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Home > Books > Vegetables - Importance of Quality Vegetables to Human Health

Hydroponic Production Systems: Impact on Nutritional Status and Bioactive Compounds of Fresh Vegetables

Submitted: 03 October 2017 Reviewed: 08 December 2017 Published: 01 March 2018

DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.73011

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Hydroponic systems for vegetable production are nowadays essential to maximize productions and increase yields. Although the technical issues concerning the production are well explored and discussed, less information is available about the impact of hydroponic methods in the nutritional status of fresh vegetables and in particularly in their levels of bioactive compounds. Therefore, the aim of the current chapter is to provide accurate and updated information about their effects on compositional and bioactive properties of vegetables, comparing with conventional production mode. This chapter will be divided as the following sections: (1) introduction (introduction to the theme), (2) hydroponics and quality of vegetable produces, and (3) conclusion. With this chapter, we hope to present an updated and credible discussion, compare hydroponic versus conventional vegetables production mode, and present new consumers and producer trends.

• hydroponics
• conventional production
• bioactivities

Author Information

Alfredo aires *.

• Centre for the Research and Technology for Agro-Environment and Biological Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro CITAB, UTAD, Quinta de Prados, Portugal

*Address all correspondence to: [email protected]

1. Introduction

Hydroponics can be briefly defined as cultivation of plants without soil [ 13 ]. In short, hydroponics, a Greek word meaning “hydro” (water) and “ponos” (labor) is the method of growing plants in different types of substrates (chemically inert), sand, gravel, or liquid (water), in which nutrients are added, but no soil is used [ 13 , 14 ].

Actually, Europe is considered the biggest market for hydroponics in which France, the Netherlands, and Spain are the three top producers, followed by the United States of America and Asia-Pacific region. These systems are becoming increasingly widespread over the world, and according to the most recent report [ 15 ], it is expected to reach a world growth of 18.8% from 2017 to 2023, corresponding to a global hydroponic market USD 490.50 Million by 2023.

According to growers, hydroponic systems help them in expanding their ability for a continuous production in a short growing period, require less space, and plants can be produced anywhere, i.e., in a small spaces with a controlled growth environment [ 16 ]. Growers often reply that hydroponics always allows them to have higher productivities and yields without any constrains of climate and weather conditions [ 17 ]. In addition, growers often claimed that quality of hydroponic produces is superior because it uses a highly controlled environment and enables a more homogeneous production without any loss of water and nutrients. Moreover, hydroponics is not dependent on seasonality, and therefore, their productivities are higher and homogenous throughout the year [ 18 ]. Growers also often report that hydroponic productions are easier, and since they do not require cultural operations such as plowing, weeding, soil fertilization, and crop rotation, they are light and clean [ 19 ]. However, the scientific evidences are often contradictory and different disadvantages are reported to justify their rejection: high initial costs, high technical and plant physiology knowledge, periodic work routines, and efficient electrical systems [ 4 , 19 , 20 ]. It is also necessary and effective to control nutritional solutions and take daily measurements of liquid nutrients to avoid excess salinization and control microbial diseases and pests to avoid any loss of production [ 4 ]. Nonetheless, growers often argue that this technique allows the possibility to grow healthier food and helps in the reduction of wastes. An example of this waste reduction can be seen in lettuce, the most hydroponically cultivated crop in the world, in which about 99% of their hydroponic leaves are valid and they can be sold to a value approximately of 40% more expensive than a lettuce grown traditionally [ 4 ]. Moreover, with hydroponics, there is a better opportunity to place the fresh produces in the market since their average nutritional quality and consumer’s acceptance are higher [ 21 ]. In addition, growers reported that with hydroponics, some of the negative impacts of conventional agriculture are avoided including high and inefficient use of water, large land requirements, high concentrations of nutrients and pesticides, and soil degradation accompanied by erosion [ 22 , 23 ]; issues that are much more in the nowadays concerns of consumers.

Worldwide consumers are increasingly interested in having more environment-friendly fresh vegetables due to the strong and well-established inverse relationship between vegetable consumption and the risk of many types of chronic and degenerative diseases like cancer, cardiovascular, and neurological disorders [ 1 ]. Because of this growing consumer interest, the content of health-promoting compounds is becoming a vital consideration for fruit and vegetable growers. In fact, fresh vegetables and fruits are rich sources of bioactive compounds with significant health benefits, and these beneficial compounds can be influenced by several key factors including genotype selection and environmental conditions (light, temperature, humidity, atmospheric CO 2 ). Contrary to the conventional agricultural system, hydroponic relies on the manipulation of nutrients, which according to different authors allows having produces with high accumulation of some beneficial nutrients [ 3 , 5 ]. However, questions about their safety are often raised.

There are considerable research studies regarding conventional and hydroponic production separately, but few have compared the impact of both on the nutritional quality of fresh vegetables. In this context, with this chapter, we discuss with updated information on the differences between of hydroponics and conventional production and the impact of hydroponics in the nutritional composition and bioactive compound levels. We debate their impact, limitations, and success.

2. Hydroponics and quality of vegetable produces

2.1. hydroponic systems: definition of hydroponics and brief description of main hydroponic systems.

Hydroponic production is the method of growing plants under soilless (i.e., soil less) conditions with nutrients, water, and an inert medium (gravel, sand, pearlite among others) [ 13 , 14 ].

From the perspective of plant science, there are no differences between soilless and soil-grown plants, because in both systems, the nutrients must be dissolved in water before plants can absorb them [ 24 ]. The differences reside in the way of nutrients that are available to the plants. In hydroponics, the nutrients are dissolved in water and the solution goes into the plant roots, which uptake the water with minerals toward different parts of plant. In the soil-based production, the elements stick to the soil particles, pass into the soil solution, where they are absorbed by the plant roots [ 24 , 25 ].

There are different types of hydroponics, depending on how they are characterized. One criterion is to classify as closed or open hydroponic systems [ 25 , 26 ]. The hydroponic systems that do not use growing media are usually referred as closed systems, while hydroponic systems with growing media in a container may be closed or open depending on whether the nutrient solution is recirculated (closed) or is introduced on every irrigation cycle (open). In the closed systems, the nutrient concentrations are constantly recycled, monitored, and adjusted, while in open systems, the nutrient solution is discarded (but stored) after each nutrition cycle.

Another approach to classify hydroponic systems is to classify them based on the movement of the nutrient solution: active or passive [ 26 , 27 ]. Active means that nutrient solution will be moved, usually by a pump, and passive relies on a wick or the anchor of the growing media. Others characterize the hydroponics with recovery or nonrecovery criteria [ 26 , 27 ]. Recovery is when the nutrient solution will be reintroduced into the system, while nonrecovery means that nutrient solution is applied to the growing media and vanish after that.

Although there is a large diversity of criteria, there are three fundamental things for plants: (1) water/moisture, (2) nutrients, and (3) oxygen. All these different types of hydroponics must deliver those three important fundamental things to achieve success in plant production. Despite this diversity, the criteria most commonly used by growers, farmers, private companies, and researchers categorize hydroponic systems into six different types [ 26 , 27 , 28 ]: Nutrient film technique (NFT), wick system, ebb and flow (flood and drain), water culture, drip system, and aeroponic system. Table 1 summarizes the main characteristics of each system.

Main types of hydroponic systems and their respective characteristics, according to growers, farmers, private companies, and researchers [ 18 , 19 , 20 ].

2.2. Bioactive compounds

2.2.1. definition of “bioactive compounds”.

According to Biesalski et al. [ 2 ], it is widely accepted that bioactive compounds can be defined as essential and nonessential compounds that occur in nature as part of the food chain and with positive effect on human health. Bioactive compounds consist of chemicals found in small volumes in plants (leaves, roots, shoots, bark) and foods such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, oils, cereals, and grains [ 29 ]. Bioactive compounds result from secondary metabolites of plants and are not essential for their daily functioning but play a significant role in the defense, attraction, signaling, and competition and thus are often named as secondary plant metabolites [ 30 , 31 ].

2.2.2. Types and main groups of bioactive compounds in vegetables

Bioactive compounds may be classified according to different criteria. The most common classification used by literature is based on their pharmacological and toxicological effect. However, this is more relevant to the clinicians, pharmacist, or toxicologists and not for plant biologists, agronomists, or other researchers involved in plant-related studies. For these last groups, it is normal to classify them according to biochemical pathways and chemical classes.

Table 2 summarizes the main classes of bioactive compounds often found in plants and foods.

Main classes of bioactive compounds commonly found in plants, classified according to chemical class criteria [ 1 , 2 , 24 , 25 , 26 ].

2.3. Hydroponic and accumulation of bioactive compounds

Soil farmers experience these same types of variations with respect to soil health and fluctuations in environmental conditions. For example, water quality and variations in temperature and humidity can place stress on crops potentially changing their biochemical makeup regardless of the growing method being used. Because of these variations, studies to date comparing the nutritional content of produces grown hydroponically to soil grown have had mixed results, with some studies showing no difference between the two methods, while others showing that soilless systems fared either better or worse than soil-grown controls in the nutrient levels being tested. As you can imagine, experimental design and conditions vary widely between these studies and depend on how they were designed affecting the outcome and the significance of the findings.

Different studies have claimed that vegetables produced from hydroponics have better qualities than those from conventional soil-based cultivation [ 32 , 33 ]. On the other hand, other studies have claimed that the exact differences between qualities of vegetables grown in soil or hydroponics are difficult to establish [ 10 , 34 , 35 ]. Nonetheless, all authors in general seem to agree that hydroponic systems can be the best alternative when arable soil is scarce or their types are not ideal for the desired crop.

Although there are diverse and contradictory opinions, the general view of researcher seems to be that hydroponic can enhance the content of bioactive compounds. Recent studies have shown that in some high-value fresh vegetables, the hydroponic systems allow having higher nutritional quality due to high accumulation of bioactive compounds. Premuzic et al. [ 36 ] found an increment of macro- and micronutrients as well as in antioxidants in hydroponic tomatoes, compared to soil-based production. Selma et al. [ 37 ] found that hydroponic system was more effective in controlling microbial contamination as well as higher antioxidant compounds, since this method of production allowed a better maintenance of visual quality, control of browning, and more effective in controlling microbial contamination as compared with lettuces cultivated in soil. Pedneault et al. [ 38 ] in Achillea millefolium found an accumulation of flavonoids in plants grown in hydroponic systems (0.43% dry weigh) compared to field-grown plants 0.38% dry weight). Also, Sgherri et al. [ 3 ] found that hydroponic cultivation of basil ( Ocimum basilicum cv. Genova) improved the antioxidant activity of both aqueous and lipid extracts, increasing the contents of vitamin C, vitamin E, lipoic acid, total phenols, and rosmarinic acid. Table 3 presents some examples of studies about the accumulation of bioactive compounds under hydroponic systems.

Comparative results between hydroponics and conventional soil-based production.

Based on the results obtained by the different authors, it seems evident that all of them reported as common reasons for the enhancement of bioactive compounds under hydroponics—the tight control over the entire process of cultivation, particularly the amount and composition of nutrients and environmental conditions of temperature, humidity and light, and water salinity. Hydroponic operations, including the water recirculation systems, may provide ideal conditions for enactment of secondary metabolites, particularly when plants are placed under osmotic or salt stress, which boost the natural bioactive compounds of plants. Moreover, the saturation of light and temperatures by leaf receptors, often used in these systems, contributes to maximize photosynthesis and subsequent carbohydrate production that will be used for different biochemical mechanism including bioactive compounds biosynthesis, enhancing their content. For example, Greer and Weston [ 39 ] found that in a controlled environment with lower temperatures, the content of anthocyanin in berries increased. Other authors observed an increment of phenolic acids, flavonoids, and anthocyanins when the ratio of day/night temperature and day/night length was modified from low to high [ 40 ]. Also, in a recent study [ 41 ] with rocket salads ( Eruca sativa , Eruca vesicaria, and Diplotaxis tenuifolia ), it was found that setting long day lighting (16 h light, 8 h dark) at an intensity of 200 μmol m −2  s −1 , with a daytime temperatures of 20°C and night-time temperatures of 14°C, caused an enhancement in the content of polyphenols and glucosinolates. Likewise, day/night temperatures and day/night length, the nutrient solutions, the type of lights, and the levels of CO 2 can be used to enhance the content of bioactive compounds. Nutrient solutions with high electrical conductivity (EC) were shown to be efficient in the increment of lycopene (from 34 to 85%) in tomato cultivars [ 42 ]. In a study with Gynura bicolor DC (a traditional vegetable from China and South East Asia) submitted to 80% red light and 20% blue light, supplemented with CO 2 elevation from 450 (ambient reading) to 1200 μmol mol −1 , the content of bioactive compounds enhanced significantly [ 43 ]. The content of anthocyanins and flavonoids rose from 400 to 700 mg 100 g −1 dry weight and from 250 to 350 mg 100 g −1 dry weight, respectively [ 43 ]. Therefore, growing plants in a highly controlled environment might be an efficient alternative to maximize the production of bioactive compounds.

Although there are many advantages of the hydroponics compared to soil-based production, there are several aspects to be taken in account when we decide to choose hydroponics. These types of production systems require a regular irrigation and fertilization, which may otherwise result in possible contamination of surface and groundwater. In addition, they required an adequate management of pH, electrical conductivity (EC), dissolved oxygen, and temperature of nutrient solutions, because the ion concentrations may change with time, resulting in a nutrient imbalance. Therefore, real-time and periodical measurements of nutrient solutions are required, and adjustment of nutrient ratios is often required. In addition, to avoid infestations and diseases, disinfection systems are obligatory. All these aspects must be considered to achieve high quality without compromising the production yield and safety.

3. Conclusions

Hydroponics is extending worldwide and such systems offer many new alternatives and opportunities for growers and consumers to have productions with high quality, including vegetables enhanced with bioactive compounds. This chapter presented a general overview about the role of hydroponics in the enhancement of these important types of nonessential nutrients, and based on the above discussion, it seems that hydroponics can be an essential instrument to have vegetables with high nutritional quality. However, both hydroponics and soil-based production systems require proper control, and they must be implemented correctly with full respect with plant needs, soil, water, environment, growers, and consumer safety.

Acknowledgments

The author acknowledges the support of European Investment Funds by FEDER/COMPETE/POCI–Operational Competitiveness and Internationalization Programme, under Project POCI-01-0145-FEDER-006958 and National Funds by FCT—Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology, under the project UID/AGR/04033/2013.

Conflict of interest

The author declares no conflict of interest.

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Hydroponics—An Alternative to Indian Agriculture System and Current Trends: A Review Study

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India, the land of farmers, where agriculture has always been the primary occupation of the people, more than 50% of the population is still engaged in agriculture and its allied sectors. However, over the years, a significant rapid decline has been observed in the contribution by the agriculture sector toward India’s GDP rate. In this paper, we aim toward identifying the gap between the ratio of high inputs and low yields by portraying the various loopholes in traditional Indian agriculture methods and how hydroponic agriculture is need of the hour for the growth of Indian agriculture. Also, the current trends in technology and research in the field of hydroponics around the world have been discussed to show how it can provide an ideal solution to the insufficiency of traditional farming, and how Indian farmers can adopt its implementation practices to boost their crop yield and income. Also, an IoT-based application has been proposed for monitoring and control of a hydroponic setup.

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Pal, S.: Growing Soil-Less with Hydroponics: An Introduction to Innovative Farming at Home. In: THE BETTER INDIA. (2016)

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Ashish Aggarwal, Ratnakar Kumar, Sunil Kumar Chowdhary & Shailendra Kumar Jain

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Aggarwal, A., Kumar, R., Chowdhary, S.K., Jain, S.K. (2020). Hydroponics—An Alternative to Indian Agriculture System and Current Trends: A Review Study. In: Singh, P., Kar, A., Singh, Y., Kolekar, M., Tanwar, S. (eds) Proceedings of ICRIC 2019 . Lecture Notes in Electrical Engineering, vol 597. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-29407-6_62

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Hydroponics in Agriculture Research Paper

There have been changes in the climate of today that has seen reduction of the amount of rainfall we receive. Abu Dhabu, a city in the Emirates where the desert like conditions prevails, has been adversely affected by these changes. Therefore the amount of water used for irrigation has to be regulated.

Modern methods of irrigation such as use of hydroponics have been introduced to reduce the amount of water wasted in irrigation farms. The following is a case study of an experiment done in the University of Peradeniya Sri Lanka to illustrate how hydroponics saves water and energy.

The use of hydroponics gardening in growing of vegetables, fruits and other plants has been so common in the world today. Many farmers are going into this advanced technology of plant growing because they believe that plants grown hydroponically have better quality than the ones grown under the normal soil planting.

The extensive use of hydroponics systems is also attributed to the many reported problems related to soil. Scientists decided to come up with technology where the use of soil would be reduced or find an alternative for the soil in a bid to curb the many soil related problems (Tavakkoli, Fatehi, Rengasamy, & Mcdonald, 2012).

The human population of the world is also increasing and leading to a subsequent rise in challenges to plant growing and agriculture in general.

The land available for the people to conduct their cultivations has been reducing since more space is occupied by human settlement and construction of infrastructure. The hydroponics gardening system is capable of producing a large volumes of crops in a small portion of land.

With many parts of the earth experiencing a change in climatic conditions, the growing pattern of plants has also been interfered with since the amount of rain and seasons are also changing. This technology of hydroponics in plants growing can adopt the reduced rainfall amounts since it seeks to save water used by the growing plants.

Many scientists believe that this advancement in the technology of plant growing is too superior and reliable than the old methods of planting and irrigation. Despite this huge support for the hydroponics systems, there has been little research done on this field of plant growing to prove the reliability and superiority of this technology.

Due to lack of more research evidences to support the fact that hydroponically grown plants are superior, an experiment was done in the University of Peradeniya. The experiment was to illustrate the comparison of a hydroponically grown plant and a soil-grown plant.

The experiment was done on lettuce ( Lactuca sativa L.) in both the hydroponics system and soil growing conditions. The physiological measures used in this research included comparing the shoot and root ratios, rates of photosynthesis, and stomata conductance of the lettuce grown under the two different conditions.

Materials used in the experiment

Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) was used as the experimental crop

Amount of Water

Amount of energy.

The annual difference of water intake between the two methods is 8400/7= 1200 m 3 . The pumping system used an average of 0.17 kW to pump 1m 3 of the hydroponic solution. Therefore, this requires 204kWh of energy for 1200m 3 (1200 x 0.17).

Amount of CO 2 Emissions

According to Bandara from University of Peradeniya, the experiment shows that an average of 1200 kg of natural gas would be needed annually for 1ha farm of hydroponics.

The following formula is used to calculate the total amount of CO 2 emissions.

Total amount of CO 2 emission=Total amount of natural gas X hydrogen to carbon ratio

X CO 2 to carbon ratio

= 1200 x 12/16 x 44/12

Coir dust was used in both soil and hydroponics culture in the following sizes:

Hydroponic culture- 50x33x9 cm 3

Soil culture- 45x30x5 cm 3

Amount of minerals

Hydroponics culture- 6.0mM KNO 3 , 4.0mM Ca (NO 3 ) 2 , 1.0mM NH 4 H 2 PO 4 , 2.0mM MgSO 4 .7H 2 0

Soil culture- 1.075g N, 1.175g P, 0.375g K

This experiment was conducted in two different methods and therefore the requirement of the process would also differ at some point. The first bit of the experiment used the conventional method and thus soil culture was considered here.

The other part of this research was the hydroponics systems where there was no use of soil. The following is a brief illustration of the stages followed in each of these two processes (Hanses, 2010; West Virginia University, 2014.

Soil Culture

In this experiment, the soil to be used was first grounded to have a fine texture, and this was done to enhance penetration and proper mixing of nutrients with the soil particles. After this, 10 kg of livestock manure was mixed properly with the fine soil with a view that each plant would acquire 250 g of the manure.

Before the next stage, the test was conducted to establish the concentration of the initial minerals on the soil. It is important to conduct this test before adding the inorganic fertilizers to the soil since the calculation of used mineral nutrients by the plants would be easier.

The seedlings were transferred two weeks after the planted seeds had germinated. They transplanted in seedling trays that measure 45* 30* 5 cm 3 where they are applied with nutrients.

Hydroponic Culture

In this case, polystyrene boxes were used to hold the medium which was coir dust. Each box measured 50cm by 33cm by 9 cm where four plants were expected from each of them.

The nutrient solution was then prepared as per the stated amount of mineral required in this experiment. This hydroponics solution was then passed through the grown plants to enable them absorb the nutrients.

Random measurements of the parameters stated in this experiment were done when the plants had reached 30, 37, and 45 years. Four plants were picked randomly from both the hydroponics and soil culture for these measurements to be taken. Also, the number of leaves in the plants taken for the study was recorded.

Root lengths, dry weights and root: shoot ratios

The root lengths of the plants grown in the hydroponics were slightly higher than the lengths of the soil grown plants. These plants also had their roots being more resistant to growth as the initial lengths of their roots were close to that after the experiment.

The hydroponically grown plants recorded higher shoot dry weights as compared to those from the soil which had high root dry weights. This is one of the best ways of determining the quality of the harvest one should expect after the plants have grown to maturity. The following is a set of data collected in this experiment.

Mean root lengths, root dry weights, shoot dry weights and shoot: root ratios of hydroponically grown plants and soil grown plants

Key; RL – mean root length, RDW – mean root dry weight, SDW – mean shoot dry weight, S: R ratio – mean shoot: root ratio, H – hydroponically grown plants, S – soil grown plant

Net Photosynthetic Rates

The hydroponically grown plants recorded higher net photosynthetic rates when compared to what the soil-grown plants had in this case. There are various factors associated with the rate of photosynthesis exemplified by the plants’ efficiency of using the solar energy and the leaves’ stomatal conductance of carbon (IV) oxide.

Therefore, studying the net photosynthetic rate is also very important when analyzing the solar-energy consumption.

Transpiration Rates

Furthermore, it is the plants grown in the hydroponics system that recorded a higher rate than those plants grown in the soil-based method. This shows that the plants on the hydroponics setup absorbed more moisture from the solution (Bandara, 2008).

Hydroponics in Agriculture

This is a technology of growing plants by using solutions of mineral nutrients without the necessity of using soil as a medium. This idea was brought up when scientists found out that soil is not mandatory for plant growth through their researches.

Over the years, soil has been used because it provides the growing plants with support. In this soil, most of the mineral nutrients are also stored.

Further studies also showed that water played a major role during the absorption of these minerals because the mineral nutrients are absorbed by the plants in the form of inorganic ions dissolved in water. The important minerals are diluted in water as the plants are grown in a medium containing the solution.

The medium is where the plant would be anchored while growing. The media used in hydroponics include coconut husks, gravel, mineral wool, and expanded clay pebbles.

This advanced technology in plant growing can be used by indoor gardeners and also those who prefer growing their fruits and vegetables in the outside environment. This is possible because hydroponics can use both the natural light and the artificial ones when growing.

There are various hydroponics system plans to be used in different parts of the world in growing of vegetables, fruits and other plants. These different setups have the same idea of hydroponics growing but the difference comes in the type of medium used in the growing and the state of the nutrient solution.

This technique is categorized into two main areas depending on the media used in the categorization. The 2 categories are the solution culture and the medium culture. The solution culture is that plan where there are no solid media used in the growing process of the plants under the hydroponics technology.

Examples of hydroponics solution culture are the static solution culture, the continuous flow solution culture and the aeroponics. On the other hand, the medium culture is a hydroponics technique in which there is a medium used in growing the plant.

The plants are supported by the media while the solution containing the mineral nutrients is passed through so that growing plants can absorb them. Names are attached to these type of setups according to the medium used like the sand culture and rock wood culture.

In terms of the state in which the nutrient solution is having, the hydroponics systems are also classified into two major areas. This is the Still Solution Hydroponics and the Re-circulating Solution Hydroponics.

The former method is one where the mineral nutrients solution is static while the latter has the hydroponics solution in constant circulation. Electronic pumping machines are used to maintain the circulation of the solution in cases where the system is operating at a larger scale.

The Working Mechanism

The way in which the hydroponics systems work is quite simple. It entails passing of mineral nutrients from the nutrient solution to the plant roots through capillary action. To elaborate on the working mechanism it’s preferable to discuss the media used in this technology and the different techniques used in hydroponics.

Hydroponic Media

The following is an illustration of each of the mostly used media in growing the hydroponics:

Expanded Clay

This medium is something close to marbles which is highly porous. Clay is made into round balls and then heated at high temperatures of around 1200 degrees Celsius. This is done to make the clay highly porous and also to avoid compacting after a period of time.

It is this quality that makes it the most preferred medium by the gardeners. Apart from that, expanded clay is widely used due to its low prices. This makes it more profitable for commercial gardening due to the reduced cost of operations.

The expanded clay has a neutral pH making the gardeners sure that the plants will acquire the exact nutrients from the hydroponics solution. This medium is re-usable since it can be cleaned after being used and sterilized making it economical.

Perlite and Vermiculate

This medium is also a mineral in its state. One unique factor about this type of media is that it is overheated and in extreme cases also expanded. This makes it adapt very well in dry conditions and desert like environments. Although perlite contains more air than vermiculite, it holds little water.

This is what we get from the leftover of the outer shell of a coconut after the fibers have been removed. The coir provides a very conducive environment for the growing of plant roots. This is so because of the ability of the coco peat to exchange cations at a high rate.

With this modification, this medium of hydroponics growth can store nutrients that are not used by the plant. This would mean that no mineral nutrients would be wasted since the excess would be used in the future since they are stored.

Coco peat also has a type of fungi called trichodema which dominates in it and it is useful to the plant roots. This fungus offers protection to the roots and also enhances the growth of the roots by boosting the speed of growth. Therefore, coir is one of the best media to use in this advanced technology of growing plants.

For this kind of medium, any size of gravel is applicable. Even the type of gravel used in aquariums can be used in this case. One important condition to maintain is the constant circulation of water all through the medium. This circulation can be made efficient by use of electric pumps in the system.

A lot of advantages come along with the use of this medium. For instance, this medium is relatively cheap thus giving commercial gardeners a better way to cut down on their cost of production.

This medium is also good when boosting the quality of the fruits or vegetables being planted because it maintains a good drainage system.

Therefore, the water will be saved while as the plants get adequate water for growth. One major precaution when using gravel as the medium is maintaining the water circulation since the plant roots are prone to dry with no constant water flowing.

Polystyrene Packing Peanuts

Though this medium may be cheap and economical to use, there are restrictions that come along with using it. For example, this medium of hydroponics growth is only used in enclosed systems such as closed tubes. It is also very light in weight that the types of plants grown on it are specific. Another major disadvantage of the polystyrene packing peanuts is that the plants might take in some styrene from the medium. Eventually, this is passed to the consumers of the plant and thus set a serious health risk to them.

Techniques of Hydroponic Systems

There is a variety of hydroponics systems used to grow different types of plants. The different techniques have unique specifications that make them suitable for the growth of specific vegetables or fruits.

Despite their classification, all the techniques used in hydroponics systems are aimed at providing nutrients, water, and adequate air to the plants. The following are some of the hydroponics setups used majorly in growing vegetables in different environments.

Still Solution Hydroponics (static)

This is one of the easiest hydroponics techniques to start and develop. In this case, a person would require a container or tank where the nutrient solution is placed. The plant is put into a pot or vessel which would be immersed in a container with the hydroponics solution.

It is important to note that it is only the bottom of the vessel that is immersed in the solution. From this point, the plant in the vessel will be able to absorb the mineral nutrients up through the process of capillary action. The amount of water used must also be taken care of as the plant would need good aeration.

Therefore, the water in the vessel should be at a lower level to allow space for aeration of the plant. When setting up this hydroponics system, good quality and adequate water must be in the container to avoid adding up of water which would alter the aeration of the plant.

When starting the process, the salt concentration of the water should also be low. This is necessary because after a short period of crop’s growth, the fertilizer salts would have been concentrated in the solution.

The still solution hydroponics system has the advantage of being economical in establishing and maintaining it. For example, the type of hydroponics technology does not require electricity or pumping machines.

The Re-Circulating Solution Hydroponics

This is a hydroponics system where the nutrient solution is kept flowing through the roots of the plant grown constantly. It is exactly the opposite of how the static solution hydroponics system operates.

This technology requires a lot of investment in terms of resources and the care that the plants would be offered when growing. This is performed by either developing a pumping mechanism or creating a sloping landscape to enhance the flow of water.

One advantage of this technology is that it allows adjustments on the process while it is in progress. For example, the temperature and concentration of nutrients can be varied according to the type of plant growing and the level that it has grown in this case.

The Substrate Culture

This is a type of hydroponics system where there is a medium used by the plant when growing. In these cases, the basic medium applied excludes soil and applies a substrate that does not contain nutrients. The most preferred substrates include coconut coir, rock wool, vermiculite, and expanded clay.

These materials are used to provide physical support but not for supplying nutrients components to the crop. The medium chosen should be able to last for a long time so as the growth duration of the plant can fit in the active period of the substrate.

Apart from this, the right medium should be able to hold an adequate amount of water. This ensures that the plant receives sufficient water required for maximum growth rate. This is also the same in the air capacity of the substrate as there must be good aeration conditions for the plant to thrive.

Some substrates such as saw dust and composted pine bark are not advisable to use in hydroponics gardening. In the first place, these media are not good to use because they are not consistent in the quality they provide.

This creates problems from the gardeners due to the type of quality that their vegetables or fruits can have after all the hydroponics processes.

These substrates are also not recommended because the rate at which they decompose is high. This makes such substrates not to stay for a long time in comparison to the duration that the plant would take to grow.

This technique helps in reducing the amount of water wasted while irrigating the crops. Also, it assists the plant to get proper aeration enhancing proper growth, few disease infection, and shorter period of growth.

Once a medium is used, it is vital to replace it when planting another time even though this is an optional measure. This is performed majorly to ensure that the vegetable or fruits grown are good quality.

Moreover, replacing the substrates helps in avoiding passage of diseases to the growing plants. This again proves that hydroponics gardening is bound to produce higher quality.

An irrigation scheme is created, and the hydroponics solution is pumped through the plants as the flowing solution is collected in tanks. From this point, the collected solution is pumped back to the dripping points.

Nutrition Film Technique (NFT)

In this type of hydroponics system, there are shallow gullies constructed in a sloping manner during the first step. The plants are then planted along the gullies, and nutrient solution is flown down across the plants.

Down the gullies, the nutrient solution is collected in the set collection tanks from where the solution is pumped back. The flowing of the hydroponics solution stream down the gully is also important in making sure the solution is always aerated.

For the collection tanks down the gullies, it is preferred that one has many smaller tanks instead of a huge tank. This is important because it ensures that the farm has some supplies of the solution, even if there is a breakdown in one of the tanks.

Another advantage of breaking the collection tank into smaller ones is that it avoids spread of diseases, in case there is an outbreak in the garden.

Analysis and Discussion

Comparing the conventional and the hydroponics systems of irrigation.

Over the years, the methods of irrigation have changed from the simple systems to advanced levels of irrigating plants. These advancements in the irrigation sector are connected to the changes we experience in the world’s climate and vegetation today.

Different parts of the world are getting drier due to climatic changes and thus the need to conserve the water for irrigation and also make maximum use of it by engaging efficient methods.

Sri Lanka and many countries in the Middle East are affected adversely by these changing conditions that explain their wide participation in hydroponics and other modern irrigation systems.

While illustrating the differences between the traditional methods of irrigation and the use of hydroponics, the following factors are looked at in relation to the two methods;

Harvest Quality

According to this experiment, the crops grown in hydroponics condition are expected to have bigger fruits and leaves while their roots are smaller. On the other hand, the plants irrigated in the conventional way are expected to exhibit smaller fruits and bigger roots.

This is according to the comparison done of the dried weights of the roots and shoots. Therefore, it is apparent that the harvest expected in hydroponics has higher quality than other systems.

The hydroponics systems of gardening do not require use chemicals such as pesticides and herbicides that are usually expensive. This method also ensures there is recycling of the nutrients, and thus it makes it economical.

For the traditional irrigation methods, one would need chemicals to maintain the plants, and the nutrients are also not recycled thus the harvest would not produce high profit as it is the case in these modern irrigation systems.

The growth of the hydroponics can be done all year round since they do not depend on the seasons of the climate. In most of the cases, the plants are grown within modified environments to benefit the farmer by increasing the harvests of a year.

The traditional ways of irrigation rely on the different seasons of the year and therefore will not be possible in some seasons.

Another importance attached to the use of hydroponics is that the rate of growth of plants grown hydroponically is two times faster than that of plants grown in the conventional ways. Amount of yield also multiplies by two in this method of irrigation.

This shows that given the same space, the hydroponics system produces double of what the soil based irrigation system provides.

Water Usage and Saving

In the conventional methods of irrigation, there were be no views of controlling the use of water and avoiding its wastage. It is in these traditional irrigation methods that the water would be directed to the plants in the field without considering the evaporation rates and sipping of water into the ground.

The hydroponics technology has ensured that the irrigation water is saved and used maximally in the growth of plant and thus ensuring highest produces.

For instance, the transpiration rate of the plants grown hydroponically was higher than that of plants reared on the soil in this experiment. This shows that the plants grown on soil did not absorb enough water which implies poor usage.

In the old irrigation systems, there were large operations for the scheme to provide enough water for irrigation. In the hydroponics system, the big structures are not necessary as it requires a tank of recyclable nutrient solution that is cheap and simple to operate as well as maintain. In the experiment, the average annual usage of water in the hydroponic irrigation is estimated to be 8400 cm 3 per hectare which is half the amount in traditional irrigation method.

Energy Consumption and CO2 Emission

The farms under irrigation in UAE require irrigation systems which require a lot of energy. In this experiment the method of hydroponic irrigation used was the static solution method.

In cases where the farm need big pumping machines to pump back the nutrition solution, slightly more energy might be needed to run the system.

In this experiment, this factor is noted by the net photosynthetic rates which are affected by the efficiency of the plant in using the solar energy. The plants grown in a hydroponics system had a higher net photosynthetic rate than the soil grown ones.

This is a clear illustration that the hydroponics system enhances the consumption of the natural solar energy.

CO 2 gas emission in farms using hydroponics is also quite low. The experiment shows that approximately 3300kg of CO 2 would be emitted within one year in farms having hydroponically grown plants.

Generally, the use hydroponics system has been important to the economy and the agricultural sector due to the income retrieved from exportations and other sales made locally. This modern technology of irrigation has indeed improved the quality of harvest got from the schemes.

With hydroponics, the plants are not affected by fungi since there is proper management of the water and thus the crop would not be water-logged. The harvest quality from plants grown hydroponically is also good as the size of fruits is bigger.

This advanced irrigation method has also been proven very useful in saving the water consumed by the plants. In this method of irrigation, the farmers recycle the water they use in the process rather than wasting it to leaching and dampness on the fields.

The energy consumption and emission of carbon (IV) oxide are also handled by this farming technology. The farmer will attain a reduced consumption of energy in the farm in case he/she has adopted any of the techniques of hydroponics systems that do not involve a lot of pumping activities.

In this light, the CO2 emission would also be reduced since the usage of machines in the farm would be limited. Therefore, the use of hydroponics saves water, energy and emission of CO2.

Recommendations and Concerns

Similar to many countries in the Middle East and the surroundings of Sub-Saharan deserts, UAE is experiencing a big challenge of managing the limited water available. This has forced the UAE government to adopt policies that would help to provide adequate water for the people and the irrigation scheme.

The economy is also one crucial factor that this government has to put into consideration as the prices of resources rise alongside the population size. When all these considerations put together, adopting the hydroponics technology is a good idea.

Therefore, this study recommends the implementation of this technology in irrigation projects aimed at being efficient and economical.

Future Work

In Abu Dhabi, the planting of palm trees is one activity that many stakeholders of the Emirates economy take seriously. In the Emirates of Abu Dhabi, the climatic condition that has many desert-like characteristics is good for palm tree planting.

Palm trees make up a big percentage of fruit plants in Abu Dhabi and therefore putting in place this economical irrigation method in its plantation would save the government in this business city a lot of resources in terms of water and energy.

Hydroponics has proven to be so efficient in irrigation and provision of quality agricultural products for national and international consumption. Moreover, the technology also saves water, energy, and the environment making it a good tool to be used in enhancing sustainable practices in agriculture.

Therefore, if investments are made on this area, there are high chances of developing the production of food through this modern technique. This will lead to adequate supply of food for people through cheap and qualified standards of growth.

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IvyPanda . 2024. "Hydroponics in Agriculture." February 7, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/hydroponics-in-agriculture/.

1. IvyPanda . "Hydroponics in Agriculture." February 7, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/hydroponics-in-agriculture/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Hydroponics in Agriculture." February 7, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/hydroponics-in-agriculture/.

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Introduction to Hydroponics

Soil is an essential source of nutrients and minerals for growing plants. Also, it is responsible for facilitating gaseous exchange between the atmospheres and roots and helps to protect plants against erosion and facilitates water retention.

However, this article discusses a system - hydroponics, wherein plants can be grown without soil. Read on to find out what is hydroponics and gain valuable information about it.

What is Hydroponics?

The hydroponics definition states that it is the cultivation of plants in water. It is a subcategory of hydroculture and is a useful technique of growing plants without soil.

Through this technique, roots absorb the nutrients present in water and fulfil their growth requirement. Furthermore, through this method, one can grow plants in liquid, sand or gravel by simply adding some nutrients to it.

In recent years, hydroponics has found application in the field of commercial production and horticulture. Similarly, residents of cities with limited space are using this method to grow fresh plants in their home and surroundings. 

In hydroponics, the photosynthesis process is expressed as –

Carbon dioxide + Water = Glucose + Oxygen

6CO 2 + 6H 2 O = C 6 H 12 O 6 + 6O 2

Some of the most common hydroponics examples include – the production of artichokes, sprouts, cabbage, peas, onions, tomatoes and yams.

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Fun Fact: The term Hydroponics was derived from ‘hydros’ and ‘ponos’ which in Greek translates into ‘water working’. 

Types of Hydroponics Systems

Here are the different types of hydroponics systems.

Wick System: In this system, the nutrients are pumped from the reservoir and transmitted to plant roots through wick’s capillary movement. 

Ebb and Flow: It is also called the flood and drains system and is often automated via a pump with a timer. The grow tray is flooded with nutrient solution and is subsequently drained back. 

Water Culture: Plants are kept in net pots and are placed on a floating platform on top of a container of water and nutrients. To facilitate growth and development, the suspended roots are stretched out into the oxygenated solution, which is rich in nutrients.  

Drip System Recovery: In this setup, the nutrient solutions are pumped through a tube and then dropped onto roots through drip lines. 

Other than these, the nutrient film technique and aeroponic system are also popular types of hydroponics systems.

Test Your Knowledge: Define hydroponics. Explain the importance of hydroponics. 

Advantages of Hydroponics

Following advantages makes the uses of hydroponics more feasible and effective –

Higher yield.

Controlled level of nutrition.

Plants are healthier, and they mature faster.

Weeds can be easily eliminated.

Susceptibility to pests and diseases is negligible.

Automation is possible.

Water present in the system can be reused, which facilitates water conservation.

Ease of harvesting.

Crops produced are fitter for consumption.

Small production space can be optimised effectively.

Irrespective of its benefits and uses, hydroponics has its share of disadvantages too. Read below to find remaining hydroponics information and its prominent problems. 

Disadvantages of Hydroponics 

Here are the prevalent problems of hydroponics –

The initial cost of investment.

The requirement of technical know-how.

The process is often thorough and time-consuming.

Only specific soluble nutrients are used.

The recirculation system is prone to water-borne infection. 

Learn about what is hydroponics and its various systems in detail by enrolling at our live online classes. Also, by joining our learning portal, you will gain access to our latest study solutions which will help you to learn more about hydroponics.

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Is the Hydroponic attempt towards agriculture predictable and seasonable?  

Farmers do need to tackle unpredictable and unexpected weather issues that could lead to wiping out of the entire crop in a matter of days. Floods, fires, droughts, insect problems, etc. are a fact of nature and can happen anytime and anywhere. And when a food crop is in dire straits, it can have a devastating effect on the rest of the food chain.

In a hydroponic greenhouse, conditions are controlled by the farmer. This means you can plant your strawberries and harvest them in the winter. And when a locust swarm arrives, the greenhouse will protect your precious plants from damage, no matter how many invaders invade nearby fields. For farmers, this means the ability to enter into long-term store contracts with fixed prices. And they will be sure to deliver, no matter what.

Does Hydroponics help in producing High-Quality Food?

With traditional farming, the answer has been to pick up the product before it is ripe and then let it ripen in storage and on the way to supply. In some cases, ethylene gas is used for the automatic ripening of selected foods in advance. This is necessary if traditionally cultivated plants will reach consumers in remote areas.

Natural, plant-based foods are often more nutritious and taste better. Because hydroponic gardens contain their microbiomes, these plants can be grown anywhere. This means that they can be selected during the ripening period as they do not have to travel long distances before arriving at their homes and restaurants to enjoy themselves.

Important Consideration in Hydroponics

While you can grow almost anything with hydroponics, some vegetables grow better in hydroponic systems than others. Choose plants that are moisture-resistant and do not grow well in their composition, such as cucumber, tomato, capsicum, strawberries, lettuce, and leafy vegetables.

Also, when establishing a hydroponic garden, depending on the size, strength, and development of the roots of the plants to grow and the structure of the system, one needs to decide whether to use only a solution culture or a specific type of growth.

FAQs on Introduction to Hydroponics

1. What Does Hydroponic Mean?

In simple words, hydroponic is a technique of growing plants without soil. It is a subcategory of hydroculture, which uses mineral nutrients to grow plants like peas, artichokes, cucumber, onions, radishes, leeks, etc. Hydroponics is simply the growth of plants without soil. Plants also need light, water, carbon dioxide, and oxygen in the root zone. In hydroponics, plants are grown in inactive areas such as rock or coco coir fiber and are fed a solution that contains a complete mixture of basic, secondary, and micro-nutrients.

2. What is the Importance of Hydroponics?

Hydroponics helps to increase crop production even in areas where the soil is sterile. Also, the crops thus produced are healthier and less susceptible to pests and diseases. Similarly, hydroponics helps to use small places effectively for cultivation. Recently, I have had endless arguments with a few friends about hydroponics. They believe that hydroponics should not be as highly valued as other growth methods because of their limited dimensions. Therefore, I decided to make a list of the most important hydroponic features that could change the world.

Plants That Grow in Any Climate

Use of Low Pesticides

High Food Production

Water Efficiency

Direct Farming

Solving World Hunger

3. What are the Benefits of Hydroponics?

The advantages include an increased yield of crops, more nutritious and fast yield, and ease of cultivation.

Maximizes Space - Hydroponics requires much less space than plants planted in the ground. Depending on the system, when hydroponics is combined with vertical farming techniques, they can use a few 99 percent more fields than conventional farming methods.

Water Conservation – Hydroponic plants can grow at less than 98 percent more water than traditional growing methods.

Facilitates a Micro-Weather - Hydroponic gardens can easily be found inside a hydroponic greenhouse. This means that they can have their small climates, trapped in the many difficulties that traditional farmers have to work to cope with.

Produces Great Harvest - Creating favorable conditions ensures that plants get the right amount of nutrients, which comes in direct contact with the roots.

4. Why do the Hydroponic gardens not need any soil for growth?

In addition, there are wide variations in soil quality from one area to another, and many plants have a strong preference for a particular type of soil. This means that traditional farmers can only plant crops that are suitable for the soil in their areas. In most parts of the world, few crops can be grown using traditional methods. With hydroponic gardens, the soil does not worry so farmers can plant any crops that can be of great benefit to their community without worrying about soil erosion.

5. Why is it important for the students to refer to the Vedantu website?

The most important point where we miss is that students are relaxed while referring to a specific solution or questionnaire. Even when learning from a teacher, the student should be able to grasp concepts well. We, at Vedantu, provide this easily to readers and help them understand authentic content related to Hydroponics with 100% ease and comfort. Vedantu experts are set to design question papers and raise the level of knowledge and analysis skills of students.

Biology • Class 11

Hydroponics Agriculture Practice Speech/Essay

Introduction:.

Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished guests, and fellow advocates of sustainable agriculture,

Today, I am excited to delve into a groundbreaking agricultural practice that has the potential to transform our food production systems and promote sustainability – hydroponics.

As we gather here at this science exhibition, let us explore the wonders of hydroponics and how it is reshaping the future of farming.

The Agricultural Revolution:

The history of agriculture has witnessed numerous revolutions, from the advent of irrigation to the Green Revolution. Hydroponics represents the next step in this ongoing evolution, offering a novel approach to growing crops without soil.

Hydroponics Unveiled:

At its core, hydroponics is a method of growing plants in nutrient-rich water solutions, without the need for traditional soil. Instead, plants are grown in various inert mediums such as perlite, coconut coir, or even simply suspended in air with their roots bathed in nutrient solutions.

The Promise of Hydroponics:

Hydroponics holds tremendous promise for addressing some of the most pressing challenges facing modern agriculture:

1. Resource Efficiency: Hydroponic systems use significantly less water than traditional soil-based farming, making them ideal for regions plagued by water scarcity.

2. Controlled Environment: Hydroponic setups allow precise control over environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, and light, optimizing crop growth and quality.

3. Year-Round Cultivation: Hydroponics enables year-round cultivation, reducing our dependence on seasonal factors and providing consistent access to fresh produce.

4. Space Utilization: Vertical hydroponic systems and container farms maximize space utilization, making urban farming and food production more accessible.

5. Reduced Pesticides: Hydroponic systems are less susceptible to pests and diseases, reducing the need for chemical pesticides.

Applications of Hydroponics:

• Urban Farming: Hydroponics can revolutionize urban agriculture by enabling the cultivation of fresh produce in small spaces, such as rooftops and vertical gardens.
• Greenhouses: Hydroponic systems are often integrated into greenhouse operations to extend growing seasons and optimize plant growth.
• Commercial Agriculture: Commercial hydroponic farms produce a wide range of crops, including leafy greens, herbs, tomatoes, and even fruits like strawberries.
• Research: Hydroponics is a valuable tool for scientific research, allowing researchers to study plant growth and nutrient uptake under controlled conditions.

Challenges and Future Prospects:

While hydroponics offers immense potential, it is not without challenges. High initial setup costs, energy consumption, and the need for specialized knowledge are hurdles to widespread adoption. However, ongoing research and innovations are continually addressing these challenges and expanding the reach of hydroponics.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, hydroponics is not just a revolutionary agricultural practice; it represents a pathway to a more sustainable and food-secure future. It has the power to change the way we grow food, making agriculture more efficient, resource-friendly, and accessible.

As we navigate the challenges of feeding a growing global population and mitigating the impacts of climate change, let us embrace the potential of hydroponics to cultivate a greener, healthier, and more prosperous world for generations to come.

Thank you for joining me on this journey into the world of hydroponics, where innovation meets sustainability in the pursuit of a better tomorrow.

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