Article ID: AEN-2021-02-04-006 Hydroponics Techniques in Agriculture

Devi Lal Dhaker1, Shivam Maurya2* and Govardhan Kumhar3 1Department of Agronomy, Sri Karan Narendra Agriculture University, Jobner, Jaipur (Raj.) 303328 2Department of Plant Pathology, Sri Karan Narendra Agriculture University, Jobner, Jaipur (Raj.) 303328 3Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Sri Karan Narendra Agriculture University, Jobner, Jaipur (Raj.) 303328 *Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]

If water and other nutrients are provided to plants by some other alternative, they can grow without soil altogether. Hydroponics is the art of cultivation of plants without using soil.

Figure 1. Hydroponics Techniques (Source: researchgate.net)

History of Hydroponics Hydroponics has a long history, from growing in the very ancient civilizations to raising high value products controlled situations. It started in the ancient city of the Babylonians with its famous hanging gardens, which are listed as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon were in fact an elaborate hydroponics system, into which fresh water rich in oxygen and nutrients was regularly pumped. 1. It was said to have been built in the ancient city of Babylon, near present-day Hillah, Babil province, in Iraq on the banks of the river Euphrates. 2. The Hanging Garden has plants cultivated above ground level, and the roots of the trees are embedded in an upper terrace rather than in the earth. 3. Streams of water emerging from elevated sources flow down sloping channel irrigate the whole garden saturating the roots of plants and keeping the whole area moist. 4. The floating gardens of the Aztecs of Central America are another example.

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5. The Aztecs were a fierce tribe who settled in the valley of Mexico around Lake Tenochtitlan in 13th Century CE. 6. Roughly treated by their more powerful neighbors, denied any arable land, the 7. Aztecs survived by exercising remarkable powers of invention. 8. Aztecs build rafts of rushes and reeds, lashing the stalks together with tough roots. 9. These rafts, called Chinampas, had abundant crops of vegetables, flowers, and 10. Even trees planted on them. 11. The roots of these plants, pushing down towards a source of water, would grow, though the floor of the raft and down into the water. Modern Approach 1. In the late 1920s and early 1930s, Dr. William F. Gericke of the University of California extended his laboratory experiments and work on plant nutrition. 2. In doing so he termed these Nutriculture systems “hydroponics”. 3. In the 1990s, NASA grew aeroponic bean seedlings in zero gravity aboard a space station, opening up the possibility of sustainable agriculture in space. How does Hydroponics Work? Hydroponic systems work by allowing minute control over environmental conditions like temperature and pH balance and maximized exposure to nutrients and water. Hydroponics administers nutrient solutions tailored to the needs of the particular plant being grown.

Figure 2. How it work (source; academia.net)

Hydroponics: Methods There are various different ways of growing things hydroponically. 1. Deep water culture hydroponics 2. Aeroponics 3. Wick systems 4. Nutrient film technique systems 5. Ebb and flow systems 6. Drip systems Advantages of Hydroponics 1. In a highly customized and controlled environment, plant growth accelerates. 2. So they need much smaller root systems and can divert more energy into leaf and stem growth. 3. Without the mechanical resistance of the soil, seedlings can mature much faster.

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4. With smaller roots, you can grow more plants in the same area and get more yield the same amount of ground 5. By controlling the environment of the plant, many risk factors like fungus and pests are reduced. 6. Hydroponic systems end the unpredictability of growing plants outdoors and in the earth. 7. By eliminating pesticides, hydroponics produce much healthier and high-quality fruits and vegetables. 8. Since hydroponics is ideal for indoor growing, you can use it to grow plants all year round. Disadvantages of Hydroponics 1. Cost of all the equipment for hydroponics, containers, pumps, lights, nutrients, and so on. 2. Hydroponics is more scientific, You need to check them constantly to make sure they're growing in exactly the conditions they need. 3. Hydroponic plants have much smaller root systems, they can't always support themselves very well. 4. Heavy fruiting plants may need quite elaborate forms of support.

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