Hydroponics Chapter 1 Study Guide

Notably, the concept of improving plants has existed since the day humans started on the long journey toward agricultural advancement. This was

The method uses a water based, nutrient method to give plants all the nutrient they need to grow. This method is able to use heat and lighting to help the plants grow if their normal climate isn't the same as the one in the area you’re growing your plants in. In some cases hydroponic houses are made to support the plant for its living conditions. Sometimes the roots hang freely and nutrients are hazed over onto them but this tends to be more risky because the roots can easily dry out if the misting cycle is not to schedule and spread

The first people to start specializing their plants into actual agricultural crops were still working with mostly wild plants. Over time, they used experimentation to figure out how to make better crops. Controlling

TRANSITION The concept of improving plants has been around since the day humans started growing plants. This was accomplished by

Now, for a hydroponics there are three ways you could do it; water culture, multi flow, and ebb and flow. Water culture is a low cost and easy one and all you need is a styrofoam platform, water, and plants; Multi flow is a medium cost and is kinda hard to build and all it relies on is gravity flood plant trays with water and nutrients, a timer, float switch to control water levels, and plants; and finally Ebb and flow and that’s an easy system too and all it takes a plant tray, tubing, water pump, nutrients, water, and plants. Yet, for all of these you need a container or a fish tank to put them

1. Video demonstrations of Cultivation of crops, basic agriculture and the installation and basic functions of Solar, Wind, and Greenhouse Equipment

Brooks (EPA), J. Heinrichs (UW), S. McMillin (California Department of Fish and Wildlife) and C. Wilsey (UW). Landuse change scenarios were developed by Jim Thorne and the Information Center for the Environment at UC Davis. The information in this document has been funded in part by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. It has been subjected to review by the National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory’s Western Ecology Division and approved for publication. Approval does not signify that the contents reflect the views of the Agency, nor does mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation for

science, made discoveries with regards to the life of agriculture, or just plants in general. The

The animals which were identified as a nuisance to agricultural crops were deer, raccoons and groundhogs (MacGowan et al., n.d). In some states, feral hogs would be added to that list, as well as coyotes (only in areas that grow melons). As noted by Sramek, (n.d.) “Coyotes are known for their particular fondness of watermelons and cantaloupes and will readily seek them as a food source” (Coyote diets, para. 3). We limited the project to whitetail deer, due to a readily available test field located in an area populated by whitetail deer; and whitetail deer are ranked as one of the leading animals causing crop damage (Belant, Seamans, & Tyson, 1998, January). Additionally, whitetails have shown the ability to habituate very quickly to many techniques used to scare them off (Hildreth, Hygnstrom, & Vercauteren, 2013). Given that whitetail deer are skittish

Few commercial growing operations across the country use a greenhouse environment. Both Mr. Troost and Mr. Bushman have production minded greenhouse experience. Proper planning and implementation will allow Go Green Medical will harvest consistent weekly product without a stop in production or crop shortages.

The Chinese also invented the way to grow crops by placing them in rows sometime in the 6th century BC. This allowed the crops to grow faster and stronger. This was not instituted in the western world for another 2200 years. Master Lu wrote in the “Spring and Autumn Annals”: ‘If the crops are grown in rows they will mature rapidly because they will not interfere with each other’s growth. The horizontal rows must be well drawn, the vertical rows made with skill, for if the lines are straight the wind will pass gently through.’ This text was compiled around 240 BC. (Stevenh, 2009)

Around when the Industrial Revolution began, agriculture began to take a turn in it’s way of harvesting crops. New techniques of growing and tending crops spread across Europe in the 1700s. “The improved yield of the agricultural sector can be attributed to the enclosure movement and to improved techniques and practices developed during this

One concern about pesticides and herbicide usage is the amount of residues left on the end product of crops sprayed with the chemicals, and their effects on human health. (Williamson, 2007, p. 184). However, these effects are closely tested and levels are strictly regulated to ensure there is no danger from possible pesticide residues. Since 1910, many rules, regulations, and agencies have been formed to monitor the safety of the pesticides and herbicides used in conventional farming. These chemicals must meet specific safety standards in order to be registered for use, and regulations on levels of each product safe for use are also put in place. (Tafel et al.,2007, p.184). All pesticides are rigorously examined to ensure they have no significant effects on human health, or the environment. The residues in the food chain are closely monitored, and regularly tested, to ensure they are below legal limits. In a recent survey of residues

In 1779 Jan Igenhousz conducted a very important experiment about photosynthesis. This experiment consisted of a plant with soil in a jar of water that was exposed to sunlight, and then same plant in the jar of water, but in darkness. He thought if i put a plant in water and expose it in sunlight, then it will produce bubbles. First he submerged the plant in a jar full of water. The sunlight from outside was beaming onto the plant.

The “busts” occur because, by forcing a plant to have the highest yield it cause most of the energy to go into growing and not natural defense. To counteract the lower defenses, farmers heavily utilize pesticides. The Board on Agriculture and Natural Resources dubs heavy pesticide use as the “kill ‘em dead” approach which does kill non resistant pests however, pesticide usage selects the resistant strains (Board on Agriculture and Natural Resources). By using pesticides a feedback loop comes to fruition as pesticides increase resistance among pests while farmers find different pesticides in the hopes of staying one foot ahead. Trap cropping has been shown as a solution to the pesticide usage problem. While working towards a PhD in horticulture Jude Boucher, from the Tolland County Extension Office at the University of Connecticut, he experimented with trap cropping (SARE). Boucher set up a system where hot cherry pepper plants were planted around a crop of sweet bell peppers creating a “poisoned fence” protecting the bell pepper crop. By using trap cropping Boucher could use small and well-timed applications of pesticides resulting in a 90% decrease in pesticide use (SARE). Other farmers have also used trap cropping and have found an 18% increase in vine crop yields, a 96% decrease in pesticide use,