Hydroponics is a branch of hydroculture involved with growing of plants without soil but mineral nutrient solutions and water. Terrestrial plants are now grown without water, but root systems immersed in nutrient solutions. Plants need to receive water to grow well. Methods of delivering water and nutrient are many and diverse. Some major ones include hanging root systems in nutrient solutions directly, placing root systems in substrates in containers, and finally misting the roots.
When suspended in a substrate, the substrate acts as a replacement for soil. Substrates are of many different types these days. Some of the most common ones include wood chips, rockwool, pebbles, sand, sawdust, or perlite among others. Important characteristics that substrates need to have are good water retention capacity and porosity to allow gaseous exchange. Roots develop into the substrate to offer support. This form of agriculture has become very attractive to farmers and it is being practiced worldwide. It is common to see a hydroponics store on the streets.
The technology is old with a long history. Earliest book on the technology was written by Francis Bacon in 1627. The printing of the book was done after Bacon had long died. Upon printing the book, a lot of interest in the technology emerged among members of the public. The result of that interest was research into the method. Several publications were later made since 1699. Modifications of the original inventions and findings have been done over the years.
Today, solution culture and medium culture are the two key types of hydroponics in existence. Solution cultures are named so because they lack a solid medium. Medium culture have a solid medium for providing plants with support.
Further subdivision of solution cultures produces three major subgroups. These subgroups include aeroponics, static solution culture, and continuous-flow solution culture. Names for medium cultures are derived from the type of medium in use. For instance, there are gravel culture and rockwool culture. Medium and solution cultures can be divided further according to how irrigation is done. Under that criterion are top irrigation and sub-irrigation.
Hydroponic reservoirs used today are usually made from plastic material although wood, metal, vegetable solids, concrete, and glass have been used in the past. In fact, some reservoirs are still made from such materials. To avoid growth of algae, the reservoirs or containers must be placed in places where there is not light totally.
Nutrients that are used in hydroponics are usually in dissolved form. Mostly they are in ionic or inorganic form. There are several recipes used to make hydroponic solutions and several different chemicals are combined together to achieve required compositions. Some of the chemicals widely used to produce macronutrients include potassium phosphate, magnesium sulfate, calcium nitrate, and potassium nitrate. Over concentration of salt is likely to happen as plants deplete water and minerals.
Many countries exercise this form of agriculture on a commercial scale now. Because plants receive a constant supply of nutrients and pest problems are reduced, productivity is very high. However, growth in plants may be limited by low concentration levels of CO2 and limited exposure to sunlight.
When suspended in a substrate, the substrate acts as a replacement for soil. Substrates are of many different types these days. Some of the most common ones include wood chips, rockwool, pebbles, sand, sawdust, or perlite among others. Important characteristics that substrates need to have are good water retention capacity and porosity to allow gaseous exchange. Roots develop into the substrate to offer support. This form of agriculture has become very attractive to farmers and it is being practiced worldwide. It is common to see a hydroponics store on the streets.
The technology is old with a long history. Earliest book on the technology was written by Francis Bacon in 1627. The printing of the book was done after Bacon had long died. Upon printing the book, a lot of interest in the technology emerged among members of the public. The result of that interest was research into the method. Several publications were later made since 1699. Modifications of the original inventions and findings have been done over the years.
Today, solution culture and medium culture are the two key types of hydroponics in existence. Solution cultures are named so because they lack a solid medium. Medium culture have a solid medium for providing plants with support.
Further subdivision of solution cultures produces three major subgroups. These subgroups include aeroponics, static solution culture, and continuous-flow solution culture. Names for medium cultures are derived from the type of medium in use. For instance, there are gravel culture and rockwool culture. Medium and solution cultures can be divided further according to how irrigation is done. Under that criterion are top irrigation and sub-irrigation.
Hydroponic reservoirs used today are usually made from plastic material although wood, metal, vegetable solids, concrete, and glass have been used in the past. In fact, some reservoirs are still made from such materials. To avoid growth of algae, the reservoirs or containers must be placed in places where there is not light totally.
Nutrients that are used in hydroponics are usually in dissolved form. Mostly they are in ionic or inorganic form. There are several recipes used to make hydroponic solutions and several different chemicals are combined together to achieve required compositions. Some of the chemicals widely used to produce macronutrients include potassium phosphate, magnesium sulfate, calcium nitrate, and potassium nitrate. Over concentration of salt is likely to happen as plants deplete water and minerals.
Many countries exercise this form of agriculture on a commercial scale now. Because plants receive a constant supply of nutrients and pest problems are reduced, productivity is very high. However, growth in plants may be limited by low concentration levels of CO2 and limited exposure to sunlight.
About the Author:
If you are looking for the facts about a hydroponics store, go to our web pages online here today. More details are available at http://greenenvysupply.com now.
No comments:
Post a Comment