Growing Media

Some Food Contamination Starts In The SoilRead More...farms.com/news/some-food… pic.twitter.com/mM8qrn95mn

In some cases you might find mold on your peat based growing media or on its packaging. This article explains how this happens and why you should not be alarmed. If the humidity is high, mold can grow on almost any organic material. Therefore it’s no surprise that mold could emerge on growing media as…

Tholen - “A few days after the planting, the roots were already in the slab.” For tomato grower Pieter Hoogerbrugge, of Kwekerij Hoogerbrugge in Lepelstraat, this is remarkable. He is growing on perlite together with his brother Erik for the first time this season. Fellow grower Peet Withagen, of the…

Plantlogic is a company that aims to constantly challenging itself to design and improve their pots to help customers achieve the best results. "Our recent challenge has been improving our first-generation Zephyr pot. We have growers around the world getting great results with this pot, but we believe it…

Importance of organic matter in soil#agriculture #CropsWatch Now...farms.com/videos/crops/a… pic.twitter.com/0vO17xqD7q

Potting soil consists of a mixture with, for example, peat, coconut or wood fibers. Organic residues may also be added to this, but according to industry regulations up to a certain maximum. This is because residues such as compost, roadside grass and other organic residuals can have negative effects on…

The spatial distribution of root systems in the soil has major impacts on soil water and nutrient uptake and ultimately crop yield. This research aimed to optimize the root distribution patterns, growth, and yield of cherry tomato by using a number of emitters per plant. A randomized complete block design technique was adopted by selecting eight treatments with two irrigation regimes and four levels of emitters under greenhouse conditions. The experiment results showed that the root distribution extended over the entire pot horizontally and shifted vertically upwards with increased emitter density. The deficit irrigation resulted in reduced horizontal root extension and shifted the root concentrations deeper. Notably, tomato plants with two emitters per plant and deficit irrigation treatment showed an optimal root distribution compared to the other treatments, showing wider and deeper dispersion measurements and higher root length density and root weight density through the soil with the highest benefit–cost ratio (1.3 and 1.1 cm cm−3, 89.8 and 77.7 µg cm−3, and 4.20 and 4.24 during spring–summer and fall-winter cropping seasons, respectively).

​Potting soil consists of a mixture with, for example, peat, coconut or wood fibers. Organic residues may also be added to this, but according to industry regulations up to a certain maximum. This is because residues such as compost, roadside grass and other organic residuals can have negative effects on…

The aim was to determine the suitability of various substrates for application in a closed system of soilless tomato cultivation, based on the potential fitness of drainage waters from these substrates for recirculation. Four substrates were used: rockwool, coir substrate, lignite substrate (Carbomat) and biodegradable organic substrate (Biopot). Tomato plants grown in these substrates were fertilized with the same amount of nutrient solution, containing the same concentration of nutrients. The characteristics of drainage water from these substrates were analyzed during cultivation. The highest amount of drainage water was collected from the lignite substrate Carbomat. However, these leachates showed good properties for further recirculation: low electro conductivity and turbidity, high nutrient content, moderate microbial load with high population of Trichoderma fungi, and being beneficial for plant growth. Moreover, Carbomat produced the highest tomato yield compared to other substrates. This indicates that this organic substrate is an efficient alternative to rockwool and its drainage water may be reused in a recirculation system. On the contrary, the drainage water from the Biopot substrate showed the worst qualities: high pH and low EC, low concentration of nitrate nitrogen and phosphorus, very high turbidity and a high number of microorganisms. These parameters do not qualify Biopot drainage waters for reuse.

"We're stirring up the market of peat substitutes once again," Matthias Ziegler with Gregor Ziegler announces. With Timpor Hydrofibre, Ziegler expands, as of now, the wood fibre range with a particularly water-storing variation. “The product innovation promises to bring further momentum in the area of…

Managing plant fertilization is a major concern of greenhouse growers to achieve sustainable production with growing media. Organic fertilization is popular but is more difficult to control, since organic compounds need first to be mineralized by microbes. After 7, 14, 28, and 56 days of incubation, we investigated the response of microbial activities and nutrient releases from three frequently used organic fertilizers (horn and two plant-based fertilizers) in three frequently employed growing media (GM) types (peat, coir, and bark). We measured pH, electrical conductivity, nutrient contents (NH4+-N, NO3−-N, PO43−-P, SO42−-S), and enzyme activities (β-1.4-glucosidase, urease, acid phosphatase, arylsulfatase). After fertilization, microbes in coir expressed all the C, N, P, and S functions studied, making related nutrients available. In peat and bark, some C, N, P, and S-related pathways were locked. Peat presented high NH4+-N and PO43−-P releases linked to high acid phosphatase and β-glucosidase activities, while bark showed high nitrification rates but weak enzyme activities. Fertilizer types modulated these responses with lower activities and nutrient releases with horn. Our results contributed to better understanding mineralization processes in GM, showing different microbial responses to fertilization.

Soil enhancements such as biochar (BC) are gaining attention as tools to mitigate climate change and also to promote crop growth. However, biochar use can disrupt soil ecosystems by changing the soil’s physical, chemical, and biological properties. The study aimed to determine how biochar influences soil physical changes such as specific surface area (SSA) and water vapor sorption, and how these conditions affect arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) hyphae growth and glomalin production. The study analyzed these factors at different plant phenological phases (i.e., flowering, development of fruit, and ripening of fruit and seed) to better understand the changes within the system while varying biochar amounts. The study also investigated the effect of different soil physical and chemical parameters on mycorrhizal hyphae growth and glomalin production. Four treatments were investigated: 0, 0.5%, 2.5%, and 5.0% (w/w) biochar amended silt loam soil planted with pepper. Soil samples were taken at the beginning and weeks 6, 10, and 12 of the study. The amount of adsorbed water vapor increased with an increasing amount of biochar added to the soils. Compared to control, SSA was significantly higher in all biochar amended treatments based on adsorption data, and only in the highest biochar amended soils for the desorption data at the end of the experiment.

In the animation below, the European knowledge centre for growing media RHP explains why RHP-certified growing media are clean and safe for your crop. The RHP quality mark requires full control of production processes in order to effectively exclude possible contamination in the supply chain. This…

Soil organisms play a crucial role in boosting food production, enhancing nutritious diets, preserving human health, remediating pollution and combating climate change, but their contribution remains largely underestimated, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations said today in its report on "The State of Knowledge of [...]

Under the slogan “Keep soil alive, Protect biodiversity”, the FAO is celebrating the World Soils Day last Saturday, raising awareness for the value of healthy biodiverse soil ecosystems around the globe. "As the sector producing growing media and soil improvers, we can only stress the fact that our soil…

The interplay of different mechanisms shaping the biochar impact on soil structure remains relatively unexplored. We investigated the impact of biochar application to two contrasting soils on the stability of soil aggregates under an intensive intermittent leaching regime. A greenhouse experiment was established using PVC columns filled with 500 g soil from an Acrisol or Calcisol amended with three biochar applications (0, 1 and 2% w/w). The columns were watered weekly (100 mL) during two leaching cycles (each lasting 10 weeks). The amount of leached base cations, the stability of 1–2 mm aggregates fraction and soil chemical properties were determined. Biochar enhanced the leaching of the studied cations, but the content of base cations and effective cation exchange capacity remained higher in the biochar-amended Acrisol when compared to control soil. In both soils, biochar reduced the amount of water-stable aggregates, which seemed to be attributed to the increase of K in the exchange complex in the Acrisol while no significant correlation was detected between aggregation in Calcisol and other variables. The negative impact of biochar on soil aggregation is likely linked to higher sensitivity of biochar-amended soils to aggregate disruption under changing moisture conditions caused by frequent and intensive leaching events.

Guillermo Gonzalez and Thomas Roos speak to Carlos Borja about the use of Jiffy Growbags in a successful greenhouse operation. Carlos is a pepper grower at Villaserre, Mexico. This interview is to talk about Villaserre, pepper grower in Mexico, and about the use of Jiffy Growbags in a successful…

This paper focuses on the agronomic evaluation of a synthetic NPK (N in the form of urea, P and K in the form of phosphate monopotassium) fertilizers blended with four types of pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) wood biochar prepared at different thermal regimes (300 °C, 400 °C, 600 °C and 700 °C). The evaluation of benefits was done based on crop nutritional status and soil fertility. The pot experiment was set up with fertile Haplic Luvisol fertilized with 1.85 g kg−1 of blends of biochar (1.25 g) with urea (310 mg) and KH2PO4 (290 mg), which is equivalent to 500 kg ha−1 (biochar ~67.6%; N ~7.8%; P ~3.6%; K ~4.7%) applied before sowing. Only NPK blends made with biochar containing 75% or 85% carbon increased the biomass of 27-day old wheat seedlings from 12% to 20% in comparison to NPK applied alone. These blends raised the content of Mn and Fe in plants but decreased the contents of Ca and Mg. All the tested mixtures enhanced soil fertility by increasing the content of humic acids. Additionally, the content of potentially phytotoxic phenolic compounds was lower. In general, the addition of biochar to NPK fertilizer did not show a negative effect on crop quality. The overall results of the study suggest that the application of low doses of biochar to synthetic fertilizer can benefit crops and can support soil fertility.

The more pellets that are placed in the mould, the denser and stronger the seedling tray. In cheaper trays, there tend to be slightly bigger gaps between the expanded pellets, and fine plant roots can enter these, making it difficult to pull out the plants.

Damping off organisms can also lurk in these small spaces, and the growing plants can become infected and die. One of the Pythium species (fungus-type pathogens) is usually the main culprit, but it’s not the only one.

I have used horse manure compost as a medium for 23 years and have never had damping off problems. This may be because the medium is a rich source of beneficial organisms, which suppress development of pathogens. I also never get powdery mildew on Brassica seedlings.

Once the pathogen has appeared, the trays must be sterilised, or the problem will keep cropping up and possibly cause major losses.

The most effective way of sterilising trays is in a heat chamber. To save cost and effort, some growers wait until damping off starts before using heat sterilising.

Another solution is to use a commercial dip containing copper; this will also reduce the penetration of roots into the fine gaps in the polystyrene.

If you are a small grower, you can use a simple, home-made steriliser such as bleach mixed with water at a 10% solution, or hydrogen peroxide at 3% concentration. Leave the trays suspended in the solution for 20 minutes, then rinse and dry them.

Wholesale Grow Media: High-Quality Stonewool, Coco Coir, Grow Stones, Vermiculite, Perlite, and More!youtube.com/watch?v=GmuiT-…Need Help? Call- 1-310-967-2022#Plants #Crops #Greenhouses #Farms #Agriculture #AG #CEA #IndoorFarms #GrowRooms #Hydroponics #Farmers #Farming #LA #CA

There are many different ways to carry out plant cloning: tissue culture, plugs, rockwool, and so on. At the same time, more innovative technologies have been coming up over time, which made cloning much easier. One of the most interesting is aeroponic cloning, which has many benefits for large-scale growers, as it allows them…

Measure your slab parameters in an organized way using a sensor and set target objectives per parameter for the different periods of the crop.  Measuring = Knowing = Thinking = DoingThe root system is the part of the crop which is often a bit under estimated. For a lot of growers the rootzone is a so called ‘blackbox’ in which a…

Five Tips on Hydroponic Substrates. youtu.be/P5p0UOQlw-E via @YouTube

The beneficial effects that silicon (Si) has on plant growth as well as resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses have been well documented for many crops in recent years. However, few studies focus on the effects of Si on plant growth during the propagation stage of strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa, Duchesne). This study was conducted to investigate the optimal method for Si application during the cutting propagation of strawberry in soilless cultivation. Strawberry mother plants were supplied with Si through foliar spray, runner spray, or root drench before the cutting propagation, then half of the daughter plants in each treatment received continued Si supply through foliar spray or through root drench after the cutting propagation. The results showed that the plant height, petiole length and diameter, leaf length and width, shoot fresh and dry weights, and root fresh and dry weights were significantly increased by Si root drench both before and after the cutting propagation. Moreover, plants absorbed more Si by drench than by spray, and the absorbed Si was only able to be transported from the root to the shoot, and from the mother plant to the daughter plant.

Dr. Paul Fisher from the University of Florida IFAS Extension hosts Dr. Dan Jacques of Sun Gro Horticulture in a new YouTube video. Dan provides tips on using vermicompost as a component in container substrates. Do you know where vermicompost comes from? How it affects pH of your mix? At what rate should…

Greenhouse farming presents a lucrative opportunity for hands-on farmers with an eye for detail. Quicker turnaround means a shorter time before return on investment, despite higher input costs.

On the other hand, greenhouse farming is an exact science: what you put in can make or break the operation.

In most farming operations, the soil or growing medium requires more attention than any other aspect. Tunnel farmers have a number of options, from coir peat to newer innovations such as perlite.

500Foods shared this story from HD.com. A new type of soil created by engineers at The University of Texas at Austin can pull water from the air and distribute it to plants, potentially expanding the map of farmable land around the globe to previously inhospitable places and reducing water use in agriculture at a time of growing droughts. As published…

Dr. Paul Fisher from the University of Florida IFAS Extension interviews Shawn Mallen from A.M.A. Horticulture in a new YouTube video where they discuss the different commercial substrates most commonly used in hydroponic production, the importance of air porosity, and compaction of substrates. This video…

Northern N.Y. ; October 30, 2020. Cornell University Cooperative Extension researchers funded by a Northern New York Agricultural Development Program (NNYADP) grant worked with farms in the NNY region to identify optimal sampling levels for seven key soil health indicators. This findings of this research work to more accurately assess the restorative effectiveness of farms’ efforts to improve soil health over time.

Because soil health improvements are slow and subtle, more precise and accurate sampling strategies are needed. The goal of this NNYADP-funded research project was to identify specific sampling guidance for farms, county Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs), and other agencies that often use soil health testing as part of their environmental conservation and crop management work. Participating farmers were from Chazy, Fort Covington, Madrid, Malone, Sackets Harbor, West Chazy, and Willsboro. The complete report is posted on the NNYADP website at www.nnyagdev.org.

Soil health supports both crop growth and environmental stewardship. Soil type and texture, climate, topography, and land management all influence soil health. Improvement in soil health occurs gradually and can vary within a single field. Sampling sites for the NNYADP-funded project were selected with the use of aerial soil maps.

Hydroponic growing is known to be clean and sustainable, this also applies to the foam substrates of Growfoam. Currently Growfoam is investing heavily into the development of an optimal cultivation strategy, with the goal of making it easier for growers to transition to this new, clean cultivation media…