The root zone — the area surrounding a plant's roots — must provide the right balance of water, nutrients and oxygen for plants to thrive. An upcoming webinar series will provide controlled-environment agriculture growers with the latest research to get the mix right, along with other aspects of root zone management.

The series, consisting of four webinars this summer, is coproduced by the U of A System Division of Agriculture and the Root Alliance, a multi-state coalition of controlled-environment agriculture researchers.

"We saw the need in industry for more research focused on tackling core issues centered on root zone management in controlled-environment horticulture, which includes greenhouse and hydroponic production food, medicinal and ornamental crops," said Ryan Dickson, controlled-environment agriculture researcher for the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, the research arm of the Division of Agriculture, and assistant professor with the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences.

Hydroponics is a soilless method of growing plants, typically through a liquid-based nutrient solution or another medium to support the root system.

Along with Dickson, other cofounders of Root Alliance include Paul Fisher and Jeb Fields of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Celina Gómez of Purdue University, Rhuanito Ferrarezi of the University of Georgia and Rosa Raudales of the University of Connecticut.

The four webinar sessions will take place between June and August. Each will be held at 1 p.m. EDT.

WEBINAR SCHEDULE

• June 9 — "Understanding the Risks of Low-Quality Water and Water Treatment Design," presented by Raudales.
• June 16 — "Customizing Recirculated Hydroponic Solutions," presented by Dickson.
• July 21 — "Cold Plasma and Ozone for Water Sanitation," presented by Fisher.
• Aug. 7 — "Stratified Substrates in Container Nursery Crops," presented by Fields.

Each webinar is $20, but there is a 50% discount if registering for all four. Those interested may register online.

KEEPING CONNECTED WITH GROWERS

Dickson, a commercial grower before joining academia, said it is particularly important to him to work with industry and conduct applied research aimed at helping growers overcome production and sustainability challenges. His webinar focuses on helping growers more efficiently formulate hydroponic nutrient solutions based on research from the U of A and Florida.

Dickson said plants require 12 essential nutrients to complete their life cycles and reproduce. However, controlling the concentration of these nutrients in a recirculating hydroponic solution can be a challenge, and Dickson said growers risk facing nutrient imbalances that lead to crop and revenue losses if the solution is not formulated and managed correctly.

"My purpose in going to school and joining academia was to do applied research that directly impacted the industry," he said. "Everything we do is designed to be useful for industry in some way, and if we're not doing that, we need to recalibrate."

To learn more about the Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website. Follow us on X at @ArkAgResearch, subscribe to the Food, Farms and Forests podcast and sign up for our monthly newsletter, the Arkansas Agricultural Research Report. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit uada.edu. Follow us on X at @AgInArk. To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit uaex.uada.edu.

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About the Division of Agriculture: The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture's mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation's historic land grant education system. The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on three system campuses. Pursuant to 7 CFR § 15.3, the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and services (including employment) without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, sexual preference, pregnancy or any other legally protected status, and is an equal opportunity institution.