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Kuru Kuru Cooperative

Collage
Subject: Agricultural
Science
Teacher: Sven Anthony
Class: 4th Form
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 Week 9
Lesson Topics
• Explanation of Hydroponics

• Nutrient film technique (NFT)

• Trough Culture

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 Hydroponics
• Hydroponics (from the Greek words hydros [water] and ponos [labour]) is the
practice of growing plants in a nutrient solution without soil. This is another
form of non-conventional farming. Instead of soil, the plants may be rooted in
peat, sand or rock wool. Soil is not essential for the growth of terrestrial plants
(plants that grow on land), as roots can absorb all the mineral ions needed for
growth from a nutrient solution.

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 The Nutrient Film Technique (NFT)

• In the 1960s, the nutrient film technique (NFT) was developed. A circulating
system supplies plant roots with oxygen and nutrients. This technique is
widely used for growing tomatoes, cucumbers and salad vegetables in
glasshouses. Farming The plants are grown in troughs, with roots embedded
in rock wool or some other inert material. They are supplied with a nutrient
solution containing the balance of minerals essential for healthy growth. The
solution is pumped into the troughs, circulates around the roots, collects in a
tank and is then re-circulated.

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The Nutrient Film Technique (NFT)

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 The Nutrient Film Technique (NFT)
The advantages of the nutrient film technique are:
• high yields as plants get all the nutrients, they require hydroponics.

• soil-borne diseases are eliminated

• produce is clean and not covered in soil

• •harvesting the produce is easier and more efficient.

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 Grow Boxes
• A grow box is an enclosed box used to grow plants in a self-contained
environment. The box has a hydroponics system, a built-in light and a means
of ventilation. Some have air-conditioning to maintain the correct temperature
and to enrich the atmosphere with carbon dioxide to boost growth (carbon
dioxide makes plants grow faster). Grow boxes are used by people who have
no garden and for growing plants out of season

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Grow Boxes

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 Trough Culture
•Trough culture involves growing crops in shallow troughs, 15-20 cm deep and
60-70 cm wide. Troughs can be filled with an inert, soil-less medium, such as
rockwool, and are connected to a drip system which supplies water and nutrients
in solution. Once the troughs have been set up, they are easy and inexpensive to
maintain. They can be used for vegetables and flowers; the gardener can put them
in greenhouses or anywhere convenient.

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 Urban and peri-urban farming

• Urban and peri-urban farming is the cultivation of small areas of land, usually
less than 2 hectares, in or near cities, towns and villages. The small farms, or
market gardens as they are sometimes called, produce fresh vegetables, fruit and
meat for urban consumers. These benefit the community by increasing the
quantity and quality of the food available. They contribute to food safety and
food security.

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 Urban and peri-urban farming
The benefits of urban farms include:
• a reduction in transport costs as food is grown locally

• fewer pesticides, which make food production more sustainable

• no food preservatives as food does not have to travel long distances

• employment for local people.

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 Lesson Summary
• Hydroponics is the practice of growing plants in a nutrient solution without
soil.

• The nutrient film technique (NFT) is circulating system supplies plant roots
with oxygen and nutrients.

• A grow box is an enclosed box used to grow plants in a self-contained

environment. The box has a hydroponics system, a built-in light and a means of
ventilation.

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 Lesson Summary
• Trough culture involves growing crops in shallow troughs, 15-20 cm deep
and60-70 cm wide.

• Urban and peri-urban farming is the cultivation of small areas of land, usually
less than 2 hectares, in or near cities, towns and villages.

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 End Of Lesson
Thank You for Your Attention

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 References
• Ramharacksingh, R. (2011). Agricultural science for csec
examinations: Agri science. Oxford: Macmillan Education.
• Elliott, I., & Wolsey, O. (1996). Agricultural science. Harlow,
England: Longman.

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