Hydroponic Farming
Hydroponics (from the Greek words for water and labor) is the science of growing plants without soil. Hydroponic farmers range from hobbyists to dedicated scientists, who share the delight of reaping a harvest from this resource-friendly farming method. Does this Spark an idea?
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History
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Sir Francis Bacon first popularized the idea of growing plants without soil with his 1627 book Sylva Sylvarum. From 1859 to 1865, German botanists Julius von Sachs and Wilhelm Knop conducted research into soilless cultivation, which they called "solution culture." Professor William Frederick Gericke introduced the term "hydroponics" in 1937.
Types
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The two main types of hydroponics are solution culture, which uses only the nutrient solution, and medium culture, which includes an inert medium like perlite or gravel. Aeroponics is a closely-related method in which the grower intermittently mists plant roots with nutrient solution rather than immersing them.
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Misconceptions
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Many people believe hydroponic farming is organic, but that's not necessarily true. Most organic fertilizing compounds require organisms in the soil to convert them into forms useable for plants and, because of that, many hydroponic farming methods don't meet U.S. organic guidelines.
Benefits
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Studies at MIT have shown that hydroponic plants grow more quickly than plants in soil. Hydroponics also uses less land, can be used in places where traditional agriculture is impossible and typically produces higher yields than soil crops.
Disadvantages
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The high humidity and fertilizer used in hydroponic farming creates an environment that stimulates salmonella growth. Pathogens may also attack the plants, similar to pathogens found with over-watering of soil-based plants.
Potential
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Hydroponic farming has the potential to fight world hunger by yielding bountiful, low-cost crops in both urban environments where farmland isn't available and in areas with barren or sterile land.
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