organic hydroponics
In conclusion
In North America and Scandinavia, there is a growing acceptance of the use of organic media (peat) and
recirculating hydroponic systems that use organically
derived nutrients to provide organically certified
produce. (There would appear to me that the potential to use “untreated” coir might provide a valuable
alternative if peat supplies ever became limited.) This
makes sense. Soil might not be neccessarily the best
medium in which to grow high value crops, because
it can be difficult to provide it with optimum levels
of both moisture and aeration. Also, producing high
yields of greenhouse crops (a necessity in expensive
capital structures) requires considerable inputs of
nutrients. In a non-recirculation system, this poses
considerable problems in terms of leaching into the
water table. As such, the insistence on the use of soil
rather than other media for organics and the objection to recirculating system is illogical in terms
of sustainability. Also, to suggest
that hydroponics is unnatural (as
"to suggest that
hydroponics is
unnatural (as has
been suggested by
some) is to limit our
future to being
“hunter gatherers”
rather than
farmers."
has been suggested by some)
is to limit our future to being
“hunter gatherers” rather than
farmers. In my view, the key
factor for the future must be
sustainability and soil-based
organic greenhouse systems might not be sustainable in
practice, whereas organic hydroponic
systems definitaly are. MY
Literature Cited
Atkin, K., & Nichols, M. A. (2004). Organic hydroponics. Acta Horticulturae, 648, 121-128.
Cooper, A. (1967). The ABC of NFT. London:
Grower Books.
Ho, L.C. (2004). The contribution of plant physiology in glasshouse soilless culture. Acta Horticulturae,
648, 19-26.
Nichols, M. A., & Lennard W. (2010). Aquaponics in
New Zealand. Practical Hydroponics and Greenhouses,
115, 46-51.
Pantanella, E., Cardarelli, M., Colla, G., Rea, E., &
Marcucci, A. (2010). Aquaponics vs hydroponics: Production and quality of lettuce crop. 28th IHC Abstracts
I, 35.
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Maximum Yield USA | September 2012