THE 34th NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL PLASTICS CONGRESS
MARCH 7 to MARCH 10, 2008 in TAMPA, FLORIDA

Best Paper Award

Congress organizers strive to offer the highest level of presentations by researchers, educators, and industry representatives. The Society recognizes authors who are judged as having prepared the highest quality paper by the presentation of the Best Paper Award.

Dr. Bernard A. Kratky

Growing Lettuce by a Float-Support Non-Circulating Hydroponic Method in Hawaii and Pennsylvania
Co-authors: M.D. Orzolek and W. L. Lamont -  Pennsylvania State University

Dr. Kratky is a Horticulturist with the University of Hawaii at Manoa, serving in the Department of Tropical Plant and Soil Sciences. He is located at the Beaumont Agricultural Research Center in Hilo. His research there has focused on plasticulture, culture and management of vegetable crops, non-circulating hydroponic culture, and ralstonia control in edible ginger.

After receiving his bachelors degree from the University of Wisconsin in 1967, Bernie continued his studies at Purdue University, receiving his Masters in 1969 and Doctorate in 1971. In sabbatical studies he has completed research in Wellesbourn, UK; Shanhau, Taiwan; Gatton, Australia; and Madison, Wisconsin. He holds five US patents including two for non-circulating hyrodponic plant growing systems. This paper is his fourth presentation at the National Agricultural Plastics Congress.

In addition to the research reported in his award-winning paper, Bernie’s current projects include development of a non-circulating sub-irrigation hydroponic method for growing vegetables which does not encourage mosquitoes, ralstonia control, development of an inexpensive hydroponic method to produce seed and gourmet potatoes, and hydroponic production of watercress.