Growing fresh produce is not only useful, but also a profitable event. For modern urban conditions, it is difficult to imagine traditional land use. Most often these are greenhouse farms. Moreover, land for vegetables, greens, flowers and other fresh produce is not in fashion now. Hydroponic systems are becoming increasingly common.
Basic concepts
So what is hydroponics? If we turn to the components of the word, we see the Greek "water" and "work". It turns out literally - "the work of water." In fact, pure water is not used here. We are talking about aqueous solutions with nutrients. And hydroponic systems are artificially created conditions for growing green products without any soil at all. Sometimes there is a certain substrate, it happens that it is not at all. Depending on this, several types of systems for hydroponics are distinguished.
By substrate is meant the substance or material in which the roots of the grown plants are located. The substrate in hydroponics is partly opposed to the earth in traditional culture. It can be sand, peat, expanded clay, and in some cases - even just air. Mineral wool is widely used for hydroponic systems. The main difference between the substrate and the earth is that it does not feed the plants, but serves only as a conductor for the nutrient solution.
Important definitions that allow you to master hydroponic systems include "trace elements" and "pH level." Trace elements are what every plant needs in certain proportions. Each stage of growth for each culture requires its own set of trace elements. And the pH acidity level allows you to determine and create the conditions necessary for growth and nutrition.
Important benefits
Hydroponic systems have a number of advantages compared to traditional agricultural methods, such as:
- Growth continuity. Thanks to constant feeding, plants develop non-stop. There can be no drought or rainy days. Growth conditions are maintained at a favorable and optimal level.
- Accelerated development and maturation. Since food is fed continuously and growth cycles are taken into account, plants develop at an accelerated rate. And if in nature there are many restrictions (in terms of the number of sunny days, in nutrition, in acidity regimes), then in hydroponics there are practically none. And the size of plants is limited only by genetically incorporated standards.
- Possibility of planning. The processes of growth and maturation can be calculated and predicted with enviable accuracy.
A variety of hydroponics
Given the number of diverse factors that regulate plant growth processes, in hydroponics there are a large number of systems and techniques. In general, there are six main areas, and among them are “passive” and “active”.
The simplest is the wick. The root is the word “wick”. This system is based on the supply of a nutrient solution through wicks. In this case, top dressing is located in a separate tank and enters the plant roots mechanically based on the capillary effect. This method of power supply is the simplest and cheapest. This system is “passive,” that is, it works on its own. It is enough to monitor the level of nutrient solution in the tank and that’s all.
Drip irrigation
The principle of operation is close to wick systems, only the power is supplied here not by itself, but by forced drip irrigation. For this, there is also a container with a solution and tubes connecting the pump to the plants. There is a simple timer to regulate the flow. There are two options for drip irrigation:
- A reversible type, that is, a solution with nutrition is used repeatedly. Technically, this is realized by draining from a tray with plants back to a container with top dressing. This option, on the one hand, is more economical, and on the other hand, requires more control due to a change in the pH in the process.
- Not a reversible type. In this case, the nutrient solution, passing through the substrate and nourishing the roots of plants, merges irrevocably. Requires less time, but more costly.
Hydroponics of periodic flooding
Growing on a hydroponic system of this type represents the flow of a nutrient solution into a substrate with plants at time intervals set by the timer. The supply of mineral substances is carried out by the pump, and after the cessation of supply, the solution is drained back and then used again. In the periods between inclusions, plant roots are naturally aerated, that is, saturated with oxygen. Among the disadvantages of this method, it should be noted the dependence on the pump, and therefore on electricity. After all, if you do not supply power in time, the roots will simply dry out. All active hydroponic systems suffer from this drawback.
Classic nutrient layer system
The method of the nutrient layer in hydroponics is widespread. Here, unlike the previous version, a timer is not required. Nutrient fluid flows through the substrate to the plants in a continuous stream. A pH indicator is required as the solution circulates in a circle.
Plants grown in this way grow very quickly, but they are more “tender”. In the event of a feed failure, they wither very quickly and may die. To prevent unpleasant cases, you should preoccupy yourself with a backup source of electricity. It is also useful to use a substrate that accumulates moisture and nutrition, such as coconut fiber.
Water culture
The growing method is suitable for hygrophilous plants. After all, here the roots of plants are always in the liquid. It looks like a foam platform floating in a nutrient solution, on which plants are attached. The system is also “active” because a pump is used for aeration. For demonstration, you can easily adapt the old aquarium. Among the disadvantages, a small number of plant species capable of growing in this way are noted.
Aeroponica
The only way in hydroponics is where the substrate is air. Food is made by feeding water fog to the roots of plants. The plants themselves are fixed at some level from the surface and look hanging in the air. Aeroponics requires careful calculation and high quality equipment. In the event of a blackout or failure of any equipment, the plants are at high risk.
The positive aspects of this method should be noted the possibility of creating fully automatic systems. Also in the air, the infection of plants that can occur in the substrate is very limited. Comparing aeroponics with other systems, they note a more economical use of water. In addition, stronger aeration contributes to the rapid growth and maturation of plants.
Hydroponics in industry
Industrial hydroponic systems are widely used in urban environments, as well as in places where it is not possible to use the soil. It is estimated that, compared to standard agricultural crops, hydroponics allows a 20-fold increase in production. Yes, when you start the system costs will be enough. At the same time, hydroponic farming requires special knowledge, without which brightly and lushly growing greens can quickly decline. However, all the shortcomings are more than paid off by positive factors:
- large yields in a short time;
- resource saving;
- lack of diseases and weeds;
- minimum number of workers.
For example, in the USA, the need for fresh vegetables is so great that, despite having their own farms, products are imported from neighboring Mexico and Canada. At the same time, industrial hydroponic farms occupy territories of 25 hectares. There are individual private farms, which are based on more modest areas of 0.5 hectares.
Hydroponics at home
Home hydroponic systems are currently gaining popularity. Moreover, it attracts precisely the opportunity at home to quickly grow healthy products. It should be understood that hydroponics will not be able to replace a personal plot, which most often gives moral satisfaction, rather than return in the form of a crop. In order to start growing plants at home, there are at least two ways: purchase ready-made equipment or do it yourself. A hydroponic system created by one’s own hands is a common, but troublesome phenomenon.
When it comes to finished equipment, this is one thing. In this case, it remains only to install it in a suitable place, prepare a solution for the hydroponic system and start it. In the case of self-production, it is important to prepare all the elements yourself. What is required for this? Most often it is:
- capacity for a nutrient solution at the rate of about 3 liters per plant;
- pump (an aquarium of the right capacity is easily suitable);
- molds for plants;
- substrate;
- set of hoses.
As a container, you can use any plastic containers. In the case of planning a large system, it is more correct to install several flasks up to 50 liters than one large one. The container must be opaque (to prevent the solution from blooming). If this is not at hand, paint will come to the rescue. Plants are conveniently fixed in pots for seedlings. To do this, holes are cut out in containers with the solution in such a way that, after fixing the seedlings, air remains between the bottom and the solution.
After all preparations are completed, assembly is carried out. Seedlings are located in containers with a substrate, which, in turn, are fixed in containers with nutrient solution. Using hoses, two-way communication is established between the pump and the tank. One line goes to the feed, the other, the so-called "return" - to the drain. The container, which is supplied with food, should be placed with a slope for natural discharge and full circulation of the solution with mineral components.
Some chemistry
For the proper and full development, each plant needs elements such as phosphorus, potassium, nitrogen, calcium, magnesium and sulfur. In smaller quantities, manganese, iron, zinc, molybdenum, boron, chlorine and copper should be consumed. Keep in mind that fertilizers for hydroponic systems do-it-yourself are applied in strict proportions. Without fail, after preparing the solution, the pH value should be monitored.
The determining factor in hydroponics should be considered a nutrient solution. Almost everything will depend on how correctly the combination of all the necessary trace elements is selected. For different species, this combination is different. Moreover, in certain periods of growth and development, one or another additional increase in the components is required.
Nutrient solutions in hydroponics
There are two ways. In the first, the necessary set of trace elements and fertilizers for hydroponic systems is simply bought, and everything is bred in the indicated proportions. It is recommended to take boiled or distilled water. At your own peril and risk, you can take the usual defended tap. Then it remains to simply control the change in composition, add, and after a while - replace. This option is very convenient, but it costs some.
In another case, you can prepare a solution for the hydroponic system with your own hands. Among the ready-made recipes, two options can be distinguished that are suitable for different types of plants.
- Solution for deciduous and slowly growing plants: 2 teaspoons of potassium phosphate, 2.5 - potassium nitrate, 4.5 - calcium nitrate and 4 - magnesium sulfate dissolved in 40 liters of water. To the resulting solution are added 1.25 teaspoons of boric acid dissolved in 1 liter of water, 1/10 teaspoon of manganese chloride. The last component will be added 4/5 teaspoon of iron chelate in 1.6 liters of water.
- A solution for fast-growing and light-loving vegetables: 2 teaspoons of potassium phosphate, 4 - potassium nitrate, 4,5 - calcium nitrate and 4 - magnesium sulfate in 40 liters of water. Then two solutions are added with boric acid, manganese chloride and iron chelate as described above.
Conclusion
Hydroponics is a promising area for the production of fresh products in both industrial and domestic conditions. Hydroponic techniques have advantages in growth rate and volume of production. In many cases, they allow you to fully automate the process or to minimize human intervention. Complex mineral kits for nutrient solutions and fertilizers for hydroponic systems are widely used even in apartment conditions. Despite the apparent complexity, the hydroponic system is capable of delivering both finished products and a lot of pleasure when observing and leaving.