Michigan State University Extension has added the Root Zone Management class to its online roster of offered courses, bringing the total to five. This two-and-a-half hour course is comprised of pre-recorded video lectures that discuss irrigation water, media, their effects on plant nutrition, and root zone management techniques for ornamental crops in a greenhouse.

There is a short 4-minute video on MSU's website giving a preview of the course. You can follow this LINK to watch it.

The course is broken down into three units: irrigation water, media, and nutrition. Unit 1 covers topics regarding irrigation water including water sources, water quality, water treatment, and irrigation timing and methodology. Unit 2 talks about the physical and chemical properties of media, as well as substrate components and amendments. The third unit covers the essential elements for plant nutrition, how to select a fertilizer, and how to monitor nutrition of greenhouse crops.

Three scholarships are also available. Visit the link at the end of this article find out more. You can also find additional articles pertaining to MSU by visiting landscapearchitect.com and perusing the Education News section on the homepage, or by searching Michigan State in the search bar.

This course is offered twice a year, once in the winter and once in the summer. Enrollment for the winter quarter of 2018 ends December 7, and the cost to register is $129 per person. Non-MSU affiliates can register for the class by creating an account and signing up online. Click HERE to learn more.