A Small-Scale Flexible Test Bench for the Investigation of Fertigation Strategies in Soilless Culture
In soilless culture, the management of the nutrient
solution is the most important aspect for crop growing. Fertigation
dose, frequency and nutrient concentration must be planned with
the objective of reaching an optimal crop growth by limiting
the utilized resources and the associated costs. The definition of
efficient fertigation strategies is a complex problem since fertigation
requirements vary on the basis of different factors, and crops are
sensitive to small variations on fertigation parameters. To the best
of author knowledge, a small-scale test bench that is flexible for
both nutrient solution preparation and precise irrigation is currently
missing, limiting the investigations in standard practices for soilless
culture. Starting from the analysis of the state of the art, this paper
proposes a small-scale system that is potentially able to concurrently
test different fertigation strategies. The system will be designed and
implemented throughout a three year project started on August 2018.
However, due to the importance of the topic within current challenges
as food security and climate change, this work is spread considering
that may inspire other universities and organizations.
[1] UN, “World urbanization prospects: The 2014 revision-highlights,”
Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Tech. Rep.,
2014. (Online). Available: https://esa.un.org/unpd/wup/publications/
files/wup2014-highlights.pdf.
[2] B. Delaide, G. Delhaye, M. Dermience, J. Gott, H. Soyeurt, and M. H.
Jijakli, “Plant and fish production performance, nutrient mass balances,
energy and water use of the paff box, a small-scale aquaponic system,”
Aquacultural Engineering, 2017.
[3] K. V. Ragnarsd´ottir, H. Sverdrup, and D. Koca, “Challenging the
planetary boundaries 1: Basic principles of an integrated model for
phosphorous supply dynamics and global population size,” Applied
Geochemistry, 2011.
[4] H. U. Sverdrup and K. V. Ragnarsdottir, “Challenging the planetary
boundaries 2: Assessing the sustainable global population and phosphate
supply, using a systems dynamics assessment model,” Applied
Geochemistry, 2011.
[5] R. V. Tyson, D. D. Treadwell, and E. H. Simonne, “Opportunities
and challenges to sustainability in aquaponic systems,” HortTechnology,
2011.
[6] D. Tilman, K. G. Cassman, P. A. Matson, R. Naylor, and S. Polasky,
“Agricultural sustainability and intensive production practices,” Nature,
2002.
[7] R. R. Kumar and J. Y. Cho, “Reuse of hydroponic waste solution,”
Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 2014.
[8] W. J. Mitsch and J. G. Gosselink, “Wetlands,” Wiley, New York, 2007.
[9] J. B. Jones Jr, Hydroponics: a practical guide for the soilless grower.
CRC press, 2016.
[10] S. Grillas, M. Lucas, E. Bardopoulou, S. Sarafopoulos, and M. Voulgari,
“Perlite based soilless culture systems: current commercial application
and prospects,” Acta Horticulturae, 2001.
[11] S. Carruthers, “Hydroponics as an agricultural production system,”
Pract. Hydrop. Greenh, 2002.
[12] G. Hickman, “Greenhouse vegetable production statistics: a review
of current data on the international production of vegetables in
greenhouses,” Cuesta Roble greenhouse consultants, Mariposa, CA,
2011.
[13] M. Intelligence, “Hydroponics market - segmented by type, crop
type, and geography - growth, trends and forecasts,” Tech.
Rep., 2018. (Online). Available: https://www.mordorintelligence.com/
industry-reports/hydroponics-market.
[14] A. Hussain, K. Iqbal, S. Aziem, P. Mahato, and A. Negi, “A review
on the science of growing crops without soil (soilless culture)-a novel
alternative for growing crops,” International Journal of Agriculture and
Crop Sciences, 2014.
[15] D. Savvas, G. Ntatsi, and H. C. Passam, “Plant nutrition and
physiological disorders in greenhouse grown tomato, pepper and
eggplant,” The European Journal of Plant Science and Biotechnology,
2008.
[16] S. P. Dubik, D. T. Krizek, and D. P. Stimart, “Influence of root zone
restriction on mineral element concentration, water potential, chlorophyll
concentration, and partitioning of assimilate in spreading euonymus,”
Journal of plant nutrition, 1990.
[17] F.-G. Schr¨oder and J. H. Lieth, “Irrigation control in hydroponics,” 2002.
[18] D. Savvas, G. Gianquinto, Y. Tuzel, and N. Gruda, “Soilless culture,” in
Good agricultural practices for Greenhouse Vegetable Crops: Principles
for Mediterranean Climate Areas. Food and Agriculture Organization
of the United Nations (FAO), 2013, ch. 12.
[19] A. Pardossi, G. Carmassi, C. Diara, L. Incrocci, R. Maggini, and
D. Massa, “Fertigation and substrate management in closed soilless
culture,” Pisa: University of Pisa, 2011.
[20] B. E. Belayneh, J. D. Lea-Cox, and E. Lichtenberg, “Costs and benefits
of implementing sensor-controlled irrigation in a commercial pot-in-pot
container nursery,” HortTechnology, 2013.
[21] L. Bacci, P. Battista, and B. Rapi, “An integrated method for irrigation
scheduling of potted plants,” Scientia horticulturae, 2008.
[22] H. Jones, “Irrigation scheduling–comparison of soil, plant and
atmosphere monitoring approaches,” in V International Symposium on
Irrigation of Horticultural Crops 792, 2006.
[23] H. H. Tyler, S. L. Warren, and T. E. Bilderback, “Reduced leaching
fractions improve irrigation use efficiency and nutrient efficacy,” Journal
of Environmental Horticulture, 1996.
[24] J. D. Lea-Cox, W. L. Bauerle, M. W. van Iersel, G. F. Kantor, T. L.
Bauerle, E. Lichtenberg, D. M. King, and L. Crawford, “Advancing
wireless sensor networks for irrigation management of ornamental crops:
An overview,” HortTechnology, 2013.
[25] S. E. Burnett and M. W. van Iersel, “Morphology and irrigation
efficiency of gaura lindheimeri grown with capacitance sensor-controlled
irrigation,” HortScience, 2008.
[26] M. K. Meric, “Effects of nutrition systems and irrigation programs on
tomato in soilless culture,” Agricultural Water Management, 2001.
[27] C. Cornejo, D. Z. Haman, and T. H. Yeager, “Evaluation of soil moisture
sensors, and their use to control irrigation systems for containers in the
nursery industry,” in 2005 ASAE Annual Meeting. American Society
of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, 2005.
[28] M. Raviv, J. H. Lieth, and R. Wallach, “The effect of root-zone physical
properties of coir and uc mix on performance of cut rose (cv. kardinal),”
in World Congress on Soilless Culture: Agriculture in the Coming
Millennium 554, 2000.
[29] R. G. Allen, L. S. Pereira, D. Raes, M. Smith et al.,
“Crop evapotranspiration-guidelines for computing crop water
requirements-fao irrigation and drainage paper 56,” Fao, Rome, 1998.
[30] J. Kim, M. W. van Iersel, and S. E. Burnett, “Estimating daily water
use of two petunia cultivars based on plant and environmental factors,”
HortScience, 2011.
[31] H. G. Jones, “Irrigation scheduling: advantages and pitfalls of
plant-based methods,” Journal of experimental botany, 2004.
[32] J. Cifre, J. Bota, J. Escalona, H. Medrano, and J. Flexas, “Physiological
tools for irrigation scheduling in grapevine (vitis vinifera l.): An
open gate to improve water-use efficiency?” Agriculture, Ecosystems
& Environment, 2005.
[33] A. P. Papadopoulos, E. M. Labbate, and N. Liburdi, “Computerized
fertilizer injection system,” 1993, uS Patent 5, 184, 420.
[34] H. Instruments, “Mini fertilizer injection systems.” (Online). Available:
https://hannainst.com/mini-fertilizer-injection-system.html.
[35] H. B. Sprague, “Hunger signs in crops,” Soil Science, 1964.
[36] H. M. Resh, Hydroponic food production: a definitive guidebook for the
advanced home gardener and the commercial hydroponic grower. CRC
Press, 2016.
[37] Priva, “Nutrifit and nutriflex.” (Online). Available: https://www.priva.
com/products/nutriline.
[38] K. S. Nemali and M. W. van Iersel, “An automated system for controlling
drought stress and irrigation in potted plants,” Scientia Horticulturae,
2006.
[39] C. Control, “Fertigation manager.” (Online). Available: http://www.
climatecontrol.com/fertigation-manager.
[40] C. Olympios, “Soilless media under protected cultivation rockwool, peat,
perlite and other substrates,” in Symposium on Soil and Soilless Media
under Protected Cultivation in Mild Winter Climates 323, 1992.
[41] C. De Kreij, W. Voogt, and R. Baas, Nutrient solutions and water quality
for soilless cultures. Research Station for Floriculture and Glasshouse
Vegetables, Naaldwijk Office, 1999.
[42] M. H. Jensen and A. J. Malter, Protected agriculture: a global review.
World Bank Publications, 1995.
[1] UN, “World urbanization prospects: The 2014 revision-highlights,”
Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Tech. Rep.,
2014. (Online). Available: https://esa.un.org/unpd/wup/publications/
files/wup2014-highlights.pdf.
[2] B. Delaide, G. Delhaye, M. Dermience, J. Gott, H. Soyeurt, and M. H.
Jijakli, “Plant and fish production performance, nutrient mass balances,
energy and water use of the paff box, a small-scale aquaponic system,”
Aquacultural Engineering, 2017.
[3] K. V. Ragnarsd´ottir, H. Sverdrup, and D. Koca, “Challenging the
planetary boundaries 1: Basic principles of an integrated model for
phosphorous supply dynamics and global population size,” Applied
Geochemistry, 2011.
[4] H. U. Sverdrup and K. V. Ragnarsdottir, “Challenging the planetary
boundaries 2: Assessing the sustainable global population and phosphate
supply, using a systems dynamics assessment model,” Applied
Geochemistry, 2011.
[5] R. V. Tyson, D. D. Treadwell, and E. H. Simonne, “Opportunities
and challenges to sustainability in aquaponic systems,” HortTechnology,
2011.
[6] D. Tilman, K. G. Cassman, P. A. Matson, R. Naylor, and S. Polasky,
“Agricultural sustainability and intensive production practices,” Nature,
2002.
[7] R. R. Kumar and J. Y. Cho, “Reuse of hydroponic waste solution,”
Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 2014.
[8] W. J. Mitsch and J. G. Gosselink, “Wetlands,” Wiley, New York, 2007.
[9] J. B. Jones Jr, Hydroponics: a practical guide for the soilless grower.
CRC press, 2016.
[10] S. Grillas, M. Lucas, E. Bardopoulou, S. Sarafopoulos, and M. Voulgari,
“Perlite based soilless culture systems: current commercial application
and prospects,” Acta Horticulturae, 2001.
[11] S. Carruthers, “Hydroponics as an agricultural production system,”
Pract. Hydrop. Greenh, 2002.
[12] G. Hickman, “Greenhouse vegetable production statistics: a review
of current data on the international production of vegetables in
greenhouses,” Cuesta Roble greenhouse consultants, Mariposa, CA,
2011.
[13] M. Intelligence, “Hydroponics market - segmented by type, crop
type, and geography - growth, trends and forecasts,” Tech.
Rep., 2018. (Online). Available: https://www.mordorintelligence.com/
industry-reports/hydroponics-market.
[14] A. Hussain, K. Iqbal, S. Aziem, P. Mahato, and A. Negi, “A review
on the science of growing crops without soil (soilless culture)-a novel
alternative for growing crops,” International Journal of Agriculture and
Crop Sciences, 2014.
[15] D. Savvas, G. Ntatsi, and H. C. Passam, “Plant nutrition and
physiological disorders in greenhouse grown tomato, pepper and
eggplant,” The European Journal of Plant Science and Biotechnology,
2008.
[16] S. P. Dubik, D. T. Krizek, and D. P. Stimart, “Influence of root zone
restriction on mineral element concentration, water potential, chlorophyll
concentration, and partitioning of assimilate in spreading euonymus,”
Journal of plant nutrition, 1990.
[17] F.-G. Schr¨oder and J. H. Lieth, “Irrigation control in hydroponics,” 2002.
[18] D. Savvas, G. Gianquinto, Y. Tuzel, and N. Gruda, “Soilless culture,” in
Good agricultural practices for Greenhouse Vegetable Crops: Principles
for Mediterranean Climate Areas. Food and Agriculture Organization
of the United Nations (FAO), 2013, ch. 12.
[19] A. Pardossi, G. Carmassi, C. Diara, L. Incrocci, R. Maggini, and
D. Massa, “Fertigation and substrate management in closed soilless
culture,” Pisa: University of Pisa, 2011.
[20] B. E. Belayneh, J. D. Lea-Cox, and E. Lichtenberg, “Costs and benefits
of implementing sensor-controlled irrigation in a commercial pot-in-pot
container nursery,” HortTechnology, 2013.
[21] L. Bacci, P. Battista, and B. Rapi, “An integrated method for irrigation
scheduling of potted plants,” Scientia horticulturae, 2008.
[22] H. Jones, “Irrigation scheduling–comparison of soil, plant and
atmosphere monitoring approaches,” in V International Symposium on
Irrigation of Horticultural Crops 792, 2006.
[23] H. H. Tyler, S. L. Warren, and T. E. Bilderback, “Reduced leaching
fractions improve irrigation use efficiency and nutrient efficacy,” Journal
of Environmental Horticulture, 1996.
[24] J. D. Lea-Cox, W. L. Bauerle, M. W. van Iersel, G. F. Kantor, T. L.
Bauerle, E. Lichtenberg, D. M. King, and L. Crawford, “Advancing
wireless sensor networks for irrigation management of ornamental crops:
An overview,” HortTechnology, 2013.
[25] S. E. Burnett and M. W. van Iersel, “Morphology and irrigation
efficiency of gaura lindheimeri grown with capacitance sensor-controlled
irrigation,” HortScience, 2008.
[26] M. K. Meric, “Effects of nutrition systems and irrigation programs on
tomato in soilless culture,” Agricultural Water Management, 2001.
[27] C. Cornejo, D. Z. Haman, and T. H. Yeager, “Evaluation of soil moisture
sensors, and their use to control irrigation systems for containers in the
nursery industry,” in 2005 ASAE Annual Meeting. American Society
of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, 2005.
[28] M. Raviv, J. H. Lieth, and R. Wallach, “The effect of root-zone physical
properties of coir and uc mix on performance of cut rose (cv. kardinal),”
in World Congress on Soilless Culture: Agriculture in the Coming
Millennium 554, 2000.
[29] R. G. Allen, L. S. Pereira, D. Raes, M. Smith et al.,
“Crop evapotranspiration-guidelines for computing crop water
requirements-fao irrigation and drainage paper 56,” Fao, Rome, 1998.
[30] J. Kim, M. W. van Iersel, and S. E. Burnett, “Estimating daily water
use of two petunia cultivars based on plant and environmental factors,”
HortScience, 2011.
[31] H. G. Jones, “Irrigation scheduling: advantages and pitfalls of
plant-based methods,” Journal of experimental botany, 2004.
[32] J. Cifre, J. Bota, J. Escalona, H. Medrano, and J. Flexas, “Physiological
tools for irrigation scheduling in grapevine (vitis vinifera l.): An
open gate to improve water-use efficiency?” Agriculture, Ecosystems
& Environment, 2005.
[33] A. P. Papadopoulos, E. M. Labbate, and N. Liburdi, “Computerized
fertilizer injection system,” 1993, uS Patent 5, 184, 420.
[34] H. Instruments, “Mini fertilizer injection systems.” (Online). Available:
https://hannainst.com/mini-fertilizer-injection-system.html.
[35] H. B. Sprague, “Hunger signs in crops,” Soil Science, 1964.
[36] H. M. Resh, Hydroponic food production: a definitive guidebook for the
advanced home gardener and the commercial hydroponic grower. CRC
Press, 2016.
[37] Priva, “Nutrifit and nutriflex.” (Online). Available: https://www.priva.
com/products/nutriline.
[38] K. S. Nemali and M. W. van Iersel, “An automated system for controlling
drought stress and irrigation in potted plants,” Scientia Horticulturae,
2006.
[39] C. Control, “Fertigation manager.” (Online). Available: http://www.
climatecontrol.com/fertigation-manager.
[40] C. Olympios, “Soilless media under protected cultivation rockwool, peat,
perlite and other substrates,” in Symposium on Soil and Soilless Media
under Protected Cultivation in Mild Winter Climates 323, 1992.
[41] C. De Kreij, W. Voogt, and R. Baas, Nutrient solutions and water quality
for soilless cultures. Research Station for Floriculture and Glasshouse
Vegetables, Naaldwijk Office, 1999.
[42] M. H. Jensen and A. J. Malter, Protected agriculture: a global review.
World Bank Publications, 1995.
@article{"International Journal of Biological, Life and Agricultural Sciences:78321", author = "Giacomo Barbieri", title = "A Small-Scale Flexible Test Bench for the Investigation of Fertigation Strategies in Soilless Culture", abstract = "In soilless culture, the management of the nutrient
solution is the most important aspect for crop growing. Fertigation
dose, frequency and nutrient concentration must be planned with
the objective of reaching an optimal crop growth by limiting
the utilized resources and the associated costs. The definition of
efficient fertigation strategies is a complex problem since fertigation
requirements vary on the basis of different factors, and crops are
sensitive to small variations on fertigation parameters. To the best
of author knowledge, a small-scale test bench that is flexible for
both nutrient solution preparation and precise irrigation is currently
missing, limiting the investigations in standard practices for soilless
culture. Starting from the analysis of the state of the art, this paper
proposes a small-scale system that is potentially able to concurrently
test different fertigation strategies. The system will be designed and
implemented throughout a three year project started on August 2018.
However, due to the importance of the topic within current challenges
as food security and climate change, this work is spread considering
that may inspire other universities and organizations.", keywords = "Soilless culture, fertigation, test bench, small-scale,
automation.", volume = "13", number = "1", pages = "5-5", }
