Hydroponics

Aeroponic potato

2011-05-14T09:14:00.000-07:00

Aeroponics and the contribution to increase potato crops on earth and space. interview with Richard Stoner, Founder & President AgriHouse Inc along leading scientists. NASA funded aeroponic research and development.

Aeroponic plant for potatos

pH Formula

2011-05-14T08:42:00.000-07:00

where a_H+ is the activity of hydrogen ions in units of mol/L (molar concentration)

pH is a measure of the acidity or basicity of an aqueous solution.

pH is defined as a negative decimal logarithm of the hydrogen ion activity in a solution.

Formula nutrient solutions for hydroponics

2011-05-08T04:54:00.000-07:00

Formula Tumanov 1960 year

Macroelements

pH	Ca⁺⁺	Mg⁺⁺	Na⁺	K⁺	NH4⁺	NO3^-	PO4^-	SO4⁼	Cl^-
6-7	300	50	-	150	-	100	80	64	4

Microelements

Fe	Mn	Cu	Zn	B	Mo
2	0,5	0,05	0,1	0,5	0,02

Formula Kidson

Macroelements

pH	Ca⁺⁺	Mg⁺⁺	Na⁺	K⁺	NH4⁺	NO3^-	PO4^-	SO4⁼	Cl^-
5,5	340	54	35	234	-	208	57	114	75

Microelements

Fe	Mn	Cu	Zn	B	Mo
2	0,25	0,05	0,05	0,5	0,1

Formula Purdue

Macroelements

pH	Ca⁺⁺	Mg⁺⁺	Na⁺	K⁺	NH4⁺	NO3^-	PO4^-	SO4⁼	Cl^-
-	200	96	-	390	28	70	63	607	-

Microelements

Fe	Mn	Cu	Zn	B	Mo
20	0,3	0,02	0,05	0,5	-

Formula Schwartz Israel

Macroelements

pH	Ca⁺⁺	Mg⁺⁺	Na⁺	K⁺	NH4⁺	NO3^-	PO4^-	SO4⁼	Cl^-
-	124	43	-	312	-	98	93	160	-

Microelements

Fe	Mn	Cu	Zn	B	Mo
-	-	-	-	-	-

Formula Schwartz California

Macroelements

pH	Ca⁺⁺	Mg⁺⁺	Na⁺	K⁺	NH4⁺	NO3^-	PO4^-	SO4⁼	Cl^-
-	160	48	-	200	15	196	31	147	-

Microelements

Fe	Mn	Cu	Zn	B	Mo
-	-	-	-	-	-

Formula Schwartz New Jersey

Macroelements

pH	Ca⁺⁺	Mg⁺⁺	Na⁺	K⁺	NH4⁺	NO3^-	PO4^-	SO4⁼	Cl^-
-	180	55	-	90	20,5	126	71	96	-

Microelements

Fe	Mn	Cu	Zn	B	Mo
-	-	-	-	-	-

Formula Schwartz South Africa

Macroelements

pH	Ca⁺⁺	Mg⁺⁺	Na⁺	K⁺	NH4⁺	NO3^-	PO4^-	SO4⁼	Cl^-
-	210	50	-	300	-	200	65	-	-

Microelements

Fe	Mn	Cu	Zn	B	Mo
-	-	-	-	-	-

Formula CDA A

Macroelements

pH	Ca⁺⁺	Mg⁺⁺	Na⁺	K⁺	NH4⁺	NO3^-	PO4^-	SO4⁼	Cl^-
-	131	22	-	209	33	93	36,7	29,5	188

Microelements

Fe	Mn	Cu	Zn	B	Mo
1,7	0,8	0,035	0,094	0,46	0,027

Formula CDA В Saanichton

Macroelements

pH	Ca⁺⁺	Mg⁺⁺	Na⁺	K⁺	NH4⁺	NO3^-	PO4^-	SO4⁼	Cl^-
-	146	22	-	209	33	135	36,7	29,5	108

Microelements

Fe	Mn	Cu	Zn	B	Mo
1,7	0,8	0,035	0,094	0,46	0,027

Formula CDA С Canada

Macroelements

pH	Ca⁺⁺	Mg⁺⁺	Na⁺	K⁺	NH4⁺	NO3^-	PO4^-	SO4⁼	Cl^-
-	146	22	-	209	33	177	36,7	29,5	-

Microelements

Fe	Mn	Cu	Zn	B	Mo
1,7	0,8	0,035	0,094	0,46	0,027

Formula Dr. Pilgrim

Macroelements

pH	Ca⁺⁺	Mg⁺⁺	Na⁺	K⁺	NH4⁺	NO3^-	PO4^-	SO4⁼	Cl^-
-	272	54,3	-	400	-	143,4	93	237,5	-

Microelements

Fe	Mn	Cu	Zn	B	Mo
-	-	-	-	-	-

Formula Dr. Pilgrim Elizabeth

Macroelements

pH	Ca⁺⁺	Mg⁺⁺	Na⁺	K⁺	NH4⁺	NO3^-	PO4^-	SO4⁼	Cl^-
-	204	40,7	-	300	-	107,6	69,75	178,1	-

Microelements

Fe	Mn	Cu	Zn	B	Mo
-	-	-	-	-	-

Formula Dr. Pilgrim USA

Macroelements

pH	Ca⁺⁺	Mg⁺⁺	Na⁺	K⁺	NH4⁺	NO3^-	PO4^-	SO4⁼	Cl^-
-	136	27,15	-	200	-	71,7	46,5	118,75	-

Microelements

Fe	Mn	Cu	Zn	B	Mo
-	-	-	-	-	-

Formula Dr. Resh

Macroelements

pH	Ca⁺⁺	Mg⁺⁺	Na⁺	K⁺	NH4⁺	NO3^-	PO4^-	SO4⁼	Cl^-
-	197	44	-	400	30	145	65	197,5	-

Microelements

Fe	Mn	Cu	Zn	B	Mo
2	0,5	0,03	0,05	0,5	0,02

Formula Dr. Resh University B.C.

Macroelements

pH	Ca⁺⁺	Mg⁺⁺	Na⁺	K⁺	NH4⁺	NO3^-	PO4^-	SO4⁼	Cl^-
-	148	33	-	300	20	110	55	144,3	-

Microelements

Fe	Mn	Cu	Zn	B	Mo
2	0,5	0,03	0,05	0,5	0,02

Formula Dr. Resh Vancouver 1971 year

Macroelements

pH	Ca⁺⁺	Mg⁺⁺	Na⁺	K⁺	NH4⁺	NO3^-	PO4^-	SO4⁼	Cl^-
-	98,5	22	-	200	10	80	40	83,2	-

Microelements

Fe	Mn	Cu	Zn	B	Mo
2	0,5	0,03	0,05	0,5	0,02

Formula Dr. Resh tropics, dry season, lettuce 1984 year

Macroelements

pH	Ca⁺⁺	Mg⁺⁺	Na⁺	K⁺	NH4⁺	NO3^-	PO4^-	SO4⁼	Cl^-
-	250	36	-	200	53	177	60	129	-

Microelements

Fe	Mn	Cu	Zn	B	Mo
5	0,5	0,03	0,05	0,5	0,02

Formula Dr. Resh tropics during the rainy season, lettuce 1984 year

Macroelements

pH	Ca⁺⁺	Mg⁺⁺	Na⁺	K⁺	NH4⁺	NO3^-	PO4^-	SO4⁼	Cl^-
-	150	50	-	150	32	115	50	52	-

Microelements

Fe	Mn	Cu	Zn	B	Mo
5	0,5	0,03	0,05	0,5	0,02

Formula Dr. Resh California, lettuce 1989-1993 year

Macroelements

pH	Ca⁺⁺	Mg⁺⁺	Na⁺	K⁺	NH4⁺	NO3^-	PO4^-	SO4⁼	Cl^-
-	200	40	-	210	25	165	50	113	-

Microelements

Fe	Mn	Cu	Zn	B	Mo
5	0,5	0,1	0,1	0,5	0,05

Formula Dr. Resh Florida, cucumber (0-10 days) 1990 year

Macroelements

pH	Ca⁺⁺	Mg⁺⁺	Na⁺	K⁺	NH4⁺	NO3^-	PO4^-	SO4⁼	Cl^-
-	100	20	-	175	3	128	27	26	-

Microelements

Fe	Mn	Cu	Zn	B	Mo
2	0,8	0,07	0,1	0,3	0,03

Formula Dr. Resh Florida cucumbers at 10-day before the first ovary

Macroelements

pH	Ca⁺⁺	Mg⁺⁺	Na⁺	K⁺	NH4⁺	NO3^-	PO4^-	SO4⁼	Cl^-
-	220	40	-	350	7	267	55	53	-

Microelements

Fe	Mn	Cu	Zn	B	Mo
3	0,8	0,07	0,1	0,3	0,03

Formula Dr. Resh Florida, the further growth of cucumber

Macroelements

pH	Ca⁺⁺	Mg⁺⁺	Na⁺	K⁺	NH4⁺	NO3^-	PO4^-	SO4⁼	Cl^-
-	200	45	-	400	7	255	55	82	-

Microelements

Fe	Mn	Cu	Zn	B	Mo
2	0,8	0,1	0,33	0,4	0,05

Secrets of Plant Propagation By Lewis Hill

2011-05-08T02:06:00.000-07:00

Learn the techniques of successful plant propogation and avoid mistakes and disappointments with expert advice from Lewis Hill. Grow beautiful, bountiful, healthy plants — and save money in the process!

Review

"…this guide is a pleasure to read and a dependable source of suggestions for those who want to discover the satisfactions of real do- it- yourself programs." - Publishers Weekly

" Vermont nurseryman, Lewis Hill can keep you glued to your seat engrossed in a subject your not even sure you need to know- a talent much in evidence…" - The New York Times

" This book is well designed, full of good graphics and written in a personable style that makes for a pleasant reading…"- Sacramento Bee

" …the book is free of the mumbo jumbo that sometimes accompanies these subjects." - Hartford Courant

" Simply written, easy- to- follow, how- to-do- it books are worth their weight in rubies. Lewis Hill's Secrets of Plant Propagation is one of these books. - Hartford Cournat

" I find the information very clear. Numerous illustrations make the directions easy to follow."

- New York Post

" Detailed recommendations are listed for propagating…leaving the reader uncertain whether to finish the book to dash off, pruner's in hand to attempt the techniques so well described." - New York Times

" Hill has plenty of information to share with the hobbyist or budding nursery owner." - Booklist

“Loaded with information and expertise, this masterful work is recommended for the serious gardener.” – Spa Management

Hydroponic Food Production Book by Howard M Resh Ph.D.

2011-05-08T01:49:00.000-07:00

This book is a comprehensive and practical guide to soilless growing. It is known as the Bible of the industry. It is a methods book in that it provides detailed information on how to design, set up and operate hydroponic culture systems. It also describes the most successful cultures to use with specific crops. Hydroponic Food Production provides an immediatereference for those who are presently growing hydroponically as well as a guidebook to get prospective growers started. The sixth edition contains 450 photographs, drawings and tables. It has directories, addresses, references, bibliography and a complete index.

The methods of growing comercial hydroponic lettuce.

2011-05-08T01:33:00.000-07:00

Short film about growing lettuce in industrial quantities

Growing box

2011-05-05T13:18:00.000-07:00

LED Grow Lights

2011-05-05T11:22:00.000-07:00

LED lights for plants growing

Grow lights are usually used for indoor gardening, plant propagation and food production, including indoor hydroponics and aquatic plants. Although most grow lights are used on an industrial level, some small-scale/domestic usage of these lamps has also been found.

According to the inverse square law, the intensity of light radiating from a point source (in this case a bulb) that reaches a surface is inversely proportional to the square of the surface's distance from the source. So if an object is twice as far away, it receives only 1/4 the light. This is a serious hurdle for indoor growers, and many techniques are employed to use light as efficiently as possible. Reflectors are thus often used in the lamps to maximize light efficiency. Plants or lights are moved as close together as possible so that they receive equal lighting and that all light coming from the lamps wind up on the plants (rather than partly besides it). Often, the distance between lamp and plant is in the range of 24 inches (with incandescent lamps), up to 4 inches (with other lamps as compact, large and high-output fluorescent lamps). Many home gardeners cover the walls of their grow-room with a reflective material, or alternatively, white paint to maximize efficiency.

Light requirements of plants
To determine the appropriate lighting (and the lamp to be best used), the specific needs of the plant need to be determined. To arrange optimum lighting, the lighting present in the plant's natural environment need to be imitated. Of course, the bigger the plant gets the more light it requires; if there is not enough light, a plant will not grow, regardless of other conditions.

For example vegetables grow best in full sunlight and high light levels are needed to grow vegetables well indoors (fluorescent lamps, or MH-lamps are thus preferred). Foliage plants (e.g. Philodendron) grow in full shade and can grow normally with relatively little artificial light (thus for the latter, regular incandescents may already suffice).

In addition, plants also require both dark and light ("photo"-) periods. Therefore, lights may to be timed to turn them on and off at set times. The optimum photo/dark period depends on the species and variety of plant (some prefer long days and short nights and others prefer the opposite, or something in between).

For indoor gardening, one of the most important topics is light density, measured in lux. Light density is the amount of light incident on a surface. One lux equals one lumen (unit) of light falling on an area of one square meter. A brightly lit office would be illuminated at about 400 lux. In Imperial (pounds-feet) terms, a foot-candle, or the intensity of a standard candle on an area of 1 square foot, is about 10.76 lux. In professional farming PAR watt or microeinstein per squaremeter
second is used instead of lux, because lux is optimized for human vision, not for photosynthesis, and can be very misleading in case of non-white lightsources, like the purplish-looking LED growlights.

LED grow lamps
LED panel light source used in an experiment on plant growth by NASA. Pictured plant is a potato plant.Recent advancements in LEDs have allowed for the production of relatively cheap, bright, and long lasting grow lights that emit only the wavelengths of light corresponding to chlorophyll's absorption peaks. These lights are attractive to indoor growers since they do not consume as much power, do not require ballasts, and produce a fraction of the heat of HID lamps. Since there is a significant reduction in heat, time can be extended between watering cycles because the plants transpire less under LED grow lights. A caution is warned to those growing with LEDs not to over water the plants.

There are four chlorophyll absorption peaks and LED grow lights use four different types of LEDs to hit all four peaks (two red and two blue).Early LED grow lamps used hundreds of fractional watt LEDs and were not effective replacements for HID lamps. Newer advanced LED grow lamps use automotive grade 2-3 watt LEDs and have shown similar results to HID lamps.

For the plant photosynthesis, The best lighting wave is 400nm~700nm. Usually, Different color LED is a special wave light, royal blue 440nm~460nm, blue 460~490nm, cyan 490~520nm, green 520~550nm, red 620~645nm, orange 613~620nm, amber 585~597nm. The scientist find that the blue 400~520nm light, Red light 610~720nm, Orange 613~620nm are best rays for plant photosynthesis. LED grow lamp provides the right rays. Spectrum-tailored grow light is plant specific and more efficient than incandescent. The Plant LED grow lamp uses LEDs to generate the specific colors of light that plants use most efficiently for vigorous growth and health. Increase florescence time much more. For example, For the flower in vase indoor, The florescence increased to 20 days is not impossible. In addition, the lamp uses significantly less energy and gives off much less waste heat than broad-spectrum devices based on incandescent, fluorescent, or metallic-vapor technology. Especially for office plant and stove plant. You just need to buy our red LED light bulbs and blue LED light bulbs as mixed color lighting system.

Aeroponic system

2011-05-05T11:21:00.000-07:00

Aeroponic system

The aeroponic system is probably the most high-tech type of hydroponic gardening. Like the N.F.T. system above the growing medium is primarily air. The roots hang in the air and are misted with nutrient solution. The mistings are usually done every few minutes. Because the roots are exposed to the air like the N.F.T. system, the roots will dry out rapidly if the misting cycles are interrupted.

A timer controls the nutrient pump much like other types of hydroponic systems, except the aeroponic system needs a short cycle timer that runs the pump for a few seconds every couple of minutes.

N.F.T. system (Nutrient Film Technique)

2011-05-05T11:20:00.000-07:00


NFT system

This is the kind of hydroponic system most people think of when they think about hydroponics. N.F.T. systems have a constant flow of nutrient solution so no timer required for the submersible pump. The nutrient solution is pumped into the growing tray (usually a tube) and flows over the roots of the plants, and then drains back into the reservoir.

There is usually no growing medium used other than air, which saves the expense of replacing the growing medium after every crop. Normally the plant is supported in a small plastic basket with the roots dangling into the nutrient solution.

N.F.T. systems are very susceptible to power outages and pump failures. The roots dry out very rapidly when the flow of nutrient solution is interrupted.

Drip systems (recovery / non-recovery)

2011-05-05T11:19:00.000-07:00

Drip systems are probably the most widely used type of hydroponic system in the world. Operation is simple, a timer controls a submersed pump. The timer turns the pump on and nutrient solution is dripped onto the base of each plant by a small drip line. In a Recovery Drip System the excess nutrient solution that runs off is collected back in the reservoir for re-use. The Non-Recovery System does not collect the run off.

Drip systems

A recovery system uses nutrient solution a bit more efficiently, as excess solution is reused, this also allows for the use of a more inexpensive timer because a recovery system doesn't require precise control of the watering cycles. The non-recovery system needs to have a more precise timer so that watering cycles can be adjusted to insure that the plants get enough nutrient solution and the runoff is kept to a minimum.

The non-recovery system requires less maintenance due to the fact that the excess nutrient solution isn't recycled back into the reservoir, so the nutrient strength and pH of the reservoir will not vary. This means that you can fill the reservoir with pH adjusted nutrient solution and then forget it until you need to mix more. A recovery system can have large shifts in the pH and nutrient strength levels that require periodic checking and adjusting.

EBB & FLOW system - (flood and drain)

2011-05-05T11:18:00.000-07:00

EBB & FLOW system

The Ebb and Flow system works by temporarily flooding the grow tray with nutrient solution and then draining the solution back into the reservoir. This action is normally done with a submerged pump that is connected to a timer.

When the timer turns the pump on nutrient solution is pumped into the grow tray. When the timer shuts the pump off the nutrient solution flows back into the reservoir. The Timer is set to come on several times a day, depending on the size and type of plants, temperature and humidity and the type of growing medium used.

The Ebb & Flow is a versatile system that can be used with a variety of growing mediums. The entire grow tray can be filled with Grow Rocks, gravel or granular Rockwool. Many people like to use individual pots filled with growing medium, this makes it easier to move plants around or even move them in or out of the system. The main disadvantage of this type of system is that with some types of growing medium (Gravel, Growrocks, Perlite), there is a vulnerability to power outages as well as pump and timer failures. The roots can dry out quickly when the watering cycles are interrupted. This problem can be relieved somewhat by using growing media that retains more water (Rockwool, Vermiculite, coconut fiber or a good soiless mix like Pro-mix or Faffard's).

Water culture system

2011-05-05T11:17:00.002-07:00

Water culture system

The water culture system is the simplest of all active hydroponic systems. The platform that holds the plants is usually made of Styrofoam and floats directly on the nutrient solution. An air pump supplies air to the air stone that bubbles the nutrient solution and supplies oxygen to the roots of the plants.

Water culture is the system of choice for growing leaf lettuce, which are fast growing water loving plants, making them an ideal choice for this type of hydroponic system. Very few plants other than lettuce will do well in this type of system.

This type of hydroponic system is great for the classroom and is popular with teachers. A very inexpensive system can be made out of an old aquarium or other water tight container. We have free plans and instructions for a simply water culture system.

The biggest draw back of this kind of system is that it doesn't work well with large plants or with long-term plants.

Wick system

2011-05-05T11:17:00.001-07:00

Wick system

The Wick system is by far the simplest type of hydroponic system. This is a passive system, which means there are no moving parts. The nutrient solution is drawn into the growing medium from the reservoir with a wick.

This system can use a variety of growing medium. Perlite, Vermiculite, Pro-Mix and Coconut Fiber are among the most popular.

The biggest draw back of this system is that plants that are large or use large amounts of water may use up the nutrient solution faster than the wick(s) can supply it.

Aquaponics system

2011-05-05T07:35:00.000-07:00

For those who are interested, there are many sites that provide good information regarding this technique of having fish, and also growing your own plants.

However I will endeavour to break it down into a simplified way for the beginner to understand. I do not profess to be a guru on this subject and am quite prepared to stand corrected should I be wrong.

If you have ever had aquariums or small fish tanks, then you will be aware that there was/is a need to change at least a third of the water every couple of weeks. This is due to the build up of ammonia in the water from the fish excretia. Too much ammonia in the water becomes toxic to the fish and they die, so by removing a third and replenishing it with fresh water you are creating a balance for the fish to survive.

Aquaponics works on the same principle. I have created a life cycle diagram to try and simplify the basic concept of how aquaponics work without getting too technical.

The fish having been fed, in due course give off excrement which eventually builds up in the water as ammonia.
There are two types of bacteria required to convert the ammonia. The first; converts the ammonia into nitrites and the 2nd converting the nitrites into nitrates (nitrogen) which is a source required by plants.
The plants take up the water and nutrients within it. What is not taken up by the plants is returned back to the tank via a bio-filter. This filter removes any unused solids and cleans the water before it returns back into the fish tank.

source: geelonghydroponicgardening.com

"Aquaponics Made Easy" - the video will be watched how to be growing plants and to farmed fish. System what use in video is "EBB & FLOW system"

Photo of hydroponics farm

2011-05-05T06:10:00.000-07:00

source:SheepGuardingLlama