Techniques[edit]

There are two main variations for each medium, sub-irrigation and top irrigation[specify]. 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 and fungal growth in the nutrient solution.

Static solution culture[edit]

The deep water raft tank at the CDC South Aquaponics greenhouse in Brooks, Alberta.

In static solution culture, plants are grown in containers of nutrient solution, such as
glass Mason jars (typically, in-home applications), plastic buckets, tubs, or tanks. The solution
is usually gently aerated but may be un-aerated. If un-aerated, the solution level is kept low
enough that enough roots are above the solution so they get adequate oxygen. A hole is cut in
the lid of the reservoir for each plant. There can be one to many plants per reservoir. Reservoir
size can be increased as plant size increases. A home made system can be constructed from
plastic food containers or glass canning jars with aeration provided by an aquarium pump,
aquarium airline tubing and aquarium valves. Clear containers are covered with aluminium foil,
butcher paper, black plastic, or other material to exclude light, thus helping to eliminate the
formation of algae. The nutrient solution is changed either on a schedule, such as once per
week, or when the concentration drops below a certain level as determined with an electrical
conductivity meter. Whenever the solution is depleted below a certain level, either water or
fresh nutrient solution is added. A Mariotte's bottle, or a float valve, can be used to
automatically maintain the solution level. In raft solution culture, plants are placed in a sheet of
buoyant plastic that is floated on the surface of the nutrient solution. That way, the solution
level never drops below the roots.
Continuous-flow solution culture — NFT technique[edit]

The nutrient film technique being used to grow various salad greens

In continuous-flow solution culture, the nutrient solution constantly flows past the roots. It is
much easier to automate than the static solution culture because sampling and adjustments to
the temperature and nutrient concentrations can be made in a large storage tank that has
potential to serve thousands of plants. A popular variation is the nutrient film technique or NFT,
whereby a very shallow stream of water containing all the dissolved nutrients required for plant
growth is recirculated past the bare roots of plants in a watertight thick root mat, which
develops in the bottom of the channel and has an upper surface that, although moist, is in the
air. Subsequent to this, an abundant supply of oxygen is provided to the roots of the plants. A
properly designed NFT system is based on using the right channel slope, the right flow rate,
and the right channel length. The main advantage of the NFT system over other forms of
hydroponics is that the plant roots are exposed to adequate supplies of water, oxygen, and
nutrients. In all other forms of production, there is a conflict between the supply of these
requirements, since excessive or deficient amounts of one results in an imbalance of one or
both of the others. NFT, because of its design, provides a system where all three requirements
for healthy plant growth can be met at the same time, provided that the simple concept of NFT
is always remembered and practised. The result of these advantages is that higher yields of
high-quality produce are obtained over an extended period of cropping. A downside of NFT is
that it has very little buffering against interruptions in the flow (e.g. power outages). But, overall,
it is probably one of the more productive techniques.[citation needed]
The same design characteristics apply to all conventional NFT systems. While slopes along
channels of 1:100 have been recommended, in practice it is difficult to build a base for
channels that is sufficiently true to enable nutrient films to flow without ponding in locally
depressed areas. As a consequence, it is recommended that slopes of 1:30 to 1:40 are
used.[citation needed] This allows for minor irregularities in the surface, but, even with these slopes,
ponding and water logging may occur. The slope may be provided by the floor, benches or
racks may hold the channels and provide the required slope. Both methods are used and
depend on local requirements, often determined by the site and crop requirements.
As a general guide, flow rates for each gully should be 1 liter per minute.[15] At planting, rates
may be half this and the upper limit of 2 L/min appears about the maximum. Flow rates beyond
these extremes are often associated with nutritional problems. Depressed growth rates of
many crops have been observed when channels exceed 12 metres in length. On rapidly
growing crops, tests have indicated that, while oxygen levels remain adequate, nitrogen may
be depleted over the length of the gully. As a consequence, channel length should not exceed
10–15 metres. In situations where this is not possible, the reductions in growth can be
eliminated by placing another nutrient feed halfway along the gully and halving the flow rates
through each outlet.[citation needed]

Aeroponics[edit]
Main article: Aeroponics

Aeroponics is a system wherein roots are continuously or discontinuously kept in an

environment saturated with fine drops (a mist or aerosol) of nutrient solution. The method
requires no substrate and entails growing plants with their roots suspended in a deep air or
growth chamber with the roots periodically wetted with a fine mist of atomized nutrients.
Excellent aeration is the main advantage of aeroponics.

A diagram of the aeroponic technique.

Aeroponic techniques have proven to be commercially successful for propagation, seed

germination, seed potato production, tomato production, leaf crops, and micro-greens.[16] Since
inventor Richard Stoner commercialized aeroponic technology in 1983, aeroponics has been
implemented as an alternative to water intensive hydroponic systems worldwide.[17] The
limitation of hydroponics is the fact that 1 kilogram (2.2 lb) of water can only hold 8 milligrams
(0.12 gr) of air, no matter whether aerators are utilized or not.
Another distinct advantage of aeroponics over hydroponics is that any species of plants can be
grown in a true aeroponic system because the micro environment of an aeroponic can be finely
controlled. The limitation of hydroponics is that certain species of plants can only survive for so
long in water before they become waterlogged. The advantage of aeroponics is that
suspended aeroponic plants receive 100% of the available oxygen and carbon dioxide to the
roots zone, stems, and leaves,[18] thus accelerating biomass growth and reducing rooting times.
NASA research has shown that aeroponically grown plants have an 80% increase in dry weight
biomass (essential minerals) compared to hydroponically grown plants. Aeroponics used 65%
less water than hydroponics. NASA also concluded that aeroponically grown plants requires ¼
the nutrient input compared to hydroponics. Unlike hydroponically grown plants, aeroponically
grown plants will not suffer transplant shock when transplanted to soil, and offers growers the
ability to reduce the spread of disease and pathogens. Aeroponics is also widely used in
laboratory studies of plant physiology and plant pathology. Aeroponic techniques have been
given special attention from NASA since a mist is easier to handle than a liquid in a zero-
gravity environment.