2

Hydroponics and Commercial

Greenhouse Cultivation
Field visit to
production Greenhouses for understanding floriculture and vegetables
Greenhouses are
a those which has a
transparent In this, a largeframed structured and are covered with
grown without material.
season under number of flowers and
A field visit to controlled environmental vegetables are
greenhouse
opportunity to observe provides instructor and
conditions.
Strawberry,
as well as gain students with a unique
Rose, familiarity
visit to greenhouse, Gladiolus, Cucumber, and Capsicum many
with plants such as
students will learn about the etc. Through a field
nrnduction clearly. The students will also be able tofloriculture and vegetable
of areenhouse and
advantages of Greenhouses. learn about different type
2.1 TYPES OF
GREENHOUSES
Rased on construction, shape,
of greenhouses. material and ventilation there are
different type
(a) Greenhouse type based on
shape
(b) Greenhouse type based on
(c) Greenhouse type based on construction
(d) Greenhouse type based on covering materials
ventilation.
Greenhouse type based on shape
According to shape the green house may be saw
ype, uneven span type, ever span, type tooth type, ridge and furrow
Interlocking ridges greenhouse.
Greenhouse type based on construction
Inere are two types of
construction material one made up of wooden framed
SIUCtures and other is pipe framed
OW-cost greenhouse for vegetable structures. Wooden framed structure is a
production.
268 Botany for B.Sc. Students
materials
Greenhouse type based on covering
green-house should be glass and plastic.
The covering material
of the green

Greenhouse type based on ventilation

can be
humidity and carbon dioxide gas
The temperature,
natural ventilation depending an the crops. Shape
insect and bacterial entry inside the glasshouse.
nets are used maintotainpresent
ed by
Advantages of Greenhouse
() off-season production of vegetable and fruit crops.
() Water requirement is very limited and easy to control.
(iii) This type of greenhouse cultivation is suitable for disease-free and
genetically superior transplants.
(iv) Use of chemicals, pesticide is limited.
(V) It maintained acontrolled environmental condition.
The other greenhouse is used for teaching, laboratories for the production
of vegetables and flowers that given students aglimpse of knowledge. It also
provides materials for students to work on grows plants for classes.
Development of hydroponics nutrient solution
Hydroponics is "the cultivation of plants by placing the roots in liquid nutrient
solutions rather in soils or soilless growth of plants." In other words, "The
process of growing plants without soil, in beds of sand, gravel or similar
supporting material flooded with hutrient solutions.
Nutrient solution to Hydroponic is just like fertilizers to soil. A nutrient solution
is that which contains all the necessary nutrients so that plant roots can come
into contact for its growth. Nutrient solution contain both macronutrients and
micronutrients.
Macronutrients are those nutrients which are required in large quantities.
such as Nitrogen (N) Phosphorous (P), Potassium (K), Calcium (Ca), Sulphur
(S), Magnesium (Mg). Among these three macronutrient N, P, K, are the most
crucial nutrient for plant's development. Macronutrients are those nutrients
which are required in small quantities such as Zinc (Zn), Iron (Fe), Boron (B).
Manganese (Mn), etc.

Preparation of Hydroponic Nutrient Solution

Both plant nutrients such as macronutrients and dissolvein
micronutrients are
the water and mostly in inorganic and ionic forms, There are various standau
 Hydroponics and Conmercial Greenhouse Cultivation 269

nutrient solutions uch as Hoagland and Arnon, Hoagland and Snyder and
of 17 elements are considered essential for most plants.
Hewitt. A total on, hydrogen, oxygen, Nitrogen, Boron, Sulphur, Iron, Copper,
Theseare carbon,
Manganese and Nickel

Hoagland and Arnon

Nutrient Solution
Nitrogenin the form of NH4, NOg (210 ppm),
Phosphorousin the form of HPO4, HzPO4 (31 ppm).
Potassiurm in the formof K* (234 ppm), Calcium (Cat)
160 ppm, Mg (Mg*) 34 ppm, Sulphur (SO,2)
64 ppm, Iron (Fe, Fe*°) 2.5 ppm, Copper (Cu*2)
0.02ppm, Zinc (Zn)0.05 ppm, Manganese (Mnt2, Mnt4)
0.5 ppm, Boron (H3PO3, BO3, B4 O72)
0.5 ppm, Molybdenum (MO4) 0.01 ppm.
Hewitt Nutrient Solution
Nitrogen 168 ppm, Phosphorous 41 ppm, Potassium 156 ppm,
Calcium 160 ppm, Magnesium 36 ppm, Sulphur (SO) 48 ppm,
(Fe, Fe*) 2.8 ppm, Copper (Cu*) 0.064 ppm, Zinc (Zn*) 0.065 ppm,
Manganese (Mn)0.54 ppm, Boron (H3B03) 0.54 ppm, Molybdenum
(MoO4) 0.04.
Copper Nutrient Solution
Nitrogen 200-236 ppm, Phosphorous 60 ppm, Potassium 300 ppm, Calcium
170-185 ppm, Magnesium 50 ppm, Sulphur 68 ppm, Iron 12 ppm, Copper 0.1
ppm, Zinc 0.1 ppm, Manganese 2 ppm, Boron 0.3 ppm, Molybdenumn 0.2 ppm.
There are various factors which effects the growth of plants in hydroponic
systems. These factors should be regulated for the better growth of the
plants in controlled environmental condition. The factors which are
needed are as follows: Temperature, pH, COz, Dissolved oxygen, Humidity,
Light, Electrical Conductivity (EC). Lets discuss the above factors one
by one:
(i) Temperature: There is an optimum temperature which is required
for the plant to grow better if there is an increase or decrease is
temperature then the plants metabolism might be effected which
affects the growth of growing plant.
(ii) Humidity: The amount of water present in air is known a relative
humidity. If level of humidity is high then it will prevent plants from
transpiring water through their leaves.
270 Botany for B.Sc. Students
(ii) Light: Light is one of mostimportant factor which greatly
growth of the plant.
(iv) CO2: In a closed environment like greenhouse eftei he
concentration of CO (325-425 ppm) can rapidly be the norma
(v)
results in slow rate of photosynthesis. depl
measure of available
eted
DissolvedOxygen (DO): It is the or
OXygen present in the nutrient solution.
(vi) pH: The pH of a solution is the measure of the relative dis oves
ions. If pH changes then there is probability of nutrient number oi H.
(vii) Electrical Conductivity (EC): It is a measure of how a defwelliciencisoleustion
conducts electricity. It is also termed as total dissolved solids
higher the TDS then solution will be more conductive.
So
(TDS).
there are the factors which played an important role
for the
growth of the plant. Some vegetables like lettuce, spinach, tomatne
strawberries andi peppers are easy to growin hydroponic
Running Models for Cultivation of Vegetables cenvironment
Vegetables cultivation is an important part of agriculture as vegetables provide
vitamins, minerals and fibre essential for human healthn. A crop model is a
mathematical model to predict the growth and yield ofa crop through simulations
of genetic and environmental factors. Amodel,
the important factors and their degree of effect ontherefore, helps in identifvina
the crop. This information is
helpful for the researches to further develop crops in a
that growing demand of food for an increasing population sustainable manner so
can be met.
For example: TOMSIM and TOMGRO are two
tomato growth and development. In both models various running model related to
parameters such as
temperature, light intensity, CO) and leaf area index are taken
a simulation is run to find out their effect on the into account and
growth of tomato vegetable.
The ALMANAC model has been developed in USA as a
models for light vegetable crops i.e. bush bean, cabbage, green vegetable growing
been, ball
pepper, peppermint, spearmint, yellow straight neck squash, zucchini.
model is able to predict accurately about the yield and water use The
all these eight vegetables. efficiency for

Running Models for Cultivation of Fodder

The natural diet for livestock is green fodder. Due to
and grazing area for livestock has been decreasingindustrialization
the forests
day by day, The need o
green fodder is enormously increasing. There is gap between the demano
and supply of the green fodder for livestock become unconquerable. The
 Hydroponics and Commercial Greenhouse Cutivation
researchers and farmers both are in search for an 271
production. alternative model for fodder
Hydroponic is the technology that has revolutionised the green fodder
production without soil is an
The green fodder is natural
environmentally
controlled houses or machines.
diet for animals and
improves fat percentage in
Eodder is a food which in given to animals including plants cut. It includes
straw, silage, compressed and pelleted feeds oils and
and also sprouted grains and legumes. The quality of mixed reactions
eaves water because water is recycled and hydroponic fodder is that
consumes 98% less water then
Annventional method. It reduces the growth time for fodder development. The
fodder growth only in 8 days in hydroponic system while it took 45 days for a
conventional fodder to grow. It has also effected the nutritive value as
fodder contains the seed along with the fodder. It is provided throughout thethe
year and required minimums man power and time.
There are example of some crops which is grown as fodder:
(0) Yellow maize
(i) House gram
(ii) Sun hemp
(iv) Foxtail millet
(v) Ragi
(vi) Bajra
(vii) Jowar
(vii) Cowpea
Steps to produce fodder in hydroponic system
Soaked the reeds in water for 20 hours

After 24 hours sprouting of seeds ocCurred.

Allthe sprouted seeds are placed on the tray

Then tray is placed inmachine

Daily all the trays is shifted to next level.

On 8h day fully grown fodder has formed.

 272 Botany for B.Sc. Students
Protocols for Fodder Production
1. Seed storages and preparation seed washing
day prior to
Seeds are dried in sunlight one
" All the broker seeds
and dirts are removed
and safe place.
" Then store all the seeds in dry
2. Seed washing
Washing chamber and water.
" Put good quality seeds the
hand, tor5 minutes
" Seeds are washed with proper scrubbing by
" The light weighted floating seeds were removed and again water is
added.
" After 5 minutes water is drained out.
3. Seed cleaning
" 0.1% Hg Cl, is used to clean the washed seeds.
" Stir manually by wooden stick for about 5 minutes and stand it for 4
hours.
" Drain out cleaning solution.
4. Seed soaking
. The washed and cleaned seeds were soaked in the soaking chamber.
" Stimulant solution is added and the lid was closed
" Drain out the solution if any.
5. Seed germination
"After soaking seeds" the seeds were placed in dry fumigated gunny
bags.
" They are kept away from the sunlight.
"The lid of the gunny bags are kept open for germination.
" After 2-3 hours sprinkle water on the gunny bags so that the gunny
bag remains wet
. Weight was taken after certain duration
" If 30 to 40% increase in weight and this reflect 90% seed germination.
6. Loading seeds in trays and racking
" The trays which have to be used for placing the seeds should be
cleaned and washed.
" "After germination seeds' are placed on the trays equally and putthen
is the sprout section.
Trays should be distributes evenly on both sides of the alley.
 Hydroponics and Commercial Greonhouse Cultivation 273

trays
1.Shiftingof next leveldaily.
. The trays are shifted to the water daily.
All the trays should receive the sufficient
watched carefully to ensure even growth on all the trays. If
. Trays are also.
needed then change the side
8.Harvesting
ready for harvesting.
. On the 8" day racks are chamber and cut the fodder mat to
out from the
" Allthe trays are taken
feed livestock.
after proper cleaning.
" Allthe trays is again used