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 plants are suspended in substrates, the substrate acts to replace soil. There are many kinds of substrates in use today. Wood chips, rockwool, sand, sawdust, perlite, and pebbles are among major examples. Substrates need to have ability to retain water and to allow gaseous exchange for optimal growth conditions for plants. Support is provided when roots grow deep into the substrate. The benefits of this kind of agriculture have attracted farmers worldwide and research deepens. Today it is not uncommon to see a hydroponics store in the neighborhood.
This technology has a long history. Earliest publication on the technology was done in 1627 by Francis Bacon. The publication was printed after the death of Bacon and since then research in that direction increased. Several publications were done since 1699. The technology was modified severally as research continued to perfect it.
There are two major kinds of hydroponics today, that is, medium culture and solution culture. In solution culture, there is no solid medium used for plant root system. Only the nutrient solution is used. On the other hand, medium culture involves the use of a solid medium to support the root system.
Solution cultures can be placed into three subcategories. Static solution cultures, aeroponics, and continuous-flow solution cultures are the three kinds of solution cultures. The mediums used in medium cultures determine the name of the culture. That is why there are cultures like gravel and sand cultures. Another criterion that is used to classify hydroponics is mode of irrigation. Here are two main categories, that is, sub-irrigation and top irrigation.
Today, most hydroponic reservoirs in use are manufactured from plastic materials. However, formerly, other materials including wood, metal, concrete, glass, and vegetable solids were in wide use. In fact, there are still some reservoirs made of such materials. The reservoirs must never be exposed to sunlight to prevent growth of algae.
Nutrients are supplied to plants in a dissolved form. Major forms are ionic and inorganic. Hydroponic solutions are made following different recipes and usually involve combining different chemicals to attain certain compositions. Macronutrients are derived from chemicals such as potassium phosphate, calcium nitrate, potassium nitrate, and magnesium sulfate. Salts usually become over concentrated as plants deplete minerals and water. Therefore, close monitoring is necessary.
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 plants are suspended in substrates, the substrate acts to replace soil. There are many kinds of substrates in use today. Wood chips, rockwool, sand, sawdust, perlite, and pebbles are among major examples. Substrates need to have ability to retain water and to allow gaseous exchange for optimal growth conditions for plants. Support is provided when roots grow deep into the substrate. The benefits of this kind of agriculture have attracted farmers worldwide and research deepens. Today it is not uncommon to see a hydroponics store in the neighborhood.
This technology has a long history. Earliest publication on the technology was done in 1627 by Francis Bacon. The publication was printed after the death of Bacon and since then research in that direction increased. Several publications were done since 1699. The technology was modified severally as research continued to perfect it.
There are two major kinds of hydroponics today, that is, medium culture and solution culture. In solution culture, there is no solid medium used for plant root system. Only the nutrient solution is used. On the other hand, medium culture involves the use of a solid medium to support the root system.
Solution cultures can be placed into three subcategories. Static solution cultures, aeroponics, and continuous-flow solution cultures are the three kinds of solution cultures. The mediums used in medium cultures determine the name of the culture. That is why there are cultures like gravel and sand cultures. Another criterion that is used to classify hydroponics is mode of irrigation. Here are two main categories, that is, sub-irrigation and top irrigation.
Today, most hydroponic reservoirs in use are manufactured from plastic materials. However, formerly, other materials including wood, metal, concrete, glass, and vegetable solids were in wide use. In fact, there are still some reservoirs made of such materials. The reservoirs must never be exposed to sunlight to prevent growth of algae.
Nutrients are supplied to plants in a dissolved form. Major forms are ionic and inorganic. Hydroponic solutions are made following different recipes and usually involve combining different chemicals to attain certain compositions. Macronutrients are derived from chemicals such as potassium phosphate, calcium nitrate, potassium nitrate, and magnesium sulfate. Salts usually become over concentrated as plants deplete minerals and water. Therefore, close monitoring is necessary.
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.
0 comments:
Post a Comment