Nutrients for Hydroponics and Tissue Culture

Learn about hydroponics, nutrient management, study how to make and manage nutrient solution

Course Code: SGH21
Fee Code: SG
Duration (approx) Duration (approx) 20 hours
Qualification Certificate of Completion
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Learn to prepare and manage different types of nutrient formulations in hydroponics.

Plant nutrition in hydroponics not a fixed science. Nutrient formulas and working strength solutions are tweaked and fine-tuned throughout plant life cycle.

In this course you will be able to :

  • understand different nutrient solutions
  • analyse the components of a solution
  • decide what is appropriate

Lesson Structure

There are 11 lessons in this course:

  1. INTRODUCTION
    • Artificial Growing
    • Tissue Culture
    • Hydroponics
    • How Plants Uptake Nutrients
    • How Plants Absorb and Use Nutrients in Hydroponics
    • Hydroponics Techniques
  2. PRE-PACKAGED NUTRIENTS
    • Using Solid Nutrients
    • Solutions and Precipitates
    • Why Twin-Pack Chemicals?
    • Why Single-Pack Liquid Solutions?
    • Organic Solutions
  3. CHEMICAL COMPONENTS
    • Types of Chemicals
    • Electrical Conductivity
    • The Role of pH in Hydroponics
    • What are Solutions?
    • What Does a Hydroponic Nutrient Look Like?
    • Writing Chemical Names
    • Calculating the Amount of Nutrient in a Chemical
    • Mixing Nutrients
    • Hydroponic Fertiliser details
  4. OTHER ADDITIVES
    • Introduction
    • Allowable Additives for Hydroponic Nutrient Solutions
    • Beneficial Trace Elements as Hydroponic Additives
    • Bio-stimulants as Hydroponic Additives
    • Foliar Nutrition and Foliar sprays
  5. CREATING HYDROPONIC NUTRIENTS
    • Introduction to Basic Mixes
    • Process of Making and Mixing Nutrients from Fertiliser Salts
    • Example Solutions
    • Nutrient Solution Formulation
    • Hydroponic Nutrient Levels
    • Nutrient Ratios
    • Assessing a Nutrient Formulation
    • Suggestions for Beginners
  6. ORGANIC HYDROPONIC NUTRIENTS
    • Brief History
    • Issues with Organics
    • Types of Organic Systems
    • Allowable Nutrient Sources and Products for Organic Production
    • Making Organic Nutrient Solutions Onsite
    • EC and pH Control in Organic Hydroponics
    • Problems with Organic Nutrients
  7. TISSUE CULTURE NUTRIENTS
    • Hydroponics vs. Tissue Culture
    • Nutrient Supply in Tissue Culture
    • A Tissue Culture Medium
    • Other Additives in Tissue Culture and Hydroponics
    • Organic Compounds
  8. MANAGING CONTAMINANTS
    • Water Quality
    • Disinfection Systems
    • Preventing Chemical Contaminants from Leaking into the Broader Environment
  9. TESTING SOLUTIONS
    • Important Tests in Hydroponics
    • Water Quality Tests
    • Water quality test results and interpretation
    • Nutrient Balance Testing: Solution Analysis
    • Plant Testing: Foliar Mineral Levels
    • pH Tests for Hydroponics
    • EC Testing
    • Automatic EC and pH testing and control
  10. NUTRITIONAL DISORDERS
    • Nutrition Management
    • Diagnosing Nutritional Stress
    • Nutritional Deficiencies
    • Macronutrients: NPK Deficiencies and Toxicities
    • Other Common Deficiencies and Toxicities
    • Micronutrients
    • What are the Most Common Symptoms?
    • Key to Detecting Deficiencies and Toxicities
  11. NUTRIENT SOLUTION AND PRODUCE NUTRITION
    • Examples of Nutrient Solution Manipulation and Produce Nutrition
    • Final Assessment

Who is this course suitable for?

  • Commercial growers
  • Fertiliser Manufacturer and Suppliers
  • Home gardeners
  • Hydroponic shop manager and staff
  • Any other suppliers who service hydroponic farms or growers; and who need to develop a greater ability to understand and interact with hydroponic growers.
  • Horticultural consultants, teachers, or anyone else providing advice, who want to expand their knowledge into the area of hydroponics.
  • For someone who already understands the mechanics of hydroponics; or the growing of plants, but needs to learn more about how to provide appropriate nutrients.

 

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Course Contributors

The following academics were involved in the development and/or updating of this course.





Tutors

Meet some of the tutors that guide the students through this course.

Jan Kelly

Jan has around 50 years experience in horticulture, including over 20 years as owner/manager of a wholesale / retail nursery. She has worked in both Australia and New Guinea, in many different capacities, including as a horticultural consultant and landscape designer for domestic and development projects, with considerable experience in Conservation & Land Management. Jan has been a trainer of Amenity Horticulture and Landscape Design for 10 years.

Gaynor Hartley

Dip.Hort.Sc., Cert.Tiss.Cult., MAIH

Michael Brugman

Mike is a graduate of Rhodes University and has experience in the Earth Science field. His working experience includes working as a consultant in geology, environmental and atmospheric science.

More recently he has been focused on research and academia including research interests in areas such as air quality and carbon emissions.

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