What are hydroponic systems? Description of the main types of hydroponic systems. Hydroponic system with own hands

Growing fresh produce is not only a useful, but also profitable event. For modern urban conditions, it is difficult to imagine traditional land use. Most often these are greenhouse farms. Moreover, the land for obtaining vegetables, greens, flowers and other fresh products is not in vogue now. Hydroponic systems are becoming more common.

Basic concepts

So, what is hydroponics? If we address the components of the word, we see the Greek "water" and "work". Literally it turns out - "water work". In fact, pure water is not used here. It is a question of water solutions with nutrients. And hydroponic systems are artificially created conditions for the cultivation of green products with absolutely no soil. Sometimes there is a certain substrate, it happens that it is not at all. Depending on this, several types of systems for hydroponics are distinguished.

A substratum is a substance or material in which the roots of the grown plants are found. The substratum in hydroponics is in part opposed to the ground in traditional culture. It can be sand, peat, expanded clay, and in some cases - even just air. Mineral wool for hydroponic systems is widely used. The main difference between the substrate and the ground is that it does not feed plants, but serves as a conductor for the feed solution.

Important determinations that make it possible to master hydroponic systems are "trace elements" and "pH". Microelements are what each plant needs in certain proportions. In each stage of growth, each crop requires its own set of trace elements. And the level of acidity pH allows you to determine and create the conditions necessary for growth and nutrition.

Important Advantages

Hydroponic systems have a number of advantages in comparison with traditional methods of agricultural technology, such as:

1. Continuity of growth. Due to constant feeding, plants develop without stopping. There can not be a drought or rainy days. The growth conditions are maintained at a favorable and optimal level.
2. Accelerated development and maturation. Since the food is fed continuously, and the growth cycles are taken into account, the plants develop at an accelerated rate. And if in nature there are many restrictions (on the number of sunny days, on nutrition, on acidity regimes), then in hydroponics practically they do not exist. And the size of plants is limited only by genetically engineered norms.
3. Ability to plan. The processes of growth and maturation can be calculated and predicted with enviable accuracy.

Variety of hydroponics species

Given the number of various factors that regulate plant growth processes, hydroponics has a large number of systems and techniques. In general, there are six main areas, and among them "passive" and "active."

The simplest is the wick. At the root of the root is the word "wick". This system is based on feeding the nutrient solution through the wicks. In this case, the feeding is in a separate reservoir and comes to the roots of plants mechanically on the basis of the capillary effect. This method of power supply is the simplest and cheapest. This system is "passive", that is, it works by itself. It is enough only to monitor the level of nutrient solution in the tank and that's all.

Drip irrigation

The principle of operation is close to wick systems, only the food is served here not by itself, but by forced drip irrigation. To do this, there is also a container with a solution and tubes that connect the pump to the plants. There is a simple timer for controlling the flow. There are two options for drop irrigation:

• Reversible type, that is, the solution with power is used many times. Technically this is realized by draining from the pallet with the plants back into the container with top dressing. This option, on the one hand, is more economical, and on the other - requires more control due to a change in pH in the process.
• Not a reversible type. In this case, the nutrient solution, passing through the substrate and feeding on the roots of the plants, merges irrevocably. It requires less time, but more expensive.

Hydroponic of periodic flooding

Cultivation on a hydroponic system of this type is the inflow of a nutrient solution into the substrate with the plants through the time intervals set by the timer. The supply of mineral substances is carried out by the pump, and after the supply is stopped, the solution is drained back and then used again. In periods between inclusions, plant roots are naturally aerated, that is, they are saturated with oxygen. Of the disadvantages of this method, it should be noted the dependence on the pump, and hence on electricity. After all, if you do not supply food in time, the roots will simply dry up. This deficiency affects all active hydroponics systems.

Classical Nutrient Layer System

The method of the nutrient layer in hydroponics is widespread. Here, unlike the previous version, there is no need for a timer. The nutrient fluid flows through the substrate to the plants in a continuous stream. It is required to control the pH value of the pH, since the solution circulates in a circle.

Plants grown in this way grow very quickly, but they are more "gentle". In the event of stopping the feeding, the feeding quickly fades and may die. In order to prevent unpleasant events, you should take care in advance of a backup source of electricity. It is also useful to use a substrate that accumulates moisture and nutrition, such as coconut fibers.

Water culture

The growing method is suitable for moisture-loving plants. After all, the roots of plants are in the liquid all the time. It looks like a floating floating platform in a nutrient solution, on which plants are attached. The system is also "active", since a pump is used for aeration. For demonstration, it is easy to adapt an old aquarium. Among the shortcomings, a small number of species of plants capable of growing in this way are noted.

Aeroponics

The only way in hydroponics, where the substrate is the air medium. Feeding is done by feeding water mist to the plant roots. The plants themselves are fixed at a certain level from the surface and appear hanging in the air. Aeroponics requires careful calculation and high-quality equipment. In the event of de-energization or failure of any equipment, plants are at high risk.

The positive aspects of this method should be noted the possibility of creating fully automatic systems. Also, in the air environment, plant contamination is very limited, which can occur in the substrate. Comparing aeroponics with other systems, note the more economical use of water. In addition, stronger aeration promotes the rapid growth and maturation of plants.

Hydroponics in industry

Industrial hydroponic systems are widely used in urban conditions, as well as in places where there is no possibility to use soil. It is estimated that, compared with standard agricultural crops, hydroponics allows a 20-fold increase in production. Yes, when you start the system costs will be enough. At the same time the management of hydroponic farming requires special knowledge, without which brightly and magnificently growing greens can quickly decline. However, all shortcomings are more than compensated by positive factors:

• Large yields in a short time;
• Saving resources;
• Absence of disease and weeds;
• The minimum number of workers.

For example, in the US, the demand for fresh vegetables is so great that, despite the availability of their own farms, products are imported from neighboring Mexico and Canada. At the same time, industrial hydroponic farms occupy territories of 25 hectares. There are also individual private farms, which are based on more modest areas of 0.5 hectares.

Hydroponics at home

At present, home hydroponic systems are gaining popularity. And it attracts the opportunity at home to quickly grow healthy products. It should be understood that hydroponics will not be able to replace the personal plot, which gives, more often than not, moral satisfaction, and not yield in the form of a crop. In order to start growing plants at home, there are at least two ways: to buy ready-made equipment or to do everything yourself. The hydroponic system, created by oneself, is a common phenomenon, but troublesome.

If we are talking about ready-made equipment, this is one thing. In this case, it remains only to install it in a suitable place, prepare a solution for the hydroponic system and start. In the case of self-made it is important to prepare all the elements yourself. What is required for this? Most often this is:

• The capacity for the nutrient solution is approximately 3 liters per plant;
• Pump (easily fit the aquarium with the correct power);
• Forms for plants;
• Substrate;
• A set of hoses.

As a container, you can use any plastic container. In the case of planning a large system, it is more correct to install several jars to 50 liters than one large jar. Tare should be opaque (to prevent solution blooming). If this is not at hand, help comes to the paint. Plants are conveniently fixed in pots for seedlings. To do this, the holes in the solution tanks are cut out so that after the seedling is secured between the bottom and the solution, air remains.

After all the preparations have been carried out, the assembly is done. Seedlings are located in containers with a substrate, which, in turn, are fixed in a container with a nutrient solution. With the help of hoses, a two-way communication is established between the pump and the tank. One line goes to feed, the other, the so-called "reverse" - to the sink. The container, into which the food is fed, should be located with a slope for a natural drain and a full circulation of the solution with mineral components.

A little chemistry

For proper and full development, each plant needs elements such as phosphorus, potassium, nitrogen, calcium, magnesium and sulfur. In smaller quantities manganese, iron, zinc, molybdenum, boron, chlorine and copper should be consumed. It should be borne in mind that fertilizers for hydroponic systems with their own hands are introduced in strict proportions. Without fail, after the preparation of the solution, the pH value should be checked.

The determining factor in hydroponics is nutrient solution. On how well the combination of all the necessary trace elements will be correctly selected, almost everything will depend. For different species, this combination is different. Moreover, in some periods of growth and development, this or that additional increase in components is required.

Nutrient solutions in hydroponics

There are two ways. In the first one, a necessary set of trace elements and fertilizers for hydroponic systems is simply bought, and everything is bred in the specified proportions. Water is recommended to take a boiled or distilled water. At your own risk and risk, you can take the usual permanent tap. Then it remains to simply control the change in composition, add, and after a while - replace. This option is very convenient, but it costs a certain amount.

In another case, you can prepare a solution for the hydroponic system yourself. Among the ready-made recipes, there are two variants suitable for different plant species.

1. Solution for deciduous and slow growing plants: 2 teaspoons of potassium phosphate, 2.5 - potassium nitrate, 4.5 - calcium nitrate and 4 - magnesium sulfate dissolved in 40 liters of water. To the resulting solution are added dissolved in 1 liter of water, 1.25 teaspoons of boric acid, 1/10 teaspoon of manganese chloride. The last component will be added 4/5 teaspoon iron chelate in 1.6 liters of water.
2. Solution for fast-growing and light-loving vegetables: 2 teaspoons of potassium phosphate, 4 - potassium nitrate, 4.5 - calcium nitrate and 4 - magnesium sulfate in 40 liters of water. Then, two solutions are added with boric acid, manganese chloride and iron chelate, described above.

Conclusion

Hydroponics is a promising direction for the production of fresh products both in industrial and domestic conditions. Techniques of hydroponics have advantages in speed of growth and volumes of production. In many cases, you can fully automate the process or reduce human intervention to a minimum. Complex mineral kits for nutrient solutions and fertilizers for hydroponic systems are widely used even in apartment conditions. Despite the seeming complexity, the hydroponic system is able to deliver both finished products and a lot of pleasure in observation and care.