Hydroponics , Aeroponics and Aquaponics Technique

1. Entrepreneurship
development in Horticulture
with various Hydroponic
Systems
Presented by: NIKHIL AMBISH MEHTA
Research Officer
Punjab State Farmer’s and Farm Worker’s Commission, Mohali

2. HYDROPONICS
 The word hydroponics technically means
working water, stemming from the Latin
words "hydro" meaning water, and "ponos"
meaning labor (working).
 Hydroponics is a subset of hydro-culture
and is a method of growing plants using
mineral nutrient solutions, in water, without
soil.
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3. Hydroponic - Working Water
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Two types - Solution culture and Medium culture.
1. Hydroponics-
• Solution Culture Type:
• Deep water culture: plant roots suspended in nutrient solution –
• Capillary System ( Passive ): inert porous medium transports water and
nutrients by capillary action. Pot sits in shallow solution or on a capillary
mat saturated with nutrient solution.
• Flood and Drain System (Active ): movement of water with pump .
• Nutrient Film Technique(Dr Alan Cooper, 1960’s) (only solution for roots)
– Continuous flow solution culture, Growing plants using mineral nutrient
solutions, in water, without soil.
• Medium Culture : Solid medium for roots , SoilLess –Grow bags or Trough
• Dutch Pot System: sub- or top irrigated, and in a container
2. Aeroponics
• In Air-Roots hanging in container- used in Potato
3. Aquaponics :
• Plants grown in Floating garden with water from Fish pond water

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5. Hydroponics - Passive systems
Passive systems (no moving parts) are great for beginning hydroponics gardeners
because they are inexpensive, portable, and simple to set up.
Capillary System (passive)
The capillary or wick system do not use pumps or timers. Water and nutrients are
drawn up to the roots by capillary action. These systems may be important when
designing a system to operate in a space station where gravity is nonexistent.
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6. Hydroponics - Active systems
Active systems employ pumps and other devices to deliver nutrient solutions to plant
roots.
Flood and Drain System (active)
Most versatile. Each time the water floods from the lower reservoir into the upper
growing tray, the roots are bathed in the fresh nutrients. When the nutrient drains
back to the reservoir, fresh air is drawn through the root system refreshing oxygen
to the roots.
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7. Hydroponics -Nutrient Film Technique
(NFT)
The NFT systems provide a constant film of water and nutrients along the bottom
of a channel. In effect, part of the roots grow down in the water/ nutrients and
parts of the roots above the water line getting fresh air and oxygen
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8. NUTRIENT FILM TECHNIQUE
 Recirculating cultivation system
 Continuous flow of nutrient solution past roots
 Shallow stream (film) of water containing all dissolved nutrients is recirculated past
the bare roots of plants in a watertight, dark channel.
 Roots develop at bottom of channel allowing for an abundant supply of oxygen to the
roots. • Slope of 1:100 recommended, but 1:30 and 1:40 are also used
 As general guide the flow rate is 1 L (0.26 gal.) per minute with an upper limit of 2 L
(0.53 gal) per minute
 Channel length should not exceed 10-15 meters (33-49 ft.)
 Operator have to pay close attention to nutrient balances, water temperature and
pathogens
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9. Hydroponics
Yesterday – Today - Tomorrow
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10. Horizontal single Layer NFT system
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11. Vertical wall type NFT System
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12. Multilayer - A Shape NFT System
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13. Multilayer - A Shape NFT System
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14. The Present…
Large Scale Hydroponic Farming
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Large scale hydroponic
farming is in use around
the world to grow the
produce that we eat.

15. The Present…
Hydroponic Farming Today
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Shipping containers are being
repurposed to create mobile local
farms allowing for produce to be
grown in the area where is will be
consumed where typical farm land
may not be available
http://podponics.com/

16. Medium Culture : Soil Less culture
 Run to waste (drain to waste) –
 Recycled Nutrient Solution -
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Soilless cultivation at CEV Kartarpur Jalandhar

18. Dutch pot System Technique using pot system
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19. Multilayer Dutch pot system
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20. Tower Type- Dutch Pot System
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21. Dutch pot System Technique using pot system
with Aeroponics
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22. Aeroponics
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23. Aquaponic
 Aquaponics is a fantastic way of growing plants faster and more efficiently than
more traditional methods. The fact that you can breed fish at the same time is a
big bonus.
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24. Aquaponics- Systems
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25. The Present…
Hydroponic Farming in Space
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The Veggie system will expand fresh food
production in space.
Rooting pillows made of Teflon-coated
Kevlar and Nomex, hold the planting media
and nutrients. The rooting pillows are
either preloaded with seeds or astronauts
inserts them in space.
The system is adjustable; as the plant
grows the pillow expands.
A water reservoir located below the pillows
and a root mat add water through capillary
action.
Energy efficient LEDs emit blue, red and
green light, producing the spectrum plants
need to thrive.
Astronaut Steve Swanson
activates the Veggie on the
ISS, May 2014

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28. The Future…
Vertical Hydroponic Farming
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It is estimated that by 2050 the
world’s population will have
boomed to 9.1 billion people.
According to the UN food
production will need to increase
by 70%.
Vertical farming and Urban Roof
Top farming with Hydroponics
as the answer to this problem.
Benefits To Hotel industry, Malls
and Urban Kitchen gardens

29. The Future…
Equinox Farming Ship (concept design)
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Engineers and designers are turning towards our vast oceans for
solutions to support food needs for the expanding world population.
Equinox farming ships are designed to be self-sufficient and carbon-
neutral; they will be powered by solar and wind energy; crops will
be grown hydroponically using seawater that has gone through a
desalinization Techniques.

30. Lettuce Cultivation – Leafy Vegetables in NFT - Amritsar
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Lettuce cultivation in
Moga- By : Gurkirpal Singh

32. NFT Models for Research
Institute/University
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33. Kitchen Garden Model of NFT
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34. NFT With Gurkirpal Singh from Moga,
Punjab
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Brahmi cultivation
A shape Design =1500 plants in 20 feet long, 4 feet width, 6 feet height.
Rs=30,000 cost

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36. Advantages
 Faster Growth- Hydroponics works by automatically getting the complete
nutrient mixture and water to the roots without drowning the plant. Plants
get everything they need all the time, so they do not waste growing a lot of
roots or searching for nutrients.
 No Weeds or Pests- Gardening without soil eliminates the weeds do you do
not need weed sprays. Also, because there are no weeds, there will be no
backache from a hoe or rototiller. Since most pests live and breed in the
soil, you do not need to use pesticides or other toxic chemicals.
 Great Plant Quality and Taste- Since the plants get everything it needs, all
the time, it will reward you with great taste, strong and fast growth, and
overall plant quality.
 Grow in Any Condition- Systems may be constructed and used in any
location from space to under water exploration.
 Smaller Growing Area
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37. Disadvantages
 Cost of initial investment on hydroponic systems is
high.
 Hydroponic production is management, capital and
labor intensive.
 A high level of expertise is required.
 Daily attention is necessary.
 Specially formulated, soluble nutrients must always
be used.
 Pests and diseases remain a big risk.
 Some water born diseases can spread rapidly in
recirculation system.
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38. Thank You
38Contact number- 7508018998
Email- dr.nikhil.hdo@gmail.com