why growers prefer different organic medias as compared to soil in protected horticulture
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Answer:
Organic methods of plant production are of increasing interest to many growers of horticulture crops including greenhouse operators. Some greenhouses are seeking "organic certification" in the same way as farmers of edible crops and livestock. The purpose of this article is to review the current status of "organic" growing media and fertilizers for greenhouse crop production.
It is said that the true organic grower is seeking to produce crops in "balance" or "harmony" with their environment so that finding chemical pesticide and fertilizer substitutes will be unnecessary. I believe this might true in outdoor crop production, but in the rather unique greenhouse environment this might not be readily achieved.
The greenhouse environment is very effective at promoting rapid plant growth, as well as insects and diseases in a short time period. Greenhouse crops are grown in small volume containers and they are irrigated frequently with large volumes of water. The combination of rapid plant growth, limited root volume, and frequent leaching make fertility management a challenge without the use of water-soluble chemical fertilizers.
Right now, because of the special challenges of growing in the greenhouse, it may be difficult for a traditional greenhouse grower to quickly transform into an "organic grower" without first looking for substitutes.
Personally I've got no problem with looking for organically acceptable substitutes for the traditional soilless growing media and chemical fertilizers. I believe that finding substitutes may be about the only way for most greenhouse growers have in immediate future to get into organic growing and that's what this piece is about.