Hydroponics Systems - How Hydroponics is helping the eco-system

Online, October 7, 2010 (Newswire.com) - Imagine a garden which is clean and extremely effortless to manage. A garden where plants are healthy and nutritious. A garden where you don't have to worry much about the soil, whether it is overwatered or under-watered. A garden which is highly productive. Here is the solution for all these problems.
'Hydroponics' is the new method of 19th century, also known as aquaculture. It is a method of cultivating plants using liquid nutrient solutions, without soil; yes the soil is not required in this method. Normally, for any terrestrial plant soil acts as a mineral reservoir, but in this method the soil is not required for the growth of a plant. Hydroponics has gained popularity in the global market in last few years.
But, hydroponics should not be confused with soilless culture. There is a slight difference between hydroponics and soilless culture. Soilless culture does not require usage of soils with clay or sediment. Also, hydroponics requires many mineral nutrient solutions, which are not used by soilless culture.
Hydroponics has proved to be a very beneficial in the market place. The most important advantage of hydroponics is, it requires no soil. The other advantages are: the cost is less as the water in the system can be reused; the nutrition level can be controlled, so lower nutrition cost; it is eco-friendly because there is no nutrition pollution released; and because of the container's mobility there are fewer chances of pests and related diseases.
But of course, all methods have their own limitations. Even hydroponics has few disadvantages like: it creates an environment that stimulates salmonella growth, which can cause abdominal pains and diarrhea in human body; the plants require different fertilizers and containment systems; and, pathogens attacks caused by high moisture levels associated with hydroponics.
The two main types of hydroponics are solution culture and medium culture. Solution culture is further classified into three main categories: static solution culture, continuous flow solution culture and aeroponics. And, medium culture can further be classified in two main types: subirrigation and top irrigation.

It is very important for the farmers, applying hydroponic method, to make a careful decision as to which medium they should use, as different techniques have different medium. Hydroponic farmers can make a choice of mediums, which are as follows:
(1) Diahydro;
(2) Expanded clay;
(3) Rock wool;
(4) Coir;
(5) Perlite;
(6) Vermiculite;
(7) Sand;
(8) Gravel;
(9) Brick Shards;
(10) Polystyrene packing peanuts; and
(11) Wood fiber.

Hydroponics has been the most beneficial and preferred method by people who are fond of vegetable gardening. The method has been successful in providing tasty, nutritious, and good quality vegetables and fruits. Because it is pest free it is most favoured in international markets. No need to worry about the excess water or little water. It is a very consistent method.

http://www.advancednutrients.com/hydroponics/index.php