Hydroponics
Topic: Land Reforms, the Green Revolution and Farm Subsidies · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
Hydroponics means growing plants without soil. The roots sit in water that has the nutrients the plant needs dissolved in it. Sometimes the roots are held up by an inert material such as cocopeat or pebbles. Inert means it gives the plant no nutrients of its own. Farmers usually grow this way in greenhouses or indoors, where light, temperature and nutrients can be controlled. Hydroponics uses much less water than soil farming, because the water is recycled. It also allows farming where soil is poor or land is scarce. The costs of setting up and of power are high, so it is used mostly for high-value crops.
Example
A start-up on a rooftop in Bengaluru grows lettuce, spinach and herbs in plastic channels. Nutrient water flows through the channels, and the produce is sold fresh to city supermarkets. No soil is used at all.
Don't confuse with
- Vertical farming: this is about stacking crops in layers to save space. Many vertical farms use hydroponics, but hydroponics can also be done on a single flat level.