Modelling mineral nutrition in greenhouse plants grown in soilless culture under saline conditions
Author(s)
Massa, Daniele
Date Issued
April 22, 2008
Type
Doctoral Thesis
Abstract
Horticultural crops are widely diffused in the world since the demand of fruits, vegetables and omamentals as well, is fundamental for the life of human beings and their health. This study is characterized by horticultural plant cultivation in soilless systems. Nowadays soilless is diffused and normally applied to many industriai cultures (tornato, cucumber, rose and others), especially in floriculture production. In hydroponic horticultural production, beside the risk of root pathogen infections, nutrient solution management remains the primary difficulty, especially when poor quality water is used (saline water). In fact under saline conditions ballast ions, such as Na and CI, build up in the recirculating nutrient solution (closed-Ioop systems) determining high EC (electrical conductivity) levels. Such conditions affect plant nutrition through ion competition and osmotic and toxic stress. As remarked by many authors, simulation models represent, among others, valuable tools for managing nutrient solution and plant nutrition, even in saline environments. This thesis focuses on plant nutrition modelling with particular emphasis towards soilless cultivation under saline conditions. To this purpose a certain number of models have been developed and their application has been statistically and experimentally (greenhouse cultivation) evaluated. Such models are able to predict, with satisfactory accuracy: i) the variation of the concentration of both nutrients and non-essential elements (such as Na+ and Cr) in the recirculating water of closed growing systems; ii) the uptake of nutrient and non-essential elements depending on the extemal salt concentrations. Although the structure of the thesis involves several concepts of mathematics, statistics and computer programming, nevertheless most of the work is based on physiological and biological assumptions derived from experimental observations. Such experiments have been carried out on roses (Rosa hybrida) and tornato (Solanum lycopersicum) plant during the period since 2005 to 2007. Finally, this work shows in which way modelling and simulation studies can be applied to plant fertilization and nutrient solution management giving actual examples of possible commerciai applications.
Additional information
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