03 • June 2013 • www.soillessgardening-india.com
Dedicated to the Soilless Gardening Industry of India
COMMERCIALCOMMERCIAL HYDROPONICSHYDROPONICS IncreasesIncreases FoodFood SupplySupply whichwhich DecreasesDecreases ImpactImpact onon NatureNature read in this issue: VENTSnl | AutoPot Watering Systems | Greenfield Hydroponics Systems MISSION "It is our Mission to take Hydroponics, as a technology, to every Indian household by reducing the barriers to entry for all. It is our dream to see every home and land owner adopt this technique in India in the next fteen years".
VISION Our vision is to see India as a power in the eld of horticulture. To wipe the woes of every farmer in India in the next twenty years by providing cutting edge technology. We want every Indian Farmer to say it with pride "I am proud to be a farmer!"
PRODUCTS AND SERVICES OFFERED CONTACT INFORMATION: 1. Training in Simpli ed and Commercial Hydroponics 102 Saptagiri Meadows, 24th Main 2. Consultancy Services and installation of Urban Roof Top Hydroponic Gardens JP Nagar 5th Phase 3. Consultancy Services for Agronomy Bangalore 560078 4. Turnkey Installation of Commercial Hydroponics Greenhouses Karnataka State, India 5. Turnkey installation of Large scale Hydroponic Animal Fodder Systems (5-100 Tons/day) 6. Supply of world class Hydroponic Nutrients Mobile: 00 91 99022 11684 7. Supply of Simpli ed Hydroponics Hobby Kits 00 91 78294 48677 8. Supply of Coco Peat for Commercial Growers (RHP Quality) E-mail: [email protected] 9. Supply and Installation of Simple Backyard Greenhouses [email protected] 10. Water Analysis Facilities [email protected] editorial
Readers
Aditya Chaudhary Dеар Publisher In this issue of Soilless Gardening – India you will find the latest in news and events, company profiles, soilless technologies, and facts and opinions from both India and all over the world.
We are also extremely excited to announce our first annual conference and min-expo in Mumbai, India. The Soilless Gardening – India Conference and Mini-Expo will be a two-day event starting on February 7th to 8th, 2014. Sandesh Shingote There will be a “History of Hydroponics in India”, round- Co-founder table discussions, conference programs, and much more.
In saying this, as India’s very own industrial magazine, we ask you, the readers, for both input and questions. Our goal is to help India’s new industry grow quickly, and implement achievements from all over the world. In doing so, we ask you to contact us with any questions – whether it be specific techniques, “how to’s”, product information or even general inquiries. We will answer your questions via e-mail and publish those that are relevant in the June issue of Soilless Gardening – India.
Hope you enjoy this month’s issue!
Team SGI
Aditya Chaudhary – Publisher [email protected] Sandesh Shingote – Co-founder [email protected]
Soilless Gardening India Magazine • June'13 | C 18 23
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48 COMMERCIAL HYDROPONICS Increases Food Supply which Decreases Impact on Nature16
India
Conference and Mini-Expo February 7–8, Bombay Convention & Exhibition Centre, India Issue 03, June 2013 contents
03 • JUNE 2013 • www.soillessgardening-india.com
news&events Dedicated to the Soilless Gardening Industry of India
06 Computer-Controlled Farms Change the Game in Urban Agriculture 08 Hydroponics for Everybody. All About Home Horticulture 09 Feedback Interface Organized – ASEAN–INDIA Farmers Visit to Malaysia 10 Walk About a Rooftop Aquaponics Food Garden in Kolkata, India 11 Milan’s Awesome Vertical Forest 12 Plant Growth Troubles COMMERCIAL HYDROPONICS Increases Food Supply which Decreases Impact on Nature cover story read in this issue: VENTSnl | AutoPot Watering Systems | Greenfield Hydroponics Systems 14 COMMERCIAL HYDROPONICS. Increases Food Supply which Decreases Impact on Nature who is who
Soilless Gardening India Magazine 48 What is the Difference Between Organic Farming and Hydroponic Office No – 6, Farming? Asked by ABC, Pune MS House, Opp. Metro Pillar No 57, Sikanderpur, Gurgaon – 122004, Haryana, INDIA index  Mob: +91 828 573 0000  Fax: +91 124 400 2532 BC GHE IBC Greentech India  [email protected]  [email protected] 04,05 Soilless Gardening (India) Conference and Mini-Expo  http://soillessgardening-india.com IFC Hydroponic Greenhouse Technologies India private Ltd. Soilless Gardening India Magazine • June'13 | 3 India Conference and Mini-Expo February 7–8, Bombay Convention & Exhibition Centre, India 2 days unlimited businesses ideas We are inviting you to attend the 2014 Soilless Gardening (India) Conference and Mini-Expo organized in Mumbai, India At the conference you will learn the important aspects of the hydroponic industry, ranging from the history of hydroponics, questions "How to start?" and "What kind of fertilizer to use?" to information about professional systems used in hydroponic growing. Within the conference and expo, you will have the opportunity to meet and get acquainted with the renowned industry companies, such as General Hydroponics, which will attend the conference and expo in person and exhibit their products. We invite all the companies engaged in agriculture & gardening, garden hobbyists and enthusiasts, professional agricultural businesses to attend the event in Mumbai, India. www.soillessgardening-india.com India Conference and Mini-Expo Feb. 7, 2014 Feb. 8, 2014 09:00—10:00 Registration of Visitors (Each 10:00—18:00 Mini-Expo visitor will receive a gift bag from our sponsors) Mini-Expo attendance is complete free 10:00—10:45 History of Hydroponics and everyone is welcome! 11:00—11:45 History of Hydroponics in India 12:00—13:00 Lunch break 13:00—13:45 The hydroponic «Family Farm»: CONFERENCE PROGRAM: not only a concept, but also a practical reality The entrance to the conference room is 14:00—15:30 Round Table Discussion only after preliminary online registration. 15:30—16:00 Coffee break 16:00—17:30 Round Table Discussion 13:00—15:00 Presentation and book signing of William Texier book Free, but only based on online registrations! “Hydroponics for beginners” ROUND TABLE SUBJECTS: • Hydroponics. What is it and how can you start? • Hydroponics in the Modern Economy • Differences between soil and • Animal feed and hydroponics technologies hydroponics cultivation (physical, in India chemical etc. • Family hydroponics farms in India; • Different technologies regrouped challenges and solutions. under the word hydroponics • Indian hydroponics shops • Different substrates used in hydro • Presentation of the Institute of Simplified • Nutrition and supplementation: clear Hydroponics definition of each category and rapid over view of supplements. • Bio stimulants; For or Against? • Lightning of Plants (photo-culture • General Industry Discussions flowers, vegetables, salad, sprouts) Please, do not hesitate to send us your 15:00—18:00 Hydroponics training proposals for round table subjects. course for beginners Contact us: Soilless Gardening India Magazine Office No – 6, MS House , Opp. Metro Pillar No 57, Sikanderpur, Gurgaon – 122004, Haryana, INDIA Mob: +91 828 573 0000 Fax: +91 124 400 2532 India: [email protected] USA: [email protected] Europe: [email protected] Visit www.soillessgardening-india.com for more details. news&events IQ Intel| USA Computer-Controlled Farms Change the Game in Urban Agriculture The Brooklyn project is the work of BrightFarms, which Fast Company named one of the "World's 10 Most Innovative Companies" in the food industry. BrightFarms builds highly automated, hydroponic greenhouses to grow urban produce year-round, and at far more efficient rates than traditional farms. The company just opened its first hydroponic greenhouse near Philadelphia, Along a desolate stretch of a important,” said Intel Labs and is also constructing Brooklyn waterfront that was researcher Richard Beckwith. greenhouses and farms in St. once one of the nation’s great “Over half of all economically Paul, St. Louis, Oklahoma City, industrial centers, a military active people are involved in and Kansas City. warehouse from around 1916 agriculture.” has sat unoccupied for years. This year, the crown of the building will begin a second life as the world’s largest rooftop farm – a 100,000 – square-foot, computer-controlled greenhouse that will grow up to 1 million pounds of produce each year. With global food demand expected to double over the next four decades and consumers increasingly concerned with the carbon miles used to transport produce, innovators around the globe are fashioning new methods for growing large amounts of food in population- dense urban centers. “Farming is the most common economic activity on the face of the earth. It’s incredibly 6 | Soilless Gardening India Magazine • June'13 news&events Sensors throughout the greenhouse will feed information back to a central computer system, which is programmed to make intelligent decisions about growing factors such as temperature, humidity, and wind speed. If the greenhouse becomes too hot, roof vents will automatically open. If it remains overheated, fans switch on; and if that’s still not enough, a shade will draw down. The computer even knows what conditions are an atmosphere in which the yield compositional chemistry of the like outside, so it won’t open the of vegetables per square foot is grapes. This would allow for roof if it’s raining. about ten times that of traditional much better control over fruit greenhouses.” quality," Beckwith said. "This, in “Not only does this let the general, increases the value of farmers focus on farming and While the upcoming Brooklyn the crop." not worry about changing greenhouse is the largest of conditions, but it also conserves its kind, this type of intelligent Such innovations "can help you energy and increases efficiency farming is cropping up in many predict when a crop should be by eliminating human error,” different settings around the harvested, what crops your land said Zak Adams, BrightFarms’ world. In Tokyo, a massive will support, which pests you Director of Engineering. underground farm grows may need to watch for," Beckwith “Traditionally, farmers have to 100 types of produce, from continued. "So much of what make their own decision about tomatoes to rice, using white farmers care about is invisible. when to hand-crank open the LED lights, high-pressure These technologies can give a vents; but the point at which it sodium lamps, and a computer- farmer a window onto things that feels too humid to a person may regulated heating system. they really care about." not necessarily be too humid Consumers can now even grow for plants.” their own plants inside a USB And so, as urban farmers Greenhouse that plugs into continue to invent more high- The predictive algorithms your home computer. tech methods that expand their programmed into BrightFarms’ productivity, it’s not far-fetched system eliminate that type of In Oregon, Intel's Beckwith to think that before long, the human error and significantly developed a system of 65 majority of what city-dwellers eat boost productivity. “By being wireless sensors for vineyards will be grown minutes from our able to effectively control the to control irrigation of grape homes, rather than hundreds of ambient air and roots around the vines (video below). These miles away. plants,” said Adams, “we create sensors "characterize the  Images courtesy of BrightFarms. Soilless Gardening India Magazine • June'13 | 7 PRESS RELEASE PRESSnews& RELEASEevents Hydroponics for Everybody Hydroponics forAllHydroponics Ev abouterybody home horticulture for Everybody WilliamAll about Texier home horticulture AllPRESS About RELEASE Home HorticultureSeries:William Gardens Texier Series: Gardens William Texier | Series:This Gardens richly illustrated bible of hydroponic gardening will increase Thisyour richly indoor illustrated harvests bibleto levels of hydroponic you never thought gardening possible. will increase your indoor harvests to levels you never thought possible. This richly illustrated bible of hydroponic gardening will increase PRESENTATIONHydroponics for Everybody your indoor harvests to levels you never thought possible. PRESENTATIONFrom basicAll aboutgardening home to high-tech horticulture installations, tips for the beginner and know-how Fromfor the basic seasoned gardening professional, to high-tech from installations,the ABC’s to the tips most for the guarded beginner secrets, and everythingknow-how ThisWilliam richly illustrated Texier bible of hydroponic gardening will increase your foryou the ever seasoned wanted professional, to know about from the the art ABC’s of hydroponics. to the most guarded secrets, everything indoor harvests to levels you never thought possible. you everSeries: wanted Gardens to know about the art of hydroponics. This richly illustrated bible of hydroponic gardening will increase your indoor harvests to levels you never thought possible. PRESENTATION 264 pages / 120 illustrations From basic gardening to high-tech installations, tips for the beginner and know-how 264 pages17 / 120x 24 illustrations cm THETHE AUTHORfor AUTHOR the seasoned professional, from the ABC’s to the most guarded secrets, everything 60017 pro x 24 contacts cm THEWilliamWilliam AUTHORyou Texier everTexier was wanted born was in toborn Paris. know in He aboutParis. first studied theHe artfirst atof the studiedhydroponics. Institut at national the Institut de Gemmologie in ISBN600 978-2-84 pro contacts 594-081-9 WilliamFrance,national Texier then de with was Gemmologie bornthe Geological in Paris. Hein Institute firstFrance, studied of then America at thewith Institutin the Los Angeles,Geological national beforede InstituteGemmologie discovering in ISBN 978-2-84 594-081-9 35 € France,hydroponics,of America then with which in the Los Geologicalbecame Angeles, his Institute passionbefore of indiscovering America 1985. He in andLos hydroponics, Angeles, Lawrence before Brooke, which discovering his long- 35 € hydroponics,timebecame friend, developedhis which passion became aero-hydroponics. in 1985.his passion He and inA few1985. Lawrence years He later,and Brooke, Lawrencehe began his his Brooke, longtimefirst assignment his long- 264 pages timein friend,research friend, developed developed and development aero-hydroponics. aero-hydroponics. at the White A few AOwl yearsfew Waterfarm yearslater, he later, began in Sebastopol, he his began first assignment California.his first inIn research assignment1994, he and moved developmentin research back to France andat the developmentand White created Owl GeneralWaterfarm at the Hydroponics White in Sebastopol, Owl WaterfarmEurope California. with inhis 120 illustrations 264 pages / 120 illustrations Inwife, 1994,Sebastopol, Noucetta he moved Kehdi. California. back to France In 1994, and createdhe moved General back Hydroponics to France andEurope created with his 17 x 24 cm wife,General Noucetta Hydroponics Kehdi. Europe with his wife, Noucetta Kehdi. 17 x 24 cm WilliamTHE Texier AUTHOR is a true innovator in the hydroponics industry. In 2004 he developed 600 propro contacts contacts Williamand patented Texier is « a bioponics true innovator » (organic in the hydroponics). hydroponics Currently,industry. In he 2004 manages he developed research Coming out William Texier was born in Paris. He first studied at the Institut national de Gemmologie in ISBN 978-2-84 594-081-9 andandWilliam patented development Texier « bioponics atis General a true Hydroponicsinnovator in in the Europe hydroponics and internationally, industry. with In 2004 a team ISBNComing 978-2-84 outrd 594-081-9 France, then with the» Geological(organic hydroponics). Institute of America Currently, in Los he Angeles, manages before research discovering SEPETEMBER 23 2013 andofhe researchersdevelopment developed drawn at and General frompatented Hydroponics different « bioponics departments in Europe » (organic and of internationally,the hydroponics).University withof California. a team SEPETEMBER 2335rd € 2013 hydroponics, which became his passion in 1985. He and Lawrence Brooke, his long- ofHe researchersCurrently, publishes articles drawnhe manages andfrom conducts different research seminars departments and around development theof the world. Universityat With General thirty of yearsCalifornia. in the time friend, developed aero-hydroponics. 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PRESS RELEASE yearsMore infoin the on the field, book: he http://www.mamaeditions.net/catalogue.html#9782845940 is considered one of the most knowledgeable819 Coming out hydroponicsMoreWilliam info on theTexier book:experts is http://www.mamaeditions.net/catalogue.html#9782845940 a true worldwide. innovator Hydroponicsin the hydroponics for Everybody industry. In 2004819has beenhe developed SEPETEMBERComing out23rd 2013 translatedand patented into half « bioponics a dozen » (organiclanguages. hydroponics). Currently, he manages research and development at General Hydroponics in Europe and internationally, with a team rd SEPETEMBER 23 2013 of researchers drawn from different departments of the University of California. Hydroponics for Everybody He publishes articles and conducts seminars around the world. With thirty years in the All about home horticulture field, he is considered one of the most knowledgeable hydroponics experts worldwide. William Texier Hydroponics for Everybody has been translated into half a dozen languages. More info on the book: http://www.mamaeditions.net/catalogue.html#9782845940819 Series: Gardens PUBLIC RELATION Laurence Klejman PUBLIC RELATION This richly illustrated bible of hydroponic gardeningPUBLIC will+336 RELATION increase 80 03 83 34 your indoor harvests to levels you never thoughtLaurence possible. Klejman Laurence+336 80 Klejman 03 83 34 [email protected] See the catalog: More www.mamaeditions.net/pdf/catalogue.pdf info on the book: http://www.mamaeditions.net/catalogue.html#9782845940819 +336 80 03 83 34 Contact the author and the publisher: [email protected] PRESENTATION See the catalog: www.mamaeditions.net/pdf/catalogue.pdf [email protected] Contact the author and the publisher: [email protected] From basic gardening to high-tech installations, tips [email protected] the beginner and know-how for the seasoned professional, from the ABC’s to the most guarded8 | Soilless secrets, Gardening everything India Magazine • June'13 you ever wanted to know about the art of hydroponics.Mama Editions, 7 rue Pétion, 75011 Paris • Tél. +331 77 32 54 36 / +331 77 32 57 89 • [email protected] • www.mamaeditions.net Mama Editions, 7 rue Pétion, 75011 Paris • Tél. +331 77 32 54 36 / +331 77 32 57 89 • [email protected] • www.mamaeditions.net PUBLIC RELATION Laurence Klejman +336 80 03 83 34 See the catalog: www.mamaeditions.net/pdf/catalogue.pdf Contact the author and the publisher: [email protected] 264 pages / 120 illustrations [email protected] 17 x 24 cm THE AUTHOR 600 pro contacts William Texier was born in Paris. He first studied at the Institut nationalMama de Editions, Gemmologie 7 rue in Pétion, 75011 Paris • Tél. +331 77 32 54 36 / +331 77 32 57 89 • [email protected] • www.mamaeditions.net ISBN 978-2-84 594-081-9 France, then with the Geological Institute of America in Los Angeles, before discovering 35 € hydroponics, which became his passion in 1985. He and Lawrence Brooke, his long- time friend, developed aero-hydroponics. A few years later, he began his first assignment in research and development at the White Owl Waterfarm in Sebastopol, California. In 1994, he moved back to France and created General Hydroponics Europe with his wife, Noucetta Kehdi. William Texier is a true innovator in the hydroponics industry. In 2004 he developed Coming out and patented « bioponics » (organic hydroponics). Currently, he manages research and development at General Hydroponics in Europe and internationally, with a team rd SEPETEMBER 23 2013 of researchers drawn from different departments of the University of California. He publishes articles and conducts seminars around the world. With thirty years in the field, he is considered one of the most knowledgeable hydroponics experts worldwide. Hydroponics for Everybody has been translated into half a dozen languages. More info on the book: http://www.mamaeditions.net/catalogue.html#9782845940819 PUBLIC RELATION Laurence Klejman +336 80 03 83 34 See the catalog: www.mamaeditions.net/pdf/catalogue.pdf Contact the author and the publisher: [email protected] [email protected] Mama Editions, 7 rue Pétion, 75011 Paris • Tél. +331 77 32 54 36 / +331 77 32 57 89 • [email protected] • www.mamaeditions.net news&events Feedback Interface Organized – ASEAN–INDIA Farmers Visit to Malaysia The Farmers’ Feedback programs and quality areas, field visits covered during Interface was organized for consciousness will take Indian the visit. farmers’ delegation visit to agriculture to futuristic path. Malaysia during under the Farmers shared their feedback Farmers Exchange Programme Dr K D Kokate, Deputy Director in terms of Good Agricultural between ASEAN member states General (Agricultural Extension), Practices, Integrated Farming, and India at NASC Complex on in his welcome remarks Marketing linkage including 24 April 2013. stated that 18 farmers from export and Agro-tourism. 17 states accompanied by two Also, indicated their learnings Dr S Ayyappan, Secretary, officials visited the Malaysia of useful technologies like DARE and Director General, and appreciated farmers for hydroponics, cage fish ICAR appreciated learnings successful visit that enriched culture, fruits and vegetables by the farmers from the visit their knowledge with enhanced processing, coconut jelly, which will be practically used responsibility. mushroom food park, by them and will facilitate polyhouse etc., Dr P Adhiguru, fellow farmers. This will lead Dr. A M Narula, Zonal Project Principal Scientist (Agricultural to solving the key problems in Director, Zone-I, Ludhiana Extension), Agricultural agriculture in their respective shared the experiences of the Extension Division, ICAR states. He expressed hope that visit of delegation in terms of who also accompanied the integration of technologies, various highlights of specific delegation, offered formal vote conducive policies and programs and subject matter of thanks.  Source: ICAR Soilless Gardening India Magazine • June'13 | 9 news&events City Farmer News | INDIA Walk About a Rooftop Aquaponics Food Garden in Kolkata, India Welcome to Urbagrow, an urban, food growing endeavour. All our systems are Aquaponic, soil free, food garden appropriately indianised, hand made and cost in Kolkata. Located in South less to build and run than most other aquaponic Suburban Kolkata on a 1000 sq systems available worldwide. ft rooftop. The garden displays a variety of aquaponic systems growing a variety of vegetables and Tilapia and cat fish. The symbiotic relationship between the fish and plants along with the temperate climate of Kolkata allows us to grow a wide variety of seasonal vegetables and edible fish. The garden is a display for systems of various sizes and growing techniques, all designed to occupy open spaces in urban environments like roof tops and balconies which receive adequate sunlight to grow healthy plants and electricity is easily available. The systems use less water than traditional land gardening, require less work in man hours and can grow vegetables in greater density (more per sq ft) than a traditional soil based 10 | Soilless Gardening India Magazine • June'13 news&events Collective-evolution.com | USA Milan’s Awesome Vertical Forest Written by: Joe Martino In an age where harmonious innovation is becoming more celebrated, Milan brings us a vertical forest designed by Stefan Boeri Architects. When complete, the Bosco Verticale will be the greenest building in Milan! Considering Milan is one of Europe’s most populated cities, this is a solid inovation in bringing clean air to the city center while introducing a beautiful design. The BioMilano vision promises to incorporate 60 abandoned farms into a greenbelt surrounding the city and as part of this vision the Bosco Verticale finds its way into fruition. The building’s design boasts a stunning green facade planted with dense forest systems to provide a building microclimate and to filter out polluting dust particles. Along with that, the living bio-canopy helps to absorb CO2, oxygenate the air, moderate extreme temperatures and lower noise pollution. Not only is this visually water filtration system. Grey-water is used water that goes down the pleasing but it also helps to sink or used in the shower. Additionally, photovoltaic power generation lower living costs. will help provide sustainable power to the building. In the building, each apartment This is a forward thinking design and implementation of nature that is balcony will feature trees (900 not only helping our surrounding environment but also help in bringing plantings are planned for the two us back to harmony and nature. buildings) that will provide shade during the summer months, only Before ending off the research on this post I was able to find a to drop their leaves in winter to progress update. Here are a some images of the building near allow for winter sunlight. Plant complete. You can see the freshly planted vegetation which gives us irrigation is provided via a grey- an idea of what things might look like. Soilless Gardening India Magazine • June'13 | 11 news&events METROP | Netherlands Plant Growth Troubles Purple stems: Sometimes you see purple leaf stems, on grower’s plants. This comes from one thing only, shortage of phosphorus. Phosphorus is the 2nd most important building stone of a 3) WRONG FERTILIZER: If the PH in a medium reaches plant and a shortage of this Phosphorus comes in different for instance, under 5.2 or above will result in another chemical qualities, this has to do with 6.2 a lot of salts will not be reaction from the nitrogen in the origin of the nutrient (where absorbed by the plant anymore. the plant. phosphorus is made out of). The bigger the difference from The causes of the shortage of the The quality determines the the ideal PH, the less absorption. phosphorus in the plant could be: absorption, the concentration The plant will have a shortage and the mix ability. and the leaves become lighter 1) COLD: of color. With a temperature under 20 Most food suppliers use cheap degrees celcius Phosphorus phosphorus thru which no high Although all this time the plant moves less in the plant and with concentrations are possible and was fed and the concentration a temperature under 17 degrees it will attach to other elements. of nutrient salts piled up. The Celcius stops moving all together. Like: crystallizing, crusting on balance is gone ,so water will be the medium.Shortages are retracted from the leaves, back The Phosphorus stops moving supplemented with a phosphoric into the medium. This is called which creates a shortage. The acid to be used a PH-. burning leaves. plant almost does not grow any more either with a temp under A shortage of phosphorus is often The first warning for this is that 17degrees Celcius. seen if the grower uses nitric acid the leaf will curl up, or turning as a PH- with the mother plants. yellow from the leaf edge. The Note: also at night a plant A certain competitor sells this as plant notices the change in grows and therefore the temp a growth PH-. balance with the medium and will should not be below 20 degrees. as a reaction to this, close its Every time it reaches a lower This is completely wrong, skin mouths on the outside and temperature it will reduce your especially if you use the plant under the leaf. harvest. food from the same competitor. The plant fruit/bud 2) PH TOO HIGH: Light leaves and becomes hard, but will If the PH in the medium reaches burning leaves: not grow: 6.0 or above phosphorus will be Leafs that both burn and are light A common problem with inside absorbed less. Does it reach 6.5 of color, is a common problem. vegetation is that the fruit or higher, it will almost not be Most common cause: PH too start will harden but not grow. absorbed at all. high or too low. Growers spend a fortune on 12 | Soilless Gardening India Magazine • June'13 news&events suction and ventilation systems, but forget that what goes out needs to come back in. Often the inlet of air is too small against the suction or no inlet of air at all, but a small opening some where. This way you create a big under pressure and the plants will gasp for fresh air (CO2). Would you get to much and to fast nutrients of the leaf. The leaf edges crack the door for a week, the that it can not handle yet. will then curl. The bigger the plants will grow twice as big after The second option for the plant disruption, the more mouths will this week. Just the right air inlet than is to create more "skin" close, the more the leaf will curl. or a bigger inlet will solve this problem. The plant create more skin in Causes of disruption the bud, so it can lose some could be: Fruit/bud has airy temperature. This buds look 1) Too much evaporation under construction: sometimes bigger, but weight the leaf. • To much heat. nothing. • Growers sometimes are Thru heat, low humidity or a growing volume but without All of this also depends on the blower that blows too hard, the contents. genetics of the plant of course, plant will evaporate more then he • This happens in climates one plant will be more sensitive can absorb. where the temperature around for this then another. the leaf is 32 degrees Celcius or 2) Too much salts in the medium higher. Curling leaves: by over feeding or a wrong PH. • The ideal room temperature Growers can see their leaves, is around the 24 degrees Celcius mostly on the side and on top, The medium will want to to get the ideal inner leave curl. Skin mouths with which the compensate the in balance of temperature. plants breath are on the bottom salts in the plant and in the of the leaf. medium by holding water or even But when the temperature gets retract it from the leafs (leaf to high, the plant wants to cool For the absorption of water and burning). more to do all his processes. nutrients, these skin mouths The plant react by vaporizing need to evaporate water. 3) The plant will receive less more water under the leave and or no water and will close it’s want to drink more water. If there is a disruption thru which mouths in order not to lose But if there is a full ammount of the plant will evaporate less more water. Air shortage in nutrients in the water, the plant water, then some of the skin the medium will hinder the can not drink more because it will mouths will close on the outside movement of the elements. Soilless Gardening India Magazine • June'13 | 13 cover story COMMERCIAL HYDROPONICS other developed countries over higher quality and fresher Introduction several years by its Founder foods on delivery, and less and Chief Visionary, the modern transportation pollution hi-tech system is designed to • Is easily scalable from small GTIPL, Bangalore, India, grow vegetables, herbs and to very large food production www.petbharoproject. fruits and other foods much situations. co.in introduces its more efficiently and with greater revolutionary concept of food value than in conventional a Hydroponic Food Park agricultural field conditions. Food Parks – Hsystem. The dwindling availability of fertility of soil, clean and The Hydroponic Food Parks The Solution surplus water, availability of farm system will demonstrates the In a rapidly urbanizing world labour, drought conditions and following characteristics: where the majority of people now the vagaries of global warming, live in cities, localization requires comes a drastic reduction in • Produce approximately 5—20 that food and fuel be produced availability of food and basic times the normal production in an urban context. At present, nutrition. HGTIPL, who are the volume for field crops there are no examples of a locally pioneers of Hydroponics in India, • Will use just 5—10 % of the sustained urban community have a solution that can change normal water requirements for anywhere in the world. Urban the way horticulture is done and field crops this is a solution that can be • Can be built on non-arable sustainability is yet to be realized adopted by big ticket corporate lands and close to major city primarily because urban agriculture and public sector companies, markets presents a number of technological including high net worth • Works in a variety of challenges. The main challenge is entrepreneurs. environments: urban, suburban, a lack of growing space. countryside, desert etc. Even India’s neighbour Pakistan • Does not use herbicides or The Food Park idea is a new has started exporting hydroponic pesticides idea currently emerging in the produce into Middle East and • Will have very significant sustainability discourse which some countries of Europe. operating and capital cost offers great promise for increasing savings over field agriculture urban-peri urban food production. Developed after in-depth • Will drastically reduce Hydroponic Food Park systems research and study of food transportation costs to market have been proposed as possible supply chains in Australia and in resulting in further savings, solutions for increasing urban food 14 | Soilless Gardening India Magazine • June'13 Increases Food Supply which Decreases Impact on Nature cover story Increases Food Supply which Decreases Impact on Nature Soilless Gardening India Magazine • June'13 | 15 cover story supplies while decreasing the ecological impact of farming. The primary advantage of Hydroponic growing is the high density production it allows using a much reduced physical footprint and fewer resources relative to conventional agriculture. Vertical growing, hydroponics and greenhouse production have now been combined into an integrated commercial production system, a system that has major potential for the Components of a realization of environmentally sustainable urban food and Hydroponic Food Park fuel production. Special Processing and • Nurseries for seedlings and small plants Who will Testing Rooms • Medical Facilities with Paramedics 24/7 • Cold rooms benefit? • Cleaning /Washing area Transport Bays Retail Chain ,Defence • Sorting area • Goods Inward establishments, Private • Grading area • Goods Outward Individuals, Public Sector • Packing area • Transport Parking Bay Companies, Hotel Chains, • Food testing lab area Fast Food Chains, • Gamma Irradiation Bay Captive Power Processed Food Industry • Generator rooms as Backward Integration, Administration area • Solar Power Railway Catering companies, • CEO’s Office and Retinue • Wind power Corporate Hospitals, • Main Office • Biomass Power FFV Exporters, Large • Finance department land owners, NGO’s, • Consulting rooms/ Storage tanks Foreign Retail Companies • Marketing department • Nutrient tanks (Outsourcing), Public-Private • Security Office • Rain water harvesting tanks Partnerships. • Nurseries • Fresh water tanks 16 | Soilless Gardening India Magazine • June'13 cover story Seeds we refer to are greenhouse results. Hydroponic and • Storage Bay greenhouse yields are commonly 5 times the field yield • Distribution Bay or a two crop per year field harvest and 10 times the field yield for a one crop per year field harvest. Knowledge Bays • Hydroponics Library Soil VERSUS Soil-less Cultivation-Few yields – examples • Hydroponic Training Tunnels • IT Support Office CROP SOIL SOILLESS Soya 600 lb 1,550 lb Other amenities Beans 5 tons 21 tons • Motorable Roads Peas 1 ton 9 tons • Drainage and Sewage water systems Beets 4 tons 12 tons • Street and Pathway Lighting Potatoes 8 tons 70 tons • Power Station Cabbage 13,000 lb 18,000 lb • Signboards Lettuce 9,000 lb 21,000 lb • Tunnel Maintenance Centre Tomatoes 5—10 tons 60-300 tons • Tunnel spares and equipment warehouse Cucumbers 7,000 lb 28,000 lb Auction Points • Auction Bays Conclusion These Hydroponic Greenhouses set up in the food parks or even as standalone units can produce hundreds of Commercial thousands of tons of world class, nutritious food in small Hydroponics: acreages. It is expected to be a catalyst in the coming green revolution. It is these kinds of technologies which Some Yield One are expected to change the future of Indian agriculture. Acre Hydroponics It is no longer an option, but an imperative. Greenhouse System Recommended Produce to Hydroponics offers the promise of feeding the millions of starving people around the start with world. Many greenhouse operations are • Lettuce Iceberg actually hydroponic in nature – that is they • Bell Peppers (Colored) are merely called “greenhouses" whereas • Strawberry they should really be called hydroponic • Herbs growing facilities. Some of the high yields  By Lt Cdr (retd) CV Prakash ( Author is CEO, of HGTIPL Bangalore) Soilless Gardening India Magazine • June'13 | 17 who is who Commercial Cropping: AutoPot Watering Systems he easy2grow system from UK based manufacturer AutoPot is recognised by commercial growers worldwide as an easy to maintain and infinitely expandable hydro systemT that produces awesome results. Whether growing 2 plants or 2000 plants, AutoPot offers the commercial horticulturalist a watering solution that allows them to deliver optimum levels of water and nutrient to a huge volume of plants. Reducing their watering workload without the need for pumps or electricity and – most importantly – with zero waste. It is the only watering system that allows the plant to be in control of its own requirements. The proof is in the pudding, so let’s have a look at some of their commercial installations… 18 | Soilless Gardening India Magazine • June'13 who is who AutoPot Commercial Case Study: Brill View Farm, United Kingdom Last year’s AutoPot chilli trials at Following several delays in the growing schedule throughout the Brill View Farm in Oxfordshire, summer, due to the heavy rainfall and below-average temperatures, England, saw some huge 960 plants went into the main greenhouse area in the AutoPot system. harvests. Although the weather conditions did not improve, the quantities produced were impressive – we harvested over 3968lbs of chillies in an area of 1250 square feet – which was a great return bearing in mind the measures put in place to combat the unfortunate weather conditions. Soilless Gardening India Magazine • June'13 | 19 who is who AutoPot will be continuing the trials at Brill View this year with chillies and aubergines, so fingers crossed for an improved return this season, with a little bit of help from the British Summer, of course! “We had no prior knowledge of growing vegetables, but are now AutoPot successfully growing English Cucumbers thanks to the high level of technical support and after sales service offered by AutoPot. Commercial We have 2700 AutoPot systems on site, with plants growing in three 4000 square foot poly tunnels. We produce a continuous Case Study: harvest of between 800 to 1600lbs of cucumbers per week. “Producing at a local level allows us to harvest, shrink wrap Harvest On and deliver on the same day. We have a blossoming customer base including a large supermarket chain and various cruise The Hill Farm, ships that dock in Barbados. We make an effort to make the most of our natural resources – all the water we use in our Barbados growing systems is harvested off the roof of our poly tunnels. Using the AutoPot system in this climate has not had any Simon Cannon – owner of Harvest negative impacts on our growing - despite the high levels of On The Hill Farm – has been growing UV sunlight, the pots are showing no signs of deterioration. commercially in Barbados for the The system just keeps on working!” last 3 years, using AutoPot systems, and since then has achieved some Check out the video of Simon’s farm incredible results. Here’s what he http://youtu.be/_faMSRz633M had to say about his experience of If you have any questions on the performance of AutoPot growing with AutoPot, his successes Watering Systems, we are sure that Simon would be happy to and the produce he has grown: answer them! Contact him via YouTube. 20 | Soilless Gardening India Magazine • June'13 who is who AQUAvalve will refill the tray to How It Works ¾ inch automatically, without the need for pumps, timers or At the heart of every AutoPot electricity. At AutoPot we call this Watering System is the PCI; Plant Controlled Irrigation. AQUAvalve; once connected to a water supply (reservoir) this unique device will automatically control the flow of water to the plants. Save Water… water is used by the plants, with zero waste. In trials with Valley Insert AQUAvalve video – Grow Grown Salads – a major supplier http://youtu.be/K1Dn-1V8Za4 to UK supermarket chains – embed using the code from Waitrose and Co-Op – conclusive YouTube Beautiful results showed that AutoPot By simple gravity pressure from Plants Watering Systems reduced water a reservoir the AQUAvalve will / fertiliser usage by 45%. flood the tray to ¾ inch and Water conservation, self- will not re-open until the plants sustainability and the reduction of AutoPot systems require no have used all of the water, carbon emissions are worldwide electricity, pumps or timers to this ensures that the plants go concerns. AutoPot Watering operate and work on the natural through a wet and dry cycle. Systems offer a sustainable, gravity pressure created from a Once the plants have used all environmentally friendly method of reservoir/tank. of the water in the tray, the crop production as every drop of  For more info, visit www.autopot.co.uk Soilless Gardening India Magazine • June'13 | 21 Directory of companies working in the field of hydroponics – Your guide to find partners. Please send your order to: [email protected] who is who VENTSnl VENTSnl VENTSnl is the Dutch subsidiary of “VENTS”. We trade the complete range of VENTS worldwide. Besides our growing sales in the HVAC market we have specialized ourselves in ventilation for the Hydroponic & Indoor Gardening market. We offer a complete range of ventilation products like Mixflow-Centrifugal and Axial inline fans, Sound Insulated metal and wooden boxed fans, Metal ductwork and Accessories About VENTS Manufacturing Facility specially designed for the hydroponic market. VENTS is the worldwide ventilation leader. The VENTS manufacturing facilities are located at more than 60 000 m 2. Each of 16 workshops is Please visit our website tooled up in compliance with international standards to cover the fully- www.ventseurope.eu or featured production cycle. The enterprise engages more than 2000 contact us at professionals. Their team work is aimed to provide ready ventilation [email protected] for products from idea and design development up to the ready high- more information. tech product. VENTS ongoing development strategy is based on implementation of innovations and application of advanced technologies in climatic equipment. The VENTS product range includes above 10 000 items for residential and industrial ventilation, specially cut for different target audiences and various climatic areas All our products meet to the latest stringent requirements of the main countries worldwide. We are looking forward to explore with you the Indian hydroponic market.  VENTSnl team Soilless Gardening India Magazine • June'13 | 23 General Hydroponics pages Growing Lycium Barbarum in Hydroponics By Noucetta Kehdi – GHE ycium barbarum, or because of its high adaptability. Wolfberry, is most It likes full sun and an alkaline, commonly known as well-drained, rich soil. It loves “Goji berry”. It originates temperatures going from in South East Asia and 15°C to 25°C, but it can live China but grows today on all in hard climatic conditions, L needed, as continents. and temperatures going as Lycium prefers far down as -22°C. Lycium an alkaline We grow our Gojis in the South is actually quite easy to environment, West of France since 2008. We grow and requires little care and generally tap never tried to produce it on a after it has established (around waters used for nutritive solutions large scale, but only for our own 6 months). It propagates through have a high enough pH naturally. consumption, considering how seeds and Lycium cuttings love beneficial it is for human health. hydroponics. The plant grows When mature, Goji berries are And the experience we gained into a bushy kind of shrub going small, oval, and bright orange, from growing it for the past years anywhere from 6 to 8 feet tall. with a sweet and sour taste. allows us to be confident that Flowering starts in spring and all Harvest starts in July and August they grow and thrive happily in through the summer and the first and goes until the first frosts. hydroponics. So, if you’d like to fruit appear from early summer till The plants are quite fruitful. experiment, or prepare a future beginning of fall. True, bountiful Despite very little care and project; if you’d like to produce yields appear only after 3 years attention on our part, this year at your own consumption or to from planting. GHE we harvested our first real complement an herbal garden crop, some 400 grams from 8 for yourself or for commercial We started our Gojis inside bushes every 6/7 weeks ! I dried purposes, this information might the greenhouse first, then them at home, and we have been interest you. outside, as they seem to prefer eating them all along the winter. cooler weather and seasonal Lycium barbarum is an evergreen changes. We grew them in a shrub from the Solanaceae family, Panda “Hydro” with Flora Series, which culture expands regularly Diamond Nectar, and Mineral to different parts of the globe Magic. No pH regulators are 24 | Soilless Gardening India Magazine • June'13 Useful Details: ml / 10 L EC Flora Gro Flora Micro Flora Bloom DN** MIM pH Seedlings 0,3 – 0,6 2,5 2,5 2,5 20 4 g/l >7.0 Vegetative 1,4 – 1,8 20 25 12,5 20 Flowering & fruiting 1,9 – 2,5 20 25 15,5 Since a few years you can find China and India to: beverage. Although dried Goji Goji berries in most organic • protect the liver berries are not too expensive, health and food stores. They • help eyesight Goji juice is, which makes it an are considered to be rich in • improve sexual function and interesting crop for a hydroponics antioxidants and are sold to fertility commercial operation. improve health and extend life • strengthen the legs Considering that a 32-ounce expectancy. • boost immune function bottle of goji juice (about an • improve circulation 18-day supply) can run as high as In the Encyclopedia of Medicinal • promote longevity $50 USD, I let you do the math ... Plants written by Li Shizhen (http://altmedicine.about.com/od/ from the Ming dynasty, you can In traditional Chinese medicine, completeazindex/a/goji.htm**). read the following: “The entire goji berries are eaten raw, Goji plant is a treasure. The goji brewed into a tea, added to So, when starting a hydroponic berries strengthen the kidneys Chinese soups, or made into operation, these plants represent and vital energy, maintain the liquid extracts. Here in Europe, a particularly interesting cash liver, clarify the eye sight, and they are generally eaten as a crop. To know more about our extend life expectancy.” dried fruit, which is the easiest Goji production experience, have and most economical way. a look at our video on www.ghe- Goji berries have been used In recent years, Goji juice has blog.com/blog/2013/02/05/goji- for 6,000 years by herbalists in become popular as a health berries. * Last minute information (http:// en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lycium_ barbarum ): «Importation of Lycium barbarum plants may be submitted to customs regulations in some countries, due to the possibility they could be vectors of diseases attacking Solanaceae crops, such as potato or tomato». Which makes me think that, depending April 2008, indoors October 2011, outdoors Dried goji berries& on where you live, the hydroponic propagation of Goji plants represents Bountiful production August 2012 Harvesting August 2012 400 g every 6/7 weeks a very attractive market. ** I cannot resist the temptation of quoting the above link again: «Companies marketing goji juice often mention the unsupported claim that a man named Li Qing Yuen consumed goji berries daily and lived to be 252 years old.…» Want to try? More info on our activities on www.ghe-blog.com. Soilless Gardening India Magazine • June'13 | 25 company profile Greenfield Hydroponics Systems Inc "NECESSITY IS organic crops. We believe this revolutionary technology A MOTHER OF is the key to fighting drought, INVENTION" starvation and famine across During 1985 to 1987 consecutive the world in the most cost three years drought in most of efficient way. the states in India that destroyed valuable livestock that motivated Mr. Kashyap Bhatt has also Canada based Non-Resident formed Greenfield Foundation, with the mission of combating Indian (NRI) Kashyap Bhatt to Kashyap Bhatt develop solar powered portable starvation and deforestation worldwide. Foundation provides President / Inventor greenhouse to grow green fodder financial and technical support round the year. In 1987 the for women in the rural areas first prototype was built in India techno-economically viable for to help them creating self- and since then research and the bank finance in absence of employment by introducing development continued to create any grants or subsidies available Solar/Wind powered portable automatic system that can grow from local governments. and fixed structure greenhouses. various crops under controlled climatic conditions in +50° Greenfield has developed systems Celsius to –50° Celsius ambient and provides consultation in Our achievements: various projects. We have expert temperature. • In 1989 first commercial teams and proven technologies to Hydro Fodder Farm was sold in meet your requirements. Our "STATE OF THE ART", India with the State Bank of India US & Canadian patented Bank Finance solar & wind powered portable • In 1994, We are winners of Commercial greenhouse justifies its need for the "Market Entry for Energy the countries having shortage of Efficient Technology" (MEET) of production of agriculture land, water, electricity Ontario Ministry of Environment Herbs, Broccoli and / or having adverse climatic & Energy, Canada. Our conditions to grow field crops technology is proved user and & other bean due to global warming. environmentally friendly. Sprouts • Technology received US & We have developed portable Greenfield Hydroponics Systems Canadian patents. greenhouse "Hydro Baby Inc. is the manufacturer of US • In 2009, we are winners of Greens" for growing sprouted and Canadian patented solar the "Development Marketplace" beans in a greenhouse photovoltaic and wind powered DM2009 global competition of environment. You will certainly portable and fixed structure the World Bank, appreciate the effectiveness of greenhouses. Our eco-friendly • Our technology qualifies for greenhouse cultivation and of and self sufficient greenhouses CDM funds and Carbon Credits. producing and supplying fresh are capable of growing • Our turn-key projects are green sprouts which can be 26 | Soilless Gardening India Magazine • June'13 company profile grown throughout the entire year, is low in fat, high in fibres, hygienic, highly nutritious, rich in energy and a good source of essential vitamins, minerals, protein, and amino acids. In our greenhouse we use only freshwater, which is recycled for 24 hours. Hydroponically grown sprout is also free of dust and other agriculturally related contaminants and toxins. "Hydro Baby Greens" is grown in an environmentally controlled, fully automatic greenhouse and is capable of sprouting broccoli, radish, alfalfa, barley, buck wheat, clover, corn, cress, white bean, kidney bean, lentil, mung bean, oats, pea, Soya bean, sunflower, wheat etc. Commercial production of Wheat and Barley as well for the export of it to requires. Greenfield can provide grass juice the international market in you a turnkey project including Barley and wheat is grown association of expert partners training of your personal. hydroponically. You will enjoy in each field concern. producing fresh green grass Based on your requirements which can be grown throughout Greenfield will supply U.S we provide turnkey project. We the entire year, is low in fat, & Canadian patented solar provide consultation and a project hygienic, highly nutritious, rich photo voltaic powered portable report on a minimum US$2000.00 in energy and a good source greenhouse to grow fodder and non-refundable retainer fee. The of essential vitamins, minerals, has acquired the services of consultation charges will vary protein, and amino acids. other Canadian companies and based on the type and size of agencies to supply genetics, the project. The consultation fees Beef, pig and goat livestock, lab equipments, we will compensate against the composting system, bio mass purchase of the equipment and / or breeding and energy production and rural licensing arrangements. dairy project refrigeration systems, pre Greenfield has developed a fabricated buildings, dairy Let us work beef, dairy cattle, pig and goat equipments, etc. and to provide together for better breeding project to meet with technical, financial, project the local market demand of management and marketing tomorrow... meat, milk and dairy products expertise that this project  For more info, visit www.greenfield-hydroponics.com Soilless Gardening India Magazine • June'13 | 27 soilless technologies 101 Temperature & Energy Soilless Gardening 101 by Metrop Hydroponics emperature is an important determining factor. If the temperature is not right, the 24–26°C plan will grow less or not at T all. Science has taught us that the best temperature around the leaf is 24— 26 degrees Celcius for all vegetation, for a maximum of growing and blooming day and night. During the day the plan makes energy to grow (assimilation) and at night the plant uses energy to grow (breathing). The art of growing is to make sure that during the day the plant makes as much energy as possible and that at night uses the least amount of energy possible. We can stimulate this during the day by adding more CO2 and more light, and to stimulate the evaporation under the leaf (with mature plants) by air circulation. 28 | Soilless Gardening India Magazine • June'13 soilless technologies 101 GREEN Your TERRACE rinivasan Raghavan enjoys organic gardening during his News Agency | INDIA leisure hours. Over the past year, he has grown several vegetable plants on the second floor of his home. His family does not buy most of the vegetables from the market, but gets it fresh from his garden. Srinivasan even develops his own compostS using food waste which act as manure to his plants. If your house is blessed with a terrace, convert it into a quaint garden. Here are Here are Srinivasan's tips some ideas: for people who want to Ensure the space is strong Develop a Terrace Garden: enough to carry the weight of the garden. Check for leakages • Ensure the terrace is waterproof and fix them before you start work. Effective drainage is • Certain seeds like capsicum and brinjal need grow trays in a coco essential. Make a detailed plan peat medium while lady's finger and beans can be sown directly involving a balanced mix of • Select the size of the grow bag based on the vegetable. An 18 inch lawns, shrubs, small trees and would do for most of plants. garden cover. Opt for fibre- rooted plants rather than the tap • Wider grow bags will allow the roots to spread well and yield better rooted ones which may grow through the building and cause • Use old wooden boxes and cans harm. Choose the correct soil. • Use 2 soil and 1 compost for the mixture Ideally blend together soil rite or peat moss with garden earth • Water regularly and look for health of plants and insects and manure. Play with lights and watch the mood change • Add compost when fruiting and other milestone as evening falls. You can try • Spray Neem oil, soap solution to get rid of insects every week hydroponics for your terrace garden using which you can • Ensure that you spend 30 minutes a day and 3— 4 hours during grow plants without using soil. week end to take care of your plant. Soilless Gardening India Magazine • June'13 | 29 soilless technologies 101 It is Not Difficult to Grow Your Own Vegetables at Home The Hindu | INDIA ast June, Chitra Krishnaswamy, a home maker, decided to take up terrace farming. What began as a hobby soon Lgrew into a passion. Six months later, Chitra’s terrace garden has grown in to a full-fledged farm with 14 types of greens, varieties of tomatoes, chillies, radishes, ladies finger, pineapples, and sapotas. Now Chithra spends almost the entire day on her terrace, tending to her greens and fruits. Her family has not bought any vegetables from the market, for the last two months, says Chitra. “At times we get so many vegetables that I end up gifting them away. There is a big difference in taste between these and the ones you get in the market. These are so fresh and juicy!” More than terrace gardening, what caught her interest was has around 38 kambas and Chitra says every house-hold kitchen waste composting. 100 leave-it pots for storing the can reduce the garbage in the She ordered around 30—40 manure. “These have holes that neighbourhood, if they made terracotta kambas (jars) from facilitate the process of aeration, use of their kitchen wastes. Daily Dump, an organisation which is essential for composting.” “Many families hesitate to make based out of Bangalore. In a Chitra is the only dealer for these manure out of kitchen wastes as shed outside her house, she containers in the city. they feel storing these wastes 30 | Soilless Gardening India Magazine • June'13 soilless technologies 101 will produce a bad odour or it is unhygienic. However, they Manure out How to can’t be more wrong. The minute you mix it with dry leaves of kitchen Create a and microbes and leave it for composting, the bacteria start waste Container their work. In a day it turns into compost and, there won’t be any • Collect previous day’s Garden: foul smell. ” kitchen waste, including vegetable and fruit peels and • Mix 50 per cent of coir pith, Anyone can grow a container egg shells. 25 per cent of red soil and 25 garden in their terrace or on a • Do not use fruits that are per cent of manure to prepare balcony. However, you need to maggot-infested, as they can the growing medium. take some precautions too, she affect the quality of the manure. warns. “You should be careful • Put the wastes into a that the containers are kept colander or any container with • Lay this inside the container in such a way that rain water holes in it. in which you are planting the falls gently or just drizzles seeds. into the pot. If the water falls Add dry leaves to this. This too heavily into the soil, it can will prevent the worms and • Plant the seeds. affect the plant.” maggots from thriving on damp kitchen waste. • Keep the container in an area Chitra also demonstrates how to where there is enough sunlight manufacture kitchen manure and • Add compost accelerator. It and water. start terrace gardens to school could be a packet of microbes students and house wives. or even cow urine or cow dung. In the coming months, Chitra • Mix well and store the recommends cabbages and She says, “If we put our minds mixture in the containers. cauliflowers. Monsoon is the best to it, we can do it. Nature gives • Turn over the mixture time to grow these vegetables us so much. We need to give once every four days so that as the pests called aphides that something back. And this way, the bottom half also gets attack them will be washed away our future generations can enough oxygen required for by the rain. She also suggests have nutritious vegetables that composting. adding a dash of colour to the do not contain pesticides or • The manure will be ready in garden by growing radishes, fertilizers.” 40 to 45 days. keerais, beetroots and carrots. Soilless Gardening India Magazine • June'13 | 31 soilless technologies 101 Worms Work Hard So You Don’t Have To. Give Them Some Credit! Simon Hart, Grotek Europe e all want to use items that increase our garden’s fertility in the hopes of explosiveW yields. With that as our aim, there is one item that stands out as a must-have for all soil and soil-less gardens: worm castings. Vermicomposting is the use of worms to break down organic material. Worm castings are the result of their digestion process. This process will give you some of the highest quality castings available and help you create a more technical and successful garden experience without a lot of effort. Current research show extremely materials are just some of the Darwin, who may be best known complex benefits from the use of things being studied. Although we for his theory of evolution, started worm castings in agriculture. A are just starting to understand the his scientific work looking at green technology, vermicomposting relationship between earthworms earthworms. In fact, he spent the is the epitome of reduce, and healthy soils, worms have latter part of his scientific career reuse, and recycle. Research been fascinating people for looking at nothing but earthworms continues and our knowledge of millennia. at Down House, his country these unsuspecting creatures estate just outside of London. in the soil shows a fascinating Cleopatra, queen of the Nile, He was fascinated by them and connection between the worms and decreed that worms were sacred utterly convinced that worms were overall ecosystem health. Their and were not to be harmed. among the unsung heroes within effects on soil biology, nutrient The Greek philosopher Aristotle the natural world; in 1881 he availability, and the complexity declared them to be the guts of the published his life-long research on of their decomposition of organic soil. The great biologist, Charles earthworms. In one project detailed 32 | Soilless Gardening India Magazine • June'13 soilless technologies 101 in his work, he took small coal Research shows that vermicompost microbes meant to live at normal stones, spread them over a field, stimulates plant growth even temperatures when compared to and left them for 20 years. He then when plants are already receiving compost. Although the process is not dug a trench to see how far down optimal nutrition. Improved seed entirely understood, it is also clear the worms had moved the coal. germination, accelerated growth that worms release more microbes Talk about long-term research. and development, and increased than they ingest, meaning that they productivity and yield are all are actually creating microbes during Worm castings are an amazing scientifically validated claims. There their constant eating. soil amendment, but go easy on are new theories, such as the them! They typically contain 5 possibility of transient plant growth Many composters will tell you times the normal levels of nitrogen regulators being absorbed by the that you need a thermophylic found in regular soils, 7 times humates which form in rich worm reaction (140 degrees Fahrenheit more phosphorus, and 11 times castings. Other benefits, such as / 60 degrees Celsius or higher) or more potassium! Worm castings disease prevention and the ability pathogens will not be destroyed. also contain calcium, magnesium to repel pests, are possibilities, but Research has shown that castings and other micro-nutrients as well there needs to be more study to produced in pathogen-rich as tons of beneficial organisms understand the mechanisms behind environments, such as human and microbes that help to restore these potential benefits. biosolids (I’m glad I don’t research soil life and begin recreating the sewage) contain no pathogens. soil food web. Worm castings rule! When compared to regular Dissections show that something compost, vermicompost stands happens within the first quarter The industrious nature of worms is out as the winner. Higher levels inch (5 mm) of the worm that a power that can be unleashed on of plant-available nitrogen, completely removes pathenogenic all unsuspecting gardens. While phosphorus, potassium, substances. That being said, I do all urban gardeners are familiar sulphur and magnesium make not recommend that any gardener with worm castings, most buy vermicompost nutritionally superior. feed their worms biosolids. their castings at their local shop because it is very convenient. But Microbiology is also more complex There are estimates that there given just a little space, time, and in vermicompost than standard could be over 1,800 species of knowledge it is possible to grow compost. Why? First, vermicompost worms worldwide. Many of the your own castings. Not convinced is processed at a moderate worm casting available in retail that it’s worth the effort? Have a temperature range that never shops are produced by African look at the benefits and then the comes close to the140 degrees nightcrawlers. However, for the actual work involved in growing Fahrenheit (60 degrees Celsius) urban gardener looking to start worms and supplying your own or higher achieved in thermophylic vermicomposting, this is probably rich, microbial super-charged soil digested compost. This means that not the right choice of species due amendment. your worm castings will have more to its specific growing requirements. Soilless Gardening India Magazine • June'13 | 33 soilless technologies 101 Eisenia Fetida, more commonly office was stunned that there was to the exercise. That money can known as a Red Wiggler, is essentially no smell other than a be better spent on other things indigenous to most parts of the mild earthy aroma. This first batch by keeping your worm population world. This particular worm is of quality vermicompost got me healthy and productive. extremely tough and adaptable, hooked, and I would like to pass able to handle a temperature this concept along as a suggestion range from 32—95 degrees from one gardener to another. Giving Your Fahrenheit (0—35 degrees Worms a Home Celcius), and the eggs or cocoons I have moved on from my office can survive short periods of bin, which in the end was too To manage your worms properly complete freezing. This species small. I am going to move my you need to consider five is commonly used in commercial worm adventures outdoors into a essentials: vermicomposting and is easily very straightforward continuous accessed by hobby gardeners flow wedge. Essentially I am going 1. A hospitable living environment: through Internet sales. Before you to build a three-sided open-end the best worm farms have the order your worms, you had better structure made from straw bales. best bedding. Things like straw, have somewhere for them to live. To begin, I will add material and peat moss, coir, newsprint, There are many small home-sized then worms against the back wall. cardboard and even dried leaves worm farm units available. Some After that I will continue to put in all make excellent bedding and are more efficient and complicated bedding and food sources. Once can provide different benefits than others. Remember that the pile reaches the open end when blended together. You vermicomposting is a type of I will take the straw bales from are looking to create a moist farming, not an industrial process, the closed end and move them environment with lots of air so bigger isn’t necessarily better. A to the open end. At this point I pockets and a high carbon to savvy gardener will want to master will harvest the oldest material to nitrogen ratio. I have found a the basics prior to a significant use as vermicompost and begin blend of straw and coir to be an investment in equipment. moving the pile in the opposite excellent mix. A pH range of 5—9 direction. This will get rid of the is acceptable with a level of 7 My first experience with issue of removing the worms being ideal. vermicomposting began when, from my compost because they to the horror of my colleagues, I will move into the fresh material Adding grit to your bedding placed a worm bin in my office. as you take away the digested can help worms process more My boss was quick to inform me castings. This was an issue with material. Inputs such as soil, that if it started to smell that would my office bin where I had to take powdered limestone, rock dust, be the end of it. The pressure was the castings out and create small egg shells and zeolite can provide on, so I put in my bedding and a piles, then remove the top layer this abrasive material that worms half pound of worms and started as the worms retreated to the use in their gizzards. Note that all the feeding frenzy. base of the piles. Follow this with of these items will also provide taking the base of each pile (which extra benefit when added to your I placed approximately 44 pounds contains most of your worms) and soil-less mix as well. (20 kg) of food waste in the bin put it back in the bin with fresh over 14 weeks. I was amazed at bedding and food. You can always 2. A good food source: worms are how quickly the worms processed buy new worms every time you what they eat, so your food source material and everyone in the renew your bin, but this adds cost is very important. Vegetable and 34 | Soilless Gardening India Magazine • June'13 soilless technologies 101 fruit peelings are excellent, and coffee grounds are great when available. Kelp meal is a good choice, but remember that worms are sensitive to salt. Corrugated cardboard is also a good food source because of the high protein glue used to bind it. Commercially, there are many more food sources, including manures; but for the urban gardener it’s fine to stick to what you might put in a standard compost bin. worms. Outdoor vermicomposting then actually slow the growth of 3. Adequate moisture: worms does require some shelter plants. Use it as a top dressing need a damp environment to planning, especially in Canadian or mix it directly into your get the job done and be happy winters that sometimes spill into medium. As a growing tip, if you while doing it. The moisture the northern states too. are simply looking to enhance content in the bedding should the microbial diversity in your be somewhere around 70—90 Space is premium in small urban rhizosphere, then consider the percent. This means you may gardens, but many worm bins use of an aerobic compost tea have to add water at the start, but are small enough to fit under the to enhance the levels of various as you pile the kitchen scraps into kitchen sink or under your flood bacterial species. Remember the bedding the moisture should table. Most common small units that vermicompost has a much balance out to a good range. use a top feed bed where you broader diversity of microbes are adding food material into than standard compost, and 4. Worms need to breathe, so the worm bedding as it becomes they reproduce rapidly at room make sure there is a good level available. Looking to upgrade? temperature, so to use it in an of oxygen. If bedding becomes Consider a vertically stacked tray aerated tea is an exceptional too compact it will force worms system for even more castings way to stretch its value in your out by creating an anaerobic out of the same area. garden. Without question, environment, which kills worms the addition of worm castings and will smell like something you So now you want to use some provides urban gardeners with don’t want in your garden. of the black gold that has been accelerated plant growth. And growing in your worm bin. The to those urban gardeners up 5. Protection from extreme finished product will range from for the challenge, small-scale temperatures. The Red 10—50 percent of the original worm farming produces a growth Wiggler is a perfect worm for weight of the material. But don’t accelerator while decreasing the vermicomposting because of its worry because the best ratio to waste that leaves your house for temperature range. However, you mix into your growing medium is the landfill. I hope that you see need to keep direct sun off your about 10 percent. You can add some of the benefits now, and will bin or pile because it can overheat up to 40 percent, but using over experiment to bring vermicompost the environment. Remember, 40 percent seems to decrease into your urban jungle. also, that direct sun is toxic to its value, and castings can  www.grotek.net Soilless Gardening India Magazine • June'13 | 35 soilless technologies 101 Cleaning and Checking the Irrigation System About Grodan For forty years Grodan has been the global market leader in the supply of a wide range of integrated substrate solutions to professional growers endeavoring to achieve the optimum cultivation of high-quality vegetables and plants. Grodan represents reliable and Cleaning and checking the irrigation system sustainable substrate solutions for the high tech cultivation of vegetables and plants. www.grodan.com A. Before Preparing for the new crop 2–3 Grodan takes its position in respect to sustainable cultivation seriously. Before cleaning the greenhouse please ensure that appropriate steps have been taken to minimize the emission of cleaning agents to the environment. For more information on emission and environmental policy where it applies locally we advise that you contact your local Environmental Officer. Use chlorine bleach (against b.1 organic organisms) and nitric acid (against inorganic pollutants). • Check if your drippers can stand a chlorine/acid treatment (if not, ask your dealer for the cleaning procedure). • Carefully read the labels of the chemicals prior to use. • Prevent contact between these substances (danger of lung burning and explosion). • Prevent the irrigation lines from becoming dry. b.2 b.3 36 | Soilless Gardening India Magazine • June'13 soilless technologies 101 B. Preparation 1. Clean the mixing tanks and the irrigation system. 2. Solution can be made in the mixing tanks: remove pH meters and put them in a pail of water, also remove the EC electrodes. 3. If you have a drain system, fill up the drain basins with clear water so that the concentrated chlorine or acid will not affect the concrete. 4. Mix 4.5 liters of 10% concentration chlorine or 3,0 liters of 15% b.4 b.5 concentration chlorine in 100 liters of water. This solution has an EC above 10 and a pH between 10 and 11. 5. Add 3 to 5 liters nitric acid (38%) to 100 liters of water. A solution of 3% gives a pH of 1.5 and a solution of 7% gives a pH of 1.0 (depending on the quality of the water). The EC is between 7 and 9. C. Cleaning 1. Flush the main and secondary pipes c.3 c.4 with clean water. 2. Apply the chlorine solution: ready when the last dripper has pH >10. 3. Leave the system filled for 24 hours, do not irrigate. 4. Flush after the chlorine solution: rinse the pipes and mixing tanks with clean water, irrigate for some time. 5. Add nitric acid and trickle shortly once per 3 hours to flush out chalk precipitation. Only run the irrigation system when the pipes are clean of any organic matter and the drippers dirty. c.7 Soilless Gardening India Magazine • June'13 | 37 soilless technologies 101 6. Flush the system thoroughly with clean water, no residues of cleaning product may remain. 7. Dip the irrigation pins in disinfectant solution for 5—10 minutes (when very dirty up to 30 minutes). D. Checking the Level of Variation d. 1 When clean and before the new plants arrive it is a good idea to check the uniformity of the distribution system. 1. Select 10 drippers from the first, middle and bottom irrigation line of a chosen irrigation section. 2. Place irrigation pins into empty bottles at various locations in the greenhouse. 3. Irrigate two or three times. Then use a measuring cylinder to record the volume of the solution in each bottle 4. Adding up the volume of these 30 drippers provides a good insight into the d.2 output per section. 5. Go to www.grodan.com/irrigation and enter the data on the 30 drippers to calculate the variation: • 5% variation is good, no action is required. • 5% to 10% variation is poor, it is recommended that action is taken to correct this. • More than 10% variation is extremely poor and will result in uneven slab water contents and poor water management capabilities if action is not taken.  www.grodan.com d.4 38 | Soilless Gardening India Magazine • June'13 Dedicated to the Soilless Gardening Industry of India 02 • APRIL 2013 • www.soillessgardening-india.com 03 • MAY 2013 • www.soillessgardening-india.com Dedicated to the Soilless Gardening Industry of India 01 • FEBRUARY 2013 • www.soillessgardening-india.com Dedicated to the Soilless Gardening Industry of India Dedicated to the Soilless Gardening Industry of India ““HYDROPONICS,HYDROPONICS, CHANGECHANGE TheThe WAYWAY YOUYOU GROWGROW”” anan AgricultureAgriculture RevolutionRevolution byby PlantPlant GenomeGenome SciencesSciences read in this issue: Hydroponics, What Can You Grow? Herbs and Salads COMMERCIAL HYDROPONICS HydroponicHydroponic GrowingGrowing MissionMission Increases Food Supply which forfor India:India: FightingFighting Hunger,Hunger, Decreases Impact on Nature BoostingBoosting EconomyEconomy read in this issue: read in this issue: An Interview with Noucetta Kehdi from GHE VENTSnl | AutoPot Watering Systems | Greenfield Hydroponics Systems Your Details: First name: ______to receive the maga- zine upon its publi- Surname: ______Be the first cation, stay informed Email: ______about the Magazine’s offers and be informed about the latest news in the soilless gardening industry in Company:______India. Although the subscription is not mandatory to Address:______access the magazine, by subscribing here you will have the following advantages: ______ You will be sent your free copy of the magazine ______to your email once they are published. A link to the magazine will be sent to your personal email once City/town:______each new issue is available; You will be sent all news, offers and alerts from Postal code:______the Magazine and the industry in the region; Country:______ You will be benefit from free entry tickets to the events and expos organized by the magazines. Phone:______ To receive the printed version of the magazine, please leave your postal address. We are able to send the printed magazine only in India. http://soillessgardening-india.com/subscription facts and opinion Where Farming & Gardening is Heading Evan Folds has a BS Evan Folds, Founder of Progress Earth in Biology and a minor in Religion from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. He hat’s more important than food? resides with his wife and Arguably, nothing. Yet we take it for child in Wilmington, North granted. So much so that the majority of Carolina, USA. our supermarkets do not even contain real “food” to begin with. This goes for His interests include: everythingW in a box, with a list of ingredients more than balancing the benefits and one, and even “fresh squeezed” juices. necessities of business with that of the balance Consider orange juice. The book Squeezed, by of sustainable systems Alissa Hamilton sheds light on this massive industry and making sense of food that has marketed its place into almost every home refrigerator. Almost 2/3rd’s of U.S. households buy production. orange juice. Consumers have bought hook, line, and sinker the industry propaganda of “pure” “fresh Evan is the founder and squeezed”, “natural”, etc. but in reality don’t know president of Progress what they are drinking. Earth, an international wholesale hydroponic, Concentrate orange juice was invented in the 1940’s organic gardening for soldiers in WWII, and in that context it was a and wellness product major breakthrough. However, orange juice is not distribution company, with real “juice”. This is hard for some people to hear, but it’s the truth. a focus on integrating sustainable and moral Even the brands such as Tropicana that promise concepts into a modern their juice is “pure”, “natural” and “fresh” have been economic model. heated and processed, stripped of their volatile flavor- producing and nutritive chemicals, held in tanks for up to a year and then engineered by perfume companies www.progressearth.com to taste good. This is done to give the “juice” a shelf 40 | Soilless Gardening India Magazine • June'13 facts and opinion life of 60 days and year-round than in the previous 40,000 so good at tricking our taste availability. The reality is that years. We have gone from buds that we can no longer tell real juice would have a shelf changing the types of fertilizers good from bad. life of no more than 5— 7 days. used to grow our food (natural The majority of processed and artificial) to changing the To make matters worse, our orange juice now comes from fundamental nature of the food lives are so busy we don’t have Brazil. Leave you feeling a little that we are growing (natural the time to dedicate to cooking cheated? and genetically modified fresh meals from whole foods organisms, or, GMO’s). and we convince ourselves that fresh foods cost more. The truth Any form of processing is that in the average packaged Now apply denatures food. We use product there is more cost in preservatives and flavor- the packaging and marketing this to enhancers as a means of costs associated with the convenience and economics, foodstuff than the “food” itself. “food” in not nutrition. Before this massive re-engineering of Production costs, or the raw general food, generally, if it tastes commodity that is raised or good it was good for us. Sugar grown, are typically called During the past 40 years, our was produced by Nature, not the "farm value" of food. The food system has changed more refinement. We’ve now become farm value for meats and dairy Soilless Gardening India Magazine • June'13 | 41 facts and opinion products is around 28%, for The more homogenized our • It takes an entire acre of land poultry around 41%, for cereals food system, the lower the to produce only 48 lbs (~22 kg) around 5%, for fresh fruits 16%, quality of food. Food is not a of beef and for fresh vegetables 19%. piece of machinery that can • For reference, 1 acre of land be constructed as the sum of = 60,000 lbs (22,000 kg) of As consumers demand more certain parts; farming is a living pineapple or 40,000 lbs (15,000 highly processed foods, foods dynamic endeavor that takes kg) of potatoes from distant places, and foods intention and attention to detail. • Crops for farm animals ready to eat, the farm value When the bottom line trumps require 50% of the water and falls as a percentage of the nutritional value, we all lose. 80% of farmland (USDA) retail price. Marketing costs • If beef production was not rose 3.5 times faster than For instance, the U.S. has subsidized in CA it would cost the farm value between 1990 the most expensive health $35 per lbs and 1999. At 39%, labor is care system in the world and • Meat animals eat 95% of the largest portion of the cost nowhere near the healthiest oats, 90% of soy, 80% of corn, of food, rising 56% during population. Many people and 70% of grain crops in US the 1990s. Packaging costs comment that the obesity annually comprise about 8% of total apparent in U.S. cities is far • 800 million people could be food costs, and they increased worse than when they travel fed just off the grain used to feed almost 40% in the 1990s. This overseas. This is a direct result livestock each year increase is a function of the of the U.S. processed diets. • Meat animals account for cost of paper and plastics more than 1/2 of synthetic and the demand for more fertilizer use in US conveniently packaged foods. Here are • Meat animals account for over Package design changes and 70% of the antibiotic used (on packages that can be used some mostly healthy animals) in the directly for cooking and for US each year eating or drinking increase the cost of packaging relative to statistics This isn’t pro-vegetarian the basic food. propaganda, it’s a wakeup call that for how we produce food. Pay Raw commodities (farm attention to what you eat. We value), labor, and packaging illustrate can’t get away with this for much comprise 67% of the cost of longer. food. The rest of the costs are how in transportation, advertising, Business is trumping health. rent, profits, energy, business destructive For example, in 1970 the four taxes, depreciation, interest largest meatpacking companies payments, miscellaneous costs, slaughtered about 21% of and repairs. our meat America’s cattle; today the four largest companies slaughter So the large majority of what eating about 85%. The large feedlots we eat is not food. Its gasoline, created to support this type of taxes, advertising, profit to large habits are business are toxic wastelands corporations, and the package that breed E. coli and other that it comes in. It’s bad enough in the U.S.: “superbugs” we are told to be that the average meal travels scared of. over 1500 miles to your plate, • The average US citizen eats but the bigger picture is even 273 lbs (~125 kg) of meat every The reality is that E. coli is in worse. year the soil in our back yard. We 42 | Soilless Gardening India Magazine • June'13 facts and opinion create legislation that allows for these toxic wastelands, OPPORTUNITY and then develop processes such as pasteurization (nice When we don’t get enough calories in our diet we get hunger pangs. word for irradiation) that One can eat a Big Mac or a bunch of Twinkies and be calorically allow us to get away with it. satiated, but we all know this does not nourish us. Because our The problem is that these bodies never expected to be tricked, we do not get a nourishment processes denature the pang when eating bad food. We normally don’t realize we’re nutritional value of food. malnourished until we get sick. All this being said, food prices Evidence of people’s buying habits changing is illustrated in the fact are soaring, faster than at any that organic food is outperforming the conventional food market by a wide margin. time in history. This is true for commodities and premium foods. In 2010: • Corn = Up 63% • Wheat = Up 84% • Soybeans = Up 24% • Sugar = Up 55% In 2011: The USDA projected that fresh-vegetable prices will increase 4.5% to 5.5% this year, up from a prior forecast of 4.0% to 5.0%. Tomato prices up 24% compared to last winter, broccoli prices up 73% and lettuce up 221%, according to USDA data. (SOURCE: Wall Street Journal and NY Daily News) Some Arab countries spend upwards of 70—80% of their budget on food. In the U.S. it’s more like 10— 20%. This is said to have contributed to the Arab Spring of 2011. When food prices go up in the US, we complain. When food prices go up in third world countries, it starts a revolution. Soilless Gardening India Magazine • June'13 | 43 facts and opinion The Organic Trade Association (OTA) reports in their 2011 Organic Industry Survey that the organic food industry grew at an 8% rate in 2010. This is much faster than the overall food industry which had sales growth of less than 1%. Organic fruits and vegetables enjoyed an 11.8% dollar gain in 2010, with the total value of organic fruits and vegetable sold in 2010 estimated at $10.6 billion, compared with $9.5 billion in 2009, according to the survey. The OTA said organic fruits and vegetables account for 39.7% of total organic food value and nearly 12% of all U.S. fruit and vegetable sales. These numbers are rising. The survey also found that 78% of organic farms plan to maintain or increase organic production levels in the next five years. Roughly 40% of organic operations added jobs in 2010, and the survey found that 96% of operations plan to maintain or increase employment opportunities in 2011. Those are pretty strong numbers for the worst recession in US history. While impressive, the 2010 growth range of organic fresh produce of better than 10% was still less than half what it was in the two or three years before the recession. In 2005, for example, the Organic Trade Association reported the overall U.S. organic food industry grew at a 17% clip. 44 | Soilless Gardening India Magazine • June'13 facts and opinion The organic farming movement is growing, but Here are some other many people are paying more attention to the local findings in this survey: movement. The food found closer to you is likely to • 43.6% responded that "yes, you can save money by vegetable, be more nourishing than fruit and herb gardening." Another 28.2% said "it doesn't matter, it's “organic” food. Consumers enjoyable." now have growing options • 56.9% said tomatoes, though technically a fruit, are their "favorite for farmers’ markets. But vegetable to grow." At 8.1%, peppers were second. many are growing their own • Basil was chosen by 35.6% as "most favorite herb to grow." food. The ultimate local Rosemary at 12.2% and chives at 8.0% were other favorites. is the back yard, and this • 45.8% of survey respondents cited "relaxation and enjoyment" as market is literally exploding. their main reason for gardening. 25.8% chose "garden for beauty and Seed companies cannot decoration." keep up with demand and garden centers are poised for record growth. So what’s the big In a survey of 27,688 opportunity? professional and recreational gardeners conducted by Garden- Share.com, 20.6% of respondents said "vegetable gardening" is the most popular gardening trend. "Small-space gardening" was selected by 17.1% and "organic gardening" was chosen by 16.3%. Interestingly enough, the “Eat Local” gardening trend was chosen by 12.6% of Simply to sell product to all of the humans waking up to how respondents. expensive and convoluted our food production has become in the world. Soon people will be growing their own food because they John Mitchell, founder of have to, not because they know it’s nutritious for them. But there Garden-Share.com, says, are plenty doing this as well. Food is no longer our vitamin, and "Vegetable gardening has many of us know it. enjoyed a surge in popularity due to the economy, the Our opportunity as an industry lies in getting out in front of the price of gas and consumer inevitable. In almost every supermarket it is not uncommon to find a concerns about the origins $5 red bell pepper. Homeowners can easily grow 30 of them for $5 of the food they eat. Add to with your help. that the personal satisfaction you get by growing your own Hydroponics offers growing systems that can help people grow their food and it is no wonder own food easily. You might be surprised to find out how many people vegetable gardening is the never considered home food growing as an option. most popular trend."  www.progressearth.com Soilless Gardening India Magazine • June'13 | 45 facts and opinion Environmental Benefits of Hydroponic Growing By Advanced Nutrients, Canada s global warming is lost every year for a variety transportation of the food requires becomes a bigger of reasons. With farmers being a great deal of fossil fuel because issue for the average increasingly pinched on the of the flights. With hydroponics, citizen, consumers and amount of land that can be used you can grow virtually any government leaders for traditional soil gardening, vegetable in any season in any Aare always looking for better hydroponics may prove to be the part of the world, so they can be ways to cut down on carbon solution. Because every element grown closer to their sale point dioxide emissions and help the of this style of growing can be and use up less gas. They usually environment. Perhaps one of closely controlled, it can produce taste a lot better too, because the the greatest ways countries can larger yields, making the same shorter distance that they have cut back on harmful greenhouse amount of vegetables in just to travel means that they can be gasses is through examining how 1/5th of the space. picked when they are ripe. they produce and distribute their food supply. Hydroponic growing has numerous possibilities to Hydroponics Can Hydroponics Uses not only produce, larger, better Grow Vegetables Less Water tasting vegetables, but also When watering a typical soil help the environment. Here are Anywhere garden, much of the water used This is important because it the main ways that hydroponic gets lost in the soil, which means cuts down on the distance that growing may be the way to "go a lot more water has to be used. food may have to travel to reach green" in the future. In a hydroponic garden, the its destination. Whenever a water is recycled. This puts a lot vegetable is out of season in one less stress on the increasingly part of the world, it is in season in Hydroponic strained water supply. another part. So these vegetables Growing Uses Less are often crated and shipped to Land those areas where they are not Less Land Erosion It is estimated that approximately in season, where the scarcity can Traditional farming requires 10 million hectares of arable land drive up prices. This means the one to till the land, which can 46 | Soilless Gardening India Magazine • June'13 facts and opinion contribute to land erosion. Since Reduces Stress hydroponics uses no soil, and The satisfaction that comes from therefore makes no significant running a successful hydroponic changes to the land, this problem garden can make it easier to can be completely averted. deal with everything else you do in life. Learning a new skill has Fewer Pesticides long been known been known While pests are by no to reduce stress, because it means completely absent raises your confidence and in hydroponics systems, the allows you to take your focus Creative Outlet closed, controlled environment off of whatever it is that gives Growing your own flowers or can eliminate many of pesticides you stress. Seeing a project vegetables through hydroponic that are often necessary to keep to completion, such as turning gardening is a very personal bugs from destroying traditional seedlings into healthy plants, thing. You choose which plants crops. This means less poison also gives you a sense of to grow, you choose how to grow on plants, in rivers, and more accomplishment, which can them, and even choose which importantly, on the food we eat. reduce your stress levels. plants are worthy of cloning. Every All of these factors, plus the hydroponic garden is as much improved taste that can result a reflection of its creator as a from this style of growing has Fantastic Tasting painting or song is. As you become made hydroponics the choice of Vegetables a more skilled gardener, you can many large-scale greenhouses. If the only vegetables that you further change and alter your As the benefits of hydroponics have tasted are the kind at the garden to suit your personality. become more obvious over time, supermarket, you don't know more greenhouses are sure to how good vegetables can be. follow suit. Exercise They are often picked long Growing in your own garden before they are ripe halfway doesn't really sound like exercise, around the world, crated, and because we typically associate then shipped to your hometown. exercise with unpleasant work. Benefits of Because they ripen off of the But with hydroponics, you get in plant, they lose out on a lot of a lot of physical activity just the Hydroponic the sugar that give vegetables same. Hauling your medium to their flavor. And since large- your buckets or grow trays, filling Gardening scale farmers are paid by your reservoir, and squatting Hydroponic gardening is exploding weight, not the flavor of their and stretching to connect your in popularity, with more and more produce, their vegetable plants fittings and lights all involve some people choosing to convert their are often bred for maximum amount of physical activity, which spare room and basements into a yield rather than optimum taste. burns calories and gives you a source of vegetables, flowers, and They are also often refrigerated healthier heart and lungs. Some other plants. Part of the reason to slow ripening, which kills studies even suggest that doing is that hydroponics can allow some of the taste. When you forty-five minutes of gardening anyone, in any geographic locale, grow your own vegetables in is the equivalent of doing half experience the joy of gardening. your closet or basement, you an hour of moderate aerobics. But there are several other can pick them right before you What's even more, is that since ways that hydroponic gardening are ready to eat them, thus gardening is a pursuit you will benefits the gardeners personally. eliminating the early picking, probably actually enjoy, you are Here are just a few of the reasons rough handling, and refrigeration much more likely to head off into why people choose hydroponic that renders store bought you grow room than drive down gardening as a hobby. vegetables relatively tasteless. to your local gym.  www.advancednutrients.com Soilless Gardening India Magazine • June'13 | 47 questions & answers Question What is the difference between Organic Farming and Hydroponic farming? Asked by ABC, Pune rganic Farming is a method of substance used in an organism's metabolism growing plants using materials which must be taken in from its environment. that have not been processed Organic farming is more expensive than normal and changed from their original farming. Main benefits of using Organic farming natural state into something are not using chemicals, which may be harmful Ochemically produced and that 'hydroponics' for human body. Organic farming is as good is a type of farming involving no soil and as hydroponic farming but having very low and nutrients are supplied by mixing with water. slow productivity. In order to be considered organic, plants Hydroponics is relatively new technology of cannot be nourished with mineral salts or farming, where plants are grown in controlled any other refined substances, even though environment. We can control the nutrients these are of a higher purity than most feeding as per the requirement. organic fertilizers. Only unrefined minerals can be applied to organic crops. In organics, Hydroponic farming has completely eliminated the nutrient availability depends on the the need for soil and its micro-organisms. organic nutrient source, the environment and This has resulted in better crop quality, the microbial population that is necessary higher growth rates and much healthier to convert the organic nutrients to inorganic produce, all without soil erosion or water forms. Plants can absorb their nutrients supply contamination. The fertilizers used in only in inorganic ionic forms. The growth hydroponics are much more pure than those and yield performance of a plant depends utilized in organic growing, and they also leave not only on how much nutrients is available no residue in cultivated produce. The result in the root zone but also on the root and is that more people can be fed, less precious shoot environment. The basic goals of natural resources are used, and the produce is organic growers include controlling pests much healthier and flavorful. naturally and without the toxic pesticides that are harmful for humans and animals, "Please, share your questions with us at replenishing our nutrients a chemical that support-us/cd/[email protected] A ns w e R an organism needs to live and grow or a or [email protected]" 48 | Soilless Gardening India Magazine • June'13 eurohydro.com Flora Series bringing nature and technology together PUB-INDE-2-2012-11.indd 1 01/12/12 18:16