Hydroponics: How Engineers Are Growing Plants Quicker

Hydroponics is a method of growing plants without soil, using water enriched with the exact same nutrients they need. Instead of searching through dirt for food, a plant’s roots directly receive the necessary nutrients which allows them to grow faster, healthier and more efficiently than in traditional soil. 

One of the biggest practical advantages of hydroponic systems is their efficiency with resources. Contrary to what one may believe, they use far less water than soil farming because water is recirculated and delivered straight to the roots, reducing water usage significantly. Soil farming loses huge amounts of water to evaporation and runoff, but hydroponics completely cut the need for that. Additionally, because there's no soil, it completely eliminates the possibility of soil-borne diseases, weeds, and pests. This makes it much easier to grow in indoor environments where land is limited, and environmental conditions can be controlled. 

Hydroponic systems also allow precise control of nutrients, pH, light, and other factors that affect plant growth. This allows for optimization which speeds up growth and often increases yield compared to field farming. This kind of controlled environment farming protects plants from unavoidable effects like weather and pests. 

While hydroponics often requires more setup and technical knowledge, the gains in water savings, land use, crop quality, and growth speed make it an effective alternative to conventional agriculture, especially in today’s world where space and resources become more and more valuable. 

Works Cited

Woodard, J. (2019, August 26). What are hydroponic systems and how do they work? Fresh Water Systems. https://www.freshwatersystems.com/blogs/blog/what-are-hydroponic-systems?srsltid=AfmBOookGKzS5xRiyk4o6E-9bggmkMYQOWl-nIRsIsgjtWhTMLTtJd1H