1. Plant morphology.

2. Type of vegetables.
3. Life cycle of VINES / BINS / FRUTING plants.
4. Hydroponics Vs Soil Farming.
5. Water quality (TDS / EC).
6. pH /TDS of water.
7. Oxygenation
8. Temperature.

Topics
9. Nutrient solution.
10. Substrate/ Grow Media.
11. How to start Hydroponics.
12. Type of Systems.
13. Organic Farming and Organic Nutrients.
14. Day to day care of the garden / Farm (Why and How).
15. Recording day to day operations.
16. Do and don’t for hydroponics.
17. Commercial Setup Cost.
18. Project Report.
19. Subsidy and Loan
20. Sales and Marketing
 Crop
Soil Hydroponic.
Average / Acre / Year ( Tons)
Lettuce 9-10 300-400

Strawberries 20-25 50-80

Cucumber 15-20 300-400

Tomato 10-12 180-200

Bell Pepper 10-15 130-180

Potato 8-10 60-70

Cabbage 6-7 10-12 3

9
10
 Hydroponic Era
Organic Farming /
Precision Farming Era

Green Revolution Era

Pre Green Revolution Era 11

Definition : Hydroponic.
From Greek
hydro = “water” and
Ponos = “labour”
Hydroponics is a subset of hydroculture and is a method of
growing plants using mineral nutrient solutions, in water,
without soil.
Plants may be grown with their roots in the mineral solution
only, or in an inert medium, such as perlite, Vermiculite, coco
peat or gravel.
The earliest published work on growing plants without soil was
the book Sylva Sylvarum, 1627 by Francis Bacon, printed a
year after his death.
12
13
What is needed for a plant to survive?

Carbon Dioxide
Sunlight

Water Oxygen 14
16
Type of Plants

Leafy Greens & Herbs Lettuce, Spinach

Fruiting / Vine Tomato cucumber

Flowering Rose/ Gerbera

Rooting Veg Potato, Ginger

Fungal Mushroom
17
3. Life cycle of VINES/BINS/FRUITING Veg.

seedling Mild TRANSIT TO BLOOM

Strong Vegetative Blooming and Ripening
Vegetative
Growth Growth

18
 Soil Vs Hydroponics
Soil / Open Field Hydroponics
Yield Prediction Difficult Yield Prediction very accurate.
Budgeting my infective Easy Budgeting
No Assurance of Root Zone Aeration Root zone aeration is Assured.
Water Circulation not Possible Water Circulation, Up to 90% Less water
No Utilization of Vertical Space Utilization of Vertical Space

Difficult to Control pH Easy To Control pH

Difficult to Control TDS Easy To Control TDS
Weeding and Pest Problem No Weed , Less Pest Problem

Fertilizer can not reuse Nutrient Recirculation , Cost Saving

20
 Yield Prediction Difficult Yield Prediction very accurate.

• No Control on soil parameters.

• Heating and Colling arrangement.
• Soil born disease.
• Nematodes
• Fusarium,
• Pythium
• Rhizoctonia species,
• Phytophthora,
• vascular wilts caused by fungi including Verticillium and nematodes.
The advantages
1. Superior taste, quality, appearance, uniformity, and extended shelf life of
hydroponic vegetables.

2. No sterilization of growing media required and plant nutrition is easily and

completely controlled within the nutrient reservoir.

3. No weeding, No soil borne diseases or insects.

4. Allows uniform water availability to plants.

5. Closer plant spacing is possible and allow greater production from equal areas.

6. Space Savings

7. Less water required and less fertilizer needed, and root zone heating and cooling
22
is made possible.
The advantages
Grow in Any Condition:

23
24
Nutrient Reuse / Recycle : Low Production cost.

Vertical Space utilization : 2 to 10 times Production

Good control on Parameters : Fast Growth, Constant Quality, Quantity, Uniformity

Disadvantage
• HIGH INITIAL INVESTMENT.
• MANAGEMENT AND CAPITAL INTENSIVE.
• A HIGH LEVEL OF EXPERTISE IS REQUIRED.
• DAILY ATTENTION IS NECESSARY.
• SPECIALLY FORMULATED, SOLUBLE NUTRIENTS MUST BE USED.
• PESTS AND DISEASES REMAIN A BIG RISK.
• SOME WATER BORN DISEASES CAN SPREAD RAPIDLY.
27
Water quality (TDS/EC)
• How does TDS / EC affect plant growth?
• Answer: TDS /EC is really a measure of the nutrients in the solution. Low
TDS / EC implies a low nutrient concentration, which usually results in
nutritional deficiencies and slow growth rates of your plants. One can look
at the situation as a higher conductivity is more food for your plants.
However, be careful of very high levels as this can burn and or kill the
plant.

28
Water quality (TDS/EC)
• The TDS / EC of a nutrient solution as well as that in the growing medium can
significantly affect plant growth.
• EC (in dS/m) x 500 = TDS [in mg/L (ppm)]
• (approximate measurement, depends on type of salt).

29
Water quality (TDS/EC)

• Is it better to use an EC or a TDS meter?

• Answer: If you have plant nutrient recommendations in

EC units, an EC meter is convenient. If your plant nutrient
recommendations are in ppM values, a sodium chloride
TDS calibration is easier to use.

30
Water quality (TDS/EC)
• Why is conductivity/ TDS of the nutrient important?
• Answer: Conductivity/ TDS is a measure of the strength of the nutrient
solution. The higher the conductivity/ TDS, the more dissolved solids there
are in the solution. Delicate plants, cuttings, and seedlings can experience
fertilizer burn if the conductivity / TDS is too high. Once the plants begin
growing, they need a stronger nutrient solution, so conductivity / TDS must
be increased by adding concentrated nutrient. Some plants prefer a milder
nutrient strength, while others grow better and produce better quality fruit
with a higher concentration.

31
 pH
• pH is very important in
hydroponic as well as
regular soil gardening.
• pH is measured on a
scale of 1-14 with 7
being neutral.

32
 pH
• WHY IS pH IMPORTANT?
• When the pH is not at the proper level the plant will lose its ability
to absorb some of the essential elements required for healthy
growth.
• For all plants there is a particular pH level that will produce
optimum results. This pH level will vary from plant to plant, but in
general most plants prefer a slightly acid growing environment
(between 5.5-6.5),

33
 pH
• When pH rises above 6.5 some of the nutrients and micro-nutrients begin
to precipitate out of solution and can stick to the walls of the reservoir and
growing chambers.
• For example: Iron will be about half precipitated at the pH level of 7.3 and
at about 8.0 there is virtually no iron left in solution at all.
• use the nutrients they must be dissolved in the solution. Once the nutrients
have precipitated out of solution your plants can no longer absorb them
and will suffer deficiency and death if left uncorrected. Some nutrients will
precipitate out of solution when the pH drops also.

34
pH

35
 pH
• The Most high-tech way to check pH is to
use the digital meters. These meters come in
a huge array of sizes and prices. The most
popular type of pH meter for the hobby
gardener is the digital pen. These pens are
manufactured by several different
companies and are very handy and easy to
use. You simply dip the electrode into the
nutrient solution for a few moments and the
pH value is displayed on an LCD screen.

36
 pH
• The pH meters are very accurate (when
properly calibrated) and fast. They need to
cared for properly. The glass bulb electrode
must be kept clean and some are required to
be wet at all times. The pH meters are
actually very sensitive volt meters and are
susceptible to problems with the electrode.

37
 pH
pH
• The pH meters are slightly temperature sensitive. Many of the pH
meters on the market have Automatic Temperature Compensation
(ATC), which corrects the reading with respect to temperature. On
meters without ATC the pH should be checked at the same time of
day each time in order to minimize any temperature related
fluctuations.

• The pH meters usually need to be calibrated frequently, as the

meters can drift and to insure accuracy you must check calibration
often. With most pens, the tip needs to be stored in an electrode
storage solution or in a buffer solution and should never be allowed
to dry out.

• Due to the fact that pH meters have a reputation of breaking down

without warning it is a good idea to keep an emergency backup for
checking pH (paper test strips or a liquid pH test kit), just in case.
38
 pH
pH
• Paper test strips are probably the most inexpensive way to
check the pH of the nutrient solution.
• These paper strips are impregnated with a pH sensitive dye
which changes colour when dipped into the nutrient solution.
The paper strip is then compared to a colour chart to
determine the pH level of the solution being checked. These
test strips are inexpensive.

39
 Plants pH PPM
Banana 5.5-6.5 1260-1540
Black Currant 6.0 980-1260
Blueberry 4.0 -5.0 1260-1400
Melon 5.5-6.0 1400-1750
Passionfruit 6.5 840-1680
Paw-Paw 6.5 1400-1680
Pineapple 5.5-6.0 1400-1680
Red Currant 6.0 980-1260
Rhubarb 5.0- 6.0 840-1400
Strawberries 5.5-6.5 1260-1540
Watermelon 5.8 1260-1680
40
 Plants pH PPM
Artichoke 6.5-7.5 560-1260
Asparagus 6.0-6.8 980-1260
Bean (Common) 6.0 1400-2800
Beetroot 6.0-6.5 1260-3500
Broad Bean 6.0-6.5 1260-1540
Broccoli 6.0-6.5 1960-2450
Brussell Sprout 6.5-7.5 1750-2100
Cabbage 6.5-7.0 1750-2100
Capsicum 6.0-6.5 1260-1540
Carrots 6.3 1120-1400 41
 Plants pH PPM
Cauliflower 6.0-7.0 1050-1400
Celery 6.5 1260-1680
Cucumber 5.8-6.0 1190-1750
Eggplant 5.5-6.5 1750-2450
Endive 5.5 1400-1680
Fodder 6.0 1260-1400
Garlic 6.0 980-1260
Leek 6.5-7.0 980-1260
Lettuce 5.5-6.5 560-840
Marrow 6.0 1260-1680
Okra 6.5 1400-1680
Onions 6.0-6.7 980-1260 42
 Plants pH PPM
Pak-choi 7.0 1050-1400
Parsnip 6.0 980-1260
Pea 6.0-7.0 980-1260
Peppers 5.8-6.3 1400-2100
Bell peppers 6.0-6.5 1400-1750
Hot Peppers 6.0-6.5 2100-2450
Potato 5.0-6.0 1400-1750
Pumpkin 5.5-7.5 1260-1680
Radish 6.0-7.0 840-1540
Spinach 5.5-6.6 1260-1610
Silverbeet 6.0-7.0 1260-1610
Sweet Corn 6.0 840-1680
Sweet Potato 5.5-6.0 1400-1750
Tomato 5.5-6.5 1400-3500
Turnip 6.0-6.5 1260-1680
43
Zucchini 6.0 1260-1680
 Plants pH PPM
Basil 5.5-6.5 700-1120
Chicory 5.5-60 1400-1600
Chives 6.0-6.5 1260-1540
Fennel 6.4-6.8 700-980
Lavender 6.4-6.8 700-980
Lemon Balm 5.5-6.5 700-1120
Marjoram 6.0 1120-1400
Mint 5.5-6.0 1400-1680
Mustard Cress 6.0-6.5 840-1680
Parsley 5.5-6.0 560-1260
Rosemary 5.5-6.0 700-1120
Sage 5.5-6.5 700-1120
Thyme 5.5-7.0 560-1120
44
Watercress 6.5-6.8 280-1260
 Plants pH PPM
African Violets 6.0-7.0 840-1050
Anthurium 5.0-6.0 1120-1400
Antirrhinim 6.5 1120-1400
Aphelandra 5.0-6.0 1260-1680
Aster 6.0-6.5 1260-1680
Begonia 6.5 980-1260
Bromeliads 5.0-7.5 560-840
Caladium 6.0-7.5 1120-1400
Canna 6.0 1260-1680
Carnation 6.0 1260-2450
Chrysanthemum 6.0-6.2 1400-1750
Cymbidiums 5.5 420-560
Dahlia 6.0-7.0 1050-1400
Dieffenbachia 5.0 1400-1680
Dracaena 5.0-6.0 1400-1680
Ferns 6.0 1120-1400
Ficus 5.5-6.0 1120-1680
Freesia 6.5 700-1400
Impatiens 5.5-6.5 1260-1400
Gerbera 5.0-6.5 1400-1750
Gladiolus 5.5-6.5 1400-1680
Monstera 5.0-6.0 1400-1680
Palms 6.0-7.5 1120-1400
Roses 5.5-6.0 1050-1750
45
Stock 6.0-7.0 1120-1400
Oxygenation
Oxygenation
• The O2 content of either a nutrient solution or the
rooting medium will affect the rate of root activity and
function, particularly the rate of water and nutrient
element uptake.
• One of the major reasons that some NFT systems fail
is due to the inability of the operating system to
maintain sufficient O2 in the nutrient solution.

47
TEMPRATURE OF WATER
• Temperature of the nutrient solution should be in the
range of 18 to 26 degrees Celsius.
• Aquarium heaters can be used to warm the nutrient
solution in the winter, and look for "chillers" to cool the
solution in the summer if high temperature becomes a
problem.
• The oxygen content of a fully aerated solution at
10°C is about 13ppm,
20°C is about 9 - 10ppm,
30° C is about only 7ppm.

48
 Nutrient Solution
• It is always preferable to buy a nutrient mix which is sold especially for
'hydroponic' use, and is a 'complete' plant food. To be 'complete' a hydroponic
nutrient needs to have the essential elements for plant growth these are:
• Nitrogen (N) Potassium (K) Phosphorus (P)
• Calcium (Ca) Magnesium (Mg) Sulphur (S)
• Iron (Fe) Manganese (Mn) Copper (Cu) Zinc (Zn)
Molybdate (Mo) Boron (B) Chlorine (Cl)
• The levels that these elements are present in your hydroponic nutrient tend to
vary between brands, since there is no one single recommendation for
concentrations. Many nutrients may also contain some of the 'beneficial
elements' such as Nickel (Ni), Cobalt (Co), Silica (Si) or Selenium (Se). While
these are not 'essential' (plants will still grow without them), they can be
beneficial to many crops.
50
 Nutrient Solution
• Prepare 4 L / Plant/ Month
• Top up fresh water as and when require.
• Maintain TDS / Nutrient top up.
• Avoid direct sunlight on Nutrient.
• Check pH every day.

51
53
54
1. Expanded clay aggregate
2. Rock wool Mineral wool.
3. Coir peat ( coco peat )
4. Perlite
5. vermiculite
6. Growstones
7. Rice husks
8. Pumice
SUBSTARTE
9. Sand
10. Gravel
11. Wood fibre
12. Sheep wool
13. Brick shards
14. Polystyrene packing peanuts
55
SUBSTARTE
Expanded clay aggregate / LECA / ECA

56
SUBSTARTE
Rock wool /Mineral wool/ Stone wool.

57
SUBSTARTE
coco peat

58
SUBSTARTE
Perlite

59
SUBSTARTE
SUBSTARTE
Vermiculite

60
SUBSTARTE
SUBSTARTE
Growstones

61
SUBSTARTE
SUBSTARTE
Rice husks

62
SUBSTARTE
SUBSTARTE
Pumice/ Volcanic rock

63
SUBSTARTE
SUBSTARTE
Sand

64
SUBSTARTE
SUBSTARTE
Gravel

65
SUBSTARTE
SUBSTARTE
Wood fibre

66
SUBSTARTE
SUBSTARTE
Sheep wool

67
SUBSTARTE
SUBSTARTE
Brick shards

68
SUBSTARTE
SUBSTARTE
Polystyrene packing peanuts

69
HOW TO START ? Where to Start?
HOW TO START HYDROPONICS
• GERMINATION:
Coriander seeds divide in to two part before
germination
Coco Peat Disc
Coco Peat Disc
Grow Cube
Rockwool /Stone wool Cube
Ready For Transplant
Seed Germination Methods
1. Paper towel method : Home growers

2. Germination in Pro tray: Hobby and Professionals

3. Germination in Grow cube : Hobby and Professional

4. Germination in soil ( Not advisable)

Condition for seed germination

Humidity: 90 to 95%
Correct Temperature : 15 ˚C to 30˚C
Nutrient Rich Soil
Sunlight
Good Quality Seeds.
Seed Germination Box
Seed Germination chamber

82
Germination room

83
“Hardening or Conditioning”
Hardening is the process of conditioning a plant for growth outdoors. If plants
produced inside are planted outdoors without undergoing a hardening period,
their growth could be severely limited

84
Seed Germination Chart.
MAX SOAK SOAK
CROP Min C DAYs CROP MIN C MAX C DAYs
C (Hrs) (Hrs)
ASPARAGUS 24 35 10 LETTUCE 14 29 3
BEAN LIMA 29 29 6 MUSKMELON 32 38 4
BEAN SNAP 27 35 7 OKRA 35 41 6
BEETS 29 35 4 ONION 24 35 6
BROCCOLI 29 32 8 4 PARSLEY 24 32 13
BRUSSEL PARSNIP 18 29 14
SPROUTS 27 - 4
PEA 24 29 12 6
CABBAGE 27 38 4
PEPPER 29 35 8
CARROT 27 35 6
PUMPKIN 35 38 8 4
CAULIFLOWER 27 38 5
RADISH 29 35 4
CELERY 21 29 7
RUTABAGA 27 - 4
CHICORY 27 6
SPINACH 21 30 5
CHINESE
CABBAGE 27 - 4 SQUASH 35 38 4
CUCUMER 35 41 3 SWEET CORN 35 41 3
EGG PLANT 29 35 6
SWISS CHARD 29 35 4
ENDIVE 27 - 6
TOMATO 27 35 6
KALE 27 - 4
TURNIP 29 41 3
KOHLRABI 27 32 4
LEEK 21 32 7 WATERMELON 35 41 4
Mistakes
1. Old seeds or Non Viabale seeds.
• Always check expiry date or Best before date on Package
2. To Deep showing: 2 to 3 Time of depth
3. Starting from wrong soil ( Compact soil)
Full of pathogen
4. Wrong Temperature
5. Improper watering
6. Dirty or unsterile condition of seed tray
Fungal infection, damping off
Clean by H2O2, , Diluted blichig powder
7. Sunlight not require some times,Dark ,
CUTTINGS
• Plant cutting, also known as striking or cloning, is a technique
or vegetative (asexually) propagating plants in which a piece of the stem or root
of the source plant is placed in a suitable medium such as moist soil, potting
mix, coir or rock wool. The cutting produces new roots, stems, or both, and thus
becomes a new plant independent of the parent.
• Select a branch or stem that has at least 2 or 3 sets of leaves.
• Locate a spot on the branch between, or next to, a set of leaf nodes where your
cut will be made. (Leaf nodes are where the branches come out of the stem.)
Leave at least one set of nodes above the cut.
• Make a clean, neat, 45 degree slice with a razor blade or knife. It is important that
you do not damage the branch while handling.

87
CUTTINGS
Remove the lower 1 or 2 sets of branches (stems
and leaves), leaving the upper sets of leaves to be
placed above the soil or growing medium line.
Trim any flowers or buds that remain.
To prevent an air bubble (embolism) from lodging
in the stem where the cut is, immediately place in
a container filled with Cloning Solution or dip
in Cloning Gel. Place cutting into your gowing
medium – transfer quickly if you are not using the
Cloning Gel, If using the Cloning Gel, transferring
time is not as critical as the gel will seal the stem.
Completely coat the entire stem with
approximately 1 inch of the gel. Keep your
growing medium moist and warm Never
let your soil or growing medium dry out. Check
your growing medium daily and water
with Cloning Solution until roots appear. Transfer
cuttings once roots appear or
a strong root ball is established.
Nursery

90
QUESTION AND ANSWAR

91