This document provides an overview of hydroponics, which is a method of growing plants without soil. It discusses the basic needs of plants, and how hydroponic systems provide water, nutrients, and anchorage to support plant growth without soil. The history of hydroponics is traced back to ancient civilizations like the Hanging Gardens of Babylon and floating gardens of the Aztecs. Advantages include faster growth, fewer pests/weeds, better plant quality/taste, and the ability to grow in any conditions. Different hydroponic systems like passive capillary and active flood and drain systems are described. Lighting needs are also addressed.

1. AEX 301- Extension Methodologies
andTransfer of Agricultural
Technology
Hydroponics
BY
JAYAPRAKASH.T
2016042031

2. What is Hydroponics
• Hydroponics comes from the Latin language and
it means working water.
• "hydro" means "water"
• "ponos" means "labor".
• Soil less growing!

3. Plant Needs
What is needed for a plant to survive?
• Water
• Sunlight
• Air
• Nutrients (usually soil)
• Anchorage (root system)

4. Soil Less Growing?
! What is used as a growing media is soil isn’t
present?
- Gravel -Rockwool
- Sand -Styrofoam
Vermiculite - Anything Inert

5. History
The process of hydroponics growing in our
oceans goes back to about the time the earth was
created. Hydroponic growing preceded soil
growing.

6. History
• One of the 7 wonders of the ancient world.
• Hanging gardens of Babylon, somewhere in
(Iraq)
• The gardens were built in 604-562 BC by
Nebuchadnezzar II for his wife who grew up in
the mountains.
http://www.moorsmagazine.com/images/Hanging-Gardens-of-Babylon.jpg

7. History
Floating gardens of the Aztecs of
Mexico
A nomadic tribe, Roughly treated by their
more powerful neighbors, denied any arable
land, the Aztecs survived by exercising
remarkable powers of invention. Since they had
no land on which to grow crops, they
determined to manufacture it from the materials
at hand

8. History
• Egyptian hieroglyphic records date back several
hundred years B.C. describe the growing of
plants in water."
Hydroponics is hardly a new method of
growing plants. However, giant strides have
been made over the years in this innovative
area

9. Why?????
Q. Why have scientists and horticulturists
experimented with different methods of
hydroponics?
A. It is a simple fact that some people cannot grow
in the soil in their area (if there is even any soil
at all).

10. Advantages
Faster Growth- Hydroponics works by
automatically getting the complete nutrient
mixture and water to the roots without
drowning the plant. Plants get everything they
need all the time, so they do not waste growing a
lot of roots or searching for nutrients.

11. Advantages
No Weeds or Pests- Gardening without soil
eliminates the weeds do you do not need weed
sprays. Also, because there are no weeds, there
will be no backache from a hoe or rototiller.
Since most pests live and breed in the soil, you
do not need to use pesticides or other toxic
chemicals.

12. Advantages
Great Plant Quality and Taste- Since the
plants get everything it needs, all the time, it
will reward you with great taste, strong and fast
growth, and overall plant quality.

13. Advantages
Grow in Any Condition- Systems may be
constructed and used in any location from space
to under water exploration.
Smaller Growing Area

14. Disadvantages
• Cost of initial investment on hydroponic
systems is high.
• Hydroponic production is management, capital
and labor intensive.
• A high level of expertise is required.
• Daily attention is necessary.
• Specially formulated, soluble nutrients must
always be used.
• Pests and diseases remain a big risk.
• Some water born diseases can spread rapidly in
recirculation system.

15. Passive vs Active
• Passive systems (no moving parts) are great
for beginning hydroponics gardeners because
they are inexpensive, portable, and simple to set
up.
• Active systems employ pumps and other
devices to deliver nutrient solutions to plant
roots.

16. Plant Tissue Culturing
Process
Capillary System (passive)
The capillary or wick system do not use pumps
or timers. Water and nutrients are drawn up to
the roots by capillary action. These systems
may be important when designing a system to
operate in a space station where gravity is
nonexistent.

17. Plant Tissue Culturing
ProcessFlood and Drain System (active)
Most versatile. Each time the water floods
from the lower reservoir into the upper growing
tray, the roots are bathed in the fresh nutrients.
When the nutrient drains back to the reservoir,
fresh air is drawn through the root system
refreshing oxygen to the roots.

18. Plant Tissue Culturing
ProcessNutrient Film Technique (NFT)
The NFT systems provide a constant film of
water and nutrients along the bottom of a
channel. In effect, part of the roots grow down
in the water/ nutrients and parts of the roots
above the water line getting fresh air and
oxygen

19. Lighting
Lightening determines what you can grow. Some
plants such as vegetable require direct sunlight.
Plants such as violets need indirect sunlight.
High Intensity Discharge (HID)
Most cost effective to operate and have an
extremely long life.
-High Pressure Sodium Provides more of
the red/orange spectrum, great for flowering
and fruiting.
-Metal Halide Provides more blue/green
spectrum for vegetative growth
Fluorescent very inefficient and must be kept
close to the plants.

20. THANK YOU…