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A REVIEW ON PLANT WITHOUT SOIL - HYDROPONICS

Article in International Journal of Research in Engineering and Technology · March 2013

DOI: 10.15623/ijret.2013.0203013

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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 This system helps to face the challenges of climate change and
also helps in production system management for efficient
Soil is usually the most available growing medium for plants. utilization of natural resources and mitigating malnutrition[3].
It provides anchorage, nutrients, air, water, etc. for successful Aeroponics‗ is another technique, more or less similar to
plant growth[1]. However, soils do pose serious limitations for hydroponics with only difference that under aeroponics plants
plant growth too, at times. Presence of disease causing are grown with fine drops (a mist or aerosol) of nutrient
organisms and nematodes, unsuitable soil reaction, solution[1]. In India, Hydroponics was introduced in year 1946
unfavorable soil compaction, poor drainage, degradation due by an English scientist, W. J. Shalto Duglas and he established
to erosion etc. are some of them.[2] In addition, conventional a laboratory in Kalimpong area, West Bengal. He has also
crop growing in soil (Open Field Agriculture) is somewhat written a book on Hydroponics, named as Hydroponics The
difficult as it involves large space, lot of labour and large Bengal System‗. Later on during 1960s and 70s, commercial
volume of water[2]. Moreover, some places like metropolitan hydroponics farms were developed in Abu Dhabi, Arizona,
areas, soil is not available for crop growing at all, or in some Belgium, California, Denmark, German, Holland, Iran, Italy,
areas, we find scarcity of fertile cultivable arable lands due to Japan, Russian Federation and other countries. During 1980s,
their unfavorable geographical or topographical conditions [2]. many automated and computerized hydroponics farms were
Of late, another serious problem experienced since is the established around the world. Home hydroponics kits became
difficulty to hire labour for conventional open field agriculture popular during 1990s.
[3]
. Under such circumstances, soil-less culture can be
introduced successfully [3].
2. DIFFERENT AVAILABLE TECHNIQUES FOR
Soil-less culture mainly refers to the techniques of SOIL-LESS CULTURE
Hydroponics‗ and Aeroponics‗. The term Hydroponics‗ was
derived from the Greek words hydro’ means water and ponos’ Large numbers of hydroponic/soil-less culture techniques are
means labour[2]. It is a method of growing plants using mineral available. However, following factors are considered in
nutrient solutions, without soil[2]. Terrestrial plants may be selecting a technique:
grown with their roots in the mineral nutrient solution only or
in an inert medium, such as perlite, gravel, or mineral wool. 1. Space and other available resources
Hydroponics is the technique of growing plants in soil-less 2. Expected productivity
condition with their roots immersed in nutrient solution.[4] 3. Availability of suitable growing medium

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

from pesticides, etc.

We can classify the techniques as follows:

2.1 Techniques of hydroponics

It is also known as Liquid Hydroponics‗ method. Plants grown
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)

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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
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Name of crop Hydroponic Agricultural nutrition need to be considered: the supply of nutrients from
equivalent per acre average per acre the nutrient delivery system and the plant nutrient response.
Wheat 5,000 lb. 600 lb. For most common crop plants critical levels for most nutrients
Oats 3,000 lb. 850 lb. have been determined. Sources of nutrient elements with their
Rice 12,000 lb. 750-900 lb. characteristics are given in table 4.
Maize 8,000 lb. 1,500 lb.
Soybean 1,500 lb. 600 lb. Sources of nutrient elements
Potato 70 tons 8 tons lb.
Beet root 20,000 lb. 9,000 lb. Source Element Characteristics
Cabbage 18,000 lb. 13,000 lb. Potassium nitrate N, K Very soluble salt
Peas 14,000 lb. 2,000 lb. KNO3
Tomato 180 tonnes 5-10 tonnes Potassium phosphate P, K Corrects
Cauliflower 30,000 lb. 10-15,000 lb. monobasic KH2PO4 phosphorus
French bean 42,000 lb. of pods for - deficiency
eating Magnesium sulfate S, Mg Cheap, highly
Lettuce 21,000 lb. 9,000 lb. MgSO4 soluble, pure salt
Lady‗s finger 19,000 lb. 5-8,000 lb. Iron chelate Fe Cit Best sources of
iron
Cucumber 28,000 lb. 7,000 lb.
Boric acid H3BO3 B Best source of
boron
Table -2: Hydroponic averages compared with ordinary soil
yields[5] Calcium nitrate N, Ca Very soluble salt
Ca(NO3)2
Vegetables Production (g/m2/day)
Table -4: Sources of nutrient elements with their
Carrot 56.5
characteristics[5]
Cucumber 226
Garlic 57
The frequency and volume of the nutrient solution applied
Ginger 57 depends on the type of substrate used (volume and physical-
Leek 57 chemical characteristics), the crop (species and stage of
Green Bean 113 development), the size of the container, the crop and irrigation
Lettuce 226 systems used and the prevailing climatic conditions. Plants
Onion 56.5 should be fed daily[5]. The best time to administer the nutrient
Peapod 113 solution is between 6.00 and 8.00 am, though water
Potato 56.5 requirements will vary considerably throughout the day, and
Salad greens 226 from one day to another. The solution should be applied to the
Tomato 113 roots, trying to avoid wetting the leaves to prevent damage and
Greens 113 the appearance of diseases. Under no circumstances should
plants be allowed to suffer from water stress, as this will affect
Table- 3: Vegetable production under soil-less culture in their final yield[6]. It is generally recommended that you
India[5] apply only water to the plants once a week, in order to flush
away any excess salts that have remained. Use double the
Application of pesticides is generally avoided under amount of water normally applied, but without adding
hydroponics system. With reduced pest problems and constant nutrients. Between 20 and 50% of the solution should be
feeding of nutrients to the roots, productivity in hydroponics is drained-off to prevent the accumulation of toxic ions and an
high, despite limited plant growth by the low levels of carbon- excessive increase of electrical conductivity in the root
di-oxide in the atmosphere, or limited light[5]. To increase area[5]. The excess nutrient solution that is drained away from
yield further, some sealed greenhouses inject carbon-di-oxide containers during daily watering can be reused in the next
into their environment to help growth (CO2 enrichment), or watering. At the end of the week, this liquid can be discarded.
add lights to lengthen the day, control vegetative growth etc. Flow chart of supply of nutrients to the plants under soil-less
culture has been depicted below:
3. SUPPLY OF NUTRIENTS TO THE PLANTS
In hydroponics, because of limited nutrient-buffering capacity
of the system and the ability to make rapid changes, careful
monitoring of the system in necessary[5]. Two aspects of

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22oC . In aeroponic system with heated nutrient solution, the

roots of ginger plants matured faster and produced slightly
higher fresh rhizome yields than plants in the same medium
without bottom heat[5].

6. ADVANTAGES OF SOIL-LESS CULTURE

There are many advantages of growing plants under soil-less
culture over soil-based culture[8]. These gardens produce the
healthiest crops with high yields and are consistently reliable;
gardening is clean and extremely easy, requiring very little
effort[9]. Here nutrients are fed directly to the roots, as a result
plants grow faster with smaller roots, plants may be grown
closer, and only 1/5th of overall space and 1/20th of total
water is needed to grow plants under soil-less culture in
comparison to soil-based culture[9]. There is no chance of
soil-borne insect pest, disease attack or weed infestation too.
Overall soil-less culture provides efficient nutrient regulation,
higher density planting, and leading to increased yield per acre
along with better quality of the produce. It is also effective for
the regions of the World having scarcity of arable or fertile
land for agriculture[10].

7. LIMITATIONS OF SOIL-LESS CULTURE

Despite of many advantages, soil–less culture has some
Fig- 4: Flow chart of supply of nutrients to the plants limitations[10]. Application on commercial scale requires
(http://cpamoneyshop.com/make-money-online- technical knowledge and high initial investment, though
2/hydroponics) returns are high[10]. Considering the high cost, the soil-less
culture is limited to high value crops. Great care is required
4. DESIRABLE pH RANGE OF NUTRIENT with respect to plant health control. Finally energy inputs are
necessary to run the system[11].
SOLUTIONS
In hydroponic systems, pH is constantly changing as the plant 8. FUTURE SCOPE OF THIS TECHNOLOGY
grows. Changes in pH of less than 0.1 unit are not
significant[6]. Thus pH control is a necessity in hydroponic Hydroponics is the fastest growing sector of agriculture, and it
solutions. The pH range of 5.5 to 6.5 is optimal for the could very well dominate food production in the future[3]. As
population increases and arable land declines due to poor land
availability of nutrients from most nutrient solutions for most
management, people will turn to new technologies like
species, but species differ significantly and several can grow
hydroponics and aeroponics to create additional channels of
well outside of this range[6].
crop production[4]. To get a glimpse of the future of
hydroponics, we need only to examine some of the early
5. CONTROL OF CONTAMINANTS adopters of this science[5]. In Tokyo, land is extremely
Maintenance of sterile root-zone environment is essential to valuable due to the surging population. To feed the citizens
have good plant vigour under soil-less culture. It is extremely while preserving valuable land mass, the country has turned to
difficult to achieve and critical to minimize population of plant hydroponic rice production[6]. The rice is harvested in
pathogens in the root zone[7]. Commonly encountered disease underground vaults without the use of soil. Because the
in hydroponic solution is wilt, caused by Fusarium and environment is perfectly controlled, four cycles of harvest can
Verticillum. Species of Pythium and Phytophthora destroys all be performed annually, instead of the traditional single
but the main roots. No effective fungicides are there which can harvest[12].
be safely used in hydroponics[8]. Only Metalaxyl has been
found highly effective for control of Pythium on vegetable Hydroponics also has been used successfully in Israel which
crops, but it is not registered for the use. Heat treatment of has a dry and arid climate[11]. A company called Organitech
nutrient solution has also been found effective in keeping the has been growing crops in 40-foot (12.19-meter) long shipping
root-zone free of pathogens[7]. Root death of tomatoes by containers, using hydroponic systems. They grow large
Pythium was overcome by heating nutrient solutions at 20- quantities of berries, citrus fruits and bananas, all of which
couldn't normally be grown in Israel's climate[11]. The
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Volume: 2 Issue: 3 299 - 304

hydroponics techniques produce a yield 1,000 times greater Information Office, College of Agriculture, University of
than the same sized area of land could produce annually[12]. Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801.( 2006.)
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robots using an assembly line-type system, such as those used Hydroponics. Yojana (June). 55 : 39-40.( 2011)
in manufacturing plants. The shipping containers are then [5]. Singh, S. and Singh, B. S.. ―Hydroponics – A technique
transported throughout the country[5]. for cultivation of vegetables and medicinal plants‖. In.
Proceedings of 4th Global conference on ―Horticulture for
There has already been a great deal of buzz throughout the Food, Nutrition and Livelih,ood Options‖ Bhubaneshwar,
scientific community for the potential to use hydroponics in Odisha, India. p.220. (2012)
third world countries, where water supplies are limited[3-6]. [6]. De Kreij C; Voogt W; Baas R (1999). Nutrient solutions
Though the upfront capital costs of setting up hydroponics and water quality for soilless cultures. Research Station for
systems is currently a barrier but in the long-run, as with all Floriculture and Glasshouse Vegetables (PBG), Naaldwijk,
technology, costs will decline, making this option much more The Netherlands, Brochure 196
feasible[5-7]. Hydroponics has the ability to feed millions in [7]. Raviv M; Krasnovsky A; Medina S; Reuveni R (1998).
areas of Africa and Asia, where both water and crops are Assessment of various control strategies for recirculation
scarce. of greenhouse effluents under semi-arid conditions. Journal
of Horticultural Science and Biotechnology, 73(4), 485–491
Hydroponics also will be important to the future of the space [8]. Savvas D (2002). Nutrient solution recycling in
program[12]. NASA has extensive hydroponics research plans hydroponics. In: HydroponicProduc tion of Vegetables and
in place, which will benefit current space exploration, as well Ornamentals (Savvas D; Passam H C, eds), pp 299–343.
as future, long-term colonization of Mars or the Moon[11]. As Embryo Publications, Athens, Greece
we haven't yet found soil that can support life in space, and the [9]. Silberbush M; Ben-Asher J (2001). Simulation study of
logistics of transporting soil via the space shuttles seems nutrient uptake by plants from soilless cultures as affected by
impractical, hydroponics could be key to the future of space salinity buildup and transpiration. Plant and Soil, 233, 59–69
exploration[11]. The benefits of hydroponics in space are two- [10]. Sonneveld C (2000). Effects of salinity on substrate
fold: It offers the potential for a larger variety of food, and it grown vegetables and ornamentals in greenhouse horticulture.
provides a biological aspect, called a bio-regenerative life PhDThesis, University of Wageningen, The Netherlands
support system[12]. This simply means that as the plants [11]. Van Os E A; Gieling Th H; Ruijs M N A (2002).
grow, they will absorb carbon-di-oxide and stale air and Equipment for hydroponicinstallations. In: HydroponicProduc
provide renewed oxygen through the plant's natural growing tion of Vegetables and Ornamentals (Savvas D; Passam H C,
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space stations and other planets[5].
BIOGRAPHIES:
CONCLUSION
Ms. Mamta D. Sardare
The industry is expected to grow exponentially also in future, Assistant Professor,
as conditions of soil growing is becoming difficult. Specially, MIT Academy of Engineering Alandi
in a country like India , where urban concrete conglomerate is Pune, Maharashtra, India,
growing each day , there is no option but adopting soil-less mamtasardare@gmail.com
culture to help improve the yield and quality of the produce so
that we can ensure food security of our country. However,
Government intervention and Research Institute interest can
propel the use of this technology. Ms. Shraddha V. Admane
Technical Assistant,
REFERENCES: MIT Academy of Engineering Alandi
Pune, Maharashtra, India,
[1]. Ellis, N.K., Jensen, M., Larsen, J. and Oebker, N., shraddhaadmane@gmail.com
―Nutriculture Systems—Growing Plants Without Soil‖.
Station Bulletin No. 44. Purdue University, Lafayette,
Indiana.( 1974)
[2]. Beibel, J.P. , ―Hydroponics -The Science of Growing
Crops Without Soil‖. Florida Department of Agric. Bull. p.
180,( 1960.)
[3]. Butler, J.D. and Oebker, N.F. ,―Hydroponics as a
Hobby— Growing Plants Without Soil‖. Circular 844.

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