Page 9 - Agric Info Mag 01 2017
P. 9
9
When one hears about soil- The possibilities are almost
less agriculture the obvious endless with hydroponics. and growing media loss is sig-
comes to mind, however this Almost any type of plant nificantly reduced.
method of farming is not new It is also believed that this
to the world. can be grown through hy-
droponics, including a wide method will cause less pollu-
The technique was used in range of flowers, vegeta- tion. Given that soil is not
Wake Island in the 1930’s, bles, herbs and even trees needed, soilless agriculture is
which is a rocky atoll in the better for urban areas where
Pacific Ocean. It was used such as citrus and cherry space is limited.
as a means to grow vegeta- trees.
bles for passengers. However, crops cultivated
Soilless agriculture also using this approach is more
known as hydroponics is the prone to pathogen attacks as
method of growing crops with- a result of high moisture lev-
out the use of soil. In soilless els. In addition, they are also
susceptible to rapid death
agriculture, the most well- due to a change in PH lev-
known medium to grow plants els .
is in water.
Notwithstanding, the disad- If you are considering farm-
vantages, soilless agriculture
However, there are other ing and you have no farm,
forms of soilless agriculture does not require the use of soilless agriculture is a viable
toxic chemicals, nutrients option.
such as aeroponics.
With this method plants are
grown in an air or mist envi-
ronment, or other media such
as expanded clay pebbles,
stone wool or gravel.
