What is Hydroponic Farming?
The population of the world is rapidly increasing. Fertile agricultural lands, on the other hand, are decreasing. Water resources are being depleted, and climate change throws seasonal normal into disorder. Growing cities on the one hand, famine, and food insecurity on the other... As such, conventional agriculture methods do not always work under these conditions.
Thus, soilless agriculture steps in exactly at this point. This method, which enables soilless production under controlled conditions, is not only an alternative technique. It is also a way to rethink the future of food. Because now how we produce is as much determinant as what we produce.
In this article, we will explore what soilless agriculture is, what kind of systems it involves as well as its advantages and challenges. Enjoy reading!
Soilless agriculture is a production method in which plants are cultivated in different environments instead of soil, using direct nutritional supplements. In this method, the minerals that the plants need are added into the water or other carriers in a controlled manner to enable them to directly reach their roots. Consequently, all the nutrients that plants require from the soil are entirely supplied from external sources.
Soil is completely excluded in this system. This, however, does not mean that it is an unnatural method. On the contrary, cycles in the nature and requirements are carefully analyzed to be adapted into a controlled environment. Soilless agriculture is actually a system that requires us to know nature more closely, to copy is in an efficient and sustainable manner.
Soilless agriculture is not only an innovation that has emerged in recent years, but it is also a necessity now. We can list the main reasons for this necessity as follows:
● Decreasing agricultural lands: In many countries, including Türkiye, agricultural lands are being opened to urban development or become useless due to erosion, desertification, and chemical pollution.
● Climate change: Agriculture on open land becomes even more riskier every year due to fuzzy seasons, sudden frost events, drought, and floods.
● Urban population increase and migration: As urban population increases, transportation of food into the city becomes even more costly and complicated. Production can be made in the city thanks to soilless agriculture.
● Water scarcity: Conventional agricultural methods consume too much water. This consumption significantly decreases in hydroponic systems.
● Food security and sustainability requirement: Since production is conducted under complete control in soilless agriculture, yield increases, and the content of food can be checked.
As such the issue is not only soil. The issue is to use resources more consciously and efficiently to enable more people to access higher quality food.
Soilless agriculture has a wide and flexible practice range that cannot be reduced into a single method. Three main soilless agriculture methods come to the forefront: hydroponic, aeroponic, and aquaponic.
1. Hydroponic System
Hydroponic system is the most widely used soilless agriculture method. In this system, plants are cultivated inside tanks full of water. Soil is replaced generally by materials such as pearlite, rock wool, and coconut fiber. All nutrients needed for the development of the plant are added into the water in a controlled manner.
● Water consumption is 70% to 90% less compared to conventional agriculture.
● Productivity is much higher, and product cycle is shortened.
● It can be practiced in the city, even in small areas.
● Plants are less vulnerable to diseases because pathogens originating from soil are excluded.
Many products such as tomatoes, lettuce, basils, and strawberries can be successfully cultivated with a hydroponic system. This system is modular enough to be practiced even inside homes or small-scale container farms.
2. Aeroponic System
As distinct from hydroponic system, aeroponic system can be considered as a system which does not require even water. Here, the roots of plants are suspended in the air and nutrients are sprayed onto the roots using mist or vapor. This system earned a name for itself as the system used by NASA for the agricultural projects in space.
● It is a soilless system with the lowest level of water consumption.
● Since roots are suspended in the air, they remain in contact with oxygen all the time, thus supporting rapid growth.
● Environmental control is extremely sensitive in this high-tech system.
● This method is usually preferred in practices focused on R&D and vertical agriculture centers with high-tech since it is an expensive system.
3. Aquaponic System
Aquaponic system is an integrated system based on natural cycles. It combines aquaculture and plant production. Waste produced by the fish is used as a natural fertilizer for the plants. On the other hand, plants clean the water and resend it to the fish.
● No chemical fertilizer or pesticide is used.
● Two different products, namely fish and plant, are produced together.
● This is a cyclical system in its fullest sense.
As an exemplary system in terms of sustainable agriculture, this system shows that it is possible to produce without disturbing ecological balance.
Soilless agriculture is not only an agricultural innovation; it also brings with it many ecological, economical, and social benefits.
● Water and Space Conservation
Systems used in soilless agriculture use the same water many times by recycling it. Therefore, significant water conservation can be achieved compared to conventional agriculture. This is critical for countries and cities fighting against drought. It is also very efficient in terms of space utilization. Vertical agriculture systems enable tenfold production within a minimal spatial footprint of just a few square meters. Unused spaces such as rooftops, parking spaces, and idle building can be transformed into production fields.
Click here to check out our blog post titled ‘What is Water Footprint?’
● Production Independent from Climate
Soilless agriculture systems are generally used in indoor spaces. So, this offers the opportunity to produce throughout the year without being affected by weather conditions. It is possible to harvest lettuce indoors while it is snowing outside. This feature increases food security against climate crisis. Disasters such as drought, flood, and frost cannot stop production. Making use of these systems especially in disaster regions as temporary production spaces becomes valuable.
● Decreased Chemical Usage
The factor of pests originating from soil is eliminated when there is no soil utilization. This significantly reduces pesticide usage. Chemical substances are either not needed or kept at a minimum since plants are cultivated in directly controlled environments. Thanks to this, harm to the environment is prevented while healthier and cleaner products are offered to the consumers. This is quite important in terms of food security.
● Agriculture Facilities in Cities
Soilless agriculture takes agriculture out of the rural areas to bring it inside the city. This transforms not only production, but also our way of relating to food.
o The consumer gets to know the producer.
o Fresh produce reach tables without needing a logistics chain.
o Carbon emissions decrease.
o Urban individuals can directly participate in the production process.
This transformation is also valuable in terms of food sovereignty.
Click here to find out more about permaculture.
Although soilless agriculture offers many advantages, it also has certain limitations and controversial features as it is with every other system. These challenges directly affect the system’s sustainability and spreading speed.
1) Startup Costs: Soilless agriculture systems require a significant investment, especially at first during the installation stage.
o Automation systems
o Lighting, heating, ventilation
o Pumping and filtering equipment
o Nutrient solution and sensor systems
All these components can be more expensive at the start-up stage compared to conventional greenhouses. So, this creates a challenge in terms of accessibility of the system, especially for small producers or rural farmers. Therefore, soilless agriculture is mostly practiced by big companies or entrepreneurs who can invest in technology. As such it is difficult for these systems to reach wide masses without public support and grants.
2) Energy Consumption
StartFragmentSoilless agriculture systems require constant energy since they operate in closed spaces and controlled environments.
o LED lights
o Water circulation systems
o Heat control
o Automated tracking and management systems
StartFragmentThis can increase the environmental footprint of the system, especially in countries with an energy infrastructure based on fossil fuels. This risk is reduced when the system is used together with renewable energy sources, but this is not always possible.
3) Technological Dependency
StartFragmentSoilless agriculture systems are dependent on technical infrastructure. A pump breakdown, a sensor fault or an electricity outage can jeopardize the whole production.
StartFragmentFor the system to operate properly, the requirements are:
o Continuous maintenance
o Daily data monitoring
o Certain technical know-how.
So, this makes it difficult for the system to be convenient for all.
Soilless agriculture is not only a new technique; it is also an approach that transforms our way of thinking about food production. It shows that agriculture can be sustained independently from the soil, and it is possible to produce without damaging nature. As such, it becomes one of the most innovative tools we have against water crisis, climate change, urban development, and food inequality.
No doubt this method also has certain challenges, techniques to learn, and characteristics open to criticism. However, the things that shape the future are usually the necessary ones, not the easiest ones. And soilless agriculture stands exactly at this point. Difficult but necessary. The future of food is not limited to soil. It is of critical importance to practice soilless agriculture during this transformation by using eco-friendly methods.