Hydroponics
Have you ever thought of growing plants without soil? A science known
as
hydroponics will allow you to do just this. Hydroponics systems have been
used
since the time of the ancient Babylonians who used them to used them to
grow
their famous hanging gardens. Today, all around the world, fruits,
vegetables,
flowers, and ornamental plants are grown using hydroponics. The
word hydroponics
was derived from the Greek words hydros, meaning water, and
ponos, meaning
labor, or literally, water working. Hydro-ponics is simply
growing plants in a
water and balanced fertilizer solution. It is rapidly
becoming the most common
way of growing speciality crops and crops that
require special conditions to
grow. Hydroponics is also known as
Soilless/Controlled Environment Agriculture.
This means that plants are
grown without soil in greenhouse environments in
which everything from the
amount of nutrients applied to the temperature and
humidity can be monitored
closely. Greenhouses are ideal for hydroponics systems
because they have
their own climate. New types of greenhouses are designed to
distribute light
from the sun during the day to promote better plant growth and
retain heat at
night which saves on fuel. These greenhouses are quickly becoming
choice
places for growers to set up their hydroponics systems. These set-ups
are
increasing yields and decreasing plant loss which is more profitable for
the
grower. Speciality crops such as tomatoes, lettuce, cucumbers, and hot
peppers,
which cannot be grown conventionally all year long, are being grown
in
hydroponically. These vegetables which were previously scarce in some
seasons
will be plentiful all year. Hydroponically grown vegetables can be
harvested
year ‘round so even regions that have harsh winters, or short
growing seasons
can enjoy these special crops anytime. One fruit that is
especially hard to find
at certain times of the year is the strawberry. The
strawberry industry is
beginning to convert from the traditional soil grown
berries to the
hydroponically grown variety. This drastic change was brought
about by an
upcoming ban on methyl bromide, which is used to fumigate
strawberry plants. If
the plants are not fumigated, yields drop, pests
destroy the leaves and roots of
the plant, as well as, the fruit. Scientists
at the Appalachian Fruit Research
Station in Kearneysville, West Virgina
have transplanted many varieties of
strawberries, previously grown in the
soil, into a hydroponics system. They
added the nutrients the plants normally
received from the soil directly into the
water. The results of the
experiments have been good. Each of the plants were
healthy and each yielded
between one and two pounds of fruit. The strawberry
experiments were not
totally problem free. The researchers had problems with
mites, thrips, and
powdery mildew on the foliage of the plant. To solve pest
problem the
researchers used beneficiary predatory mites to rid the plants of
the tiny
parasites. To get rid of the mildew the researchers regulated the
humidity
level in the green house so prevent the mildew from growing on the
leaves.
Another industry that utilizes hydroponics is the flower
industry.
Holland is a main supplier of roses to the United States, and
almost all of
their flowers are grown hydroponically. Herbs such as cilantro,
oregano, and
dill are also being grown hydroponically. Ornamental plants are
also being grown
hydroponically. Flower shops and nurseries can have plants
that are usually out
of season at some time, all year long. The advantages of
hydroponically grown
crops are significant. The fruits and vegetables have
superior taste,
appearance, and quality. There are no weeds, cultivation, and
no soil borne
diseases or insects. All the plants receive the same amount of
water and
nutrients. Due to the "closed circuit" nature of the systems
less
water and less fertilizer is needed. All of these things make
hydroponics a
practical way to grow some crops. Commercial growers often use
a product known
as Perlite as a growth medium in their hydroponics system.
Perlite is a volcanic
glass formed when lava cools rapidly trapping water.
The glass is crushed and
heated to very high temperatures. From this comes a
soft mineral foam. This foam
can hold large amounts of water, and has a
neutral pH. These two factors make it
ideal for a growth medium. There are
certain nutrients that are needed to make a
quality nutrient solution for a
hydroponics system. These elements are Nitrogen,
Potassium, Phosphorous,
Calcium, Magnesium, Sulfur, Manganese, Iron, Copper,
Zinc, and Chlorine.
They are essential to a plants growth and development. Most
of them are
absorbed from the soil. Many growers argue that hydroponics are not
as good
as organic gardening, but the majority of the results show that their is
not
much difference as far as yields are concerned. The main difference in
the
two methods of growing is the way the plant receives the nutrients.
Hydroponics
has many advantages that make it an excellent alternative to
conventional
growing methods. With the amount of research being done to
perfect the various
methods of hydroponic growing, the future of many
speciality crops looks bright.
Many researchers propose using hydroponics
in areas where the soil quality is
poor farming space is limited. Some
researchers even propose using hydroponics
in space, if human colonies are
ever settled. Hydroponics may not be the best
way to grow for everyone but it
seems to be a very feasible alternative to
traditional growing. Many positive
results show that hydroponics have a definite
place in the future of
growing.