Soil
Pore space is made up of what?
water and air
Ingredients of soil?
Lime, Peat Moss, Perlite, Tree Bark, Fertilizers, Vermiculite
what is the ideal soil pH level
5.6 - 7
How to monitor for pests?
Inspect the plants and facilities regularly, sticky cards
what does IPM stand for and what does IPM do?
Integrated pest management and Elimination of pest by other methods than chemicals.
What are the mineral particles in ideal soil compositions?
Sand, Silt, Clay
ways to help with moisture retention? and ways to help with drainage?
moisture retention - Mulch, Organic
drainage - Organic Matter or Raise Plant Beds, Add Sand
What are the major nutrients and what do they do?
Nitrogen(N) - Encourages above ground vegetation, green coloring, Regulates the use of other nutrients
Phosphorus(P) - Forms flowers and Seeds, Root Growth, Disease Resistance, Cell Division
Potassium(K) - Also helps with disease resistance, Uses CO2, Roots
How do you prevent pests?
Inspect the plants before bringing into the greenhouse
Clean and disinfect Greenhouse in between crops
Repair the greenhouse
Standing Water, get rid of it
Mow the grass around it
what are cultural practices?
Related to management of the greenhouse; Weed control, plant spacing, correct environmental conditions, Sanitation
Three natural factors for plant success.
1. Sunlight
2. Moisture
3. Soil Conditions
What is humus?
Compost; Increasing the water holding capacity and good bacteria
How to change soil acidity? More acidic and less acidic
More acidic - Lime
Less acidic - Sulfur, Aluminum Sulfate
what are the descriptions for aphids, fungus gnats, shore flies.
Aphids - Soft bodied, Green, Colonies/Groups, Piercing/Sucking Damage
Fungus Gnats - Small Black, Fly like, Long Legs
Shore Flies - Smoky wings with spots, Red Eyes
What are Physical/Mechanical Controls?
Related to buildings and equipment; screens, ventilation, sticky cards
Clay - smallest, poor drainage
Silt - middle
Sand - Largest, drains the fastest
Ideal Soil - a combination of all three particles.
ways you can help with disease control?
Pasteurize the soil; Purchase resistant varieties, Use chemicals to treat, but not too much so they build a resistance
Signs of deficiency?
Nitrogen - Yellow or Green, Weak Stem
Phosphorus - Purple Coloring, Diseased Plants
Potassium - Rust or Brass Color, Leaf and Root Damage
what are the descriptions for thrips, whiteflies, and mites?
Thrips - Slender Bodied, Very Small, 2 sets of wings, Long Hair
Whiteflies - Appears orange on sticky cards, White around the plants
Mites - Can’t see the mites, can see damage on leaves and stems, speckled/mottle appearance, webbing
What are Chemical Controls?
Pesticides as needed; Targeted is best
What is gravitational and capillary water?
Gravitational - Unable to fight gravity; flows through the soil; Not usable by plants
Capillary - Can fight against gravity, Water is held by the soil; Usable to the plants
Pros and cons of bagged soil
Pros - Mixed/Uniform throughout, sterile, lighter/easy to carry, moisture retention
Cons - Nutrition and mineral content can be low, Containers can blow over
Above ground environmental factors. temp, light, humidity, diseases, insects, and gasses
Temp - Some plants need it cooler and some plants need it warmer
Light - All plants require it for photosynthesis
Humidity - When it’s too high fungus and disease can occur, too low means it can dry out
Diseases - Death and damage
Insects - Death and Damage
Gasses - Need carbon dioxide to fuel food production
what are the descriptions of cutworms, cabbages looper, leaf miners, and mealybugs
Cutworm - Immature stage of a moth; looks like worm or caterpillar, Root Damage
Cabbages Looper - Pale Green Worm; two pairs of pro-legs; Leaf damage
Leaf miners - Larvae of small flies, Feed on the leaf surfaces, Light colored flies
Mealybugs - Soft Bodied, Feed on Plant Sap, Grey/White Spots, leave behind thick layer of honeydew, turns into mold
What are Biological Controls?
Using living organisms; Parasitic Insects, Predatory mites, nematodes