A new multilayer soilless culture system for greenhouse tomato production is described. Experiments over two spring seasons and one winter season demonstrated faster plant growth rate, higher dry matter productivity, higher fruit yield, and better fruit quality with the multilayer soilless culture system compared to the traditional soil-based culture system. The multilayer soilless culture system is suggested as a replacement of the soil-based production system to achieve significant yield improvement in greenhouse tomato production.
Plants can synthesize some antioxidants, including L-ascorbic acid (AsA) and polyphenol, in response to environmental stresses. Antioxidants detoxify reactive oxygen species in plants and also aid in human health. In this study, we demonstrate that a novel hydroponic treatment can increase leafy vegetable nutritional quality without retarding growth. Leaf lettuce (Lactuca sativa) was grown hydroponically and subjected to rhizosphere drought stress by lowering the water level in the solution tub before harvesting. Appropriate drought stress using this method could increase AsA, polyphenol, and sugar content by 24%, 50%, and 17%, respectively, and decrease nitrate nitrogen content by 18% without reducing yield. Similar effects of drought stress on AsA content were observed in four other plant species. This hydroponic method has a universal potential to increase leafy vegetable quality without reducing yield in controlled environments such as plant factories.
Production and quality of bell pepper (Capsicum annuum) fruit were evaluated in a passively ventilated greenhouse, in soilless media trellised to a “V” system (two-stempruned plants) or the “Spanish” system (nonpruned plants) in flat bags or nursery pot containers; and densities of 1.5, 1.9, 3.0, and 3.8 plants/m2 (0.14, 0.18, 0.28, and 0.35 plants/ft2), in a winter-to-summer-crop in Gainesville, Fla. The trellis systems did not affect total marketable fruit yields but production of extra-large fruit was higher (38%) in non-pruned than in pruned plants. Marketable fruit yields were similar in plants grown in bags and pots, and had positive linear responses to increased plant density. Not pruning reduced by half the percentage of fruit with blossom-end rot. Pruned plants produced 50% fewer flower bud supporting nodes than non-pruned plants but had a greater percentage of fruit set. Regardless of trellis systems, fruit set per plant decreased linearly as plant density increased. Overall, the “Spanish” trellis system at a density of 3.8 plants/m2 resulted in greater yields of extra-large fruit and required 75% less labor than the “V” system to prune and support the plant canopy.
(average = 52.7 cm), leaf number (average = 9.9 leaves/plant), total leaf area (average = 2889.1 cm 2 /plant), and total dry weight (average = 47.0 g/plant) of potted Hippeastrum plants grown in semiclosed soilless culture ( Table 1 ). However, the number
soilless culture. Until now, there are also few studies on the improvement of tomato quality with different container sizes, particularly under the mode of soilless cultivation (recirculating nutrient solution). Therefore, the objective of this study was to
nitrogen availability in this tissue of crops, such as pepper. Thus, improving the quality and yield contributing characteristics in bitter gourd are important factors in soilless culture technique. These may be improved by managing external proper nutrient
The increase in U.S. demand for colored bell peppers (Capsicum annuum) has been satisfied with increased supplies from imports and increased domestic production. Greenhouse-grown peppers of red, orange, and yellow colors were imported during the period 1993–2002 at wholesale fruit market prices that were three to five times greater than field-grown fruits. With high market prices and a suitable environment for growing colored peppers under inexpensive greenhouse structures [<$40/m2 ($3.7/ft2)], up to 14 ha (34.6 acres) of greenhouses produced bell peppers in Florida in the year 2002. To estimate the profitability of a bell pepper greenhouse enterprise, a budget analysis was used to calculate the returns to capital and management. Production costs of greenhouse-grown peppers were estimated assuming the use of current technology applied in commercial greenhouse crops in Florida and in experimental crops at the University of Florida. Production assumptions included a crop of nonpruned plants grown in soilless media in a highroof polyethylene-covered greenhouse [0.78 ha (1.927 acres)] located in north-central Florida. For a fruit yield of 13 kg·m–2 (2.7 lb/ft2), the total cost of production was $41.09/m2 ($3.82/ft2), the estimated return was $17.89/m2 ($1.66/ft2), and the return over investment was 17.1%. A sensitivity analysis indicated that fruit yields should be greater than 7.8 kg·m–2 (1.60 lb/ft2) in order to generate positive returns based on a season average wholesale fruit price of $5.29/kg ($2.40/lb). For this price, a range of possible fruit yields [5–17 kg·m–2 (1.0–3.5 lb/ft2)] led to returns ranging from –$9.52 to 30.84/m2 (–$0.88 to 2.87/ft2), respectively. The estimates indicate that production of greenhouse-grown peppers could represent a viable vegetable production alternative for Florida growers.
Recently, urea–formaldehyde resin foam (UFRF) has been introduced as a synthetic organic soil amendment and is used as a substrate in the propagation and growth of plants in hydroponic systems, soilless cultures, and substrates used in production of
Peat is commonly used as a component in soilless culture because of its favorable agronomic characteristics ( Boldrin et al., 2010 ; Fernandez-Hernandez et al., 2014 ; Zhang et al., 2013a ). However, the decreasing availability and increasing
In the Netherlands, many crops in protected cultivation changed from soil to soilless culture in recent years. The reasons for this development were problems with soil sterilization and better growth control with soilless culture, which led to considerable yield increases. However, the growing systems used, with free leachate drainage, contribute highly to pollution of the ground and surface water with minerals (N and P). To reduce this emission, closed growing systems were developed, i.e., systems with recirculating nutrient solutions. Inherent to these systems, however, were problems such as the rapid spread of pathogens in the root environment. Methods were developed for disinfestation of the nutrient solution. Salt accumulation was also a concern, the concentrations of ions in the water used for closed systems must be lower than the uptake capacity of the plants. To avoid depletion and accumulation of certain nutrients. the addition of nutrients should be adapted to the demand during the cropping period. For this purpose, nutrient solutions and guidelines for adjustments during the cropping period were developed for several crops.