Understanding Aeroponics: What You Need to Know
Moving out of the realm of science fiction and into the everyday life of many Americans, indoor farming is truly making waves in the agricultural industry. Various systems are used in vertical and indoor farming facilities, most commonly aquaponics, aeroponics, hydroponics, and various forms of stackable pod systems. Some of these alternative farming systems are able to produce healthy crops without using any soil at all. One such system, aeroponics, is steadily gaining in popularity. How does aeroponics work, and is it a sustainable option for indoor farming? We’ll go over what you need to know about this indoor farming system here.
What Is Aeroponics?
A popular indoor farming system, aeroponics is a method for growing plants with no soil and minimal water. Though it has been around since the 1940s, aeroponics has experienced a recent spike in popularity, likely due to its efficiency and ability to produce edible crops in small, contained spaces. Unlike another popular indoor farming method, hydroponics, the roots of the plants are suspended in midair in aeroponic systems, with no soil or water surrounding them. The roots are regularly misted with a water-based solution that contains all the nutrients the plants need. Containment systems must be used, since the roots must be protected from exposure to the light. Aeroponic systems are particularly well adapted to utilizing vertical and tower methods to hold the plants.
Aeroponic systems are great for indoor farming, since they take up less space than some other methods, and nearly any type of plant can be grown in these systems, though commercial aeroponic farms usually produce lettuce, other greens, tomatoes, or strawberries. Aeroponics is particularly useful for farming in urban environments, where space can be limited. Because the roots of plants in aeroponic systems are open to the air, the plants can more easily access oxygen, which can be a problem in hydroponic farming, where the roots are submerged in water. Standing water loses its oxygen over time, and it must have oxygen replenished so that the plants can thrive.
Benefits of Aeroponics
Aeroponics offers several benefits when compared to other types of controlled environment farming systems. Precisely calibrated oxygen and moisture levels help plants absorb nutrients during photosynthesis more efficiently. Plant roots need oxygen, and aeroponics provides significantly more access to oxygen than some other forms of crop production. Because of this increased oxygen exposure, plants grow and mature more quickly than those cultivated with traditional farming methods that rely on soil. For indoor farms trying to produce a variety of crops quickly, aeroponics can be a useful tool, particularly when you look at the speed and quality of the plants’ growth. In addition, farmers can fine-tune the nutrient mist they spray on the plants’ roots to optimize plant growth, flowering and fruiting cycles, light synchronization, or pH levels.
In contrast, hydroponic systems can present a challenge in ensuring consistency in nutrient content, oxygen levels, and other important considerations. In this respect, aeroponics can offer some key advantages. The lack of large containers providing water and nutrition to plant roots also makes aeroponic systems easier to move around and means they take up less space overall. This increased mobility can make changes in setup or location much easier in an aeroponic system, and the small footprint of an aeroponic system makes growing a large variety of food in a small environment much easier.
Perhaps best of all, aeroponic systems use up to 95% less water than traditional soil-based farming techniques. The closed-loop system also means that there is no nutrient runoff that can pollute nearby waterways. No pesticides are necessary for controlling pests or diseases, since the equipment can simply be sterilized when necessary.
Cons of Aeroponics
Though aeroponic systems allow for fast growth and the ability to create an indoor farm in a small space, they can be somewhat difficult to get right. The nutrient mist must be sprayed at regular intervals or the roots will quickly begin to die, and the sprayers must be regularly maintained so mineral deposits do not end up clogging them. Correct nutrient content in the water must also be maintained diligently; just a minor malfunction could cause a farmer to lose one or more crops. In terms of sustainability, aeroponic systems do have one major drawback. The systems use electrical power to pump water for the mist, and most are set up with high-energy grow lights. Solar power and greenhouses can be used, but at the moment, these options are not yet the norm.
Aeroponics: Future of Farming?
The aeroponics industry is anticipating significant growth over the next several years, with experts expecting the market to be valued at nearly $3.53 billion by 2026 — a large increase from its valuation of $578 million in 2018. A few of the factors driving the growth of the industry include the increasing demand for organic food, the decreasing availability of arable land, and the ability of aeroponic systems to create a disease-free growing environment without chemicals or pesticides. Aeroponic farmers and companies are working to reduce costs related to energy use, and as their technologies improve, we should expect to see further growth in the industry.
