Hydroponics as a division of hydroculture entails growing plants in the absence of soil. Only water and nutrient solutions are used. Sometimes water is not used, but nutrients solutions alone in which terrestrial plants are immersed. Water is supplied to such plants. Water and nutrient delivery can be achieved through various methods including directly hanging root systems inside nutrient solutions, placing root systems containers with substrates, and misting the roots.
When suspended in a substrate, the substrate acts as a replacement for soil. Substrates are of many different types these days. Some of the most common ones include wood chips, rockwool, pebbles, sand, sawdust, or perlite among others. Important characteristics that substrates need to have are good water retention capacity and porosity to allow gaseous exchange. Roots develop into the substrate to offer support. This form of agriculture has become very attractive to farmers and it is being practiced worldwide. It is common to see a hydroponics store on the streets.
This technology has a long history. Earliest publication on the technology was done in 1627 by Francis Bacon. The publication was printed after the death of Bacon and since then research in that direction increased. Several publications were done since 1699. The technology was modified severally as research continued to perfect it.
Today, solution culture and medium culture are the two key types of hydroponics in existence. Solution cultures are named so because they lack a solid medium. Medium culture have a solid medium for providing plants with support.
Solution cultures are further subdivided into three major subgroups. The subgroups are aeroponics, continuous-flow solution culture, and static solution culture. Medium cultures are named according to the type of medium used for instance rockwool culture and gravel culture. The two cultures can further be divided according to the kind of irrigation used. There are two kinds of irrigation systems in wide use today, that is top irrigation and sub-irrigation.
Today, most hydroponic reservoirs in use are manufactured from plastic materials. However, formerly, other materials including wood, metal, concrete, glass, and vegetable solids were in wide use. In fact, there are still some reservoirs made of such materials. The reservoirs must never be exposed to sunlight to prevent growth of algae.
Nutrients are dissolved before being supplied to plants. Nutrients are usually in form of ions and inorganic form. The number of recipes used to make hydroponic solutions is huge. The desired composition is attained by mixing numerous chemicals together. Potassium phosphate, potassium nitrate, magnesium sulfate, and calcium nitrate are among chemicals used to provide macronutrients. As plants continue to absorb water and nutrients from soils, salt concentration increases to harmful levels. Close monitoring is required to avoid that.
This technology is currently used on a commercial scale in many countries. Productivity is very high due to constant nutrient supply and reduced pest problems. However, limited exposure to light and low levels of CO2 can limit growth in plants.
When suspended in a substrate, the substrate acts as a replacement for soil. Substrates are of many different types these days. Some of the most common ones include wood chips, rockwool, pebbles, sand, sawdust, or perlite among others. Important characteristics that substrates need to have are good water retention capacity and porosity to allow gaseous exchange. Roots develop into the substrate to offer support. This form of agriculture has become very attractive to farmers and it is being practiced worldwide. It is common to see a hydroponics store on the streets.
This technology has a long history. Earliest publication on the technology was done in 1627 by Francis Bacon. The publication was printed after the death of Bacon and since then research in that direction increased. Several publications were done since 1699. The technology was modified severally as research continued to perfect it.
Today, solution culture and medium culture are the two key types of hydroponics in existence. Solution cultures are named so because they lack a solid medium. Medium culture have a solid medium for providing plants with support.
Solution cultures are further subdivided into three major subgroups. The subgroups are aeroponics, continuous-flow solution culture, and static solution culture. Medium cultures are named according to the type of medium used for instance rockwool culture and gravel culture. The two cultures can further be divided according to the kind of irrigation used. There are two kinds of irrigation systems in wide use today, that is top irrigation and sub-irrigation.
Today, most hydroponic reservoirs in use are manufactured from plastic materials. However, formerly, other materials including wood, metal, concrete, glass, and vegetable solids were in wide use. In fact, there are still some reservoirs made of such materials. The reservoirs must never be exposed to sunlight to prevent growth of algae.
Nutrients are dissolved before being supplied to plants. Nutrients are usually in form of ions and inorganic form. The number of recipes used to make hydroponic solutions is huge. The desired composition is attained by mixing numerous chemicals together. Potassium phosphate, potassium nitrate, magnesium sulfate, and calcium nitrate are among chemicals used to provide macronutrients. As plants continue to absorb water and nutrients from soils, salt concentration increases to harmful levels. Close monitoring is required to avoid that.
This technology is currently used on a commercial scale in many countries. Productivity is very high due to constant nutrient supply and reduced pest problems. However, limited exposure to light and low levels of CO2 can limit growth in plants.
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