Root Media

1
Root Media

• Soil medium
• Water Medium

2
Major Considerations

• Potted crops
• In-ground crops
• Nutriculture

3
Potted Crops
4
In Ground
5
Other Considerations

• Components
• Organic
• Inorganic

6
Organic Components

• Peat moss
• Coir
• Wood shavings
• Bark by-products

7
Inorganic Components

• Sand
• Perlite
• Vermiculite
• Calcined clay
• Pumice
• Cinder

8
Characteristics for Organics

• Physically stable
• High CEC
• Water holding
• Low CN ratio
• Light weight

9
Characteristics for Inorganics

• Light weight
• Stable
• Relatively inert
• Available in a range of particle sizes
• available

10
Chemical Properties

• Cation exchange
• pH
• Electrical Conductivity
• Carbon to Nitrogen ratio (CN ratio)

11
Physical Properties

• Bulk density
• Good structure
• Porosity
• Water holding capacity
• Perched water table

12
(No Transcript)
13
(No Transcript)
14
Soil based Media

• Traditionally used for flower crops grown in
  ground.
• Soil amended between crops with organic and
  inorganic matter as needed.
• Soil also was fumigated between crops.
• Basically treated as a field crop, except under
  glass.

15
Soil-less Media

• Traditionally used for potted crops.
• No field soil used.
• Mostly peat based, with varied amounts of either
  perlite, sand or vermiculite along with the
  addition of bark by-products.
• Easily mixed/prepared in small or large
  quantities.

16
Soil-less Media (contd)

• Easily pasteurized
• Easy to handle
• Most components widely available

17
First Considerations

• Availability
• Quality
• Cost

18
Considerations (contd)

• Self mix Purchase individual components
• Purchase pre-mixed

19
Soil Treatments

• Sterilization Heat treatment to kill all living
  organisms. May cause a biological vacuum.
• Pasteurization Heating to a temperature of 140
  160 degrees F for 45 minutes. Kills only
  harmful organisms, keeps beneficial ones.

20
Soil Treatments (contd)

• Chemical treatment
• Soil fumigants- methyl bromide/chloropicrin,
  vapam

21
Specific Crop Examples

• In ground
• Roses
• Carnations
• Chrysanthemums
• Alstroemerias
• Lily
• Lisianthus

22
Examples (contd)

• Potted crops
• Poinsettia
• Chrysanthemum
• Foliage
• Orchid
• Miscellaneous
• Azalea, Kalachoe, Sunflower, Lily

23
Nutriculture

• Hydroponics
• Gravelculture
• Sandculture
• Aeroponics
• Nutrient Film Technique (NFT)
• Rockwool Culture

24
(No Transcript)
25
(No Transcript)
26
(No Transcript)
27
(No Transcript)
28
(No Transcript)
29
(No Transcript)
30
(No Transcript)
31
(No Transcript)
32
(No Transcript)
33
(No Transcript)
34
(No Transcript)
35
(No Transcript)
36
(No Transcript)
37
(No Transcript)
38
(No Transcript)
39
Greenhouse Irrigation

• Effects
• Rules
• Systems

40
Effects

• Under-watering
• Over-watering

41
Rules

• Use a well drained medium
• Water thoroughly each time
• Water when moisture stress occurs

42
Water Quality
43
Fertilization

• Dry
• Pre-Plant - Soil Incorporation
• Topdressing
• Broadcast
• Band
• Water Soluble
• Continual Fertilization

44
Fertilizer Rates (dry)

• Fertilizer Analysis relative amounts of
  nutrients, N, P and K in the fertilizer bag.
• Eg. 20-20-20
• Fertilizer Ratio lowest common multiple in a
  fertilizer analysis.
• Eg. 1-1-1

45
Fertilizer Rates (dry)

• Based on surface area or volume of soil
• Surface area turfgrass or field application
• Soil volume nursery/greenhouse soil for potting

46
Fertilizer Rates (dry)

• Usually based on amount of Nitrogen in terms of
  s per cubic yard of soil.
• Eg. We have a bag of 20-5-10. How much of
  this fertilizer is needed to provide a rate of
  2s of actual N per cubic yard of soil?
• Solution 2?0.20 10 s of 20-5-10.

47
Fertilizer Rates (dry)

• How much superphosphate will be needed to provide
  us with a rate of 3s of P(P2O5)?
• Superphosphate has an analysis of 0-20-0
• Solution 3?0.20 15 s of 0-20-0 / yd3.

48
Fertilizer Rates (soluble)

• Based on analysis of fertilizer (water soluble).
• Based on proportioning device ratio (injector).
• Ratios 161, 501, 1001, 3001 etc. Depends on
  manufacturer. Some are variable/changeable.

49
(No Transcript)
50
(No Transcript)
51
(No Transcript)
52
Fertilizer rates (soluble)

• Proportioner/injector ratio
• Example
• 1001 for every 100 parts of water that pass
  through this device, one part of concentrate will
  be diluted into the water, as it is applied to
  the plant.

53
Fertilizer rates (soluble)

• Basic Calculation
• ppm desired ? 75 ? nutrient ounces per 100
  gallons of water.
• If we need a 200 ppm solution of N and we have
  35-0-0, how much 35-0-0 do we need per 100
  gallons?
• 200?75?0.35 7.6 ounces of 35-0-0 in 100 gallons
  of water.

54
Fertilizer rates (soluble)

• How much 35-0-0 will be needed to stock a 100
  gallon concentrate tank that will be attached to
  a proportioner having a dilution ratio of 1001?

55
(No Transcript)
56
(No Transcript)
57
(No Transcript)
58
(No Transcript)
59
(No Transcript)
60
(No Transcript)
61
(No Transcript)
62
(No Transcript)
63
(No Transcript)
64
(No Transcript)
65
(No Transcript)
66
(No Transcript)
67
(No Transcript)
68
(No Transcript)
69
(No Transcript)
70
(No Transcript)
71
(No Transcript)
72
(No Transcript)
73
(No Transcript)
74
(No Transcript)
75
(No Transcript)
76
(No Transcript)
77
(No Transcript)
78
Calculation Part 1

• How much KNO3 (13-0-44) and NH4NO3 are needed to
  provide 200 ppm each of N and K20 per 100 gallons
  of water?

79
Solution

• Since 13-0-44 has the K2O, begin with this
  material.
• 200 ? 75 ? .44 6.06 oz. Per 100 gallons of
  water.
• But , how much N will be included with this?
• 6.06 x 75 x .13 59.08 ppm N

80
Solution

• How much more N is required?
• 200 59 141 ppm
• How much NH4NO3 is needed to provide 141 ppm of
  N?
• 141 ? 75 ? .34 5.5 oz. Per 100 gallons of water

81
CalculationPart 2

• The fertilizer is to be distributed via a 2001
  Smith proportioner, and the concentrate tank
  holds 200 gallons. How much of each material is
  needed?