Hydroponics Farming - Advantages, and Disadvantages

Hydroponics Farming is the Future of Agriculture: Hydroponics is an eco-friendly process of indoor farming where soil is not requiredto produce crops. The process reduces land use by 70% and can save water up to 80%. This type of farming is beneficial for those areas where the water reserves are limited and the soil is infertile. In this article, we will discuss Hydroponics farming, its advantages, and disadvantages.

Hydroponics the Future of Agriculture

Hydroponics has a bright future in agriculture as it is a promising and innovative approach. The Indian hydroponics market is expected to grow by around 13.53% between 2022 to 2029. By 2030, the global hydroponics market is expected to reach 13.61 billion USD. As per the context, India's hydroponic industry will be higher than 6.8 % in the global hydroponics market. Before making this farming process as future of Indian agriculture, we need to know about it in detail.

What Is Hydroponics?

Hydroponics is a hydroculture technique where plants grow without soil. In this, the plant root grows in a nutrient solution and the absence of soil can be fulfilled by some sterile mediums. Sterile mediums like gravel, Rockwall, or sand are used in hydroponics to make the roots stable. As it is indoor farming, so artificial light is important for photosynthesis. As per the types of plants and hydroponic systems, we can regulate the temperature, oxygen, pH, and micronutrients present in the solution.

Types of Hydroponics Agriculture

In the mid 19th century, German botanist Julius von Sachs came up with a method of farming by study the requirements of plants which is known as hydroponics. Based on the water requirement, nutrients, and oxygen level there are six types of hydroponics setups as mentioned below.

Nutrient Film Technique (N.F.T)

The Nutrient Film Technique or the N.F.T. is a hydroponic system where it uses a thin layer of continuous flowing hydro-nutrient solution without using any medium. The best part is, that we can reuse the hydro-nutrient solution until the nutrients are left in it. The nutrients of this process come from normal sources such as fish waste and duck manure.

Ebb and Flow System

In this process both the water and mineral solution plumed into a tray where plants are present with a stable medium. Plants absorb the required solution and rest drain back to the reservoir. This process is simple and used to make gardens and grow herbs.

Drip Systems

It is as similar as ebb and flow. In this method, water goes through some small tubes and drains on the top of the plants. Small plants with less developed roots can be cultivated by using this system.

Wick Systems

It is a medium-based system. Majorly perlite or rock wool is used to make the plants stable present in it. A nylon rope is used at the base of each root which extends to the reservoir. It is an economical way of farmingwithout any pumping system.

Aeroponics

This is a water-based systemwithout any medium. In this, the mineral solution is sprayed onto the plants. It is difficult to set up. The process is beneficial for large commercial farming.

Deep Water Culture (DWC)

The process can be done in a container. The roots will be deeped into the oxygenated water which also contains the minerals. The air pump is a major component of the process. This is an easy and sustainable method with low maintenance.

Setup Of Hydroponics Agriculture

To get into hydroponic farming there are some major components you should know about. Let us discuss the setup of hydroponic farming.

The Reservoir

• It is a container-like structure that holds the nutrient solutions.
• It is a plastic or glass-made component.
• Do not use any metal container as it is harmful due to chemicals.

Grow Tray

• It is an essential component that holds the plants.
• It has valves to get a better grip.

Growing Medium

• Growing mediums are the replacement of the soil.
• It is the place where plants grow.
• We can use coconut fiber, perlite, or gravel as the growing medium.

Nutrient Solution

• It is a water solution of the essential minerals.
• Plants absorb the required solution and rest drain back to the reservoir.

Sensors and Controllers

• As it is a human-regulated process, there is no need to use any sensors to measure temperature, pH, nutrient concentration, humidity, and dissolved oxygen.
• Electrical sensors can measure these parameters better for sure. Ultrasonic waves or laser sensors can be used for the same.

Plants Do Well In Hydroponics

Hydroponics farming can be used to cultivate ornamental crops, herbs, and multiple vegetables including cucumbers, lettuce, peppers, and tomatoes. In hydroponics farming we need to consider how much light and heat we need to apply based on the plants. Plants that do well in hydroponic systems as mentioned below:

• Lettuce
• Herbs
• Plants in the Brassica family

Advantages of Hydroponics

There are so many advantages to choose Hydroponics as a farming method as mentioned below:

• It reduces the risk of pathogen contamination.
• To overcome the pathogen contamination, we can use disinfection system of ozone, filters, UV rays or heat.
• It saves the huge labour cost due to automatic irrigation and fertilizing systems.
• It can even be set up indoors in small places.
• It is also being researched for implementation on spacecraft.

Disadvantages of Hydroponics

Though there are so my advantages but lots of advantages also.

• It is too costly to implement.
• It depends on power which can destroy the crops.
• It is needed to test the nutrient solution frequently which requires a vast expertise.

Difference Between Hydroponics Farming and Traditional Farming

In the table mentioned below, we have discussed the major differences between the Hydroponics Farming and Traditional Farming.

Difference Between Hydroponics Farming and Traditional Farming
Parameters	Hydroponics Farming	Traditional Farming
Growing Medium	No soil and nutrient-rich water	Soil with natural nutrients
Water Usage	Water-efficient	Water-intensive
Space Efficiency	Space-efficient	Horizontal space
Crop Yields	High	Based on soil quality and climate
Growing Season	Round Year	Dependent on climate
Nutrient Control	Precise control	Depends on soil
Environmental Impact	Low use of pesticides and herbicides	More susceptible to pests and diseases
Soil Erosion	No	Susceptible to soil erosion
Labor Requirements	Can automated and require less	More manual labor
Initial Setup Costs	High	Low
Energy Consumption	Requires energy	Less energy

Recent Innovations in Hydroponic Farming

Here are some Recent Innovations in Hydroponic Farming.

Hydrosac

• It is a hydroponic growing system. It keeps plants in a closed space to stop water from evaporating and lets nutrients be reused.
• It is more efficient with water compared to traditional soil farming.

Drip Systems

• Simple systems adaptable for various plants.
• Nutrients flow through tubes to plant roots for effective feeding.

Automated Growing Systems

• Machines and smart technology handle tasks like planting and harvesting.
• These systems adjust environmental conditions automatically for better growth.

Nutrient Film Technique

• A farming method suitable for root crops like potatoes and sweet potatoes.
• Developed by NASA, used in vertical farms for efficient growing.