| People kept on adapting to the changing environment. | | | | The procedure entails dissolving of nutrients in the |
| As drastic changes in the weather and the need for | | | | water. Nutrients are more of inorganic and ionic form. |
| a safe and reach-in production increases, people | | | | This includes calcium, magnesium, potassium, nitrate, |
| shifted to modern means of cultivation. Hydroponic | | | | sulfate and phosphate nutrients which are essential to |
| gardening is a concept that people may not knew, | | | | plants. The first three mentioned are the |
| but has existed for more than 38 decades. As early | | | | positively-charged ions introduced to the solution |
| as 1627, hydroponics has been conceptualized by | | | | while the latter are the major nutrient anions. |
| Bacon and publicized by Gericke in 1937. Nowadays, | | | | The biggest producer in the world that uses the |
| the said procedure has been adapted in Canada and | | | | hydroponics technology can be found Willcox, |
| other countries, due to its efficiency and the | | | | Arizona, Eurofresh Farms. This produced metric tons |
| accessibility of the technology. | | | | of tomatoes in 2005. |
| Hydroponics culture is means of using water (with | | | | The said technology is within the reach of consumers |
| mineral solutions) in cultivating plants. In the 90s, | | | | with the availability of built-in hydroponics technology |
| scientist discovered that plants do not need soil in | | | | that can be used not only for agricultural production |
| order to grow but uses ionization in the process. The | | | | but also for gardening. |
| system of hydroponic is being adapted in agriculture | | | | The system is more being built in a greenhouse |
| for its claimed advantages. | | | | where the environment is thoroughly controlled. With |
| To mention: | | | | pest problems reduced, and nutrients constantly fed |
| (1) nutrient solutions may be re-used in other areas | | | | to the roots, hydroponics productivity is set at |
| such as potted plants and turf management; (2) | | | | maximum level. Climate and infestation are being |
| Growing mediums can be re-used and recycled | | | | manage to achieve fresh and undamaged produce. |
| (3) culture and technique requires less space; | | | | This is through sealed greenhouses administered with |
| (4) non-arable land can be accessed and facilitated; | | | | carbon dioxide into the environment to sustain |
| (5) reduction of agriculture overhead costs | | | | growth (CO2 enrichment) and reduction or addition of |
| (transportation, fuels,manpower etc.); | | | | the lights. |
| (6) plants develop stronger resistance; and farmer/ | | | | Details on the new built-in technology and system |
| agriculturist has more control of the plants nutritional | | | | suppliers are accessible through the web. |
| intake through controlled conditions in the process. | | | | |