Growing fresh produce is not only rewarding, but also profitable. For modern urban conditions, it is difficult to imagine traditional land use. Most often these are greenhouse farms. Moreover, the land for obtaining vegetables, herbs, flowers and other fresh products is now out of fashion. Hydroponic systems are on the rise.
Basic concepts
So, what is hydroponics? If we turn to the components of the word, we see the Greek "water" and "work". Literally it turns out - "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 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.
Under the substrate understand the substance orthe material in which the roots of the grown plants are found. Substrate in hydroponics is partly opposed to soil 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 only serves as a conductor for the nutrient solution.
Important definitions for mastering hydroponic systems include "trace elements" and "pH". Trace elements are what each plant needs in certain proportions. At each stage of growth, each culture requires its own set of trace elements. And the pH level of acidity allows you to determine and create the conditions necessary for growth and nutrition.
Important Benefits
Hydroponic systems have a number of advantages over traditional farming methods such as:
- Continuity of growth. Thanks to constant feeding, plants develop without stopping. There can be no drought or rainy days here. Growth conditions are maintained at a favorable and optimal level.
- Accelerated development and maturation. Since nutrition is supplied continuously and growth cycles are also taken into account, plants develop at an accelerated pace. And if in nature there are many restrictions (by the number of sunny days, by nutrition, by acidity regimes), then in hydroponics there are practically none. And the sizes of plants are limited only by genetically incorporatednorms.
- Planning opportunity. The processes of growth and maturation can be calculated and predicted with enviable accuracy.
Variety of types of hydroponics
Given the variety of factors that govern plant growth, there are a wide variety of systems and techniques in hydroponics. In general, there are six main areas, and among them are "passive" and "active".
The simplest is wick. At the heart of the root is the word "wick". This system is based on the supply of a nutrient solution through wicks. At the same time, the top dressing is in a separate tank and goes to the roots of plants mechanically based on the capillary effect. This method of supplying power is the simplest and cheapest. This system is "passive", that is, it works by itself. All you have to do is monitor the level of the nutrient solution in the tank and that's it.
Drip irrigation
The principle of operation is close to the wick systems, only the food 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:
- Reversible type, that is, the solution with power is used repeatedly. Technically, this is done by draining the plant tray back into the feed container. This option, on the one hand, is more economical, and on the other hand, requires more control due to changes inpH value in progress.
- Not reversible type. In this case, the nutrient solution, passing through the substrate and nourishing the roots of plants, merges irrevocably. Less time consuming but more costly.
Periodical Flood Hydroponics
Growing on a hydroponic system of this type is the flow of a nutrient solution into the substrate with plants at time intervals set by a timer. The supply of mineral substances is carried out by a pump, and after the supply is stopped, the solution is drained back and then reused. 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 hence 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 deficiency.
Classic Nutrient Layer System
The nutrient layer method in hydroponics is widespread. Here, unlike the previous version, no timer is required. Nutrient fluid flows through the substrate to the plants in a continuous stream. pH control is required as the solution circulates in a circle.
Plants grown in this way grow very quickly, but they are more "tender". If the supply of top dressing is stopped, they wither very quickly and may die. To prevent accidentsyou should take care of a backup source of electricity in advance. It is also useful to use a substrate that accumulates moisture and nutrition, such as coconut fiber.
Aquaculture
Growing method is suitable for moisture-loving 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" as an aeration pump is used. For demonstration, you can easily adapt an old aquarium. Among the shortcomings, a small number of plant species that can be grown in this way are noted.
Aeroponics
The only way in hydroponics where the substrate is air. Nutrition is produced by supplying water mist to the roots of plants. The plants themselves are fixed at some level from the surface and look like hanging in the air. Aeroponics requires careful calculation and high-quality equipment. In the event of a blackout or failure of any equipment, 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 highly limited. Comparing aeroponics with other systems, they note a more economical use of water. In addition, stronger aeration promotes faster growth and maturation of plants.
Hydroponics in industry
Industrial hydroponic systems are widelyare used in urban areas, as well as in places where it is not possible to use the soil. It is estimated that hydroponics can achieve a 20-fold increase in production compared to standard agriculture. Yes, when you start the system, the costs will be enough. At the same time, hydroponic farming requires special knowledge, without which bright and lush greenery can quickly fall into decay. However, all the shortcomings are more than compensated by positive factors:
- big harvests in a short time;
- saving resources;
- no disease or weeds;
- minimum number of workers.
For example, in the US, 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 also individual private farms, which are based on more modest areas of 0.5 hectares.
Hydroponics at home
Home hydroponic systems are gaining popularity these days. Moreover, it is the opportunity to quickly grow he althy products at home that attracts. It should be understood that hydroponics cannot replace a personal plot, which most often gives moral satisfaction, and not a return in the form of a crop. In order to start growing plants at home, there are at least two ways: to purchase ready-made equipment or to do everything yourself. hydroponica self-made system is a common but troublesome phenomenon.
When it comes to finished equipment, that's one thing. In this case, it remains only to install it in a suitable place, prepare a solution for the hydroponic system and run it. In the case of self-production, it is important to prepare all the elements yourself. What will be required for this? Most often it is:
- pot for nutrient solution at the rate of approximately 3 liters per plant;
- pump (an aquarium of the right power will easily fit);
- plant molds;
- substrate;
- hose set.
Any plastic container can be used as a container. 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 a solution in such a way that after fixing the seedlings, air remains between the bottom and the solution.
After all the preparations are done, the assembly is done. Seedlings are placed in containers with a substrate, which, in turn, are fixed in a container with a nutrient solution. With the help of hoses, a two-way connection is established between the pump and the tank. One line goes to the supply, the other, the so-called "return" - to the drain. The container to which power is supplied must be positioned withslope for natural drainage and full circulation of the solution with mineral components.
A little chemistry
For 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. It should be borne in mind that do-it-yourself fertilizers for hydroponic systems are applied in strict proportions. It is mandatory to check the pH value after preparing the solution.
The determining factor in hydroponics is the 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 components is required.
Nutritional solutions in hydroponics
There are two ways. In the first, you simply buy the right set of microelements and fertilizers for hydroponic systems, and everything is diluted in the specified proportions. It is recommended to take boiled or distilled water. At your own peril and risk, you can take the usual settled tap water. Then it remains just to control the change in the composition, add, and after a while - replace. This option is very convenient, but comes at a cost.
In another case, you can prepare a solution for a hydroponic system with your own hands. Among the ready-made recipes, there are two options that are suitablefor different types of plants.
- Solution for deciduous and slow growing plants: 2 teaspoons of potassium phosphate, 2, 5 - potassium nitrate, 4, 5 - calcium nitrate and 4 - magnesium sulfate dissolve in 40 liters of water. 1.25 teaspoon of boric acid, 1/10 teaspoon of manganese chloride, dissolved in 1 liter of water, are added to the resulting solution. The last ingredient will be 4/5 teaspoon of iron chelate in 1.6 liters of water.
- Solution for fast-growing and light-loving vegetables: 2 teaspoons of potassium phosphate, 4 of potassium nitrate, 4, 5 of calcium nitrate and 4 of magnesium sulfate in 40 liters of water. Then two solutions with boric acid, manganese chloride and iron chelate, described above, are added.
Conclusion
Hydroponics is a promising direction for the production of fresh products both in industrial and domestic conditions. Hydroponics techniques have advantages in terms of growth rate and production volumes. In many cases, they allow you to fully automate the process or reduce human intervention to a minimum. 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 able to deliver both finished products and a lot of pleasure in observation and care.
