Hydroponics

            HYDROPONICS 

      Article by: Spandana jakkula

Introduction :

What is Hydroponics? 

Hydroponics, also called aquaculture, nutriculture, soilless culture, or tank farming, the cultivation of plants in nutrient-enriched water, with or without the mechanical support of an inert medium such as sand, gravel, or perliteperlite. 

History of Hydroponics :

Hydroponics was first demonstrated in the year 1860. Julius Von Sachs (1860), a prominent German botanist for the first time, demonstrated that plants could be grown to maturity in a defined nutrient solution in the complete absence of soil.

                            

Nutrients used in Hydroponics:Macronutrients include carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sulfur, calcium, and magnesium. Micronutrients include iron, manganese, zinc, boron, molybdenum, chlorine, copper, and nickel. 

Types of Hydroponics:

1. Nutrient film technique (NFT) 

2. Deep water culture (DWC) 

3. Wick system

4. Ebb and flow hydroponic system

5. Drip system

6. Aeroponics

7. Kratky method of hydroponics

What is NFT? 

Nutrient film technique (NFT) is a hydroponic technique where in a very shallow stream of water containing all the dissolved nutrients required for plant growth is re-circulated past the bare roots of plants in a watertight gully, also known as channels.

The Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) is perhaps the most reliable and popular hydroponic method.

The most important feature of NFT hydroponics is that plant roots are in direct contact with flowing nutrient solution.

 

            

What is DFT? 

Deep Flow Technique (DFT) is a hydroponic method that uses water as a medium to supply nutrients to plants through ponds. Plants are cultivated in drainage channels with a nutrient solution that is about 4-6 cm in height that flows continuously, where the roots of plants are always submerged in the nutrient solution.

   

          

What is wick system? 

wick system is a hydroponic growing set-up that uses a soft fabric string known as a wick. In a wick system, a cotton or nylon wick absorbs water and nutrients from a solution and supplies it to plants in containers or trays. 

         

            

What is Ebb and flow hydroponic? 

Ebb and Flow, or Flood and Drain is a system involves the periodic flooding and draining of the nutrient solutions. Basically, there are two phases of its operation. The Flood is when the water and nutrients flow the growing areas, flowing over the plants' roots. 

    

       

What is drip system? 

drip system is an active hydroponic system. This means that it uses a pump to feed your plants with nutrients and water regularly. It is also called trickle, or micro irrigation system. As the name suggests, the system uses small emitters to drip the nutrient solution directly onto your plants.

What is Areoponics? 

Aeroponics is the process of growing plants in an air or mist environment without the use of soil or an aggregate medium. The word "aeroponic" is derived from the Greek meanings of aer and ponos. Aeroponic culture differs from both conventional hydroponics, aquaponics, and in-vitro growing.

 

What is Kratkya method of hydroponics? 

The Kratky method is a passive hydroponic technique for growing plants suspended above a reservoir of nutrient-rich water.

 Advantages of Hydroponics 

1. No soil is needed. 

2. Crops are not contaminated with soil. 

3. Less water is needed than with soil-grown crops.

4. Up to 90% more efficient use of water. 

5. Production increases 3 to 10 times in the same amount of space. Many crops can be produced twice as fast in a well managed hydroponic system.

  Disadvantages of Hydroponics 

1. Expensive to set up. Compared to a traditional garden. 

2. Waterborne diseases. 

3. Time Consuming. 

  What can be grown through Hydroponics? 

   Although almost any crop can be grown hydroponically, the most common are leaf  lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, strawberries, watercress, celery and some herbs. 

 What cannot be grown in Hydroponics? 

  Some of the ones to avoid growing hydroponically are root vegetables such as turnips, onions, garlic, carrots, and rutabaga. Typically, these species will need plenty of soil for their roots to spread out in search of nutrients and moisture. 

  

 Applications of hydroponics 

  

1. It is used to grow many crops under artificial conditions for economic purposes.

2. Hydroponics has been successfully employed as a technique for the commercial production of vegetables such as tomato, seedless cucumber and lettuce.