Nutrient solution management for greenhouse tomatoes : a multiple-case study : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Applied Science at Massey University
Loading...
Date
2006
DOI
Open Access Location
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Massey University
Rights
The Author
Abstract
Nutrient solution released from hydroponic greenhouse operations has been considered as a potential
pollution source by New Zealand regional authorities. The Management of Nutrient Solutions
Released from Greenhouses: A Code of Practice (COP) is designed to assist New Zealand
greenhouse growers in managing nutrient solution release in hydroponic systems to comply with The
Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) and regional resource plans prepared by regional authorities
to ensure that their constituents act appropriately. A multiple-case study was designed to investigate
the nutrient solution management and disposal practices of New Zealand hydroponic greenhouse
tomato growers and, further, to investigate whether or not these practices meet the guidelines set out
in The Management of Nutrient Solutions Released from Greenhouses: A Code of Practice. Three
hydroponic greenhouse properties that represent the current New Zealand greenhouse tomato
industry were selected as case studies. How the greenhouse growers manage nutrient solution in
these greenhouses was investigated by interviewing the growers. The results show that none of the
case study growers fully met the guidelines given in the COP. However, recirculating growers manage
nutrient solution better than do the run-to-waste grower in terms of reducing nutrient solution
discharge frequency. They release less volume of nitrogen into the environment per 1000 kg of
tomato produced in their recirculating growing systems. The research results indicate that high-technology
recirculating grower could better satisfy the requirements set out in the COP. Low-technology
run-to-waste growers are unlikely to meet those requirements due to their system design.
Therefore, adopting a recirculating growing system is considered as a trend of the industries in the
future.
Description
Keywords
Hydroponics, Tomatoes, Greenhouse management