Greenhouse Hydroponics

Text Box: It is common knowledge that the greenhouse industries of the Netherlands and Belgium are world leaders in the field of soil-less plant production. Due to differences in climate, technology and terminology, a substantial communication gap exists between them and growers in countries with milder winters and less sophisticated greenhouses. With the publication of ‘Nutrient solutions and Greenhouse management’ Dr. Nic Combrink, retired lecturer at the University of Stellenbosch, South Africa, aims to bridge that gap (Preface).
Due to relatively low temperatures and light intensities in Europe, heating and artificial lighting is common practice in their greenhouses. They apply nutrient solutions at relatively high concentrations. In contrast, under South African conditions, shading is usually needed in summer and nutrient solutions are applied at relatively low concentrations. The book presents nutrient solutions adapted for South African conditions from Dutch guidelines. According to the author, his greatest challenge was to simplify European procedures for optimizing plant nutrition, using root zone analyses. These procedures are discussed in the last chapter. This knowledge is useful for improving nutrition in a free-draining system, but an absolute must where nutrient solutions are recycled in closed systems.
In chapter one, the history of the international and local soil-less culture industries is discussed. Chapter 2 explains procedures to adapt nutrient solutions to the quality of the feeding water. Chapter 3 deals with seedling production and practical aspects of photosynthesis, respiration and hormonal plant regulation. In Chapter 4, climate control is addressed and different soil-less plant production systems are discussed in Chapter 5. In Chapter 6, calcium-related physiological disorders are reviewed. The principles and procedures associated with root zone analyses are discussed and illustrated with examples in Chapter 7. Different procedures to sterilize solutions in closed systems are also briefly discussed in the second half of chapter seven.
The unit price of R320 includes p&p for South Africans. The unit price for growers from elsewhere is US$55 (p&p included).
Books will be posted after receiving your postal address and proof of payment.
E-mail this to: njjc@sun.ac.za
Only distributor;
Combrink Family Trust
ABSA bank, branch code 632005
Current account No. 4054165446

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