Agriculture is the practice of growing plants and livestock that we all know. But, due to soil erosion and degradation, the lands are becoming less productive. According to ourworldindata.org, almost 44% of habitat land is used for agriculture. Both human beings and animals are dependent on agriculture. In such situations, how does the living being survive? That’s where hydroponic vertical farming enters.
As the name suggests, farming on a vertical surface rather than on the ground uses water-based nutrients. It means using no soil with less land usage and increasing crop yields. This type of vertical farming is useful in areas that have non-fertile soil. Furthermore, vertical hydroponic farming is better than traditional farming because it uses 90% less water. So, grow plants while saving water for sustainability.
What is Vertical Farming?
Vertical farming is a type of agricultural farming where the plants grow one over another, either inside a building or under the ground, using an artificial system. By using this farming, farmers can enhance their productivity rate. Furthermore, it is much more beneficial than traditional farming. It uses Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) technology to maintain the plant’s requirements, such as water, nutrients, temperature, humidity, etc.
What is Hydroponic Vertical Farming?
Hydroponic vertical farming is a vertical farming technique in which the plant is growing vertically. Instead of using soil, this farming involves different substrates, such as coco peat, hydroton, perlite, clay balls, and more. These are the specific hydroponic nutrients that fulfil the plant’s requirements. Vertical hydroponic farming supports green technology by reducing land usage, conservating water, reducing herbicide and pesticide usage, and more. Hydroponic farming allows for the growth of high-quality crops in urban areas, too.
How Do Hydroponic Vertical Farming Work?
Hydroponic vertical farming is similar to normal hydroponic farming. However, in this farming, the crops are grown vertically. To grow the plants in this farming, multiple layers of trays are arranged in stacks that contain plants. Instead of using soil, these plants are grown with water-based nutrients.
Furthermore, the plants are set in different stacks to get fresh and regular irrigation along with nutrient-rich solutions. But, how does the plant get its nutrients on time? For this, a control system is prepared. The control system, which is set for a specific time, will continue to deliver the formulated nutrient solution to the plants on time.
With the help of a fertigation machine, all the essential nutrients are mixed with water. The hydroponic system contains a pump that distributes water and nutrients to the plants. Moreover, if the hydroponic system has similar plants, one line of the pump is enough to supply. The pump has a specific formula that follows for the rest of the plants of the same variety. Hydroponics system requires different water and nutrient lines for multiple varieties of plants.
It is important to note that different plants require different amounts of nutrients. So, you need to study the plant you are growing in the vertical hydroponic farming system.
Hydroponic Vertical Farming in India
India is a country popularly known for its agricultural diversity. It is also the world’s largest producer of milk, pulses, and jute. Hydroponic farming started in India from 2008-2010. But, hydroponic vertical farming is a relatively new term for Indian farmers. Now, it has become one of the trending farming practices in India due to its benefit of eliminating soil-borne diseases and pests.
Furthermore, one of the major problems faced by Indians is water scarcity. The hydroponic system eliminates this problem by using less water, land, and resources. This farming method enhances yield and faster growth rate. In India, many companies are working on vertical farming projects. They are teaching the farmers about the benefits of hydroponic farming.
Along with environmental benefits, vertical hydroponic farming increases job opportunities, too. Even in urban areas, people can do hydroponic farming in less space.
Advantages
Hydroponic farming has many advantages. So, let’s check them out:
1. No soil Involved
Hydroponic farming is a farming technology that eliminates the requirement of soil. As farming does not involve soil, the plants are free from chemicals, weeds, and pesticides. So, the plants take water as their medium, not soil.
2. Less Utilization of space
Vertical farming requires less space to grow as the plants grow vertically with higher plantation density. Moreover, it can be easily placed in a small area, such as a garden, balcony, etc. It is mainly beneficial for the urban area growers as they can do hydroponic farming in their apartments.
3. Higher Yield
Vertical farming offers higher yields in comparison to traditional farming. By stacking growing layers vertically, growers can plant extra plants in small areas, which increases productivity. Overall, it increases yield per unit area.
4. Less Water
Hydroponic farming involves less water, which helps in reducing operational costs. It also helps in green technology by saving water for water-scarce regions, supporting water conservation, and more. Many growers are using water vapour condensers in their ventilation systems to use the vapours as water.
Disadvantages
Vertical hydroponic farming has some disadvantages that need to be known before implementation. Let’s walk through it:
1. Setup cost
Implementation of hydroponic farming can be expensive. The farmers or growers need to invest in equipment, such as lighting, climate control systems, nutrient delivery systems, irrigation, and more. The investment can be difficult for the farmers. However, many vertical farming projects are going on in rural and urban areas.
2. Reduces pollination
As farming is taking place in a full control system, the entry of pests and insects can be difficult. It obstructs natural pollination by bees, butterflies, beetles, and birds. It can lead to a reduction of seed sets, genetic barriers, and more.
Bottom Line
Vertical farming is an effective way to enhance higher-yield production by requiring less space. But the soil quality is deteriorating day by day, which can lead to damage to the plant. To eliminate the problem, a hydroponic vertical farming system has been made. In this farming, the plants are grown in nutrient-rich water instead of soil. So, there is no possibility of pests attacking the plants. The number of vertical farming projects is growing, and by 2032, India will have a market size of USD 246.96 billion.
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