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5 Sneaky Tricks To Triple Your Yield Results ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Brought to you by: HydroponicAccess.com Educating The Hydroponic World

Written by: Dharma Pitchay, Ph.D.

© Copyright 2010 All Rights Reserved Strategic Farming Inc. - HydroponicAccess.com ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Before You Get Started! Hi, my name is A.J. and I want to thank you for taking the time to visit our site and request the “5 Sneaky Tricks To Triple Your Yield Results!” I know that you will get a lot of value from this special report, because we have had so many requests from growers just like you, for this report. Whether you are just a beginner at hydroponic growing having never grown anything before or you already started growing, then you are looking for new ways to improve your grow yields and become more efficient. We put this special report together for growers who want to take their growing skills to a new level. You are in the right place and the 5 tricks in this report are what you need to learn!

How To Consume This Report The “5 Sneaky Tricks” report is a digital report intended to give you 5 steps or actions that you can use immediately to increase your yields in your current grow. You may use all of them or you may use one of them, but nonetheless going through this report and finding what you can start using immediately will be the best use of your time. © Copyright 2010 All Rights Reserved Strategic Farming Inc. - HydroponicAccess.com ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Here is how I suggest you go through this report: 1.

Read this report all the way through the first time scanning and taking notes on what you think applies to you.

2.

Create a simple approach and choose just 3 of the techniques in this report to take action on.

3.

After you have tested and measured your results, then go back and try the others.

You Probably Don’t Know Who I Am... Since I’m not one of the “big name” gurus I thought I should open by introducing myself, my partners, and the reason why our author of this report is equipped to teach you this stuff in the first place. Here is the deal: There is just too much mis-leading and un-tried hydroponic growing information on the web these days (videos, photos, wanna-be scientists, forums, and amateur hobbyist opinions) that are scattering the useless information with the important! There is a lot of B.S. and misleading opinions on the web these days. People “thinking” they have a great system, nutrient solution, etc. then spreading that on youtube and other forums, and calling it


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“training” in which case is a total and complete waste of your money, energy, and time. My partners and I at HydroponicAccess.com have developed an approach to training hydroponic growers that is cutting-edge and delivers help and training from successful growers you can trust! As a team dedicated to developing high-quality training we have spent the time necessary to bring you qualified and experienced experts in the various fields of hydroponic growing. This leads me to introduce you to Dharma Pitchay, Ph.D. here is the proof... He is the Assistant Professor at School of Agriculture and Consumer Sciences at the Tennessee State University. His education: •B. Agric. Sc. University of Agriculture, Malaysia •M.S. (Horticultural Sc.) West Virginia University •Ph.D. (Horticultural Sc.) North Carolina State University •Joined the staff of Tennessee State University in 2008


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His Awards & honors: Award 2007 from the USA President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation Brochure award for 2001 by the American Society of Horticultural Science for Outstanding Extension Publication Leaflet award for 2001 by the American Society of Horticultural Science for Outstanding Extension Publication Pi Alpha Xi, Honor Society of Horticulture. Gamma Sigma Delta, Honor Society of Agriculture Working Group Chair 2008 - Seed & Stand Establishment, American Society for Horticultural Science

He has also contributed to 8 publications over the years: “Is it possible to produce healthy organic herbal plug seedlings through different proportions of organic materials?” “Impact of Applied Nitrogen Concentration on Growth of Elatior Begonia and New Guinea Impatiens and Susceptibility of Begonia to Botrytis cinerea” “Organic Tomato Transplanting Production in Compost -Amended “ “Improving Growth of Calibrachoa in Hanging Flower Pouches.” © Copyright 2010 All Rights Reserved Strategic Farming Inc. - HydroponicAccess.com ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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“Actual performance versus theoretical advantages of polyacrylamide hydrogel throughout bedding plant production. “ “Nutrient Deficiencies of Bedding Plants: A Pictorial Guide for Identification with Corrective Procedures. “ ...and others!


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Sneaky Trick #1: Make Sure Your Water Quality Is On Target! A hydroponic production system is all about growing crops using an inert medium such as perlite, gravel, rock wool, sand, foam, water, etc. Water is of course the main component, which acts as a medium and as a carrier for nutrients for plant growth and development. Use relatively pure water for hydroponic crop production. It is important to maintain suitable physical (temperature), chemical (acidity, alkalinity and chemical constituent), and biological (free from pathogens and microbes) properties of water. The water temperature should be between 200C and 270C (680F-80.60F), but watch-out for ice-cold/freezing water during winter months and warm water during summer months. It is advisable to monitor water temperature and make necessary changes (insulation or white exterior) to avoid any fluctuation of water temperature that will affect nutrient uptake and root growth. Under the Nutrient Film Technique (NFT), to avoid oxygen deficiency, the water depth should not be greater than ⅛ inches or 3mm. In static hydroponic production system, aerate the nutrient solution 24/7 to increase oxygen concentration, and regularly (once in 5 or 6 days) replace the nutrient solution. © Copyright 2010 All Rights Reserved Strategic Farming Inc. - HydroponicAccess.com ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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The bioavailability of essential macro and micro-elements depends largely on the pH and EC factors. It is important to monitor pH and EC of nutrient solution on a daily basis and adjust it appropriately for healthy plant growth and development. Therefore, for continuous uptake of water and nutrients, monitor and manage the pH and EC of the solution at 5.5 and 6.2, respectively. Adjust the pH by adding potassium hydroxide or calcium hydroxide to increase the pH, and sulfuric acid to lower the pH. On the other hand, if it contains bicarbonates (HCO3), due to alkalinity, add more acid (Sulfuric acid H2SO4) to bring the pH to optimum level. If the EC value is high) avoid chloride-based nutrients/fertilizers such as potassium chloride, 2) dilute the nutrient solution by adding water, or 3) leach the substrate with water (the EC of water should be low). Analyze the elemental composition and the pH and EC of the water before using it for making nutrient solution. If the EC value is high because of nitrate nitrogen or phosphates in the water, make appropriate adjustments while formulating the nutrient solution. If using city/municipality water take necessary precautions to remove © Copyright 2010 All Rights Reserved Strategic Farming Inc. - HydroponicAccess.com ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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the chlorine (Cl2) by: 1) Running the water through carbon filter or 2) Storing the water overnight in a holding tank to volatilize the chlorine. *Tomato plants are more sensitive to chlorine (Figure 1). The plants tend to wilt within a 10 minute period when they are subjected to high chlorine water (>4 ppm).

Figure 1 The effect of high concentration of chlorine in city water. Unlike the cucumber plants (right), the tomato plants (left) have wilted.

It is advisable to invest in good quality pH and EC meters to monitor pH and EC. Calibrate the meters with standard pH of 4 and 7 for pH value of less than 7 (acidic water) and pH of 7 and 10 for pH value of greater than 7 (water with high alkalinity/basic water). Calibrate the meter for EC with 1412 µS/cm solutions before taking any measurements.


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Water culture systems (NFT and static hydroponics) are more sensitive than using inert substrates (rock wool, perlite, gravel or foams). Therefore, balancing the nutrients and accurately weighing chemicals while making stock solution or single strength nutrient solution is critical to avoid any nutrient disorders or crop failure. To prevent root injury, avoid nutrients (fertilizer source) high in sodium or chloride when making the nutrient solution.


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Sneaky Trick #2 Mix Your Nutrient Solution For Maximum Effectiveness...The first Time! It is very important not to mix concentrated solutions. Here is why! I always recommend adding concentrated stock solution to water and not the other way around. You never want to mix a concentrated form of Calcium and Phosphate (PO4) together. First, you add PO4 of ammonium phosphates (NH4H2PO4) or potassium phosphates (KH2PO4) solution to water and stir it well before adding Calcium [calcium nitrate Ca(NO3)2] nutrients to avoid any chemical reaction (precipitation). For a large operation, invest in getting a proportioner (Trade names Dosmatic or Dosatron or Anderson mixer), preferably two units, which can do the job of mixing the concentrated form of the stock solution and avoid any chemical interactions. The solubility of nutrients (chemicals) in water varies with water temperature, chemical concentration and physically stirring the solution. So make sure to use warm water to dissolve calcium nitrate. Stir it well for the micronutrients to dissolve completely to avoid any toxicity effects. © Copyright 2010 All Rights Reserved Strategic Farming Inc. - HydroponicAccess.com ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Nitrogen can be delivered in the form of nitrate (NO3) or ammonium (NH4). Nitrate and ammonium can also be used to adjust the pH and plant growth. Nitrogen in the form of NO3 will increase root zone pH while nitrogen in the form of NH4 will lower the root zone pH. A high concentration of NH4 can result in poor root development and a moderate level can produce darker green leaves. As a general recommendation, for most crops except rhododendron, blueberry etc., NH4 should not exceed 30% of the total nitrogen in the nutrient solution for a healthy plant growth. Some Thoughts On Chelates Always use a chelated form of micronutrients such as iron chelates, manganese chelates to avoid chemical interaction or precipitation and to ensure the bioavailability of these nutrients under various pH ranges. It provides a greater degree of flexibility in bioavailability of the chelated form of micronutrients for plant uptake irrespective of pH fluctuations.


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Sneaky Trick #3 Create An Environment That Flows! As a rule of thumb, the nutrient solution concentration should be low during sunny days versus cloudy or cold days to avoid root injury due to high EC. Poor ventilation and high humidity may result in calcium disorders. Installing Horizontal Air Flow (HAF) fan or improving ventilation may increase the uptake of calcium, and minimize calcium disorders such as blossom-end rot in fruit vegetables and lettuce (Figure 2 & 3).

Figure 2 Severity of blossom-end-rot in tomatoes due to Calcium deficiency.

< Figure 3. Necrosis on young leaves (growing point) in lettuce due to calcium deficiency


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Sneaky Trick #4 Buzz Your Way To Larger Crops With Assisted Pollination! Generally, hydroponic production is grown under a closed environment. The probability of poor fruit set or poor pollination can be a common issue more so for fruit crops (tomato, eggplant, etc.) than leafy vegetables (lettuce, herbs etc). Therefore, assisted pollination is necessary for growing crops such as tomato, eggplants, cucumber, etc. It is advisable to have bumble bees or you may have to pollinate manually using some different techniques that are available!


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Sneaky Trick #5 Keep Your Grow Clean and Sanitized...Always Water borne diseases can spread easily in hydroponic production system. However, the spread of diseases and pests can be avoided by practicing cleanliness and sanitation from the very beginning, since the crops are grown under controlled environment. Practicing cleanliness and sanitation at every level of the production system right from handling of the planting materials to keeping the floor clean and sanitized will ensure pest and disease free environment. It is advisable to install misting or fogging system whenever it is too dry to prevent any out-breaks of mites. Good cleanliness and sanitation makes it possible to avoid the use of pesticides/ herbicides and other chemicals in the hydroponic production system. This is a plus factor, which can fetch a premium price for the produce.


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Where You Go From Here! I hope you enjoyed Dharma’s wisdom that he put into his special report for you. With these Sneaky Tricks, you can definitely triple your yield results after implementation! I want to thank you joining us in the quest to become a better grower and contributor to this world! Now that you have read this special report what’s next? We only had time in this special report to empower you with knowledge and steps to take. On a larger scale, we want to continue supporting you with your growing questions and provide you amazing training for the areas you need the most help with. With that said, you may have already seen the free presentation after you entered your email address to receive this special report. If you missed it then I highly recommend that you watch it so that you can...

Avoid the biggest mistakes that every grower makes when searching for training on the internet!


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