Complete Guide for Growing Plants Hydroponically (Υδροπονική καλλιέργεια φυτών - έκδοση στα αγγλικά)

Complete Guide for Growing Plants Hydroponically

With the continued implementation of new equipment and new concepts and methods, such as hydroponics and soilless practices, crop growth has improved and become more efficient. Focusing on the basic principles and practical growth requirements, the Complete Guide for Growing Plants Hydroponically offers valuable information for the commercial grower, the researcher, the hobbyist, and the student interested in hydroponics. It provides details on methods of growing that are applicable to a range of environmental growing systems.

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 several chapters that present in-depth practical details for hydroponic growing systems:
• The essential plant nutrient elements
• The nutrient solution
• Rooting media
• Systems of hydroponic culture
• Hydroponic application factors
These chapters cover the nutritional requirements of plants and how to best prepare and use nutrient solutions to satisfy plant requirements, with different growing systems and rooting media, under a variety of conditions. The book gives many nutrient solution formulas and discusses the advantages and disadvantages of various hydroponic systems. It also contains a chapter that describes a school project, which students can follow to generate nutrient element deficiency symptoms and monitor their effects on plant growth.

Table of Contents
Introduction
Introduction
Hydroponics defined
Is hydroponics a science?
Hydroponic terminology
Historical past
The future of hydroponics
Hydroponic practice and the art of hydroponics
Value of the hydroponic method
Internet
Units of measure
Abbreviations

How plants grow
Introduction
Photosynthesis
Soil fertility factors
The plant root
Water content and uptake
Ion uptake
Root surface chemistry

The essential plant nutrient elements
Introduction
Terminology
Criteria for essentiality
The major elements
The micronutrients
Content in plants
Function in plants
Forms of utilization
The beneficial elements
Element substitution
Visual plant symptoms of elemental deficiency or excess

The nutrient solution
Introduction
Water quality
Water pH
Water and nutrient solution filtering and sterilization
Weights and measures
Nutrient solution reagents
Nutrient solution formulations
General purpose/use formulations
Plant species requirement adjustments of the nutrient solution
Nutrient solution control
Methods and timing of nutrient solution delivery
Constancy
Programmable controllers
Summary

Rooting media
Introduction
Perlite
Rockwool
Coir
Elemental content of perlite, rockwool, and coir

Systems of hydroponic culture
Introduction
Mediumless hydroponic systems
Rooting medium hydroponic systems

Hydroponic application factors
Introduction
Progressive developments
Nutrient solution formulations and their use
Cultivar/variety availability and selection
Constancy
Grower skill and competence
Factors for success
Controlled-environment agriculture
Outdoor hydroponics
Home gardener/hobby hydroponic grower

Educational role
Introduction
Demonstration project
Nutrient element deficiency experiments

References
Hydroponic reference books
Cited References
Appendix A: Measurement factors
Appendix B: Essential element summarization tables
Appendix C: Diagnostic testing
Appendix D: Common errors made when plants are grown hydroponically
Index