Hydroponics Farming

Hydroponics farming is a modern technology farming method of growing plants using mineral nutrient solutions, in water, without soil. In hydroponics farming, water is enriched with well-balanced nutrients which are essential for plants growth and better yield. Water level pH is also maintained within the specific range which results in better growth and produce. In this farming, plants take the nutrients from the water and using sunlight, they produce the output.
There are many natural resource, operational, and quality benefits to hydroponics that make it the right choice for different types of farmers. Below are a few of them:

1. Water Efficiency: Hydroponic systems use significantly less water than soil based farming and allow you to recycle the water you give to your plants. Instead of having it drain down through the soil and away from the roots of a plant, it’s collected and pumped right back to the plants. This cycle of irrigation, collection, and irrigation again continues until the plants have consumed the water.
2. No Weeds: Do you know how much time farmers spend combating weeds? No? It’s a lot. Weeding is one of the most back breaking and time consuming tasks of anyone growing plants in soil. In hydroponics, there’s no seeds from other plants in the growing medium so there’s no weeds growing and fighting against your crop.
3. No Herbicides: Since there’s no soil and no weeds, farmers have no reason to use toxic chemicals like herbicides to fight unwanted vegetation. The absence of these chemicals helps you grow cleaner food.
4. Fewer Pest: Soil based farming is vulnerable to attack from a vast number of unwanted pests that can destroy a season of hard work over night - birds, squirrels, gophers, deer, groundhogs, the list goes on. Hydroponic systems can be set up in places where these pests don’t exist or where you’ve created effective barriers, like four walls and a roof.
5. Quick Turnover: With hydroponics, there are no seasonal limits or restoration periods required for the farm. Once a plant is harvested, the next can be planted in its place allowing for maximum yield be square foot.
6. Precise control over the nutrients your plants need to thrive: By using plant-specific nutrient formulas and daily monitoring, the farmer has control over what their plants are getting and how much nutrients are getting. By providing plants with exactly what they need to grow and develop to their full size, there is little risk of poor crop quality or quantity.
7. Ability to grow year-round: Growing hydroponically allows you to grow year-round, and supply local produce 365 days a year regardless of the season. Being able to grow year-round helps farmers eliminate business risks of a poor crop season and helps increase local food access in the community.

Considering the numerous benefits of Hydroponics farming and knowing that its only likely disadvantage is the high initial cost of set-up, you might want to consider investing in one, and enjoying its long-term benefits.