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 plants are suspended in substrates, the substrate acts to replace soil. There are many kinds of substrates in use today. Wood chips, rockwool, sand, sawdust, perlite, and pebbles are among major examples. Substrates need to have ability to retain water and to allow gaseous exchange for optimal growth conditions for plants. Support is provided when roots grow deep into the substrate. The benefits of this kind of agriculture have attracted farmers worldwide and research deepens. Today it is not uncommon to see a hydroponics store in the neighborhood.
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.
There are two major kinds of hydroponics today, that is, medium culture and solution culture. In solution culture, there is no solid medium used for plant root system. Only the nutrient solution is used. On the other hand, medium culture involves the use of a solid medium to support the root system.
Further subdivision of solution cultures produces three major subgroups. These subgroups include aeroponics, static solution culture, and continuous-flow solution culture. Names for medium cultures are derived from the type of medium in use. For instance, there are gravel culture and rockwool culture. Medium and solution cultures can be divided further according to how irrigation is done. Under that criterion are top irrigation and sub-irrigation.
Plastics are the main materials used to make hydroponic reservoirs used today. However, sometime back concrete, glass, vegetable solids, wood, and metal among other materials were in wide use. In fact, these materials are still used to make reservoirs but on a small scale. Algae growth is encourage when reservoirs are exposed to light hence that must be avoided.
Nutrients that are used in hydroponics are usually in dissolved form. Mostly they are in ionic or inorganic form. There are several recipes used to make hydroponic solutions and several different chemicals are combined together to achieve required compositions. Some of the chemicals widely used to produce macronutrients include potassium phosphate, magnesium sulfate, calcium nitrate, and potassium nitrate. Over concentration of salt is likely to happen as plants deplete water and minerals.
The technology is being exercised on large scale in several countries. The constant supply of nutrients to plants coupled with lack of pests leads to high yields. However, plant growth is limited by lower levels of Carbon dioxide and restricted sunlight exposure.
When plants are suspended in substrates, the substrate acts to replace soil. There are many kinds of substrates in use today. Wood chips, rockwool, sand, sawdust, perlite, and pebbles are among major examples. Substrates need to have ability to retain water and to allow gaseous exchange for optimal growth conditions for plants. Support is provided when roots grow deep into the substrate. The benefits of this kind of agriculture have attracted farmers worldwide and research deepens. Today it is not uncommon to see a hydroponics store in the neighborhood.
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.
There are two major kinds of hydroponics today, that is, medium culture and solution culture. In solution culture, there is no solid medium used for plant root system. Only the nutrient solution is used. On the other hand, medium culture involves the use of a solid medium to support the root system.
Further subdivision of solution cultures produces three major subgroups. These subgroups include aeroponics, static solution culture, and continuous-flow solution culture. Names for medium cultures are derived from the type of medium in use. For instance, there are gravel culture and rockwool culture. Medium and solution cultures can be divided further according to how irrigation is done. Under that criterion are top irrigation and sub-irrigation.
Plastics are the main materials used to make hydroponic reservoirs used today. However, sometime back concrete, glass, vegetable solids, wood, and metal among other materials were in wide use. In fact, these materials are still used to make reservoirs but on a small scale. Algae growth is encourage when reservoirs are exposed to light hence that must be avoided.
Nutrients that are used in hydroponics are usually in dissolved form. Mostly they are in ionic or inorganic form. There are several recipes used to make hydroponic solutions and several different chemicals are combined together to achieve required compositions. Some of the chemicals widely used to produce macronutrients include potassium phosphate, magnesium sulfate, calcium nitrate, and potassium nitrate. Over concentration of salt is likely to happen as plants deplete water and minerals.
The technology is being exercised on large scale in several countries. The constant supply of nutrients to plants coupled with lack of pests leads to high yields. However, plant growth is limited by lower levels of Carbon dioxide and restricted sunlight exposure.
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