Grow your hanging gardens of Babylon

Certain forward-thinking people square measure reinventing farming as we all know it. Indoor, organic urban farms growing food vertically victimization husbandry and aquaponic principles, square measure maturation round the country. The push for different ways of raising food follow partially, on the heels of native governments outlawing owners from growing vegetable gardens in their yards, and forcing folks to tear out existing, healthy gardens. supplying the wheels of amendment square measure the county, state and central wittingly making an attempt to destroy the organic phenomenon with chemtrails, pesticides, growth hormones and GMOs, as they alter the terribly molecular nature of our food. These actions move the guts, stimulate rage, emotion and worry, and force humans to vary to survive or die.

Looking for alternative routes to feed themselves and also the community, massive and little different husbandry ventures square measure shooting up all over. Smaller ventures like the Urban Hydro Project in state capital, Tennessee is that the farm-child of Jeffery Orkin; and his efforts square measure paying off. A demand community support in late 2012 raised over $3,300 in donations, enough cash for Orkin to shop for materials to increase his fledgling indoor organic garden on the highest floor of a domicile building in state capital. though the Urban Hydro Project has solely a hundred thirty five sq. feet of floor house, the space has twelve foot ceilings, and Orkin plans to plant to the ceiling. lovely organic vegetables square measure mature victimization farming, wherever no soil is employed. Orkin says this is often a additional economical methodology of production, and one that produces higher yields and higher tasting organic food year spherical.

While the Urban Hydro Project continues to expand and thrive in state capital, FarmedHere up up outside of Chicago and claims the respect of being the most important indoor vertical farm within the U.S.. based by Jolanta Hardej, it's placed in a very Brobdingnagian ninety,000 square measure abandoned warehouse in Bedford Park, Illinois. Hardej had the vision as so much back as 2008 to grow contemporary, organic manufacture victimization aquaponic techniques, and no soil. Like Orkin, Hardej says the vegetables square measure higher tasting than once historically mature. Plants at FarmedHere square measure mature in multiple stacked levels and fed by mineral-rich water circulated throughout the system from fish tanks containing hormone-free genus Tilapia fish.

FarmedeHere is trying to provide over a million pounds of contemporary, organic foliate greens, freed from chemicals, pesticides, herbicides, and GMOs.

Indoor farming provides property choices
As additional tight government rules square measure place in situ dominant individual freedoms, and larger efforts square measure created to change the essence of food by companies like Monsanto, the provision of organic, life-staining foods can diminish. because the air and land square measure poisoned chemically and different corrupting parts in a trial to marginalise life, different means that of growing food are going to be required for people who square measure willing to fight to survive the system.

· Indoor husbandry comes like these et al round the country manufacture organic food year spherical, beneath excellent temperature, wetness and lighting conditions

· because of the controlled growing atmosphere, indoor farms offer property agriculture for all -- the house gardener, native tailgate markets, and huge food chains such Whole Foods, inexperienced Grocery, and different massive grocery chains tightened organic foods

· Growing manufacture with farming is feasible for individual owners by fixing a special growing station in their homes, garages or sheds. Some vertical growing instrumentality is moveable and may be captive outside in hotter weather if desired.

· Indoor vertical farming incorporates a little footprint, permitting people to grow food victimization aquaponics or farming off from curious government eyes. in addition, little or massive indoor community gardens square measure attainable in smaller-sized buildings, allowing teams to make gardens, purchase provides and share contemporary vegetables along.

Sources for this article include:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com
http://www.kickstarter.com
http://www.motherearthnews.com
http://www.ugrosystems.com/
http://www.hgtv.com

Grow your own pharmaceuticals

It's very straightforward to grow powerful medicines which will lower your sterol, shield your heart, scale back your risk of upset, enhance system perform, and shield you from polygenic disease and lots of different chronic diseases. each plant could be a pharmaceutical manufacturing plant provided naturally. It's sort of a multi-million dollar pharmaceutical laboratory that takes raw materials and converts them into healing medicines. It will this freed from charge, while not asking something back from you aside from a bit little bit of care, some water, and a few daylight.
If you're thinking that regarding however plants operate, they are quite exceptional producing engines. They take nutrients out of the soil, greenhouse gas out of the air, water, and photons from daylight. Then, through a fancy system of metabolism and chemical change, plants manage to convert those components into healing phytonutrients, together with vitamins, enzymes, wholesome oils, fiber, proteins, and sophisticated carbohydrates. and they turn out all of those fantastic phytochemicals that we're currently learning additional regarding in terms of preventing, and even reversing, chronic diseases like cancer.

Plants offer you an additional factor, too: the energy of life. this can be another variety of nutrition, that I decision "vibrational nutrition." It's one thing that you simply cannot get from synthesized pills or factory-made foods. you'll be able to solely dig from plants, as a result of it's to try and do with the energy of living, respiration organisms.

For nearly each chronic unwellness, there's a plant which will treat it. area unit you battling cancer? Grow yourself some garlic, onions, and broccoli. area unit you battling high cholesterol? Grow and eat some blueberries. area unit you littered with macular degeneration? you'll be able to grow a good form of berries. If you are within the right climate, you'll be able to grow nut trees that offer wholesome oils right off the tree. In fact, despite what style of climate you are in, there area unit plants as healing drugs which will be grownup in your region, whether or not you are within the nice white north, or the jungles of Central America. whether or not you are in a very dry desert climate, the plains, forest, rainforest, swampland, the icy north, the mountain range, or the Smoky Mountains, there area unit plants you'll be able to grow which will facilitate heal you.

This is one in every of the most areas of analysis on that i am focusing without delay. i am performing on finding new ways in which for individuals to additional simply grow plants that have a healing potential. i might wish to share with you what I've learned to date, so invite you to remain up-to-date, as a result of there is a ton additional sensible info coming near this subject. One goal I actually have is to make or promote some type of device which will perform as a home pharmaceutical manufacturing plant, with which individuals will plant seeds and primarily get pleasure from a inactive operation that grows these plants while not requiring a lot of effort on their half.

It's quite silly to pay $100 per pill to a pharma once you will grow more practical and safer prescribed drugs right in your own residence, balcony, or curtilage. In fact, the word "pharmaceutical" suggests that "plant drugs." The word "pharma" has identical root utilized in the word "farming," after all. therefore medicines extremely do have their origins in plants. It's solely through the atrocious politics of pharmaceutical corporations these days that folks have forgotten the plant origins of drugs. What i am hoping to try and do is assist you come back to to the plants, as a result of the plants have the healing characteristics that we want.

For widespread adoption, we want one thing that works while not soil. Soil works nice for the outside, however if you actually desire a system that works for people that do not have yards, soil is clearly not the thanks to go. There area unit currently plant growing technologies accessible that grow plants much more with efficiency with much better yields than with soil. they are not essentially new, though there area unit some new technologies rising in these fields. i am talking regarding tank farming and aeroponics. tank farming has been around for quite an whereas. it's the growing of plants in nutrient solutions that haven't any soil. Basically, you are exposing the plant roots to liquids containing the nutrients required to grow. this can be achieved through Associate in Nursing ebb-and-flow agriculture system, or another agriculture configuration.

You may be shocked to be told that you simply will grow plants while not soil. the fact is that the soil is simply a medium that holds nutrients for the plants. therefore if you get obviate the soil, however still offer the nutrients to the plant roots, they are going to be simply fine. In fact, you'll be able to increase yields through this method versus growing them in soil. I've done this myself in several experiments, within which I've planted identical plants in soil vs. a agriculture system. I actually have found a lot of quicker growth and bigger yields in a very agriculture system. agriculture systems do need electricity, and that they take some effort to be told the way to operate properly. however they will be terribly profitable. they are additionally much more moveable than growing plants in soil, as a result of it's easier to maneuver a receptacle, a timer, and a pump than it's to maneuver four hundred lbs of soil.

If you would like to spice up yields on the far side those achieved by agriculture systems, a stronger system to use is Associate in Nursing aeroponic system. this can be what you see at the Epcot Center in American state, wherever agriculture scientists area unit victimisation this technology to grow vertical stands of plants. They basically spray the roots with a nutrient resolution on regular intervals.

Spraying the roots of a plant each quarter-hour with this nutrient resolution has benefits over the agriculture approach, as a result of you are able to make even additional expanse between the nutrients in your liquids and also the roots of the plant. In my expertise, Associate in Nursing aeroponic system produces considerably bigger yields than the agriculture system. If you're thinking that regarding what is chargeable for that increase, you understand that it is the bigger expanse of the smaller droplets of water being sprayed on the roots.

You can purchase home-built aeroponic systems on the web. None of them area unit extremely elegant, however they work, and that they do turn out outstanding plant yields. Right now, i am growing tomatoes, peppers, zucchini, herbs, strawberries and even watermelons on aeroponic systems. Plant growth is extremely aggressive, though i'm having some challenges obtaining the tomato plants to fruit (it's in all probability simply a nutrient oversight on my half, thanks to my relative ignorance in plant chemistry).

When i am able to retire these plants for the season, i am going to snap some photos of the foundation mass to indicate you simply however effectively aeroponic growth systems are often. you will be completely astonied at however quickly and sharply these plant root networks will grow.

The bottom line here is that i feel home-grown plants area unit aiming to create an enormous comeback within the years ahead, and we're aiming to see nutrient-rich styles of plants (like red carrots with lycopene) that treat and forestall chronic unwellness, in addition to new technologies that permit hands-free cultivation of healing plants. After all, World Health Organization has to build a $100 million drug manufacturing plant once nature will manufacture all the medication you wish for the value of one or two of seeds? I say, let nature build the medicines.

What is Ebb and Flow Hydroponics and How Does it Work?

Ebb and flow hydroponics is a method of growing plants hydroponically that is known for its reliability, simplicity of operation and low cost of investment. Pots or a flood tray are filled with a grow media such as gravel, clay pellets, lava rock etc. These do not function like soil or add nutrition to the plants but will anchor the roots and will function as a temporary reserve of water and nutrients. The hydroponic solution floods the system four to six times a day and is allowed to drain away in between flood cycles.
With this system a water tight flood tray or pot, containing either clean gravel, clay pellets or lava rock is used as the rooting medium. The system is then periodically flooded for short periods of time (5 to 15 minutes) with a nutrient solution pumped from a reservoir. By placing the reservoir below the flood tray, with a over flow drain, the nutrient solution can drain back by gravity through the pump with the same line that supplied the water and nutrients during the flood cycle. Our favorite media is lava rock with this type of system. Lava rock drains quickly and traps air and will not leave a clay residue if using clay pellets, which can clog the water pump after time.

Aeration of an ebb and flood system is one of the most important things of the system. Let me explain, when the system floods it is in a deep water culture mode. Your reservoir may contain an air delivery system such as a air stone to keep the water saturated with oxygen and eliminate a pathogen problem. During the flood cycle the oxygenated air is pumped into the tray or bucket for 5 to 15 minutes. During this 5 to 15 minute period there is no additional air and oxygen being supplied to the tray or bucket. So even though you are now in deep water culture mode your plants are not receiving the amount of air and oxygen as if they were in a deep water culture system. The reason why is a deep water culture system has air constantly pumped into the reservoir 24 hours a day in which the roots are submerged. During the ebb cycle, or draining of the tray or bucket, air is now pulled down into the grow media supplying oxygen to the plants. At this point until the next flood cycle the roots again are being deprived of fresh air and oxygen.

Drawbacks to Ebb and flood hydroponic systems:
1. Pathogens in reservoir, flood tray or pot due to stagnated water during drain time which can contaminate the entire system due to the shared water source.
2. Limited amount of oxygen available during flooding of tray or pot.
3. Limited amount of oxygen available while in the ebb or drain stage.

Is there a solution to the problem above?  Ebb and flow hydroponic system to help eliminate the problems above. By adding Air Injection Technology at the very bottom of the media in your current flood tray or pot you will eliminate the drawbacks to a ebb and flood hydroponic system. You will also increase the plants growth rate and have healthier plants. 1. Pathogens in the flood tray or pot are eliminated because there is a constant supply of oxygen 24 hours a day weather in the flood stage or drain stage. 2. Constant supply of oxygen during the flood stage just like true deep water culture. 3. During the ebb or drain stage there is constant air being delivered to the plants roots 24 hours a day weather in the flood or drain stage. This will bring your current Ebb and flow hydroponics system up to date and will allow you to take full advantage of your ebb and flood hydroponics system at minimal cost.

DAAM win 3rd Position in Pakistan Nature Carnival at PAF museum

Overview:

WWF-Pakistan in collaboration with Horlicks Pakistan organised a fun-filled Nature Carnival at PAF Museum. The Nature Carnival attracted up to 30,000 individuals from various walks of life.
There were over 150 stalls set-up by schools, colleges and universities. The main competition revolved around 3D models set up by students of schools and universities. Expert judges including foresters, conservationists, and environmental historians amongst others graded the models.
Families, corporate and academia representatives including principals attended the carnival. Participants were engaged in eco-friendly games, puppet shows, lucky draw and other activities set up by WWF-Pakistan including pin the tail on the snow leopard and thematic art competitions.
Chief Guest at the event was famous Pakistani drama and film actress Atiqa Odho. She said that each and every one of us should start taking care of the things we need for our survival including forests, water and all our natural resources so that we can give a thriving planet to our children and their children.

DAAM win 3rd Position in Pakistan Nature Carnival at PAF museum:

Department of Agriculture and Agribusiness Management (DAAM) win third position under university category, DAAM represent Hydroponics model system for vegetable and fruit cultivation, hydroponics or soil-less farming system is one of the most discuss technology around the globe, hydroponics is the only solution to fulfill the requirement of world vegetable requirements.

Hydroponic growing leads to tastier vegetables

Growing vegetables hydroponically leads to a more expensive, but tastier veggie, cumberlink.com reports.

Tomatoes are the king crop in hydroponics because of the demand for them in early spring and late fall when field tomatoes aren't available. The challenge is to sell them at $2.99 per pound when field tomatoes are going for 99 cents, says Mark Toigo, 42, who has run hydroponic greenhouses for the last 15 years, among other duties, at the family-owned Toigo Orchards in Southampton Township, Cumberland County. Hydroponic grower Barb Rose, 52, co-owner of Beck-n-Rose of North Middleton Township, agrees with Toigo. She also developed a niche market in the last three years --- a few chefs at "better restaurants who care what tomatoes look and taste like," Rose says. She counts among her customers Fetter Brookside Market south of Carlisle, Mountain Lakes west of Carlisle, Oak Grove Farms of Mechanicsburg and the Butcher Shop in Chambersburg. For next season, all Beck-n-Rose produce is committed to current customers, says Rose, a former marketing manager for a start-up software company that sold last year for $40 million. "You do need to be a manager and a marketer" to be profitable, Toigo says, raising his voice above the half-dozen four-foot-wide fans that ventilate his 90- by 130-foot greenhouse off South Mountain Estates Road. He steps over piles of vines on the concrete greenhouse floor, the result of cropping the tops off tomato plants that have the last of the crop ripening on the vines. He will plant new tomato vines again in January for harvest beginning in April. Although growers would like to produce tomatoes through the winter, year-round tomato production isn't feasible this far north. They say it doesn't have the flavor of food grown in soil," says Brubeck, who sells mostly to restaurants and to some grocery stores in Cumberland, Dauphin and Lebanon counties.

Original source:
http://www.cumberlink.com/articles/2005/08/07/business/busi01.txt

Indian family makes a breakthrough in hydroponics

by Mike Adams

Hydroponics, the practice of growing plants in water instead of soil, received a giant lift from a New Delhi family that created a purely organic nutrient mix that has sustained tomatoes and Arjun.

Original source:
http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage.php?storyflag=y&leftnm=lmnu5&leftindx=5&lselect=2&chklogin=N&autono=202585

Details

An Indian hobbyist has created a purely organic nutrient mixture for growing plants in water. Although it is still an evolving science, hydroponic agriculture (growing plants in water solution rather than soil) is spreading fast the world over. The nutritional requirement of the plants in this system of soilless farming is met by the nutrient mixtures, called hydroponics fertiliser mixtures, added to the water in which the plant roots are kept submerged. These mixtures are made of chemical plant nutrients. A breakthrough has now been achieved by an Indian hydroponics hobbyist in creating a purely organic nutrient mixture for growing plants in water. This wholly chemical-free plant growth solution has been tested successfully for growing several plants, including common vegetables like tomato and arbi and some high value medicinal plants like Brahmi, Arjun and Cineraria. Indeed, a good deal of research is underway in this system of soilless farming in the US and Europe but not much headway has been made anywhere in organic hydroponics. Of course, some hydroponics enthusiasts abroad have been experimenting with various kinds of organic manures and mixtures of plants, but successful and commercially viable organic hydroponics models are still not available. His daughter, Shweta Singh, a Delhi University botany student, has been assisting him in discovering and further improving the biofertiliser mixture for growing plants in ordinary water. “I will work on it for a couple of years more before thinking of launching commercial production of this bio-fertiliser for hydroponics. However, if some government organisation, such as the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), comes forward, I am willing to cooperate with it in promoting organic hydroponics in India,” he says. He believes that nearly 200 commercially important plants can be grown by hydroponics technique.

Source: Article taken from Natural News, only for information purpose

Hydroponics-A Wonder of Modern Science

Asad Manzoor

Department of Agriculture & Agribusiness Management, University of Karachi

Email: asad@gardener.com

Truly a greatest wonder of modern science – the hydroponic, hydroponic farming technique produce abundant harvests of fruit, vegetables, grains, herbs and flowers in places never before able to sustain growth, deserts of the earth turn into oasis of vegetables and herbs. Hydroponic farms produce the healthiest crops with the highest yields and vitamin content due to their absolutely balanced nutrient by mean of nutrients solutions. Modern hydroponic methods and techniques supply food for millions of hungry people worldwide and also supply you, me and the food service industry with high superior quality produce. In truth, hydroponic cultivation is so effective; hydroponic cultivation is now moving to be a necessary part of modern day life like NASA has devised an advanced method of hydroponics for use in outer space. The science and art of hydroponics or soilless farming start with experimentation into determining the basic elementary composition of plants. These experiments not only story of present day, experiments have been dated as early as 1600 A.D., on the other hand, historical records show that plants have been cultivated in soilless mixtures of sand and gravel even earlier. Historically the hanging farms of Babylon and the floating farms of the Mexican Aztecs are wonderful examples of premature hydroponic faming..

The word of "Hydroponics" was first time coined by Dr. W.F. Gericke in 1936 to explain the cultivation and farming method of both edible and ornamental plants in a solution of water and dissolved essential micro and macro nutrients. The word Hydroponics is derived from the Greek "Hydro"- meaning water, and "Ponos"- meaning labor. In hydroponic method of cultivation, plants are provided with the essential nutrients required for growth by a “nutrient” solution which is principally nutrient enriched mineral water. This nutrient solution can be distributed through circulation around the roots by either the passive force of gravity or the active force of an electromechanical pump. Some hydroponic systems remain bath the roots in nutrient solution and use an aquarium air pump to oxygenate the solution.

Plants grown hydroponically are healthier than their soil grown counterparts because they receive a perfectly balanced diet and do not come in contact with soil-borne pests and diseases. In soil plant compete with plants, weeds and other flora of the field, while in hydroponics farming plant feed without any competition and received maximum nutrients on perfect time of every growth stage. Super efficient hydroponic systems produce high yield by preventing evaporation and runoff. Arid regions and deserts where water is scarce can now grow crops with hydrofarming. Hydroponics systems deliver water and nutrients directly to the plant, crops can be grown closer together without spacing each other and healthier plants add to a higher yield. By growing crops in a hydroponics system saves the costs of soil preparation, insecticides, fungicides and losses due to drought and ground flooding.

Pakistan face serious crises of food and vegetables, the production of edible vegetable not increase significantly while demand increase day by day, due to low production, prices of vegetables increase significantly. The only sustainable solution of this crises is to adopt hydroponic farming, even initial cost is high to setup a hydroponics system, on the hand other hand system is durable and high productive for long time.

Planning your first Oasis hydroponic garden

Consider the space you have available for your intended garden. Don’t forget that if you plan to grow indoors in a tight space you will also need room to access your garden and perform routine maintenance such as pruning and nutrient changes. For this purpose, leave yourself ample space to work. Too many people try to fit too much garden into too small a space. Remember - a hydroponic garden will give you a significantly higher yield than a soil garden of equal size. If you plan to grow indoors, consider the location for its access to direct sunlight. Most plants need a minimum of 4-6 hours direct sunlight and a total of at least 12-14 hours of light daily.
Your garden will not benefit from more than 18 hours of light daily however. A south facing window is a great place to start (assuming you live in the northern hemisphere) and to provide supplemental lighting, or in the case of providing exclusive lighting indoors, consider purchasing a High Intensity Discharge lighting system. HID lighting systems are available in either High Pressure Sodium (HPS) or Metal Halide (MH) configurations. HID lighting systems for horticulture provide maximum efficiency in converting electricity to light and will provide your garden with sufficient intensity of light to thrive.

Outdoors you can take advantage of the natural sunlight to supercharge your garden. Outside you will have to consider the effects of the weather including temperature and heat/cold. Direct sunlight will heat up the nutrient solution in your garden. Maintain the nutrient temperature between 65 and 75 degrees for best results - temperatures outside this band will slow the growth of your crop. Rainwater will cause the pH and concentration of your nutrient solution to drift if it gets into the system. Make provisions to keep rainwater out of your hydroponic system - This is more of a problem with the hydroponic planter design as it has a large exposed area to receive precipitation. Plastic skirts can be cut from plastic bags which when placed around the stems and over the grow sites will keep rainwater out of the other two hydroponic garden designs. To protect your nutrient solution from excessive heat and strong direct sunlight, consider using celotex or another type of reflective insulation commonly available at building supply stores. Make sure all electrical connections are kept dry as per manufacturer’s instructions.

The Oasis PVC Pipe Gardens^TM
These designs were inspired by the many commercially available hydroponic gardens that utilize PVC pipe as a main design component. PVC pipe is relatively inexpensive, easy to work with and extremely durable. These designs allow easy expansion owing to their popularity among commercial growers and family farmers. Perfect for producing large harvests of rapidly growing crops such as salad greens, tomato, chilies, culinary and medicinal herbs and decorative flowers. This garden requires a bit more skill and some power tools to complete. There is the option to build it with either three inch, four inch or six inch diameter PVC according to intended use. Indoors use with 250-1500W MH or HPS light for best results when sunlight isn’t available. Oasis Agro Industries Pakistan provide complete ready to use PVC NFT system for both home use and commercial farmer. Our expert team of R&D department modify these system according to our country needs and available resources in order to maximize the profit of farmer. We always try to provide low cost system with high return outcome. 

For feasibility study send your request at order@oasisgropk.com , brief feasibility study provide on FREE of charges, if you are requesting detail feasibility PKR 3000 charged for one acre feasibility. 

What is hydroponics?

Hydroponics is a technology for growing plants in nutrient solutions (water containing fertilizers) with or without the use of an artificial medium (sand, gravel, vermiculite, rockwool, perlite, peatmoss. coir, or sawdust) to provide mechanical support.

Liquidhydroponic systems have no other supporting medium for the plant roots: aggregate systems have a solid medium of support. Hydroponic systems are further categorized as open (i.e. once the nutrient solution is delivered to the plant roots, it is not reused) or closed (i.e. surplus solution is recovered, replenished, and recycled). Hydroponic growing (as opposed to soil growing) allows you to control the nutrient levels for your plants directly. Because of the higher control over nutrients, hydroponically grown plants generally have a much higher yield than similar plants grown in soil.

A plant gets its food source by turning Co2, light and water (or hydrogen) into carbohydrates through a process called photosynthesis. With hydroponics growing, plants are grown without soil so they must get their nutrients from the nutrient solutions added to water. The absence of soil in growing means that hydroponics systems must have some way of supporting the plants while still allowing the bare root system maximum exposure to the nutrient solution. Often a “growing medium” is used for support and to aid in moisture and nutrient retention in hydroponics growing. Because they lack media to store water and nutrients, water culture systems need a continuous flow of nutrients to prevent drying out the plant roots.

Hydroponics Basics – A Guide to Your First Hydroponic System

By Justyn Hornor

Hydroponic gardening is so much easier than you’d think! My goal here is to make the process of hydroponics as easy as possible — too many people are scared of trying it. They’re intimidated, or they don’t know how much it will cost, possibly. And while I recognize that the basic set-up I describe below isn’t ideal, it’s easy and you can get all the supplies at your favourite super-store.

That’s right! You don’t have to find a specialty store or use special equipment to pull off a fully-functional hydroponic garden. Of course, I hope that by trying a simple system first, you’ll then get excited and run out to a local hydroponics supplier to build a more sophisticated system, using the latest techniques and supplies.

Basic Hydroponic Garden Supplies

The first thing to do is get your supplies. I found everything I needed for this system at Walmart for about $40. I have enough supplies with this purchase to feed my plant for about two years. Yes, you heard me right – a full two years. Let’s break each item down and explain its use.

1. Large yellow bucket – this is the outside container of our system. It holds the water/food for the plant.
2. Small green bucket – this is where the plant will sit. We’ll be punching a few small holes in it so the water can drain out.
3. Compact fluorescent light bulb – this will be the light source for the plant if it isn’t growing outdoors.
4. Lamp – to hold the light bulb.
5. Marbles – to support the roots – no soil necessary.
6. Miracle-Gro™ – the plant food.
7. Strawberry plant – the Quinalt variety is everbearing, so the fruit will grow year-round.

When you’re all done assembling the system, here’s what it will look like:

Before Picking Your Plants

The most important aspect of your hydroponic garden is the genetics of your plants. In this guide, I’m using a strawberry plant of the Quinalt variety. I chose this type of plant very specifically. The Quinalt variety is everbearing, meaning that it’s going to produce year-round for me. This variety is also resilient.

Take time to research which variety of plants you want to grow. Your local hydroponics store can be a huge resource in this area. They’re sure to know someone who grows what you are interested in, and might offer some wonderful tips for plant selection and care.

This point can’t be overstated: No matter how nice your system is, plants with better genetics for the environment in which you are raising them will always outperform those with less-ideal genetics. So don’t just grab the cheapest plant you can find. You may be missing out on huge long-term payoffs if you waste time on an underperforming variety of plant.

Step 1 – Preparing the Small Plant Holder

Grab the smaller plant holder in which your plant will grow. We’re going to punch a few holes in it, so the water can drain and to prevent the roots from getting too wet. I usually punch about four holes in the bottom and one every inch or so up the side of the pot.

Step 2 – Create Some Space at Bottom of Large Pot

In the bottom of the larger pot, place a layer or two of marbles. Be very careful that none of them get away! (We don’t want you losing your marbles, ha ha.) The goal here is to create about a half-inch to an inch of space between the base of the pot and where your smaller pot will sit. This allows some water to settle in the bottom.

Eventually, the roots will come through the bottom of the smaller pot and absorb more water and food as needed. This extra space on the bottom will allow the roots to grow into the bottom as much as they want.

Step 3 – Wash Off the Soil from the Plant

Handle your plant with care at this step. I use a bowl of room-temperature water to gently wash the soil off the roots. You don’t have to get them perfectly clean, but you should be able to see the bulk of the root system.

Try to handle the roots as little as possible. You don’t have to create a sterile environment or anything, just be gentle. I affectionately refer to my strawberries as “strawbabies.”

Step 4 – Preparing the Plant Pot

Now, put a layer of marbles in the bottom of the smaller plant pot. About a half-inch to an inch is fine. This gives your plant roots space for air, water, and growth.

Step 5 – Placing the Plant

This step will take both hands or a little help from someone else. With one hand, hold your plant with the roots hanging down. You’re basically suspending the plant over the place you want it to rest. Allow the bulk of the roots to set along the bottom, so that these roots can start to quickly “reach” lower for more water. Setting them too high can delay the blooming process, because the roots will have to grow farther. Too low and the roots will get “lazy”, and just settle into the bottom. (Yes, plants struggle with laziness, too.)

Now, start to gently fill the rest of the container up with marbles — as high as the base of the plant’s root system.

Step 6 – Placing the Plant Pot into the Holder

Place the smaller pot containing your plant into the larger pot. You may have to move some marbles around so that it sits steadily on the marbles. You can always stabilize the plant pot later with other materials if necessary.

Step 7 – Lighting the Plant (Optional)

You can just leave your plant in sunlight inside your house or outdoors. But if space is at a premium, or if you want to accelerate the growth of your plants, you can also set up a simple lighting system. Some people use a light sensor to have the light turn off during the day and back on at night.

I use a 28-watt CFL bulb which will cost me about $28 per year in electricity to stay lit year-round (at $.12/kilowatts/hour). Not too expensive at all. I mount my lamp directly above the plant and use a reflective lamp cover to provide as much light as possible.

Step 8 – Feeding and Watering Your Plant –

Actually, feeding and watering your plant is the same step. First, measure out the following:

1. Tablespoon of Miracle Gro
2. Tablespoon of salt (Epsom salt is best, if you have it)
3. Gallon of water

Mix it all together and pour directly and gently onto the roots until the water line in the larger pot is about an inch above the base of the smaller pot.

I use less than half a gallon of water each time. Remember to label and properly store any leftover plant food — Miracle-Gro turns the water blue and it might look dangerously like a beverage to a small child. You don’t want pets or humans drinking this.

Step 9 – Care and Maintenance of Your Plants –

The plants will tell you if something is wrong. Just get your ear really close to the tallest leaves and listen very, very carefully. (Kidding!) If the leaves start to turn colors, you’ve got a problem. Too much water or not enough water are the two usual suspects.

Another common problem is that the acidity of the water can get too high or too low. This is the PH balance of your water. The easiest way to fix this problem is to change the water completely once a week. You may have to add fresh water/food once a week to keep acidity levels at the right spot.

You can get PH-level test supplies at a hydroponics store, as well as any supplies/advice for maintaining the proper PH balance.

Step 10 – Taking Your Hydroponics System to the Next Level

GO VISIT YOUR HYDROPONICS STORE! The system described here is a VERY simple, “beginner” design. Once you get a taste for it, you’re going to want to see all the different options available!

The beauty of hydroponic gardening is that you can control each and every plant if you need to. You can test Miracle-Gro against another brand, and try different mixtures to see which grows your plants better. You can set one plant outdoors during the day while leaving another inside to see if it makes a difference. There are lots of experiments you can conduct, and it’s easy to test different ideas.

You can also upgrade as you go. This system is simple and relatively cheap. If you have most of these supplies sitting around, you may not have to buy a thing to get started. There are lots of different arrangements and ways to control your garden.

Have fun! Build your first hydroponics garden and see just how easy it is to grow fruits, veggies, and even bushes and dwarf fruit trees, right inside your house and with very little space.

And let us know how your system turns out if you recreate this one. We’d love to hear how you’re doing and how well it’s working!

Hydroponics Basics FAQ –

Why is no soil required?

Because plants don’t actually need soil to grow, for one. They just need nutrients which can be absorbed from water. Soil is just one very inefficient root-supporting material. Marbles aren’t ideal, but they’ll do the job. Rock-wool and clay beads are two other common root-supporting materials.

Can plants survive on only the light from a bulb?

If they have air, food, water and light – plants will grow anywhere. We use a specific kind of light with a temperature of 6500k or higher, which represents a measurement of the color of the light. Look for “Daylight” as opposed to “Soft Light” bulbs. The packaging should state that the temperature is 6500k; right in the ideal range.

Is Miracle-Gro all you really need?

Pretty much. However, you can get very sophisticated with the kinds and types of food you give your plants. Your local hydroponics store will have all kinds of awesome plant foods that you can use to create the perfect blend for your plants. But Miracle-Gro has you covered for now and is a great place to start.

Will any plant grow in a hydroponic garden?

Yes! Although some plants have different needs and you may have to tailor a hydroponics system to these specific needs. This is when getting involved with your local hydroponics store will be incredibly helpful.

How much will a plant in a hydroponic garden produce compared to a normal garden?

Generally speaking, a hydroponic garden will far out-perform a traditional garden for several reasons. The biggest advantage for plants in a hydroponic garden is that they are not competing for resources – their roots have direct access to the food. Also, the lack of soil means you can control the environment very carefully. And if you provide light 24/7, your plants will grow a lot faster than in nature.

Source: http://greenhomeauthority.com

pH and Nutrition in Hydroponics

Water also is known as H20 because it has two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom for each water molecule. From this base molecule, it can accept an additional hydrogen ion to become H3O, and become acidic. It can also lose a hydrogen ion to become HO, and become basic (alkaline). The pH scale is a measure of whether water has additional hydrogen ions (lower on the scale, acidic), or is missing hydrogen ions (higher on the scale, basic).

Pure water has a pH of 7, and is the center point of the pH scale. It is neither an acid or a base.

Substances that have extra hydrogen ions to donate to the water, are known as acids. If you add an acid to water, it gives the water extra hydrogen ions, and the water becomes more acidic. The more extra hydrogen ions there are, the stronger the acid, and the lower the pH value. This is why if the nutrient solution tests too high of a pH, you can add General Hydroponics’ pH Down to lower pH. The acid in pH Down donates hydrogen ions.

Substances that will soak up and capture hydrogen ions from water are known as bases or alkalines. If you add a base to water, it will take away hydrogen ions from the water, and the water will become more basic. If the pH reading of a nutrient solution is too low, adding a base such as General Hydroponics’ pH Up to capture hydrogen ions and raise your pH.

Understanding pH Readings

Acids have a low pH, and bases have a high pH, pure water sits in the middle at 7. The lowest number on the pH scale is 0, which is a very strong acid, and the highest is 14, which is a very strong base.

The pH scale is logarithmic, not linear. Each full number difference is a factor of ten in difference. For example, pure water has a pH of 7, a pH of 6 is a 10 times stronger acid, and a pH of 5 is 100 times stronger.

To check the pH of your nutrient solution, either use a meter, or a General Hydroponics pH Test Kit. To use the test kit, fill the test vial halfway with the solution to be tested, and add 3-5 drops of the pH test indicator fluid. Cap the vial, and tap the side while holding lightly to mix. Compare the color of the liquid to the colors on the label. If the resulting fluid is yellow, the pH is around 6.0 and acceptable to use. Orange or red indicate low pH, add pH UP in increments of 1-2 ml per gallon, giving each treatment time to disperse before retesting. Green or blue indicates high pH, add pH Down as above to lower pH.

Since the test fluid is only used at a few drops at a time, the bottle that comes with the test kit lasts for many tests, and does not require batteries or calibration.

Source:General Hydroponics

NFT System: A Brief Overview

By: Don Slade

The system of Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) was originally designed and developed by Dr Allen Cooper. The concept is described by Dr Cooper as follows: ” A very shallow stream of water containing all the dissolved nutrients required for growth is recirculated past the bare roots of crop plants in a water tight gully…..Ideally, the depth of the recirculating stream should be very shallow, little more than a film of water – hence the name nutrient film. This ensures that the thick root mat, which develops in the bottom of the gully, has an upper surface which, although moist, is in the air. Consequently, there is an abundant supply of oxygen to the roots of the plants. “

The design of systems has altered little but, with continuing experience and understanding of requirements of different crops, NFT is now displacing soil, media bags and other hydroponics related methods for protected cultivation of most suitable crops. While small increases in production have been demonstrated using double gullies with split root systems, together with high and low nutrient concentrations described as ‘ feeding ‘ and ‘ drinking ‘ cycles, most commercial systems retain the simple single gully.

Crop Types NFT systems are used to grow tomatoes, lettuce, endive, Chinese cabbage and similar leafy crops, cucumbers, zucchini and courgettes, beans, sweet peppers, egg plants, chillies, parsley and other herbs, silver beet, strawberries, and many types of ornamentals. The system is not, in its normal form, adapted for the production of root and tuber crops.

The Advantages
The main advantage of the NFT system over other forms of hydroponics – bag, media and soil culture – is that the plant roots are exposed to adequate supplies of water, oxygen and nutrients. In all other forms of production there is a conflict between the supply of these requirements, since excessive or deficient amounts of one results in an imbalance of one or both of the others. NFT, because of its design, provides a system where all three requirements can be met at the same time, providing the simple concept of NFT is always remembered and practised. The result of these advantages is that higher yields of high quality produce are obtained over an extended period of cropping.

The Disadvantages
Flooding and waterlogging of roots, or other problems due to poor design, construction or operation may occur with resulting crop loss. These problems result from producers forgetting the simple concepts of NFT production systems, and constitute the main disadvantages found in the operation of the NFT system. Other disadvantages are associated with the dependence of NFT on reliable supplies of water and power. If breakdowns occur, and suitable back-ups have not been provided, more serious losses can result than in media systems where a degree of buffering is present.

It is often surprising that little thought is given to provision of a back-up on services that are so essential. A standby generator may not be required. If breakdowns are infrequent, a reserve water supply that can be readily introduced into gullies, to keep plants alive during prolonged power or water failures, may be readily and cheaply installed.

The Watertight
Gully Gullies for long term crops with large root systems have been devised using metal, fibreglass, plastic and polystyrene trays, some of which are lined with a plastic film. A wide range of materials have been encountered and include purpose-made plastic gullies. The most practical and cheapest commercial method, at present, requires a level floor or firm support base, upon which folded black and white 800mm wide PVC plastic film is laid, so that the flat base is at least 200m wide and the two equal sides are folded and supported across the top to form an inverted ‘ T ‘.

The nutrient film flows along the floor of the gully. The black inside excludes light and the white exterior reflects light and heat. To assist crop establishment, a small piece of capillary matting that will eventually break down, is often placed under the young seedling, so that survival is assisted while young roots develop.

A support wire, about 200mm above the base, is of assistance in keeping the gully shape formed and for early plant support. During use, the ‘tent’ shape must be maintained to allow adequate aeration. Do not allow the plastic to fall and remain in contact with the top of the roots, excluding air.

Because folded plastic gullies are inconvenient to use for short term crops, the use of rectangular section gullies, for crops such as lettuce, arose. These sections were available as rainwater downpipes, which had planting holes cut in the wider side. In use, they are difficult to clean and expensive to plant up and service. Their excessive height, for young seedlings, requires plants to be raised and set out in small pots with resulting extra costs.

Designs have been registered for trays with removable lids and engineered flow, to keep the nutrient film returning to the young plant roots. Trays may be designed to accept seedlings produced in 5ml plug trays. This helps raising seedlings. The trays were also suited to multi-tier production of leafy green crops. Trays are used for fast growing short term crops.

Round section pipes and trays with curved bottoms have been used but, because of their shape, a nutrient film cannot be established and roots quickly block the flow of nutrient, leading to flooding and waterlogging at an early age. They are not considered further, since they fail to meet the concepts of the NFT system. Other systems have included pumice, rockwool, pea metal, peat and bark placed in the gullies, but these are no longer NFT and again are not considered further.

Design & Layout of Gullies The same design characteristics apply to all conventional NFT gullies. While slopes along the gullies of 1:100 have been recommended, in practice it is difficult to build a base for trays and gullies that is sufficiently true to enable nutrient films to flow without ponding in locally depressed areas. Consequently, it is recommended that slopes of 1:30 to 1:40 are used. This allows for minor irregularities in the surface but, even with these slopes, ponding and waterlogging may occur. The slope may be provided by the floor, or benches or racks may hold the gullies and provide the required slope. Both methods are used and depend on local requirements, often determined by the site and crop requirements.

Sawdust should never be used as a base for gullies, since it breaks down at different rates to provide a most uneven surface. Polystyrene insulating sheets may be used on top of true bases, but will not correct large discrepancies in levels.

Nutrient Flow Rates
As a general guide, flow rates for each gully should be 1 litre per minute. At planting, rates may be half this and the upper limit of 2L/min appears about the maximum. Flow rates beyond these extremes are often associated with nutritional problems.

Length of Gullies
Depressed growth rates of many crops have been observed when gullies exceed 12 metres in length. On rapidly growing crops, tests have indicated that, while oxygen levels remain adequate, nitrogen may be depleted over the length of the gully. Consequently, gully length should not exceed 10-15 metres. In situations where this is not possible, the reductions in growth can be eliminated by placing another nutrient feed half way along the gully and reducing flow rates to 1L/min, through each outlet.

Nutrient Supply Pressure Pipes
Pipes from the pump to the manifolds supplying the gullies, are generally ridged PVC pressure water pipes used in domestic houses. They should be installed to avoid air locks and may be protected from the heat of the sun and insulated if outside the house. Since the solvents in many glues are toxic to plants, allow adequate flushing after gluing, especially when temperatures are below 20°C. Do not plant up until the taste of the glue solvents cannot be detected. Pipe sizes should allow for laminar flow rates within any house or system of manifolds, so that the system is balanced and indivdual manifolds do not vary in their delivery pressures. Ring mains may be used to achieve this on larger establishments. Flow rates and head losses should be determined for each section of the unit.

Manifolds
The nutrient is frequently discharged into a manifold from which narrow tubes of 3-4mm carry it into the gullies. Flow control taps may be placed at the entry of the pressure lines to the manifolds, but can usually be avoided by having a balanced system and a single flow control tap on the pump bypass.

Drains
A weak link in many systems is the method used for collection of solution from the gullies for return to the catchment tank. The collection points must be designed so that dirt, dust or water from the house, surface flooding or leaks cannot enter the system. The most satisfactory design is to provide open concreted channels, which are sloped for waste water drainage. The gully drains may be placed in these, raised from the bottom and away from the sides. The size of the collector pipes should be 80mm or more and designed to take the normal flow from the gullies, using open channel flow rates for the fall available, and of sufficient size so that they are never more than 50% full. Once free from the gullies, a dropper of 300mm can be provided and from that point a drain capable of carrying flows calculated for normal pipes can be used.

Entry points for plastic film gullies may be provided by 15x100mm slots cut into the side of the collector pipe, just below the top of the pipe. A seal can be provided with adhesive tape. Growing trays may be discharged into rectangular rainwater collection systems, which are easily sealed.

All drainage systems should be readily dismantled for cleaning. Joints may be sealed with heavy silicone greases made for such applications. Any sections of the drainage system which are underground, should be joined with the correct solvent glue, since water and soil entry cannot be tolerated.

Nutrient Catchment Tanks
Tanks may be constructed of non-toxic plastics, fibreglass or stainless steel. Other unsuitable structures may be lined with plastic. Food grade materials should be used. In most systems the nutrients drain into a catchment tank of a capacity (measured in litres) at least 1 to 4 times the effective crop area of the system (measured in sq. metres). Tanks should be protected with covers and may be housed, with control equipment, in a small shed. The catchment tank should be set in a pit and, unless sub-soil drainage is free, provided with an automatic pump to keep the water table low. If drainage is not adequate, during wet conditions the tank is likely to float out of its hole, damaging connections.

If slopes do not allow this system to operate, smaller catchment tanks can be provided at convenient sites and small automatic pumps used to lift the water to the main nutrient catchment tank and pump.

Nutrient Dosing Systems
‘A’ and ‘B’ nutrients are held in two 100L or 200L plastic drums. These discharge through solenoids directly into the catchment tank. Flow rates must be equal and are adjustable either by cutting the discharge microtube or with suitable taps. pH adjustment may be by air displacement of the acid or alkali, or a small pump or solenoid may be used.

Control Equipment
A range of controllers is available for automatic dosing and control of pH. Some work on 12 volt solenoids, while others use 240 volt systems. When purchasing the solenoids, ensure that the correct wattage and voltage for AC or DC are obtained. Control of units exceeding the rating of the control equipment is possible through a relay.

Operating the NFT System
Nutrient from the A and B tanks is added in equal amounts to the catchment tank, to maintain the correct concentration measured by conductivity. Water enters the tank to replace that lost by transpiration. pH is monitored and corrected, normally by the addition of acid, so the system operates close to pH 6.3. The solution in the catchment tank is circulated through the NFT system and returns, dropping some distance into the tank to assist aeration. The solution is dumped and replaced as unwanted ions, such as sodium, reach unacceptable levels.

Heating the Solution
Plant vigour and root health is enhanced if the solution is heated to 18°C. The temperatures of the solution should normally be run between 15°C and 24°C. Stainless steel electric immersion heaters or heat exchange units may be used.

Alarms & Safeguards
While few growers use alarms, the following are systems where it is desirable to have alarms or safeguards fitted.

1. Dosing system: If not built in, provide timer controls on the solenoids or metering pumps so that dosing cannot be continuous during equipment or control system failures.
2. Conductivity and pH: Provide alarms to warn when acceptable tolerances (say 10%) are exceeded.
3. Leaks: Install a pressure switch (normally on at mains pressure, open when water is entering the system) close to the float valve outlet. A flow restrictor may be required on the mains side of the pressure switch. Wire this pressure switch in series with dosing solenoids so that, if water is continually entering the system, dosing will not occur. No separate alarm is required. Conductivity is lowered and that alarm is triggered.
4. Temperature Control and Heating: Install thermostats to warn of solution and house temperatures above and below requirements.
5. Pump Pressure: Install a pressure switch near the pump to warn of pump failure or large leaks in the pressure system.
6. Power Failures: Install a warning device so that early attention can be provided.

Conclusion
NFT is a hydroponics system that is well established for commercial and domestic short and long term crops, and high yields of quality produce are readily produced by this method. Frequently, problems are encountered when the basic principles of the system’s operation are neglected. These principles are described at the start of this article and it is wise to review them frequently and ensure that the requirements are being achieved requirements are being achieved.

Source

Hydroponics — Its history and use in barren land

As in due course of time, Pakistan may have to make use of its barren lands to meet the food requirement of its rapid growing population

By Dr. S.M. ALAM and Dr. R. ANSARI
NIA, TandojamApr 09 - 15, 2001

There are many excellent works, one can point out, which sufficiently presents the early work, that was done with the hydroponics (soilless) culture of plants. Woodward in 1699 made the earliest use of water culture method without any solid material. During the 1700s, several workers attempted to find out, what caused plants to grow. Later on in 1800s, Sachs and Knop in Germany conducted experiments, which helped to determine that certain essential elements were contributors to plant growth. Out of this early research proved the basic for preparing and managing the nutrient solution for growing plants. It was during the hundred years period from 1850 to the mid l900s, that all the currently recognized essential elements required by plants all over the world were discovered.

The word "Hydroponics" is a term commonly used in describing solution culture, water culture, liquid culture, chemical culture, aqua culture, vermiculiculture soilless culture or any of a variety of invented names. In the scientific field, it is used as a general term for growing plants without soil, whether water, sand, gravel, or any other inert material. These techniques may be divided into several categories, such as with and without root supporting media and static aerated or following nutrient solution with or without its reuse. Sand or gravel culture, the nutrients solution either periodically flooding the growing bed or vessel of dripped through it, is still widely used technique. However, the water culture method was developed in 1929 by Prof. W.F. Gericke of University of California Researcher, who demonstrated on a semi-commercial basis that plants could be grown to maturity without any soil. No other aspect of plant production has caught the fancy of the public than soilless growing normally thought of the public as hydroponics. Popularized in the 1930's by various books and writings on the object, hydroponics become a widely and frequently used technique for growing plants and vegetables in various countries of the world. However, this soil less culture procedure is not well suited, where precise control of the nutrient elements is desired. In 1930, there was a renewed interest in hydroponics. These most significant researches being done on soilless culture, primarily hydroponics, was being conducted at the Environmental Research Laboratory, Tucson, Arizona, USA and at the Glasshouse Crops Research Institute, Littlehampton, England. Later on, it was adapted in many other countries of the world. There are several factors, which control the growing of plants in soilless culture. These factors are control of pH, chemicals to be used in nutrient elements, electrical conductivity of the nutrients solution and temperature of the nutrient solution, and aeration of solution.

There are large barren areas (highly saline, sandy and gravelly areas) in Thar deserts, Thal and Cholistan, in the provinces of Sindh and Punjab, where normal agriculture is not feasible due to absence of good quality soil and enough sweet irrigation water. In such areas, hydroponic culture has proved an alternative for raising fresh vegetable crops. In this system, instead of soil, gravel or sand serves as the supporting medium and nutrient solution containing N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, B, Mo, and Cl serve as plant food and due to the recycling of irrigation water, there is manifold saving on irrigation water. It may even be possible to use underground brackish water under hydroponics system.

Hydroponics use in Pakistan: As in due course of time, Pakistan may have to make use of its barren lands to meet the food requirement of its rapid growing population, it is considered worthwhile to explore the feasibility of growing fresh vegetables, using the local materials and with necessary modifications of the nutrient solution suited to our conditions.

Techniques and methods: At the first instance, for the experimental purpose, gravel and desert sands collected from Thar desert and Thana Bulla Khan were treated with 4% formaldehyde solution and washed thoroughly with tap water for several days prior to sowing vegetable seeds. Depending upon the seasons (Rabi and Kharif) various crops e.g. tomato (cvs. Fantastic, Roma VF, T-10, Summer Giant, Bountry, Marglobe, Marmande, Money maker etc), pepper (California wonder), bean, lettuce, watermelon, muskmelon, cucumber and kakri of different varieties, groundnut, garden pea, (American wonder), cotton, bajra, cauliflower (Chin Ka Moti), potato (atom Aloe-DRM), okra, sugarcane etc. were grown in desert sand and gravel media. Proper distance between rows and plants were maintained. All these crops were grown in 4 beds of glasshouse (38 sq.m each in area) and 8 beds of open pothouse (a 11.38 sq.m each in area), filled with gravel and desert sand. Regular spray of insecticides were made on different crops against white flies, aphids, powdery mildew etc. Hoagland nutrient solutions stocked in four different tanks of 1000 gallon capacity of concentrations (ppm) of N 182, P 120, K 160, Mg 50, Ca 300, S 64, B 0.5, Mn 0.5, Cu 0.5, Zn 0.09 Mo 0.3 and Fe 5 were irrigated to the each bed. The concentration of soluble salts and pH of the solution were checked regularly. The pH of the solution was maintained between 6.5 to 7.0 using H2 SO4. Optimum levels of nutrients in the tanks were maintained by analyzing the irrigated nutrient solutions.

Crop growth conditions: The growth of all the crops was generally better in the open pot house as compared to glass house with the exception of tomato and pepper plants, which were badly affected in pot house (i.e. tomato and pepper) due to viral infections, but grew well in glass house without any viral and white flies attack. It was generally observed that desert sand was proved to be a better medium for crop growth as compared to gravel. This may be due to likely more retention of water in the desert sand than gravel. Cucumber, kakri, watermelon and muskmelon varieties available in Pakistan are not suited to glass house condition, as these crops require cross fertilization by insects and lack of cross fertilization in glass house due to close system adversely affected the pollination or flower formation and fruit setting. Groundnut is not suited at hydroponics system.

Results: It was observed from the present results that all the tomato varieties tested hydroponically thrived best in gravel beds under glasshouse conditions, producing an average of 40 tons fruit yield per hectare. Due to severe viral infection, all fields grown tomatoes were destroyed in the vicinity of Tandojam. The open bed tomatoes suffered this a lot. Pepper growth was satisfactory in glasshouse. At the later stage of growth, the attack of spider mite and powdery mildew reduced its yields, yet it produced 15.6 tons per hectare. In the open beds, lettuce grew very well in desert sand and gave an average yield of 36.5 tons per hectare. In coarse gravel, the yield was 16 tons per hectare. Snake melon (kakri), grew well in desert sand of open pot house and produced an average yield of 24.66 tons fruit per hectare, while gravel medium produced only 11.16 tons per hectare. Potato produced yield of 10.38 tons per hectare in gravel bed under glasshouse condition. Cucumber produced an average yield of 34.11 tons fruit per hectare in desert sand and 12.35 tons in gravel bed in open pot house. Cauliflower produced an average fruit yield of 17.4 tons per hectare. Crops like bajra, bean, potato and garden peas grew well in gravel as well as in desert sand. With the increasing knowledge of better production techniques and growth control in soilless culture over that of soil; the yields and quality of crops have increased considerably. The growers, however, are generally required to have more technical knowledge in order to produce the high yields.

Hydroponics use in other countries: Hydroponics workers in Sadiyat greenhouse Dubai (1970-71) grew vegetable crops and obtained yield as tons/acre/crop: cabbage (31), cucumber (102), egg plant (107), lettuce (25), okra (23), tomato (71), and turnips (70). Similarly, workers in USA (Florida State) obtained yield of these vegetables by growing in the field as tons/acre/crop: cabbage (12), cucumber (12), eggplant (8.3), lettuce (10.5), okra (5), tomato (30), and turnips (10). Yields of 200 mt/ha of tomato have been obtained in greenhouse hydroponic culture in a 9 to 10 months period depending on the plant populations. This can be calculated as 10 to 15 kg of tomato fruit/plant. Production costs for hydroponic tomatoes of high quality can range from $0.80/kg. Yields of more than 100 mt/ha of field grown tomatoes have been produced in Florida (USA) in a 4 to 5 month period. There may be areas of the world where hydroponics may be the only systems that kind be used to grow successfully food crops, which are important in human diets. The desert reasons of the world may be such places, where hydroponics has important application. The successfully commercialization of hydroponics is still and open question and it has gained popularity due to successful production of vegetables.

Advantages: (i) Crops can be grown in localities where normal cultivation is difficult or impracticable e.g. in arid area of saline or shallow soil. This opens up new regions for settlement. (ii) Nutrient solution is homogeneous, thus relatively easy to sample, test and readjust. (iii) Both nutrient solution and supporting media are contained in beds filled with gravel or sand, which can be sterilized to prevent root diseases in crops. (iv) Seepage can be stopped and surface evaporation be minimized so that less water is required for optimum yields. (v) Watering can be automatically controlled, thus reducing labour costs. (vi) Average yields are higher and cultivation is easy.

Disadvantages: (i) Initially, the construction of glasshouse and their structures are expensive. (ii) The design of equipment and operation requires a great deal of technical knowledge. (iii) Even with automatic operation of the hydroponic system a constant supervision is necessary. (iv) Some diseases are problem one and even under the uniform conditions of hydroponic gardening may spread quite rapidly. (v) Production costs for establishing and maintaining a hydroponic system are higher than for other more conventional growing techniques. Therefore, hydroponic growing has to be limited to high cash crops. It takes greater skill on the part of the grower to manage a hydroponic system and the margin of error is quite narrow. Small misjudgments in procedures can result in significant crop losses. The current systems that have been most widely used with relatively good success are the various bag culture techniques, using an organic root supporting media, such as sphagnum peat moss or an inert substrate like perlite, with nutrient solution being dripped into the bag.

There may be areas of the world, i.e. countries in Middle East, Arizona state in USA, many African countries and arid areas. Where hydroponics may be the only system that can be used to grow successfully vegetable crops, which are important in human diets. The desert regions of the world may be such places, where hydroponics has important application.

Conclusion: The research works conducted for over ten years in gravel and desert sands at Nuclear Institute of Agriculture, Tandojam, Sindh have shown that the hydroponic system using local materials is feasible under our conditions. However, a number of drawbacks such as non-availability of seeds suited to glasshouse conditions, steady electricity supply to run the electric motors, and protection from insects and diseases, pose difficulties. It has been established under the present experimental conductions, that different crops can be grown in coarse gravel and desert sands of Thar and other barren areas of the country in open and glass house beds, provided all the necessary facilities are available. In the open hydroponic system successful cultivation is possible if effective viral infection control measures become available. Hydroponics system is very profitable and valuable for growing crops in desert sand and gravel media. However, there are certain advantages and disadvantages of the system.

Source