Production and Plant Support Systems

Question 1

The most common types of growbags, or slabs, are made up of either 100% rockwool, or 100% coconut coir.
T or F

Answer 1

True

Question 2

A modern high tech greenhouse should be able to monitor and control which environmental parameters

Answer 2

Air, soil, and water temp, absolute and relative humidity, CO2 levels, water usage, nutrient and lighting levels

Question 3

An advantage to having a removable benching systems is that…

Answer 3

it can reduce the time and labour needed when shipping out product
you can change the benching for each production cycle
it can make cleaning and sanitation easier at the end of the season

Question 4

The primary goals of using some type of CEA technology in a production system are to

Answer 4

improve product quality, yield, and reduce production costs.

Question 5

Which type of hydroponic system has the plants suspended in air, with the nutrient solution applied to the roots through a either an intermittent or constant mist?

Answer 5

Aeroponics

Question 6

It is not possible to add any type of automation to a rolling bench system.
T or F

Answer 6

False

Question 7

A hanging basket with a saucer will come with a plastic insert that sits inside the bottom of the pot, to create a space within the pot to act as a drainage water reservoir.
T or F

Answer 7

False

Question 8

Which type of hydroponic system has the plants growing in a greenhouse soilless media with nutrient solutions typically applied through a drip irrigation system.

Answer 8

Hydroponic substrate culture

Question 9

Stationary Benches will make better use of the space in a greenhouse production area than Rolling Benches.
T or F

Answer 9

False

Question 10

When selecting an insert for your bedding plant production, an insert description of 806, would indicate that there are 6 tear apart cell packs, each with 8 cells.
T or F

Answer 10

False

Question 11

Thermoformed plastic pots are heavier, higher quality plastic pots that are designed to be used for multiple growing seasons.
T or F

Answer 11

False
Thermoformed are single use and thin, plastic injected are strong and reusable

Question 12

Which type of hydroponic system uses a thin layer of nutrient solution in a constant flow across the plant roots?

Answer 12

Nutrient Film Technique (NFT)

Question 13

One of the main differences between a trough and a bench is that a trough will only hold one row of plants or containers, while a bench is wide enough to hold multiple.
T or F

Answer 13

True

Question 14

A container production system can use either mineral based soils or soilless substrates to grow plants in.
T or F

Answer 14

True

Question 15

When talking about cell size in a plug tray, growers are referring to the number of individual spaces in that are each designed to hold one seed or plant.
T or F

Answer 15

True

Question 16

A Dutch Tray is a type of plant pot designed by a grower in the Netherlands.
T or F

Answer 16

False
A Dutch tray is actually a type of automated benching system.

Question 17

A shuttle tray is a specially designed flat that will hold multiple pots.
T or F

Answer 17

True

Question 18

Aquaponics is defined as the greenhouse production of plants that typically grow in outdoor ponds in their natural environment.
T or F

Answer 18

False

Question 19

A standard size plug tray is approx 10.5” x 21” in size.
T or F

Answer 19

True

Question 20

Troughs can be supported &/or configured in the greenhouse in which of the following ways?

Answer 20

tiered to provide multiple levels
On raised posts from the ground
Suspended by cables from the trusses or other overhead support

Question 21

Which type of hydroponic system has plants suspended in a reservoir of nutrient solution with an aerator to add dissolved oxygen?

Answer 21

Raft or Deep Water Culture (DWC)

Question 22

While bedding plants are the largest ornamental crop in terms of numbers of plants, Potted plant production is the largest ornamental crop by sales ($).
T or F

Answer 22

True

Question 23

A hanging basket system is a good way to increase the use of the volume of space in a greenhouse, rather than just floor area.
T or F

Answer 23

True

Question 24

Which type of hydroponic system uses a large volume of nutrient solution in a constant flow across the plant’s roots?

Answer 24

Deep Film Technique (DFT)

Question 25

A hydroponic production system refers to any greenhouse production system that uses no mineral soils and all of the nutrients required by the plant are delivered through the irrigation system.
T or F

Answer 25

True

Question 26

Tomatoes, peppers and eggplant are the most common greenhouse vegetable crops grown in Canada
T or F

Answer 26

False
Tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers

Question 27

Operating costs

Answer 27

a cost that a business incurs to carrying on normal business activities.

Question 28

Capital costs

Answer 28

a cost that a business incurs to purchase land, buildings or equipment.

Question 29

A trough where there is no material between the plants and you can see in the channel where drainage water is moving is called

Answer 29

An open trough

Question 30

Which type of plant support system will make the most efficient use of floor space?

Answer 30

Floor production

Question 31

It is not possible to purchase a growbag slab that contains a blend of substrates
T or F

Answer 31

False
While single substrate types are most common, (example 100% rockwool, or 100% coco) growbags can be ordered with a blend of substrates (Example - some berry growers use a blend of peatmoss, coco and perlite in a growbag)

Question 32

The production of lettuce, eggplant and fine herb crops in Ontario are regulated by the Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers marketing board.
T or F

Answer 32

False
they regulate only tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers

Question 33

A grower might choose to use a soil culture system if…

Answer 33

they want to be certified organic or if they don’t have the budget for hydroponics

Question 34

One of the disadvantages of a wire cage bench is that it is specific to the size of pot you are using in your production, so changing pot sizes will require changing your plant support system.
T or F

Answer 34

True

Question 35

It is possible that some plant support systems can also incorporate the irrigation system as well.
T or F

Answer 35

True

Question 36

Controlled Environmental Agriculture only refers to growing systems using hydroponic production techniques.
T or F

Answer 36

False