An innovative partnership between UAF, a private business, and a student organization makes it possible for young Alaskans to get on-the-job training, for SNRAS to do research and outreach, and for the company to beautify its grounds and host an attraction for visitors.
At Pike’s Waterfront Lodge greenhouse, SNRAS horticulturists and students are continuing cutting-edge horticulture research focusing on hydroponics. The project is headed by Professor Meriam Karlsson, who manages the Controlled Environment Agriculture Laboratory, and research professional Jeff Werner.
Hundreds of visitors learn about Alaska agriculture and SNRAS research by visiting the greenhouse.This year six FFA students have paying positions at the property, where they assist with growing the plants, transplanting them, and maintaining them. They also take care of all the landscaping for the hotel, adjacent restaurant, and outdoor event park. At the same time, the students learn people skills and customer service, as they have regular contact with hotel and restaurant guests. Greenhouse manager Jace Bures, a UAF senior in natural resources management, is learning management skills, landscaping techniques, and hydroponics. SNRAS graduate student Yosuke Okada is studying tomatoes at the greenhouse.
The greenhouse project incorporates many aspects of research. At this and other sites, Dr. Karlsson and Werner are working to make locally-grown produce in remote Alaska regions a reality. In cold frames, high tunnels, or high-tech facilities, researchers are focusing on plant requirements, varieties, and treatments to maximize productivity for growers. Objectives are to develop cultural management techniques and reliable protocols to efficiently produce suitable vegetables, culinary herbs, small fruit, floral, and hanging basket crops in various environments.
Dr. Karlsson’s work determines the best materials for high tunnels so that crop productivity is expanded. She studies specific crops, including tomatoes, lettuce, green beans, and strawberries, so that optimum conditions for best output can be shared with agricultural producers across the state. Partnerships with commercial enterprises such as Pike’s Waterfront Lodge and Chena Hot Springs Resort not only provide scientific expertise to the businesses but showcase innovative agricultural methods such as hydroponic techniques to the public in a positive light.
Starting in mid-June, free nightly tours of the greenhouse will be given, with hotel guests and locals alike taking advantage of the demonstrations and lectures. The students will set up a farmstand where they will sell fresh produce from the greenhouse and local farms, with all proceeds benefiting FFA programs.
“Pike’s is very supportive of us and FFA,” Karlsson said. “This is a working partnership at all levels. It’s a perfect setup.” One of the aspects she likes best is that it gives SNRAS an opportunity to showcase its research to the public. “This is an opportunity we can build on,” Karlsson said.
“It’s a wonderful collaboration,” Pike’s owner Jay Ramras said. The idea formed a few years ago when he was talking to Steve Jones, UAF chancellor at that time. “He was interested in trying to export the university’s intellectual property and reputation off the hill and into the community of Fairbanks,” Ramras said. “I was struck by the idea. I love every aspect of this and it’s an exhibition to show what Alaska can do with vegetables.”
Hydroponics
Originally, growing plants with the roots immersed in a water solution of nutrients was called hydroponic culture or hydroponics. Over the years, hydroponic systems have become equivalent to soilless production techniques. In these systems, the required nutrients are dissolved in water and provided to the roots held directly in the solution or in a prepared growing medium. The growing medium can be organic or inorganic and may consist of a single or several mixed materials such as peat moss, gravel or perlite (siliceous rock). Advantages of hydroponics include the lack of soil-borne pests and diseases, opportunities for precise nutrient control and automation, efficient use of water and nutrients, rapid turn around, easier harvest and management, year round use, and faster production cycles.
The hydroponics methods used at the greenhouse range widely:
Nutrient Film Technique (NFT)
The plants rest in an enclosed growing channel. A nutrient solution is circulated through the channel providing a constant flow or film of nutrients around the roots. The solution remaining after passing through the channels is returned to a stock tank and nutrients, pH, electrical conductivity, and water levels are adjusted before re-circulation. Electrical conductivity is a measure indicating the amount of nutrients in the solution.
Ebb and Flow (Flood and Drain)
Ebb and flow is a simple and reliable form of hydroponics requiring a low initial investment. The plants are grown in pots filled with a peat-based medium or inert material and placed in a tray. At regular intervals, a pump fills the tray with nutrient solution. After a few minutes, the solution drains back into a reservoir. The medium anchors the roots and functions as a water and nutrient reserve as the hydroponic solution is alternatively flooded and drained.
Dutch Bato Buckets
These containers have a small siphon pipe at the bottom to regulate the nutrient solution to about a one-inch depth. The small bottom reservoir of solution keeps the growing medium moist between irrigation cycles. These containers are designed to be irrigated with a drip emitter and are plumbed to a stock tank through a common PVC pipe (2-inch diameter).
Aeroponics (AEROFLO²® 30)
The roots are maintained in an environment saturated with a mist of nutrient solution. The method requires no substrate but some technique is needed for supporting the plants to allow continuous wetting of the roots with a fine nutrient spray.
Aerogarden
This is an automated application of aeroponics using water, nutrients, and and air to grow herbs, vegetables, and flowers in the home. The unit has built-in lights on timers and comes with seeds and fertilizer tablets. No prior knowledge of growing plants is needed as the system alerts you when to add water and nutrients.
Floating Pond System
The plants are seeded in rockwool or oasis foam cubes. After germination and seedling development, the cubes are moved to holes in Styrofoam “boards” and floated on a pool of nutrient solution. Air is usually bubbled through and the solution is in constant circulation. Water and nutrients are monitored and added as the crop uses the nutrient solution for growth and development.
Vertigro (Vertical Growing)
This is a system with stackable pots to allow increased space utilization. Water with the dissolved nutrients is applied in a drip system at the top and trickles through the pots and plants. The growing medium is perlite2 or other inert material. (Perlite is a siliceous rock that, when heated to 1600°F, expands into light white crumbs suitable for horticultural applications.) The solution after draining through the tower can be collected and re-circulated.
Drip Hydroponic System
In this system, a nutrient solution is dripping onto the surface of the medium around the plant in the top growing container. The solution drains into a second reservoir container and the solution is recycled using an aquarium pump. A larger reservoir can charge several modules or nutrient solution can be added manually to each individual unit as the solution drops.
Deep Water Bubble System
This is a culture system with a static nutrient solution aerated with an aquarium or air pump. Fresh nutrient solution or plain water may be added daily to keep a constant solution level. As the nutrient concentration drops, the nutrient solution can be completely changed or nutrients added based on an electrical conductivity reading.
Rockwool Blocks
Rockwool is made from basalt rock, chalk, and/or sand melted at 3000˚F. The molten rock is spun into a wool of fine intertwined fibers. The resulting product absorbs water while still providing air to the roots. A nutrient solution is applied several times during the day through drip emitters.
Top Irrigation
In top irrigation, nutrient solution is periodically applied to the medium surface. This may be done manually or through drip emitters to containers filled with peat or other inert medium. When automated, the nutrient solution can be scheduled for delivery multiple times each day.
Related stories:
"Growing Plants without Soil," by Rayna Nelson, September 2008, The Ester Republic. Nelson worked as an FFA student at Pike’s Waterfront Lodge greenhouse for a summer and describes her experiences there in this article.
"FFA hydroponics program offers education, hope for sustainability," by Erica Goff, Aug. 31, 2008, Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. Goff provides an in-depth overview of FFA’s involvement and the development of the experimental horticulture education program with UAF.
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