Hydroponics

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Hydroponics

• Introduction to Agriculture

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Terms

• Hydroponics
• growing of plants in a solutions of nutrients,
  without soil
• Substrate
• substance in which plant takes root

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General Facts

• Any plant can be grown in hydroponics.
• Almost any system can achieve acceptable growth.
• Small scale hydroponics is different to large
  scale.

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General Facts

• Hydroponics contributes to understanding plant
  growth.
• Very few commercial producers.
• Mainly experimental.

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Hydroponic Requirements

• Best possible light
• 50 or more humidity
• Day temp 75 deg.
• Night temp 65 deg.

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Other Requirements

• All essential elements needed
• The larger the particle size of substrate the
  more watering needed.

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Commercial Production

• Minimum of 100,000 sq ft
• Thousands of plants needed
• Will be able to tell conditions of water by
  looking at the plants

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Advantages of Hydroponics

• Reduced land cost
• More control over growing environment
• Reduced pesticide use
• Year-round supply
• Alternative to urban sprawl

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Disadvantages of Hydroponics

• Start-up costs
• Management
• Labor requirements