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FERTILIZER AND

NUTRIENTS IN
GREENHOUSE

Presentad By
Homayara Momotaz
st105600
Fertilizer is an organic and inorganic material of natural
or synthetic origin ( other than liming materials) that is
added to a soil supply one or more elements essential to the
growth of plants.

Nutrient:
A nutrient is a substance used in and organisms
metabolism or morphology which must be taken in from the
environment.

Greenhouse

Sophisticated structure providing ideal conditions for


satisfactory plant growth and production throughout the

year.
 Fertilizer and nutrient in greenhouse related some parameter .They are given
bellow:

Root media
Properties of root media
Root media Characteristic
Root media component
Manure &Compost
Essential element
Structural element
Role of essential element
Deficiency of essential element & other parameter.
 ROOT MEDIA:
 Root media plays an important role for the cultivation of
crops in pots as well as in the field, known as a growing media for
greenhouse cultivation .
 It must serve as reservoir for plant nutrients, hold water in
such a way that is easily available to the plant while providing the path for
exchange of gasses between roots and the atmosphere above the root
medium.
 It must also provide support to the plant.
 Properties of root media are:
 1.Stability of organic matter
 2.Maintenance of carbon: nitrogen ratio
 3.Keeping desirable bulk density
 4.Balance of pH level
 5..Higher level of cation exchange capacity
 Root Media:

 Important properties are given bellow:


1.Soil texture
2.Soil structure
3.Soil porosity
4.Bulk density
5. Cation exchange capacity(CEC)
6. Siol pH
7. Carbon : nitrogen ratio
8.Stability of organic matter
9.Moisture retention abd aeration
 COMPONENT OF ROOT MEDIA
1.Field soil
2.Sphagnum peat moss
3.Bark(0-10mm)
4.Rotted sawdust
5. Manure
6.Vermiculite
7. Calcined grade soil
8. Bark(10-19 mm)
9. Concrete grade soil
10.Perlite
11. Polystyrene
 MANURE AND COMPOST:
Farmyard manure ( FYM ) has been used in traditional siol
improvement.

The addition of FYM to soil results in increased organic matter


content , improved aggregation and water infiltration, decreased bull
density and soil crusting.
 Manure has a high CEC and thus serves as a good reservoir for
nutrients.
 It is a good source of nutrients also; thereby , micronutrient
deficiencies rarely occur when manure used.
 The chemical composition of manure varies , according to the
type of livestock, its management and the degree of composition.

Vegetables, fruit and ornamental crop have higher economic
value than other agricultural products. It is economically
viable and beneficial to grow horticultural crops in
greenhouse.
This valuable crops required 16 essential nutrient.
16 essential elements
Carbon(C)
Hydrogen(H)
Nitrogen (N)
Oxygen(O)
Phosphorous(P)
Potassium(K)
Calcium(Ca)
Magnesium(Mg
Sulfer(S)
Iron(Fe)
Manganese(Mn)
Zinc(Zn)
Copper(Cu)
Molybdenum(Mo)
Boron(B)
Chlorine(Cl

 13 Element usually refers to as

Mineral Elements/ Mineral Nutrients

And commonly divided in to 2 groups according to the quantities require to the plant growth.

 Macro Nutrient: N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S &


 Micro Nutrient: Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, M, B, Cl

Source of mineral element:

 Generally the growing media in naturally ecosystem mainly the


soil and to some extent atmospheric emissions(N)

 In general mineral elements are absorbed in ionic forms


dissolved in water.

 Several processes contribute to uptake of mineral elements and


their transport with in the plant.
 Structural element
 C, O, H
 This three are structural component in all organic compounds .
 More than 95%(w/w) Of the plant tissue (dry matter) consists
of this three element.
 C, H and O are largely supplied from
 Air( CO2, O2 and water vapor) and
 Water ( H and O dissolved component
 C is mainly fixed during photosynthesis from
atmospheric CO2
 Role of C, H and O :
 C ,H and O component of all organic compound.
 e.g: 1.Structural component,
 2.Enzyme
 3.Organic material etc.
C: component are generally sources for of all
metabolic processe
H: Electrochemical reactions maintaining charge
balances across cell membranes
O: Biological processes ( respiration)

Uptake mineral nutrients:


Mainly via root system by 3 different processes
 Interception
 Mass flow
 Diffusion
 Interception:
 The root system is growing toward the nutrients
 Mass flow:
 Soil solution is transported to the roots .
 Driving force transpiration of the plants.
 Diffusion:
 Nutrient diffuse to the root surface flowing concentration
gradient .
 Driving force active nutrient uptake to the plants.
 Transport mineral nutrient:
 Transportation of mineral nutrient is done by
 Xylem
 Phloem
Roles of mineral elements

N: important component in many compounds, e.g. Chlorophyll,
proteins, amino acids, DNA, RNA and various other organic
acids

 P: important for energy transfer processes within the plant and


as a component of nuclic acids („building blocks“ of genetic
code material)

 K: activator of various enzymatic reactions, control of cell


turgor (by K movement in and out the cells) and stomata
aperture.

 Ca: required for cell wall development, cofactor for many


enzymatic reactions, and involved in regulation and signalling
processes.
 Mg: central ion in the clorophyll molecule, cofactor for certain enzymatic
reactions

 S: component of certain amino acids and enzymes, possibly plays a role in


pollination

 Fe: component of certain enzymes, required for some enzymatic reacions


and chlorophyll synthesis

 Mn: activates or is involved in several enzymatic reacions (esp. For energy


transport processes) involved in the electron transport process in
photosynthesis

 Zn: involved in enzyme activation and required for the synthesis of an


important growth regulator.
 Cu: component of a protein in electron transport process in
photosynthesis and several enzymes

 Mo: component of two enzymes in N metabolism

 Understanding of the roles of Cl and B is not yet conclusive

 Cl: might be a counterion for K fluxes and plays a possible role in


photosynthesis

 B: seems to be important the development of meristematic plant


tissue
 Si: considered to strengthen the cell walls and increase the
resitance against plant diseases in certain plant species
Nutrient Deficiency and
Toxicity Symptoms in Fruit and
Vegetable Crops
 Nitrogen (N): Deficiency—
 Leaves turn pale green to
 yellow.
 Oldest leaves are affected first,
but in severe cases the whole

Plant Growth, Yield


plant may be yellow. Growth is
Opti
usually stunted. mal
 Excess—Nitrogen excess can Leve
Criti l Criti
 occur with high rates of nitrogen cal cal
fertilizer. Defi Toxi
 The result is usually cien city
cy Leve
 excessive vegetative growth and Leve l
poor fruit growth. l
Content of Mineral Nutrients in
Dry Plant Tissue
N deficiency in Bananas steam and leaf
Cucumber
Red veins in tomato leafs anAvocadod

 Phosphorus (P): Deficiency—


 Leaves appear reddishpurple.
 Oldest leaves are affected first.
Plant growth is stunted.
 Common in acid and alkaline soils
or those soils low in
nativephosphorus.
 Frequently occurs on cool wet soils
in the spring;
 . Excess—High rates of phosphorus
fertilizer may induce zinc and
iron deficienecy.
K deficiency in grape leafs
K deficiency resulting with cucumber leaf
bleaching

 Potassium (K): Deficiency—


Leaves develop gray or tan areas
near the margins.
Oldest leaves are affected first with
characteristic symptoms of
scorching around the leaf margins.
With K
Occurs on sandy soils and soils low
in native potassium.
 Excess—High rates of potassium
fertilizer can cause salt burn.
Soils with high potassium levels can
induce magnesium deficiency on
sandy soils.

Without K
Browning symptom in lettue and blossom
end rot in sweet pepper
 Calcium (Ca): Deficiency—
Growing points of plant may
 die.
 Younger leaves are affected.
 Root tips die and root growth
 is slow.
 Tipburn of cabbage, cauliflower,
lettuce; black heart of celery; and
blossom end rot of tomatoes are due
to localized calcium deficiency
within the plant.
 These disorders may occur
 on high calcium soils.
 Calcium deficiency may occur on
acid
 and/or dry soils.
 Excess—Not known to occur in
Minnesota
B deficiency in petunia

 Boron (B): Deficiency—


Usually occurs on younger plant
 tissue. Growing points die and
leaves appear distorted. May
 cause hollow stem and internal
browning in cauliflower and
 broccoli; cracked stem in celery;
internal browning in beets and
Fe deficiency in Marigolds, Petunia,
Cleome

Iron (Fe): Deficiency—


Yellowing between the veins
on youngest leaves;
veins remain green (often referred to as
interveinal chlorosis).
Occurs frequently on high pH soils (pH
greater than 7.2).
Excess—Rare. High levels of
iron may induce manganese deficiency.
Mo deficiency in poinsettia

 Molybdenum (Mo): Deficiency



 Pale distorted narrow
 leaves.
 Causes “whiptail” of
cauliflower. Can occur on acid
 soils (pH less than 5.0). Excess
—Rare.
Some other plant disorder

Injured roots due to high soluble salts


 Wilted leaves "flagging" on
geraniums
 Fertigation:
Fertigation is the combined application of (irrigation-)water and dissolved
(fertilizer-)nutrients.

 Basic Fertilizer Programs for Containerized Greenhouse Crops consider


following point:
 1.Fertilizer rate
 2.Fertilizer type
 3.Frequency of application
 4.Volume of fertilizer solution applied
 5.Leaching function
 6.Plant growth rate and environmental condition

 Fertigation is typically applied in protected cultivation,


mostly in combination with „soilless culture“
Advantages of Fertigation

 Nutrient requirements according to crop stages (teaspoon


feeding).
 More uniform distribution and closer to root system.
 Better availability of nutrients to plants.
 Nutrient uptake increases.
 Reduced application losses of nutrients by leaching.
 Less costly application labor.
 Application flexibility (time, weather, soil).
Fertigation Devices
 Pressure devices
Fertilization tank
Venturi injector

 Hydraulic Systems
Quantitative hydraulic pump
Proportional hydraulic pump

 Dosing units systems


Principles
Inline-Jet
Bypass-Jet
Fertigation Tank
Venturi Injector
Proportional Hydraulic Pump
Quantitative Hydraulic Pump
NMC 64/15 & Dosing System

The Netaget dosing unit ensures


outstanding accuracy,
homogeneous solution and
simplicity
User friendly controller
consisting of:
 Large graphic display
 Flexible hardware structure
 Suitable for Irrigation and
climate application
Dosing Units

 State of the art technology ensures


precise fertigation

 Unique hydro-mix technology

 Dosing channels based on Venturi


injector with no moving parts

 Quick action valves

 EC/pH measurement and control


 Open and closed fertigation systems:

 In both systems an excess of nutrient solution is provided to


prevent water- and nutrient deficiencies and salt accumulation
in the growing media

 Open fertigation system


 Excess nutrient solution (leachate) is discarded

 Closed fertigation system


Leachate is collected, filtered and resupplied into the system
(recycled)
 General prerequisites

 Secure sources (and emergency back up) for the supply of


 Energy
 Water of satisfactory quality
 Highly soluble fertilizers

 Possible sources for water supply:


 Surface water
 Ground water,
 Spring water
 Rain water (e. g. runoff of greenhouse roofs),
 Desalinated sea water or tap water
 If nenecessary, water must be treated before applcation
 Methods of water supply

 Standing nutrient solution


 shallow solution / deep solution (requires aeration)

 Circulating solution
 (e.g. Nutrient film technique „NFT“)

 Flooding systems
 (Single) dripper irrigation (applied to single plants / rows / areas)
Fertigation of

Protected Cultivation
 Fertigation control
 Parameters:
Water quantity (flow rate, duration)
Fertilizer concentration
Requirements for water and nutrient supply
mainly depending on
plant species / cultivar
plant age / developmental stage
irradiation / temperature
cultural practices● Manual Control

 Timer control
 Global radiation
 Substrate moisture
 Transpiration
 “speaking plant concept” Methods of fertigation control
Fertigation Concepts

Quantitive Fertigation
Proportional Fe rtigation
70
Quantity of Fertilizers

60
60

Quantity of Fertilizers
50
50
40 40

30 30

20 20
10 10
0 0
1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5
T ime minutes X10 T ime minutes X10
Nutrigation
 Nutrigation Concept

 Netafim’s Nutrigation™ Systems


offer farmers the
 Ability to have precise control
of nutrients delivery and
 Irrigation timing according to
the changing needs of the
plant
User Friendly Fertigation
Controllers
EC & pH Measurement and
Control Avantage
Nutrient recycling in Greenhouse

 Nutrient recycling is a practice Frequently applied in greenhouses.


 It maintain plant quality while keeping fertilizer use in check.
 It reduce leaching losses.
 Proper use of water and nutrient
 Better control of nutrient supply and reduce risk of ground water contamination.
Summary
Fertigation is one of the major foundations for a plant growth
 Optimal plant fertigation will include 16 elements
 Keeping accurate nutrient content is very important for optimal growth and
maximum yield
 Deficiency of nutrients could cause plants disorders
 Preventing fertigation disorders in Plants is based on good monitoring, keeping
proportional fertigation and choosing the proper fertigation system.
References

 1. www.extention.unm.edu/distribution/cropsystem/DC5886.html
 2. www.netaflim greenhouse.com
 3. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/BODY_CV265
 4 www.campus-geisenheim
 5. Book-Greenhouse Technology and Application by Vilas
M.Salokhe
 6.Book-Greenhouse Management for Horticultural Crop
Production
 7.Thesis paper-Development of a Greenhouse Nutrient Recycling
System
Thanks

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