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Distance Learning Hydroponics Course
“A detailed introduction to hydroponics”
Develop a sound understanding of the theory and practice of hydroponics. This is a serious grounding for working in the hydroponic industry and concentrates on the horticulturaly valuable crops, such as cut flowers and vegetables.
Course Outline
There are 10 lessons in this course:
- Introduction
- hydroponic systems
- global industry
- comparision to growing in soil
- resources and contacts.
- How a Plant Grows
- plant structure
- biochemistry
- biochemical cell processess
- mechanisms of nutrient uptake
- photosynthesis; minerals and nutrients
- the role of pH in plant growth
- hydroponic nutrient solutions
- preparing nutrient solutions.
- Hydroponic Systems
- location
- equipment
- systems
- soilless mixes
- rockwool
- rockwool manufacture
- rockwool properties
- development of propagating blocks
- propagation applications
- recommended practices for propogation
- nutrient film techniques
- alternative layouts for NFT
- methods of solution dispention, closed and open systems; techniques.
- Nutrition & Nutrition management
- understanding nutrient formulae
- atoms, elements & compounds
- chemical names
- what does a plant need
- calculating formulae
- mixing nutrients
- symptoms of nutrient deficiency
- recommendations
- adjusting the pH
- using electrical conductivity measures
- conductivity
- conductivity and hydroponics.
- Plant Culture
- flow charting the crop
- controllers
- salinity controllers
- pH controllers
- post harvest storage
- cooling
- drying
- canning/bottling
- controlled atmosphere storage
- relative humidity
- vacuum storage
- freeze drying
- freezing
- pest and diseases in controlled environments
- fungi, common fungal problems
- cultural controls
- current legislation
- biological and integrated pest management
- beneficial agents
- economic thresholds
- methods of introduction
- major pests, diseases and disorders of crops identified
- problem solving and identification of illness
- difficult to diagnose problems
- leaf hoppers; thrip; virus; bacteria; caterpillars; harlequin bugs and more.
- Hydroponic Vegetable Production
- commerical cultivation of vegetables
- propagation
- temperatures required for seed germination
- optimum monthly temperatures for vegetable growth
- harvesting vegetables
- growing vegetables hydroponically
- vegetable families
- fresh-cut herbs in hydroponic culture
- nutrient solution
- materials and handling
- notes on selected crops.
- Hydroponic Cut Flower Production
- growing flowers in hydroponics
- carbon dioxide
- automation
- flower varieties
- indoor plants.
- Solid Media vs Nutrient Film
- growing media
- NFT system choices
- header tank or direct pumping
- construction materials
- solution delivery
- capillary matting
- channel width and length
- slope
- temperature
- types of media
- vermiculite; sand; perlite; expanded plastics; scoria; expanded clay
- organic media; sawdust; peat moss; coir fibre; composted bark
- indoor plants
- plant directory
- transplanting a pot grown plant into a hydroponic ‘culture pot’.
- Greenhouse Operation & Management
- growing crops in greenhouses
- solar energy
- greenhouses
- nature of active solar heating systems
- examples of solar greenhouse facilities
- greenhouse management
- what you can grow
- greenhouse and other growing structures
- environmental factors that influence plant growth
- plant needs
- temperature control
- heat loss
- heaters
- light factors
- artificial light
- horticultural management in a greenhouse
- greenhouse benches
- greenhouse cooling
- fog.
- Special Assignment
- plan a hydroponic enterprise.
