Benefits of Hydroponic Farming For The Agriculture Industry

Hydroponic farming is not new technology. It has been known since ancient Babylon's times when the hanging gardens provided food for many of its citizens. Today, as the climate is becoming less and less predictable and there is less soil readily available for farming, hydroponic farming got its highlight spot for more than a few reasons.

What is hydroponic farming?

Hydroponic farming is a farming system where the soil is replaced by water. Hydroponic systems are often vertically installed to help control the light conditions.

When it comes to nutrients needed for plant growth, they are added to the water system to ensure each plant gets the best growing conditions. The most popular species in the hydroponic system are strawberries, peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, spinach, and many herbs.

Saving space

The vertical hydroponic system can use even 99% less square feet than the plants grown in soil. The obvious reason is that you need space for planting poles, and plants don't need to spread roots far away to look for growth-essential nutrients. Additionally, they don't need to look for water and thus also require a smaller root system.

You can grow plants on the concrete floor or on barren land that has no other use. If you live in a city or near a city that has less soil for farming, the hydroponic system might be the best solution for you.

Saving water

Even though the plants in the hydroponic system grow in water, the amount of water is completely controlled. It means that you have a certain amount of water that you need to grow the chosen plant culture, and that is all. There is almost no evaporation and no soil that will also 'drink' the water.

Furthermore, in a controlled environment, you can even calculate the evaporation percentage, thus having complete knowledge about the amount of water and nutrients you will need for a long period.

Organic over chemicals

Even though measuring nutrients can sound complicated and too 'chemical', these nutrients are completely organic. Both macro and micronutrients are found in most fertilisers on the market, but here you have only their clean forms, without added pesticides.

Controlled environment – small chances for infestation

When no soil contains live matter and growing conditions are entirely transparent to the farmer, there are fewer chances for infestation. The closed space can deter most of the 'intruders' from nature, while different types of mildew can also be controlled with nutrients.

The hydroponic system is the best environment for anyone who has seasonal allergies and food sensitivity to chemicals often used in insecticides, rodenticides, and herbicides.

No weeds

If there is no soil, there are no weeds. It is as easy as that. As both water and nutrients come in their raw forms, and the soil is not included in the system in any way, there are no spots where the weed can get into it, let alone spread.

It is crucial to exclude weeds for multiple reasons. Weeds can also spread additional fungi or attract other pests. They usually thrive from a good source of nutrients, thus taking the precious chemical food from your future yields.

Grow indoors

The great thing about the hydroponics systems is that they can grow anywhere if the conditions of a water system and adequate lighting are met. Thus, you can grow it outside, in the greenhouse under natural or with the help of good lamps, or completely inside.

However, you should consider that soil provides stable temperature conditions for the plants' root system, and the water cannot do it. Thus, when making a hydroponic garden inside, take the matter of providing the recommended temperature seriously.

The right temperature will give the last kick to the perfect conditions and result in big, strong, and tasty plants.

Grow faster and bigger

All the previously mentioned conditions: no lack of water, carefully measured and provided the percentage of nutrients, ideal lighting conditions, and perfect temperature conditions result in a healthy plant.

As you surely know, a good year in agriculture means that your plant has the best conditions to grow in and gives the best size and best quality yields. Consequently, ideal conditions for the tomato will result in a strong and big plant with big, round, juicy tomatoes for food.

Shorter supply chain

The transport can majorly affect prices and quality of fresh food. There is also a need for a special preservation process that often includes chemicals you are certainly trying to avoid. Less energy and work in the production and delivery process in hydroponic systems help farmers and consumers equally.

Locally grown food helps the economy. In the longer term, it helps the overall health of the community with high-quality organic food readily available.

The hydroponic systems provided the farming opportunity in any part of the world, in any urban setting, thus giving communities the possibility to thrive on the locally grown organic food of the highest quality. Don't underestimate the power of healthy food for a growing community, as the hydroponic system can ensure future prosperity.

About the author

Alison Pearson is an interior design student. She is a writer and designer, and her ultimate passion is art and architecture. She is also a bibliophile, and her favourite book is "The Sound and the Fury" by William Faulkner. Follow her on Twitter.

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