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What is hydroponic farming?
Hydroponics meaning is to growing plants without soil, with the sources of nutrients either a nutrients solution or nutrient-enriched water, and that an inert mechanical root support may or may not be used. The word “Hydroponics” was coined by Dr. W.F. Gericke in 1936 to describe the cultivation of both edible and ornamental plants in a solution of water and dissolved nutrients. The simple meaning is derived from the Greek “Hydro”- meaning water, and “Ponos”- meaning labor. In this method of cultivation, plants are provided with the nutrients required for growth by a “nutrient” solution which is basically nutrient enriched mineral water. This nutrient solution can be circulated around the roots by either the passive force of gravity or the active force of an electromechanical pump. Some systems simply bath the roots in nutrient solution and use an air pump to oxygenate the solution from below to prevent stagnation and provide the roots with important oxygen.
Hydroponics is a method of growing crops without soil. Plants are grown in rows or on trellises, just like in a traditional garden, but they have their roots in water rather than in dirt. Most of us confuse soil with nutrients. In fact, soil provides structure, not the actual food itself, for plant roots. The food comes from other materials mixed in the soil, such as compost, broken-down plant waste or fertilizers. Plants grown hydroponically can actually grow faster and healthier than plants in soil because they don’t have to fight soilborne diseases; in addition, all the food and water they need are given directly to their roots around the clock.
Plants grown in a hydroponic system are usually grown in trays that are slightly angled in order to allow the nutrient solution to flow back to the holding tank through gravity. The plants, which are grown without soil, are anchored in the trays with an inert material that is the clay, sand, rock wool, or coco coir. Hydroponic crops should be closely monitored and pruned specifically to produce high yields. Hydroponic crop yields can be up to 100 times higher than conventionally grown plants when things like vertical systems and controlled environment agriculture are taken into account. Hydroponic crops are those varieties that don’t need a lot of space and don’t take an overly long time to grow. Lettuce, tomatoes, and beans are excellent hydroponic crops, as are squash, melons, cucumbers, and leeks.
Hydroponic crop yields are cleaner and less likely to have contaminants or pesticides. Because hydroponic gardens are most often grown inside, they are not subject to the same pollutants or pests of a conventional garden or eld. India is currently importing more than 85% of its exotic vegetables, creating a growth rate of 15 to 20% per year. Certainly, the hydroponic system can help fuel this growth given the agro-based economics of India.
Hydroponics yield factors
Year-round gardening means more crops per year
One of the important factors influencing hydroponics yield is its ability to grow different crops indoors and year-round. Field crops are often limited to one harvest per year because of variations in weather conditions.
Higher plant density allows for more crops per acre
The hydroponic system allows for higher plant density in one or more of the following ways hydroponic crops can be grown;
• Closer together than in soil,
• Grown vertically as opposed to horizontally,
• In layers and with much less walking space between rows.
• Employing any one of these methods can increase crop yields; however, incorporating several can result in even more plant density.
