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Designing Future-Proof Substrate for CEA
“I believe that Horticubes® AeroMax will be the most relevant substrate in the industry,” says Dr. Vijay Rapaka, global research manager at OASIS® Grower Solutions, a division of Smithers-Oasis Company, about Horticubes AeroMax. This substrate is engineered for the precision growing of young plants for hydroponic farming of leafy greens and compact plants.
OASIS Grower Solutions Launches Horticubes AeroMax
“I believe that Horticubes® AeroMax will be the most relevant substrate in the industry,” says Dr. Vijay Rapaka, global research manager at OASIS® Grower Solutions, a division of Smithers-Oasis Company, about Horticubes AeroMax. This substrate is engineered for the precision growing of young plants for hydroponic farming of leafy greens and compact plants.
OASIS Grower Solutions was established in the mid-1950s and began with the development of ornamental growing media. Fast forward to the present day and the company has expanded its product offering to meet the demands of the ever-developing horticultural industry, which now includes vertical farms and highly automated greenhouses. OASIS Grower Solutions currently has manufacturing locations in 20 countries and develops new products through in-house research and customer feedback. The company introduced its Horticubes line in the 1980s, then added Horticubes XL in 2011. Now, OASIS Grower Solutions introduces Horticubes AeroMax for the hydroponic production of leafy greens.
The benefits
When designing the Horticubes AeroMax substrate, OASIS Grower Solutions focused on what they consider to be the three cardinal rules of horticultural substrate development. Firstly, a substrate should allow the grower to propagate healthy, uniform, and vigorous young plants. The second rule is that a substrate should support growers in modulating crop growth by facilitating the acceleration or deceleration of growth, or the use of wet and dry cycles. Finally, substrates should be able to withstand automated processes. This, according to Vijay, is especially important in controlled environment agriculture as automation is becoming increasingly used.
“With more LEDs, IoT, and automated processes, we knew that we needed a substrate that allowed us to precise control of young plant growth. We needed a smart substrate exclusively designed for precision hydroponic farming,” says Vijay.
The Horticubes AeroMax is engineered according to these cardinal rules and is unique from other substrates in five main ways. As denoted in its name, AeroMax is a very porous media that enhances the oxygenation of the root zone so that seeds can germinate quickly and uniformly. According to Vijay, more air in the root zone also increases root health and root branching. AeroMax is also different in that the substrate is low-density, low-strength which makes the substrate light and airy. As a result, roots can easily penetrate the substrate and express their full potential without expending much energy.
“With hydroponics, we need the roots to get to the nutrients as soon as possible. We don’t want the substrate to be a barrier,” explains Vijay.
The third advantage of Horticubes AeroMax is the good drainage which virtually eliminates any chance of overwatering because the excess water easily drains out. This also means that growers can achieve maximum nutrient refreshment rates. Fourthly, OASIS Grower Solutions tested multiple substrate colors but eventually selected black as this allows growers to increase the surface temperature of the substrate by a few degrees, thereby accelerating crop growth. A final benefit of Horticubes AeroMax is the reduction in algae growth on the substrate surface as the high drainage rate ensures that the top surface is dry.
According to Vijay, “these five key features weren’t present in our previous substrates. Overall, we achieved in making a substrate that will respond well to controlled growing environments, allowing the precision production of plants.”
The target market for Oasis Horticubes AeroMax
Horticubes AeroMax was primarily developed for leafy green production in vertical farms and was engineered to be future-proof, according to Vijay.
“This industry is progressing with LEDs, IoT, automation, etc. We developed Horticubes AeroMax with all of this in mind and believe it will be the most relevant substrate in the industry.”
OASIS Grower Solutions is currently developing Horticubes AeroMax applications for high-wire products and has another product coming to the floriculture industry.
For more information:
Vijay Rapaka, Global Research Manager
OASIS Grower Solutions
https://oasisgrowersolutions.com/aeromax
Publication date: Wed 16 Jun 2021
Author: Rebekka Boekhout
© HortiDaily.com
ARGENTINA: Substrate Cultivation And Hydroponics: A Technology on The Rise
“It was found that with hydroponics, productivity and profitability are increased between 30 and 50%, due to the greater efficiency in the use of the surface and natural resources, and it reduces the use of agrochemicals”, Analía Puerta, coordinator National of the “Tierra Sana” Project, carried out by INTA together with UNIDO (United Nations Organization for Industrial Development), within the framework of the Montreal Protocol
INTA, together with national universities, producers, and companies, promotes this production system that has grown in the last 5 years as an efficient and sustainable alternative. During 2021, the institution will be part of the organization of the Virtual International Symposium that will bring together the main national and international referents on the subject.
The cultivation in substrate and hydroponics consists of the production of vegetables without the use of the soil, for this reason, they are also called "cultivation systems without soil". When the roots develop in water it is called "hydroponics" and, when they do so in a solid medium, different from the soil, "substrate cultivation", using a great diversity of substrates and/or mixtures of them.
It is a production system that arises from the high degradation of soils, as a consequence of unsustainable management and inadequate practices, which is on the rise among producers as an alternative. This will be one of the topics that will be addressed on March 30 and April 6 and 8, 2021 in virtual form at the International Symposium on Substrate Culture and Hydroponics.
“It was found that with hydroponics, productivity and profitability are increased between 30 and 50%, due to the greater efficiency in the use of the surface and natural resources, and it reduces the use of agrochemicals”, Analía Puerta, coordinator National of the “Tierra Sana” Project, carried out by INTA together with UNIDO (United Nations Organization for Industrial Development), within the framework of the Montreal Protocol.
"In Argentina, the system began to be implemented more than 20 years ago in the ornamental sector, and it grew considerably in the last 5 years, extending to other sectors such as horticulture, citrus, and even for the production of green forage", underlined Puerta.
Along these lines, the most important productions in the hydroponic system correspond to leafy vegetables, such as lettuce, arugula and chard and, in the substrate system, the cultivation of tomatoes, strawberries and, to a lesser extent, peppers stands out.
In addition, the coordinator highlighted, “the well-being of workers is increased, since it improves the ergonomics of all operations, especially those of harvest, and the borders of the productive regions are expanded, allowing production in areas not suitable for cultivation, either due to health problems or the high real estate value of the surface ”.
Another benefit of these techniques is to allow access to fresh vegetables in specific situations, such as in places where the soil is not suitable for production, or directly where there is no soil, such as patios, terraces, landfills, contributing additionally to the promotion of short circuits of production and commercialization of vegetables.
According to Puerta, "it is important to highlight that this production alternative can be adapted to different production levels, from family farming to small, medium and large companies."
Puerta: "In Argentina, the system began to be implemented more than 20 years ago in the ornamental sector, and has grown considerably in the last 5 years".
This production system has established itself as a technology of recognized efficiency and massive implementation in developed and highly technical countries, such as Japan, the Netherlands, Spain and the United States.
According to data from 2015, the world area of crops under this production system (hydroponics and substrate) reaches 40 thousand hectares, with the Netherlands being the country with the largest covered area, with 5 thousand hectares, Spain with 2,500, Belgium and the United Kingdom with 2,000, Japan 1,500, as well as China, France 1,000, Israel 750, Canada 500 and the United States 250 hectares.
"Currently, there are productions of this type in all provinces of the country and, not only in traditional production areas, but there is a massive growth in urban areas," said the coordinator of "Tierra Sana". Along these lines, he added: "With this system the producer becomes independent of the quality of the soil and when the production is carried out undercover, the environmental conditions can be modified, especially the temperature, light intensity, and humidity of the environment".
Nowadays, there are commercial and self-consumption productions from the north to the south of the country, including promising experiences for the supply in the Argentine Antarctica. "In this sense, INTA has been contributing to the consolidation of this production alternative, through numerous research and extension activities carried out by agents from the different units of the country," said Puerta.
To date, there have been countless workshops and training courses and demonstration plots of strawberries and vegetables have been installed in the main productive areas of the country, promoted by the “Tierra Sana” project, in cooperation with units referring to the subject, and together to companies, producers and universities.
On the other hand, it should be noted that the development of these activities is part of the sustainable development goals ("SDG") outlined by current public policies according to the guidelines of the United Nations (UN) and being prioritized on the agenda. 2020-2030.
It is a production system that arises from the high degradation of soils, as a consequence of unsustainable management and inadequate practices, which is on the rise among producers as an alternative.
International Symposium
Currently, INTA is organizing an International Symposium on Substrate Culture and Hydroponics together with 5 universities in the country (UBA, UCC, UNLu, UNLP, UNNOBA), within the framework of the 41st Argentine Congress of Horticulture (ASAHO).
The event will take place on March 30 and April 6 and 8, 2021 in virtual form. It will have the participation of national and international referents who will speak about the latest advances in the field and exchange knowledge with the participants, productions from Argentina and other countries will be visited through virtual tours and there will also be a space for the presentation of scientific and Of disclosure.
Their reception is already open and is until December 31st. There are different registration modalities in order to offer a wide range of possibilities to participants.
"Through all these activities, it is hoped to be able to contribute to the consolidation of a scientific, technical and productive network that includes actors from the public and private sectors around the production of food in an efficient and sustainable way", concluded Puerta.
VIDEO: Five Tips On Hydroponic Substrates
This video is part of the series called “Five Tips for Horticulture” featured on the Greenhouse Training Online channel (https://tinyurl.com/ufgto). The series highlights technical topics from university and industry experts
Dr. Paul Fisher from the University of Florida IFAS Extension interviews Shawn Mallen from A.M.A. Horticulture in a new YouTube video where they discuss the different commercial substrates most commonly used in hydroponic production, the importance of air porosity, and compaction of substrates.
This video is part of the series called “Five Tips for Horticulture” featured on the Greenhouse Training Online channel (https://tinyurl.com/ufgto). The series highlights technical topics from university and industry experts. Subscribe to receive upcoming videos on topics such as growing media, vermicompost, and running successful trials. The channel is sponsored by the Floriculture Research Alliance (floriculturealliance.org).
For more information on hydroponics, take the UF IFAS Extension online course for growers on Hydroponic Vegetable Production beginning on November 9 (https://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/training/) in English and Spanish.
For more information:
UF/IFAS
www.ifas.ufl.edu
2 Nov 2020
MANILA: A Farm In Zambales Has A Competitive Edge In The Market Through Hydroponics
Due to the rise of urban gardening, homeowners, especially those who have limited space for gardening, are looking for ways to grow their own food. Many try vertical or container gardening while others practice hydroponics or the process of growing plants without soil but rather in nutrient-filled sand, water, or gravel
September 4, 2020
Due to the rise of urban gardening, homeowners, especially those who have limited space for gardening, are looking for ways to grow their own food. Many try vertical or container gardening while others practice hydroponics or the process of growing plants without soil but rather in nutrient-filled sand, water, or gravel.
Zennor Hydroponics Farm in Palauig, Zambales also practices hydroponics because of its efficiency in all aspects of farming.
“Using a hydroponic system in a farm works because aside from being able to plant a lot in a small space, it can save a lot of money since you don’t need a lot of manpower to tend to plants as the system takes care of the watering while the nutrient solution provides the vitamins and minerals for the plants’ growth,” said Zennor Hydroponics Farm proprietor Raffy Pagaling during the second episode of AgriTalk 2020 aired on Facebook by the Agricultural Training Institute in partnership with Manila Bulletin and Agriculture Online.
Pagaling added that using a hydroponic system in growing food can generate 20 to 25 percent more produce as compared to planting in soil. Moreover, the process is faster which makes a good return in investment.
An example of a hydroponic technique that the farm uses is the Dutch Bucket System or Bato Bucket system. This system, as its name implies, uses buckets as the core of its growing method. It’s also a variation of the ebb and flow method which works by periodically flooding and draining the plants with nutrient solutions.
“In our farm, we use it to grow fruit-bearing vegetables like cucumber, tomatoes, okra, etc.,” Pagaling said.
Pagaling posing with English cucumbers harvested from his farm.
He added he chose to grow this specific variety of cucumbers that through this method, the farm manages to grow English cucumbers which weigh 500 to 600 grams per fruit.
“This is an advantage of using hydroponics; it can produce better crops in terms of size and quality,” Pagaling said.
From a hundred cucumber plants, Pagaling manages to harvest 278 kilos of English cucumbers which he affirms are crunchy, juicy, and superb in quality. These cucumbers are then sold at P165 per kilo.
Another hydroponic technique that Zenno Farm uses is the rockwool or hydrowool. This method, according to Pagaling, is a soilless medium that serves as the backbone of the farm because all their seeds such as okra, tomatoes, and more are planted on this material.
The farm grows their seedlings in a soilless medium called rockwool.
Rockwool is a lightweight hydroponic substrate made from molten basaltic rock which is then spun into fine fibers to create products such as cubes and blocks. When hydrated, these cubes have a ratio of 80 percent water and 20 percent air, making it difficult to overwater the plants growing in this material.
When ready, seedlings can be easily transplanted from the rockwool to the preferred growing medium.
Other hydroponic methods used on the farm
Since Zennor Hydroponics Farm grows their crops without using soil, they have more than two methods that they follow especially if they want to make the most of their space.
First is the NFT system where the crops are planted in very shallow water that contains all the dissolved nutrients required for plants to grow. These nutrients are re-circulated past the bare roots of plants in a watertight channel.
Zennor Farm’s NFT system allows them to maximize space and even plant different vegetables all at once.
“We have our own version of the NFT system which can accommodate 320 green leafy vegetables and it is the biggest system that we have [on the farm] with an area of 10 feet by six feet,” Pagaling said.
He added that aside from being suitable for most leafy greens, the NFT system keeps their vegetables fresh, even if it’s already been ripe for two weeks or so.
In addition, this system can hold different kinds of leafy vegetables at the same time.
Next is the Wick System. This is the simplest way to grow vegetables without any electricity and can be done by anyone from seven years old and above.
The Wick System is the simplest way to grow vegetables without electricity.
“Any material can be used to create this kind of hydroponic system. It doesn’t require electricity because its main component is stagnant water, but it’s a very efficient way of farming because it can grow plants within 30 days with little supervision. Plus, it keeps it fresh even if you’re away for a long period of time,” Pagaling said.
He added that the Wick System can also be done indoors provided that they are supported with artificial lighting.
An indoor setup is also possible with the Wick System.
The farm even has a small greenhouse where they use the Dutch Bucket system, the Wick type, and the NFT method at the same time to grow crops that are fit for personal consumption.
Zennor Hydroponics Farm has a greenhouse measuring 12 feet by 14 feet and is planted with 700 lettuce and 72 fruit-bearing vegetables.
“With an area of only 12 feet by 14 feet, we still managed to plant here 700 lettuce and 72 fruit-bearing vegetables like cherry tomatoes. But since it produces more than we need, we sell the excess to neighboring towns, friends, families, and neighbors,” Pagaling said.
By using hydroponics in growing food, he added that one need not worry about the sustainability of a farm or garden because the system can run all-year-round, making it suitable for almost every kind of crop.
Much like Pagaling said, there are many benefits that can be reaped from using a hydroponic system. He hopes that his farm can set an example and inspire more people to try out this innovative farming technique.