INTRODUCTION TO HYDROPONICS

Dr. Sashikala Beura Associate Professor Department of Floriculture and Landscaping OUAT, Bhubaneswar

Hydroponics
It is the science of growing plants in a medium other than soil, using mixture of the essential plant nutrient elements dissolved in water. The term hydroponics is derived from two Greek words hydro (water) and ponos (labor) was coined by Dr. W.F.Gericke of California in the year, 1937. Techniques of growing plants using mineral nutrient solutions without soil is a novel agrotechnology, which is known as soil less culture

In the 19th century researchers discovered that

Plants absorb essential mineral nutrients as inorganic ions in water Soil acts as a mineral nutrient reservoir but is not essential for plant growth. When the mineral nutrients in the soil dissolve in water, plant roots are able to absorb them. When the required mineral nutrients are introduced into a plants water supply artificially, soil is no longer required for the plant to thrive. Terrestrial plants will grow in hydroponics. It is a standard technique in biology research and teaching

Advantages
No soil is needed, thus hydroponics can be used in places where in ground agriculture or gardening is not possible. The water stays in the system and can be reused thus lower water costs. It is possible to control nutrition levels in the system, this lower nutrient cost. The pH of the solution can be easily set and maintained in the range most suitable for given crop. No nutrition pollution is released into the environment because of the controlled system. Provides stable and high yields. Freedom from soil diseases and other insect pests. Free from weeds Free from seasonal constraints City and flat dwellers can grow fresh vegetable and fruits in window boxes or root tops. Excellent quality of the product Desert, rocky, stony, barren or sterile areas can be made productive at relatively lower cost.

Disadvantages The condition creates an environment

that stimulate salmonella growth. Appearance of damping off diseases due to verticillium wilt caused by high moisture levels. Initial investment is high Cultivation under greenhouse is limited

to high value crops

Techniques

Two types of hydroponics techniques Solution culture Medium culture

Solution culture

Static solution culture Continuous flow solution culture Aeroponics

Static solution culture

Mason jars, plastic buckets, tubes or tanks are used as containers Plants are grown in nutrient solution, present in the containers which may be aerated or unaerated. Aeration is provided by aquarium pump, aquarium airline pipes and aquarium valves. It unaerated, the solution level is kept low enough so that the roots above the solution will get adequate oxygen. Containers are covered with aluminium foil, butcher paper, black plastic or other material to exclude light. Holes are made on the lid of the reservoir for each plant. Nutrient solution is charged at weekly interval. Continuous flow solution culture.

Continuous flow solution culture

Components

Shallow fiberglass trays/plastic trays (5 deep) in which plants are grown (24 x 16 x 5). A collection tank/nutrient solution storage tank . A pump which will circulate the nutrient solution from the reservoir to the growing trays through polyethylene tubes. A sequential timer to control the operation of pump. An aerator connected to reservoir through polyethylene tube, to aerate the nutrient solution to maintain the oxygen level in the nutrient solution.

Trays
Trays are placed on frames which are 6-8 above the ground level. Proper slope must be maintained in trays for free flow of nutrient solution. Top of the trays must be covered with thermocole sheet or black polythene sheet to provide supports to plant and to avoid growth of algae. Tomatoes, lettuce, cucumber, capsicum , water melon, muskmelon, rose, chrysanthemum carnation and potted foliage plants are grown by this method.

Reservoir
Plastic containers having 100-500 litre water capacity is adequate. It should not be placed in the sunny location. It should be covered with dark opaque materials to avoid growth of algae.

Pump
A small AC tullu pump is adequate . Pumps with brass plastic or stainless steel parts are desirable. Operation of pump should be controlled by a timer.

Aeroponics
Richard Stoner commercialized aeroponic technology in 1983. A system where roots are continuously or discontinuously kept in an environment saturated with fine drops (a mist or aerosol) of nutrient solution. It provides excellent aeration Commercially successful for propagation, seed germination, seed potato production, tomato production, and greens. NASA research has shown that aeroponics uses 65 % less water than hydroponics. The plants require 1/4th nutrient input and have an 80% increase in dry weight biomass compared to hydroponics

Medium culture
This technique has a solid medium for growth of the roots. They are sand culture, gravel culture or rock wool culture etc Four kinds of medium cultures Passive hydroponics Ebb and Flow Run to waste Deep water culture

Passive hydroponics
It is otherwise known as semi-hydroponics or passive sub-irrigation Plants are grown in inert porous medium that transport water and fertilizer to the roots by capillary action from a separate reservoir. This method reduces the necessity of labour. Provides constant supply of water to the root Expanded clay and coconut husk are used which contain more air space. Crops grown one epiphytic plants such as orchids and bromeliads.

Ebb and flow

A tray is kept over a reservoir of nutrient solution The tray is filled with growing medium such as clay granules and plants are transplanted directly. At regular intervals nutrient solution is pumped into upper tray and then drains back down in to the reservoir.

Run to waste
In this method nutrient and water solution is periodically applied to the medium. It is done both by manually or by automated delivery pump. Various inert growing media are rock wool, perlite, vermiculite coco fibre and sand. Tomatoes, cucumber, peppers are raised through run to waste hydroponic.

Deep water culture

In this method the plant roots are suspended in a solution of nutrient rich, oxygenated water. Plastic buckets and large containers are used. Plant contained in a net pot suspended from the centre of the lid and the roots suspended in the nutrient solution. The solution is super oxygenized from an air pump combined with porous stone Plants grow must much faster rate because of high amount of oxygen that the roots receive

MEDIA Diahydro
Sedimentary rock medium consists of the fossilized remains of diatoms. Extremely high in silica (87-94 %) Essential component for the growth of plants and strengthening cell walls.

Expanded clay
Hydroton brand expanded clay pebbles . Available in the trade names such as Hydroton, Hydrokorrels or LECA (Light Expanded Clay aggregate). Nutrients are carefully controlled in water solution in expanded clay. Clay pellets are inert, pH neutral and do not contain any nutrient solution.

HYDROTON

Rock wool (Mineral wool)

Most widely used medium in hydroponics . It is made from molten rock spun in to cotton candy like fibres, resulting in a fibrous medium. Accessible to capillary action and not degraded by microbiological activity. It is an inert substrate for both free drainage and re-circulating systems.

Coir
Cocopeat/coir/coco is the left over material after removal of the fibres from coconut husk. It is a 100 % natural growth and flowering medium.

Perlite
It is a volcanic rock that has been superheated into very light weight expanded glass pebbles. It is the natural fusion of granite, obsidian, pumice and basalt at high temperature (Fusionic metamorphosis)

Vermiculite

It is another mineral that has been superheated until it has expanded in to light pebbles. It holds more water than perlite. It has a natural wicking property that can draw water and nutrients in a passive hydroponic system.

PERLITE

VERMICULITE

Sand
Easily available in a cheaper rate Does not have good water holding capacity Must be washed and sterilized properly before use. Very heavy so difficult to handle.

Gravel
It is inexpensive, easy to keep clean. Water drains well and would not become water logged. Washed and sterilized thoroughly before use. Heavy, so difficult to handle.

Brick shards
Brick shards have similar properties to gravel. Some times it alters pH of the medium. Extra cleaning is needed before use.

Polystyrene packing peanuts

Inexpesive and readily available. Excellent drainage property Too light weight for use Plants may absorb styrene and pass it to the consumer which has health risk

Wood fibre

Produced from steam friction of wood. Efficient organic substrate for hydroponic. It keep fits structure for a long period.

Polystyrene packing peanuts

Nutrient solution

For proper growth plants must be supplied with macro elements like N,P,K, Ca, Mg, S. Micro elements like Fe, Mn, B, Cu, Mo, Cl, B., Zn must be supplied.
Salt to be used Ca(NO3)2 KH2PO4 Form in which theyare available to plants NO3Ca2+ HPO4 K+ Mg++ SO4Mn+ Cu++ Zn++ B Mo Fe+++ Concentration (ppm) 900-930 180-200 90-97 234-250 49-52 185-195 0.02 0.03 0.06 0.6 0.02 8.00

Table 1. Nutrients/salt and their concentration

Element Nitrate N and Calcium (Ca) Phosphorus (P) Potassium (K) Potassium (K) and (N) Magnesium (Mg) and (S) Manganese (Mn) Copper (Cu) Zinc (Zn) Boron (B) Molybdenum Iron (Fe)

KNO3 MgSO4
MnCl2 CuSO4 ZnSO4 H3BO3 H3 (MO3)2O8 Ferric citrate

Note : The micronutrient stock solution be made separately. The ferric citrate solution be made separately. The Ca (NO3)2, KH2 PO4, KNO3, MgSO4 be dissolved separately and added one by one.

Performance of tomato
Table 2. Performance of tomato cv. Marglobe sel was studied under hydroponic and soil culture system.

Parameters No. of fruits per plant Yield per plant (kg) Yield (q/ha) Plant height (cm) Transplanting time

Hydroponics 55 3.666 1466.40 86.00 9 Sept.

Soil culture 17 1.186 470.40 67.20 9.Sept

Days to 1st flowering

Days to 1st fruit set Days to 1st picking Days to final harvest

30
36 120 165

25
31 93 120

* The temperature maintained during the cropping period inside the glass house was 35oC max and 12oC minimum

Varietal performance of tomatoes in hydroponics

Table 3. Chemical composition of tomatoes grown in hydroponics and in soil in greenhouse Sl.No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Parameters Total soluble solids (%) Ascorbic acid (mg/100 g FWB) Total minerals (% FWB) Alcoholsoluble solids (%) Crude fat (% FWB) Crude fibre (% FWB) Reducing sugar (mg/100 g FWB) Non reducing sugar (g/100 g FWB) Crude protein (% FWB) Acidity (mg/100 g Citric acid) Hydroponics 4.29 29.07 0.5332 3.1503 0.2043 0.5005 2.8170 0.4183 0.7943 414.39 Soil 4.50 28.25 0.4108 2.7193 0.4775 0.7409 1.7420 0.6160 0.8947 206.90

Eurofresh Forms in Willcox, Arizona (USA) is the largest commercial hydroponics unit having 318 acres greenhouse. It produces 125 million pounds of tomatoes per year. The plants are grown in rock wool using run to waste technique Thus hydroponics is an emerging agrotechnology for increasing production in varied edopho-climatic conditions.