Hydroponics1
Have you ever thought of growing plants without soil? A science known as hydroponics will allow you to do just this. Hydroponics systems have been used since the time of the ancient Babylonians who used them to used them to grow their famous hanging gardens. Today, all around the world, fruits, vegetables, flowers, and ornamental plants are grown using hydroponics. The word hydroponics was derived from the Greek words hydros, meaning water, and ponos, meaning labor, or literally, water working. Hydro-ponics is simply growing plants in a water and balanced fertilizer solution. It is rapidly becoming the most common way of growing speciality crops and crops that require special conditions to grow. Hydroponics is also known as Soilless/Controlled Environment Agriculture. This means that plants are grown without soil in greenhouse environments in which everything from the amount of nutrients applied to the temperature and humidity can be monitored closely. Greenhouses are ideal for hydroponics systems because they have their own climate. New types of greenhouses are designed to distribute light from the sun during the day to promote better plant growth and retain heat at night whic
Commercial growers often use a product known as Perlite as a growth medium in their hydroponics system. Perlite is a volcanic glass formed when lava cools rapidly trapping water. The glass is crushed and heated to very high temperatures. From this comes a soft mineral foam. This foam can hold large amounts of water, and has a neutral pH. These two factors make it ideal for a growth medium. Speciality crops such as tomatoes, lettuce, cucumbers, and hot peppers, which cannot be grown conventionally all year long, are being grown in hydroponically. These vegetables which were previously scarce in some seasons will be plentiful all year. Hydroponically grown vegetables can be harvested year 'round so even regions that have harsh winters, or short growing seasons can enjoy these special crops anytime. Hydroponics may not be the best way to grow for everyone but it seems to be a very feasible alternative to traditional growing. Many positive results show that hydroponics have a definite place in the future of growing. h saves on fuel. These greenhouses are quickly becoming choice places for growers to set up their hydroponics systems. These set-ups are increasing yields and decreasing plant loss which is more profitable for the grower. There are certain nutrients that are needed to make a quality nutrient solution for a hydroponics system. These elements are Nitrogen, Potassium, Phosphorous, Calcium, Magnesium, Su
Some common words found in the essay are:
West Virgina, Environment Agriculture, Zinc Chlorine, Gardening Soil, grown hydroponically, hydroponically grown, plants grown, hydroponics systems, speciality crops, using hydroponics, hydroponics system, propose using hydroponics, fruits vegetables, ornamental plants grown, ornamental plants, growth medium, researchers propose using,
Approximate Word count = 980
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)
|
