scholarly journals (303) Challenges of Organic Hydroponic Production of Strawberries (Fragaria ×ananassa)

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.

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 75 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muthir S. Al-Rawahy ◽  
Salim A. Al-Rawahy ◽  
Yaseen A. Al-Mulla ◽  
Saleem K. Nadaf

High nutrient solution temperature stress around root-zone (rhizosphere) is a major factor limiting hydroponic crop growth due to change in dissolved oxygen (DO) levels in nutrient solution during the high-temperature seasons. This suggests that easier and economical control of root-zone temperature (RZT) could be an effective solution to the temperature stress for the crop plants in hydroponics. In this respect, the present investigation was undertaken to comprehend the influence of nutrient solution temperature on its oxygen level (ambient dissolved oxygen in feeding tank), growth, yield and quality of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) plants. The plants were cultivated in recirculating hydroponic system in a greenhouse with dimensions of 9 m wide × 30 m long and total area of 270 m2 during three cropping periods in Oman viz. summer (June-August), fall (September-November) and spring (February-May) in two consecutive years 2016/2017 and 2017/2018. Three cooling treatments were applied viz. T1 (22 ᵒC), T2 (25 ᵒC) and T3 (28 ᵒC) through cooling nutrient solution besides non-cooled treatment T4 (33 ᵒC) as control. The plants were grown in pots filled with perlite medium in randomized complete design (RCD) with four replications. All the treatments received the same nutrient concentrations. The results showed that cooling of nutrient solution temperature influenced positively the levels of DO in the fresh nutrient solution feeding tank and drain nutrient solution for all cropping periods in both the years. Significant (p < 0.05) differences between the treatments were observed in oxygen consumption by the roots of cucumber in the cropping periods in both the years. High levels of oxygen consumptions were recorded with cooled RZTs as compared to that of control-non-cooled RZT for all cropping periods in both the years. All growth, production and quality attributes were positively influenced and greatly expressed by cooled root-zone temperature in the root-zone of cucumber with increased DO levels in nutrient solution. This study revealed that availability of optimum aeration (oxygen levels) in nutrient solution through cooling of nutrient solution temperature could be of significance for boosting cucumber yield as observed during all the growing periods especially in summer in Oman.


2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 119-128 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christiano Rebougas Cosme ◽  
Nildo da Silva Dias ◽  
Karen Mariany Pereira Silva ◽  
Camilo Vinícius Trindade Silva ◽  
Ítalo Sorac Rafael de Queiroz ◽  
...  

2015 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Piotr Wesołowski ◽  
Adam Brysiewicz

Abstract Due to poor ecological status of Lake Starzyc, lake restoration measures were undertaken in 2003 to improve aerobic conditions of near-bottom waters and to decrease phosphorus concentrations. To do this, a wind-driven pulverising aerator was installed in the lake. The aim of this study was to analyse variability of oxygen and nitrogen concentrations in lake water near the aerator in the third year of its operation and later on in the three-year-long period of the years 2008–2010. It was found that concentrations of ammonium-nitrogen, nitrate-nitrogen and dissolved oxygen near the aerator did not differ from those in sites 4 and 5, which evidenced similar abiotic conditions in analysed waters. Higher concentrations of dissolved oxygen and lower concentrations of nitrate-nitrogen were found in the years 2008–2010 than in 2005.


HortScience ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 287-291 ◽  
Author(s):  
B.K. Duffy ◽  
G. Défago

Host nutritional variables were evaluated for their effects on the severity of crown and root rot of tomato caused by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. radicis-lycopersici. Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) seedlings (cv. Bonnie Best) were grown in a pathogen-infested, soilless rockwool system in the greenhouse and were fertilized with a nutrient solution that was amended with macro- and microelements at various rates. Disease was evaluated after 2 weeks using an index of 0 to 4, and plant fresh weight was measured. Regression analysis indicated that disease severity was significantly increased by ammonium-nitrogen [NH4Cl, (NH4)6Mo7O24, and (NH4)2SO4], NaH2PO4·H2O, Fe-EDDHA, MnSO4, MoO3, and ZnSO4·7H2O. Disease severity was reduced by nitrate-nitrogen [Ca(NO3)2·4H2O] and CuSO4·H2O. Low rates of NH4NO3 (39 to 79 mg·L-1 N) reduced disease, but rates above 100 mg·L-1 N increased it. Disease was not affected by MgSO4·7H2O. In all cases, plant growth was inversely related to disease severity. Mineral fertilizers had no effect on nutrient solution pH. This information sheds new light on environmental factors that influence plant-pathogen interactions, and may be applied to develop a management strategy for Fusarium crown and root rot based on host nutrition.


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.


Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (21) ◽  
pp. 2989
Author(s):  
Katarzyna Dębska ◽  
Beata Rutkowska ◽  
Wiesław Szulc ◽  
Dariusz Gozdowski

Surface waters are very important for society, as they are a source of potable water, as well a water supply for agricultural, industrial and recreational purposes. This paper presents changes in the quality of the water in the Utrata River, along its entire length, as a function of the catchment area’s land use. Water-quality measurements were carried out once a month for a total period of one year (April 2019–March 2020) at 24 measurement points. The concentrations of the following compounds were measured: total phosphorus, ammonia nitrogen and nitrate nitrogen, dissolved oxygen, and chemical oxygen demand. The results were compared with the limit values specified in the Regulation of the Minister of Maritime Economy and Inland Navigation. In order to determine the impact of land use on water quality in the Utrata River, principal component analyses (PCA) were conducted. The research demonstrated a considerably negative impact of agricultural land use and the presence of urban areas on the water quality of the Utrata River, with elevated concentrations of total phosphorus, ammonia nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen and COD, and decreasing concentrations of dissolved oxygen. The presented results point to the need for effective strategies to mitigate the adverse impact of agriculture and urbanisation on the environment and surface waters.


2018 ◽  
Vol 34 ◽  
pp. 02033 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rijwana Parwin ◽  
Kakoli Karar Paul

The efficiency of Eichhornia crassipes for treatment of raw kitchen wastewater was studied in the present research work. An artificial wetland of 30 liter capacity was created for phytoremediation of kitchen wastewater using Eichhornia crassipes. Kitchen wastewater samples were collected from hostel of an educational institute in India. Samples were characterized based on physical and chemical parameters such as pH, turbidity, total hardness, nitrate-nitrogen, ammonium-nitrogen, sulphate, dissolved oxygen, total organic carbon and total dissolved solid. The physico-chemical parameter of kitchen wastewater samples were analysed for durations of 0 (initial day), 4 and 8 days. After 8 days of retention period, it was observed that pH value increases from 6.25 to 6.63. However, percentage reduction for turbidity, total hardness, nitrate-nitrogen, ammonium-nitrogen, sulphate, dissolved oxygen, total organic carbon and total dissolved solid were found to be 74.71%, 50%, 78.75%, 60.28%, 25.31%, 33.33%, 15.38% and 69.97%, respectively. Hence water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) is found efficient and easy to handle and it can be used for low cost phytoremediation technique.


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