Benefits of Hydroponic Cultivation

Benefits of Hydroponic Cultivation

Hydroponic is a soilless cultivation using water mixed with completely soluble nutrients, and various types of substrates [1].  There are a wide variety of soilless growing systems available to individuals and for commercial stage [1]. 

Here are some benefits of growing plants hydroponically:

a.                Water use is more efficient, recirculating [2][3][5]

b.               Environmental contamination limited - the lack of herbicides and pesticides [2][3][5]

c.                Intensive production in cultivation space [2][3][5]
d.               Taste is superior, quality, appearance, uniformity, and shelf life of hydroponic vegetables  is longer [5]

e.                Increase in production [2][4], decrease in production costs such as labour and materials [4]

f.                Crops can be produced all year round [5]

References:

1.  Raviv, M., and Lieth, J. H. (2008). Significance of Soilless Culture in Agriculture. Amsterdam: Elsevier Science. doi: 10.1016/b978-044452975-6.50003-4

2.  Schnitzler, W.H. (2013). Urban hydroponics for green and clean cities and for food security. Acta Hortic. 1004, 13-26
DOI: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2013.1004.1
https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2013.1004.1

3.  Treftz, C. and Omaye, S. (2016), "Hydroponics: potential for augmenting sustainable food production in non-arable regions", Nutrition & Food Science, Vol. 46 No. 5, pp. 672-684. https://doi.org/10.1108/NFS-10-2015-0118

4.  Hansen, R. (1999). Chrysanthemums grown in hydroponics; toward development of a cost effective, automated production system. Acta Hortic. 481, 297–304. doi: 10.17660/ActaHortic.1999.481.32

5.  Pak. J. Agri., Agril. Engg., Vet. Sc. 22 (2) 2006.  http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.514.4323&rep=rep1&type=pdf