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Hydroponics as an advanced technique for vegetable production: An overview

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 Journal of Soil and Water Conservation 17(4): 364-371, October-December 2018
ISSN: 022-457X (Print); 2455-7145 (Online); DOI: 10.5958/2455-7145.2018.00056.5

Hydroponics as an advanced technique for vegetable

production: An overview
NISHA SHARMA1, SOMEN ACHARYA2*, KAUSHAL KUMAR3,
NARENDRA SINGH4 and O.P. CHAURASIA5

Received: 03 July 2018; Accepted: 29 November 2018

ABSTRACT
Currently hydroponic cultivation is gaining popularity all over the world because of efficient resources
management and quality food production. Soil based agriculture is now facing various challenges such
as urbanization, natural disaster, climate change, indiscriminate use of chemicals and pesticides which
is depleting the land fertility. In this article various hydroponic structures viz. wick, ebb and flow, drip,
deep water culture and Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) system; their operations; benefits and limitations;
performance of different crops like tomato, cucumber, pepper and leafy greens and water conservation
by this technique have been discussed. Several benefits of this technique are less growing time of crops
than conventional growing; round the year production; minimal disease and pest incidence and weeding,
spraying, watering etc can be eliminated. Commercially NFT technique has been used throughout the
world for successful production of leafy as well as other vegetables with 70 to 90% savings of water.
Leading countries in hydroponic technology are Netherland, Australia, France, England, Israel, Canada
and USA. For successful implementation of commercial hydroponic technology, it is important to develop
low cost techniques which are easy to operate and maintain; requires less labour and lower overall
setup and operational cost.
Key words: Nutrient Film Technique (NFT), water conservation, nutrient management, Hydroponic market

INTRODUCTION conventional agricultural practices causing a wide

Hydroponics is a technique of growing plants range of negative impacts on the environment. To
in nutrient solutions with or without the use of an sustainably feed the world’s growing population,
inert medium such as gravel, vermiculite, rockwool, methods for growing sufficient food have to evolve.
peat moss, saw dust, coir dust, coconut fibre, etc. Modification in growth medium is an alternative
to provide mechanical support. The term for sustainable production and to conserve fast
Hydroponics was derived from the Greek words depleting land and available water resources. In the
hydro’ means water and ponos’ means labour and present scenario, soil less cultivation might be
literally means water work. The word hydroponics commenced successfully and considered as
was coined by Professor William Gericke in the alternative option for growing healthy food plants,
early 1930s; describe the growing of plants with crops or vegetables (Butler and Oebker, 2006).
their roots suspended in water containing mineral Agriculture without soil includes hydro agriculture
nutrients. Researchers at Purdue University (Hydroponics), aqua agriculture (Aquaponics) and
developed the nutriculture system in 1940. During aerobic agriculture (Aeroponics) as well as
1960s and 70s, commercial hydroponics farms were substrate culture. Among these hydroponics
developed in Arizona, Abu Dhabi, Belgium, techniques is gaining popularity because of its
California, Denmark, German, Holland, Iran, Italy, efficient management of resources and food
Japan, Russian Federation and other countries. production. Various commercial and specialty
Most hydroponic systems operate automatically to crops can be grown using hydroponics including
control the amount of water, nutrients and leafy vegetables, tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers,
photoperiod based on the requirements of different strawberries, and many more. This article covers
plants (Resh, 2013). different aspect of hydroponics, vegetables grown
Due to rapid urbanization and industrialization in hydroponics system and global hydroponic
not only the cultivable land is decreasing but also market.

1
Research Associate, 2,4Scientist, 3JRF, 5Director, Defence Institute of High Altitude Research (DIHAR), DRDO, C/o 56 APO,
Leh-Ladakh, 194101, Jammu and Kashmir
*Corresponding author Email id: [email protected]
October-December 2018] HYDROPONICS: A PROGRESSIVE TECHNIQUE 365

HYDROPONIC STRUCTURES AND Dunn, 2013). Plants are placed in an absorbent

THEIR OPERATION medium like coco coir, vermiculite, perlite with a
Hydroponic system are customised and nylon wick running from plant roots into a reservoir
modified according to recycling and reuse of of nutrient solution. Water or nutrient solution
nutrient solution and supporting media. supplied to plants through capillary action. This
Commonly used systems are wick, drip, ebb-flow, system works well for small plants, herbs and spice
deep water culture and nutrient film technique and doesn’t work effectively that needs lot of water.
(NFT) which are described below (Fig. 1).
Ebb and Flow system
Wick System This is first commercial hydroponic system
This is simplest hydroponic system requiring which works on the principle of flood and drain.
no electricity, pump and aerators (Shrestha and Nutrient solution and water from reservoir flooded

Fig. 1. Diagram of various structures of hydroponic system

366 SHARMA et al. [Journal of Soil & Water Conservation 17(4)

through a water pump to grow bed until it reaches BENEFITS AND LIMITATIONS
a certain level and stay there for certain period of OF HYDROPONICS
time so that it provide nutrients and moisture to Recently hydroponic technique is becoming
plants. Besides, it is possible to grow different kinds popular because this is clean and relatively easy
of crops but the problem of root rot, algae and method and there is no chance of soil-borne disease,
mould is very common (Nielsen et al., 2006) insect or pest infection to the crops thereby reducing
therefore, some modified system with filtration unit or eliminating use of pesticides and their resulting
is required. toxicity. Besides, plants require less growing time
as compared to crop grown in field and growth of
Drip system plant is faster as there is no mechanical hindrance
The drip hydroponic system is widely used to the roots and the entire nutrient are readily
method among both home and commercial available for plants. This technique is very useful
growers. Water or nutrient solution from the for the area where environmental stress (cold, heat,
reservoir is provided to individual plant roots in dessert etc) is a major problem (Polycarpou et al.,
appropriate proportion with the help of pump 2005). Crops in hydroponic system are not
(Rouphael and Colla, 2005). Plants are usually influenced by climate change therefore, can be
placed in moderately absorbent growing medium cultivated year-round and considered as off season
so that the nutrient solution drips slowly. Various (Manzocco et al., 2011). Further, commercial
crops can be grown systematically with more hydroponic systems are automatically operated and
conservation of water. expected to reduce labour and several traditional
agricultural practices can be eliminated, such as
weeding, spraying, watering and tilling (Jovicich
Deep water culture system et al., 2003). Hydroponics saves large amount of
In deep water culture, roots of plants are water as irrigation and other kind of sprays is not
suspended in nutrient rich water and air is provided needed and water logging never occurs. The
directly to the roots by an air stone. Hydroponics problem of pest and disease can be controlled easily
buckets system is classical example of this system. while weed is practically non-existent. Higher
Plants are placed in net pots and roots are yields can be obtained since the number of plants
suspended in nutrient solution where they grow per unit is higher compared to conventional
quickly in a large mass. It is mandatory to monitor agriculture.
the oxygen and nutrient concentrations, salinity and
Although soil-less cultivation is an advanta-
pH (Domingues et al., 2012) as algae and moulds
geous technique but some limitations are
can grow rapidly in the reservoir. This system work
significant. Technical knowledge and higher initial
well for larger plants that produce fruits especially
cost is fundamental requirement for commercial
cucumber and tomato, grow well in this system.
scale cultivation (Resh, 2013). Plant in a
hydroponics system is sharing the exact same
Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) system nutrient, and water borne diseases can easily spread
NFT was developed in the mid 1960s in from one plant to another (Ikeda et al., 2002). Hot
England by Dr. Alen Cooper to overcome the weather and limited oxygenation may limit
shortcomings of ebb and flow system. In this production and can result in loss of crops.
system, water or a nutrient solution circulates Maintenance of pH, EC and proper concentration
throughout the entire system; and enters the growth of the nutrient solution is of prime importance.
tray via a water pump without a time control Finally, light and energy supply is required to run
(Domingues et al., 2012). The system is slightly the system under protected structure.
slanted so that nutrient solution runs through roots
and down back into a reservoir. Plants are placed pH AND ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY
in channel or tube with roots dangling in a (EC) MANAGEMENT
hydroponic solution. Although, roots are Plant nutrients used in hydroponics are
susceptible to fungal infection because they are dissolved in water and are mostly in inorganic and
constantly immersed in water or nutrient. In this ionic forms. All 17 elements essential for plant
system, many leafy green can easily be grown and growth are supplied using different chemical
commercially most widely used for lettuce combinations. Hoagland’s solution is used as most
production. common nutrient solutions for hydroponic systems.
October-December 2018] HYDROPONICS: A PROGRESSIVE TECHNIQUE 367

Table 1. Optimum range of EC and pH values for hydro- improving vegetable yield and quality (Gruda,
ponic crops 2009). As an example, yield of tomato under
Crops EC (dSm-1) pH hydroponic system increased as EC of nutrient
solution increased from 0 to 3 dSm-1 and decreased
Asparagus 1.4 to 1.8 6.0 to 6.8
African Violet 1.2 to 1.5 6.0 to 7.0
as the EC increased from 3 to 5 dS m-1 due to
Basil 1.0 to 1.6 5.5 to 6.0 increase of water stress (Zhang et al., 2016). Level
Bean 2.0 to 4.0 6.0 of EC @1.5, 2 and 3 dS m-1 at vegetative, middle
Banana 1.8 to 2.2 5.5 to 6.5 vegetative and generative phase, respectively had
Broccoli 2.8 to 3.5 6.0 to 6.8 increased crop height, fruit number and pepper
Cabbage 2.5 to 3.0 6.5 to 7.0 fresh weight.
Celery 1.8 to 2.4 6.5
In a nutrient solution, pH determines the
Carnation 2.0 to 3.5 6.0
availability of essential plant elements. Optimum
Courgettes 1.8 to 2.4 6.0
Cucumber 1.7 to 2.0 5.0 to 5.5
pH range of nutrient solution for development of
Egg plant 2.5 to 3.5 6.0 plants is 5.5 to 6.5 (Trejo-Tellez and Gomez, 2012)
Ficus 1.6 to 2.4 5.5 to 6.0 for most species but some can differ from this range.
Leek 1.4 to 1.8 6.5 to 7.0 Once the plants grows, it will change the
Lettuce 1.2 to 1.8 6.0 to 7.0 composition of nutrient solution by depleting
Pak Choi 1.5 to 2.0 7.0 specific nutrients more rapidly than others,
Peppers 0.8 to 1.8 5.5 to 6.0 removing water from the solution and altering the
Parsley 1.8 to 2.2 6.0 to 6.5 pH by excretion of either acidity or alkalinity. Wang
Rhubarb 1.6 to 2.0 5.5 to 6.0 et al. (2017) found that mixture of three (HNO3,
Rose 1.5 to 2.5 5.5 to 6.0 H3PO4 and H2SO4) acids was much more effective
Spinach 1.8 to 2.3 6.0 to 7.0 than only single acid for maintaining an optimal
Strawberry 1.8 to 2.2 6.0
solution pH of 5.5 to 6.5. Change in pH may cause
Sage 1.0 to 1.6 5.5 to 6.5
nutrient imbalance and plant will show some
Tomato 2.0 to 4.0 6.0 to 6.5
deficiency or toxicity symptoms. Hence, care is
required for maintaining optimum pH, EC and
Cooper’s 1988 and Imai’s 1987 nutrient solutions nutrient level in hydroponic solution. Crops such
were also used for growing leafy vegetables, as vegetables, spices, flower and ornamentals,
tomatoes and cucumber. Proper pH and EC of the medicinal plants, fodders and up to some extent
nutrient solution is very essential and should be cereals can be raised through soil less hydroponic
maintained properly for optimum plant technique and is mentioned in Table 2.
performance.
PERFORMANCE OF VEGETABLES
Optimum range of EC and pH values for
UNDER HYDROPONICS SYSTEM
different hydroponic crops is shown in Table 1.
Ideal EC range for hydroponics for most of the A large number of plants and crops or
crops is between 1.5 and 2.5 dS m-1. Higher EC will vegetables can grow by hydroponics system.
prevent nutrient absorption due to osmotic Quality of produce, taste and nutritive value of end
pressure and lower level severely affect plant health products is generally higher than the natural soil
and yield. So, appropriate management of EC in based cultivation. Various experimental findings
hydroponics technique can give effective tool for outlines that leafy greens (lettuce, spinach, parsley,

Table 2. Various species of plants grown under soil less hydroponic system

Type of crops Name of the crops

Cereals Rice, Maize

Fruits Strawberry
Vegetables Tomato, Chilli, Brinjal, Green bean, Beet, Winged bean, Bell pepper, Cucumbers,
Melons, green Onion
Leafy vegetables Lettuce, Spinach, Celery, Swiss chard, Atriplex
Condiments Coriander leaves, Methi, Parsley, Mint, Sweet basil, Oregano
Flower / Ornamental crops Marigold, Roses, Carnations, Chrysanthemum
Medicinal crops Indian Aloe, Coleus
Fodder crops Sorghum, Alfa alfa, Bermuda grass, Carpet grass
368 SHARMA et al. [Journal of Soil & Water Conservation 17(4)

celery and atriplex etc) can be successfully and and yield component as spinach is short duration
easily grown in hydroponic systems. Lettuce and crop but quality somehow was affected (Lenzi et
spinach are most promising species to grow in al., 2011).
integrated hydroponics and aquaculture systems
Hydroponic swiss chard when grown in gravel
because of its higher growth and nutrient uptake
film technique, plant density of 40 plant m-2 and 14
capacity.
days of harvesting interval improved crop yield,
leaf area, biomass and leaf fresh weight (Maboko
Hydroponic research on lettuce, spinach and other leafy and Plooy, 2013). Contrary to this, hydroponically
vegetables grown swiss chard, lettuce and sweet basil contain
Life cycle of hydroponic lettuce is very short high mineral content, high root/shoot ratio, low
compared to traditionally grown lettuce. level of nitrates, than grown in soil culture,
Hydroponic lettuce can be harvested after 35 to 40 however, their nutrient uptake and yield was lower
days of production. Lettuce can be successfully (Bulgari et al., 2016). Effectiveness of rice husk
grown in NFT system and more than 8 crops per biochar alone and in combination with perlite as
year can be grown efficiently in this system. substrates was also evaluated in NFT system for
Horizontal and vertical hydroponic system was also growing crops like cabbage, red lettuce, dill and
evaluated with different nutrient solutions for yield mallow (Awad et al., 2017).
optimization of lettuce (Touliatos et al., 2016).
Growing of lettuce in recirculating hydroponic Tomato and pepper grown under hydroponics system
system at spacing of 50 plants m-2 significantly Many hydroponic systems can be used for
increased yield and yield components (Maboko and growing tomatoes but NFT and deep flow
Plooy, 2009). Frezza et al. (2005) found that there is technique (DFT) are commonly used system for
significant difference in productivity and nitrate successful tomato production. Growing of tomato
content of lettuce in both soil less (floating system in NFT system with regular recycling of nutrient
and substrate culture) and soil culture however, solutions improved growth, productivity and
other traits like leaf area, dry weight and ascorbic mineral composition whereas, in NFT with
acid content were remain unaffected. In non prolonged recycling of nutrient solution yield was
circulated and non-aerated system, air space reduced (Zekki et al., 1996). Open and closed
between nutrient solution and tank cover also hydroponic systems were evaluated for perfor-
determines optimum lettuce yield. Another study mance of various cultivars of tomato and in closed
observed that marketable yield, shoot biomass and system higher marketable yield was obtained as
leaf area index of lettuce grown in floating system because of fruit cracking, yield was reduced in open
was not affected by nutrient solution composition system (Maboko et al., 2011). Schmautz et al. (2016)
(Fallovo et al., 2009). In other experiment, it was compared yield, quality and overall tomato plant
observed that both the hydroponic and organic vitality in three different systems of hydroponics
system perform equal in terms of lettuce yield, (NFT, drip system and floating raft) system.
quality and nitrate content, whereas, delayed Researchers also investigate effects of plant
harvesting not only increased yield but lower down population, pruning and plant growth regulators
nitrate level and reduced health hazards. on yield and quality of hydroponically grown
pepper in various systems. Effectiveness of different
Besides lettuce, recently various hydroponic
substrate (vermiculite + sand, Peat + perlite,
experiments were conducted using spinach as
rockwool) were evaluated on growth and yield of
model crop. Ranawade et al. (2017) have compared
hydroponically grown green pepper and reported
spinach yield in hydroponic, aquaponics and in
that peat + perlite had most significant effect on
traditional system in which perlite (aquaponics)
growing traits and yield of green pepper (Majdi et
and sphagnum moss (hydroponics) were used to
al., 2012).
support the plants. The yield of the aquaponically
cultivated spinach was slightly more than Besides tomato and pepper, cucurbits viz.
hydroponically cultivated spinach. The results of cucumber, cantaloupes are successfully grown in
Mwazi et al. (2010) showed that salinity has negative various hydroponic systems. Experiments were
impact on vegetative growth, but spinach has some conducted on cucumber for optimization of salinity
tolerance to saline water with 5 ppt. When spinach level, EC and nutrients in various hydroponic. NFT
grown in floating system, lack of aeration and system was found to be most suitable for growth
hypoxia was not severe enough to influence yield and productivity of cantaloupe. Apart from
October-December 2018] HYDROPONICS: A PROGRESSIVE TECHNIQUE 369

Table 3. Percentage of water and fertilizer consumption, vegetables yield percentage and the percentage of water productivity
for different hydroponic systems as compared with conventional farming system (AlShrouf, 2017)

Parameters Hydroponic system

Media soilless system Nutrient solution system
Open Closed Open Closed

% Irrigation water saving 80 85 85 90

% Fertilizer saving 55 80 68 85
% Productivity increase 100 150 200 250
% Water productivity 1000 1600 2000 3500

vegetables, nowadays strawberry and different cut tomato, cucurbits, lettuce & leafy vegetables,
flowers are commercially grown under various peppers and other food crops. Tomato forms the
hydroponic systems. largest market segment and it accounts for 30.4%
share of the global market, during 2018.
WATER CONSERVATION IN HYDROPONIC Hydroponics crop production is expected to be
As water becomes scarce and important as a more in tomatoes, lettuce and other leafy
resource, the use of hydroponics and other water vegetables. As the consumers are becoming
saving technologies for crop production is needed increasingly aware of the superiority of quality
now and is poised to popularize in time. greenhouse-grown vegetables, the demand for
Hydroponics uses substantially less water as hydroponics culture is rising in Europe and Asia-
compared to the soil farming. In soil farming, most Pacific. Europe is traditionally the largest market
of the water that we supply to the plants gets that is implementing advanced techniques in
leached deep into the soil and is unavailable to the hydroponics. Asia-Pacific forms the second largest
plants roots, whereas in hydroponics, plant roots market for hydroponics, which is expected to grow
are either submerged in water or a film of nutrients at a steady pace. Leading countries in hydroponic
mixed in water is constantly encompassing the root technology are Netherland, Australia, France,
zone, keeping it hydrated and nourished. Water is England, Israel, Canada and USA. Dutch are the
not wasted in this process, as it gets recovered, world leader in commercial hydroponic having
filtered, replenished and recycled. Waste nutrient total area of 13000 ha under tomato, capsicum,
solution can be used as an alternate water resource cucumber and cut flowers (Netherlands
for crop cultivation under hydroponic system (Choi Department of Environment, Food and Rural
et al., 2012). Savings in irrigation water, fertilizer Affairs, NDEFRA) and this account 50% of the value
and increase in vegetable and water productivity of all fruits and vegetables produced in the country.
under hydroponic system as compared to Australian hydroponic production of vegetables,
conventional agriculture is depicted in Table 3. NFT herbs and cut flowers of system valued about 300-
based hydroponics can reduce irrigation water 400 million dollar which is approximately 20% of
usage by 70% to 90% by recycling the run-off water. the total values of vegetables and cut flower
It is possible to effectively grow high value, good- production in Australia reported by Rural
quality vegetables under controlled hydroponic Industries Research and Development Corporation
conditions using 85 to 90% less water than tradi- (RIRDC). Australia is the largest hydroponic lettuce
tional soil based production. Water sources from producers in the world, and having strawberry
groundwater or dam/river water commonly contain cultivation is larger than USA and cut flower
factors that can influence plant yield and affect production is almost equal to USA. Canada and
plant condition, including salinity, dissolved solids Spain are also expanding the area under
and pathogens. While some of these factors can be commercial hydroponic system. Japan has started
beneficial to crops, others need to be minimised. rice production by hydroponics technique to feed
the people (De Kreij et al., 1999). Israel grows large
GLOBAL HYDROPONIC MARKET quantities of berries, citrus fruits and bananas in
AND COMMERCIAL HYDROPONIC the dry and arid climate. Currently, demand of
PRODUCTION hydroponics cultivation has been increased in all
The Global Hydroponics Market has been the developing and developed countries (Trejo-
estimated to cross USD 21203.5 million in 2016. By Tellez and Gomez, 2012). In India, several tracts of
crop type, global hydroponics market includes wastelands having poor quality soil but plenty of
370 SHARMA et al. [Journal of Soil & Water Conservation 17(4)

water can be brought under hydroponics. Now a control pH and concentration of nutrient solution
day’s peoples in various big cities like Delhi, evaluated in hydroponic lettuce production. Computers
and Electronics in Agriculture 84: 53-61.
Chandigarh, Noida and Bangalore are growing
Fallovo, C., Rouphael, Y., Cardarelli, M., Rea, E., Battistelli,
some leafy greens and small herbs and spices on A. and Colla, G. 2009. Yield and quality of leafy lettuce
their roof tops and balconies for fresh consumption. in response to nutrient solution composition and
The future for hydroponics appears more positive growing season. Journal of Food, Agriculture &
today than any time over the last 50 years. The Environment 7(2): 456-462.
startup costs to implement a hydroponic farm can Frezza, D., Leon, A, Logegaray, V. and Chiesa, V. Desimone,
M. and Diaz, L. 2005. Soilless culture technology for
vary widely but, they are usually higher than soil-
high quality lettuce. Proc. IS on Soilless Culture and
based farming costs. Therefore, to foster the Hydroponics. Acta Horticulture 697: 43-47.
hydroponics industry’s growth, it is important to Gruda, N. 2009. Does soil-less culture systems have an
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solution in soilless production. Acta Horticulturae 578:
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