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HYDROPONICS

Introduction to Hydroponics

Hydroponics is the science of growing plants in a soil less medium, using mixtures of the essential nutrient elements dissolve in water.

The term 'hydroponics ' was derived from two Greek words ~Hydro~(water) and ~ponos~ (labour), was coined by Dr W F Gerickee of Califonaian who put early laboratory expiriments on to commercial basis. He was growing tomatoes in solution of plant nutrients element in water and his result was highly spectacular.

   

A briefly history

Jonh Woodward

Plant scientist from the begining of time have been curious  to know what composes the plant, what substances make them grow. The first scientists starte ad science of hydroponics was Jonh Woodward in England

in 1699. Followed by De Saussure(in 1804) and Jean-Baptiste Boussingault collectively illustrate that certain elements derived from soil and atmosphere cause plants to grow. This was move to many scientist discovering different of element and improving the techniques of hydroponics which is used even now profitable.

Different type of hydroponics

  • Gravel Hydroponics

 

In Gravel hydroponics they use gravel as the name says. Plants are grown in the gravel and plants are supplemented by water soluble fertilizers. This method of hydroponics has some advantages.

  • gravel have good AFP
  • good drainage

but because of this good drainage nutrient are lost is high.

  • Water culture hydroponics

Water culture is use around the world but not much in South Africa special to farmers that do hydroponics. In this method plant grown in water and nutrient are disolved in the irrigation tank

Advantages

  • Plants receive right amount of nutrient any time of the day
  • Water is not wasted because it is collected and reused.

This is expencive to operate but return are very good

 

  • Sand and Vermiculite Hydroponics

Sand

 

If you decide to go for sand in hydroponics you have to keep in mind that sand soil is well known as loose soil and its physical properties make it to loose more water (poor water holding capacity). Course sand usually has to be irrigated once daily in summer (keep in mind that ). There is high lose of nutrient in sand soil and I need to be supplied now and then

Advantages

  • good drainage
  • good AFP(air filled porocity)

Vermiculite

vermiculite

 

Vermiculite is widely used around the world even it is used here in South Africa. Most of high value crops do well in response to this method of hydroponics

Advantages

  • Good AFP
  • Good drainage
  • Good WHC (water holdin capacity)

You can also use it in seedling production its anhence seeds germination.


Hydroponic structures



Hydroponics crops are grown under controlled environments. Hydroponicis structure are contracted into different shape but I catergorised into two structures namely:

  1. Single-Span structure
  2. Multi-span structure

Single-span structure is only one tunnel with no compatment while multi-span is composed of many compatment

singles pan tunnel

References: