Substrates and Plant Growth Media
Substrates and Plant Growth Media to Optimize Greenhouse Crop Production
Substrate mixes and goals
Advantages of Hydroponics - in greenhouses may include more a more uniform fertilizer distribution and hence more uniform greenhouse crop growth. The plan is to cycle the water through an aquaculture area of fish. In addition to nutrients, dissolved Oxygen is needed for the roots, the fish, and beneficial aerobic microorganisms.
Great care is taken to provide the optimal substrate for greenhouse plant growth. Different recipes, mixtures of various ingredients, create root media best suited for specific greenhouse crops. Important factors to consider for a well-prepared growing medium include: drainage and water holding capacity of the medium, plant nutrients, aeration and gas exchange, soil porosity, soil texture, support, beneficial microorganisms, organic material, toxins, diseases and disease habitat. Different mixes of gravel, sand, perlite, peat moss, humus, topsoil, vermiculite, etc. are recommended for different greenhouse crops.
Organic Substrates
More and more greenhouse growers are electing to grow organic food in greenhouses. This can be an excellent niche market for the grower; and, because of the danger of extensive use of synthetic chemicals in an enclosed environment and a host of other reasons, growers are shifting toward organic agricultural methods. Some are using organic matter substrates, others conventional substrates with organic fertigation, still others are growing greenhouse fruit and vegetable crops with organic hydroponics.
Hydroponics and Aeroponics
The idea with hydroponics is to supply nutrients to the plants with oxygen and nutrient-rich water rather than soil. The water is usually moving, monitored and recycled. Ideally there can be less fertilizer use, fertilizer wastage, and pollution due to fertilizer (eg eutrophication). There may even be less water usage and wastage as the water is recycled. Harvesting may be easier and production more uniform under hydroponics, aeroponics or related production systems. Close attention and monitoring is essential with hydroponic growing systems as any variation or sudden change in the water substrate can devastate the crop.