Soilless culture definition and types...

Soilless culture is the use of any method that cultivates and grows plants without using soil as a growing medium. Plants are grown in isolation from soil, as long as the system supports the plant and provides the water and nutrients necessary for growth.

1. Prof. RewaaS. Elshatoury Soilless culture
Soilless culture
Prof. RewaaS. Elshatoury

2. Prof. RewaaS. Elshatoury Soilless culture

3. •Definition of Soilless culture:
•Soillesscultureistheuseofanymethodthatcultivatesand
growsplantswithoutusingsoilasagrowingmedium.Plants
aregrowninisolationfromsoil,aslongasthesystem
supportstheplantandprovidesthewaterandnutrients
necessaryforgrowth.
Prof. RewaaS. Elshatoury Soilless culture

4. The Importance of Using Soilless Agriculture Methods
•1-Highwaterefficiency,aswaterisconsumedsolelythroughroot
absorption,withnootherlossoccurring.Thissavessignificantamounts
ofwaterthatwouldotherwisebelostthroughdrainageorevaporation
fromthesoilsurface.Therefore,thesemethodsareconsideredamongthe
mostefficientmethodsforconservingwater.Thisalignswiththeglobal
trendtowardwaterconservation,asthepopulationofthelandis
constantlyincreasingandwaterresourcesarelimited,necessitating
maximizingwateruseefficiency.
Prof. RewaaS. Elshatoury Soilless culture

5. •2.Highefficiencyinusingfertilizers,asonlywhattheplantneedsis
consumedandthereisnolossorinhibitionofnutrients.
•3.Highproductivityefficiencyofthesesystems,asvertical
intensificationcanbeimplementedinsomeofthesesystems,leading
toincreasedproductivity.Forexample,strawberriesaregrownusing
traditionalmethodsatarateof8-12plantspersquaremeter,while
aeroponicsgrowsatarateof32-40plantspersquaremeter.
Prof. RewaaS. Elshatoury Soilless culture

6. •4. Soilless culture reduces the problem of high groundwater levels due to the
lack of a good drainage network or low ground level, which makes it a source
of water from neighboring lands. The land may also be infested with harmful
annual or perennial weeds that hinder its cultivation, or infested with
nematodes, insect larvae, or fungal spores that cause root diseases, etc.
Prof. RewaaS. Elshatoury Soilless culture

7. •5. There is no need for soil sterilization, thus we protect the natural
environment from pollution on the one hand and save the high
costs of sterilization on the other hand.
•6. The high efficiency of these systems in producing crops during
times of high prices is due to the possibility of controlling the
temperature of the nutrient solution by heating and cooling it,
which is difficult to do using ground farming.
Prof. RewaaS. Elshatoury Soilless culture

8. •7. Producing crops free of heavy metals by controlling the nutrients
added and necessary for the plant.
•8-The potential for utilizing soilless cultivation systems in research,
especially in nutrition experiments.
•9-Its use in propagating plants resulting from tissue culture in tissue
farms has led to a huge breakthrough in the field of propagation.
Prof. RewaaS. Elshatoury Soilless culture

9. Soilless culture types
•Soilless culture, also known ashydroponicsorsoilless farming, refers to
growing plants without using traditional soil. Instead, plants are grown in inert
media or nutrient-rich water solutions. Here are the main types of soilless
culture:
•1. Hydroponics
Prof. RewaaS. Elshatoury Soilless culture

10. Hydroponics
•Plants grow in a nutrient-rich water solution without soil. Subtypes include:
•Deep Water Culture (DWC):Roots are submerged in oxygenated nutrient
solution.
•Nutrient Film Technique (NFT):A thin film of nutrient solution flows over
roots.
•Drip System:The nutrient solution is dripped onto the growing medium.
•Aeroponics:Roots are misted with a nutrient solution in the air.
•Wick System:The nutrient solution is drawn up via a wick (a passive
system).
•Ebb and Flow (Flood & Drain):Periodically floods roots with nutrients, then
drains.
Prof. RewaaS. Elshatoury Soilless culture

11. Deep Water Culture (DWC):
Prof. RewaaS. Elshatoury Soilless culture
DWC: is a hydroponic growing
method where plants are
suspended in a nutrient-rich,
oxygenated water solution,
allowing their roots to absorb
nutrients and oxygen directly. It's
popular for its simplicity,
efficiency, and rapid plant
growth.

12. Nutrient Film Technique (NFT)
Prof. RewaaS. Elshatoury Soilless culture
Nutrient Film Technique
(NFT)is a popular
hydroponic system where a
thin, continuous stream of
nutrient-rich water flows
over plant roots, providing
oxygen, water, and nutrients
efficiently

13. Drip system
Prof. RewaaS. Elshatoury Soilless culture
Adrip system:is an efficient and
precise method of delivering
water and nutrients directly to
plant roots using a network of
tubes, emitters, and a nutrient
solution reservoir. It is widely
used in hydroponics, aquaponics,
and other soilless growing
systems.

14. Prof. RewaaS. Elshatoury Soilless culture

15. Wick system
Prof. RewaaS. Elshatoury Soilless culture
Thewick systemis one of the
simplest and most passive
hydroponic (soilless) growing
methods. It uses capillary action to
deliver nutrient-rich water from a
reservoir to plant roots via
absorbent wicks, eliminating the
need for pumps or electricity.

16. Prof. RewaaS. Elshatoury Soilless culture

17. Ebb and Flow (Flood & Drain
Prof. RewaaS. Elshatoury Soilless culture
TheEbb and Flow (Flood &
Drain) systemis a popular
hydroponic method that
periodicallyfloodsthe plant
roots with nutrient solution and
thendrainsit back into a
reservoir. This cycle ensures
proper aeration and nutrient
uptake, making it efficient for a
wide range of plants.

18. Prof. RewaaS. Elshatoury Soilless culture

19. •2. Substrate (Medium-Based) Culture:
Prof. RewaaS. Elshatoury Soilless culture
Perlite Coconut fiber Vermiculite
Peat moss Balls of expanded clay Rock mineral wool

20. •2. Substrate (Medium-Based) Culture:
Prof. RewaaS. Elshatoury Soilless culture
Rice husks Pumice stone Oasis cubes

21. 3-Aquaponics
Prof. RewaaS. Elshatoury Soilless culture

22. 4. Aeroponics
Prof. RewaaS. Elshatoury Soilless culture
Aeroponicsis an advanced soilless
growing technique where plant
roots are suspended in air and
periodically misted with a nutrient-
rich solution. This method
maximizes oxygen exposure and
nutrient absorption, leading
tofaster growth ratesandhigher
yieldscompared to traditional
hydroponics.

23. 5-Bioponics
Prof. RewaaS. Elshatoury Soilless culture

24. Prof. RewaaS. Elshatoury Soilless culture

25. Advantages of Soilless Culture:
•Faster plant growth
•Efficient water & nutrient use
•No soil-borne diseases
•Can be used in urban/indoor farming
Prof. RewaaS. Elshatoury Soilless culture

26. The difference between hydroponics, aeroponics ,
aquaponics and bioponics.
•1-Hydroponics
•Definition:
•Grows plants in anutrient-rich water solution(no soil).
•Roots are submerged or intermittently flooded.
•Key Features:
•Usesgrowing media(clay pebbles, coco coir, rockwool).
•Systems: Deep Water Culture (DWC), Ebb & Flow, NFT, Drip.
•Moderate oxygenation(depends on the system).
Prof. RewaaS. Elshatoury Soilless culture

27. •2. Aeroponics
•Definition:
•Rootshang in airand are misted withnutrient fog(no medium).
•Useshigh-pressure pumpsfor ultra-fine droplets.
•Key Features:
•Maximizes oxygen exposure(fastest growth).
•NASA-developed (used in space farming).
•No growing medium(just roots + mist).
Prof. RewaaS. Elshatoury Soilless culture

28. •3. Bioponics(Organic Hydroponics)
•Definition:
•Usesorganic nutrients(compost tea, fish emulsion) instead of
synthetic salts.
•May includebeneficial microbes(like soil, but without soil).
•Key Features:
•Living system(bacteria, fungi break down nutrients).
•Slower nutrient releasethan synthetic hydroponics.
•Often paired withaquaponics(fish waste as fertilizer).
Prof. RewaaS. Elshatoury Soilless culture

29. •4. Aquaponics
•Definition:
•Fish + plantsin a symbiotic system
•Fish waste → plant nutrients
•Key Features:
•Biofilterconverts ammonia to nitrates
•pH 6.8-7.2(fish-friendly)
•Stocking density:1 fish/5-10 gallons
Prof. RewaaS. Elshatoury Soilless culture

30. Comparison Table
Feature Hydroponics Aeroponics Bioponics Aquaponics
Root Environment Water + medium Air + mist Water + organics Water + fish
Nutrient Source Synthetic salts Synthetic salts Organic matter Fish waste
pH Range 5.5-6.5 5.5-6.5 6.0-7.0 6.8-7.2
Growth Speed Fast Fastest Slow Medium
Water Use Medium Lowest Medium Low
Prof. RewaaS. Elshatoury Soilless culture

31. Which System Wins?
•Speed:Aeroponics
•Ease:Hydroponics
•Sustainability:Aquaponics
•Organics:Bioponics
Prof. RewaaS. Elshatoury Soilless culture

32. Prof. RewaaS. Elshatoury Soilless culture