HYDROPONIC CROP (HYDROPONIA)

Hello, my dear steemians and especially my friends of @farms, after being away for a few days, I want to share with you that it is a hydroponic crop and its advantages.

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Hydroponics is known as a soilless crop, that is, plants grow without the need for agricultural land. In general, herbaceous plants are produced and unconventional areas are taken advantage of, taking into account the needs of the plants, such as light, temperature, water and nutrients. To make a hydroponic crop the soil is replaced by a substrate such as coconut fiber, peat or rock wool that are the ones that hold the plant. The roots receive the nutrients or chemical components dissolved in the water that allow the development of the plants, this resource is very important for this type of crops, for that reason the irrigation system and the programming of the same has to be adequate.

Types of hydroponic crops:

We can divide them according to whether the water is recirculated with the nutrient solution or not and depending on whether or not they use the substrates.

1.Flood and drainage system:
This system consists of trays where the plants planted in an inert or organic substrate are located. These trays are flooded with water and nutritive solutions, which are absorbed by the substrate.
Once the nutrients are retained, the trays are drained and re-flooded with the specific solutions. The time between the flood and drainage phase depends on the ability of the substrate to retain water and nutrients.

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2.Drip system with collection of nutrient solution:
This system the excess is collected and re-pumped to the crop according to the needs of the same. The collection of excess is possible because the crop is pending.

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3.DWP (Deep Water Culture)
This system consists of pools on which the plants are placed on a plate, leaving the roots in contact with the water with the added solutions. Being standing water, it is necessary to oxygenate it by means of pumps similar to those of an aquarium.

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4.NFT (Nutrient Film Technic)
It consists of a pumping network and pipes where the plants are in PVC tubes and without substrate. The water with the nutrient solution is pumped to the crops and is continuously recirculated.

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Advantages of hydroponic crop:

The cultivation through hydroponic orchards is an easy technique because it allows to grow plants in a faster and controllable way. Among the advantages of hydroponic crops we have:

• They are not affected by weather phenomena.
• Crops can be produced in less space with reduced costs but with increased food production.
• Water is recycled which allows water savings.
• Savings of fertilizers and insecticides.
• They do not require agricultural machines (tractors).
• There is greater cleanliness and hygiene in crop management.
• It is managed through a high percentage of automation.
• They have a better and higher quality product.
• Cultures free of parasites, bacteria, fungi, pollution and non-nutrient chemicals.
• They have high yields per unit area.
• There is an acceleration in the cultivation process.
• The same species of plant can be harvested on several occasions per year.

Hydroponic crops meet the nutritional needs, not only in large-scale production, since we can achieve hydroponic crops in the house, in the garden or on the rooftop, whether they are vegetables, flowers, among others, which allows us to obtain food and healthy products for own consumption.

Development of homemade hydroponic crops:

Materials to be used in the elaboration:

• A container, with a depth of 20 to 30 cm. of dark color so that sunlight does not affect the roots.
• An air pump, like those used in fish tanks. This is used for the oxygenation of water and to avoid its contamination.
• A nutritious solution, these can be done in a homemade way, or acquire the hydroponic solutions already prepared that contain the balanced nutrients.
• Substrate, which retains the right nutrients for the crop that has been chosen, also serves as a base for the plants and is very economical.
• A wooden board, with the same dimensions as the container.
• Seeds or plants that you want to grow.
• A rubber or plastic stopper.

Steps to develop a homemade hydroponic crop:

• Make a hole in the base of the container, insert the rubber or plastic stopper. This hole will be used for drainage whenever necessary.

• Fill the water container without overflowing.

• Use germinated seeds, buds or cuttings.

• With a drill make holes in the wooden board, equal spaces between each hole. The number of holes will depend on the size of the table.

• Insert the roots of the plant through the holes in the table. Care must be taken not to damage the roots and that they remain submerged in the water. The stem should be above the surface of the water.

• We must ensure the plant with the chosen substrate, which is the solid medium that protects and gives stability to the plant and allows it to better absorb the nutritive solutions available for its development.

• To take advantage of the spaces of the house you can place the crop in the patio, the terrace or some wall (vertical crop), since the plants should receive sunlight.

• For the oxygenation of the water we use the air pump, every two or three hours a day, and make a revision to the hydroponic solution. We can add nutrients individually so that the plant maintains the necessary amounts of nutrients.

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Recommendations for hydroponics:

• Change the water in the container every 2 weeks.
• We must observe the evolution of the plants in case they present abnormalities or failures of the installation of the crop.
• It is important that the plant receives sunlight for its development.

Hydroponic farming allows us to sell our crops in the market and of course helps us with household expenses, since the production of these crops does not have a high cost and helps the ecosystem by avoiding erosion.

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Hydroponic agriculture will help supply the demand for food in the world.