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Cutting Edge Technology

$14 billion national horticulture industry
The $6 million Greenhouse Learning Center allows Oklahoma State University students to be active participants in the $14 billion national horticulture industry. Here, they learn real-world management and propagation of plant materials in state of the art facilities.

Each greenhouse is independently climate controlled using an automated micro-grow greenhouse system that continuously monitors conditions like temperature and humidity. Other state of the art features include LED and high pressure sodium grow lights, rolling benches and automatic dark shades.

Student Projects

Dr. Bruce Dunn showcasing some of the new technology of the Greenhouse Learning Center to Rob Haddock and Dr. Cynda Clary, Associate Dean.

Display Gardens

The outdoor display gardens include cover crops, raised beds, annual and perennial beds. Cover crops help reduce soil loss and stabilize the soil due to runoff from rainfall, it also helps reclaim soils that have been compacted from construction.

Deep water culture plant's roots are suspended in an oxygenated nutrient solution at the Greenhouse Learning Center.

Deep Water Culture

Students are learning and developing deep water culture plants. The plant's roots are suspended in an oxygenated nutrient solution. Soil provides gaps where air is present, thus the water needs to be oxygenated for the plants to survive. Soil also contains macro and micro nutrients for the plants so in hydroponics the oxygenated water is supplemented with nutrients. In a deep water culture, the deeper the water level the more stable the nutrient solution will remain.

The nutrient film system uses a water pump to deliver a constant flow of nutrient rich solution to the plants.

Nutrient Film System

Matthew Beartrack seen checking on the nutrient film system. This technique uses a water pump to deliver a constant flow of shallow, nutrient rich solution through the growing area and drains directly back into a reservoir. The growing trays are placed at an angle (supported by a rack or on a bench) to let the nutrient solution flow back into the reservoir.

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