systems and techniques for growing plants in pumice ...uuid:... · cultivation performances of the...

AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY OF ATHENS

Systems and techniques for growing plants in pumice substrate:

Tips to avoid mistakes during installation of the crop

Ntatsi GeorgiaPhD Candidate of AUA - Research Group Member


IndexIndex

1.1. HydroponicHydroponic Cultivation System and SubstratesCultivation System and Substrates2.2. PumicePumice::

1.1. Basic usagesBasic usages2.2. CharacteristicsCharacteristics3.3. Cultivation performancesCultivation performances4.4. Granules sizeGranules size5.5. Advantages of its useAdvantages of its use

3.3. HydroponicHydroponic Cultivation Systems of PumiceCultivation Systems of Pumice4.4. Tips allowing mistake avoidance during the cultivationTips allowing mistake avoidance during the cultivation’’s s

installationinstallation


What does the term of What does the term of ««HydroponicHydroponic CultivationCultivation»»indicate?indicate?

The cultivation system whereThe cultivation system where::

•• Roots are growing not in natural soil but in substrates or into Roots are growing not in natural soil but in substrates or into pure pure nutrient solutions (NFT)nutrient solutions (NFT)

••The supply of water and nutrients is conducted through the The supply of water and nutrients is conducted through the provision of a nutrient solutionprovision of a nutrient solution


Main reasons for growing plants in Main reasons for growing plants in HydroponicHydroponic Cultivation SystemsCultivation Systems

1.1.Radical elimination of soilRadical elimination of soil--borne diseases borne diseases

2.2.Balanced and controlled nutrition through nutrient solutionBalanced and controlled nutrition through nutrient solution

3.3.Higher yield of produce even in arid landsHigher yield of produce even in arid lands

4.4.Early plant productionEarly plant production

5.5.Maximizing use of water and fertilizer by recyclingMaximizing use of water and fertilizer by recycling


Commercial Production Area of Greek Commercial Production Area of Greek HydroponicHydroponic GreenhousesGreenhouses

••TomatoTomato: : 85850 0 acresacres••CucumberCucumber: : 450 450 acresacres••LettuceLettuce 50 50 acresacres••Other Vegetables and OrnamentalsOther Vegetables and Ornamentals((RosaRosa,,GerberaGerbera):):150 150 acresacres

••TotalTotal: : 1.500 1.500 acresacres


SubstrateSubstrate’’s basal functionss basal functions

1.1.Water SupplyWater Supply

2.2.Oxygen supplyOxygen supply

3.3.Proper and balanced nutrition Proper and balanced nutrition ensuranceensurance

4.4.Plant supportPlant support

ΓΕΩΠΟΝΙΚΟ ΠΑΝΕΠΙΣΤΗΜΙΟ ΑΘΗΝΩΝ

Desirable substrate characteristics Desirable substrate characteristics

1.1.Structure Stability Structure Stability 2.2.Ability to retain water and air in a stable equivalenceAbility to retain water and air in a stable equivalence3.3.Uniformity in composition, appearance and behavior in terms Uniformity in composition, appearance and behavior in terms of nutritionof nutrition4.4.Free of pathogens, animal pests and weed seedsFree of pathogens, animal pests and weed seeds5.5.Easy handling during cultivation practiceEasy handling during cultivation practice6.6.Relatively low costRelatively low cost


What is pumice?What is pumice?

••AluminosilicateAluminosilicate volcanic rockvolcanic rock

••Mined in the island of Mined in the island of NisyrosNisyros ((GyaliGyali))

••Chemically Chemically unactiveunactive with extensive porositywith extensive porosity

••Formation of granules => solidified when superFormation of granules => solidified when super--heated, highly heated, highly pressurized rock is violently ejected from a volcano pressurized rock is violently ejected from a volcano (simultaneous actions of rapid cooling and rapid (simultaneous actions of rapid cooling and rapid depressurization)depressurization)


Common Uses of Pumice Common Uses of Pumice

1.1.Vegetable Vegetable HydroponicHydroponic CultivationsCultivations2.2.Ornamental Ornamental HydroponicHydroponic CultivationsCultivations3.3.Component of substrate mixture for growing pot plantsComponent of substrate mixture for growing pot plants4.4.Mold Component for growing outMold Component for growing out-- or indoor plantsor indoor plants5.5.Soil Improvement Soil Improvement 6.6.Soil drainage and Turf Improvement Soil drainage and Turf Improvement 7.7.LandscapingLandscaping


Granule size (mm) Εφ BD

(g cm-3)

Pa

(% v/v)

Acc

(% v/v)

EAW

(% v/v)

WBC

(% v/v)

0-2 0.952 53.1 13.5 7.14 2.27

0-5 0.938 51.0 14.3 8.23 2.00

0-8 0.829 53.0 19.7 4.76 1.54

4-8 0.620 62.0 38.7 1.07 0.57

Physical Characteristics of Greek PumicePhysical Characteristics of Greek Pumice


Cultivation performances of the different Cultivation performances of the different Granule Pumice typesGranule Pumice types

1.1.Best granule size for greenhouse cultivations is 0Best granule size for greenhouse cultivations is 0--8 mm8 mm2.2.Smaller granule sizes Smaller granule sizes ((egeg.. 00--22 mmmm) ) provide higher yields only provide higher yields only through the use of a thicker layer through the use of a thicker layer (> 15 (> 15 cmcm) ) 3.3.Thicker granules arenThicker granules aren’’t suggested due to lower water t suggested due to lower water availability availability 4.4.Suggested that the thicker granules are usedSuggested that the thicker granules are used::

i.i. Use of smaller layerUse of smaller layer ((up toup to 8 8 –– 10 cm) 10 cm) ii.ii. Frequent irrigation with a smaller water dosage per Frequent irrigation with a smaller water dosage per

irrigationirrigation


Pumice Granule Sizes in Greek MarketPumice Granule Sizes in Greek Market

••00--3 3 mmmm••00--8 8 mmmm••22--10 10 mmmm••00--16 16 mmmm


Benefits raised from Pumice usage for Greek Benefits raised from Pumice usage for Greek farmersfarmers

1.1.Natural material of very high mechanical strength mined in Natural material of very high mechanical strength mined in GreeceGreece2.2.Lower production and transportation costs compared to other Lower production and transportation costs compared to other imported and nonimported and non-- hydroponichydroponic substratessubstrates3.3.Very low costVery low cost


Systems and techniques for growing plants in Systems and techniques for growing plants in pumice substratepumice substrate

1.1. BagsBags2.2. Containers (potsContainers (pots, , etc.etc.))3.3. ChannelsChannels


1. 1. Cultivation in bags filled with Pumice Cultivation in bags filled with Pumice substratesubstrate


Manufacture of the bag filled with pumiceManufacture of the bag filled with pumice

•• White color low density polyethylene White color low density polyethylene •• Black inner surface (blocking passage of light)Black inner surface (blocking passage of light)


Bag adjustment manners Bag adjustment manners

1.1. Horizontally on the floor of Horizontally on the floor of greenhousegreenhouse 2. 2. Fitted into the channel areaFitted into the channel area

1515--20 20 cmcm

1 m1 m55--25 cm25 cm


Mistake avoidance when installing the crop in Mistake avoidance when installing the crop in pumice bagspumice bags

Frequent Mistake:Frequent Mistake:1.1.Faulty design of drainage slitFaulty design of drainage slit

Good practice:Good practice:1.1.Engraving on one side of the bagEngraving on one side of the bag2.2.Develop a slit up to the bottom of the pumice bag for complete Develop a slit up to the bottom of the pumice bag for complete water drainagewater drainage


Different ways of the drainage slit creation on the Different ways of the drainage slit creation on the pumice bagspumice bags

DipperDipper

DipperDipper

DipperDipper

Horizontal drainage slitHorizontal drainage slit

Vertical drainage slitVertical drainage slit

Oblique drainage slitOblique drainage slit


2. 2. Cultivation in pots filled with Pumice Cultivation in pots filled with Pumice substratesubstrate


Cultivation in pots filled with Pumice substrateCultivation in pots filled with Pumice substrate

1.1.Extra greenhouse labor demanding for filling pots with Extra greenhouse labor demanding for filling pots with pumicepumice

2.2.Offset by the low price of the pumice in bulk formOffset by the low price of the pumice in bulk form


Mistake avoidance when installing the crop in Mistake avoidance when installing the crop in pots filled with pumicepots filled with pumice

Frequent Frequent MistakeMistake: : Obstruction of nutrient solutionObstruction of nutrient solution’’s flow into the drainage s flow into the drainage

water collection system water collection system

Good practices:Good practices:1.1. Use gutter (channels) with grooves on the bottomUse gutter (channels) with grooves on the bottom2.2. Support with appropriate metal columns so as to prevent Support with appropriate metal columns so as to prevent

bottom resting on a support basebottom resting on a support base


ΑΑ. . GGutter (channels) with utter (channels) with grooves on the bottomgrooves on the bottom

ΒΒ. . AAppropriate metal columns which ppropriate metal columns which prevent bottom resting on a support prevent bottom resting on a support

basebase


3. 3. Cultivation in channels filled with Pumice Cultivation in channels filled with Pumice substratesubstrate


Arranging channels on the floor of greenhouseArranging channels on the floor of greenhouse


Loading channels on benches or other restraintsLoading channels on benches or other restraints

Suitable for:

1. Plants forming a rosette (lettuce gerbera, etc.)

2. Short plants (roses, zucchini, etc.)


••WidthWidth: 15: 15--40 cm40 cm••Single lineSingle line(15 (15 –– 25 cm) 25 cm) ••Double or Multiple lines Double or Multiple lines (> 30 (> 30 cmcm) )

••HeightHeight: 5: 5--25 cm25 cm

••LengthLength: : Depending on the Depending on the greenhouse sizegreenhouse size

Channel characteristicsChannel characteristics


11rstrst Frequent Frequent MistakeMistake: : Disparity in levels of substrate moisture along the channel becaDisparity in levels of substrate moisture along the channel because of use of the slopethe slope

Good practice:Good practice:Double bottom channels usageDouble bottom channels usage

Mistakes avoidance when installing the crop in Mistakes avoidance when installing the crop in channels filled with pumicechannels filled with pumice


22ndnd Frequent MistakeFrequent Mistake::Formation of algae and weeds and pumice overFormation of algae and weeds and pumice over--warming warming

Good practice:Good practice:Coverage of the upper surface with a sheet of soft plastic (milkCoverage of the upper surface with a sheet of soft plastic (milky y white exterior and black interior)white exterior and black interior)

••White: increases brightness at lower parts and minimizes pumice White: increases brightness at lower parts and minimizes pumice solar solar absorption absorption ••Black: intercepts exposure of pumice to lightBlack: intercepts exposure of pumice to light



33rdrd Frequent Frequent MistakeMistake:: Wrong pumice volume usage per plantWrong pumice volume usage per plant

Good practice:Good practice:•• 22--3 liters per plant when plants are planted densely (e.g. 3 liters per plant when plants are planted densely (e.g.

chrysanthemum, lettuce)chrysanthemum, lettuce)•• up to 12 liters per plant in crops with sparse planting (e.g. up to 12 liters per plant in crops with sparse planting (e.g.

cucumber)cucumber)



44rthrth Frequent Frequent MistakeMistake: : Low pumice volume in the channel (<15 cm)Low pumice volume in the channel (<15 cm)

Good practice:Good practice:Loading pumice in the channel at a height of at least 15 cmLoading pumice in the channel at a height of at least 15 cm



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