Jr - Complete guide for growing plants hydroponically

J AGRICULTURE ones, Jr . Complete Guide forComplete Guide forGrowing PlantsGrowing Plants Hydroponically Complete G With the continued implementation of new equipment and new concepts and methods, such Hydroponically as hydroponics and soilless practices, crop growth has improved and become more efficient. Focusing on the basic principles and practical growth requirements, the Complete Guidefor Growing Plants Hydroponically offers valuable information for the commercial grower, u the researcher, the hobbyist, and the student interested in hydroponics. It provides details ide f on methods of growing that are applicable to a range of environmental growing systems. or The author begins with an introduction that covers the past, present, and future of hydroponics. He also describes the basic concepts behind how plants grow, followed by G several chapters that present in-depth practical details for hydroponic growing systems: rowi The essential plant nutrient elements ng P The nutrient solution Rooting media lan Systems of hydroponic culture ts Hydroponic application factors Hy These chapters cover the nutritional requirements of plants and how to best prepare dr and use nutrient solutions to satisfy plant requirements with different growing systems o and rooting media under a variety of conditions.

The book gives many nutrient solution p formulas and discusses the advantages and disadvantages of various hydroponic systems. on It also contains a chapter that describes a school project, which students can follow to ic generate nutrient element deficiency symptoms and monitor their effects on plant growth. ally K13563 6000 Broken Sound Parkway, NW Suite 300, Boca Raton, FL 33487 711 Third Avenue New York, NY 10017 an informa business 2 Park Square, Milton Park J. Benton Jones, Jr. w w w . c o m Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN, UK w w w . c r c p r e s s . c o m K13563_cover.indd 1 12/16/13 1:41 PM Complete Guide forGrowing PlantsHydroponicallyComplete Guide forGrowing PlantsHydroponically J. c o m K13563_cover.indd 1 12/16/13 1:41 PM Complete Guide forGrowing PlantsHydroponicallyComplete Guide forGrowing PlantsHydroponically J.

Benton Jones, Jr. GroSystems, Inc. Anderson, South Carolina, USA Boca Raton London New York CRC Press is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business CRC Press Taylor & Francis Group 6000 Broken Sound Parkway NW, Suite 300 Boca Raton, FL 33487-2742 2014 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC CRC Press is an imprint of Taylor & Francis Group, an Informa business No claim to original U.S. Government works Version Date: 20130923 International Standard Book Number-13: 978-1-4398-7669-5 (eBook - PDF) This book contains information obtained from authentic and highly regarded sources. Reasonable efforts have been made to publish reliable data and information, but the author and publisher cannot assume responsibility for the validity of all materials or the consequences of their use. The authors and publishers have attempted to trace the copyright holders of all material reproduced in this publication and apologize to copyright holders if permission to publish in this form has not been obtained.

If any copyright material has not been acknowledged please write and let us know so we may rectify in any future reprint. Except as permitted under U.S. Copyright Law, no part of this book may be reprinted, reproduced, transmit-ted, or utilized in any form by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying, microfilming, and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without written permission from the publishers. For permission to photocopy or use material electronically from this work, please access www.copyright. com (http://www.copyright.com/) or contact the Copyright Clearance Center, Inc. (CCC), 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, 978-750-8400.

CCC is a not-for-profit organization that provides licenses and registration for a variety of users. For organizations that have been granted a photocopy license by the CCC, a separate system of payment has been arranged. Trademark Notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation without intent to infringe. Visit the Taylor & Francis Web site athttp://www.taylorandfrancis.comand the CRC Press Web site athttp://www.crcpress.comContents List of Figures ....................................................................................................ix List of Tables ................................................................................................... xiii Preface ............................................................................................................. 1 Introduction ........................................................................................................ 1 Hydroponics defined ......................................................................................... 1 Is hydroponics a science? .................................................................................. 3 Hydroponic terminology .................................................................................. 4 Historical past ..................................................................................................... 5 The future of hydroponics .............................................................................. 10 Hydroponic practice and the art of hydroponics ........................................ 11 Value of the hydroponic method ................................................................... 12 Internet .............................................................................................................. 13 Units of measure .............................................................................................. 13 Abbreviations ................................................................................................... 14 Chapter 2 How plants grow ....................................................................... 17 Introduction ...................................................................................................... 17 Photosynthesis .................................................................................................. 18 Soil fertility factors ........................................................................................... 19 The plant root ................................................................................................... 21 Water content and uptake ............................................................................... 23 Ion uptake ......................................................................................................... 27 Root surface chemistry .................................................................................... 30 Chapter 3 The essential plant nutrient elements .................................. 31 Introduction ...................................................................................................... 31 Terminology ...................................................................................................... 31 Criteria for essentiality .................................................................................... 34 The major elements .......................................................................................... 35 The micronutrients .......................................................................................... 36