Hydroponics

RENERIO I. DUALLO JR., [Link]., MSc.

Associate Professor II
Surigao Del Norte State University - Mainit Campus
Introduction
The word hydroponics has its derivation from
combining the two Greek words Hydro meaning water
& ponos, meaning labor (working in the water).

“the science of growing or the production of plants in

nutrient-rich solutions or moist inert material, instead
of soil” (Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th edition).
“the cultivation of plants by placing the roots in
liquid nutrient solutions rather than in soils; soilless
growth of plants.”(Random House Webster’s College Dictionary)

“the process of growing plants without soil, in beds

of sand, gravel, or similar supporting material
flooded with nutrient solutions.”(Oxford English Dictionary,
2nd edition)
“the practice of growing plants in liquid nutrient
cultures rather than in soil” (Encyclopedia Americana,
international edition, 2000)

“the cultivation of plants in nutrient-enriched water

with or without the mechanical support of an inert
medium, such as sand or gravel” (New Encyclopedia
Britannica)

“the science of growing plants without soil.”(World

Book Encyclopedia)
Similarly related hydroponic terms are “aqua
(water) culture,” “hydroculture,” “nutriculture,”
“soilless culture,” “soilless agriculture,” “tank
farming,” or “chemical culture.”

A hydroponicist is defined as one who practices

hydroponics, and hydroponicum is defined as a
building or garden in which hydroponics is practiced.
For plant nutrition application, nutrient is
understood as being one of the thirteen plant
essential mineral elements that have been divided
into two categories:

Six major mineral elements—N, P, K, Ca, Mg, and

S—found at percent concentrations in the plant dry
matter, and the seven micronutrients—B, Cl, Cu, Fe,
Mn, Mo, and Zn.
Value of the hydroponic method
Advantages
• Crops can be grown where no suitable soil exists or
where the soil is contaminated with disease.
• Labor for tilling, cultivating, fumigating, watering,
and other traditional practices is largely eliminated.
• Maximum yields are possible, making the system
economically feasible in high-density and expensive
land areas.
• Conservation of water and nutrients is a feature of
all systems. This can lead to a reduction in pollution
of land and streams because valuable chemicals
need not be lost.
• Soil-borne plant diseases are more readily
eradicated in closed systems, which can be totally
flooded with an eradicant.
• More complete control of the environment is
generally a feature of the system (i.e., root
environment, timely nutrient feeding, or irrigation),
and in greenhouse-type operations, the light,
temperature, humidity, and composition of the air
can be manipulated.
• Water carrying highly soluble salts may be used if
done with extreme care. If the soluble salt
concentrations in the water supply are over 500
ppm, an open system of hydroponics may be used if
care is given to frequent leaching of the growing
medium to reduce the salt accumulations.

• The amateur horticulturist can adapt a hydroponic

system to home and patio-type gardens, even in
high-rise buildings. A hydroponic system can be
clean, lightweight, and mechanized.
Disadvantages

• The original construction cost per acre is great.

• Trained personnel must direct the growing
operation. Knowledge of how plants grow and of the
principles of nutrition is important.
• Introduced soil-borne diseases and nematodes
may be spread quickly to all beds on the same
nutrient tank of a closed system.
• Most available plant varieties adapted to
controlled growing conditions will require research
and development.
• The reaction of the plant to good or poor nutrition
is unbelievably fast. The grower must observe the
plants every day.
The Plant Root
Plant roots have two major functions:
• Physically anchor the plant to the growing medium
• Act as an avenue through which water and ions
enter the plant for redistribution to all parts of the
plant
Systems of hydroponic culture

A growing system with an

aquarium air pump attached
to a line to a dispenser in
the bottom of the growing
vessel so that air can be
bubbled into the nutrient
solution.

A. Standing aerated nutrient solution

 Systems of hydroponic culture

The plants are set in small holes in the

Styrofoam, with their roots suspended
in the nutrient solution.
The composition of the nutrient
solution is constantly changing,
requiring monitoring and adjustment
in order to maintain the pH and
elemental ion balance and sufficiency
concentration levels during the use
period, which may range from 35 to 45
days, depending on the plant species
grown and the rate of plant growth.
B. Lettuce plants placed into openings
in a Styrobox
Systems of hydroponic culture

C. Nutrient Film Technique A typical arrangement for a closed

NFT system is in which a nutrient
solution is pumped from a storage
tank into the sloping NFT trough and
then, by gravity, flows back into the
storage tank.
Systems of hydroponic culture

The nutrient solution is pumped from

the nutrient solution reservoir into the
rooting medium, flooding the medium
with nutrient solution, which is then
allowed to drain back into the
nutrient solution reservoir by gravity.

D. Flood and Drain hydroponic

 Systems of hydroponic culture

E. Drip/Pass-Through Systems
There are two such growing
systems: one using perlite or
similar inorganic rooting
medium (Morgan 2003b) in
bags, pots, or buckets and the
other using rockwool or coir
blocks and slabs.

E.1. BATO buckets

E.2. Column of interlocking

Styrofoam buckets
E. Drip/Pass-Through Systems

E.3.1 PVC pipe (vertical) E.3.2 PVC pipe (horizontal)

The Present…
Around the World

Australia Bangladesh Bali

The same concept is in use today where floating farms are giving
hope to farmers along rivers in Bangladesh, and other areas
around the world, that have been hit by massive flooding in
recent years.
The Present…
Large Scale Hydroponic Farming

Large scale hydroponic farming is in use around the world

to grow the produce that we eat.
The Present…
Hydroponic Farming Today

Shipping containers are being repurposed to create mobile

local farms allowing for produce to be grown in the area where
it will be consumed where typical farmland may not be
available.
The Present…
Hydroponic Farming in
Space
The Veggie system will expand fresh
food production in space.
Rooting pillows made of Teflon-coated
Kevlar and Nomex, hold the planting
media and nutrients. The rooting pillows Astronaut Steve Swanson
activates the Veggie on the
are either preloaded with seeds or ISS, May 2014
astronauts inserts them in space.

The system is adjustable; as the plant

grows the pillow expands.
A water reservoir located below the
pillows and a root mat add water
through capillary action.

Energy efficient LEDs emit blue, red and

green light, producing the spectrum
plants need to thrive.
The Future…
Vertical Hydroponic Farming
It is estimated that by 2050 the
world’s population will have
boomed to 9.1 billion people.

According to the UN food

production will need to increase
by 70%.

A pioneer in this field of

sustainability, Dickenson
Despommier, a micro-biologist
and ecologist at Columbia
University’s School of Public
Health, sees vertical farming as
the answer to this problem.
The Future…
Equinox Farming Ship (concept design)

Engineers and designers are turning towards our vast oceans for
solutions to support food needs for the expanding world population.

Equinox farming ships are designed to be self-sufficient and carbon-

neutral; they will be powered by solar and wind energy; crops will be
grown hydroponically using seawater that has gone through a
desalinization process.
Basic sets;
 Styro boxes
 Styro cups (8oz)
 Cocopeat
 Lettuce seeds
 Nutrient Solution
 Seedling box/tray
Procedures;

1. Sow seeds in a seedling box filled with vermicast or sterilized soil.

Procedures;

2. After 3-7 days, they should germinate and transplant the

seedling to the seedling tray, keep the cocopeat moist.
Procedures;
3. When true leaves
appear (12–15 days after
sprouting), it is time to
start the transplanting
from the seedling tray to
the styro cup with coco
peat.
 Procedures;
4. Add your diluted solution to the reservoir or until 3/4 of the bottom of the
cup is submerged in the solution. Follow the required dosage of your nutrient
solution and mix well after adding each nutrient solution.

Note: Test the pH of the solution using the pH meter. Adjust the pH of the
solution when needed (the ideal pH for lettuce is 5.5–6.5). Using the pH
down, drop by drop, it will lower the pH of the water; using the pH up,
drop by drop, it will make the pH of the water go up.
 Test the PPM (parts per million) or the concentration of the nutrients in
the solution using the TDS meter. To make the PPM higher, just add
more nutrient solutions. To make it lower, just add water.
Procedures;
5. Harvest the Lettuce after 25-30 days (depending on the variety).
Thank you!
☺