Diseases and Management of Crops under Protected Cultivation

(Diseases and Management of Crops under Protected Cultivation)
Micronutrients
KCl 25 1.864 Cl 1.77
H 3
BO 3
12.5 0.773 B 0.27
MnSO4.H 2
O 1.0 0.169 Mn 0.11
ZnSO4.7H 2
O 1.0 0.288 Zn 0.13
CuSO4.5H 2
O 0.25 0.062 Cu 0.03
H 2
MoO 4
.H 2
O 0.25 0.040 Mo 0.05
NaFeDTPA 64 30.0 Fe 1.00-3.00
These ions are supplemented either in solution culture or in the inert medium of sand,
gravel, perlite, vermiculite, etc.
Components of hydroponic system
• Growing chamber (or tray), It is required for holding the root system
• Styrofoam It is a trademarked brand of closed-cell extruded polystyrene foam.The sheets
of styrofoam is used for placing small seedlings by making holes
• Reservoir It is required for holding the nutrient solution
• Submersible pump It is required for providing water to the plants
• Delivery system to get the water/nutrients from the pump in the reservoir to the plants,
and back to the reservoir again
• Simple timer to turn on and off the pump, as well as the lights
• Air pump and air stone to oxygenate the nutrient solution
• Lighting for the lighting one can use many different lighting systems, from compact
fluorescent lighting (CFL's) to expensive lighting system
To run a hydroponic system following things must be maintained.
i) Electrical conductivity 1.9 to 3.2 mS
ii) pH 5.5 to 6.5
iii) Light 200-250 µmoles/m 2 /sec
iv) Temperature 20-25ºC
There are two main types of hydroponic system
i) Solution culture
ii) Medium culture
Solution culture
This system does not require any inert substrate .It is also known as liquid hydroponic
system. There are different ways of operating the same.
i) Water culture
This is the simplest form of hydroponics in which nutrient solution circulates with the help of
a pump. Nutrient solution is kept in a reservoir and is connected with troughs .The troughs are
either metallic trays or cemented material. On the troughs styrofoam sheet is placed. Small holes
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