Growing Beyond Soil: An Introduction to Hydroponics for the Vegetable Production
Fida Banu M.R.
Dept. of Soil Science, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Kerala (695 522), India
DOI: NIL
Keywords: Hydroponics, Inorganic growing media, Nutrient solutions, Organic growing media
Abstract
Hydroponics is a soilless farming technique that is becoming increasingly popular among vegetable growers. This technique involves growing plants in nutrient-rich water solutions, providing better control over the plant's growth and the environment. There are different types of hydroponic systems, each having its unique advantages and disadvantages. Moreover, selecting the right rooting medium such as perlite, coconut coir, rock wool, sand, vermiculite, peat, etc. are essential for plant growth and development. By utilizing hydroponics, growers can produce more vegetables in less space, using fewer resources, and with higher yields compared to traditional soil-based farming. This article will provide an overview of hydroponics, the different types of hydroponic systems, and the rooting media used in hydroponic vegetable cultivation, highlighting the benefits of this technique for sustainable agriculture.
Downloads
not found
Reference
Jones Jr., J.B., 2014. Introduction. Chapter 1. In: Complete Guide for Growing Plants Hydroponically. CRC Press, Boca Raton, London, New York. pp. 1-16. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1201/b16482.
Pant, T., Agarwal, A., Bhoj, A.S., Prakash, O., Dwivedi, S.K., 2018. Vegetable cultivation under hydroponics in Himalayas: Challenges and opportunities. Defence Life Science Journal 3(2), 111-119. DOI: https://doi.org/10.14429/dlsj.3.12575.
Sharma, N., Acharya, S., Kumar, K., Singh, N., Chaurasia, O.P., 2018. Hydroponics as an advanced technique for vegetable production: An overview. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation 17(4), 364-371. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5958/2455-7145.2018.00056.5.
Swain, A., Chatterjee, S., Vishwanath, M., Roy, A., Amit Biswas, A., 2021. Hydroponics in vegetable crops: A review. Pharma Innovation Journal 10(6), 629-634.