Hydroponics, the ‘water culture’ of plants, has been used in both research and commercial contexts. Although now used successfully on a large scale by commercial growers of fast-growing horticultural crops such as lettuce, strawberries, tomatoes, and carnations etc, hydroponics was initially developed as a part of early research into plant nutrition. Hydroponic cultivation is a method of growing plants using mineral nutrient solutions, in water, without soil. The strict definition of “hydroponic” is referred to liquid systems only. Nevertheless, a more large definition could include cultivation in mineral nutrient solution only or in an inert medium, such as perlite, vermiculite, gravel, mineral wool, coconut husk. Hydroponic systems may similarly be either closed or open with respectively recycling or non-recycling the nutrient solution. The principle advantage of hydroponic vegetable cultivation is a more efficient use of water and fertilizers, minimal use of land area, isolation of the crop.

Different types of hydroponic system established in UBC

Dutch bucket

Nutrient film technique (NFT)

Tower based vertical system

Nutrient film technique, vertical system

Soilless Farming