Work stuff : Farming without soil (part two)

Hydroponic technology refers to the application of various technologies like biotechnology, computer technology, mechanical engineering, etc…to boost plant productivity and to increase the quality of the produce. Such high productivity and quality produce will satisfy the food and other plant needs of the ever-increasing world population.

The basic principle behind hydroponics is to make available all the nutrients needed by the plants in an efficient way. This is done by providing a conducive and environment-friendly situation so that the plants can grow better, yield better and give more profit to the grower.

What started off as a plant nutrition experiment in the fourteenth century developed into hydroponic farming in the 1940s and this is, ever since, gaining popularity as a high- technology farming method slowly and steadily around the world.

In fact, hydroponics is just a plant growing technology - understanding and applying the natural plant growth phenomena. We can grow all kinds of plants by hydroponics - herbs, vegetables, flowers, fruits, etc. any where we like and any way we like.

When the hydroponics technology is applied to grow plants indoors, it is sometimes referred to as “Hydroculture”. Thus, “hydroculture” is indoor gardening without soil. This is an alternative approach to growing your indoor plants - soil-free and hassle-free. With just a glance, you can tell when your plant needs to be watered and fertilized!

What is the different between hydroponics and organics ?

In organics, the nutrient availability depends on the organic nutrient source, the environment and the microbial population that is necessary to convert the organic nutrients to inorganic forms. In hydroponics, the nutrients are made available directly in the inorganic forms.

Whatever is said and done, plants can absorb their nutrients only in inorganic ionic forms. The growth and yield performance of a plant depends not only on how much nutrients is available in the root zone but also on the root and shoot environment.

Organic farming is as good as hydroponic farming albeit low and slow productivity. The principle behind “organic” farming is the good intention of “recycling” of organic wastes that is generated every day in alarming proportions! This is good. However, recycled “paper” is more expensive to produce than normal paper. Likewise, organic vegetables are more expensive to grow than normal vegetables.

Thus, the plant growing technologies have nothing to do with human health care, other than what the plants supply – carbohydrates, proteins, essential vitamins, minerals and digestible fibres and sometimes - oil.