In an effort to develop an alternative to methyl bromide-dependant strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.) field production in north-central Florida, we evaluated various soilless substrates, growing containers, plug transplants, plant densities, cultivars, and biological control strategies in a passively ventilated high-roof greenhouse near Gainesville, Florida. The type of soilless media used ...

Soilless cultivation is one of the best examples sustainable intensification concept due to high use efficiency its inputs. Managing nutrient solution through a closed cycle system represents crucial objective be pursued, but recovery requires chemical correction and sanitization. The application non-thermal plasma (NTP) in agriculture promotes safety solution, decreasing chemicals. aim this st...

This study assesses the impact of irrigating with desalinated seawater (DSW) on profitability greenhouse tomato in south-eastern Spain, comparing different water-quality sources both traditional sanding cultivation and soilless hydroponic production. The assessment is based combination partial crop budgeting techniques field data from LIFE DESEACROP Project experimental activities. Our results ...

Silicon (Si) is a beneficial element that usually ample in mineral soil solution, but it minimally bioavailable from soilless substrates. Several Si additives are commercially available, the rate of dissolution not well-characterized. The ideal additive would steadily release over crop lifecycle. We report long-term (120 days) substrates and substrate additives. Studies involving gently agitate...

The adoption of closed soilless systems is useful in minimizing the environmental impact of the greenhouse crops. Instead, a significant problem in closed soilless systems is represented by the accumulation of ions in the recycled nutrient solution (NS), in particular the unabsorbed or poorly absorbed ones. To overcome such problem, we: (1) studied the effect of several values of the electrical...