Hydroponics

tank farming As the populaces population grows exponenti anyy, modern rustic practices must focus on sustain capability, to mother fare while making efforts to maintain the environment. In launch to produce more food for the exploitation population, producers pay off increased their hire of viable inelegant lands resulting in 11% of earth creation work on for agriculture. While this number seems to be relatively low-down, it must be turn to that this 11% usage takes up al roughly all of the demesnes land than put up be designd for crop turnout, due to conglomerate concomitantors such as human development making the land unuseable for growing crops (Owen, 2005).In order to combat this ever-increasing issue, choice-farming regularitys must be introduced internationally. One alternative method to tralatitious field- ontogenesis of crops has been shown to be very(prenominal) effective for centuries this method is straightway called aquicultural ware (Jones, 1997 ). Ancient Babylonian hanging gardens and Aztecan floating gardens be two examples of store farming from agricultural history that show the advantages of apply aquaculturals in an agricultural administration (Jones, 1997).Hydroponic production of crops is characterized by the propagation of crops in solutions of pee and nutrients these can be used with or without the addition of a harvest-home media to supply mechanical support to the plants cornerstone carcass (Jensen, 2007). Growing plants hydroponically provides a wide array of ecological returns, 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 argon explained in Jones book, Hydroponics A Practical Guide for the Soilless Grower (1997).Jones explains the ternary main advantages as crops can be grown where no suited poop exists or where the soil is contaminated with disea se, labor for tilling, cultivating, fumigating, piddleing, and other traditional practices is largely eliminated, this advantage provides incentives for the use of a hydroponic system, but does non directly demand environmental sustainability, and maximum yields argon possible, making the system economically feasible in high-density and expensive land aras (Jones, 1997). These three components are key to what makes hydroponic production of crops a viable choice for ecologically sustainable agriculture.The first sum total advantage of hydroponic production describe by Jones is that when hydroponics are paired with greenhouses or other growing environments, production can take place where no suitable soil is present this addresses a main issue for the future of the food system and agriculture (Jones, 1997). Because close of the possible agricultural land in the world is already universe used for production, (in some(prenominal) cases it is being overused,) efforts must be mad e to use alternative growing methods without expanding cropland.In most current hydroponic systems, plants are propagated in greenhouses that provide maximum efficiency in growth, also providing high accessibility for farmers and control over the growing environment (Leonhardt and McCall, 1982). indoors the greenhouses many different systems of production can be holdd, these systems range from the irrigate culture system, which is the most greens and simple, to aeroponic systems, which gestate the highest technology (Shrestha, Dunn).The water culture system employs the basic function of the hydroponic system of production, using a floating platform that holds plants above the surface of the water. The root are submerged within the water-solution that has an oxygen pump at the bottom of the tank the tank supplies the roots with oxygen and other nutrients, this is categorized as an dynamic production technique (Shrestha, Dunn). This method can be used at fairly large scales wi thin a greenhouse and helps farmers to thoroughly answer nutrient availability for their plants, something that conventional farmers cannot control as dynamically.Hydroponic production is split into two main essence systems, closed (or recirculating), and open (or run-to-waste), and these two categories are further subdivided by passive and active systems (Johnson, 2010). Closed systems are the most ecologically efficient option for growing hydroponic plants, this is due to the fact that within this cause of system, nutrients and water are recirculated and recycled. This means that farmers can utilise water, and add nutrients to the water as needed as plants deplete the concentrations (Shrestha, Dunn).Plants in a closed system are often grown in gravel or rockwool cultures, which is considered the most widely used growth ordinary for hydroponic production (Shrestha, Dunn). Rockwool cultures are describe as ground-up basalt rocks that is heated and spun into weave and used to form a wool-like material, these form small cubes that optimize growth for plants by retaining water and allowing for air space for root development (Shrestha, Dunn).By utilizing cycle of water and nutrients, the closed production system offers the greatest choice for sustainability and is the method of choice for many sustainably driven hydroponic farms. Open systems of hydroponic productions claim disposal using of a run-to-waste system of used nutrients and water (Johnson, 2010). The water-nutrient solutions are used by the plants in passive or active methods, and when they bring on used to their maximum capacity the water, along with the used nutrients are move to a waste facility (Shrestha, Dunn).The open systems tend to utilize sense as a growth media, as well as the common rockwool culture (Shrestha, Dunn) Active, as a subcategory of open and closed production methods is described as the use of a wick and a growing media with very high capillary action, this provides the roots with the ability to take in the highest levels of water and nutrients. Active systems pass nutrient solutions directly over the plant roots to allow them to intake the nutrients, water and oxygen (Shrestha, Dunn).Each of these hydroponic production systems have their advantages and disadvantages, although closed systems are the most ecologically-friendly, any of the hydroponic systems result provide environmental and sustainable benefits. Other growing environments have recently been introduced for producing crops hydroponically with still further ecological benefits. Structures such as upended farms, are being familiarized in the production of vegetables. These vertical farms do not require a lot of space and can utilize closed aggregate production systems.A vertical farm is a system of production that uses vertical tiers of growing pots or entire crop beds, because of their vertical alignment, nutrient solutions can be applied once to the highest level of plants and can, with the help of gravity, be passively applied to the plants growing below (Koerner, 2012). This cutting edge technology in the field of hydroponic production appears to be the direction many producers will take to transition hydroponic systems to a larger scale. An grand use of vertical farming integrated with hydroponic crop production would be to create large, industrial-sized acilities that have many vertical tiers of growing beds for crops. These facilities could be put within urban areas to provide novel food to food deserts, and utilize space that would otherwise not be used. An important environmental benefit of these hydroponic systems is that that high yield production can be obtained with minimal emissions and other factors of agricultural production. Because vertical farming is in its beginning stages, at that place is no conclusive evidence as to how the technology can be translated for use in large-scale agriculture, but there are many highly environmentally consc ious paths that can be taken.Food shortages exist all over the world and these shortages are usually due to the inability to produce food, due to the climate, where the shortages exist. For example, many African countries have food shortages and cannot supply their citizens with sufficient levels of food availability. The environment in Africa is not conducive for growing crops for the food system high temperatures and arid climates do not allow the growth of most major food crops. Incorporating hydroponic systems in these slips of environments could allow for production of food, where it would be unfeasible otherwise.Hydroponic production allows farmers to manipulate growing conditions and maintain ideal conditions for the growth of crops resulting in the highest possible yields (Jones, 1997). These yields can be achieved in greenhouses, in arid climates, where many important crops for food staples cannot be grown. The third core advantage described by Jones is that maximum yield s can be achieved in high density and high priced land areas (Jones, 1997). This advantage is key for producing impertinent food within urban environments, while maintaining high yields.Efforts are being made in urban environments to produce freshly vegetables where all fresh produce is imported for consumption. The most prevalent example of this type of agricultural system is taking place in unfermented York City in alternative farming methods called rooftop farms. In various New York boroughs, with Brooklyn being the most common, residents are beginning production of fruits and vegetables on top of their homes and a developments (Foderaro, 2012). These rooftop farms often utilize hydroponic production to maximize yields in these alternative-growing environments.New York is considered to be the leader of the effect for commercial agriculture produced in an urban environment and movements such as this one can help the worlds hunger task (Foderaro, 2012). Because most of the wo rlds expanding population lives in urban environments, this type of agriculture could be a highly viable solution for agricultural production in the future, utilizing available space that would otherwise not be used, especially not for agriculture. In 2012 under mayor Bloombergs administration, rooftop farms gained popularity and were greatly backed by various zoning modifications (Foderaro, 2012).These rooftop farms have shown great environmental benefits in a New York Times article, author Foderaro describes the benefits for growing fresh produce on the citys rooftops. These benefits include recycling rainwater that would otherwise be diverted to the sewers, and greatly decreasing the amount of trucks rescue produce into the city, ultimately decreasing emissions of greenhouse gases and the consumption of fossil fuels (Foderaro, 2012). This type of system has promise as being a key part of the sustainable agriculture movement that must be put into affect to increase production fo r the food system.The ecological benefits that are posed by the commercialization and betrothal of hydroponic production practices have been shown for many years, in many different situations. In order to maximize productivity and yield, hydroponic technologies need to become a mainstream method of commercial farming, if general adoption of these techniques becomes more common, more research efforts will be put towards optimizing production methods. Through these studies, hydroponic production of crops can become a in truth viable and ecologically sustainable source of food for the food system.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 Earths Land, New Maps Show. National Geographic. 28 10 2010 n. page. Web. 4 Apr. 2013. Jensen, Merle H. Controlled Environment floriculture Center. Arizona State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Arizo na State University, 21 2 2007. Web. 4 Apr 2013. Shrestha, Arjina, and Bruce Dunn. Hydroponics. Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service. HLA-6442 n. page. Web. 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 tapeLaguna 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 heart Up. New York Times11 7 2012, N. Y. /Region n. page. Web. 4 Apr. 2013.