Advances in Soilless Substrate Science for Modern Plant Production Systems

Dear Colleagues,

Advancements in soilless plant systems are occurring rapidly today. Innovations and new science make this one of the fastest-growing sectors in agriculture worldwide. The reasons for this are many: less arable land for food production; increased emphasis on locally produced crops; more traditional field-grown crops being produced in soilless systems; higher demand for more sustainable plant production practices; reduction of pollutants and emerging environmental and economic advantages to producing plants in containers. These advances in plant production practices have spurred the need for more research in these areas.

In addition, the concerns for increased food safety and local food security have accelerated the development and adoption of urban growing systems, container gardening, green roof systems, and vertical farming technologies, and other systems that utilize soilless substrates will continue to drive the demand for new and improved products with enhanced performance well into the future.

Once thought to be only relevant for greenhouse and nursery ornamental production, soilless substrates now are being used in consumable plant production including vegetables, herbs, leafy greens, soft fruit, and Cannabis. Creative thinking and proactive product development have yielded some remarkable advancements in plant production and thriving plant functioning systems. This issue is intended to highlight topics within these crucial scientific initiatives.

This Special Issue will focus on recent advances in the development, formulation, characterization, and utilization of traditional and novel soilless substrate materials (growing media other than mineral soils in situ) used in plant production systems and enclosed planting areas. We welcome high-quality novel research and reviews covering all related topics in soilless substrate science, including new and emerging components, substrate engineering and formulation, substrate characterization and analytical techniques, substrate hydrology and physical properties, water capture and management, chemical and phytotoxicological properties, reducing water and nutrient runoff, biological additives and microbial influences, advancement of technologies such as green roofs, vertical farms, and vertical gardening substrates, as well as other closely related research areas within soilless substrates.

Dr. William Carl Fonteno III
Dr. Jean-Charles Michel
Dr. Brian Eugene Jackson
Guest Editors

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