SAMPLE COURSE!!!

The first few pages of the first module and all module headings are visible to give you an idea of the course content.
To purchase the full course, please visit our online shop at

https://www.tuit.co.za/shop/interpretation-of-growth-medium-analyses-data/

Growth Banner.jpg

Welcome to your Interpretation of Growth Medium Analysis Course!

Growing plants in containers is a major industry worldwide. A growth medium is required in the containers to sustain plant growth. Initially soil mixes were used but currently the industry uses mainly soilless growth medium for various reasons from economics to environmental to phytosanitary.
Needless to say, this movement towards soilless plant production demands methods and procedures to evaluate;

The suitability of material to serve as growth mediums in container cultures.
The chemical conditions in a growth medium during the growth period of various plants and production systems.
The microbial populations, especially those harmful to plant growth (pathogens) in mediums prior to and during plant production.

The limited rooting volume in container systems demands better control over the chemical (nutrient supply) and physical (aeration and water supply) properties as well as the microbial population. The smaller the rooting volume, the higher the demand to manage these conditions properly, will be.

Production of plants in containers is usually more expensive mainly due to the physical structures required to support the shade nets or plastic sheeting and to control the environment (heating, cooling and humidity). Therefore, plants must grow at optimum rate to produce healthy plants in the shortest possible time. In such a system, the quality of the growth medium plays an important role. Some “standardized growth medium”” were developed like the John Innes compost and mixes for specific plant types. Mainly due to economics, today many generic mixes are available to be used in a variety of production systems for various plants.

In the Benelux countries, suppliers and users of growth mediums participate on a voluntary basis in a quality control system [“Regeling Handelspotgrond Proefstations Aalsmeer, Boskoop and Naaldwijk] to restrict the use of inferior growth mediums. The independent audit entity [Stichting RHP] certifies the quality of horticultural and peat substrates (growth mediums) in Europe. In 2002 Australia introduction their standard, “Australian Standard AS 3743– 2002” for potting mixes In southern Africa “Standardized growth mediums” are not available except for a measure of standardization by an individual supplier. Therefore, procedures to measure the quality of growth mediums prior to and during production of plants are even more essential.

In this course we will deal with the evaluation of growth mediums during the period of plant production. The second course will handle the suitability of material to be used as growth mediums in container cultures.

If you have any online enquiries that are not directly related to the content (and thus to be directed at the lecturer), please email us on learning@tuit.co.za.