Commercial Hydroponic Crop Production
This is a short course that will enable participants to understand the basic principles of commercial hydroponic and greenhouse crop production.
Course Type
Short-Course (for day and/or night delivery) and can be delivered at Certificate II, III or IV level as required.
Cost
POA
Location
Various
Facilitator
Graeme Smith Consulting
COURSE MODULES
There are 23 modules (with three others under development)
Nominal Duration
2.5 hours per module (approx)
MODULE TITLES
1. Location, Siting and Layout
On completion of this module, participants will be able to assess a site for suitability for hydroponic growing, and design a basic site layout plan.
- Location and Siting
- Climate, Topography and Aspect
- Surrounding Site Vegetation
- Services Availability
- Land Zoning and Permits
- Site Security
- Proximity to Markets
- Layout of Facility Requirements (packing shed, plant room, fertigation room, general office, etc)
- Relationship and Positioning of Structures
2. Greenhouse Structures and environmental Management
On completion of this module, participants will be able to identify basic greenhouse structure types and their application, and understand the principal factors affecting environmental management.
- Greenhouse Types
- Single-Span and Multi-Span Igloo
- Single-Span and Multi-Span Gable
- Skillion
- Sawtooth
- Gothic Arch
- Dutch Venlo
Principal Factors Affecting Greenhouse Design Developments and Environmental Management
- Greenhouse Environment and Plant Microclimate
- Shape, Height, Ventilation and Covering Materials
- Managing the Greenhouse Environment
3. Water quality, EC and PH
On completion of this module, participants will be able to assess water quality, characteristics of different treatment systems and their application, and understand the principal factors involving EC and pH.
- Water Quality and Treatment Systems
- Aspects of Water Quality
- Water Treatment Systems
- Principle Factors affecting EC and PH
- Conductivity of Nutrient Solutions
- pH of Nutrient Solutions
4. Basic Hydroponic Systems
On completion of this module, participants will be able to identify basic hydroponic system types and their application, and understand the principal factors affecting hydroponic systems.
- System Types
- Open Systems
- Closed Systems
- Principal Factors affecting hydroponic systems
- Root Zone Environment
- Oxygen
- Temperature
- Capital, Installation and Running Costs
- Maintenance Required
- Crop Changeover Management
- Hygiene
- General Management
5. Crop Varieties, Media Types and Characteristics
On completion of this module, participants will be able to assess crop varieties, media types, characteristics, and their application, and understand the principal factors affecting their selection.
- Commercial Crop Varieties
- Flowers
- Vegetables
- Principal Factors affecting media selection
- Media Characteristics
- Media Types
6. Plant Structure, Nutrition and Nutrient Management
On completion of this module, participants will be able to assess plant structure, photosynthesis, nutrition, characteristics of different root-zone factors and their application, and understand the principal factors involving Nutrient Management (including basic formula calculations).
- Plant Structure
- Plant and Flower Parts
- Photosynthesis, Respiration/Transpiration
- Plant Nutrition
- Root-Zone Factors and Solutions
- Water and Nutrient Uptake
- Nutrient Management
- Solutions for Closed and Open Systems
- Irrigation Control Methods
- Basic Formulae Calculations
7. Common Pests, Diseases and IPM
On completion of this module, participants will be able to assess common pests and characteristics of different diseases, and understand the principal factors involving Integrated Pest Management
- Common Pests and Weed Management
- Common Diseases
- Fungi
- Bacteria
- Viruses
- Nematodes
- Integrated Pest Management
8. Quality Assurance, OH&S, IT and Production Plan
On completion of this module, participants will be able to assess QA and OHandS programs, appreciate the management benefits of Information Technology and develop their own Production Plan
- Quality Assurance
- SQF 2000 Quality Code
- Occupational, Health and Safety
- Sample OH&S Policy
- Information Technology
- Sample IT Files
- Develop a Production Plan
- Production Scheduling Time-Line
9. Light, a plant's eye view
Explores the way light interacts with horticultural crops and its connection to plant physiology and environmental management
10. Irrigation, media's manager
Explores the impact irrigation strategies have on growing media and crop production (includes EC, pH, Water Content and Drain%)
11. Crop Registration, a professional approach to growing
Explores the monitoring, recording and responding approach to good crop balance (includes "reading" a crop and tools to change)
12. Plant Management, physical and cultural requirements
Explores best-practice techniques for best production (includes crop management planning, pollinating, de-leafing, truss pruning, cluster treatment, tying up, layering, picking, etc.)
13. Recirculation, How to convert to a closed system
Explores how to convert a media based free-drainage system to a recirculation system. Demonstrates how growers can easily save 40+% on water use, 40+% on fertilizer use, maintain a balanced root-zone nutrition and become environmentally sound and responsible.
14. CO2 enrichment of greenhouses
Explores the benefits, costs, geometry and equipment required to correctly enrich a greenhouse with carbon dioxide for maximum crop growth and quality.
15. Practical EC and pH Measurements in Crops
Explores the best-practice methods of pH and EC monitoring (inc measurement and recording techniques) and contains a sample testing schedule.
16. Implement a Hydroponic Maintenance Program
Monitor plant health, monitor the Hydroponic environment, monitor the nutrient solution, perform routine maintenance checks, maximising greenhouse efficiency and energy conservation.
17. Implement a Plant Establishment Program
Explores crop selection, plant populations, seedling propagation and marketing requirements
18. Implement a Pests and Diseases Control Program for Hydroponic Systems
Explores common pests and diseases of hydroponic systems and a suitable spray system for greenhouses crops
19. Implement an IPM Program
Explores IPM strategies for greenhouse crops and how to implement bio-controls to control common greenhouse pests (ie. spider mites, whitefly, thrips, fungus gnats, aphid, russet mite, broad mite, caterpillars, etc)
20. New Greenhouse Investment and Technology Considerations
Explore typical greenhouse technology, their costs and why they are used. Compare typical system prices for 1,000 and 10,000m2, and a Cost of Production worksheet for growers to calculate their costs versus income. (ie. profit and/or loss expressed in both $/kg and $/m2)
21. Implement a Plant Nutrition Program
Gain skills in monitoring system EC and pH levels, determine plant nutritional problems, prepare fertilisers for use and apply specific fertiliser recipes and application rates
22. Crop Protection Principles
Explore best practice techniques in chemical (and other) in crop protection using dripping, spraying/fogging/LVM, dusting, sulphur evaporators, traps (lamps, lights, glue, pheromones), calculating horizontal and vertical spraying speed and the characteristics of a good greenhouse or hydroponic spray system
23. Operate Pressurised Irrigation Systems
Learn to operate a pressurised irrigation system, implement an irrigation program, monitor irrigation test stations and perform maintenance of irrigation systems
Training Modules currently under development!
24. Select chemicals and biological agents
25. Participate in a virtual community
26. Monitor weather conditions