Greenhouse Management

Glossary

F

FERTIGATION – The application of soluble fertilizers through an irrigation system, which allows for nutrient spoon feeding of plants.

FERTILIZER – A single or blended substance containing one or more recognized plant nutrient(s) which is used primarily for its plant nutrient content and which is designed for use or claimed to have value in promoting plant growth.

FIBERGLASS REINFORCED POLYMER PLASTIC (FRP) – Fiber Reinforced Polymer is defined as a polymer (plastic) matrix, either thermoset or thermoplastic, that is reinforced (combined) with a fiber or other reinforcing material with a sufficient aspect ratio (length to thickness) to provide a discernable reinforcing function in one or more directions.

FIELD CAPACITY – The water content of a soil following drainage by gravity.

FINNED PIPE – Heat pipe to which closely spaced metal fins are fixed to increase the radiating surface of the pipe.

FIRE TUBE BOILER – A boiler where the heat is conducted through tubes that are surrounded by the water.

FLAT – A shallow box or tray used to start cuttings or seedlings.

FLOWABLE – A type of pesticide formulation in which a very finely ground solid particle is mixed in a liquid carrier.

FLUORESCENT LIGHTS – The new full spectrum fluorescent lights (e.g., CFL and T5) are energy efficient and extremely effective especially when used in numbers. Fluorescent grow lights also have better color rendering properties (more of the light emitted is used by the plant) and produce much less heat than incandescent and HID grow lights.

FOAMING AGENT – A chemical that causes a pesticide preparation to produce a thick foam. This aids in reducing drift.

FOLIAR FERTILIZATION – Application of a dilute solution of fertilizer to plant foliage, usually made to supplement soil-applied nutrients.

FOOT-CANDLES – A unit of measure of the intensity of light falling on a surface, equal to one lumen per square foot and originally defined with reference to a standardized candle burning at one foot from a given surface.

FORMULATION – Pesticide product as sold, usually a mixture of active and inert ingredients.

FRICTION LOSS – Pressure losses caused by friction of the water on the pipe walls and turbulence inside the pipe. Friction losses are a function of the pipe length, the pipe's inside diameter, the pipe material, and the flow rate. [psi/100ft, ft/100ft, kPa/100m]

FUMIGANT – Pesticide that is a vapor or gas or that forms a vapor or gas when applied and whose pesticidal action occurs in the gaseous state.

FUNGICIDE – A chemical that kills fungi.