Development of ornamental plants modules based on outdoor hydroponics

Transcription

1 Development of ornamental plants modules based on outdoor hydroponics Moustafa A. Fadel; Shyam Kurup; Ismail M. Ewis Department of Aridland Agriculture, College of Food and Agriculture, UAEU

2 Outdoor Hydroponic Concept Quality Controlled water to be maintained in the system which depends on soilless growth media. Typically used indoor to reduce environmental impact on farmed plants Major water quality parameters, ph, Ec, Nutrient solution composition Equipped with filters to keep the water clean and UV is necessary in order to maintain biological purity

3 The Need for Outdoor Hydroponics Traditional landscape consumes considerable amounts of water Urban green buildings helps to : Reduce temperature Cut AC cost Improve air quality Acting as sound barriers Improve human wellbeing

4 Challenges and Concerns Under such harsh environment of the GCC Extremely hot summer (affects both plants and growth media), heat accumulation in the growth system Sand storms Almost no rains Water consumption which is already expensive and scarce Biological contamination Maintenance

5

6 Turfgrass Sods In Hydroponics

7 The Developed System

8 Material and methods Water and Nutrients Drip emitters used as the plant feeding, we were irrigating 10 minutes per day in two sessions each dripper is emitting 100 ml per plant per 1 minute. PH of water was 6.7 and EC was 1.5ms. TNS Glass wool where us and the insulator for the hall system : by thickness of 25mm, aluminum foil facing Four varieties of Ornamentals Plants was transplanted to the system and was placed inside the holes that was drilled in the pipes and that had been filled with Rockwool, Plants grown in the letters of the logo : Vinca white 1 : 20 plants of Vinca was planted in the first letter U1. Gomphrena : 24 plants was planted in the second letter A. Portulaca :20 plants is planted on the third letter E in the system Vinca Red 2 : 20 plants was planted

9 Vinca White

10 Gomphrena

11 Portulaca

12 Vinca Red

13 Measured Parameters Temperature Ambient Plant canopy Water Root zone Water quality changes Rockwool quality changes Plant health, conditions and survival

14 Temperature(s)

15 EC, ms Water Quality Original water EC, 1.5 Water ph, EC Ph Date 6/11 6/18 6/25 7/2 7/17 7/27 8/11 Date 6.4

16 mg/l Water Quality Chart Title Original Water N,P and K is mg/l K mg/l P mg/l /11 6/19 6/27 7/5 7/13 7/21 7/29 8/6 8/14

17 ph Changes of Rockwool Quality Changes of Rockwool Chemical Properties Original EC, 39.9 ms Original ph, PH EC, ms /11 6/18 6/25 7/2 7/17 7/27 8/11 8/15 22/9 Date 0

18 N K mg/l P mg/l /11 6/18 6/25 7/2 7/17 7/27 8/11 8/15 22/9 K mg/l P mg/l N mg/l

19 Plant Survival Dead plants Health H H H H H Good Meduim nutrient deffeciency symptoms Gomphrena 24 Hight Dead Plants Health H H H H H H Good Good meduim Portulaca 20 Height Dead Plants Health H H H H H H H Good Good Good Good Good Vinca Red 20 Height Dead Plants Health H H H H H H Good Meduim meduim

20 Conclusions & Recommendations It is possible to have outdoor greenery using the hydroponics technique even under hot summer conditions in the UAE Potulaca survived till the end of the experiments ( almost 4 months) where tall Vince and Gomphrena and Vinca were dead by the end of July Rockwool properties are changing dramatically due to heat, yet it still can support plant growth Zero energy water cooling to be tested in order to reduce irrigation water temperature and educe root zone temperature More research is needed in order to solve problems such as heat and maintenance It is important to study the biological contamination

21 Thank You