Dear Colleagues,

The strong demand for high-value foods, ornamentals, and particularly, for off-season produce has led to a rapid increase in soilless production. The major trends in soilless culture are sustainable and eco-friendly growing substrates, particularly those available at a local level, and sustainable products (e.g., organic active compounds) as a source of plant nutrition and for plant growth regulation. New organic growing media components, especially those from industrial and agricultural wastes, need to be studied and the environmental and social impact need to be evaluated for their large-scale use in horticultural media mixes. In addition, organic supplements (e.g., biostimulants) have been evaluated as fertigation and foliar spray under field conditions, whereas the use of organic supplements in soilless culture, particularly in hydroponic production, is still limited, especially with regard to the biostability and impact on plant growth.

The present Special Issue aims to collect the available information on the role of organic substrates in intensive soilless crop production. Studies regarding substrates made from agricultural and industrial wastes (e.g., biochar and compost) and their characteristics and related effects on nutrition, irrigation, and the response to abiotic and biotic stresses in soilless vegetable and ornamental crop production are particularly welcomed. In addition, studies aiming to understand how organic additives in hydroponic nutrient solutions affect plant growth as well as the underlying mechanisms are also within the scope of the Special Issue.

Dr. Mengmeng Gu
Dr. Zheng Wang
Dr. Rui Yang
Dr. Ping Yu
Guest Editors

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• protected Horticulture
• growing substrate
• productivity and quality
• hydroponics
• organic amendment
• biochar
• biostimulant
• abiotic and biotic stress