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A REVIEW ON PLANT WITHOUT SOIL - HYDROPONICS

March 2013 · International Journal of Research in Engineering and Technology 02(03):299-304

DOI:10.15623/ijret.2013.0203013

Authors:

Mamta Deorao Sardare

MIT Academy of engineering Alandi Pune

Citations (58) References (11) Figures (1)

Abstract and Figures

With the advent of civilization, open field/soil-based agriculture is facing some major challenges; most importantly
decrease in per capita land availability. In 1960 with 3 billion population over the World, per capita land was 0.5 ha but
presently, with 6 billion people it is only 0.25 ha and by 2050, it will reach at 0.16 ha. Due to rapid urbanization and
industrialization as well as melting of icebergs (as an obvious impact of global warming), arable land under cultivation is
further going to decrease. Again, soil fertility status has attained a saturation level, and productivity is not increasing
further with increased level of fertilizer application. Besides, poor soil fertility in some of the cultivable areas, less chance
of natural soil fertility build-up by microbes due to continuous cultivation, frequent drought conditions and unpredictability
of climate and weather patterns, rise in temperature, river pollution, poor water management and wastage of huge amount
of water, decline in ground water level, etc. are threatening food production under conventional soil-based agriculture.
Under such circumstances, in near future it will become impossible to feed the entire population using open field system of
agricultural production only. Naturally, soil-less culture is becoming more relevant in the present scenario, to cope-up with
these challenges. In soil-less culture, plants are raised without soil. Improved space and water conserving methods of food
production under soil-less culture have shown some promising results all over the World.

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MAMTA D. SARDARE* et al ISSN: 2319 - 1163

Volume: 2 Issue: 3 299 - 304

A REVIEW ON PLANT WITHOUT SOIL - HYDROPONICS

Ms. Mamta D. Sardare 1, Ms. Shraddha V. Admane 2

1,2
Assistant Professor, MIT Academy of Engineering Alandi Pune, Maharashtra, India ,
mamtasardare@gmail.com, shraddhaadmane@gmail.com

Abstract
With the advent of civilization, open field/soil-based agriculture is facing some major challenges; most importantly decrease in per
capita land availability. In 1960 with 3 billion population over the World, per capita land was 0.5 ha but presently, with 6 billion
people it is only 0.25 ha and by 2050, it will reach at 0.16 ha. Due to rapid urbanization and industrialization as well as melting of
icebergs (as an obvious impact of global warming), arable land under cultivation is further going to decrease. Again, soil fertility
status has attained a saturation level, and productivity is not increasing further with increased level of fertilizer application. Besides,
poor soil fertility in some of the cultivable areas, less chance of natural soil fertility build-up by microbes due to continuous
cultivation, frequent drought conditions and unpredictability of climate and weather patterns, rise in temperature, river pollution,
poor water management and wastage of huge amount of water, decline in ground water level, etc. are threatening food production
under conventional soil-based agriculture. Under such circumstances, in near future it will become impossible to feed the entire
population using open field system of agricultural production only. Naturally, soil-less culture is becoming more relevant in the
present scenario, to cope-up with these challenges. In soil-less culture, plants are raised without soil. Improved space and water
conserving methods of food production under soil-less culture have shown some promising results all over the World.

Index Terms: Aeroponics, hydroponics, nutriculture, open field agriculture, soil-less culture
-----------------------------------------------------------------------***-----------------------------------------------------------------------

1. INTRODUCTION
Soil is usually the most available growing medium for plants.
It provides anchorage, nutrients, air, water, etc. for successful
plant growth [1]. However, soils do pose serious limitations for
plant growth too, at times. Presence of disease causing
organisms and nematodes, unsuitable soil reaction,
unfavorable soil compaction, poor drainage, degradation due
to erosion etc. are some of them.[2] In addition, conventional
crop growing in soil (Open Field Agriculture) is somewhat
difficult as it involves large space, lot of labour and large
volume of water[2]. Moreover, some places like metropolitan
areas, soil is not available for crop growing at all, or in some
areas, we find scarcity of fertile cultivable arable lands due to
their unfavorable geographical or topographical conditions [2].
Of late, another serious problem experienced since is the
difficulty to hire labour for conventional open field agriculture
[3]
. Under such circumstances, soil-less culture can be
introduced successfully [3].
Soil-less culture mainly refers to the techniques of
      
derived from the Greek words hydro’ means water and ponos’
means labour[2]. It is a method of growing plants using mineral
nutrient solutions, without soil[2]. Terrestrial plants may be
grown with their roots in the mineral nutrient solution only or
in an inert medium, such as perlite, gravel, or mineral wool.
Hydroponics is the technique of growing plants in soil-less
condition with their roots immersed in nutrient solution.[4]
This system helps to face the challenges of climate change and
also helps in production system management for efficient
utilization of natural resources and mitigating malnutrition[3].
    e or less similar to
hydroponics with only difference that under aeroponics plants
are grown with fine drops (a mist or aerosol) of nutrient
solution[1]. In India, Hydroponics was introduced in year 1946
by an English scientist, W. J. Shalto Duglas and he established
a laboratory in Kalimpong area, West Bengal. He has also
written a book on Hydroponics, named as Hydroponics The
        
hydroponics farms were developed in Abu Dhabi, Arizona,
Belgium, California, Denmark, German, Holland, Iran, Italy,
Japan, Russian Federation and other countries. During 1980s,
many automated and computerized hydroponics farms were
established around the world. Home hydroponics kits became
popular during 1990s.
2. DIFFERENT AVAILABLE TECHNIQUES FOR
SOIL-LESS CULTURE
Large numbers of hydroponic/soil-less culture techniques are
available. However, following factors are considered in
selecting a technique:
1. Space and other available resources
2. Expected productivity
3. Availability of suitable growing medium

__________________________________________________________________________________________
IJRET | MAR 2013, Available @ http://www.ijret.org/ 299

MAMTA D. SARDARE* et al ISSN: 2319 - 1163

Volume: 2 Issue: 3 299 - 304

4. Expected quality of the produce  colour, appearance, free

from pesticides, etc.

We can classify the techniques as follows:

2.1 Techniques of hydroponics

wn
in solution culture have their roots suspended directly in a
nutrient solution. It can further be classified into-
i) Circulating methods (closed system)/ Continuous flow
solution culture

a) Nutrient film technique (NFT)

b) Deep flow technique (DFT)

Fig 2. Different non-circulating methods (a) Root dipping

technique, (b) Floating technique, (c) Capillary action
technique [4]

Suitable vessels for static systems include polythene beakers,

pots, glass jar and containers lined with black polythene film.

a) b) B. Media culture
The media culture method has a solid medium for the roots
Fig 1. Different circulating methods (a) Nutrient film and is named for the type of inert medium, e.g. sand culture,
technique, (b) Deep flow technique [ 4] gravel culture or rock wool culture. There are two main
variations for each medium, sub-irrigation and top-irrigation.
Flowing solution culture systems can provide a consistent However, it is classified as follows:
nutrient environment for roots. They are highly amenable to
automatic control but are subject to rapid plant desiccation if 1. Hanging bag technique
the flow of solution stops for any reason. Thus frequent 2. Grow bag technique
attention is required. 3. Trench or trough technique
4. Pot technique
ii) Non-circulating method (open systems)/ Static solution
culture

a) Root dipping technique

b) Floating technique
c) Capillary action technique

(a)

__________________________________________________________________________________________
IJRET | MAR 2013, Available @ http://www.ijret.org/ 300

MAMTA D. SARDARE* et al ISSN: 2319 - 1163

Volume: 2 Issue: 3 299 - 304

suspended in air beneath the panel. The aeroponics culture is

usually practiced in protected structures and is suitable for low
leafy vegetables like lettuce, spinach, etc. There are two
techniques under this group:
1. Root mist technique
2. Fog feed technique

2.3 List Of Crops That Can Be Grown In Soil-Less

Condition
Everything starting from flower to fruit crops to medicinal
plants can be grown using soil-less culture. List of crops are
(b) listed in Table 1, Table 2, Table 3.

Type of crops Name of the crops

Cereals Oryza sativa (Rice), Zea mays
(Maize)
Fruits Fragaria ananassa (Strawberry)
Vegetables Lycopersicon esculentum (Tomato),
Capsicum frutescens (Chilli),
Solanum melongena (Brinjal),
Phaseolus vulgaris (Green bean),
Beta vulgaris (Beet), Psophocarpus
tetragonolobus (Winged bean),
Capsicum annum (Bell pepper),
Brassica oleracea var. capitata
(Cabbage), Brassica oleracea var.
botrytis (Cauliflower), Cucumis
sativus (Cucumbers), Cucumis melo
(c) (Melons), Raphanus sativus
(Radish), Allium cepa (Onion)
Leafy vegetables Lactuca sativa (Lettuce), Ipomoea
aquatica (Kang Kong)
Condiments Petroselinum crispum (Parsley),
Mentha spicata (Mint), Ocimum
basilicum (Sweet basil), Origanum
vulgare (Oregano)
Flower / Ornamental Tagetes patula (Marigold), Rosa
crops berberifolia (Roses), Dianthus
caryophyllus (Carnations),
Chrysanthemum indicum
(Chrysanthemum)
Medicinal crops Aloe vera (Indian Aloe),
Solenostemon scutellarioides
(Coleus)
(d) Fodder crops Sorghum bicolor (Sorghum),
Medicago sativa (Alphalfa),
Fig 3. Different media culture method (a) Hanging bag Hordeum vulgare (Barley),
technique, (b) Grow bag technique, (c) Trench or trough Cynodon dactylon (Bermuda grass),
technique, (d) Pot technique [4] Axonopus compressus (Carpet
grass)
2.2 Techniques of Aeroponics
Table -1. List of crops that can be grown on commercial level
Aeroponics is a method of growing plants where they are using soil-less culture[5]
anchored in holes in Styrofoam panels and their roots are
__________________________________________________________________________________________
IJRET | MAR 2013, Available @ http://www.ijret.org/ 301

Citations (58) References (11)

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the recapture of the nutrient solution not used by the plants to the reservoirs at the end of watering for subsequent
reuse. ...

... In addition, the system proposed reduces cost due to lower volumes of water and fertilizers consumed and less
labor needed. In spite of the higher initial costs for the implementation of the hydroponic system, over the long
term the return is higher due to the greater automation and more efficient use of inputs and space in time, as has
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areas, such as vertical farming, farms for cultivation of clean, healthy and fresh vegetables, but also in urban
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per capita land availability. In 1960 with 3 billion population
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