This archive report was first published on 22 June 2020.
Soilless Gardening: A Game-Changer in Agriculture ¶
Published on June 22, 2020, by SILLUS O ODUOR
Soilless gardening has emerged as a revolutionary approach to agriculture, enabling farmers to cultivate healthy crops without relying on soil. This innovative method involves finding alternative ways to provide anchorage and access to nutrients, thereby eliminating the need for soil.
There are six primary techniques of soilless gardening, each with its unique characteristics and benefits. These include deep water culture, nutrient film technique, ebb and flow, drip system, aeroponics, and wicking system.
Deep water culture involves using styrofoam to hold plants as their roots float in a treated solution, mixed with essential nutrients. This system is particularly suitable for producing leafy vegetables like lettuce and spinach, which have minimal root growth.
On the other hand, the nutrient film technique is the most widely used method of soilless crop production. It does not require a timer under the water pump and supplies nutrients to the plants through trays over the roots, with excess draining into the reservoir.
Aeroponics is the most technical system, utilizing air as the growth medium. The plants' roots hang in the air and are misted with nutrients at short intervals, typically between 5-10 minutes. This system requires a reservoir pump, spray nozzles, growth media, nutrient solutions, pH, and TDS controllers.
Wicking system is the simplest soilless growing system, where nutrients are released into the growth tray through a wick. This method requires a growth tray, growth media, nutrient solution, air pump, diffuse, pH, and EC/TDS testers.
Soilless gardening offers numerous benefits, including early crop maturity, ensuring all-year-round production. When done correctly, this method can be highly profitable, making it an attractive option for farmers seeking to optimize their yields and reduce environmental impact.
As a researcher at the Department of Crops, Horticulture, and Soils at Egerton University, Oduor emphasizes the potential of soilless gardening to transform the agricultural landscape.
