Hydroponic Growing System (PA Technology)

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Last modified by Franz Schreier on 2014-12-02. This is a wiki so please feel free to update information by clicking on "Edit with form". | Printable version

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Name of technology example:		Type
Hydroponic Growing System		☐ Energy Efficiency ☐ Renewable Energy ☑ Alternative Methodology

Description	Hydroponics is a subset of hydroculture and is a method of growing plants using mineral nutrient solutions, in water, without soil. Terrestrial plants may be grown with their roots in the mineral nutrient solution only or in an inert medium, such as perlite, gravel, biochar, mineral wool, expanded clay pebbles or coconut husk. Researchers discovered in the 18th century that plants absorb essential mineral nutrients as inorganic ions in water. In natural conditions, soil acts as a mineral nutrient reservoir but the soil itself is not essential to plant growth. When the mineral nutrients in the soil dissolve in water, plant roots are able to absorb them. When the required mineral nutrients are introduced into a plant's water supply artificially, soil is no longer required for the plant to thrive. Almost any terrestrial plant will grow with hydroponics. Hydroponics is also a standard technique in biology research and teaching. (Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydroponics)
Technology for the Application of	☑ Solar ☐ Biomass ☐ Biofuel ☐ Biogas ☑ Wind ☐ Geo-Thermal ☐ Hydro ☐ Energy Efficiency ☑ Other: Any electrical power or heat provided by renewables
Primarily Relevant for the following Agricultural Value Chain Steps	☐ Mechanization ☐ Efficiency of Operation ☐ Processing ☐ Transportation ☐ Controlled Atmosphere ☐ Controlled Temperature ☐ Mechanical Sorting ☐ Preservation ☑ Other: Alternative methodology
Primarily Relevant for the following Agricultural Value Chain Activities	☐ Grinding ☐ Hauling and conveying ☐ Sorting ☐ Seedbed Preparation ☐ Milling ☐ Tearing ☐ Planting ☐ Washing ☐ Mixing ☐ Pumping ☐ Heating ☐ Drying ☑ Irrigation ☐ Cooling ☐ Animal feeding ☑ Fertilizing ☐ Venting ☐ Animal health and Welfare ☐ Pest Management ☐ Lighting ☐ Packing and branding ☐ Cutting ☐ Sanitation ☑ Other: Alternative methodology
Primarily Implemented in the following Commodity Groups	☐ Cereals ☐ Fruits and vegetables ☐ Nuts and berries ☐ Forage ☐ Dairy products ☐ Meat products ☐ Oil Seeds ☐ Roots and Tubers ☐ Eggs ☐ Pulses ☐ Fiber Crops ☐ Forestry ☐ Sugars ☐ Stimulants ☐ Spices ☐ Other: /
Region & Country of Development	Region ☐ Africa ☐ South Asia ☐ East Asia & The Pacific ☑ Europe & Central Asia - Netherlands ☐ Latin America & The Caribbean ☐ Middle East & North Africa ☐ North America ☐ N/A: /
Region & Country of Current Deployment	Worldwide ☑ Africa ☑ South Asia ☑ East Asia & The Pacific ☑ Europe & Central Asia ☑ Latin America & The Caribbean ☑ Middle East & North Africa ☑ North America ☐ N/A: /
Region & Country of Potential Deployment	Worldwide ☑ Africa ☑ South Asia ☑ East Asia & The Pacific ☑ Europe & Central Asia ☑ Latin America & The Caribbean ☑ Middle East & North Africa ☑ North America ☐ N/A: /
Manufacturers	JB Hydroponics B.V., Netherlands Formflex Horti Systems B.V., Netherlands Meteor Systems B.V.
Economics	High investment, but high yields possible;
Technology Development Level	Well established worldwide use;
Required Maintenance Technical Level	Medium: Technology can be maintained through its life cycle with uncommon tools and requires moderate training for maintenance;
Required Infrastructure for Deployment	Medium: Technology development requires uncommon tools, mid-development level supporting technologies and moderately trained personnel;
Required Resources during manufacture	Steel, plastics, energy;
Required Resources during operation	Fertilizer, water, electricity and heat;
Deployment Level	Worldwide use in highly professional greenhouses; Not yet very much deployed for small scale local use;
Deployment Capability and Potential	The technology can be widely deployed but for small scale applications resources or material supply and distribution chains and also education are required;
Requirements for Deployment	For small scale applications material supply and distribution chains and also education are required;
Relevance for Autonomy and Food Security	Energy and Service independent: requires supporting technology;
Environment Impacts (emissions)	Low: no direct emissions but indirect emissions; Drain-off hydroponic nutrient solutions;
Conformity with Bio- Cybernetic System Rules
Additional information / Comments	No comments.
Internal Reference
Additional Links	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydroponics http://agrovision.co.in/hydroponics.shtml http://www.formflex.nl/main.php?lang=en http://www.irrigation.com/E%20Meteorsystems.htm http://www.jbhydroponics.com/English/home_eng.htm http://youngagropreneur.wordpress.com/2011/09/29/hydroponics-aquaponics-and-aeroponics/