hydroponics
Sign in to savethumb|275x275px|NASA researcher Ray Wheeler checking hydroponic [[onions (center), Bibb lettuces (left), and radishes (right)|alt=]]
AI overview
Hydroponics is a method of growing plants in water-based solutions without soil, as shown in this NASA research example with onions, lettuce, and radishes. This approach matters because it allows crops to be grown in controlled environments, which could be valuable for applications like space exploration and producing food in areas where traditional soil-based farming is difficult.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Article
55 sectionsContents
- History
- Techniques
- Static solution culture
- Continuous-flow solution culture
- Aeroponics
- Fogponics
- Passive sub-irrigation
- Ebb and flow (flood and drain) sub-irrigation
- Run-to-waste
- Deep water culture
- Top-fed deep water culture
- Advantages
- Rotary
- Vertical farming
- Environmental benefits
- Resource use
- Higher yields and faster growth
- Year-round production
- Pest and disease control
- Urban crop growth
- Substrates (growing support materials)
- Rock wool
- Expanded clay aggregate
- Growstones
- Coconut coir
- Rice husks
- Perlite
- Vermiculite
- Pumice
- Sand
- Gravel
- Wood fiber
- Sheep wool
- Brick shards
- Polystyrene packing peanuts
- Nutrient solutions
- Inorganic hydroponic solutions
- Organic hydroponic solutions
- Organically sourced macronutrients
- Organically sourced micronutrients
- Additives
- Tools
- Common equipment
- Equipment
- Software
- Mixing solutions
- Additional improvements
- Growrooms
- CO<sub>2</sub> enrichment
- Crops grown
- Urban hydroponics
- See also
- References
- Sources
- External links
thumb|275x275px|NASA researcher Ray Wheeler checking hydroponic [[onions (center), Bibb lettuces (left), and radishes (right)|alt=]]
Hydroponics is a type of horticulture and a subset of hydroculture which involves growing plants, usually crops or medicinal plants, without soil, by using water-based mineral nutrient solutions in an artificial environment. Terrestrial or aquatic plants may grow freely with their roots exposed to the nutritious liquid or the roots may be mechanically supported by an inert medium such as perlite, gravel, or other substrates.