Hydroponics
Hydroponics
As the world’s population grows exponentially, modern agricultural practices must focus on sustainability, to produce food while making efforts to maintain the environment. In order to produce more food for the growing population, producers have increased their use of viable agricultural lands resulting in 11% of earth being tilled for agriculture. While this number seems to be relatively low, it must be addressed that this 11% usage takes up almost all of the world’s land than can be used for crop production, due to various factors such as human development making the land unusable for growing crops (Owen, 2005). In order to combat this ever-increasing issue, alternative-farming methods must be introduced internationally.
One alternative method to traditional field-growth of crops has been shown to be very effective for centuries; this method is now called hydroponic production (Jones, 1997). Ancient Babylonian hanging gardens and Aztecan floating gardens are two examples of hydroponics from agricultural history that show the advantages of using hydroponics in an agricultural system (Jones, 1997). Hydroponic production of crops is characterized by the propagation of crops in solutions of water and nutrients; these can be used with or without the addition of a growth media to provide mechanical support to the plant’s root system (Jensen, 2007). Growing plants hydroponically provides a wide array of ecological benefits, ranging from the ability to grow plants without the need for viable cropland, to high sustainability due to extremely low emissions. The basic advantages of growing plants in a hydroponic system are explained in Jones’ book, Hydroponics: A Practical Guide for the Soilless Grower (1997). Jones explains the three main advantages as: “crops can be grown where no suitable soil exists or where the soil is contaminated with disease,” “labor for tilling, cultivating, fumigating, watering, and other traditional practices is largely
As the world’s population grows exponentially, modern agricultural practices must focus on sustainability, to produce food while making efforts to maintain the environment. In order to produce more food for the growing population, producers have increased their use of viable agricultural lands resulting in 11% of earth being tilled for agriculture. While this number seems to be relatively low, it must be addressed that this 11% usage takes up almost all of the world’s land than can be used for crop production, due to various factors such as human development making the land unusable for growing crops (Owen, 2005). In order to combat this ever-increasing issue, alternative-farming methods must be introduced internationally.
One alternative method to traditional field-growth of crops has been shown to be very effective for centuries; this method is now called hydroponic production (Jones, 1997). Ancient Babylonian hanging gardens and Aztecan floating gardens are two examples of hydroponics from agricultural history that show the advantages of using hydroponics in an agricultural system (Jones, 1997). Hydroponic production of crops is characterized by the propagation of crops in solutions of water and nutrients; these can be used with or without the addition of a growth media to provide mechanical support to the plant’s root system (Jensen, 2007). Growing plants hydroponically provides a wide array of ecological benefits, ranging from the ability to grow plants without the need for viable cropland, to high sustainability due to extremely low emissions. The basic advantages of growing plants in a hydroponic system are explained in Jones’ book, Hydroponics: A Practical Guide for the Soilless Grower (1997). Jones explains the three main advantages as: “crops can be grown where no suitable soil exists or where the soil is contaminated with disease,” “labor for tilling, cultivating, fumigating, watering, and other traditional practices is largely
Cited: Jones, J. Benton. Hydroponics: A Practical Guide for the Soilless Grower. 1. Boca Raton, Florida: CRC Press, 1997. 1-11. eBook. Owen, James. " Farming Claims Almost Half Earth 's Land, New Maps Show." National Geographic. 28 10 2010: n. page. Web. 4 Apr. 2013. Jensen, Merle H. "Controlled Environment Agriculture Center." Arizona State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Arizona State University, 21 2 2007. Web. 4 Apr 2013. Shrestha, Arjina, and Bruce Dunn. "Hydroponics."Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service. HLA-6442 n. page. Web. 4 Apr. 2013. Leonhardt, Kenneth W., and Wade W McCall. "Hydroponics." Hawaii Cooperative Extension Service. General Home and Garden Series.35 (1982): 1-4. Web. 4 Apr. 2013. Koerner, Claudia. "Vertical farm: Farmer takes crops to new heights." Orange County Register [Laguna Beach] 5 9 2012, n. page. Web. 4 Apr. 2013. Johnson, Larry. "Types of Hydroponic Systems." ExGro Garden. N.p., 25 9 2010. Web. 4 Apr 2013. Foderaro, Lisa. "To Find Fields to Farm in New York City, Just Look Up." New York Times 11 7 2012, N.Y./Region n. page. Web. 4 Apr. 2013.