Fertigation Management and Crops Response to Solution Recycling in Semi-Closed Greenhouses

Bar‐Yosef, B.

doi:10.1016/b978-044452975-6.50011-3

Cited by 38 publications

(50 citation statements)

References 91 publications

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“…Unfortunately, reuse of the excess nutrient solution (NS) that drains out of the root zone is scarce on a commercial scale in Mediterranean greenhouses (Massa et al, 2010;Thompson et al, 2013). This has been attributed mainly to the progressive accumulation of ballast ions such as Na + and Cloriginating from the irrigation water, the appearance of nutrient imbalances in the recycled solution, and the lack of knowledge regarding NS recirculation progress (Bar-Yosef, 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Simulating NaCl accumulation in a closed hydroponic crop of zucchini: Impact on macronutrient uptake, growth, yield, and photosynthesis

Neocleous

Savvas

2017

J. Plant Nutr. Soil Sci.

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Zucchini squash (Cucurbita pepo L.) plants were grown in a closed‐loop hydroponic system and supplied with nutrient solution (NS) containing NaCl at different concentrations (0.7, 3, 5, and 7 mM). The primary aim of the study was to define the relationship between the concentration of Na+ and Cl− in the root zone solution and the respective Na+/water or Cl−/water uptake ratios (uptake concentrations, UC). A second objective was to determine the UC of macronutrients (i.e., N, P, K, Ca, and Mg) and to test whether they are influenced by the gradual increase of the root zone salinity due to progressive NaCl accumulation. Two experiments were conducted, of which one (spring crop) was used to parameterize an existing empirical model, while the second one (autumn‐winter crop) was commissioned to test the validity of the determined model parameters. Both Cl− and Na+ ions accumulated progressively in the root zone solution over time, showing a tendency to stabilize at final concentrations according to the corresponding NaCl treatment. The relationship between the Na+ and Cl− concentrations in the root zone and the Na+/water or Cl−/water uptake ratios was exponential and the model parameters successfully fitted to data from crops cultivated in different growth seasons. This model may be used to monitor Na+ and Cl− concentrations in the root environment of zucchini crops as relationships of the plant water consumption. The exposure of plants to NaCl affected the UC of N, K, Ca, and Mg, but the results for some nutrients were not consistent in both growth seasons. The measurements of plant growth characteristics (i.e., biomass, yield, fruit quality, and photosynthesis) revealed that water resources containing up to 3 mM NaCl do not cause unacceptable yield losses in zucchini crops grown in completely closed hydroponic systems.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Simulating NaCl accumulation in a closed hydroponic crop of zucchini: Impact on macronutrient uptake, growth, yield, and photosynthesis

Neocleous

Savvas

2017

J. Plant Nutr. Soil Sci.

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“…Presently, many growers flush their nutrient solution when they do not have full confidence in its quality, usually based on a predetermined EC discharge criterion [13]. Improved access to nutrient status data will reduce the need for the flushing of effluent and thus reduce nutrient and wastewater outputs [43,44].…”

Section: Justification For the Development Of On-line Ion-selective Smentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Canadian data has suggested that greenhouse tomato production in rockwool leached approximately 7.5 tonnes of fertilizer salts per year for every hectare of production area [47]. The same dataset suggested that 4,000 m 3 of leached irrigation water was produced for the same one hectare production area while studies from semi-arid regions suggested, that open irrigation systems produced approximately 10,000 m 3 of discharged irrigation water per hectare of greenhouse production [13,47]. …”

Section: Justification For the Development Of On-line Ion-selective Smentioning

confidence: 99%

“…[67]. A possible and often reported example within hydroponic plant growth systems is the clogging of emitters due to the formation of gypsum (CaSO 4 ) precipitate when elevated calcium and sulphate concentrations are reached [13]. In addition, nutrient and water delivery system components can change over time due to regular wear or failure, producing changes in either the amount of water delivery or the amount of nutrient, acid or base injected.…”

Section: Justification For the Development Of On-line Ion-selective Smentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Unfortunately, although these sensors have been much sought after, they have not yet found widespread use and there remains a technology and application gap between the needs of the greenhouse industry and available ion-selective sensing technologies [13–15]. …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Ion-Specific Nutrient Management in Closed Systems: The Necessity for Ion-Selective Sensors in Terrestrial and Space-Based Agriculture and Water Management Systems

Bamsey

Graham

Thompson

et al. 2012

Sensors

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The ability to monitor and control plant nutrient ions in fertigation solutions, on an ion-specific basis, is critical to the future of controlled environment agriculture crop production, be it in traditional terrestrial settings (e.g., greenhouse crop production) or as a component of bioregenerative life support systems for long duration space exploration. Several technologies are currently available that can provide the required measurement of ion-specific activities in solution. The greenhouse sector has invested in research examining the potential of a number of these technologies to meet the industry's demanding requirements, and although no ideal solution yet exists for on-line measurement, growers do utilize technologies such as high-performance liquid chromatography to provide off-line measurements. An analogous situation exists on the International Space Station where, technological solutions are sought, but currently on-orbit water quality monitoring is considerably restricted. This paper examines the specific advantages that on-line ion-selective sensors could provide to plant production systems both terrestrially and when utilized in space-based biological life support systems and how similar technologies could be applied to nominal on-orbit water quality monitoring. A historical development and technical review of the various ion-selective monitoring technologies is provided.

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Effect of different macronutrient cation ratios on macronutrient and water uptake by melon (Cucumis melo) grown in recirculating nutrient solution

Neocleous

Savvas

2015

J. Plant Nutr. Soil Sci.

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The aim of the present study was to determine uptake ratios between macronutrients and water for melon (Cucumis melo L. cv. Dikti) grown in a closed soilless cropping system. The obtained data can be used to establish standard nutrient solution compositions for melon crops grown in closed hydroponic systems under Mediterranean climatic conditions. Nutrient and water uptake by plants in the closed hydroponic system was compensated for by supplying replenishment nutrient solutions (RNS) differing either in the concentrations of K+, Ca2+, and Mg2+ or in their mutual ratio. The RNS, used as control treatment, had an electrical conductivity (EC) of 1.74 dS m−1 and contained 6.5 mM K+, 2.8 mM Ca2+, and 1.0 mM Mg2+ (K+ : Ca2+ : Mg2+ = 0.63 : 0.27 : 0.10). Control RNS was compared with two other RNS, both with a high Ca2+ level (4.2 mM). The K+ and Mg2+ levels in these two RNSs were: (1) not altered (corresponding to a ratio of K+ : Ca2+ : Mg2+ = 0.55 : 0.36 : 0.09; EC = 2.0 dS m−1) or (2) increased to maintain the same K+ : Ca2+ : Mg2+ ratio as in the control RNS (EC = 2.45 dS m−1). Nutrient to water uptake ratios, commonly termed uptake concentrations (UCs), were assessed by two alternative methods, i.e., (1) estimating the ratio between nutrient and water removal from the system or (2) estimating the ratio between the mass of the nutrient that was recovered from plant biomass and the water consumption. Over the two methods, mean UCs for N, P, K, Ca and Mg were 15.4, 1.31, 5.47, 3.78, and 1.02 mmol L−1, respectively, and tissue analysis resulted in a K : Ca : Mg molar ratio of = 0.55 : 0.34 : 0.11 in the whole plant. Moreover, the UCs tended to decrease as the crop aged although, in absolute values, the mass of nutrients absorbed increased following dry‐weight accumulation. Based on the obtained results, adapting the composition of the nutrient solution at least three times during the cropping period of melon is recommended. Further, the results revealed that the damage caused by the increase of the EC when attempting to maintain a target K+ : Ca2+ : Mg2+ ratio in the replenishment NS is higher than the benefits from the optimal cation ratio. Increasing K+ and Mg2+ concentration in addition to that of Ca2+ to maintain a standard K+ : Ca2+ : Mg2+ ratio raises the EC in the root zone (4.62 dS m−1), due to increased accumulation of nutrients, thereby reducing the mean fruit weight and concomitantly the total fruit yield (20% decrease). Leaf gas exchange, chlorophyll parameters and fruit taste quality were not influenced by the differences in macronutrient cation concentrations or ratios in the RNS, whereas phenolics and antioxidant capacity in melon fruit were enhanced by the increased root‐zone EC.

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Fertigation Management and Crops Response to Solution Recycling in Semi-Closed Greenhouses

Cited by 38 publications

References 91 publications

Simulating NaCl accumulation in a closed hydroponic crop of zucchini: Impact on macronutrient uptake, growth, yield, and photosynthesis

Simulating NaCl accumulation in a closed hydroponic crop of zucchini: Impact on macronutrient uptake, growth, yield, and photosynthesis

Ion-Specific Nutrient Management in Closed Systems: The Necessity for Ion-Selective Sensors in Terrestrial and Space-Based Agriculture and Water Management Systems

Effect of different macronutrient cation ratios on macronutrient and water uptake by melon (Cucumis melo) grown in recirculating nutrient solution

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