Hydroponics, or growing plants in a nutrient solution root medium, is a growing area of commercial food production and also is used for home food production by hobbyists. Learn about the state-of-the-art techniques for producing food in a controlled, soilless setting.
Major factors to ensure the successful hydroponics practice are as follows:
Ensuring water quality
It is essential for growers to test the quality of their water supply before introducing it into a hydroponic system. The pH measures the acid or alkali levels in the water and are important to keep track of with a pH meter or pH strips. The pH scale runs from 0.0 to 14.0; 7.0 is neutral, less than 7.0 is looked at as acidic, and above 7.0 is alkaline. The pH levels growers want their water to be within is between 5.5 and 6.5 in most hydroponic systems, but where pH levels stay is determined by a grower’s preference and the type of plants being grown in the system. Multiple nutrients are absorbed at different rates, so required pH levels can fluctuate depending on the type plant or where the plants are in their life cycle.
Introducing a fertigation system
Fertigation is the process of injecting fertilizers into an irrigation system. In hydroponic growing the right distribution of fertilizer into the water supply is critical, because the plants are being grown without soil, relying on the right amount of water and nutrients to survive.
Choosing appropriate growth medium
The absence of soil in a hydroponic system means there must be something that the plants can be propagated in and supported by for the nutrient solution to flow effectively through. The determination of a good growing medium is one that allows a good balance of oxygen and moisture to be absorbed by the roots of the plants.
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