Hydroponics Essay

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Definition Hydroponics is a subset of hydroculture and is a method of growing plants using mineral nutrient solutions, in water, without soil. Terrestrial plants may be grown with their roots in the mineral nutrient solution only or in an inert medium, such as perlite, gravel, mineral wool, expanded clay or coconut husk. Description of Methods The two main types of hydroponics are solution culture and medium culture. Solution culture does not use a solid medium for the roots, just the nutrient solution. The three main types of solution cultures are static solution culture, continuous-flow solution culture and aeroponics. The medium culture method has a solid medium for the roots and is named for the type of medium, e.g., sand culture, gravel culture, or rockwool culture. There are two main variations for each medium, sub-irrigation and top irrigation For all techniques, most hydroponic reservoirs are now built of plastic, but other materials have been used including concrete, glass, metal, vegetable solids, and wood. The containers should exclude light to prevent algae growth in the nutrient solution. Advantages: Some of the reasons why hydroponics is being adapted around the world for food production are the following: • No soil is needed • The water stays in the system and can be reused - thus, lower water costs • It is possible to control the nutrition levels in their entirety - thus, lower nutrition costs • No nutrition pollution is released into the environment because of the controlled system • Stable and high yields • Pests and diseases are easier to get rid of than in soil because of the container's mobility • It is easier to harvest • No pesticide damage Disadvantages: Without soil as a buffer, any failure to the hydroponic system leads to rapid plant death. Other disadvantages include pathogen attacks such as damp-off due to

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