Hydroponics

Term Paper # 104345

Agricultural Studies

Hydroponics

This paper explores the potential of hydroponics in plant growing.

1,597 words () | 13 sources | APA | 2008 United States

Paper Summary:

The paper explains hydroponics, also known as soil-less culture, as a system of growing plants suspended or embedded in a non-soil environment. The paper explores the advantages that hydroponic growing techniques offer over soil-based growing techniques, but also shows how this is a highly technical and extremely demanding business. The paper concludes therefore that while hydroponic culture offers many possibilities, it requires considerable managerial and technical sophistication to be carried out successfully.

From the Paper:

"Hydroponics, also known as soilless culture, is a system of growing plants suspended or embedded in a non-soil environment. While typical soil-based agriculture essentially dumps seeds into soil which may be less than completely healthy and which may expose the seeds to numerous pathogens, hydroponics allows a grower to maintain conditions which are most conducive to plant growth. This ability to control the growing environment results in higher yields compared to traditional soil-based agriculture. Seeds and young plants are not exposed to soil-borne diseases and pests. This is especially desirable in tropical situations, because it allows plants to go through their life cycles with minimal interruption, and without the threat of infestation."

Sample of Sources Used:

Greenhouse-Grown Bell Pepper Production, (2005) Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture. Dated 24 May 2005; accessed 29 May 2007; available at <http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/np/mba/jun05/pepper.htm>. Internet.
Herberer, J. A., & Below, F. E. (1989). Mixed Nitrogen Nutrition and Productivity of Wheat Grown in Hydroponics. Annals of Botany, 63: 643-649.
Hydroponics/ Soil-Less Culture (2007). Department of Agriculture, Sri Lanka. Undated; accessed 29 May 2007; available at <http://www.agridept.gov.lk/Techinformations/Hponics/H_text.htm>. Internet.
Jensen, Merle (1997). Hydroponics. Department of Plant Sciences, University of Arizona. Originally published in Hortiscience, 32(6). Dated, 1997; accessed 29 May 2007; available at <http://ag.arizona.edu/PLS/faculty/MERLE.html>. Internet.
Kane, C. D., Jasoni, R. L., Peffley, E. P., Thompson, L. D., Green, C.J., Pare, P., & Tissue, D. (2006). Nutrient Solution and Solution pH Influences on Onion Growth and Mineral Content. Journal of Plant Nutrition, 29(2): 375-390.