How Planners can support Hydroponics By Taylor Szabo

What are hydroponics? 1937, formed in English from hydro- + -ponics, from Greek ponein "to labor, Growing plants in nutrient rich waters without soil is known as hydroponics. Environment with controlled conditions of light, temperature, and humidity. sand, sawdust, lava rocks, & gravel can also be used along with the enriched water. Hydroponic systems tend to be relatively sterile. Officially named in 1937. derived from the english & greek origin. The english word “hydro” means water & “ponics” comes from the greek ‘ponein” word meaning ‘to labor’. Hydroponics are the cultivation of plants by placing the roots in nutrient enriched water rather than in soil. Using controlled environments play a major role in this method. Growers must manipulate the light, temperature, & humidity to fit the plant’s ideal needs. Often times, gravel, sawdust, lava rocks &/or sand can be used simultaneously with the water. http://www.simplyhydro.com/growing4.htm In most cases, plants grown hydroponically normally do not encounter any issues caused by pests being that the environment is pretty sterile. Soil-borne pests and diseases are immediately eliminated, as are weeds.

But how can plants grow without soil? The growth of a plant depends on water, nutrients, & sunlight. nutrient solution = Macronutrients=nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), sulfur (S), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), & magnesium (Mg). Micronutrients= iron (Fe), chlorine (Cl), manganese (Mn), boron (B), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), and molybdenum (Mo). photosynthesis =sunlight + chlorophyll carbon dioxide & water =glucose & oxygen 6CO2 + 6H2O → C6H12O6 + 6O2 Water & nutrients can easily be obtained from soil, but the soil only acts as a medium for the plant plants undergo photosynthesis in which they use sunlight and a chemical inside their leaves called chlorophyll to convert carbon dioxide & water into glucose & oxygen. Write that out chemically and you get this equation: Nutrients can easily be obtained from soil, but the soil basically just acts as a home for the roots nutrient solution is a proprietary mixture of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), sulfur (S), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg), which are now defined as the macroelements or macronutrients (elements required in relatively large amounts)

Basic Hydroponic system So this is a very simple, basic hydroponic system. nutrient tank stores nutrients which is circulated by figure B. The nutrients then flow into the grow channel (C) and are absorbed by the plant roots in the growing tray(D). Lastly, the unused nutrients flows back into the tank and the process continuously repeats(E).

Exploration of hydroponics

Early History. Way back in the day Floating gardens of the Aztecs of America were driven onto the marshy shore of Lake Tenochtitlan located in the great central valley of what is now Mexico. rafts made of rushes & reeds, called Chinampas Layed sand from shallow end of the lake onto the rafts roots of these plants would grow through the floor of the raft & down into the water. abundant crops of vegetables, flowers, and even trees planted on them. Hydroponics is as ancient as the pyramids. A primitive form has been carried on in Kashmir for centuries. believed to have started in Babylon with its famous Hanging Gardens One of the Seven Wonders of the World many believe it started in the ancient city of Babylon with it's famous hanging gardens, which are listed as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and was probably one of the first successful attempts to grow plants hydroponically. The floating gardens of the Aztecs of America, a nomadic tribe, they were driven onto the marshy shore of Lake Tenochtitlan, located in the great central valley of what is now Mexico. rafts of rushes and reeds, lashing the stalks together with tough roots they dredged up soil from the shallow bottom of the lake, piling it on the rafts. Because the soil came from the lake bottom, it was rich in a variety of organic debris, decomposing material that released large amounts of nutrients. These rafts, called Chinampas, had abundant crops of vegetables, flowers, and even trees planted on them. The roots of these plants, pushing down towards a source of water, would grow through the floor of the raft and down into the water.

History 1600 Belgian Jan van Helmont Wanted to prove what plants actually need to grow. 1860 Professor Julius von Sachs created the first dissolvable nutrient solution This was the origin of "Nutriculture". Nutriculture, chemiculture, & aquaculture =terms, used during 1920s & 1930s to describe soilless culture. After extensive research between 1925 and 1935, Nutriculture intervened into large-scale crop production. The earliest recorded approach to discover hydroponics was in 1600 when Belgian Jan van Helmont attempted to prove that plants obtain substances from water rather than soil. He planted a 5 lb willow shoot in a tube of 200lbs of dried soil & pumped water through it for about 5 years. His experiment resulted in favor of his hypothesis: the willow shoot’s weight increased by 160lbs & virtually no soil was lost. Many others experimented with the idea of hydroponics. but it wasnt until 1860 when prof. julius von sachs created the first dissolvable solution that had successfully optmized the growth of his plants. similar techniques are still used today in laboratory studies of plant physiology and plant nutrition.

radishes, hydroponically grown at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. these radishes are being grown hydroponically at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. Space scientists are particularly interested in hydroponics, because there's no soil in space. If we want to grow food away from Earth, hydroponics may be the best way to do it.

6 different types of hydroponics Aeroponics Drip Growing Systems Wick system Water Culture Ebb & Flow Nutrient Film System

Aeroponics referred to as Fogponics the roots are not suspended in water but hang in the air where they receive a nutrient-rich growing medium via misting. Excellent for tomatoes, herbs, potatoes & chile peppers beneficial because soil-borne pathogens are entirely avoided In an Aeroponic system, sometimes referred to as Fogponics, the roots are not suspended in water but hang in the air where they receive a nutrient-rich growing medium via misting.

Drip Growing Systems most common & simplest form some systems recover & recycle the excess nutrient solution from the reservoir. other systems use a controlled timer slowly releases nutrient solution via nutrient pump onto the base of each plant through a small drip line. One of the most common and simplest forms of hydroponics is the drip growing system, some of which recover and recycle the excess nutrient solution from the reservoir. As in some other systems, a timer controls a submersed pump which drips nutrient solution onto the base of each plant via a small drip line.

Wick System easiest hydroponic system involves no moving parts. “self-watering” uses a variety of growing media the nutrient solution gets released onto the growing tray delivered to the roots through a wick. easiest hydroponic system, the Wick System involves no moving parts. This system can use a variety of growing media, but in all cases the nutrient solution gets released onto the growing tray and delivered to the roots through a wick.

Water Culture System Commonly found in classrooms but also conventionally easy & inexpensive plant roots are suspended on a floating Styrofoam platform over a reserve of water Nutrient solution & oxygen is pumped into the reserve & then soaked up by roots Many classrooms use a Water Culture technique, an easy, inexpensive, form of hydroponics wherein the plant roots are suspended on a floating Styrofoam platform and can be observed hanging below the floating platform.

Ebb & Flow has been used for years & works well gravel based ebb / flow (flood and drain) type systems were the most common commercially available systems plants are watered from the bottom through the drain holes in the pots. Individual potted plants are organized on a “drain table” in a few inches of water sporadic doses of nutrient solution is pumped in & floods the bed excess solution drains after a few minutes This growing medium has been used for years and works well. Many or the earlier hydroponic systems that were commercially available to the public were gravel based ebb / flow (flood and drain) type systems. Individual potted plants are arranged on a drain table or "growing bed" which can hold a few inches of water. Periodically, nutrient solution is pumped in, flooding the holding bed. The plants are watered from the bottom through the drain holes in the pots. After a few minutes of soaking, the pump cuts off, and the table drains, the nutrient returning to the reservoir below it. This flood-and-drain cycle repeats 2-4 times a day. Simple but very effective.

Nutrient Film System Basically what we saw at Greensgrow continuous nutrient flow doesn’t require a timer nutrient solution is pumped over the plant roots onto a grow tray drained into a reservoir plants are typically grown in small pots roots suspended into the nutrient solution without any additional growing medium other than air This system involves a continuous nutrient flow, so it doesn’t require a timer. The nutrient solution is pumped over the plant roots onto a grow tray, then drained into a reservoir. The plants are typically grown in small pots, their roots suspended into the nutrient solution without any additional growing medium other than air.

Common Locations of Hydroponics Very affluent in Urban areas common in locally depressed areas Urban Hydroponic farms are typically found in huge warehouses Also commonly grown in Greenhouses popularity has been steadily rising in rural areas

Benefits of Hydroponics Why choose hydroponics over traditional farming Much greater crop yields smaller roots= more plants in the same area =more yield from the same amount of ground Far less expensive than traditional farming Better for the environment less chemicals & pesticides ** Soil-borne pests & diseases are immediately eliminated weeds are virtually non-existent. the labor involved in tending to the plants is reduced. 86% less water used than traditional farming (ironic)**

Application of Hydroponics Commercial growers interest in hydroponics is rapidly increasing. the most lucrative farming method due to how many aspects it satisfies. step forward to ending world hunger making the world greener/cleaner). ambitious individuals are striving to make their dreams come true by making their living in their backyard greenhouse, selling their produce to local markets and restaurants. Anything can grow hydroponically Most common crops grown by commercial growers are salad greens tomatoes potatoes peas peppers

BrightFarms BrightFarms Farms of BrightFarms Kansas City, MO Bucks County, PA Elkwood, VA Rochelle, IL BrightFarms BrightFarms Inc - 21 W 46th Street, Suite 1109, New York, NY 10036 USA finances, designs, builds & operates greenhouse farms, cutting time, distance, and cost from the produce supply chain. inspiration by desire to grow food in the same communities where it’s consumed Mission to grow food that’s fresher, tastier, & better for the environment.

Current situation of Agriculture BrightFarm’s Solution to the Current Situation of Agriculture As the population grows, our food system is becoming less efficient & producing fewer fresh vegetables. Food is being commercially grown through the use of tractors, trucks, oils, fertilizers & other factors that are contributing to the pollution in our environment. When the price of energy increases, the price of food also increases. Farmers are finding it to be more difficult to maintain growing fresh vegetables in a natural way due to unpredictable outcome of the crop yield. This is having an impact on our society & how we value food. “BrightFarms’ mission is to improve the environmental impact of the food supply chain and increase the relative consumption of whole and fresh foods,” “By building greenhouses at or near supermarkets, we’re growing year-round local produce that prioritizes our farmers, our food quality, our health, and our environment,”

How Planners can support Hydroponics How it stimulates the economy Community Health large impact on the social and emotional well-being of individuals. Individuals report to have decreased levels of stress and better overall mental health when interacting with nature. Urban gardens are thought to be relaxing & calming, a space of retreat in densely populated urban areas Hydroponic farms in locally depressed, highly populated areas= Planners will not only satisfy the demand for fresh food but also create more jobs available to the people in the area.

References: http://brightfarms.com/s/#!/our_farms http://hydroponicshabitat.com/hydroponics-systems http://www.simplyhydro.com/growing4.htm http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=hydro-&allowed_in_frame=0 http://brightfarms.com/s/#!/our_farms http://www.gardenguides.com/124349-common-crops-used-hydroponics.html

http://www.simplyhydro.com/system.htm http://www.homehydrosystems.com/hydroponic-systems/systems.html http://www.simplyhydro.com/whatis.htm http://www.explainthatstuff.com/hydroponics.html http://www.rain.org/global-garden/hydroponics-history.html history http://www.urbangardensweb.com/2014/01/14/six-kinds-of-hydroponic-gardening-systems-and-hydroponic- planters/ history

https://www. google. com/search https://www.google.com/search?q=EARLY+HYDROPONIC&source=lnms&tbm=is ch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjRx- z1hNLJAhWDOSYKHU0XCRIQ_AUIBygB&biw=1080&bih=632#imgrc=m- WxUZP2DLK08M%3A https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban_agriculture