Soilless Culture

Dr. Hüseyin OK
 What is Soilless Culture?
• Soilless culture is a methods of growing plants
without soil.
Any method of growing plants without the use of
soil as a rooting medium, in which the inorganic
nutrients absorbed by the roots are supplied via
the irrigation water.
The fertilizers containing the nutrients to be
supplied to the crop are dissolved in the
appropriate concentration in the irrigation water
and the resultant solution is referred to as
“nutrient solution”.
In soilless crops, the plant roots may grow either
in porous media (substrates), which are
frequently irrigated with nutrient solution or
directly in nutrient solution without any solid
phase. In recent decades, supplying nutrient
solution to plants to optimize crop nutrition
(fertigation or liquid fertilization) has become
routine cultural practice, not only in soilless
culture but also in soil-grown greenhouse crops
Hence, the drastically restricted volume of the
rooting medium and its uniformity are the only
characteristics of soilless cultivated crops
differentiating them from crops grown in the soil.
In recent years, cultivation in inorganic substrates
has been characterized by a shift from open- to
closed-cycle cultivation systems, involving reuse
of drainage solution.
The cultivation of greenhouse crops in closed hydroponic
systems can substantially reduce the pollution of water
resources by nitrates and phosphates stemming from
fertigation effluents, and contribute to an appreciable
reduction in water and fertilizer consumption.
Switching over to closed cultivation systems does not
seem to restrict crop yield or product quality. However,
a factor limiting the broad expansion of closed-cycle
cultivation systems in substrate-grown crops is the
accumulation of salt ions in the recycled nutrient
solution. This phenomenon originates from the inlet of
salt ions and water at higher ratios (concentrations in
the irrigation water) than the corresponding ion-to-
water uptake ratios. Furthermore, the reuse of the
nutrient solution effluents in closed soilless culture
systems is associated with the risk of disease spread via
the recycled leachate, which entails the installation of a
solution disinfection system.
 The History of Soilless Production
The Egyptians did it almost 4000 years ago.
Wall paintings found in the temple is the first
documented case of container-grown plants.
Agriculture without soil, in fact, historically dates
back to several hundred years BC since the
civilization of ancient Egyptian, the Chinese and
other culture.
The Aztecs started a method of suspended gardens
based on hydroponics at Lake Tenochtitlan during
the 10th and 11th centuries.
The first person to promote the commercial
potential of liquid culture was Gericke (1929). The
plants were planted in a layer of sand which was
supported on the surface of the solution by netting
and canvas through which the roots could pass into
the liquid phase. Originally Gericke (1929) defined
his method as “aquaculture”. However, since this
term was already in use for the culture of aquatic
plants and animal so, the terms were quickly
introduced. Namely “water culture” and “solution
culture”. Finally, the term “hydroponics” was
proposed by Setchell, based on the Greek hydro
(water) and ponos (labour).
The rapid expansion worldwide of hydroponic
systems in the last three decades may be ascribed
to their independence from the soil and its
associated problems, i.e. the presence of soil-borne
pathogens at the start of the crop and the decline of
soil structure and fertility due to continual
cultivation with the same or relative crop species.
 Why do the grower turn to
Soilless culture?
The difficulty and cost of controlling soil borne
pests and diseases.
1. Soil salinity.
2. Lack of fertile soil.
3. Water shortage.
4. Chemical residues in soil,
5. Banning of using Methyl Bromide.

Methyl bromide is a toxic substance. It was used in

agriculture for fight wide variety of pests. It was
very effective and cheap chemical.
Soilless cultivation appears to be the safest and
most effective alternative to soil disinfection by
means of methyl bromide. It is therefore becoming
increasingly important in protected cultivation – not
only in modern, fully equipped glasshouses, but
also in simple greenhouse constructions designed to
optimize favourable climatic conditions.
Precise control of nutrition, particularly in crops
grown on inert substrates or in pure nutrient
solution. Also in soilless crops grown in
chemically active growing media, plant nutrition
can be better controlled than in soil-grown crops,
due to the limited media volume per plant and the
homogeneous media constitution.
Avoidance of soil tillage and preparation, thereby
increasing crop length and total yield in
greenhouses.
 Advantages of Soilless Culture
The main advantages of soilless culture are the
most accurate control over the supply of water,
nutrients, pH, root temperature, etc., increase
productivity due to easier and more accurate
control of production factors, reduction of
labour requirement, no need for soil
sterilization, more crops per year, etc.
Other Advantages of Soilless Culture

1. Weed and soil diseases are not a problem in

soilless culture.
2. High quality yield.
3. Cultivating crops in any region even in regions
where poor soil conditions prevail.
4. Controlling the root environments.
5. Increasing water use efficiency.
 1) Increase productivity

It is true that precise control of nutrition to the

plants grown in soilless cultures will result in
higher yields and quality, but this does not
necessarily mean that yields from the best
cultures in soil are much inferior.
It is of course understandable that if there are
soil problems, (i.e. poor soil. saline soil,
toxicities in soil, etc.), then soilless culture will
produce much better crops.
 2) Control of plant nutrition
The accurate control of plant nutrition compared
to soil cultures, is also one of the most important
advantages of soilless culture. This can be seen
from:
The point of view of the controlled
concentrations which can be applied to the
various crops, various environments, stage of
plant growth, etc. Also harmful elements to
plants, above certain concentrations can be kept
within safe concentrations (i.e. Mn, B, Zn, Cu,
etc.)
Another important advantage related to plant
nutrition in soilless culture, is the uniformity with
which nutrition elements can be supplied to the
substrate.
When using water cultures or aggregate cultures
with inert substrates the level of nutrients,
supplied to the new crops are those chosen by the
manager. This is not the case with soil cultures
where in manyc ases excess nutrient levelsin the
soil from the previous crops produce salinity.
Another advantage of the soilless culture
related to plant nutrition is the ability to
control the pH and the E.C. of the nutrient
solution according to the requirement of the
crop and the environmental conditions. Similar
control in soil culturesis very difficult and
expensive.
3) Water economy and control

Water is by all means the most important

factor for crop production. Protected crops
require large amounts of water due to
exclusion of rainfall when crop production is
required in hot, arid regions of the world,
water is like to be a limiting factor not only of
availability but also of quality and cost.
With reference to water saving, certain soilless
systems for instance the close recirculated
ones, undoubtedly economize water because
drainage and evaporation from the surface is
eliminated by the design and operational
scheme of the systems (NFT, “closed”
systems, sub irrigated soilless culture). In
addition, with soilless cultures more accurate
control over the supply of water is practiced.
4) Reduction of labor requirement

Out of soil production exclude all cultural

practices associated with the cultivation of the
soil, sterilization of soil, weed control, etc.
Labor requirement for soilless culture is not
similar to all soilless systems. Therefore, the
system itself, the degree of automation, the
type of substrate, the number of crops raised
on each substrate, etc. but in any case,
generally speaking, there is a saving in labor
impute when soilless culture is employed.
 5) Sterilization practices
The greenhouse soil must be free from any soil-
born pathogens before the establishment of any
new crop. Sterilization is a difficult and costly
operation, but necessary and of great importance.
It is therefore of great advantage the cultivation of
crops outside of the soil as there is no need for
sterilization when materials and substrates are
used only for one time, because spreading of
diseases is avoided.
When “closed” soilless culture is used depending
on the system, the need for sterilization varies,
i.e. to clean “true hydroponic” culture structures,
following the removal of all debris, etc., a dilute
rate of formaldehyde is used, followed with clean
water. In the NFT system the film that forms the
gullies can be replaced. When solid substrates are
used, steam or chemical sterilization should be
applied if the material is to be used again. In this
case the application of both is more easier and
more economic but in any case sterilization of
soilless culture systems is more easier than soil
sterilization.
6) Control of root environment
Possibilities for more accurate control of root
temperature, root oxygen supply are more
easily to achieve in soilless cultures.
 7) Multiple crops per year

Due to the absence of the cultivation

techniques, operations like soil cultivation, soil
sterilization etc., the number of crops per year
is increased, in a given production area,
because the time interval between crops is
nearly zero.
 8) Unsuitable soil

Soilless culture offers an ideal crop alternative

to soil culture when there is no soil available at
all or there is no suitable soil for crop
production, when soil salinity is high or there
are toxic substances into the soil and finally
theries an accumulation of soil pathogens into
the soil.
 Disadvantages(Constraints)
of Soilless Culture
On the other hand there are disadvantages like
the higher initial capital investment for the
construction and maintenance of the soilless
setup, the risk of disease infections mainly in the
recirculating (close) systems, occasionally the
increase of labour requirement and the need for
higher standard of management and skill
compared to crops growing in soil. The margin of
error in fertilizing and watering is reduced with
soilless culture.
 1) High capital investment
Introduction of soilles systems involves an
increase of inputs for the construction and
maintenance, compared to the cultivation in soil.
The degree of increase of inputs depends on the
soilless system to be use and also the degree of
perfection of control measures used by the
particular system adopted, i.e. the initial cost for
establishing an NFT system is higher compared to
the rockwool system, but the annual running cost
is lower with the NFT system.
2) Increased technical demands on
the management
To succeed with the soilless culture methods, one
must have or to be able to learn and have some
knowledge of how to grow the crop, plant
physiology, elementary chemistry, familiarity
with the control systems, etc. It is evident that
soilless culture is not an easy operation.
Furthermore, scientific and technical support from
the research workers, extension services and
private enterprises dealing with all relevant
materials and accessories for soilless culture, is of
great importance.
 3) Risk of disease infections
In the “open soilless system” the risk of
disease infections is lower, provided that drain
solution flows away from the roots of the
plants. In the “closed systems” or in systems
when excess drain water flows along the roots
of all plants, then if there is an infection with
pathogens, all plants in the system become
infected.
 Soilless Cultures fall into two
general categories:
Soilless culture has often been called
hydroponics, although nutri-culture is a more
accurate definition of certain types:

A)Solution Culture (True hidroponic)

B)Aggregat Sysytems
 1) Water Culture
(Liquid culture or true hydroponics):
Where the nutrient solution is recirculated after
reaeration and adjustment oft he pH and nutrient
levels (e.gN. FT).
 2) Aggregate Culture
(Substrate Culture):
Where the nutrient solution is supplied to plants
via an irrigation system through the media, and
excess solution is allowed to run to waste or the
solution is recirculated (e.g. rockwool, pumice,
perlite, sand culture, gravel culture etc.).
As you can see in the table, there are many
ways in which soilless culture is applied. In the
following lessons, these methods; we will see its
similar and different sides, advantages and
disadvantages.
 True Hydroponic Systems and
How They Work
There are 6 basic types of hydroponic
systems; Wick, Water Culture, Ebb and
Flow (Flood & Drain), Drip (recovery or
non-recovery), N.F.T. (Nutrient Film
Technique) and Aeroponic.
There are hundreds of variations on these
basic types of systems, but all hydroponic
methods are a variation (or combination) of
these six.
 WICK SYSTEM

The Wick system is by far the simplest type of

hydroponic system. This is a passive system,
which means there are no moving parts. The
nutrient solution is drawn into the growing
medium from the reservoir with a wick.
 WATER CULTURE

The water culture system is the simplest of all active hydroponic

systems. The platform that holds the plants is usually made of
Styrofoam and floats directly on the nutrient solution. An air
pump supplies air to the air stone that bubbles the nutrient
solution and supplies oxygen to the roots of the plants. Water
culture is the system of choice for growing leaf lettuce, which are
fast growing water loving plants, making them an ideal choice
for this type of hydroponic system. Very few plants other than
lettuce will do well in this type of system.
 EBB & FLOW
(FLOOD AND DRAIN)

The Ebb and Flow system works by temporarily

flooding the grow tray with nutrient solution and
then draining the solution back into the reservoir.
This action is normally done with a submerged
pump that is connected to a timer.
 DRIP SYSTEMS
RECOVERY / NON-RECOVERY

Drip systems are probably the most widely used type of

hydroponic system in the world. Operation is simple, a timer
controls a submersed pump. The timer turns the pump on
and nutrient solution is dripped onto the base of each plant
by a small drip line. In a Recovery Drip System the excess
nutrient solution that runs off is collected back in the
reservoir for re-use. The Non-Recovery System does not
collect the run off.
 N.F.T.
(Nutrient Film Technique)

This is the kind of hydroponic system most people

think of when they think about hydroponics. N.F.T.
systems have a constant flow of nutrient solution so
no timer required for the submersible pump. The
nutrient solution is pumped into the growing tray
(usually a tube) and flows over the roots of the plants,
and then drains back into the reservoir.
 AEROPONIC

The aeroponic system is probably the most high-tech type of

hydroponic gardening. Like the N.F.T. system above the
growing medium is primarily air. The roots hang in the air
and are misted with nutrient solution. The mistings are
usually done every few minutes. Because the roots are
exposed to the air like the N.F.T. system, the roots will dry
out rapidly if the misting cycles are interrupted.