Surveying North American Specialty Crop Growers’ Current Use of Soilless Substrates and Future Research and Education Needs

Jeb S. Fields (), James S. Owen, Alexa Lamm, James Altland, Brian Jackson, Lorence Oki, Jayesh B. Samtani, Youbin Zheng and Kristopher S. Criscione
Additional contact information
Jeb S. Fields: Hammond Research Station, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, 21549 Old Covington Hwy., Hammond, LA 70403, USA
James S. Owen: Application Technology Research Unit, 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster, OH 44691, USA
Alexa Lamm: Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communication, University of Georgia, 132 Four Towers, Athens, GA 30602, USA
James Altland: Application Technology Research Unit, 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster, OH 44691, USA
Brian Jackson: Department of Horticultural Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
Lorence Oki: Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, MS6 One Shields Ave., Davis, CA 95616, USA
Jayesh B. Samtani: Hampton Roads Agricultural Research and Extension Center, School of Plant and Environmental Sciences, 1444 Diamond Springs Rd., Virginia Beach, VA 23455, USA
Youbin Zheng: School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Rd. E., Guelph, ON N1G 1M3, Canada
Kristopher S. Criscione: Hammond Research Station, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, 21549 Old Covington Hwy., Hammond, LA 70403, USA

Agriculture, 2023, vol. 13, issue 9, 1-17

Abstract: Many specialty crop growers are transitioning high-value crops from in-ground production to soilless culture due to the diminishing availability of fumigants, increasing pest pressure, extreme weather, and the need for flexible production practices. The objective of this study was to determine the research and educational needs of specialty crop growers who are transitioning to soilless substrates. North American growers were surveyed using an online instrument that incorporated Likert-type statement matrices, open-ended questions, and demographic questions. Additionally, two virtually led focus groups were conducted to further expand upon the quantitative findings with descriptive data. Respondents indicated the most important factors in considering whether to adopt soilless substrates were improving, managing, and reducing overall plant quality, disease management, and crop loss, respectively. The most important research needs were understanding the effects of substrates on crop quality and uniformity, fertilizer management, and economic costs and benefits/return on investment. In both the grower survey and focus groups, crop quality and uniformity were among the highest-scored responses. Food safety, disease and pest management, consumer perception, substrate disposal-related issues, transportation, and return-on-investment were also identified as important factors when considering soilless substrates.

Keywords: growing med; stakeholder; greenhouse; nursery; vegetable; small fruit; controlled environment agriculture; irrigation; fertility; disease (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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