LU-CAEHS Research Seminar
“Hydroponics/Soilless Crop Production Research at Lincoln University-Missouri: Context and Perspectives”
This presentation focuses on the context, perspectives, and status of the Lincoln University (LU) “Soilless & Hydroponics Research Program (SHRP).” The LU SHRP was launched in 2005 with the goal of increasing the productive capacity of the small-scale hydroponics industry through grower educating on profitable, but environmentally sustainable methods of soilless crop production, using cost effective, simplified technologies and novel strategies consistent with the 1890 mission. The goal of SHRP is the practical applications of the principles of plant nutrition to sustainable soilless/hydroponics production research based on three objectives:
1) evaluate vegetable crops, culinary and medicinal herbs in commercial module hydroponic systems.
2) develop sustainable plant nutrition and management strategies aimed at maximizing crop nutrient-uptake capacity, nutrient use-efficiency, and reducing environmental pollution from inorganic fertilizer sources; and
3) study the relationship between crop mineral nutrition in hydroponic culture and postharvest quality.
The term hydroponics often describes systems in which plant roots are suspended in liquid nutrient solution (water-based hydroponic culture) in contrast to aggregate root support substrate, referred to as soilless culture. Currently hydroponics is playing a significant role in the world’s agricultural productivity. The adoption of hydroponic technology continues to expand with increasing food demand due to population pressures, cyclic changes in climatic patterns, soil erosion, inadequate water distribution, polluted ground water, salinity, soil-borne pests, and disease pathogens. Hydroponics can be adapted to crop production situations ranging from outdoor (field) and greenhouse culture to nuclear submarines and orbiting space stations to provide fresh vegetables for crews. Hydroponics is adopted in developing and small Island countries to enhance intensive food production wherever good water quality and fertilizers are available. In the absence of fresh water, desalinized seawater can be used for hydroponics production.
Presented by Dr. Jonathan Egilla, Associate Professor of Horticultural Sciences.
Dr. Egilla earned a Ph.D. (1994), and a Master of Science (1989) degree in Horticulture from Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas. His doctoral dissertation focused on the influence of plant nutritional status on the drought resistance of woody ornamental shrubs during nursery production. His master’s Thesis investigated factors influencing the tolerance of peach rootstock cultivars to iron deficiency stress in calcareous soils and elucidated the mechanisms of ferric reduction at the root surface of peach cultivars. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Horticulture from Washington State University in Pullman, Washington in 1985 with emphasis in Fruit and Vegetable Crops Production; and a National Diploma in Commercial Horticulture from the Hereford & Worcester College of Horticulture, Pershore, England in 1980, after his Certificate in General Agriculture from the Ahmadu Bello University College of Agriculture, Kabba, Nigeria in 1975. Dr. Egilla joined LU as a Research Principal Investigator in August 2004, and he launched the current LU Sustainable Hydroponic Research Program in 2005. In addition to his primary responsibility as Hydroponics Research Specialist, he contributed to the academic program at LU by developing and teaching plant science courses and served as an academic advisor. He has mentored college, high school students, and elementary school teachers in various hydroponic projects throughout the US, and overseas; and provided outreach services to commercial vegetable growers and hydroponic producers in Missouri.
