Hydroponics is a type of horticulture and is also a part of hydroculture. The term hydroponics comes from two Greek Words “Hydro” meaning ‘Water’ and “Ponein” meaning ‘Labor’.
Hydroponics was discovered By William Frederick Gericke in year 1937 and he is also known as “Father of Hydroponics” The first crop grown through the technique of hydroponics was Tomato.
Hydroponics is also called as aquaculture, nutriculture or soil-less culture. The cultivation of crop is done in nutrient-enriched water. The nutrients are provided through water, and other substrates are used to provide nutrients like cocopeat, cocochoir, clay pebbles, oasis foams, clay pebbles etc.
The process of growing crops takes place inside the polyhouse and in controlled environment. Maintaining the proper temperature is crucial, if the temperature, ph and other environmental and physical factors are not kept in mind while growing it can hamper the growth and can also affect the yield of the crop that is being grown.
Usually medicinal crops and exotics crops were to be grown through hydroponics as they need extreme care while growing but now many plants and vegetables are being grown and it is also saving the land so it is much more preferable.
PROS AND CONS OF HYDROPONICS
PROS
- The production is increased by 3 to 10 times while growing in hydroponics farm.
- Many crops can be grown twice as fast in a well managed hydroponic system.
- Since every plant is grown in controlled environment provided in polyhouse you can grow any plant anywhere and at anytime of the year
CONS
- Two major factors in hydroponic farming is water and electricity, if you do not have stable water and electricity system the growth can be affected.
- Unlike conventional soil-based farming, hydroponic farming involves expensive equipment and the cost of installation is also high.
- As the plants are grown in water instead of soil, waterborne diseases are considerably higher.