Hydroponic Systems: Types & Hydroponic Setup

Hydroponic Systems is the technique of growing plants without soil. Through the process of photosynthesis, plants transform light energy into chemical energy in the presence of light, water, CO₂, and other minerals. Plants derive the nutrients for their growth as well as water from the soil. Von Sachs, a German botanist, in 1860 demonstrated that plants can grow without soil if they are given a nutrient-rich solution and their oxygen demand is fulfilled. Hydroponics is also known as aquaculture or soilless culture. Plants like tomatoes are being grown hydroponically.

Key Terms: Hydroponics, Agriculture, Roots, Photosynthesis, Hydroponic Systems, Roots, Carbon dioxide, Soil

---

What is Hydroponics?

The word “Hydroponics” is derived from the word “hydros” meaning water and “ponos” meaning labor. 

• Hydroponics is an agricultural technique in which plants are grown in a nutrient solution in the absence of soil. 
• The soil is substituted via sterile mediums like vermiculite, Rockwool, sand, gravel, perlite, and clay pellets to give stability to roots. 
• Nutrients are passed through roots differently depending on the type of hydroponic system used and oxygen is pumped through. The pH level is regulated and sufficient light is then provided to carry out the photosynthesis process.
• Artificial lighting is also provided in areas where natural lighting is unavailable. 
• Hydroponics is therefore an innovative farming method and is widely used for food production.

Hydroponics

The hydroponic farming technique is used to determine the deficiency symptoms of various nutrients in plants. Essential nutrients for the development and growth of plants can also be determined through this.

Some examples of plants grown hydroponically include tomatoes, strawberries, and lettuce. Hydroponic tomato flowers generally appear about two weeks earlier than the ones grown in the soil.

Read More:

---

Types of Hydroponic Systems

Plants need water, oxygen, and mineral nutrients to live. There are six types of hydroponic systems on the basis of the different ways through which the requirements are fulfilled. The different types of hydroponic systems are - 

• Aeroponics

Similar to NFT, aeroponics is a water-based system that doesn’t require a medium. The mineral solution is sprayed in the form of mist on the plants. The hydroponic system is difficult to set up but is beneficial in the large commercial setting.

• Deep Water Culture (DWC)

The root of the plant is suspended in oxygenated water having minerals in a container. DWC uses an air pump and is an easy method that requires low maintenance. 

• Drip Systems

Drip system is similar to the ebb and flow hydroponic system. However, in drip systems, water goes through smaller tubes and drains on the top of plants. Small plants that have less developed root systems are grown using this hydroponic system.

• Ebb and Flow System

This medium requires a medium such as a perlite to provide stability. Periodically, mineral and water solutions are pumped into the tray where the plants are placed. The plants absorb this solution and the rest is drained back into the reservoir. Ebb and flow hydroponic system is the simplest system that is mostly used in home gardens and is used to grow herbs.

• Nutrient Film Technique (NFT)

No medium is required in the nutrient film technique. Hydroponic plants are kept in wooden channels that have a slope. The mineral solution is pumped to the high end of the channel and the water is collected and reused when it goes down the slope. Plants with large roots are grown by the NFT hydroponics method.

• Wick Systems

Wick hydroponic systems use perlite or Rockwool as a medium. Nylon rope is placed at the base of each root extending to the reservoir. It takes up water and minerals and then releases them in the medium to make it available for plants. It is an economical hydroponic farming method as no pumps are required.

Also Check: NCERT Solutions of Class 11 Biology Chapter 12 Mineral Nutrition

---

Hydroponic Setup 

A hydroponic setup requires certain components that include -

• Reservoir is the container holding the solution of nutrients that are required for the growth and development of plants. It is usually a plastic or a glass container. A metallic container is not used as it can bring harmful chemicals.
• A grow tray holds the plants. It can have valves for better grip and sometimes also contains mediums such as clay, coco coir, and pebbles.
• A growing medium is a medium in which the plant grows as there is no soil in a hydroponic system. It can be gravel, vermiculite, coconut fiber, or perlite.
• Nutrient solution is a solution of minerals dissolved in water. A nutrient solution feeds the plants. 

Hydroponic farming can be successful if the above components are set intricately. Other factors such as the space requirement, hydroponic plant, water supply, pipes, and economical needs also need to be considered. 

Also Check:

---

Benefits of Hydroponic Farming

The technique of hydroponic farming grows plants hydroponically. The benefits of farming through hydroponic systems are as follows - 

• The plants can be grown anywhere on rooftops, underground, or in greenhouse gases.
• The plants grow faster and hence the yield is high.
• Plants can be grown even where traditional farming is not possible.
• Nutrients and water are reused and recycled.
• Organic food can be produced by a hydroponic system without using fertilisers or pesticides.
• Hydroponics is extensively used in space research programs as it is used to grow food away from earth where the soil is unavailable.

Drawbacks of Hydroponic Farming

Despite its multiple benefits, hydroponic farming also has some disadvantages or drawbacks such as - 

• It requires a high upfront investment.
• It also needs advanced technical knowledge.
• It can be misused to grow banned products such as marijuana.

Hydroponic Farming helps in organic production. It is really useful in areas with water scarcity. The water can also be reused to grow plants. The plants obtained through the hydroponic system technique are high in nutrients and are free of any toxins. 

Read More: Mineral Toxicity

---

Things to Remember

• Hydroponics is an agricultural technique through which plants are grown in the complete absence of soil. 
• Some of the types of hydroponic systems are ebb and flow, drip systems, wick systems, aeroponics, etc.
• Plants grow faster through hydroponic systems, therefore, the yield is high.
• However, it requires great investment and technical knowledge.
• Nutrients are passed differently through the roots depending on the type of hydroponic system used.

---

Previous Year Questions

• Which media is most commonly used in hydroponics?
• Nitrates are converted into Nitrogen by…
• Uptake of mineral ions against concentration gradient is called…
• Marginal and interveinal chlorosis occurs in the deficiency of…
• Major disadvantage of hydroponics include…
• Julius Von Sachs, who demonstrated hydroponics for the first time, was a German…
• In the hydroponic technique, to obtain the optimum growth, nutrient solutions must be…
• During N2 fixation, reduction of one molecule of nitrogen into 2 molecules of NH3 consumes__ molecules of ATP.
• Appearance of brown spots surrounded by chloroticveins is a prominent toxicity symptom of…
• Hydroponics is the method of…
• Brown heart disease in cauliflower is due to the deficiency of…
• A prokaryotic autotrophic nitrogen fixing symbiont is found in… [NEET 2011]
• A system of rotating crops with legume or grass pasture to improve soil structure and fertility is called… [NEET 2016]
• The deficiencies of micronutrients, not only affects growth of plants but also vital functions such as photosynthetic and mitochondrial electron flow. Among the list given below, which group of three elements shall affect most, both photosynthetic and mitochondrial electron transport? [NEET 2005]
• If by radiation all nitrogenase enzyme is inactivated, then there will be no… [NEET 2004]