Module 1 Introduction to Soilless Culture …………………………………… 1
Task 1 Soilless Culture and Its Classification ………………………………… 2
Task 2 Characteristics of Soilless Culture …………………………………… 9
Skill Training 1-1 Investigation on Types of Soilless Culture ……………… 11
Module 2 Basis of Plant Physiology of Soilless Culture ………………… 13
Task 1 Structure and Function of the Plant Root System ………………… 14
Task 2 Nutrient Elements Needed by Plants ……………………………… 18
Task 3 Nutritional Diagnosis of Plants …………………………………… 20
Skill Training 2-1 Observation of Nutrient Deficiency Symptoms of
Soilless Culture Plants …………………………………… 28
Module 3 Nutrient Solution Formulation and Management Techniques … 33
Task 1 Composition of Nutrient Solution ………………………………… 34
Task 2 Formulation of Nutrient Solution…………………………………… 43
Skill Training 3-1 Formulation of Nutrient Solution ……………………… 49
Module 4 Solid Substrate for Soilless Culture …………………………… 57
Task 1 Effect and Physicochemical Property of Solid Substrate…………… 58
Task 2 Classification and Characteristics of Solid Substrates ……………… 68
Task 3 Examples of Solid Substrate Selection …………………………… 69
Task 4 Disinfection and Replacement of Solid Substrates ………………… 82
Skill Training 4-1 Determination of Physicochemical Property of Solid
Substrate………………………………………………… 85
Skill Training 4-2 Substrate Mixing and Disinfection……………………… 87
Module 5 Soilless Seedling Culture Technique ………………………… 90
Task 1 Sowing and Seedling Raising in Soilless Seedling Culture………… 91
Task 2 Management of Soilless Seedling Culture ………………………… 110
Skill Training 5-1 Soilless Seedling Culture of Vegetables ……………… 126
Module 6 Construction and Management of Soilless Culture
?????Production Facilities ……………………………………………… 129
Task 1 Construction and Management of Deep Flow Hydroponic
?????Facilities …………………………………………………………… 130
Task 2 Construction and Management of Nutrient Film Hydroponic
Facilities …………………………………………………………… 146
Task 3 Construction and Management of Spray Culture Facilities………… 161
Task 4 Construction and Management of Solid Substrate Culture
Facilities …………………………………………………………… 172
Skill Training 6-1 Construction of Deep Flow Hydroponic Facilities …… 213
Skill Training 6-2 Construction of Nutrient Film Hydroponic
?????????Facilities………………………………………………… 215
Skill Training 6-3 Construction of Trough Facilities ……………………… 218
Skill Training 6-4 Construction of Rock Wool Culture Facilities ………… 221
Module 7 Soilless Culture Protection Facilities and Environmental
?????Control …………………………………………………………… 225
Task 1 Selection of Protection Facilities …………………………………… 226
Task 2 Temperature Regulation and Control Technique…………………… 243
Task 3 Light Regulation and Control Technique…………………………… 251
Task 4 Humidity Regulation and Control Technique ……………………… 257
Task 5 CO2 Regulation and Control Technique …………………………… 261
Task 6 Integrated Intelligent Regulation and Control Technique
of Facility Environment …………………………………………… 267
Skill Training 7-1 Fertilization with CO2 Fertilizer………………………… 275
Module 8 Examples of Soilless Culture Production……………………… 281
Task 1 Fruit Vegetables …………………………………………………… 282
Task 2 Soilless Culture of Leaf Vegetables………………………………… 295
Task 3 Sprout Vegetables ………………………………………………… 312
Task 4 Soilless Culture of Fruit Trees ……………………………………… 318
Task 5 Soilless Culture of Flowers ………………………………………… 337
Skill Training 8-1 Nutrient Film Culture Technique of Mizuna …………… 379
Skill Training 8-2 Soilless Culture of Strawberries………………………… 381
Skill Training 8-3 Root Restriction Soilless Culture of Grapes …………… 382
Module 9 Plant Factory……………………………………………………… 385
Task 1 Basic Concepts and Meanings of the Plant Factory………………… 386
Task 2 Processes and System Composition of the Plant Factory ………… 389
Task 3 Environmental Regulation in the Plant Factory …………………… 398
Task 4 Typical Cases of the Plant Factory ………………………………… 407
Module 10 Application of Soilless Culture Techniques for
?????Home Gardening ……………………………………………… 414
Task 1 Introduction to Soilless Culture for Home Gardening……………… 415
Task 2 Main Forms of Soilless Culture for Home Gardening……………… 419
Task 3 Daily Management of Soilless Culture in Home Gardening ……… 427
Skill Training 10-1 Crystal Mud Culture of Flowers ……………………… 439
Appendixes …………………………………………………………………… 444
References …………………………………………………………………… 452
Abstract
Task 2 Characteristics of Soilless Culture I. Advantages of Soilless Culture (I) High Yields, High Quality, and High Commodity Rate As in soilless culture, the growth needs of crops can be adjusted artificially to achieve higher yields per unit than that through soil cultivation. In addition, soilless culture can be applied for production all year round with a high annual yield. Vegetables cultivated in this way are large in size and excellent in quality. Soilless culture can reportedly increase the content of vitamin C in tomatoes by 30%. (II) Improved Land and Space Utilization Rate Through soilless culture, the land that is not suitable for cultivating crops, such as saline-alkali land, barren mountainous land, wasteland, and island, can be made full use of. Particularly, it can help solve the problem of increasing diseases and pests in the greenhouse and polytunnel due to continuous cropping for years, as well as the aggravated problem of secondary salinization. Moreover, the space of the greenhouse can be utilized to raise the yield per unit and increase the income of farmers. (III) Time - and Labor-saving and High Utilization Rate of Resources Soilless culture techniques, once put into use, can save the tedious labor such as intertillage, fertilization, and weeding, bringing high yields, high output, and high productivity. II. Precautions in Soilless Culture (I) Source, Disposal, and Disinfection of Substrates The substrates used currently come in a wide variety with different sources and different physicochemical properties. It is required to mix them at a ratio and disinfect them during use, and their disposal and disinfection after use are also very troublesome. All these restrict the application of substrate culture to some extent. (II) Prevention & Control of Diseases Hydroponics features a rapid spread of pathogens due to the circulation of the nutrient solution. Once infected with pathogens, all plants may be at risk of being infected. Therefore, more research should be conducted on nutrient solution disinfection equipment and effective prevention and control agents. (III) Regulation of Greenhouse Environment At present, common plastic greenhouses and solar greenhouses are mainly used in China for the soilless culture of vegetables without corresponding regulating equipment, resulting in a low level of greenhouse environment regulation. The cost is also high for introducing equipment from advanced countries. (IV) Breeding of Special Varieties Currently, there is almost no vegetable variety specifically suitable for soilless culture. Due to the particularity of soilless culture, there is an urgent need for special high-quality and high-yield varieties that are resistant to low temperatures and diseases in the root system and are adaptable to weak light. (V) High Requirements for Growers in Soilless Culture Growers should master agricultural production technologies, physiological and biochemical knowledge about vegetables, and mechano-electronic technologies. At present, there are few technicians who have mastered these techniques and are engaged in the soilless culture in China. Therefore, agricultural colleges and universities and some agricultural research institutions should strengthen the training of professional technicians and promote relevant technologies to improve production efficiency. [Skill Training] Skill Training 1-1 Investigation on Types of Soilless Culture I. Purposes and Requirements Through field investigation of soilless culture types in the area, combined with viewing image materials and problem inquiry, grasp the structural characteristics, performance, and application of main soilless culture types in the area, identify the components of soilless culture facilities, and make a reasonable evaluation. II. Plan 1. Tools and equipment (1) Field investigation: measuring tools such as tape measure, steel tape measure, and angular instrument (slope meter); recording tools such as pencil and ruler. (2) Image materials and equipment: slides, CDs, and other image materials of different soilless culture types and structures; slide projectors, VCDs, and other imaging equipment. 2. Implementation plans (1) Investigate the types and characteristics of local soilless culture facilities, and observe the site selection, facility location, and overall planning of various types of soilless culture. (2) Determine and record the structural specifications, models, performance characteristics and applications of different soilless culture types. ① Record the types and materials of hydroponic facilities, the size of the plantation trough, the specifications of the planting plate, the model of the planting cup, the volumes of the liquid supply system and reservoir, the type of cultivated crop, etc. ② Record the substrate type, facility structure, and liquid supply system of substrate culture. (3) Investigate the main cultivation seasons, varieties of cultivated crops, yield, quality, cropping pattern, and annual utilization of different soilless culture types in the area. III. Implementation (1) Work in groups to develop investigation plans for soilless culture types. (2) Design investigation forms, conduct field investigations, and keep records. (3) Analyze the similarities and differences of different types and structures of soilless culture, as well as the performance, cost composition, and economic benefits. (4) Write an investigation report. State the investigation time, method, and invested enterprises; summarize the types, structures, performance, and application of soilless culture in the area; draw (or reflect with photos) the structural diagram of main facilities and types; indicate the name and size of each part,and point out the advantages and disadvantages; analyze the characteristics and formation reasons of the main soilless culture types in the area, and put forward reasonable suggestions for the development of soilless culture. (5) Prepare slides based on the investigation report and make a presentation in class.
