M ary Peet

w w w.ces.ncsu.edu/greenh
 W hy Grow Organic?
• Organic is big business inthe US ($3.5 billion)
• Growth in organic produce 20%/yr for past 5 yrs.
• Overexpansion of greenhouse tomatoindustry
may drive down prices of greenhouse tomatoes
3000
According to the 1997 US
2500
Census of Agriculture,
Number of Farms

2000 compared to 1992,the # of

1500 greenhouse vegetable
1000
growers was up 35 %.
(annualincrease of 7%)
500

0
1978 1982 1987 1992 1997
Year
 250000

200000
Sales were up
Sales ($1,000)

150000 139 % (annual

100000
increase of 28%)

50000
400

0 350

ha of Greenhouse Vegetables
1978 1982 1987 1992 1997
Year 300

250

200

Area of greenhouse 150

vegetables was up 35% 100

(annualincrease of 7%) 50

0
1978 1982 1987 1992 1997
Year
Types of Organic Production Systems
• Water-based (NFT,pipe QuickTime™ and a

systems or floattrays) Photo CD Decompressor

re needed to use this picture

• Solid media intrays, slabs

or containers
– Low CEC-gravel, perlite,
rockwool
QuickTime™ and a
– Organic substrates (peat, coir,
Photo CD Decompressor

compost) e needed to use this picture

• Soil-based (most com mon)

Some Large Com m ercialHydroponic
Operations-
Valley Fresh, Colorado
 Typical Problems using Organic
Fertilizersin Hydroponic Systems
• Lack ofsterilityin system
– Diseases
– Clogging from algae and other free-
living organisms
• Deciding when to replace
recirculating water
– Relationship of EC (saltreadings)to
available plant nutrients
• Local, affordable sources of
organi ally ertified mixesand
 Profile ofIndustry
• No statistics, but groups
of organic greenhouse
growers in Quebec, New
England,California
• Most grow in soilusing
same procedures as field
growers.Root diseases are
a problem, although QuickTime™ and a
Photo CD Decompressor

composts may help re needed to use this picture

– In south, solarization
possible
an grafttransplantsonto
Our Approach to
Organic
Hydroponics:
– Soilless media with
higher water and
nutrientretention
than perlite and
rockwool(peat,
pinebark,coir) with
added compost
– Organically
certifiable media
ingredients &
fertilizers
– Biocontrolsfor pests
 Organic Certification in the U.S.
• No national standards-Yet!
• Most groups have lists of materialsthat are approved,
restricted or prohibited. No genetically modified crops.
• Brand-name products mustbe approved by
O M RI(ww w.omri.org)

• Criteria for greenhouses less well developed

– Some philosophicalobjections, e.g. not‘natural’ enough
Restrictions on Greenhouse Construction
General Allowed Restricted Prohibited
Transition period Proper Pressure treated No asbestos,
may be required ventilation lumber only urea, or
if taking over required, but allowed on formaldehyde
existing emergency foundations No
conventional use o f and end w alls biodegradable
greenhouse portable (must be plastic
Whole house heaters isolated from (Canada)
must be allowed growing media
certified, but and plants)
can have Artifi cial light
uncertified and shade
houses o n sam e
farm if product
distinguishable
 Containers, Substrates
General Allowed Restricted Prohibited
Transplants Perlite ok, Fiber No synthetic
for fi eld rockwool containers fertilizers,
production questionable with no fungicides,
require Peat allowed prohibited wetting agents,
organic but c ompost material or st erilants in
practices i f preferred; (NOFA, potting mix
available Coir ok; FOG);
Recyclable
containers
(Canada)

Vermicompos
t
 Fertilization
Allowed Restricted Prohibited
Compost (N, K, Micros); Sodium Nitrate (N); Synthetic
Earth Juice and
Colloidal soft rock and hard Fish emulsion (N, Sources; fish meal
rock phosphate (P); P); Muriate of potash; fertilizers
Guano (P); Bone Meal (N, P); Quick lime, or
Wood ash (K); Calcium Chloride hydrated lime
Rock dusts [granite, feldspar, (Ca);
greensand] (K); Epsom salts (Mg);
Natural potassium sulfate (K); Chelate, acid
Limestone, gypsum, calcium treated sulfate, or
oxide, (Ca); oxide materials
Dolomitic limestone, Kierserite (Micros)
(Mg);
Kelp meal, liquid or powdered
seaweed extract, rock powders
(Micros); Commercial products
on OMRI list
 Pest Control
Allowed Restricted Prohibited
Insect Traps; Oil Sprays; Insecticidal Synthetic Pesticides,
Insect Barriers; Soaps; Bacillus Fungicides, and
Hand, Mechanical, or Thringiensis (BT); Nematicides
Hydraulic Removal; Copper; Sulfur;
Biological Controls; Approved Non-
Alcohol to disinfect synthetic Fungicides;
benches, pots, tools Bleach, hydrogen
Steam sterilization, hot peroxide and oxalic
water seed treatment, acid for disinfection
low temperature baking
Resistant cultivars;
Roguing or destroying
infected plants;
Herbal sprays
 Issues before starting QuickTime™ and a

to CD Decompressor

ded to use this picture

com m ercialorganic venture

• Isthe production system tested on tomatoes?
– Herbs,lettuce and transplants are not as nutrient-
demanding
• Is certifying agency receptive?
• Willthe market pay a premium?
• Is your philosphy compatible?
– How do you feel aboutjumping through a lot of
hoops?
 Substrate:
• Fafard special blend of 4-P to omitwetting agents,
nutrient charge and micronutrients (85% by volume)
• 15% by volume Vermicycle(worm compost: 1.8-1.6-0.3)
• 1.5 lbs/cubic yard each of:
– Blood meal
– Bone meal
– Potassium sulfate
• O M RI-approved wetting agent “Natural Wet” at 2
tablespoons/gal
• 0.5 lbs/cubic yard sulfur
• For other suggested potting mixes, visit www.attra.org
Fertilization: Equivalentin all
fertilizertreatments*
• 125 ppm N,
• 45 ppm P,
• 195 ppm K,
• 185 ppm Ca,
• 44 ppm Mg and
• micronutrients
• Provided at each watering (1/2 gal per plant per
day)
*would probably also work in recirculating system
Fertilization-
• M agna Gro brand fertilizer consists of:
– HydroponicBase Mix -analysis 2-3-6
• ingredients: poultry composttea, pasteurized blood meal, calcium phosphate,
and seaweed.This also containstrace minerals with fermented molassesin the
form of Zn SO4, Mg SO4, and Fe SO4.
– 19%N from poultry composttea and pasteurized blood meal
– K-9 - 9% K2O from seaweed
– Organic forms oftrace minerals supplied as 6% B, 6% Fe, 6% Mg,
and 6% Ca added, as needed based on tissue analysis.
• For exact receipe, consult NCSU greenhouse vegetable
website
• For other fertilizer sources, consult www.attra.orgwebsite
• Earth Juice brand fertilizer consistsof 5 separate
formulations:(N-P-K)
– ‘Grow’ (2-0.44-0.83): bat guano, Norwegian sea kelp, natural
sulfate ofpotash,feather meal,oat ran, blood meal and steamed
bone meal
– ‘Bloom’ (0-1.3-0.83): bat guano, Chilean sea bird guano,
Norwegian sea kelp, natural sulfate of potash, steamed bone
meal, oatbran and rock phosphate
– ‘Catalyst’(0.03-0.0044-0.083): oat bran,kelp, wheat malt,
molasses,yeast
– ‘Micro-burst’(5% Mg, 0.02% B, 0.05% Cu, 0.2% FE, 0.1% Mn
and 0.15% Zn): kelp meal, magnesium sulfate, borax,copper
sulfate,iron sulfate,manganese sulfate, and zinc sulfate.
– ‘Meta-K’(10%K): from seaweed
 Method of addition
• Injected into lines during daily
waterings(flush on weekends)
• Fertilizers agitated by aquarium
pumps
• Filtered to remove some, but not
allsolids
• Pump adjusted to low dilution
rate (1:20)
New Materials Available, ButUntested
• Soluble Fertilizers
– Natural Organic Grow from JedwardsInternational(organic
fish hydroloysate, OM RI certified)
– Harmony Farms Omega 6-6-6 (certification status unknown)
• Potting soils
– McEnroe Organics
– Southland Organic Mix (10% chicken litter compost)
• Others: selectthe database on Organic Amendments at
w w w.ncsu.edu/organic_farming_systems/ orsearch on
w w w.attra.org
Many products Available for Home or
Hobby use
But May Not be Practicalin Commercial
Production!
Can Also Use Manure Teas!
 Recmmendationsfor organic fertilization
of soilless media (peat/pinebark):
• Constantprovision offertilizers atlevels comparable to
conventional mix (receipes on website & in newsletter)
• pH and salts adjustmentto prevent burning
• Precautions with dripinjection:
– Low dilution rates (1:50 or 1:20)
– Agitate with pump to prevent settling
– Weekly water flush
– Emitters which resistclogging
– Need some filtration,but nutrients not completely soluble
• Processed fertilizers rather than fishmeal(too smelly!)
 Unresolved issues in organic
fertilization in our system:
• Isflavor and quality different?
• How do you reduce pH and salts?
• W ould our recommendations also work on inert
substrates such as perliteand rockwool with low CEC
and in recirculating systems?
• How do you increase potassium and calcium?
• Are there more affordable alternatives?
• Will animal waste products work and be allowed?