Escolar Documentos
Profissional Documentos
Cultura Documentos
Period 1
Mrs. Bissonnette
24 February, 2009
Hydroponic Effects on Farming
Hydroponics is the most efficient method of farming during severe droughts and in places
where other growing methods are not accessible. Currently in the United States, farmers are
looking to implement hydroponics because of the severe droughts. The execution of hydroponic
techniques can conserve vast amounts of water while feeding a very large population. The literal
definition of hydroponics is “water labor” coming from the Greek words “hydro-ponos”. The
concept of hydroponics is simple, allowing the plants to grow by constantly supplying the roots
with water, oxygen, and nutrients, while using no soil. Yields are so large that “a small
hydroponic grower with just 5,500 square ft. of greenhouse space can grow as much as 50,000
lbs. of premium produce” (“Hydroponics Online”). The issue of water usage and slow growing
times are two of the main concerns of farmers. Hydroponics, while now a new concept, has been
proven to solve these problems. Many farmers are now starting to convert to hydroponics
because it is easy to implement, and proves to be profitable. Hydroponics effects the growth of
crops by increasing the growth and using far less water comparatively speaking to soil-growing
methods. All plants, regardless of the medium used, require water to survive. Hydroponics takes
more work to maintain than soil grown crops, but plants grow much faster. The reason that plants
can grow faster hydroponically is because they can obtain nutrients quicker. “They are able to
take in food as fast as they are able to utilize it” (“GTG Hydroponics”). Some people dislike
using hydroponics due to the accelerated plant growth. A novice gardener can find themselves
Skills gained from using smaller, less complicated systems are transferrable to any type of larger
In the past farmer have used naturally mineral-rich water sources to implement forms of
hydroponics. “Plants have grown in our lakes and oceans from the beginning of time but, as a
farming practice, many believe it started out in the ancient city of Babylon” (“Hydroponics
Online”). Many hieroglyphic records along the Nile have shown that people had grown plants in
water without using soil. “In the 11’th century, the Aztecs of Central America.. practiced
hydroponics out of necessity. Soil was taken from the bottom of Lake Tenochtitlan and placed
onto rafts made of rushes, and weeds.” “Plants were placed on top of the soil. The plants grew
through the soil down into the water below” (“Hydroponics Online”). During World War II “the
US Air Force built the first large hydroponic farms” on islands in the Pacific. “These hydroponic
farms helped fill the need for a fresh supply of fresh vegetables to troops stationed in these
areas” (“Hydroponics Online”). Many people can benefit from the use of hydroponics in our
society.
Hydroponics is easy to implement. There are many different ways to make a hydroponics
system. The most basic and simplest method of implementation is a Deep Water Culture (DWC)
system. This is the best method of implementation for novice hydroponic growers. It is used
mainly by growers who only intend to grow a small amount of plants. “This technique is cheap
and works well, however, is high maintenance and not very easy to manage” (Winterborne,
The DWC method requires an air pump to bubble air through the nutrient solution and provide
oxygen to the roots. A downside to this method is that the pump must be on for 24 hours a day, or
the roots will become waterlogged and deprived of oxygen. Aeroponic systems, a derivative of
hydroponics, use no air pump and do not require oxygen to be constantly fed to the roots. The
way aeroponics works is they use water pumps and sprayer to mist the roots with a nutrient
solution. This is done on a time schedule to allow the roots to air out to keep from rotting, and
obtain oxygen. Little growing medium is required to implement this system which can greatly
reduce operating costs. A method that requires a medium to implement is the Ebb & Flow
technique. “An Ebb & Flow system consists of a growing bed in which individual containers
filled with medium hold” the “plant’s root systems”. “The growing bed is flooded periodically to
feed and water the plants and allowed to drain freely to pull oxygen into the root zone” (“GTG
Hydroponics”). The Ebb & Flow is low maintenance, and high productivity, so it is well liked
among all users of hydroponics. Another system that is also low maintenance is a top feed or drip
system. Top feed or drip systems operate by using pumps to deliver nutrient solution to the top of
a growing medium, where the solution trickles through the medium and back to the reservoir.
Another equally popular method of hydroponics is the Nutrient Film Technique (NFT).
The “nutrient film technique ensures a continuous flow of nutrient laden solution over the root
system, allowing the plants to feed constantly, resulting in increased productivity and yield”
(“GTG Hydroponics”). Little to no medium is used, which cuts down on operating costs, “but
because of the lack of medium to act as a buffer, plants may suffer if a long-term power failure
Plants also require certain types of media or aggregate. Media is a term used to define the
material in which the roots are suspended (whether it be soil, peat moss, or some other type of
material). The most commonly used mediums in hydroponics are rockwool, expanded clay
aggregate, perlite, and coconut fiber. All of these allow ample water and oxygen to reach the
roots and keep the plant in place. Along with water and oxygen “over twenty elements are
needed for a plant to grow” (“GTG Hydroponics”). Nutrients allow the plants to perform all their
functions. “In the presence of oxygen and water, the nutrients are absorbed through the root
hairs” (“GTG Hydroponics”). Many nutrients are already available when in soil, but they must
be added when using hydroponics. Hydroponics itself proves that soil isn’t required for plant
growth, but the nutrients are. Soil is simply a holder for the roots and nutrients, and a base of
Hydroponics has recently been looked at as an easy way to help feed the hungry, and
lessen the impact of severe droughts. In New Mexico, a water-efficient greenhouse was made
“The greenhouse covers less ground than a tennis court, but it can supply enough
food to support 50 to 100 cows, using about 1 percent of the water required by
crops grown open fields, and a fraction of the land” (Nijhuis, Michelle, On Earth.
The only drawback that throws farmers off is that hydroponics is three times more expensive
than traditional field raised crops. Hydroponic techniques are also being used to help the
impoverished. In Zimbabwe missionaries have been set up to help feed local families that are
hydroponics has drastically helped feed the population in the village. “At St. Werburg’s today, no
child is suffering malnutrition’s devastation, with no reports in over three years” (“Institute for
Simplified Hydroponics”). Much of the leftover food produced in these projects that is not used,
commercial soil grown crops. Growing crops hydroponically is expensive to implement, but
given the increased growth rates, higher yields, lower water consumption, and required space, it
can be quite profitable. Today, consumers are willing to pay a premium price for produce that is
safe and free of harmful pesticides and herbicides. Using hydroponic technology in a controlled
environment is an ideal solution that can fulfill this demand. A commercial hydroponic grower
will spend most of their time running tests on the nutrients, and pH. The gathering of this
information helps the growers know what nutrients to give the plants, and when they should give
them more. This helps them keep optimum growing conditions at all times.
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While hydroponics still is more expensive than soil grown methods to implement, it is
less costly in the long run. Hydroponics can be meticulous with daily monitoring of crops, but it
can also be very rewarding. If crops are commercially grown using hydroponics, profit can
increase dramatically. Hydroponics is environmentally friendly and yields foods that are
pesticide and herbicide free. By using hydroponics one eliminates all soil usage and soil-borne