Hydroponic systems are different and the use of each type depends on the needs of the farmer , capital availability, feasibility, and market demand.
Hydroponics involves growing plants without soil using a nutrient-rich aqueous media from which they get nourishment. The plants receive dissolved nutrients from the liquid solution directly to their roots allowing them to grow faster and yield greatly.
Contents
1. Nutrient film technology
This is the most popular system that is used in many commercial urban farms to grow small and fast-growing leafy plants like microgreens.
A water pump is used to continuously distribute nutrient solution from a large reservoir to plant roots via slopping channels that allow the excess to drain back.
Plants are arranged in a single row on grow tray channels and their roots receive a steady stream of nutrient solution from one end to the other. The excess solution which flows back to the reservoir is then enriched with nutrients and pumped back to the plants.
The channels are placed at an angle to allow the water to flow back to the return pipe and be circulated again through the system. An ideal sustainable flow rate is also set depending on the growth stage of the plants. Plants can also be further supported using net pots that allow their roots to seep throw into the nutrient channel.
The upside
- Easy to maintain.
- Very ideal for fast-growing leafy plants, vegetables, and herbs
- Saves water
- Very environmentally friendly
The downside
- Power outages can greatly affect the system
- Not ideal for very large growing plants with dense root systems
2. Ebb and flow system
This system uses the “flood and drain technique.” Plants are grown in a growing medium like gravel, perlite, or rock wool on a tray which is flooded with nutrient solution from the reservoir at regular periodically timed intervals by a pump. The excess water then filters off back to the reservoir via the overflow pipe to maintain the water level in order to avoid swamping the plants.
After sometime, the water is all drained away into the reservoir and new water is pumed in.
The pump can further be equiped with a timer to enable it to flood the tray with nutrient solution at regular intervals
The upsides
- Low set up costs
- Easy to maintain
- Uses less electricity
- saves water
3. Deep water culture system
In this system, the plants are held floating directly in the nutrient containing reservoir tank. The roots are submerged into the still solution while the crown is above.
The upsides
- Very easy to set up and maintain
The down sides
- Excess nutrient levels can kill the plants
4. Wick systems
This uses a technique similar to that of a wick lamp or stove and is the simplest hydroponic system. Capillary action moves the nutrients up to the growing medium (rock wool, perlite or vermiculite) from the reservoir via a wicking system which is usually made of cotton, fabric or nylon rope.
The upsides
- Easy to maintain
- Cheap to set up
The downsides
- Doesn’t work for larger plants with high nutrient uptake
5. Drip hydroponic system
Just like in a drip irrigation system, Here plants individually receive the nutrient solution via a drip pipe which is pumped at timed regular intervals from the reservoir tank. The excess solution can then drain back to the reservoir in the recovery drip system, unlike the non-recovery drip system.
The upside
- Easy to set up and maintain
The downside
- The non recovery system wastes water
6. Aeroponics
In aeroponics, plants are suspended with their roots hanging in the air. A pressurized pump is then used to spray the plant roots with nutrients in the form of a mist from the reservoir at regular timed intervals.
The upsides
- Uses 90% less water
- Faster growth and healthy plants
- Very environmentally sustainable
The down sides
- Expensive to setup
- Expertise needed to manage the system
conclusion
Hydroponics is a very effective urban farming method that can be used to grow crops anywhere faster and relatively cheaper.
Hydroponics is used in by many commercial indoor vertical farming companies to grow crops for sale showing how effective it is.
However different systems have different advantages and shortcomings. The most common hydroponic farming systems used are; the Nutrient film technique system, aeroponics, and ebb and flow.
Traditional systems like the wick system can also be used at home to grow crops by buying small kits on amazon or other suppliers for growing leafy vegetables.
There are very many DIY (do it yourself) makeshift hydroponic systems that people can make to start growing crops at home using plastics like tins, cans, buckets and other recyclable materials to help you get stared today.