Photo courtesy of U of A System Division of Agriculture
The root zone — the area surrounding a plant’s roots — must provide the right balance of water, nutrients and oxygen for plants to thrive. An upcoming webinar series will provide controlled environment agriculture growers with the latest research to get the mix right, along with other aspects of root zone management.
The series, consisting of four webinars this summer, is coproduced by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture and the Root Alliance, a multi-state coalition of controlled environment agriculture researchers.
“We saw the need in industry for more research focused on tackling core issues centered on root zone management in controlled environment horticulture, which includes greenhouse and hydroponic production food, medicinal and ornamental crops,” said Ryan Dickson, controlled environment agriculture researcher for the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, the research arm of the Division of Agriculture, and assistant professor with the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences.
Hydroponics is a soilless method of growing plants, typically through a liquid-based nutrient solution or another medium to support the root system.
Along with Dickson, other cofounders of Root Alliance include Paul Fisher and Jeb Fields of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences; Celina Gómez of Purdue University; Rhuanito Ferrarezi of the University of Georgia; and Rosa Raudales of the University of Connecticut.
The four webinar sessions will take place between June and August. Each will be held at 1 p.m. EDT:
June 9: “Understanding the Risks of Low-Quality Water and Water Treatment Design,” presented by Raudales.
June 16: “Customizing Recirculated Hydroponic Solutions,” presented by Dickson.
July 21: “Cold Plasma and Ozone for Water Sanitation,” presented by Fisher.
Aug. 7: “Stratified Substrates in Container Nursery Crops,” presented by Fields.
Each webinar is $20, but there is a 50% discount if registering for all four. Those interested can click here to register online.
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