ABSTRACT
Soilless cultivation techniques (including hydroponic systems) have attracted growing attention as a way of growing horticultural crops more efficiently without taking up more land. These controlled environment systems are also less vulnerable to climate change and are particularly suited to urban farming as part of the shift to more localised, circular food systems.
Advances in horticultural soilless culture provides a comprehensive assessment of recent research in this important area, paying close attention to the advances in optimising substrates for soilless cultivation, as well as the developments in solid and liquid-medium container systems, fertigation systems, modelling and process control. The collection includes case studies on horticultural crops such as tomatoes, strawberries and ornamentals.
With its distinguished editor and international range of expert authors, Advances in horticultural soilless culture will be a standard reference for university and other researchers involved in horticultural science, hydroponics and soilless cultivation. It will also be a valuable resource for government and other agencies supporting vertical and urban farming systems, as well as companies involved in this sector.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
part 1|190 pages
Materials
chapter Chapter 2|22 pages
Advances in understanding plant root behaviour and rootzone management in soilless culture systems
chapter Chapter 3|28 pages
Developments in inorganic materials, synthetic organic materials and peat in soilless culture systems
chapter Chapter 4|34 pages
Developments in alternative organic materials for growing media in soilless culture systems
chapter Chapter 5|31 pages
Understanding and optimizing the physical properties of growing media for soilless cultivation
chapter Chapter 6|32 pages
Understanding and optimising the chemical properties of growing media for soilless cultivation
chapter Chapter 7|40 pages
Understanding and optimising the biological properties of growing media for soilless cultivation
part 2|131 pages
Technologies
chapter Chapter 9|27 pages
Advances in irrigation/fertigation techniques in greenhouse soilless culture systems (SCS)
chapter Chapter 10|25 pages
Advances in nutrient management modelling and nutrient concentration prediction for soilless culture systems
part 3|74 pages
Case studies