Plant Propagation for Successful Hydroponic Production_February 13, 2018_Hye-Ji Kim

13 Pages·2017·1.36 MB·English

2/19/2018
Plant Propagation for
Successful Hydroponic Production
Hye-Ji Kim
Assistant Professor of Sustainable Horticulture Crop Production
February 13, 2018
Purdue University is an equal access/equal opportunity institution.
What is Hydroponics?
Hydroponics = hydros+ ponos
Water labor
The cultivation of plants by placing the roots in liquid nutrient 
solutions rather than in soil; soilless growth of plants.
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Why hydroponics?
 Crops can be produced on non‐arable land including land with 
poor soils and/or high salinity levels. 
 Efficient use of water and nutrients. 
 High density planting = minimum use of land area. 
 Year‐round production.
 Local food.
 Direct and immediate control over the rhizosphere.
 Isolation from diseases or insect pests usually found in the soil. 
 Higher yield, quality and storability of products.
 Ease of cleaning the systems. 
 No weeding or cultivation is needed.
 Transplanting of seedlings is easy.
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Hydroponics Basics
Types of Hydroponics: Water vs. Substrate-base
Open vs. Closed
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Types of Hydroponics: Water vs. Substrate-base
Water-based System Substrate-based System
DDeeeepp  wwaatteerr  ccuullttuurree  ““RRaafftt””  ssyysstteemm
EEbbbb‐‐aanndd‐‐ffllooww
NNuuttrriieenntt  FFiillmm  TTeecchhnniiqquueess  ((NNFFTT))
AAeerrooppoonniiccss
DDrriipp  iirrrriiggaattiioonn
Purdue University is an equal access/equal opportunity institution. Source: ChiwonLee
Types of Hydroponics: Water vs. Substrate-base
Water-based System
DDeeeepp  wwaatteerr  ccuullttuurree  ““RRaafftt””  ssyysstteemm
NNuuttrriieenntt  FFiillmm  TTeecchhnniiqquueess  ((NNFFTT))
AAeerrooppoonniiccss
Source: ChiwonLee
Source: hydrocentre.com.au Mobile channel systemSource: Petrus Langenhoven
Facility of Great Lakes Growers, Burton, Ohio
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Types of Hydroponics: Water vs. Substrate-base
Water-based System
DDeeeepp  wwaatteerr  ccuullttuurree  ““RRaafftt””  ssyysstteemm
NNuuttrriieenntt  FFiillmm  TTeecchhnniiqquueess  ((NNFFTT))
AAeerrooppoonniiccss
• Excellent aeration
• 65% less water use than other  Traveling plant,
hydroponic systems Epcot Center, Disney World
Source: http://www.mosesong.com/
Purdue University is an equal access/equal opportunity institution. Source: ChiwonLeeSource: Neiker‐Tecnaliawww.basqueresearch.com/new/2172 Source: ChiwonLee
Types of Hydroponics: Water vs. Substrate-base
Substrate-based System
EEbbbb‐‐aanndd‐‐ffllooww
DDrriipp  iirrrriiggaattiioonn
GGrraavveellss,,  CCooccoo  CCooiirr  CCrroouuttoonnss
CCllaayy‐‐bbaallllss
LLaavvaa‐‐rroocckkss
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Source: Petrus Langenhoven
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Types of Hydroponics: Open vs. Closed
Open (Drain to Waste) system Closed (Recirculating) system
e.g. drip irrigation e.g. deep water culture, NFT, aeroponics
Hydroponic tank
Air pump
Nutrient 
Reservoir Nutrient 
Water pump Reservoir
Water pump
 Closed systems use 20–40% less water 
and fertilizer than open systems
 Consistent monitoring and maintenance 
of electrical conductivity (EC) and pH is 
required. 
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Types of Hydroponics: Open vs. Closed
Open (Drain to Waste) system
e.g. drip irrigation
Nutrient 
Reservoir
Water pump
Source: Grodan DDrriipp  iirrrriiggaattiioonn
Purdue University is an equal access/equal opportunity institution.
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Types of Hydroponics: Open vs. Closed
Open (Drain to Waste) system
e.g. drip irrigation
Nutrient 
Reservoir
Water pump
Source: Petrus Langenhoven DDrriipp  iirrrriiggaattiioonn
Purdue University is an equal access/equal oGpproertgu nLitoy ivnsetittutt/ioTnh.e Palm Beach Post via AP Source: abcnews.go.com 
Types of Hydroponics: Open vs. Closed
Open (Drain to Waste) system
to Closed system
Nutrient 
Reservoir
Water pump
DDrriipp  iirrrriiggaattiioonn
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Plant material
preparation
• Choice of Crops and Cultivars
• Growing Media
• Hydroponic Propagation Methods
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Preparation of plant materials
Choice of Crops and Cultivars
 The most popular crops grown in hydroponics: 
tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, herbs, peppers, and strawberries
F1 Hybrid
Indeterminant growth
Leafy vegetables and herbs High‐wire or vine plants
Purdue UniversityP is alna equnal atccienss/egqua l doppeortunnity sinsitittutiyon.: 20‐25 plants/m2 Planting density: 4‐8 plants/m2
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Types of Growing Media
Substrate choice for hydroponic seedling production
Substrates can be used alone or in mixture with other substrates.
Consider physical and chemical properties (air, water, and solid space; EC and pH), 
cost, local availability, compatibility with the production system
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Types of Growing Media
Substrate choice for hydroponic seedling production
 Substrates can be used alone or in mixture with other substrates.
 Consider physical and chemical properties (air, water, and solid space; EC and pH), cost, local 
availability, compatibility with the production system
 Good physical contact with seeds
Substrates Synthetic media
Organic  Mineral  (plugs, cubes, and blocks)
components components
Conventional  peat moss perlite • polymer bound plugs (e.g. peat 
hydroponics coco coir Vermiculite pellets, coir pellets, composted organic 
sand Clay pebbles material plugs, Oasis Horticubes, 
sawdust urethane foam plugs)
rice hulls • Rockwool cubes & blocks
• coco coir cubes and blocks
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Types of Growing Media
Substrates for hydroponic propagation
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2 3
Source: http://campus.extension.org/
“Rockwool system”
LLoonngg‐‐tteerrmm  ccrrooppss
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Hydroponic Propagation Methods
Grafting
Pepper Cucumber
Seed propagation
High‐wire or vine plants
Division
Leafy vegetables and herbs
Strawberries
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Hydroponic Propagation Methods
Seed propagation
Seed germination
 Relative humidity
 Temperature 
 Light
Leafy vegetables and herbs
Large‐scale seed propagation Germination 
rooms
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Hydroponic Propagation Methods
Seeding emergence
 Water and nutrient management
 Light: LED lights 
EC: 0.5 mS/cm EC: 1.0 to 1.5 mS/cm
pH 6  pH 6 EC: 2 mS/cm
pH 6
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