Disclaimer: Please note and abide by copyright laws. Some items contained in these presentations are taken from copyrighted material without express permission of redistribution. These slides are archived here for your use in educational activities. Although an educational use exemption would apply these presentations are catalogued here for educational purposes only. REF: Plant Health and Care

AQUAPONICS Plant Health and Care

Plant Health and Care Plants adapt to specific environments Plants grown outside parameters of optimal environment may survive but do not thrive; too far outside environmental parameters and the plant will die Individual species have specific nutritional needs Needs vary throughout life stages Ex: tomato plant needs more nitrogen during vegetative growth stages and less nitrogen during fruiting stages

Plant Health and Care Aquaponics; compromise between what plants, fish, and bacteria need Nutrients available to plants are directly proportional to the quantity of fish, size of fish, and the amount of fish food given to the fish Plant crops with similar needs together so the compromise is minimal Optimal conditions allow for optimal growth

Water Amount is species dependent Lack of water creates large but not very effective root structure and plant produced above ground will be small Roots sent out in search of water (grow towards water) Too much water will drown roots Flood and drain – brings fresh air to plant roots Raft – air stones supply sufficient air NFT – thin film of water keeps roots wet but not submerged Use pure water, water with possible toxic contaminants or salt may stunt or kill plants and fish

Temperature Common garden crops do best in daytime temperatures of 68°-78°F and nighttime temperatures of 58°-64°F Lower nighttime temperature physiological recovery; intensifies color and prolongs flower life Moisture loss Keep 10 to 15 degrees lower than day temperature Excessively low or high temperatures Plant failures Stop growth Spindly appearance Foliage damage

Humidity % of moisture in the air Evaporation of water from the fish tank helps to increase humidity around the grow bed If humidity is low increases by Misting the plants Grouping the plants close together Running a humidifier Greenhouses – evaporative cooling

Ventilation Circulation around leaves Aeration in root zone Poor ventilation encourages mold, mildew, and plant disease Commercial greenhouse large fans and air movement systems Regular air exchanges required for healthy plant growth

Reference Nelson, R. L. Aquaponic Food Production Raising Fish and Plants for Food and Profit. 2008. Nelson and Pade, Inc. Montello, WI. Pgs. 122-124. With contributions from John S. Pade