Calcium and Boron have a close relationship in the plant. Their absolute concentrations and the relative ratio between the two affects how much of each can be absorbed. Both play an important role in growth points, or rather meristematic tissue. Although both these nutrients are not problematic in most crops, [...]
Seedling susceptibility to various climate conditions is important to growers, especially those wanting to venture into new crops. We all know that microclimate is crucial to seedling growth and time to maturity. I think climate is one of the most important aspects that has to be considered when deciding to [...]
The concentration of manganese (Mn) can vary significantly in re-circulating nutrient solutions. Crop uptake of manganese cannot be explained to this high variation and the only explanation is manganese oxidising bacteria or variation of pH of the nutrient solution. It is actually a combination of both manganese oxidising bacteria and [...]
Heating the nutrient solution in order to increase growth rate can provide growers an edge over competitors. This applies to all business categories. Heating up the nutrient solution can be complicated and expensive and that is where the competitive edge is. Not every grower has the ability to implement the technology [...]
Lets face it, lettuce is one of the fastest growing crops from transplanting to maturity. What makes it even more crucial is that the whole plant is harvested, unlike parsley or tomatoes where the harvest period can be extended. The great advantage is that more than one crop can be [...]
When it comes to fertigation programmes or recipes, most commercial growers have a good indication of what is required. The nutrient program is either obtained from the fertilizer company or it is a tried and tested custom mix. Quite often what these recipes do not indicate or provide, is the [...]
The ammonium/nitrate ratio in the nutrient solution is important since it can have a significant effect on the quality and total yields of the tomato crop. Both NO3- and NH4+ are the most important sources of nitrogen in the plant. The ammonium/nitrate ratio has only become critical, and a problem, since [...]
Tipburn in lettuce has been a problem since the first farmer planted lettuce. Any grower will at some stage have the problem occur to some extent on his farm during warmer periods. The classic tipburn symptom is necrosis of the tips of rapidly growing young leaves. Tipburn is visible externally [...]
An iceberg lettuce head that is solid will always sell. Just watch people buying lettuce, they always feel the compactness of the heads first and then look at the size. Compactness first then size. Getting a good iceberg lettuce with good head formation starts with a variety first for the [...]
