Nutrients

Producing high-quality ornamentals while decreasing pesticide use requires finding creative ways to reduce pests across your whole production system.

Are you interested in learning more about the role fertilizers and biostimulants can play in plant health — both in terms of plant quality and pest levels?

This upcoming and FREE webinar provides and overview of a current project between the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre, OMAFRA and industry partners on this unique topic.

WHAT: Canadian Ornamental Horticulture Alliance (COHA) Webinar Series: Changing production practices for better pest control in greenhouse ornamentals

WHO: Dr. Rose Buitenhuis, Vineland Research and Innovation Centre

WHEN: March 2, 2021, 10:00 a.m. (PST) / 1:00 p.m. (EST)

A fall mum sample pot on drip irrigation. Does it need all that feed?

Description: Control of greenhouse floriculture pests uses a systems approach, combining biological control and plant resistance with the manipulation of environmental and crop production practices. Studies suggest that high fertilizer levels stimulate pest reproduction by providing them with more organic nitrogen, present in plant tissues.

It is important to conduct water and nutrient solution analyses on a regular basis to ensure hydroponic tomatoes are receiving the proper level of nutrients. Making sure that hydroponically-grown tomatoes receive the proper nutrient levels requires testing water and nutrient solutions. Growers also need…

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of various irrigation water (W) and nitrogen (N) levels on growth, root-shoot morphology, yield, and irrigation water use efficiency of greenhouse tomatoes in spring–summer and fall–winter. The experiment consisted of three irrigation water levels (W: 100% of crop evapotranspiration (ETc), 80%, and 60% of full irrigation) and three N application levels (N: 100%, 75%, and 50% of the standard nitrogen concentration in Hoagland’s solution treatments equivalent to 15, 11.25, 7.5 mM). All the growth parameters of tomato significantly decreased (p < 0.05) with the decrease in the amount of irrigation and nitrogen application. Results depicted that a slight decrease in irrigation and an increase in N supply improved average root diameter, total root length, and root surface area, while the interaction was observed non-significant at average diameter of roots. Compared to the control, W80N100 was statistically non-significant in photosynthesis and stomatal conductance. The W80N100 resulted in a yield decrease of 2.90% and 8.75% but increased irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) by 21.40% and 14.06%. Among interactions, the reduction in a single factor at W80N100 and W100N75 compensated the growth and yield.

The analyses of online quality measurements of four lettuce cultivars (Rex, Tacitus, Black Seeded Simpson, Flandria) using hyperspectral image processing techniques have been studied. Seedlings were planted in Rock-wool cubes and fed for 3 weeks using hydroponic nutrient solution containing 0, 50, 100,…

The atomized nutrient solution droplet sizes and spraying intervals can impact the chemical properties of the nutrient solution, biomass yield, root-to-shoot ratio and nutrient uptake of aeroponically cultivated plants. In this study, four different nozzles having droplet sizes N1 = 11.24, N2 = 26.35, N3 = 17.38 and N4 = 4.89 µm were selected and misted at three nutrient solution spraying intervals of 30, 45 and 60 min, with a 5 min spraying time. The measured parameters were power of hydrogen (pH) and electrical conductivity (EC) values of the nutrient solution, shoot and root growth, ratio of roots to shoots (fresh and dry), biomass yield and nutrient uptake. The results indicated that the N1 presented significantly lower changes in chemical properties than those of N2, N3 and N4, resulting in stable lateral root growth and increased biomass yield. Also, the root-to-shoot ratio significantly increased with increasing spraying interval using N1 and N4 nozzles. The N1 nozzle also revealed a significant effect on the phosphorous, potassium and magnesium uptake by the plants misted at proposed nutrient solution spraying intervals. However, the ultrasonic nozzle showed a nonsignificant effect on all measured parameters with respect to spraying intervals.

Next year, Van der Knaap Groep and Wageningen University & Research will start a new trial. The trial will examine the negative effect of sodium on the production and quality of pepper crops.   Van der Knaap has developed a sodium remover that complies with the new regulations for 2026. “We want to demonstrate the benefits…

Black cherry tomato is an important source of nutraceutical compounds; however, the quality of fruits depends on the cultivation technique and maturity stage at harvest. In a recent study, the physical and chemical properties of non-grafted and grafted tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum cv. OG) were…

Last year Van der Knaap Groep performed two different trials with hydroponic lettuce. Karel de Bruijn: “We used mineral nutrients in one pond and organic in the other. Last year's trial was successful. The filtration system did its job. The membranes ensure the bacteria can't pass through. That's why our…

Quiz: Can you recognize which #nutrient deficiency is pictured in these #greenhouse #cucumber plants ? #horticulture

greenhousecanada.com/signs-your-gre… pic.twitter.com/s1izDGxPFu

A large number of studies on salinity in hydroponic systems have been carried out, but few of them have evaluated the interaction between salinity and nutrient solution temperatures. In Brazil, two experiments were carried out in a randomized block design from January to February (Experiment I) and June…

Biostimulants play an important role in the development of management practices able to reach adequate productivity to meet the food demand of a growing world population, while following a sustainable agriculture model. This work aims to evaluate the effect of a protein hydrolysate derived from legume seeds by enzymatic hydrolysis on plant growth and also to verify its ability to mitigate Fe deficiency, a widespread problem significantly limiting plant growth and crop productivity. Experiments were performed with tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.—cv. AKRAI F1) and cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.—cv. EKRON F1). The plants were grown hydroponically under adequate or limited Fe supply. Changes in shoot and root fresh weight, leaf relative chlorophyll content and the accumulation of macro- and microelements in shoots and roots were measured. Plant ability to cope with Fe deficiency was measured by evaluating the activity of root Fe3+-chelate reductase. Our results indicate that the foliar treatments with the protein hydrolysate did not significantly affect growth parameters when plants were grown in full nutrient solution. However, the biostimulant was able to improve the growth performance of Fe-deficient plants. Therefore, the protein hydrolysate can be a powerful tool to stimulate crop growth under Fe-deficient environments, leading to reduced fertilizer inputs with related environmental and economic benefits.

BioSafe Systems is launching a new product, CalOx FT, an advanced liquid nutritional and crop enhancement product for a wide range of agricultural and horticultural crops. The unique, patented CaT technology in CalOx FT to improve calcium mobility and distribution beyond traditionally applied calcium…

Fertigation is considered an efficient alternative to the enhanced use of chemical fertilizers. Since most of the fertigation systems rely on a theoretical electrical conductivity value of the nutrient solution, a team of Romanian researchers tried to evaluate if this is the real need of the plants as…

Abiotic and biotic stresses both decrease the quality and quantity of cultivated plants. In this study, in order to see the responses of cucumber plants to drought stress and cucumber downy mildew infection, downy mildew infestation at different two levels, B1 (disease infestation) and B2 (no disease infestation), along with three fertigation requirement levels, full fertigation T1, moderate nutrient solution deficit T2 and severe nutrient solution deficit T3, were applied in a greenhouse. Thus, six treatments, i.e., B1T1, B1T2, B1T3, B2T1, B2T2 and B2T3, were set. The leaf gas-exchange parameters were significantly increased under CK (control experiment, B2T1: no disease infestation and full irrigation) treatment, and leaf photosynthesis rate, transpiration rate and stomatal conductance were significantly decreased under the B1T1 treatment. Leaf intercellular CO2 concentration was significantly increased under B1T1 treatment. Leaf photosynthesis rate, transpiration rate, intercellular CO2 concentration and stomatal conductance were significantly decreased under B1T2, B1T3, B2T2 and B2T3 treatments.

Fertigation is considered an efficient alternative to the enhanced use of chemical fertilizers. Since most of the fertigation systems rely on a theoretical electrical conductivity value of the nutrient solution, we tried to evaluate if this is the real need of the plants as well as if all the nutrients are needed at once. Therefore, we analyzed the electrical signals of the nutrients applied individually or in different mixes, correlating the electrical signals with the leaf gas exchange processes, studying the relation between the electrical signals and different plant phenological stages and the influence of the treatments on the lycopene content, nutritional composition, and antinutritional factors as well as the mineral bioavailability of tomato fruits cv. Brillante F1. The study was carried out in a greenhouse under controlled conditions. Ten different treatments consisting of MaEs (major elements) (V1—MgSO4, V2—KNO3, V3—K2SO4, V4—Ca(NO3)2, V5—KH2PO4, V6—KCl, V7—MgSO4 + KNO3 + KH2PO4, V8—K2SO4 + Ca(NO3)2 + KCl, V9—the mix of V1 to V6, commonly used in agricultural practices, V10—one nutrient each day) were applied daily when plants were 42 days old. The results showed that the values of the electrical signals varied depending on the treatment and the plant phenological stage.

Studies in the United States have shown the important role soil biology plays in managing high sodium levels in lettuce crops. To assist growers with managing their salt, a biological product has been developed – and the benefits have been wide-ranging, including improved crop quality and higher…

The sustainable development of agricultural systems where nutrients and water are recycled to a high degree is of enormous importance. Traditional aquaponics, where fish and plants are cultivated in one recirculating system, addresses these ecological challenges, but still struggles with its economical…

Magnesium (Mg) is essential to many plant physiological and biochemical processes; however, understanding how Mg nutrition quantitatively affects the production, partitioning, and utilization of photoassimilates is still lacking, especially in soilless culture systems. We focused on the roles of Mg in yield formation and interactions with potassium (K) nutrition of cherry tomato. Cherry tomato yield, photosynthetic parameters, dry matter weight, and K, Mg, and calcium (Ca) uptake were investigated in two soilless experiments with seven Mg levels and five K levels. The results showed that low (<1 mM) and high (>4 mM) Mg supply limited cherry tomato yield by decreasing dry matter accumulation by22.6–78.1% and harvest index by 13.9–40.7%. The critical leaf Mg concentrations required for adequate photosynthate production in the first and second harvest periods were 4.67 and 5.52 g·kg−1, respectively. However, over-supply of Mg reduced leaf K and Ca concentrations and limited plant uptake of K and Ca. Moreover, adjusting K concentrations in solution could influence plant Mg functions in photosynthesis and, therefore, cherry tomato growth. Overall, balanced Mg and K application increased Mg, K, and Ca uptake, as well as Mg concentrations in leaves, which could maintain a sustainable photosynthetic rate and plant dry matter formation.

The management of nutrition in soilless cultivations poses serious difficulties to growers, because the calculation of the fertilizers needed to prepare a nutrient solution requires a good background in chemistry and is time consuming. Multiple factors affect the composition of a nutrient solution.…

By Karla Garcia  Silicon (also known as silica, Si) is found in high quantities in open field production but is absent in hydroponic nutritional recipes. The lack of knowledge about the role of silicon (Si) in horticultural crops became apparent when using soilless / hydroponic systems.  Research has demonstrated that silicon is one of the […]

Van der Knaap is known for their substrate knowledge, but did you know they also developed a sustainable cultivation system? The liquid nutrient solution rich in organic NO3 that is produced with this system is also extremely suitable for other cultivation systems, such as growing lettuce in a hydroponic…

Automated nutrient delivery systems can be expensive, and sticker shock can intimidate growers into putting off the upgrade. However, the vast majority of growers admit that the upfront investment pays off. Lower labour costs and reduced resource waste, along with saving time are enough to get many…

Potassium is recognized as a nutrient required to keep good quality in our plants and fruits. This nutrient has a huge impact on many plant processes due to its function as enzyme activator. Also, potassium has a strong role in stomata opening and closure due to its function as an osmotic regulator.  […]

When most people think of fungi, the thoughts are usually not good, turning to something that does damage more than those that are actually helpful.

Yet, fungi play a critical role in the growth and development of plant life and have for millions of years. Scientists have known for a long time that arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi that live in harmony with about 90% of land plants and play a key role in their root systems, are responsible for carrying needed phosphate to plants to help growth.

Now, however, thanks to a discovery by a team of scientists from Texas Tech University’s Institute of Genomics for Crop Abiotic Stress Tolerance (IGCAST) in the Department of Plaint and Soil Science, and the Nanjing Agricultural University’s State Key Laboratory of crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, that symbiotic role may go even further.

That research team, which included professor Guohua Xu, Prof. Aiqun Chen and Dr. Huimin Feng from Nanjing Agricultural University and, Luis Herrera-Estrella, the President’s Distinguished Professor of Plant Genomics and director of IGCAST, and assistant professor Damar López-Arredondo, discovered that AM fungi also acted as a supplier of nitrogen to the plant, the protein (NPF4.5) responsible for transporting nitrates from the fungi to the plant, and that this symbiotic nitrate pathway and the function of the protein are present in crops such as rice, and probably most other plant species.

The quality of water and nutrient solution used in controlled environment agriculture (CEA) production systems, such as greenhouses and vertical farms, is one of the most important factors that affect plant health and yield. Growers monitor water and nutrient solution quality by sending samples for…

Urban populations have plenty of access to calorie-dense, nutrient-poor foods. In order to move to a healthier diet, however, they need access to vegetables and other micronutrient-dense foods, according to Danish economist Per Pinstrup-Andersen, who says it's time to take vertical indoor farming…

Electrical conductivity of the growing media or drainage indicates the nutritional conditions in the cultivation system. However, the nutrient uptake phenomenon has not been related well to the soilless culture system. In a recent study, there is reported on the design, theoretical analyses, and…

Oasis Grower Solutions introduces Fortify, a liquid nutrient supplement, designed to optimize the growth performance and increase harvest weights while reducing production time by up to 20%. Fortify is an amino acid based nutrient supplement developed through extensive research and trials. Use of Fortify…

Aerobic mineralization is very similar to Aerated Compost Tea (ACT) or Actively Aerated Compost Tea (AACT) and is one of the easiest ways to grow more plants using less fish in aquaponic or aquaculture systems.  You may already have heard of ACT or ACCT being used in the soil systems thanks to the hard work…

Kristian Holst Laursen, University of Copenhagen, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences will talk about plant nutrients and food quality in vertical farming at the online vertical farming conference, October 8 from 10:00 - 14:30 CEST.  In vertical farming, plants are often grown hydroponically or…