UNIT III - SOIL LESS CULTIVATION FOR UA.pptx

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1. UNIT III - SOIL LESS CULTIVATION Hydroponics, aeroponics , aquaponics : merits and limitations, costs and Challenges, backyard gardens- tactical gardens- street landscaping- forest gardening, greenhouses, urban beekeeping 1 Mr. R.SHANMUGASUNDARAM, Asst. Prof. / Civil Engg

2. SOILLESS CULTIVATION Soilless cultivation is a method of growing plants without soil. Instead, plants are grown in a nutrient-rich solution, which can be delivered directly to the roots. Soil less cultivation is of 3 types Hydroponics, Aquaponics and Aeroponics Hydroponics  implies growing plants in a nutrient-rich water-based solution Aquaponics  features plant and fish growth in the same water using a filter system, where fish produce fertilizers for the crops Aeroponics is growing plants in a moist environment without being planted in soil or water Mr. R.SHANMUGASUNDARAM, Asst. Prof. / Civil Engg 2

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5. 1. Hydroponics The most commonly used vertical grow system is hydroponics. With this technique, the roots of the plants are not planted in soil but in a water solution rich in the essential nutrients only. The composition of the nutrient solution is regularly adjusted so that the plant continuously grows under the most optimal composition of nutrition.  the plant’s roots are given the essential nutrients in either a passive system or an active system. Active systems utilise pumps to aerate and circulate nutrient solutions, providing the plant’s root zone with the nutrients for uptake . Passive systems don’t have any pumps or other moving parts. The root zone is fed with the nutrient solutions through flooding, capillary action, or gravity. Mr. R.SHANMUGASUNDARAM, Asst. Prof. / Civil Engg 5

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7. Terrestrial or aquatic plants may grow freely with their roots exposed to the nutritious liquid or the roots may be mechanically supported by an inert medium such as  perlite , gravel, or other substrates . Despite inert media, roots can cause changes of the  rhizosphere  pH and root exudates can affect rhizosphere biology and physiological balance of the nutrient solution when secondary metabolites are produced in plants .   Transgenic plants grown hydroponically allow the release of pharmaceutical proteins as part of the root exudate into the hydroponic medium . The nutrients used in hydroponic systems can come from many different organic or inorganic sources, including fish excrement, duck manure, purchased chemical fertilizers, or artificial standard or hybrid nutrient solutions . 7 Mr. R.SHANMUGASUNDARAM, Asst. Prof. / Civil Engg

8. Advantages  Water efficiency: Hydroponics uses less water than traditional agriculture, and can recirculate water to reduce evaporation and over-watering.  Faster and enhanced growth : Plants can grow up to 20% faster and yield 25% more than traditional methods.  Space efficiency: Plants can be grown vertically, in layers, or in small containers, allowing for more plants to be grown in a smaller space.  Fewer pests and fewer diseases:  Hydroponic systems can protect plants from pests, leading to healthier plants and less damage.  Nutrient solutions can be perfectly matched to the plant Higher costs for nutrients 8 Mr. R.SHANMUGASUNDARAM, Asst. Prof. / Civil Engg

9. Limitations  Cost: Hydroponics can be expensive to set up, requiring significant capital, experience, and upkeep.  Power outages: Plants should not be left without water for more than a couple of hours, so a power outage can result in economic and time loss.  Technical expertise: Hydroponics requires technical expertise and relies on artificial lighting and climate control.  Regular monitoring and upkeep are required. Waterborne diseases are much more common in hydroponically grown plants  . In extreme cases, poor sanitation can brutally murder all the seedlings in a hydroponics system within hours. 9 Mr. R.SHANMUGASUNDARAM, Asst. Prof. / Civil Engg

10. 2. Aeroponics Aeroponics , a variant of hydroponics. With this method, plants grow in air or mist, which is sprayed on their roots several times an hour. In other words, the plants are grown without soil and with very little water usage.  Characteristics of aeroponics : Plants' roots are better aerated, allowing them to grow faster It is the most efficient vertical farming system as it consumes up to 90% less water than the most efficient hydroponic vertical farming systems. Requires precision sensor technology and a strict dosing regime to optimize results. Sensitive to power cuts. Prolonged outages can kill the plants because the right amount of water needs to be constantly sprayed on them, and they have no water buffer. Mr. R.SHANMUGASUNDARAM, Asst. Prof. / Civil Engg 10

11. Aeroponics is a system wherein roots are continuously or discontinuously kept in an environment saturated with fine drops (a mist or aerosol) of nutrient solution. The method requires no substrate and entails growing plants with their roots suspended in a deep air or growth chamber with the roots periodically wetted with a fine mist of atomized nutrients . Excellent aeration is the main advantage of aeroponics . Aeroponic techniques have proven to be commercially successful for propagation, seed germination, seed potato production, tomato production, leaf crops, and micro-greens 11 Mr. R.SHANMUGASUNDARAM, Asst. Prof. / Civil Engg

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13. Fogponics Fogponics is a derivation of aeroponics wherein the nutrient solution is aerosolized by a diaphragm vibrating at ultrasonic frequencies. Solution droplets produced by this method tend to be 5–10  μm in diameter, smaller than those produced by forcing a nutrient solution through pressurized nozzles, as in aeroponics . The smaller size of the droplets allows them to diffuse through the air more easily, and deliver nutrients to the roots without limiting their access to oxygen 13 Mr. R.SHANMUGASUNDARAM, Asst. Prof. / Civil Engg

14. Advantages  Water efficiency:  Aeroponic systems use 95% less water than traditional soil gardening.  Precise nutrient control: The fine misting ensures plants receive the nutrients they need without excess waste.  Reduced pesticide use: Aeroponics eliminates soil and conventional fertilizer, which can lead to fewer food safety risks.  Increased crop yield: Plants grown in a nutrient-rich mist can grow faster and produce more vegetables than traditional soil-based farming methods.  Productive and sustainable: compared to soil-based farming, this sustainable method of food production uses 80-90% less water. Air exposure promotes healthy and rapid plant growth: as aeroponics is used to grow plants in the air with tiny drops of water, it is ideally suited to promote rapid plant growth. It can be cultivated without land & photosynthesis is promoted via aeroponics . 14 Mr. R.SHANMUGASUNDARAM, Asst. Prof. / Civil Engg

15. Disadvantages  Technical complexity:  Aeroponic systems require high water pressure for the nozzles or nebulizers used, which can be technically complex.  High initial construction costs: Aeroponics systems can be expensive to build.  High maintenance:  Aeroponic systems require high maintenance.  Precise control required:  Aeroponic systems require precise control of nutrients and water, and can be damaged or killed if the system fails.  15 Mr. R.SHANMUGASUNDARAM, Asst. Prof. / Civil Engg

16. 3. Aquaponics Aquaponics is a combination of aquaculture and hydroponics. In aquaculture, organisms are grown in water, while in hydroponics, plants are grown without soil. Aquaponics combines these techniques by cultivating fish and feeding the plants with the water the fish swim in. The waste from the fish is converted into food for the plants.  Characteristics of aquaponics: Longer start-up period as the microbial population needs to grow and stabilize Requires a broad knowledge base in aquaculture, hydroponics, and in microbes and nutrient levels It is a water-efficient production method Mr. R.SHANMUGASUNDARAM, Asst. Prof. / Civil Engg 16

17. Aquaponics  is a food production system that couples aquaculture (raising aquatic animals such as fish, crayfish, snails or prawns in tanks) with hydroponics (cultivating plants in water) whereby the nutrient-rich aquaculture water is fed to hydroponically grown plants . Plants are grown in hydroponics systems, using the nutrient-rich effluent water from the aquaculture tank to provide the plants with nutrients. This enables them to filter out the ammonia that is toxic to the aquatic animals, or its metabolites. After the water has passed through the hydroponic subsystem, it is cleaned and oxygenated, and can return to the aquaculture vessels. 17 Mr. R.SHANMUGASUNDARAM, Asst. Prof. / Civil Engg

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19. Benefits: Water conservation: Aquaponics systems can use up to 90% less water than traditional agriculture because the plants don't need to be watered and the system is closed-loop.  Reduced environmental impact: Aquaponics systems don't require soil, so there's no need for herbicides or pesticides, which can damage soil and water quality.  Organic fertilization: Fish waste is dissolved into the water to organically fertilize the plants.  Year-round production: Aquaponics systems can produce food year-round in controlled environments.  Reduced energy consumption: Aquaponics systems can reduce energy consumption by up to 70% compared to traditional gardens.  Reduced need for imported food: Aquaponics systems can produce a wider variety of food, reducing the need to import food 19 Mr. R.SHANMUGASUNDARAM, Asst. Prof. / Civil Engg

20. Limitations: Scalability: As aquaponics systems grow, they can face limitations in terms of fish stocking densities and nutrient balance.  Technological challenges: Developing advanced technology to optimize system efficiency and productivity is a challenge.  Ecosystem balance: Balancing the aquatic ecosystem is difficult, as both the fish and plants need to thrive.  20 Mr. R.SHANMUGASUNDARAM, Asst. Prof. / Civil Engg

21. COSTS AND CHALLENGES IN SOIL LESS CULTIVATION Initial setup costs: The infrastructure for soilless farming can be expensive, especially for high-quality equipment like pumps, grow lights, and nutrient reservoirs.  Maintenance costs: Soilless farming requires electricity to power the equipment, and the cost of electricity can be high.  Nutrient costs: Nutrient solutions can be costly, and they need to be optimized for each crop.  Expert knowledge: Soilless farming requires skilled labor to maintain the growing conditions . Disease management: Diseases can spread quickly in a confined space where plants share water and nutrients.  21 Mr. R.SHANMUGASUNDARAM, Asst. Prof. / Civil Engg

22. Optimization for each crop: Each crop needs to be optimized because it's uncertain how they will react to the absence of soil.  Energy requirements: Soilless farming systems require a lot of energy, which can be a problem if a large portion of the world's energy comes from fossil fuels.  Technological difficulties: Soilless farming can be technologically difficult. 22 Mr. R.SHANMUGASUNDARAM, Asst. Prof. / Civil Engg