Advances in horticultural soilless culture

1.Soilless culture systems and growing media in horticulture: an overview: Nazim S. Gruda, University of Bonn, Germany;

Part 1 Materials
2.Advances in understanding plant root behaviour and rootzone management in soilless culture systems: Youbin Zheng, University of Guelph, Canada;
3.Developments in inorganic materials, synthetic organic materials and peat in soilless culture systems: Jeb S. Fields, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, USA; and Nazim S. Gruda, University of Bonn, Germany;
4.Developments in alternative organic materials for growing media in soilless culture systems: Nazim S. Gruda, University of Bonn, Germany; and Neil Bragg, Substrate Associates Ltd, United Kingdom;
5.Understanding and optimizing the physical properties of growing media for soilless cultivation: Jean Caron, Université Laval, Canada; and Jean-Charles Michel, L’Institut Agro, France;
6.Understanding and optimising the chemical properties of growing media for soilless cultivation: Patrizia Zaccheo and Laura Crippa, University of Milan, Italy; and Francesco Giuffrida, University of Catania, Italy;
7.Understanding and optimising the biological properties of growing media for soilless cultivation: Francesco Giuffrida and Rosario Paolo Mauro, University of Catania, Italy; and Patrizia Zaccheo, University of Milan, Italy;

Part 2 Technologies
8.Advances in liquid- and solid-medium soilless culture systems: Yüksel Tüzel, Ege University, Turkey; and Astrit Balliu, Agricultural University of Tirana, Albania;
9.Advances in irrigation/fertigation techniques in greenhouse soilless culture systems (SCS): Georgios Nikolaou and Damianos Neocleous, Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Cyprus; and Evangelini Kitta and Nikolaos Katsoulas, University of Thessaly, Greece;
10.Advances in nutrient management modelling and nutrient concentration prediction for soilless culture systems: Jung Eek Son, Tae In Ahn and Taewon Moon, Seoul National University, Korea;
11.Advanced hydroponics design for plant cultivation in cities: Giuseppina Pennisi, Alessandro Pistillo, Elisa Appolloni, Francesco Orsini and Giorgio Gianquinto, DISTAL – University of Bologna, Italy;
12.Optimizing product quality in soilless culture systems (SCS): Pietro Santamaria, Barbara De Lucia and Angelo Signore, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Italy;

Part 3 Case studies
13.Advances in soilless cultivation of tomatoes and other fruit vegetables: V. Truffault, Futura Gaïa, France; and E. Legast, Centre Technique Interprofessionnel des Fruits et Légumes (CTIFL), France;
14.Advances in soilless culture strawberry production: Mike Nichols, formerly Massey University, New Zealand;
15.Advances in soilless culture of ornamentals: Erik van Os and Arca Kromwijk, Wageningen University & Research, The Netherlands;

“This book, written by well-qualified scientists and edited by an internationally-distinguished expert in greenhouse horticulture, provides a valuable update of the science and the current technologies applied in soilless culture”.
Professor Dimitris Savvas, Agricultural University of Athens, Greece

"This book from an internationally-recognized editor and authors will be a standard reference book on soilless culture for practitioners, scientists and students. It will serve to trigger practices and innovations increasing sustainability and optimizing product quality in soilless cultivation.”
Professor Rui Machado, Universidade de Évora, Portugal

"Soilless culture is rapidly rising around the world due to its ability to deliver reliable yield, quality and produce uniformity, and is very much a technology-driven industry. However, we should also pay attention to best horticultural principles and this book promises to bring together the current best practice in technology and horticulture to create an important industry reference for all participants."
Graeme Smith CAg, Chair - International Society of Horticultural Science (ISHS) ‘Working Group – Hydroponics & Aquaponics’, and Vice Chair - ISHS ‘Division - Protected Cultivation and Soilless Culture’

"The contents of the book will help extend our knowledge of soilless culture, an advanced method of cultivation that combines precise control of product quality with achieving the more efficient, sustainable production we need."
Professor Miguel Urrestarazu Gavilán, University of Almería, Spain