Hydroponics

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"Hydroponics is a method of growing plants using mineral nutrient solutions, in water, without soil." Terrestrial plants may be grown with their roots in the mineral nutrient solution only or in an inert medium, such as perlite, gravel, mineral wool, or coconut husk. Researchers discovered in the 19th century that plants absorb essential mineral nutrients as inorganic ions in water. In natural conditions, soil acts as a mineral nutrient reservoir but the soil itself is not essential to plant growth. When the mineral nutrients in the soil dissolve in water, plant roots are able to absorb them. When the required mineral nutrients are introduced into a plant's water supply artificially, soil is no longer required for the plant to thrive. Almost any terrestrial plant will grow with hydroponics. Hydroponics is also a standard technique in biology research and teaching. Today, hydroponics is an established branch of agronomy. Progress has been rapid, and results obtained in various countries have proved it to be thoroughly practical and to have very definite advantages over conventional methods of horticulture. The two chief merits of the soil-less cultivation of plants are, first, hydroponics produces much higher crop yields, and, second, hydroponics can be used in places where in-ground agriculture or gardening is not possible. Advantages: (1) No soil is needed. (2) The water stays in the system and can be reused - thus, lower water costs. (3) It is possible to control the nutrition levels in their entirety - thus, lower nutrition costs. (4) No nutrition pollution is released into the environment because of the controlled system. (5) Stable and high yields. (6) Pests and diseases are easier to get rid of than in soil because of the container's mobility. (7) Hydroponic crops can be packaged and sold while still alive, increasing the length of freshness. (8) Over and under-watering is stopped. (9) Hydroponics is a good method of plant growing for areas without good soil, such as Antarctica, space stations, and space colonies. (10) There are no diseases from soil. (11) There are no weeds. (12) Hydroponics give the plants more sunlight. (13) Bugs and other pest threats are reduced with a hydroponic system as it does not use soil where most insects live. Dis-advantages: The hydroponic conditions (presence of fertilizer and high humidity) create an environment that stimulates salmonella growth. Other disadvantages include pathogen attacks such as damp-off due to Verticillium wilt caused by the high moisture levels associated with hydroponics and overwatering of soil based plants. Also, many hydroponic plants require different fertilizers and containment systems.