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Basics of Soilless Crop Production Systems

Petrus Langenhoven, Ph.D.Horticulture and Hydroponics Crops Specialist

January 10, 20171

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OUTLINE OF PRESENTATION

• Soilless Production

• Solution Culture

• Medium Culture

• Crops

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STATISTICS

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USDA NASS Horticulture Specialties Census: 2014Food Crops Grown Under Protection and Sold

U.S. Michigan Ohio Illinois Indiana Kentucky

Acres

Total 2142 25 24 11 12 13

Cucumbers 252 10 1 0 0 1

Herbs, cut fresh 318 1 2 ‐ 1 0

Lettuce, all 99 1 5 0 2 1

Peppers, all 81 1 1 0 ‐ 0

Strawberries 14 0 0 0 ‐ 1

Tomatoes 978 6 10 7 8 9

Other food crops 399 5 6 3 ‐ 1

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Soilless Production4

..method of growing plants using mineral nutrient solutions,  without soil…

Two types of hydroponics, solution culture and medium culture

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Source: http://delphy.nl/en/news/growing‐under‐100‐led‐lighting/

RECORD TOMATO YIELD….2014/15 SEASON, Bleiswijk, The Netherlands

2014/15 season

100.6 kg∙m‐2 = 20.6 lb∙ft‐2

or1006 ton∙ha‐1 = 449 US tons∙acre‐1

or1006 ton∙ha‐1 = 897,352 lbs∙acre‐1

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Solution Culture6

Photo: Petrus Langenhoven Photo: Rutgers Univ. EcoComplex

Photo: http://www.flowermuse.com/blog/behind‐the‐scenes‐at‐the‐tulip‐farm/

Photo: Petrus Langenhoven

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NUTRIENT FILM TECHNIQUE, fixed channel

Photo: hydrocentre.com.au

Photo: CROPKING

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NUNTRIENT FILM TECHNIQUE, mobile channel system

Photos curtesy of Karlovec Media GroupFacility of Great Lakes Growers, Burton, Ohio

Watch video, MGS by Hortiplanwww.hortamericas.com

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INDOOR VERTICAL FARMS, growing with sole‐source LED’s

Photos: Green

 Sen

se Farms

Photos: Growtainer

PhotoS: Freight Farm

s

Photos: FarmedHere

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DEEP WATER CULTURE (DEEP FLOW),vegetable seedling production

Photos: Petrus Langenhoven

Without seedling trays With seedling trays

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Roots are continuously or discontinuously kept in an environment saturated with a mist or aerosol of nutrient solution

Potato Photos: Neiker‐Tecnaliahttp://www.basqueresearch.com/new/2172

5‐10 times more seed than potted systems,International Potato Center (CIP)

AEROPONICS, recirculating cultivation system

Potato seed production

Anthurium flower production

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Medium Culture12

Photo: http://www.microgreengarden.com/apps/photos/photo?photoid=185360177

Photo: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/548313323354642917/ Photos: Petrus Langenhoven

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GRAVEL FLOW TECHNIQUE, home gardener version

Photos: Petrus Langenhoven

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EBB AND FLOW, recirculating cultivation system

© Copyright, Pure Hydroponics Ltd, 2009, www.purehydroponics.com Photo: Petrus Langenhoven

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EBB AND FLOW, recirculating cultivation system

Photos: Petrus Langenhoven

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RUN TO WASTE

Photos: Petrus Langenhoven

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Container with substrate irrigated individually Trough with substrate with drip irrigation

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RECIRCULATING, soil grown (Belgium)

Photos: Petrus Langenhoven

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RECIRCULATING, Rockwool slabs with 4 plants per slab

Photos: Petrus Langenhoven

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Crops19

Hand‐picked, soil‐grown herbs…….and herbs grown in soilless substrate. Potted living herbs grown in soilless substrate

Photos: Petrus Langenhoven Photo: Kitchen Pick Living herbs

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PRODUCTION OF ALTERNATIVE HIGH VALUE PRODUCTS (examples of baby squash)

Photos: Petrus Langenhoven

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MELONS – Vertically trellised in a high tunnel or greenhouse  

Photos: Petrus Langenhoven

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INFORMATION RESOURCES• University resources – Extension publications• Professional magazines

– Greenhouse Grower, www.greenhousegrower.com– Practical Hydroponics and Greenhouses, www.hydroponics.com.au– Greenhouse Canada, www.greenhousecanada.com

• Books– Greenhouse Technology and management, Nicolas Castilla– Greenhouse Operation and Management, Paul V. Nelson– Soilless Culture, Michael Raviv & J. Heinrich Leith– Growing Media for Ornamental Plants and Turf, Kevin Handreck & Niel Black– Plant Nutrition of Greenhouse Crops, Cees Sonneveld & Wim Voogt– Hydroponic Food Production, Howard M. Resh

• Trade shows and conferences– Indiana Small Farm Conference, March 2‐4, 2017 – Danville IN– Indoor Ag Con, May 3‐4, 2017 – Las Vegas NV– Cultivate’17, July 15‐18, 2017 – Columbus OH

• Manufacturers and distributors (list is not complete but it’s a good start): – http://www.tunnelberries.org/single‐bay‐high‐tunnel‐manufacturers.html– http://www.tunnelberries.org/multi‐bay‐high‐tunnel‐manufacturers.html

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Purdue University is an equal access/equal opportunity institution.

THANK YOU               Questions?Contact details:

Dr. Petrus Langenhoven

Horticulture and Hydroponics Crop Specialist

Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture

Purdue University

Tel. no. 765-496-7955

Email: plangenh@purdue.edu

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