MAX
facts
hydroponic news, tips and trivia
Market Lighting Affects Nutrients
Many people reach toward the back of the fresh-produce shelf to find
the freshest salad greens with the latest expiration dates. But a study
led by U.S. Department of Agriculture scientists may prompt consumers
to instead look for packages that receive the greatest exposure to light—usually
those found closest to the front.
For the study, the researchers exposed spinach leaves to light similar to
the 24 hour artificial fluorescent light received by spinach in packages
located at the front of the display case. A second group was enclosed
in two-layer-thick, brown-grocery-bag paper to represent the dark
treatment.
Light exposure resulted in a significant increase in levels of:
• carotenoids
• vitamins C, E, K
• B9 or folate
(Source: www.ars.usda.gov)
Falklands Company Shows Viability of Hydroponics Business
This year, Stanley Growers, based on the East Falkland Islands, celebrates their 25th year
growing and marketing their hydroponic produce—predominantly fresh salad crops.
Over the past quarter of a century, the company has supplied the military and local
population of the Falklands and has provided the cruise ship industry and South American countries with a large amount of crops.
(Source: http://hydroponicsguide.co.uk)
Society Releases Go Green Videos
The Raincoast Education Society (RES)
released the third and fourth clips in a series
of “Raincoast Sustainable Living Videos”
during Earth Week. The videos explore
alternative transportation and lifestyle ideas
in the Clayoquot Sound UNESCO Biosphere
Reserve, including hydroponic growing
techniques, chickens that compost, green
roofs and glass crushing.
(Source: www.canada.com)
Air-Conditioned Greenhouse Uses Alternative Energy
The Basque Institute for Agricultural Research and Development has
created an air-conditioned greenhouse using alternative energies
and hydroponics that enables an increase in crop yields. The novel
system has a biomass boiler—that produces 400 kW power and is,
to date, the largest in Spain—and 40 thermodynamic panels—employed for the first time in intensive greenhouse cultivation—that
heat the crops’ roots.
(Source: www.sciencedaily.com)
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Maximum Yield USA | July 2011