Maximum Yield USA 2014 February | Page 172

MAX-mART YOU KNOW? DO 1. Normal levels of CO2 in the atmosphere are generally between 300 and 500 ppm, but this is a basic range and can vary somewhat based on location. 2. Induction lights will continue to operate for years with healthy plant growth. Unlike an incandescent lamp or conventional fluorescent lamps, there is no electrical connection going inside the glass bulb; the energy is transferred through the glass envelope solely by electromagnetic induction. 3. Fish can be one of the easiest animals to incorporate into small-scale food production or one of the more difficult, depending on your set-up and approach. They are a great addition to an existing hydroponic system and an easy addition for those with outdoor reservoirs. In the context of growing, biosecurity is the exclusion (not sanitation) of disease-causing organisms that can destroy an operation. Sanitation works within a facility. Biosecurity is an extra ring of protection outside of the facility. 5. Microbial activity requires three things to be present: microbes such as bacteria and fungi, a suitable energy (food) source and sufficient essential plant nutrient elements, particularly nitrogen. 170 Maximum Yield USA  |  February 2014 6. Algae can range in color from lime green, to a bubbly black, to red, to brown. These organisms might appear as long, stringy filaments flowing in the current or as dense fur on the reservoir and growing channel surfaces. 7. The idea behind a nutrient film technique system is to supply the plant’s roots with a continuous flow of nutrient solution through a series of trays or gutters. When germinating seeds at home or in a greenhouse the first thing to think about is whether or not a certain seed should be started and transplanted to another location or if it should be directly sown into its permanent home, whether that is in soil or some other growing medium. 9. For an infectious disease to occur, three fundamental elements are required: a susceptible plant, a pathogen capable of causing disease and a favorable environment. 10. There are an estimated half million or more species of nematodes and many are detrimental to pumpkins, tomatoes and other giant vegetable roots.