THE BASICS OF HYDROPONICS Water quality In soilless systems, roots cannot escape from undesirable situations like high salt concentrations or unfavourable pH. Therefore it’s very important to use pure water. Collected rainwater or demineralised water can be used without restrictions. The usability of tap water or ground water Growing plants in hydroponics or soilless culture is the opposite of normal soil, namely, roots grow in a limited volume. Consequently the volume of available water and nutrients is limited and the system is susceptible to salinity and pH fluctuations. The growing medium can be a substrate like peat, coco peat, perlite, mineral wool or even water. In fact, plants can grow in any material as long as the material provides for three basic necessities: oxygen, water and nutrients. In addition to the growing medium there are other very important aspects for hydroponics, which are explained briefly here.
Article written for Reiziger by
University & Research Center. The Netherlands.
depends on the chemicals it contains. When using pure water, the drainage from the growing system can be reused. This creates a closed system, which saves water and fertiliser and helps the environment. If the water quality is imperfect, over irrigation is necessary to avoid the accumulation of salts. The amount of extra irrigation depends on the crop and the water quality. The leachate is still a valuable source of water and nutrients and can be used to irrigate plants growing in the soil. Otherwise it should be disposed of.