© Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA).

2010

IICA encourages the fair use of this document. Proper citation is requested.

This publication is also available in electronic (PDF) format from IICA’s Web site at
http://www.iica.int.

Editorial coordination: Jermaine Joseph

Mechanical editing: Aletha Isaacs, Maxine Parris-Aaron, Richard Blair

Layout: Michael Sears

Cover design: Michael Sears

Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture

2009 annual report: IICA’s contribution to the
development of agriculture and rural communities in
Guyana / IICA – Guyana: IICA, 2010.

1. IICA – Hydroponics Manual

Guyana

2010
 FOREWORD
“If you think in terms of a year, plant a seed; if in terms of ten years, plant trees;
if in terms of 100 years, teach the people.” Confucius

A core thematic area of the Cooperation Agenda of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation
on Agriculture (IICA) is that of promoting the introduction of technology and innovation for the
modernization of agriculture and rural life.

Following the flood of 2005, the late Dr. Hector Muñoz (then IICA Emeritus Professional)
introduced hydroponics technology at St. Stanislaus College Farm. He firmly believed this
farming system would be replicated particularly in coastal communities in Guyana, as a post-
flood recovery measure, as a future flood risk minimization measure and in the context of food
security.

This method of production has been taken across the country to community groups, particularly
women’s groups and schools. The Ministry of Education, Ministry of Agriculture, NARI, St.
Stanislaus Farm, the Partners of the Americas and Caribbean and African Self Reliance
International (CASRI) have all partnered with IICA in this process.

As an aid to the teaching programme, we are pleased to present this revised version of our
Hydroponics Training Manual.

We take the opportunity to recognize the special contributions of the Staff at the IICA Office in
Guyana for the final product, particularly Jermaine Joseph, who has led the production and is fast
gaining the reputation in the fields as the “Hyroponics Guru” for his persistence in promoting
the technology.

This production is but a fitting tribute to the memory of Dr. Hector Muñoz for his pioneering
contribution to promoting hydroponics in Guyana and also dedicated to the memory of Dr.
Desrey Fox for her belief in the youth of Guyana and leading the promotion of hydroponics in
the education system in Guyana.

We trust that users will find this manual a practical and user friendly guide to growing crops in
non-soil media.

Ignatius Jean

IICA Representative in Guyana

 CONTENTS

Title Page

Foreword i

Background 1

Introduction 2

Advantages of Hydroponics 3

Disadvantages of Hydroponics 4

Production System 5

Locating a Hydroponic Garden 6-7

Size of the Hydroponic Garden 8

Appropriate Containers for the Hydroponic Garden 9-10

Constructing a Container 11

The Substrate 12-13

Nutrients and Fertilizer 14-15

Pest Control 16

Conclusion 17

References 18
 BACKGROUND
Hydroponics is an ancient technique that dates back approximately 2600 yrs.

The first application of hydroponics in recorded history was the hanging gardens of Babylon that
was built by KING NEBUCHADNEZZAR

Egypt and China also practice hydroponics on Chinampas

It was Dr. W. F Gericke in 1936 of the University of California who came up with the term
Hydroponics from the Greek hydro (water) and ponos (work), meaning working with water. Dr.
Gericke was the first person to carry out large-scale commercial experiments in which he grew
tomatoes, lettuce and other vegetables.

Hydroponics was also applied during World War II between 1939 and 1945 so as to provide
vegetables for the troops (in arid soils and in Greenland).

NASA currently uses the hydroponics technique to provide food for space travelers.

1
 INTRODUCTION
Hydroponics is often defined as “the cultivation of plants in water.”

Hydroponics is however a technique for growing plants without using soil. Utilizing this
technology, the roots absorb a balanced nutrient solution dissolved in water that meets all the
plants developmental requirements.

Research has determined that many different aggregates or media can support plant growth,
therefore, the definition of hydroponics has been broadened to: “the cultivation of plants
without soil.”

2
 ADVANTAGES OF HYDROPONICS
As demonstrated by through research activities, including field trials, hydroponics is a far more
economical and profitable technique than traditional agricultural cultivation.

Some of the advantages noted:

1. The possibility of obtaining more products in less time than using traditional
agriculture:
2. The possibility of growing plants more densely
3. Possibility of growing the same plant species repeatedly because there is no soil
depletion
4. Plants have a balanced supply of air water and nutrients
5. More product/surface unit is obtained
6. Cleaner and fresher products can be reaped
7. Production can be timed more effectively to satisfy market demand
8. Healthier products can be produced
9. Products are more resistant to diseases
10. Natural or Biological control can be employed
11. Soil borne pests (fungi) and diseases can be eliminated
12. Troublesome weeds and stray seedlings which the result in the need for herbicides
use and increase labour cost, can also be eliminated
13. Reduction of health risks associated with pest management and soil care
14. Reduced turnaround time between planting as no soil preparation is required
15. Stable and significantly increased yields and shorter crop maturation cycle
16. Can be utilized by families with small or no yard space
17. When water is used as the substrate:
a. no soil is needed
b. the water stays in the system and can be reused - thus, lower water costs
c. It is possible to control the nutrition levels in their entirety - thus, lower
nutrition costs
d. No nutrition pollution is released into the environment because of the
controlled system
18. Pests and disease are easier to get rid of because of container mobility

3
 DISADVANTAGES OF HYDROPONICS
1. Commercial Scale requires technical knowledge as well as a good grasp of the principles
2. On a commercial scale the initial investment is relatively high
3. Great care and attention to detail is required, particularly in the preparation of formulas
and plant health control
4. A constant supply of water is required

COMPARISON BETWEEN TWO GROWING METHODS

Crop Yield using soil Yield using hydroponics

(No. of harvests a year using (tons per hectare at harvest time) (tons per hectare at harvest time)
hydroponics)

Lettuce (10) 52 300-330

Tomato (2) 80-100 350-400

Cucumber (3) 10-30 700-800

Carrot 15-20 55-75

Potato 20-40 120

Peppers(3) 20-30 85-105

Cabbage(3) 20-40 180-190

4
 PRODUCTION SYSTEM
Hydroponics can be classified as:

- Open system; or

- Closed system

OPEN SYSTEM:
In the open system of hydroponics, the nutrient solution is mixed and applied to the plant as
required, instead of being re-cycled. Examples of some open system are:

- growing beds

- columns made out of tubular plastics or vertical and horizontal PVC pipes

- individual containers e.g. pots, plastic sacks and old tires

CLOSED SYSTEM:
In this system the nutrient solution is circulated continuously, providing the nutrients that the
plant requires. Examples of closed systems include:

- Floating roots

- Nutrient Film Technique (NFT)

- PVC or bamboo channels

- Plastic or polystyrene pots set up in columns

MAJOR REQUIREMENTS THAT A HYDROPONICS SYSTEM

MUST SATISFY

- Provide roots with a fresh, balanced supply of water and nutrients

- Maintain a high level of gas exchange between nutrient solution and roots

- Protect against root dehydration and immediate crop failure in the event of a pump failure
or power outage

5
LOCATING A HYDROPONIC GARDEN

6
 LOCATING A HYDROPONIC GARDEN (CONT’D)

- A
Avoid heavily
y shaded, wiindy and exttremely sunnny places

- K
Keep the gard
den protectedd from domeestic animals and pets

- T planting space must receive

The r a miinimum of siix hours sunlight

- M be closee to a sourcee of water annd the place where

Must w the nuutrients are kept
k

- Itt must be kep

pt far from contaminated
c d water

- Itt must be kep

pt far from trees and othher plants thaat are affecteed by pests and
a diseases

7
 SIZE OF THE HYDRONICS GARDEN
Space is not an important factor in
i hydroponnic gardeningg.

A gardenn can be sett up in spacces as smalll as 1m². Most

M of hydroponic garddens are anyy size
between 10 to 20m², but some faamilies are abble to keep gardens
g as biig as 200m²..

Within a small space, one may produce enoough vegetaables that wiill be nourisshing and frree of
pollutantts.

8
 APPROPRIIA
ATE CONTAINERS FOR THE
HYDROPONICS GARDEN

There aree many typees of containners that cann be used orr built depennding on thee space avaiilable
around thhe house, th
he technical and econom mic possibilitties and the needs of thee specific faamily,
e.g. smalll wooden boxes/crates, old tires, pllastic washinng tubs, onee gallon plasstic containeers or
any otherr container (not metal) with
w a minim mum depth off 10 cm.

9
 C
CHARAC
CTERIST
TICS OF APPROP
A PRIATE CONTAI
C INERS

Containeers must be:

- dark and
a opaque since
s algae develop
d betteer in clear coontainers

- waterp
proof to prevvent loss of the
t nutrient rich water

- made from chemically inert material

m

- must have
h holes too drain exceess water andd allow for aeration
a

10
 CONSTRUCTING A CONTAINER
If there is a need to build a container, you may consider building a bed or box with the following
size:

- Length : 1.25m

- Width : 0.95m

- Depth : 0.10 m

The materials needed to build the box or bed are:

- Wood : 15 feet of 1 x 4 inch wood shingle or plank

- 166 feet of ½ x 3 inch wood shingle or plank

- Black plastic : 5.6 feet x 4.3 feet

- Nails : 1 pound – 2 inch

The tools and materials needed to build a bed are: hammer, saw, meter rule, stapler, staples, drill,
drill bits, level, saran netting, water hose and water.

11
 THE SUBSTRATE

A substraate is an inerrt material inn which the roots

r of the plant
p will grrow.

It may bee either liquiid or solid. The

T most com
mmon substrrates used inn the tropicall regions are:

- Sand
- Rice hulls
h or shellls
- Clay bricks,
b grounnd
- Cocon
nut Fibre
- Charccoal
- Saw dust
d
- Volcaanic stones, ground
g
- Waterr

12
The characteristics of a good substrate:
- It must be made of particles no larger than 7mm and no smaller than 2mm
- It must be capable of maintaining moisture and draining excess liquid
- It must not degrade or decompose easily
- It must not hold microorganisms hazardous to human or plant health
- It must not be contaminated with industrial residual waste
- It must be readily available
- It must be potable

Recommended Substrate Mixtures

Some recommended substrate mixtures are:

- 50% rice hull : 50% ground volcanic stones
- 60% rice hull : 40% sand
- 60% rice hull : 40% ground clay bricks
- 80% rice hull : 20% saw dust

Another substrate which could be used is:

- Clean rain water

Rice hulls
These must be washed and kept very moist for ten (10) days in order that all seeds in the rice
hulls will germinate. The germinated seedlings must be removed.

Saw dust
Saw dust may be used in small quantities, 15-20% of the substrate since large quantities are
harmful to some plants.

13
 NUTRIENTS AND FERTILIZERS
The hydroponic solution contains a balanced amount of nutrients to produce healthy and
productive plants. In addition to the elements (carbon, hydrogen, oxygen) that vegetables extract
from the air and water, plants need some elements that may be classified by quantities and need.

Large Intermediate Small

Nitrogen Sulphur Iron

Phosphorus Calcium Manganese

Potassium Magnesium Zinc

Boron

Molybdenum

ECAG HYDROPONIC FERTILIZER SOLUTION

For four (4) liters of water:
A. CONCENTRATED SOLUTION OF MAJOR NUTRIENTS
GRAMS
Mono-potassic Phosphate 190.0
Magnesium Sulfate 400.0
Potassium Nitrate 440.0
B. CONCENTRATED SOLUTION OF MINOR NUTRIENTS
GRAMS
Fertilon combo 20.0
Boric acid 4.6
C. CONCENTRATED SOLUTION OF N C
GRAMS
Calcium Nitrate 590
DOSAGE
Solution cc. per 1 liter of water
A 5.0
B 2.5
C 5.0

14
 HOW
W TO AP
PPLY TO
O PLANT
TS

The seleccted nutrientts can be addded in the following mannner:

- 6 dayss a week – inn the morninngs apply 1000ml solutionn diluted in water for eveery
plant and with jusst water appllied in the affternoon
- On thee 7th day appply only watter to plants

15
 PEST CONTROL
For the control of pests, we may use natural products such as pepper, garlic and tomato.

These have the following advantages:

- They are non-pollutant

- Pests do not develop a resistance to them
- No special equipment is necessary to fumigate
- They are easily made
- They are economical
Note: These products are best used as a preventative method.

Preparation of material

Pepper
- Grind 3 ounces of pepper and add water
- Let stand overnight, strain and mix with 5L of soapy water
- Apply daily
- Controls: ants, worms, fleas, flies, chewers
Garlic
- Mix 3 ounces garlic with oil and let stand for 24 hrs
- Dissolve 10g of soap in 1L of water. Mix and strain and add 20L of water
- It may be used as repellant, pesticide, bactericide, fungicide and nematicide.
Tomato
- Grind leaves and stems
- Boil in 4 bottles of water for 10 mins
- Let it cool and apply
- Controls: Fleas, lice and hairy worms
- Do not apply on plants of the same family, such as pepper and eggplant

16
 CONCLUSION
Today, hydroponics is an established branch of agronomy.

Progress has been rapid and results obtained in various countries have proved that this
technology is thoroughly practical and has very definite advantages over conventional methods
of crop production.

The two main advantages of the virtually soil-less cultivation of plants are, the much higher crop
yields and hydroponics can be used in places where in-ground agriculture or gardening is not
possible.

Thus not only is it a profitable undertaking, but one which has proved of great benefit to
humanity. People living in crowded city streets, without gardens, can grow fresh vegetables and
fruits in window-boxes or in small discarded containers. By means of hydroponics, a regular and
abundant supply of fresh greens can be produced and barren and sterile areas can be made
productive at relatively low cost.

17
 REFERENCES
1. MUNÕZ, Héctor. 2005. Hydroponics Home-based Vegetable Production System Manual.
IICA, Georgetown, Guyana

2. ECHEVERRIA, Laura Perez. 2008. Hydroponics for the Home.

IICA, San Jose, Costa Rica

3. ROBERTO, Keith. Fourth edition. How-To-Hydroponics.

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