2nd Edition

Hydroponics A Practical Guide for the Soilless Grower

By J. Benton Jones, Jr. Copyright 2004
    438 Pages 84 B/W Illustrations
    by CRC Press

    Revolutionary hydroponic/soilless advances are being achieved by efficiently improving results with the application of new concepts, methods, and equipment. The new edition of a bestseller, Hydroponics: A Practical Guide for the Soilless Grower has been revised to reflect these advances with new chapters that provide essential information on greenhouse design, function, and methods for crop production and management. With approximately 40% additional material in the second edition, the book is a state-of-the-art, comprehensive guide.

    The second edition begins with the concepts of how plants grow and then describes the requirements necessary to be successful when using various hydroponic and soilless growing methods. The major focus is on the nutritional requirements of plants and how best to prepare and use nutrient solutions for different plants using various growing systems under a wide range of environmental conditions. Supported by a wealth of tables, figures, and nutrient formulas the book provides clear explanations of the advantages and disadvantages of each hydroponic growth system. Appropriate for a wide audience, this edition is a practical guide, overview, and handy reference for advanced hobbyists, commercial growers, and researchers.

    Introduction
    How Plants Grow
    Soil and Hydroponics
    The Plant Root: Its Roles and Functions
    The Essential Elements
    The Beneficial Elements
    The Nutrient Solution
    Systems of Hydroponic/Soilless Culture
    Systems of Hydroponic Culture
    Organic Media Soilless Culture
    The Hydroponic Greenhouse
    Hydroponic Cropping
    Diagnostic Testing Procedures
    Pest Control

    Biography

    J. Benton Jones Jr.

    "…helps clarify the existing confusion between hydroponics and soilless culture...I found the language style to be flowing yet disciplined enough not to read like a weekly periodical. …chapters have been kept deliberately short and to the point. Each chapter is nicely wrapped up in a short summary at the end and Benton Jones has made use of a plethora of modern references that all students of hydroponics will find helpful. …well worth having on any plant scientists' shelf."
    -Dean da Costa, in Science Direct, from the South African Journal of Botany, 2006