A Small-Scale Flexible Test Bench for the Investigation of Fertigation Strategies in Soilless Culture

Authors: Giacomo Barbieri

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.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI): doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3607741

References:

[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.