CHAPTER I BASES OF SOILLESS CULTURE AND HYDROPONICS
1.1. Concept
1.2. History
1.3. Classification
1.4. Systems


CHAPTER II SUBSTRATES USED IN HORTICULTURE AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH CROP MANAGEMENT
2.1. Substrates and related terms and concepts
2.2. Optimal requirements for substrates
2.3. Characteristics and properties of the culture substrates
2.4. Inventory of horticultural substrates: classification and properties
2.4.6. Compost
2.5. The substrates and their relation to other productive factors of the culture
2.6. Management of the agrosystems using substrates. Substrate choice and parameters of the culture unit
2.7. Conclusions


CHAPTER III NUTRIENT SOLUTIONS FOR FERTIGATION
3.1. Introduction
3.2. Example 1. The simplest case: preparing the ideal nutrient solution without considering the irrigation water d with the commercial fertilizers expressed in weight
3.3. Example 2. Case where we consider the irrigation water and the ideal nutrient solution expressed in equivalent or molar concentration
3.4. pH
3.5. The electrical conductivity of nutrient solutions
3.6. Management of a nutrient solution for crops with different cultivars
3.7. Management of nutrient solutions depending on the cultures phenology and the intended productive purposes. The universal nutrient solution
3.8. Diagnosis and interpretation of the analyses of different nutrient solutions used in fertigation. Management recommendations
3.9. Some recommendations for fertigation management in relation to the environment and human health


CHAPTER IV FERTIGATION TECHNIQUES IN SOILLESS CULTURE
4.1. Introduction
4.2. Water consumption
4.3. Water consumption and mineral absorption
4.4. Factors that affect water consumption
4.5. Aims of fertigation
4.6. Fertigation control methods. Classification
4.7. Fertigation methods. Classification
4.8. Practical numerical examples of irrigation
4.9. Summary and recommendations


References
Terminology used in soilless culture
Index of figures
Index of photographs