Saturday, December 31, 2011

NFT Hydroponic Lettuce Unit Failure

My first time using my nft hydroponic unit didn't result in abundant lettuce like I hoped. Instead it produced wilting leaves, fungus gnats and other irritating pests. I'm going to try a more well rounded nutrient solution for the next go at it. I have more info on issues related to this setup on my blog: www.kodamafarm.com

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Saturday, December 10, 2011

Can Plants Grow Without Soil? Hydroponic Gardening is the Answer!

!±8± Can Plants Grow Without Soil? Hydroponic Gardening is the Answer!

Hydroponic Gardening is the system in which plants can be made to grow without soil. Using hydroponics to grow plants can be beneficial for many growers since it allows plants to be grown much faster and many times with less problems.

Plants are grown in a solution which consists of water and dissolved nutrients required for the particular plant. There are several hydroponics techniques and systems that are used in producing thriving plants

The different types of hydroponics systems and techniques include the nutrient film technique (or NFT), aeroponics, and the aeration technique.

With the aeroponics technique, plants are secured using rigid pipes, screens, or films. The nutrients are dissolved into the plants' water supply and the plants' roots are suspended within the water. The plant then obtains its food nutrients directly from the water or from an air mist which is sprayed directly onto the plant roots.

Hydroponic gardening also requires the use growing media. Different mediums can be used which have to retain the food rich moisture. They must also be able to physically support the plant roots. The following have been the most effective media so far: expanded clay, perlite, styrofoam, sand, rockwool, vermiculite, pea gravel.

Many types plants that can be grown in a hydroponics system. Some plants will grow better in hydroponics system than others, but some of the most popular are lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, herbs, watercress, and various other edible plants.

Tree seedlings and flowers can also be grown using hydroponics. Hydroponic greenhouses have been producing millions of plant seedlings every year. These are then transplanted and grown at other locations where they are later planted into soil.

If you are just a beginner at hydroponic gardening, you will no doubt be satisfied with the quality of your crops and the faster rate of growth. Hydroponically grown plants will grow and mature faster and yield an earlier harvest of vegetable crops.

There are many benefits to growing your own plants in a hydroponics system. Hydroponic gardening doesn't require a fertile farmland or a large water supply growing plants. Vegetable and plants can be grown year round. Hydroponic vegetables and plants in almost any small space, or a basement, or even an apartment balcony.

The hydroponic systems require less space because the plant roots don't have to spread and search for food and water. The smaller space requirement makes hydroponic gardening perfect for limited space home gardeners.

Hydroponic plants can also be grown in nurseries and greenhouses as well. The benefit of growing these plants without soil in a sterile medium includes not having to remove weeds or dealing with soil-borne pests and diseases. And since all the nutrients necessary for the plant are readily avaliable to it, the plant is noticeably healthier than the plants grown in soil.

The greatest benefit to hydroponic gardening is the ability to automate the hydroponics system with timers and remote monitoring equipment. This reduces the time it takes to maintain the plants and the growing environment. It also allows the grower to leave their system for long periods of time without worrying about watering plants.

Hydroponic growing without the use of soil is not simple, but with time it will become an easy routine. Hydroponics offers the advantage of many techniques that can be beneficial to your plants and produce a richer and healthier plant.


Can Plants Grow Without Soil? Hydroponic Gardening is the Answer!

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Sunday, December 4, 2011

3 Popular Homemade Hydroponic Systems

!±8± 3 Popular Homemade Hydroponic Systems

In recent years, hydroponic gardens have become increasingly popular among home gardeners. Homemade hydroponic systems are a different and fun way to grow fruits and vegetables at home without using soil. Below are a few of the most popular homemade hydroponic systems.

The Tank System

One of the easiest homemade hydroponic systems to assemble is the water culture raft system, which makes use of an old fish tank or aquarium. This system works well for vegetable gardens especially, and you can assemble one for around fifty dollars using materials you can get at your local hardware store. You may even have some of the materials just lying around the house.

To make this system, cut a 1" thick Styrofoam sheet to fit the top of an old fish tank or similar container. Then make holes in the Styrofoam for your plant roots. Make two small holes near the top of opposite sides of your fish tank for air tubing to go through. Attach this tubing near the bottom of the tank with air stones and attach the other end of the tubing to the air pump.

Cover the tank with foil so that light does not get in to the tank. Fill your tank with nutrient solution, then float the Styrofoam on top of it. Place your plants in the holes you cut for them in the Styrofoam in such a way that their roots dangle in the solution. You can hold the plants in place using filter floss.

The Bucket System

Another one of the most popular homemade hydroponic systems is the "ebb and flow" system. This system can be made with two large buckets. Simply drill a hole in both buckets about a half-inch from the bottom and connect them with tubing. You should have enough tubing to place one of the buckets on a platform while the other bucket, which will hold the nutrient solution, is left on the floor.

Place a couple inches of gravel in the bucket that your plants are to grow in, then cover it with a fine mesh plastic screen. The screen should fit tightly to the sides of the bucket. On top of the screen, place perlite, rockwool, coconut fiber, or whatever other growth medium you have chosen to use.

After you have planted your seeds in the growth medium, fill the second bucket with nutrient solution and cover it with a lid to keep out foreign debris and dust. Then lift the nutrient bucket so it is on the platform with your grow bucket. This will allow the nutrient solution to flood your plants.

After your plants have been well soaked, place the nutrient bucket back on the floor. This process of flooding and draining your grow bucket will need to be repeated several times a day.

The Wick System

A third easy-to-make hydroponic system is the wick system. It is built much like the bucket ebb and flow system except that the two buckets are connected with a highly absorbent wick rather than tubing. As the growth medium gets dry, more solution is pulled up the wick by capillary action, eliminating the need to continually lift and lower the nutrient bucket.

The wick method allows plants receive a steady flow of solution without being flooded and drained several times a day. It is best to use this system with water-loving leafy vegetables, since the grow medium always remains soaked.

These are just very brief descriptions of three simple homemade hydroponic systems. There are many variations of these systems for the beginning gardener. To learn more, you might want to consider buying a book on hydroponics, or browse YouTube for instructional videos on how to make your own hydroponic system.


3 Popular Homemade Hydroponic Systems

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Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Pests Commonly Encountered in Hydroponics Supplies and Systems

!±8± Pests Commonly Encountered in Hydroponics Supplies and Systems

A common misconception of hydroponic gardening is that you never have to worry about dealing with pests and bugs. Many growers wish this was true because the fact of the matter is that even in a soil less garden you have to deal with some of the same kinds of critters that can damage traditional gardens. Fortunately, with a little knowledge and quick action, you can easily prevent or minimize the damage caused by bugs to your plants and hydroponics supplies.

Here are a few of the more common pests found on plants in hydroponics systems.

Aphids - They are numerous varieties of aphids and their coloration can vary from black, brown, very light colored, or yellow. They often leave a sticky residue on your plants which causes the plants to grow in a deformed or twisted manner. They also typically carry viruses that can affect the growth or even kill your plants. A typical sign of an aphid infestation is the presence of little white exoskeletons which the aphids have molted off. After identifying that you have an aphid problem, you should remove the damage leaves, wash the remaining leaves, and spray them with an insecticidal soap.

Whitefly - Whiteflies are typically seen in larger systems that use more extensive hydroponics supplies. They often resemble very small moths but they actually more closely related to aphids. They often hide on the underside of leaves, sucking juice from them and causing serious damage. Like aphids, they are also carriers of numerous plant diseases, and can wreak havoc on your garden if unchecked. The most effective way of dealing with whiteflies is through biological control. A wasp called the Encarsia Formosa is a natural enemy of the whitefly. Introducing the encarsia to a whitefly infected garden has proven to be an effective and safe way to deal with this pest.

Fungus Gnat - The fungus gnat, also known as the sciarid fly, is a tiny black fly. The adult flies don't cause any damage to your plants directly, but can carry spores of fungi that can harm them. The real damage of the fungus gnat is in the larvae, which will feed on anything organic for a period of two weeks. The fungus gnat can be controlled with just about any general purpose insecticide. For larvae, it may be necessary to drench your medium in insecticide. When doing this it is a good idea to only start with one small section to see how it will affect your plants.

Spider Mite - Spider mites are very small, usually about 1/20th of an inch in length, so you may need a magnifying glass to identify them properly. They have eight legs, an oval shaped body, and two red dots on their backs. They can cause damage to your plants by sucking the contents of your leaves. There are several biological options for controlling spider mites. Their natural enemies include the western predatory mite, the sixspotted thrips, and the spider mite destroyer lady beetle.

If using hydroponic supplies such as an insecticidal soap to kill spider mites, make sure not to use any on water stressed plants, as this may cause further damage. You do, however, need to make sure to cover the affected areas thoroughly because spider mites need direct contact with the insecticide to die.


Pests Commonly Encountered in Hydroponics Supplies and Systems

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Wednesday, November 23, 2011

April 16 2011 Aquaponic Basement Garden NFT Aquaponics Update

Visit my blog www.aquaponicbasementgarden.blogspot.com I am about 5 days late getting this uploaded. Just been busy. In this update you will see how well the plants are doing in this system now and the addition of 3 grow beds to the system. Hope you enjoy!

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Sunday, November 20, 2011

Hydroponically Growing Tomatoes

!±8± Hydroponically Growing Tomatoes

Nobody in their right mind can argue the fact that tomatoes for example, used to taste far better a few decades ago when compared to their taste today, and it's hardly surprising really when one considers that they are no longer commercially grown for taste. Instead, good looks and the ability to withstand extended storage periods nowadays take preference over taste. Another contributing factor is the fact that commercially grown tomatoes are picked approximately two weeks prior to ripening, and it can then take a month or more before they appear on super market shelves, have been artificially ripened and colored in Ethylene gas chambers. Fortunately for us tomato lovers, tomatoes can be grown with relative ease, either in containers or in the garden.

Contrary to what many people tend to believe, a tomato is a fruit, rather than a vegetable and what's more, providing you pay attention to a few basic rules, and you provide adequate nutrients, tomatoes are unbelievably easy to grow in hydroponics. Of course, if you're going to be growing them indoors then you'll need to ensure they receive a suitable amount of light, and while strong sunlight from a nearby window may be sufficient, most indoor systems benefit from artificial lighting.

Of course, as with all hydroponic systems, tomatoes also require a growing solution which is rich in nutrients and because this supply then needs to be monitored, growers are in a position to control growth by means of temperature, humidity, lighting and of course, pH levels. Above all, a huge benefit of growing your tomatoes hydroponically is that you'll never need to concern yourself with weeds, common garden pests or diseases often present in soil.

Hydroponic Tomato Taste
Interestingly enough, the taste of hydroponically grown tomatoes can for the most part be enhanced by making certain adjustments to the solution in which they're grown. Having said that, tomatoes grown in hydroponics often have a higher nutritional value than regular commercially grown tomatoes, in addition to being far better tasting. It simply cannot be stressed enough that gas ripened tomatoes will never come close to tomatoes ripened on the vine.

Modern Hydroponic Systems
Nowadays, hydroponic systems nearly always come with detailed instructions and equipment which is easy to use, even by those with little experience. Furthermore, most systems can be set up at home, thus making them ideal for beginners and experienced growers alike. While the most basic hydroponic systems rely on a wick system, other methods include recovery drip systems, flood and drain systems or even NFT (nutrient film technique). Additionally, tomatoes can also be grown in an aeroponic system. In this case the plants are grown while being suspended in such a way so as to allow their roots to be sprayed with a nutrient rich solution.

Admittedly, tomatoes which have been grown in hydroponics look stunning but unfortunately they are seriously lacking in the culinary department. In fact, hydroponic tomatoes also contain less vitamin C than regular tomatoes simply because they're grown in a greenhouse, which in turn means they are deprived of two vital elements - sunlight and natural soil. Remember, if you buy tomatoes which have been grown in a greenhouse, their true freshness can be determined by looking at any remaining leaves or stems. If they're dried and wilted then those tomatoes are nowhere near as fresh as they may look.


Hydroponically Growing Tomatoes

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Monday, November 14, 2011

Titan Apollo 3 Fixed Cycle Timer

!±8± Titan Apollo 3 Fixed Cycle Timer

Brand : Titan | Rate : | Price : $59.85
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? 1 minute 'on-time ' & 4 minute 'off-time '. ? Timing is preset - requires no user adjustments. ? Ideal for aeroponic, ebb & flow or misting applications. ? Excellent for NFT - Nutrient Film Technique systems. ? Plastic enclosure protects internal components from dust and moisture. ? 10 amps/120 Volt/60 Hz. ? 3 year warranty.

  • Fixed Cycle Timer

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Monday, November 7, 2011

Make Your Own Homemade Hydroponics Nutrients

!±8± Make Your Own Homemade Hydroponics Nutrients

Hydroponic gardening is becoming increasingly popular these days. By growing plants in water and nutrient solution, you can save time, money and space while enjoying year round plants. Although there are many commercially produced nutrient solutions available to ensure the growth of your plants, it's possible to create your own homemade hydroponics nutrients, even if you have no previous experience.

Making your own nutrient mixtures can be nearly as enjoyable as growing the plants themselves. You can produce various kinds of solutions, so do your homework to determine which nutrients you need and in what concentrations, to best suit your plants' needs.

Homemade hydroponics nutrients have considerable advantages. The first is that you are able to create a solution that is completely organic. This will ensure that your plants contain zero inorganic material. There's no way to know exactly what you're feeding your plants when you give them store-purchased nutrient mixtures. Manufacturers must list all ingredients in their mixtures, but they may be impure or of unknown origin. You may be totally assured that you know about all of the ingredients that go into your plants by creating your own nutrient mixes.

The second major advantage of homemade hydroponics nutrients is that they allow you to match your plants' exact needs so that they grow just as you desire. To encourage your plants' enhanced growth, you can adjust the nutrients to match the requirements of your geographical region. Because of the many uncertainties in the growth of various plants, it's impossible to say just how helpful this step can be, though. Still, having complete control over what goes into the nutrients you feed your plants allows you to continuously attempt to find the best combination.

There are usually guarantees provided for solutions that you can buy in stores, but they may have shortcomings. There is nothing better than intervention by a human in the process of growing, and by controlling the nutrients your plants will become more your own.

You can place a personal touch on your plants in many ways, but the way that will have the greatest effect is by using homemade hydroponics nutrients. You may be new at growing plants hydroponically or you may have years of experience, but almost anyone can produce the ingredients required. Make up a base formula, do your homework, and do some cautious and careful experimentation. Most of all, have fun with this important aspect of hydroponic gardening.


Make Your Own Homemade Hydroponics Nutrients

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Saturday, October 22, 2011

Hobby Hydroponic Systems - A Fun Hobby For All Ages

!±8± Hobby Hydroponic Systems - A Fun Hobby For All Ages

There are many benefits to growing with hobby hydroponic systems. If you have ever gardened before you know that interacting with nature and watching something grow that you cared for with your own hands has many rewards. With hobby hydroponic systems you can have all of the benefits of a traditional garden without the back breaking work of cultivating the soil, weeding, and fighting insects.

Young children can especially benefit from this hobby by learning responsibility and the science of growing plants. A simple hydroponic system can give a child year long satisfaction and rewards from watching their plants grow and ultimately harvesting them. You will notice that kids who grow their own vegetables with hydroponics will eat a more varied and healthier diet. Also these vegetables will be more nutrient rich because you will be providing a balanced solution delivered directly to the root system of the plant. These vegetables will be jam packed with everything a growing child needs.

Let's talk about the elderly for a minute. Do you have a relative that has gardened or farmed all of their life but due to old age or illness doesn't have the energy to continue with the pastime that they love? With hobby hydroponic systems they can start back gardening and not have to worry about the hard labor required for a traditional garden. Also since you can grow indoors and without soil you don't have to worry about harsh chemicals such as herbicides and insecticides to make sure your plants are protected. By not having to use these chemicals your vegetables will taste better and be healthier for you.

Consider growing with hobby hydroponic systems. Your family will be closer and healthier and you can also save money because you won't have to pay those high grocery prices for fresh vegetables.


Hobby Hydroponic Systems - A Fun Hobby For All Ages

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Wednesday, October 19, 2011

NFT 1 Preset Recycle Timer

!±8± NFT 1 Preset Recycle Timer

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  • Rated for 15 amps @ 120 volts
  • The simplest devices available for turning a device ON and OFF at precise intervals
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Monday, October 17, 2011

Hydroponic Gardening Methods

!±8± Hydroponic Gardening Methods

Hydroponic gardening does not involve the use of soil. Instead, it deals directly with the life-providing elements which plants find within soil. These sustaining needs are water and nutrients.

The first book dealing with the concept of growing plants without soil was written in 1627. This was called Sylva Sylvarum. It was written by the English philosopher Sir Francis Bacon and printed a year after that. It has since grown as a significant area of research.

There are a few different techniques which may be used in the creation of a hydroponic garden. Of course, each of these different methods is still based upon the same basic principles of how plants survive. The basic needs of plants include the aforementioned water and nutrients. Sunlight and carbon dioxide are also necessary.

The soil-free gardening techniques may use a solid medium, such as sand, gravel, or rock wool. Generally, the medium simply serves to provide stability and support for the root system of certain plants. Some of these gardening options will use a nutrient solution only, as opposed to a medium.

Examples of specific hydroponic techniques include ebb and flow systems, nutrient film technique (NFT), drip systems, aeroponics, and wick systems.

Ebb and flow systems are a hydroponic gardening option which requires a medium. The amorphous volcanic glass known as perlite is a popular option for this because it has good water retention. Of course, no nutrients are derived from the medium itself.

For this particular technique, the plant is placed within a medium and both are placed within a tray. Periodically, water and the nutrient solution are pumped up into the tray from a reservoir. This is how the plant absorbs all the fuel it needs. With the help of gravity, the tray slowly drains the liquid back down to the reservoir.

The ebb and flow option is best suited to smaller plants, such as herbs. In fact, it is better for smaller set-ups in general. For this reason, the system is commonly found in homes.

Nutrient film technique is water-based and makes use of sloped, wooden channels. Mineral rich solution is pumped into the higher part of the channel. The water solution flows down to the lower portions of the channel where it drains and may be reused. Large and secure root systems are a requirement for plants used in this system. Tomatoes and cucumbers are common examples.

Drip systems are similar to ebb and flow ones. A difference is that the water flows through many small tubes rather than one large one. Another difference is that the water drips down to the plants from above. These are ideal for small plants which have not yet developed a root system.

Aeroponics, like NTF, is another system which requires no medium. Plants sit within a tray which is placed within a box. The roots of the plants extend beyond the tray. A mineral and water solution is kept at the bottom of the box. The liquid is drawn up through a pump system and continually sprayed over the plants. It is the most difficult system to set up. However, it is ideal for large commercial uses.

The final hydroponic gardening system is another medium-based one. It is called the wick system. Plants are placed within a tray. Nylon ropes extend beyond the tray from the base of the roots. These ropes draw up water and nutrients from a reservoir, bringing them to the roots. This does not require any addition pump equipment to be purchased.


Hydroponic Gardening Methods

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Saturday, October 15, 2011

Factors that Influence Successful Seed Plant Propagation

!±8± Factors that Influence Successful Seed Plant Propagation

When choosing seed plant propagation, every gardener wants to create optimal conditions for their plants to get off to a good start. There is a lot that goes into germination, and if even one factor is missing, it can have profound effects on your entire crop. Here are the factors that most greatly influence how well your seeds will germinate.

Water - Soaking up water is the first step in germination and therefore successful seed plant propagation, so it should be at the forefront of the mind of any hydroponic gardener. The factors that influence water uptake are the amount of water available in the medium and the thickness and density of the seed covering. You can increase water uptake by making sure that you choose a medium that holds water well. Rockwool, for example, is a very popular choice for exactly this reason. You can also treat your seeds in a number of ways to weaken the shell. These techniques can be as simple as using sandpaper to make the shell thinner to as advanced and complex as soaking the seeds in acid until the shells are worn off.

Temperature - A favorable temperature is also essential for germination. This can be tricky, as optimal temperature can change from plant to plant; the best temperatures for germination are usually a little higher than the best temperatures for seedlings. Optimal germination temperatures can range as low as seventy or seventy-five degrees F for plants such as lettuce, celery, spinach and asparagus. Those that thrive in the middle of the range, about eighty to eighty five degrees, include cabbage, tomatoes, turnips, beans and peppers. On the high end, with plants that do will in temperatures of up to ninety five degrees, you will find squash, watermelon and pumpkin.

You must be cautious about it getting too hot in your grow room. Temperatures of over one hundred degrees have shown to kill seeds in less than a day. Even instances where seeds can survive in such high temperatures, it may suck the moisture away from the medium, making it more difficult for your seeds to germinate. This is why purchasing a couple auxiliary fans attached to a thermostat is a smart investment if you happen to live a particularly warm part of the world.

Oxygen - The rate of respiration increases in the seed dramatically during germination. This means that there is an increased need for oxygen. You may try to keep your grow area well ventilated to prevent it from becoming too stuffy, and use fans to circulate the air.

Light - Light is vital at all stages of plant development, and germination is no exception. Make certain that your seeds are not planted so deep within your medium that they do not receive adequate light. At this early stage and through the seedling stage, it is possible to use a completely white light source, such as florescent or white LED lights. Past that, however, you will need to switch to colored LED lights or high intensity discharge (HID) lights.


Factors that Influence Successful Seed Plant Propagation

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Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Hydroponics in Commercial Food Production

!±8± Hydroponics in Commercial Food Production

Commercial Hydroponics

With the first successful application of hydroponics techniques in the 1930s the stage was set for a paradigm shift in crop production from conventional geoponics or cultivation in soil to hydroponics or soil less cultivation. The first crops to be commercially harvested with hydroponics included tomatoes and peppers, but the techniques were soon successfully extended to other crops such as lettuce, cucumbers and others. It was not long before hydroponics techniques were successfully adapted even to cut flowers production; in fact any plant can today be grown hyrdroponically.

Commercial Systems Overview

Commercial hydroponics systems can be classified into bare root systems comprising nutrient film technique (NFT), deep flow and aeroponics systems and substrate systems.

Bare root systems do not use media to anchor the plant roots; the roots are left bare while in substrate systems plant roots are anchored in media such as perlite, vermiculite, sawdust, peat etc. Hydroponics is basically all about growing plants in a controlled environment and this is best provided outdoors in greenhouses that can incorporate several means to monitor, regulate and control the environment inside them. For instance, the air entering the greenhouse can be filtered to exclude entry to pests and parasites that can harm plant growth. Such means help provide optimal conditions for plant growth both in and out of season. In fact, hydroponics allows cultivation throughout the year which makes for year round availability of hydroponically grown produce at all major supermarkets across North America. Valued at 2.4 billion dollars the hydroponic greenhouse vegetable industry has a growth rate of 10 percent per year and accounts for nearly 95 percent of the greenhouse vegetables produced in North America.

Hydroponics Advantages

The extension of the growing season is not the only advantage contributing to the growing popularity of hydroponics production with both growers and consumers. There are several additional advantages as well including nutritious, healthy and clean produce, improved and consistent vegetable quality and elimination of the use of pesticides and herbicides. Pesticides and other chemicals used in conventional agriculture have an adverse environmental impact; the run off from these chemicals contaminate groundwater supplies. Commercial hydroponics systems eliminate these toxic chemicals and contribute substantially to keeping the groundwater free from contamination.

Yields

Commercial hydroponics systems have proved more productive than conventional systems of agriculture not only in the laboratory but even in actual practice. Most commercial hydroponics greenhouse facilities are built large to take advantage of economies of scale; typically these cover areas more than 10 acres while smaller ones measure around two acres. In the research greenhouse, yields with hydroponics techniques have averaged around 20 to 25% higher than in conventional soil cultivation. In actual commercial practice, however, over a number of years, the yield of hydroponically grown tomatoes can be more than double that of soil based systems due to the reduced turnover time between crops, better nutrition and crop management. Additionally commercial hydroponics growing techniques are also less demanding of chemicals for root zone sterilization and control of pests, weeds etc.

The dramatic increase in yields with hydroponics is best illustrated if we consider the actual production figures of soil grown and hydroponically grown produce. Field grown tomatoes average yields ranging between 40,000 to 60, 000 pounds per acre; on the other hand top growing hydroponics facilities in the US and Canada report average yields of more than 650,000 pounds of tomatoes per acre. Additionally, given the fact that only 10 years ago top hydroponics producers were producing around 400,000 pounds per acre, the increase in yields with improvements in growing practices has been truly phenomenal. Similar production figures can be quoted for other agricultural produce like cucumbers with 10,000 pounds per acre for field production and 200,000 per acre for hydroponic greenhouse yields. Hydroponics lettuce and pepper yields too average around four times the corresponding yields of agricultural production.

Global Trends

Given the number of advantages of hydroponics it is not surprising that hydroponics techniques are increasingly finding favor for commercial food production in many countries all over the world. According to recent estimates countries having substantial commercial hydroponics production include Israel - 30,000 acres, Holland 10,000 acres, England 4,200 acres and Australia and New Zealand around 8,000 acres between them. The fastest growing area for commercial vegetable greenhouses is Mexico. There are several reasons for this including free trade and favorable winter conditions that attract vegetable growers in large numbers. Mexico has summers that are considered hot in the summer, but with greenhouses located at the right altitudes vegetables can be grown in the hot summers as well as the cold winters. Though much of the produce comes from low tech plastic houses, many of these greenhouses use hydroponics technology, which indicates the growing popularity of hydroponics in commercial food production.


Hydroponics in Commercial Food Production

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