CHAPTER 4.

Hydroponics from the Greek words hydro, water and ponos, labor. It is a method of growing plants using mineral nutrient solutions, in water, without soil. Terrestrial plants may be grown with their roots in the mineral nutrient solution only or in an inert medium, such as perlite, gravel, mineral wool, or coconut husk. There are a number of advantages of hydroponic gardening instead of growing plants in soil. Some of these advantages are listed below, in no particular order. No need to fertilize: Most soil types lack some element or another, so traditional plant growing techniques require the soil to be fertilized. With hydroponic gardening there is no need to fertilize as the needed elements are fed to the plants by means of the hydroponics system. No crop rotation necessary: With hydroponic gardening there is no need to practice crop rotation. The reason for crop rotation is because certain plants leach certain element out of the soil, rendering the soil useless for extended use by the same crop. With a hydroponic system, the same type of plant can be grown year after year. Better control: Hydroponic systems allow better control over such things like PH conditions. This is something that can be difficult to regulate with traditional growing methods. No weeding: Since the hydroponics system uses a sterile environment, weeds are generally unheard of. This in turn translates into a more efficient use of time and labor. Hydroponic gardening can be done very cheaply. For a basic ebb and flow hydroponic system, all that is needed is a growing tray, water tank, a few meters of tubing, something to hold the plants in, a timer and a fish tank pump. These items can usually be found at a hard ware shop. Hydroponic gardening can produce a much higher yield than traditional growing method and is therefore well suited for growing plants in confined conditions like the balcony of an apartment building. Many elderly people have benefited from hydroponic gardening since the grow tray can be adjusted to a height that suits them.

Cost One of the biggest disadvantages of hydroponic gardens is their cost. They usually have a high setup cost as the necessary equipment is expensive. Hydroponic gardens cost much more to setup initially than soil-based gardens. In addition to their higher cost, they also require more of your time. Maintenance One of the next disadvantages of hydroponic gardens is maintenance. Unlike soil-based gardens, you will have to tend to the hydronic variety on a frequent basis. The amount of time you have to spend maintaining hydroponic gardens depends on if you use an active or a passive system. However, you will usually have to tend to them on a daily basis. Disease Many people choose hydroponic gardens because they think it will eradicate the risk of diseases. These gardens share solution between plants. Because of this, water-borne diseases can quickly spread throughout hydroponic gardens. Disease is capable of spreading much more quickly than with soil-based gardens. In addition to their susceptibility to disease, these gardens are also reliant upon electrical power. Power Hydroponic gardens are also susceptible to power outage. The machines that give the plants the nutrient solution have to be powered. If you ever experience a power outage, your plants will quickly dry out without the machines being powered. Therefore, you will have to water your hydroponic gardens by hand if this ever occurs. Knowledge One of the final disadvantages of hydroponic gardens is that they require a lot more knowledge. You will have to provide much more support for your plants when using these types of systems. You will also need much more technical knowledge as you will need to know how to provide the proper amounts of nutrients and lighting. Also, not all plants can be grown hydroponically. HYDROPONIC GROWING MEDIA
Here Ive listed the most types of growing.. Mediums below, click on the name to view details about the general use, advantages and disadvantages, and particular characteristics of the specified growing medium.

HYDROPONIC MEDIA EXPANDED CLAY First off its my favorite, expanded clay aggregate, whys it my fav, well it holds just enough moister, when used with flood and drain (ebb and flow) but not the

best substrate for drip hydroponics, as the water flows trait through and only wetting a small area where the drip system is layd, and after the initial wash to remove the clay dust thats left over from manufacturing proses you can sue it over and over again, making expanded clay very good value.

HYDROPONIC GROWING MEDIA Here I ve listed the most types of growing .. Mediums below, click on the name to view details about the general use, advantages and disadvantages, and particular characteristics of the specified growing medium.

HYDROPONIC MEDIA EXPANDED CLAY First off its my favorite, expanded clay aggregate, whys it my fav, well it holds just enough moister, when used with flood and drain (ebb and flow) but not the best substrate for drip hydroponics, as the water flows trait through and only wetting a small area where the drip system is lay d, and after the initial wash to remove the clay dust that s left over from manufacturing prose s you can sue it over and over again, making expanded clay very good value.

Greenhouse Management / Engineering The understanding of cultural needs of ornamental crops grown in greenhouses and use of proper crop production techniques is an essential component of a Total Crop Management program. The following fact sheets provide detailed information to help the practitioner to establish and maintain a healthy growing environment for plants grown in greenhouses.

Vaneza Aileen A. Madali

CHAPTER 3.

Most of the solid material in a plant is taken from the atmosphere. Through a process known as photosynthesis, most plants use the energy in sunlight to convert carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, plus water, into simple sugars.

Plants usually rely on soil primarily for support and water (in quantitative terms), but also obtain compounds of nitrogen, phosphorus, and other crucial elemental nutrients. Plants protect themselves from frost and dehydration stress with antifreeze proteins, heatshock proteins and sugars.

Photosynthesis (from the Greek - [photo-], "light," and [synthesis], "putting together", "composition") is a process that converts carbon dioxide into organic compounds, especially sugars, using the energy from sunlight. Photosynthesis occurs in plants, algae, and many species ofbacteria, but not in archaea. Photosynthetic organisms are called photoautotrophs, since they can create their own food. In plants, algae, and cyanobacteria, photosynthesis uses carbon dioxide andwater, releasing oxygen as a waste product. Photosynthesis is vital for all aerobic life on Earth. As well as maintaining the normal level of oxygen in the atmosphere, nearly all life either depends on it directly as a source of energy, or indirectly as the ultimate source of the energy in their food (the exceptions are chemoautotrophs that live in rocks or around deep sea hydrothermal vents).

Respiration metabolism and nutrient requirement. Respiration metabolism in plants. y y y y y y energy is released from sugar molecules. Water and CO2 are released weight is decreased process can occur in darkness or in light process happen within all living cells this uses oxygen

ATP is produced when energy is released from sugar

Nutrient Requirement is a simple and useful concept when used in qualitative senses, but it is much less satisfactory for quantitative comparisons among organisms. Some of the ambiguities and confusion in the present use of the concept are discussed, and more precise descriptions of the relations bet. nutrients and growth of plants are proposed.