Offers an overview of hydroponic systems being used commercially and by advanced hobbyists. This title explains the basics of plant growth, the different methods of preparing and using hydroponic nutrient solutions, and hydroponic options for various environments. It provides explanations of the advantages of each hydroponic growth system.
Revolutionary hydroponic/soilless advances are being achieved by efficiently improving results with the application of new concepts, methods, and equipment. The new edition of a bestseller, Hydroponics: A Practical Guide for the Soilless Grower has been revised to reflect these advances with new chapters that provide essential information on greenhouse design, function, and methods for crop production and management. With approximately 40% additional material in the second edition, the book is a state-of-the-art, comprehensive guide.
The second edition begins with the concepts of how plants grow and then describes the requirements necessary to be successful when using various hydroponic and soilless growing methods. The major focus is on the nutritional requirements of plants and how best to prepare and use nutrient solutions for different plants using various growing systems under a wide range of environmental conditions. Supported by a wealth of tables, figures, and nutrient formulas the book provides clear explanations of the advantages and disadvantages of each hydroponic growth system. Appropriate for a wide audience, this edition is a practical guide, overview, and handy reference for advanced hobbyists, commercial growers, and researchers.
"?helps clarify the existing confusion between hydroponics and soilless culture...I found the language style to be flowing yet disciplined enough not to read like a weekly periodical. ?chapters have been kept deliberately short and to the point. Each chapter is nicely wrapped up in a short summary at the end and Benton Jones has made use of a plethora of modern references that all students of hydroponics will find helpful. ?well worth having on any plant scientists' shelf."-Dean da Costa, in Science Direct, from the South African Journal of Botany, 2006
