Hydroponics farming saves water, soil degradation: Dr Jinus
Source: Chronicle News Service / Sagolsem Bigyan
Imphal, March 31 2023:
Climate change has drastically affected the environment, natural resources as well as human lifestyle, and water crisis is becoming one of the leading global concerns in today's world.
While shortage of water for human consumption has been a major issue in different parts of the world for several years, the state is also facing a similar situation on late.
Apart from shortage of water for consumption, the state is also facing shortage of water for irrigation and farming purposes.
Farming of all types requires water though the amount varies depending on variety of the crop.
Besides, traditional farming requires land area to grow crops.
On the other hand, hydroponic farming also known as soilless farming is an agricultural practice, in which different types of crops are grown in water by using water-based mineral nutrients.
Speaking to The People's Chronicle, Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay Institute of Agricultural Science, School of Horticulture, associate dean Dr Senjam Jinus explained that hydroponic farming does not waste water unlike traditional farming in which water is absorbed by the soil and the plants require watering at regular interval.
Besides, hydroponic farming does not affect the soil at all, he informed.
Dr Jinus said that the world is losing soil similar to the size of a football held every minute due to various reasons including expansion of human settlement and construction works related with development and commercial projects, and soil degradation resulting out of using insecticides, pesticides, chemical fertilisers among others.
On the contrary, global population is rising on daily basis, which also increases the demand for food.
In order to bridge the demand-supply gap, farmers are resorting to chemical substances in order to enhance production, which eventually leads to soil degradation.
The traditional farming type, in which crops are planted on the surface, is known as horizontal farming.
It requires large area of land to produce adequate quantity of foods.
On the other hand, farmers with less land like in city area practice vertical farming in vertically staked layers.
Hydroponics is a type of vertical farming.
This type of farming is popular in developed countries and in India too, it is practiced mainly in Karnataka (Bengaluru) and Haryana.
Hydroponic farming contributes 16 per cent of the total farming of the country and the government is targeting to increase the proportion up to 26 per cent by 2029, he said.
Hydroponic farming used a different type of PVC pipe in which water is stored for growing the plants.
Water based mineral nutrient solutions are added to the water depending on the growth stage of the plants.
This is a scientific method of farming and requires regular monitoring.
However, it uses less water, increases crop yield in a smaller area of land.
Practicing the farming method in controlled environment such as greenhouses can make the crops resistant to weather disruption and pest infestation.
One can also carry out hydroponic farming on rooftop and it makes this method suitable for urban areas where land for farming is scarce, Dr Jinus elaborated.
(This article has been published under media fellowship programme of Central Agricultural University, Imphal's Public Relation and Media Management (PRMM) Cell.
For further information related with the report, one may contact Dr Indira Thounaojam, Information and Publicity Officer, head of PRMM Cell through [email protected]) .