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Topic Last Updated on 02-07-2024
The History of Hydroponics
Now we know that the plant needs many mineral substances for normal growth and development, including calcium (Ca), iron (Fe), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), phosphorus (P), and sulfur (S). Plants take them from the soil (some predators, like Venus flytraps, get them from the bodies of their victims), but for this, there must be water in the soil to dissolve the mineral substances, making them accessible to the roots. Plants without soil, they just require mineral substances from it. Woodward’s experiments gave rise to much reflection, but, until the beginning of the 20th century, the cultivation of plants without soil remained an area of exclusively scientific interest.
Plants without soil | The Evolution of Hydroponics
In the 1930s, American biologist William F. Gericke brought hydroponics out of the laboratory and into the light. He insisted that growing plants on a large scale without soil, but instead on nutrient solutions, is not only possible but also makes a lot of sense. His colleagues were skeptical about this idea at first, but when Gericke showed them tomato shrubs a few yards tall that were grown with an aqueous solution of mineral substances, they changed their mind.
The University of California, where Gericke worked, even allocated huge areas for such experimental greenhouses. He called his revolutionary method “aquaculture,” but there was some confusion: the word was already in use for the breeding of aquatic organisms (fish, algae, mollusks). It was then that he introduced a new term— hydroponics— which we still use to this day, as it carries the understanding that this is the cultivation of plants using nutrient solutions and without soil.
The first mention of the commercial use of hydroponics was in 1938 when Time magazine published an article about tiny Wake Island in the Pacific Ocean, where Pan American Airways planes landed for refueling. Among other things, the article said that barrels with mineralized water, in which beans, tomatoes, and other vegetables were grown, were installed on the island. This food was intended for the aircraft crew. During World War II, there were more of these kinds of farms: the military needed fresh vegetables, and it was difficult to deliver them. Today, hydroponics is widely used all over the world. For example, NASA is studying the possibility of growing vegetables on a spaceship in a closed ecological life-support system. The success of such an experiment will lead to new prospects for space travel.
Plants without soil | Why hydroponics?
Does not require soil
Simple technology
Year-Round Harvests
Control
Eco-friendly
Water-efficient
Why Water is Better than Soil
Humankind has been growing fruit and vegetables for thousands of years. Why spend money on technological development when you can just stick a plant in the ground? Because hydroponics has a lot of advantages. It gives us the opportunity to grow food in places where traditional agriculture is impossible. In arid climates, like Israel and Egypt, hydroponics has been used for several decades.
Thanks to this method, it became possible to purchase locally-produced food on the market, rather than importing these products from other countries at a high cost. Similarly, hydroponics are needed where space is limited, even for humans. For example, in Bermuda, these systems occupy only 20 % of the amount of land that would be required for crops. In regions that are cold and have few sunny days, hydroponics allows you to harvest a high yield of local vegetables and fruits. In cities with poor ecology, the cultivation of plants without soil solves several problems at once: greenery appears, which is typically rare in densely built-up areas, and along with it, food products start to grow in homes and offices, which leads to almost unlimited access to fresh, healthy food.
The Environmental Benefits of Hydroponics
The deciding argument in favor of hydroponics is the high environmental friendliness of this type of agriculture. The water circulates in a closed system: it passes through purification systems, is enriched with nutrients, and again flows to the plants. This is extremely important for areas where there is little water, such as in the Middle East and parts of Africa. Besides, almost no pesticides are required: the conditions on farms are practically sterile, and hydroponics require only about 25 % of the amount of fertilizer necessary for growing plants in soil. This approach saves money and contributes to the preservation of the environment. Finally, since the food is grown on-site, there is no need for it to be transported — again, both the producer and nature benefit.
Vertical farms
In the near future, the growth of the world’s population will lead to a shortage of arable land. Vertical farms allow us not only to abandon soil but also to use space economically, placing hydroponic installations in several tiers.
