Virtual Hydroponic And Aquaponic Gardening Workshop Set For April 26

The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service is hosting a virtual educational workshop for those interested in hydroponic and aquaponic gardening on April 26.

The workshop will be held from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. The $100 registration cost is subsidized by grants from the Texas Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resource Conservation Service.

Registration is required at https://tx.ag/HydroponicsWorkshop. The registration deadline is April 25.

Workshop targets new, experienced growers

The workshop is geared toward new and prospective growers interested in hydroponics and aquaponics and for experienced growers.

Among other topics, individuals will learn more about the latest research on nitrogen fertilizer optimization, said Joe Masabni, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension small-acreage horticulture specialist and professor in the Texas A&M Department of Horticultural Sciences, Dallas.  

“We hope this will become the first of many in the future with the goal of having separate day-long programs for hydroponics and aquaponics,” Masabni said.

Workshop agenda

The workshop will feature the following speakers and topics:

• System types – Masabni.
• Suitable crops – Genhua Niu, Ph.D., Texas A&M AgriLife Research professor of urban agriculture in the Department of Horticultural Sciences, Dallas.
• System maintenance – Masabni.
• Lettuce variety trial – Desire Djidonou, Ph.D., assistant professor in urban and sustainable agriculture, Texas A&M University – Commerce, Commerce.
• Optimal nitrogen level – Qianwen Zhang, Ph.D., postdoctoral research associate, Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Dallas.
• Food Safety Modernization Act produce safety rules and food safety in hydroponics and aquaponics – Masabni.