Hydroponics Greenhouse
The Hydroponics Greenhouse exists to teach students what hydroponics is, how it works, and what careers exists in the expanding hydroponics industry. The production goal for the tomato plants is to produce 1.5 lbs of fruits per plant each week.
Hydroponics is the cultivation of plants in a liquid nutrient solution rather than in soil: soilless growth of plants. The plants are germinated in Rockwool cubes and when they reach 6 inches in height they are transplanted in to the Bato buckets which are filled with perlite. The perlite and rockwool have no nutritional value. They only aid in giving stability to the root system and retaining moisture.
The plants are then given the needed nutrients via the Argus Nutrient Injection System in the north-east corner of the greenhouse. This computer controlled nutrient injection system will turn on each half hour during day light and irrigate for 2.2 minutes giving the plants stead amounts of liquid nutrients.
A Carbon Dioxide Generator is located just above the door. This generator works to keep the CO2 at 1000 ppm throughout the day and night. Plants take in CO2 which aids in photosynthesis and respiration. By keeping the CO2 levels higher then ambient (approx. 250 ppm) the plants should not be stressed do to a lack of CO2.
Three 1000 watt grow lights are located above row four. These grow lights turn on in the evening and run until midnight and then again in the early morning hours of the day. By increasing the photo period of the plants we hope to increase production with the rows that the lights reach. Our studies have shown that over a five week period, so far, our production of row four has been more constant whereas the other 9 rows fluctuate more often in production. With the results of this growing season we hope to be able to prove that grow lights are very beneficial and so we can justify adding 12 more to the greenhouse ceiling.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is exactly what we use I the Hydroponics Greenhouse. With the amount of work done I the greenhouse to maintain it, we could not see the benefit to close the greenhouse down constantly to control pests by he use of chemicals. Nine total different beneficial insects are currently at work in the greenhouse. There is a list of the used beneficial on the blue cabinet located in the greenhouse. The beneficial insects have proved to be very effective. With beneficial insects you will never rid a greenhouse of its pests. If the Beneficial's killed the entire pest population in the greenhouse then the beneficial would all die as well, (no prey left to eat). Equilibrium is achieved over time of beneficial to pest.
We hope you enjoy your visit to the Tomato Hydroponic Greenhouse. If you have any questions or would like to visit us please contact us at the phone number or email below.
Best Regards,
Blake Willis
Scott Blauer
Office: Benson 239
(208) 496-2013
