branch production, and ferric reducing antioxidant power in plants irrigated with nutrient solution incorporated with 50 mM NaCl. Conversely, an increased level of salinity (200 mM) caused a decrease in chlorophyll content (SPAD), while the phenolic content, as well as nitrogen, phosphorus, and sodium, increased. The results of this study indicate that there is potential for brackish water cultivation of dune spinach for consumption, especially in provinces experiencing the adverse effect of drought and salinity, where seawater or underground saline water could be diluted and used as irrigation water in the production of this vegetable.

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Anthropogenic warming and intraseasonal summer monsoon variability amplify the risk of future flash droughts in India

npj Climate and Atmospheric Science ◽

10.1038/s41612-020-00158-3 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Vimal Mishra ◽

Saran Aadhar ◽

Shanti Shwarup Mahto

Keyword(s):

Soil Moisture ◽

Summer Monsoon ◽

Crop Production ◽

Monsoon Rainfall ◽

Root Zone ◽

Monsoon Season ◽

Intraseasonal Variability ◽

Positive Temperature ◽

Groundwater Abstraction ◽

Increased Risk

AbstractFlash droughts cause rapid depletion in root-zone soil moisture and severely affect crop health and irrigation water demands. However, their occurrence and impacts in the current and future climate in India remain unknown. Here we use observations and model simulations from the large ensemble of Community Earth System Model to quantify the risk of flash droughts in India. Root-zone soil moisture simulations conducted using Variable Infiltration Capacity model show that flash droughts predominantly occur during the summer monsoon season (June–September) and driven by the intraseasonal variability of monsoon rainfall. Positive temperature anomalies during the monsoon break rapidly deplete soil moisture, which is further exacerbated by the land-atmospheric feedback. The worst flash drought in the observed (1951–2016) climate occurred in 1979, affecting more than 40% of the country. The frequency of concurrent hot and dry extremes is projected to rise by about five-fold, causing approximately seven-fold increase in flash droughts like 1979 by the end of the 21st century. The increased risk of flash droughts in the future is attributed to intraseasonal variability of the summer monsoon rainfall and anthropogenic warming, which can have deleterious implications for crop production, irrigation demands, and groundwater abstraction in India.

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Remote Control of Greenhouse Vegetable Production with Artificial Intelligence—Greenhouse Climate, Irrigation, and Crop Production

Sensors ◽

10.3390/s19081807 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 19 (8) ◽

pp. 1807 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Silke Hemming ◽

Feije de Zwart ◽

Anne Elings ◽

Isabella Righini ◽

Anna Petropoulou

Keyword(s):

Artificial Intelligence ◽

Crop Production ◽

Vegetable Production ◽

Digital Interface ◽

Greenhouse Climate ◽

Fresh Food ◽

Net Profit ◽

Greenhouse Vegetable ◽

Process Computer ◽

Cucumber Yield

The global population is increasing rapidly, together with the demand for healthy fresh food. The greenhouse industry can play an important role, but encounters difficulties finding skilled staff to manage crop production. Artificial intelligence (AI) has reached breakthroughs in several areas, however, not yet in horticulture. An international competition on “autonomous greenhouses” aimed to combine horticultural expertise with AI to make breakthroughs in fresh food production with fewer resources. Five international teams, consisting of scientists, professionals, and students with different backgrounds in horticulture and AI, participated in a greenhouse growing experiment. Each team had a 96 m2 modern greenhouse compartment to grow a cucumber crop remotely during a 4-month-period. Each compartment was equipped with standard actuators (heating, ventilation, screening, lighting, fogging, CO2 supply, water and nutrient supply). Control setpoints were remotely determined by teams using their own AI algorithms. Actuators were operated by a process computer. Different sensors continuously collected measurements. Setpoints and measurements were exchanged via a digital interface. Achievements in AI-controlled compartments were compared with a manually operated reference. Detailed results on cucumber yield, resource use, and net profit obtained by teams are explained in this paper. We can conclude that in general AI performed well in controlling a greenhouse. One team outperformed the manually-grown reference.

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