Online 4-H Crop Production Lessons for Grades 4-8: Soil-based and Soilless Systems

Earth’s population growth and concurrent decline in farmland pose great challenges for food security across our planet.¹ The challenge of how to feed 9.9 billion people calls for new methods to grow and distribute food.² Having access to fresh and nutritious food is a basic need for all people. We invite youth to be learners and leaders who meet these challenges with a new vision for crop production that combines soil-based and soilless farming.

To engage youth in these global challenges, WVU Extension Service, Iowa State University Extension, and PLANTS, LLC have partnered to create a series of online lessons. Youth can gain a foundation by digging deep into crop growth and development in conventional and hydroponic systems. Youth learners in this online program will also explore their role and possible career opportunities in sustainable agriculture and ag technology.

Questions that students will explore in the online lessons include:

• How do plant seeds differ in terms of germination rates, structures, and plant types? 
• What type of plant maintenance is important for each stage of plant growth?
• How does light intensity and duration affect photosynthesis? 
• What are key elements of a healthy soil, and how does soil quality affect plant growth? 
• When are soilless plant production systems good alternatives to soil-based farming?
• What plant growth strategies can be used to conserve water? 
• How can farmers apply new plant growth technologies to increase crop yield and integrate sustainable agricultural practices?

For more information, contact Laurie Ruberg PLANTS, LLC (LFRuberg@gmail.com) or Karen Cox, WVU Extension Agent, Ohio County (Karen.Cox@mail.wvu.edu), or Maya Hayslett (hayslett@iastate.edu)

This project is made possible by support from NASA West Virginia Space Grant Consortium. Students will explore soil-based as well as soilless (hydroponic) agriculture methods used locally and as part of NASA space science research. The Iowa State University 4-H program shared material from their Crops Feed the World online lessons in support of this project.

1 Read more about world population growth projections presented by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) at: https://sdg.iisd.org/news/world-population-to-reach-9-9-billion-by-2050/

2 Read more about New and Emerging Technology for High Quality and Sustainable Horticulture Production in Gonnella, M., & Renna, M. (2021). The evolution of soilless systems towards ecological sustainability in the perspective of a circular economy. Is it really the opposite of organic culture? Agronomy 2021, 11(5), 950; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11050950.