Nutrients for Hydroponics and Tissue Culture

Learn about hydroponics, nutrient management, study how to make and manage nutrient solution

Course Code: SGH21

Fee Code: SG

Duration (approx) Duration (approx) 20 hours

Qualification Certificate of Completion

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Where are you located?

Within Australia
AUD $220.00inc GST

Outside Australia
AUD $200.00

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Delivery Method
   Online
   E-Learning (not available) (USB stick via post)
   Correspondence (not available) (Paper notes via post)

All prices in Australian Dollars.

Learn to prepare and manage different types of nutrient formulations in hydroponics.

Plant nutrition in hydroponics not a fixed science. Nutrient formulas and working strength solutions are tweaked and fine-tuned throughout plant life cycle.

In this course you will be able to :

understand different nutrient solutions
analyse the components of a solution
decide what is appropriate

Lesson Structure

There are 11 lessons in this course:

INTRODUCTION
- Artificial Growing
- Tissue Culture
- Hydroponics
- How Plants Uptake Nutrients
- How Plants Absorb and Use Nutrients in Hydroponics
- Hydroponics Techniques
PRE-PACKAGED NUTRIENTS
- Using Solid Nutrients
- Solutions and Precipitates
- Why Twin-Pack Chemicals?
- Why Single-Pack Liquid Solutions?
- Organic Solutions
CHEMICAL COMPONENTS
- Types of Chemicals
- Electrical Conductivity
- The Role of pH in Hydroponics
- What are Solutions?
- What Does a Hydroponic Nutrient Look Like?
- Writing Chemical Names
- Calculating the Amount of Nutrient in a Chemical
- Mixing Nutrients
- Hydroponic Fertiliser details
OTHER ADDITIVES
- Introduction
- Allowable Additives for Hydroponic Nutrient Solutions
- Beneficial Trace Elements as Hydroponic Additives
- Bio-stimulants as Hydroponic Additives
- Foliar Nutrition and Foliar sprays
CREATING HYDROPONIC NUTRIENTS
- Introduction to Basic Mixes
- Process of Making and Mixing Nutrients from Fertiliser Salts
- Example Solutions
- Nutrient Solution Formulation
- Hydroponic Nutrient Levels
- Nutrient Ratios
- Assessing a Nutrient Formulation
- Suggestions for Beginners
ORGANIC HYDROPONIC NUTRIENTS
- Brief History
- Issues with Organics
- Types of Organic Systems
- Allowable Nutrient Sources and Products for Organic Production
- Making Organic Nutrient Solutions Onsite
- EC and pH Control in Organic Hydroponics
- Problems with Organic Nutrients
TISSUE CULTURE NUTRIENTS
- Hydroponics vs. Tissue Culture
- Nutrient Supply in Tissue Culture
- A Tissue Culture Medium
- Other Additives in Tissue Culture and Hydroponics
- Organic Compounds
MANAGING CONTAMINANTS
- Water Quality
- Disinfection Systems
- Preventing Chemical Contaminants from Leaking into the Broader Environment
TESTING SOLUTIONS
- Important Tests in Hydroponics
- Water Quality Tests
- Water quality test results and interpretation
- Nutrient Balance Testing: Solution Analysis
- Plant Testing: Foliar Mineral Levels
- pH Tests for Hydroponics
- EC Testing
- Automatic EC and pH testing and control
NUTRITIONAL DISORDERS
- Nutrition Management
- Diagnosing Nutritional Stress
- Nutritional Deficiencies
- Macronutrients: NPK Deficiencies and Toxicities
- Other Common Deficiencies and Toxicities
- Micronutrients
- What are the Most Common Symptoms?
- Key to Detecting Deficiencies and Toxicities
NUTRIENT SOLUTION AND PRODUCE NUTRITION
- Examples of Nutrient Solution Manipulation and Produce Nutrition
- Final Assessment

Who is this course suitable for?

Commercial growers
Fertiliser Manufacturer and Suppliers
Home gardeners
Hydroponic shop manager and staff
Any other suppliers who service hydroponic farms or growers; and who need to develop a greater ability to understand and interact with hydroponic growers.
Horticultural consultants, teachers, or anyone else providing advice, who want to expand their knowledge into the area of hydroponics.
For someone who already understands the mechanics of hydroponics; or the growing of plants, but needs to learn more about how to provide appropriate nutrients.

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What Next?

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Course Contributors

The following academics were involved in the development and/or updating of this course.

Tutors

Meet some of the tutors that guide the students through this course.

Rosemary Davies

Originally from Melbourne, Rosemary trained in Horticultural Applied Science at Burnley, a campus of Melbourne University. Initially she worked with Agriculture Victoria as an extension officer, taught horticulture students, worked on radio with ABC radio (clocking up over 24 years as a presenter of garden talkback programs, initially the only woman presenter on gardening in Victoria) and she simultaneously developed a career as a writer.

She then studied Education and Training, teaching TAFE apprentices and developing curriculum for TAFE, before taking up an offer as a full time columnist with the Herald and Weekly Times and its magazine department after a number of years as columnist with the Age. She has worked for a number of companies in writing and publications, PR community education and management and has led several tours to Europe.

Alison Pearce

Alison brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to ACS Agriculture, Wildlife and Ecotourism students.

She has worked as a University Lecturer, a Quality Assurance Manager, a Research Technician, and has also run a veterinary operating theatre; responsible for animal anaesthesia, instrument preparation, and assistance with surgical techniques and procedures. She has worked in the UK, Australia and New Zealand.

She has extensive experience of handling, husbandry, and management of a wide range of both small and large animals and has a particular love for nature and wildlife.

Timothy Walker

Timothy is a Botanist, Horticulturist and Gardener. He is an Author, and also a lecturer at Somerville College, Oxford. After training at a number of gardens including Windsor Great Park and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Timothy commenced work at Oxford Botanic Gardens in 1986. Appointed as "Horti Praefectus" (Superintendent/Director) there in 1988, he held that position until 2014. Under Timothy's watch, the garden won four gold medals at the Chelsea Flower Show, and developed 67 acres of MG5 wild flower meadow at the Harcourt Arboretum; a UK threatened habitat. Timothy remains an active practical gardener as well as a highly respected international academic in the fields of horticulture and plant botany.

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Yes [the course was valuable]. I have been out of the greenkeeping industry for some time and the course was a good way to refresh my knowledge and also improve it, with new information. There was no pressure time wise and I received good support and encouragement from my tutor.

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