Module 1  Introduction to Soilless Culture
  Task 1  Soilless Culture and Its Classification
  Task 2  Characteristics of Soilless Culture
  Skill Training 1-1  Investigation on Types of Soilless Culture
Module 2  Basis of Plant Physiology of Soilless Culture
  Task 1  Structure and Function of the Plant Root System
  Task 2  Nutrient Elements Needed by Plants
  Task 3  Nutritional Diagnosis of Plants
  Skill Training 2-1  Observation of Nutrient Deficiency Symptoms of Soilless Culture Plants
Module 3  Nutrient Solution Formulation and Management Techniques
  Task 1  Composition of Nutrient Solution
  Task 2  Formulation of Nutrient Solution
  Skill Training 3-1  Formulation of Nutrient Solution
Module 4  Solid Substrate for Soilless Culture
  Task 1  Effect and Physicochemical Property of Solid Substrate
  Task 2  Classification and Characteristics of Solid Substrates
  Task 3  Examples of Solid Substrate Selection
  Task 4  Disinfection and Replacement of Solid Substrates
  Skill Training 4-1  Determination of Physicochemical Property of Solid Substrate
  Skill Training 4-2  Substrate Mixing and Disinfection
Module 5  Soilless Seedling Culture Technique
  Task 1  Sowing and Seedling Raising in Soilless Seedling Culture
  Task 2  Management of Soilless Seedling Culture
  Skill Training 5-1  Soilless Seedling Culture of Vegetables
Module 6  Construction and Management of Soilless Culture Production Facilities
  Task 1  Construction and Management of Deep Flow Hydroponic Facilities
  Task 2  Construction and Management of Nutrient Film Hydroponic Facilities
  Task 3  Construction and Management of Spray Culture Facilities
  Task 4  Construction and Management of Solid Substrate Culture Facilities
  Skill Training 6-1  Construction of Deep Flow Hydroponic Facilities
  Skill Training 6-2  Construction of Nutrient Film Hydroponic Facilities
  Skill Training 6-3  Construction of Trough Facilities
  Skill Training 6-4  Construction of Rock Wool Culture Facilities
Module 7  Soilless Culture Protection Facilities and Environmental Control
  Task 1  Selection of Protection Facilities
  Task 2  Temperature Regulation and Control Technique
  Task 3  Light Regulation and Control Technique
  Task 4  Humidity Regulation and Control Technique
  Task 5  CO2 Regulation and Control Technique
  Task 6  Integrated Intelligent Regulation and Control Technique of Facility Environment
  Skill Training 7-1  Fertilization with CO2 Fertilizer
Module 8  Examples of Soilless Culture Production
  Task 1  Fruit Vegetables
  Task 2  Soilless Culture of Leaf Vegetables
  Task 3  Sprout Vegetables
  Task 4  Soilless Culture of Fruit Trees
  Task 5  Soilless Culture of Flowers
  Skill Training 8-1  Nutrient Film Culture Technique of Mizuna
  Skill Training 8-2  Soilless Culture of Strawberries
  Skill Training 8-3  Root Restriction Soilless Culture of Grapes
Module 9  Plant Factory
  Task 1  Basic Concepts and Meanings of the Plant Factory
  Task 2  Processes and System Composition of the Plant Factory
  Task 3  Environmental Regulation in the Plant Factory
  Task 4  Typical Cases of the Plant Factory
Module 10  Application of Soilless Culture Techniques for Home Gardening
  Task 1  Introduction to Soilless Culture for Home Gardening
  Task 2  Main Forms of Soilless Culture for Home Gardening
  Task 3  Daily Management of Soilless Culture in Home Gardening
  Skill Training 10-1  Crystal Mud Culture of Flowers
Appendixes
References

    Task 2 Characteristics of Soilless Culture
    I. Advantages of Soilless Culture
    (I) High Yields, High Quality, and High Commodity Rate
    As in soilless culture, the growth needs of crops can be adjusted artificially to achieve higher yields per unit than that through soil cultivation. In addition, soilless culture can be applied for production all year round with a high annual yield. Vegetables cultivated in this way are large in size and excellent in quality. Soilless culture can reportedly increase the content of vitamin C in tomatoes by 30%.
    (II) Improved Land and Space Utilization Rate
    Through soilless culture, the land that is not suitable for cultivating crops, such as saline-alkali land, barren mountainous land, wasteland, and island, can be made full use of. Particularly, it can help solve the problem of increasing diseases and pests in the greenhouse and polytunnel due to continuous cropping for years, as well as the aggravated problem of secondary salinization. Moreover, the space of the greenhouse can be utilized to raise the yield per unit and increase the
    income of farmers.
    (III) Time - and Labor-saving and High Utilization Rate of Resources
    Soilless culture techniques, once put into use, can save the tedious labor such as intertillage, fertilization, and weeding, bringing high yields, high output, and high productivity.
    II. Precautions in Soilless Culture
    (I) Source, Disposal, and Disinfection of Substrates
    The substrates used currently come in a wide variety with different sources and different physicochemical properties. It is required to mix them at a ratio and disinfect them during use, and their disposal and disinfection after use are also very troublesome. All these restrict the application of substrate culture to some extent.
    (II) Prevention & Control of Diseases
    Hydroponics features a rapid spread of pathogens due to the circulation of the nutrient solution. Once infected with pathogens, all plants may be at risk of being infected. Therefore, more research should be conducted on nutrient solution disinfection equipment and effective prevention and control agents.
    (III) Regulation of Greenhouse Environment
    At present, common plastic greenhouses and solar greenhouses are mainly used in China for the soilless culture of vegetables without corresponding regulating equipment, resulting in a low level of greenhouse environment regulation. The cost is also high for introducing equipment from advanced countries.
    (IV) Breeding of Special Varieties
    Currently, there is almost no vegetable variety specifically suitable for soilless culture. Due to the particularity of soilless culture, there is an urgent need for special high-quality and high-yield varieties that are resistant to low temperatures and diseases in the root system and are adaptable to weak light.
    (V) High Requirements for Growers in Soilless Culture
    Growers should master agricultural production technologies, physiological and biochemical knowledge about vegetables, and mechano-electronic technologies. At present, there are few technicians who have mastered these techniques and are engaged in the soilless culture in China. Therefore, agricultural colleges and universities and some agricultural research institutions should strengthen the training of professional technicians and promote relevant technologies to improve production efficiency.
    [Skill Training]
    Skill Training 1-1 Investigation on Types
    of Soilless Culture
    I. Purposes and Requirements
    Through field investigation of soilless culture types in the area, combined with viewing image materials and problem inquiry, grasp the structural characteristics, performance, and application of main soilless culture types in the area, identify the components of soilless culture facilities, and make a reasonable evaluation.
    II. Plan
    1. Tools and equipment
    (1) Field investigation: measuring tools such as tape measure, steel tape measure, and angular instrument (slope meter); recording tools such as pencil and ruler.
    (2) Image materials and equipment: slides, CDs, and other image materials of different soilless culture types and structures; slide projectors, VCDs, and other imaging equipment.
    2. Implementation plans
    (1) Investigate the types and characteristics of local soilless culture facilities, and observe the site selection, facility location, and overall planning of various types of soilless culture.
    (2) Determine and record the structural specifications, models, performance characteristics and applications of different soilless culture types.
    ① Record the types and materials of hydroponic facilities, the size of the plantation trough, the specifications of the planting plate, the model of the planting cup, the volumes of the liquid supply system and reservoir, the type of cultivated crop, etc.
    ② Record the substrate type, facility structure, and liquid supply system of substrate culture.
    (3) Investigate the main cultivation seasons, varieties of cultivated crops, yield, quality, cropping pattern, and annual utilization of different soilless culture types in the area.
    III. Implementation
    (1) Work in groups to develop investigation plans for soilless culture types.
    (2) Design investigation forms, conduct field investigations, and keep records.
    (3) Analyze the similarities and differences of different types and structures of soilless culture, as well as the performance, cost composition, and economic benefits.
    (4) Write an investigation report. State the investigation time, method, and invested enterprises; summarize the types, structures, performance, and application of soilless culture in the area; draw (or reflect with photos) the structural diagram of main facilities and types; indicate the name and size of each part,and point out the advantages and disadvantages; analyze the characteristics and formation reasons of the main soilless culture types in the area, and put forward reasonable suggestions for the development of soilless culture.
    (5) Prepare slides based on the investigation report and make a presentation in class.