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Before you can understand the development and the advantages of soilless farming, it is important to have the right knowledge about soilless farming.
It has become the backup for the environment where there are ravaging crop-borne diseases.
Presently, it has been used for the production of diverse vegetables. The crops produce the accurate ratio at the right time and it’s done efficiently.
Kindly read through this article to learn more about soiless farming.
What is soiless farming?
Soilless farming is defined as the plantation of crops without the presence of soil. It uses the natural soil component or nutrient solution as a growth medium for plant roots.
Rather than using natural soil, it’s more necessary to conform to the atmospheric conditions required for the growth and development of various crops,
particularly the fundamental conditions needed for root increase, including the presence of aeration, moisture, nutrition, temperature, and cultivation that accept these basic conditions to foster the growth of crops without soil.
It is the cultivation of plants in an enclosed environment with the aim of producing fruits.
Below are the advantages of soilless farming.
1# Fast Growth and High Yield
Soilless farming makes crops spring up and develop to maturity more quickly than other methods.
The production of crops such as cucumbers and tomatoes is twice as much as the growth of soil cultivation.
2# Pest Control and Reduction of Pollution
The fact that the substance used to make the soil more fertile is soilless. This culture is a nutrient solution that works through a special process with inorganic substances.
Pollution is avoided and pests and diseases are reduced to their barest minimum, including saving labour, fertilizer, and water.
What Kinds of Nutrients are Needed in Soilless Farming?
As I have said earlier, soilless farming is a culture whereby a nutrient solution is subjected to a special process with an inorganic process. The kinds of nutrients needed in soiless farming are:
1# Manual Control
Subsequently, soilless farming is gradually being accomplished under man-made control conditions.
All the substances and elements that promote growth and the environmental conditions needed for growth can be ascertained so that the growth and development of the crops will be satisfactory.
Soilless farming is not affected by seasonal demand or availability, and it can be done at any time and in any weather condition.
2# Trending
Presently, there are two trends in the operation of soilless farming technology worldwide. One of the trends is the increased investment,
rising technology, and effectiveness in developed countries like Britain, France, Japan, Holland, and the United States of America.
This is completely managed by the use of computerisation with facilities for cultivating high labour, which is a very important and lucrative advantage.
Another trend is in developing countries like Nigeria, Ghana, and China as representatives and conforming to the public affairs, remuneration, and technical condition of the country.
Affiliate materials are used to equip local service techniques, and the manual performance of practical work and simple methods are used.
Local and foreign countries gain great benefit from careful and diligent research of soilless farming technology,
engineering, and climatic equipment because the application of soilless farming depends on the level of soilless farming technology in that country.
Chemical soilless farming is properly controlled because there is little or no risk of weeds. As a result of this, the need for herbicide is below average.
3# Watering
The need for the watering of the plants is less required because of the techniques and methods of the culture of the crops. It is agriculture-based farming without the presence of soil. Therefore, less watering of plants is needed.
4# No Limitations
You can virtually plant anywhere, depending on the type of plant. Soilless farming can be carried out in a restrained and ambient environment to address issues that concern the farm.
It assists in the highly concentrated growth of crops under a full or partial restrained system. It is capable of strengthening crop production systems in an environment with unfavourable growing conditions.
Conclusion
Soilless farming aids in removing soil-borne diseases, reduces the amount of labour required on the farm and yields more crops per year.
Aside from these benefits, the method of production in this farming system is limited to land, labor, and water.
Since the necessity of the crop is stipulated and properly sustained in a structured system, soilless farming can be carried out anywhere.
You don’t need to rent a space or location to plant your crop. If you live in a house or building that has a balcony, you can dedicate that balcony as a space for culturing your crop in a vessel.
Reference
- An Overview of Soil and Soilless Cultivation Techniques—Chances, Challenges and the Neglected Question of Sustainability
- Soilless Farming-A Key Player in the Realisation of “Zero Hunger” of the Sustainable Development Goals in Nigeria
- Hydroponics “Soilless Farming”: The Future of Food and Agriculture – A Review
