AGRICULTURE: HYDROPONICS AT HOME (SIMPLE METHOD)

HYDROPONICS

What is hydroponics?

Hydroponics simply means growing plants without soil. Really! Is that even possible? And yes, fortunately, the answer is yes. Okay, so just think for once plant grows through the process of photosynthesis (we all are well known with this fact), which leads to the formation of food i.e. glucose for the plant and remaining growth of the plant depends on water and nutrients which plant gets easily through the soil, that means the soil is just the medium for the water and nutrients. But what if the plants can get the water and nutrients without the soil (medium)? So, here the work of hydroponics start.

If we had to take the literal meaning of hydroponics, its actual meaning is growing plants in water or with water. Hydroponics is the summation of two Greek words i.e. hydro meaning water and ponics (ponein) meaning to labor or toil.

Why hydroponics?

Now, getting towards another point, like why hydroponics? When we have the soil then why use the water? So, when it comes to hydroponics the plant growth is much faster as compared to plant growth in soil. Other than that it provides complete nutrient balance to the plant as soil. The plants tend to grow throughout the year. It is something that can be grown in your indoor space. The hydroponics are rich in nutrients and taste and hence they are used as the fodder for the livestock. The major important thing is that hydroponics saves about 60-65% water as compared to conventional planting methods (as in soil). The main reason to grow hydroponics is that we can grow them chemical-free. Hydroponics not only saves the water but it also saves the spaces. Hydroponics yields 80% better, the study by NASA shown the immense power of hydroponics growing technique compared with soil-based growing.

How to grow hydroponics?

Lets, get to the most important point on how to do it? Basically, I am going to tell you how to grow hydroponics in indoor space. There are many other systems and methods to grow hydroponics but I am going to tell you which I have done practically. Steps to grow hydroponics are:-

1. Take the required amount of seeds (like, I would recommend taking 400-500 grams of seeds). Probably try to take the maize seeds (maize is mostly used for fodder purpose).

2. Wash them thoroughly with water. Pick out the seeds which float on water. You can also wash them with the saltwater to avoid the attack of fungus.

3. Soak the seeds in water for about 12-13hrs. for 500gms of seed use about 6-7liters of water.

4. After 12hrs rinse the water and again wash it carefully 2-3 times with water. Then keep for germination. You can keep the seeds in dark-colored cloth and tie the cloth for getting fast germination. Keep the for germination for about 24hrs.

5. After 24hrs, when the maize begins to sprouts (formation of tiny roots takes places) spread them in a tray without getting the seeds overlapped. (The kind of tray shown in the picture, it is the stationary tray which I have used as hydroponics by making holes to tray for drainage.)

6. Allow them to grow. The complete growth takes place within 12-15 days.

7. Make sure you keep on sprinkling the water daily within intervals 3-4hrs.

8. After the 15days it can be given to the animals for consumption.

9. Precautions to be taken:-

i. Keep them away for ants and rats in the house.

ii. Keeps them watering on regular interval.

iii. Keep them in sunlight for 15-20 mins.

iv. Keep on cleaning them as black fungus start the formation on it.

So, there are many methods other than this but this one is simple and easily practicable.