HYDROPONICS - A SCOPE FOR FUTURE FARMING

The phase of implementation of the project started on 11th April 2019 at our GEETHANJALI COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (AUTONOMOUS) - TELANGANA. The project was executed by a team of 6 under the guidance of our head of Freshman Engineering Department Dr. NeerajaRani. The main purpose behind this is to know how Hydroponics works, as it is Pesticide free, Confined Space, Soilless.

HYDROPONICS is growing of plants in a liquid nutrient solution with or without the use of artificial media. The term ‘HYDRO’ refers to ‘water’, ‘PONOS’ refers to ‘labor’. The hydroponic system can either be liquid or aggregate. Plants can be grown in a small space; a small space allows the plants to be concentrated. As the root system is contained in a closed channel, there is less evaporation which implies less water consumption.

 The consideration of Hydroponics may result in a drastic change in terms of Cultivation.

As the years pass by, there is much advancement in Technology and people started adopting them. However, the problems of farmers are not much taken into consideration. People who were involved in farming by their inheritance or who are into farming are facing a lot of problems. Though there is advancement in technology involved in farming, most of the farmers are not aware of it. The farmers, who are aware, are not moving ahead due to the fear of leaving ‘Conventional Farming’. “As per the year 2019, the number of suicides from January to March is 610”. The reasons behind suicide are; poor irrigation, cost of cultivation, debt, not getting proper yield due to soil infertility, more usage of pesticides, lack of water, and so on.

Adoption to Hydroponics makes plants grow away from the soil environment, by using less water and no usage of pesticides. Hydroponics uses Liquid, Sand, Vermiculite, and Coco Coir to grow. Plants’ roots get nutrition from water which is enriched with liquid plant food. Liquid systems have no supporting medium for the plant roots. Hydroponics minimizes the amount of time, consumes less water, energy, and confined space; which also in turn maximizes the Crop Yield.

HYDROPONICS is growing of plants in a liquid nutrient solution with or without the use of artificial media. The term ‘HYDRO’ refers to ‘water’, ‘PONOS’ refers to ‘labor’. The hydroponic system can either be liquid or aggregate.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

In a Hydroponic system, a plant does not need a large scale Root System because; it does not have to expend energy seeking nutrients as it does when grown in the ground.

Most crops can be grown hydroponically; leaf lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, strawberries, watercress, celery, and some herbs. The method for growing these plants consists of a deep bed (4 -24 inches) which contains a well-blend cocopeat and vermicompost. Seedlings are placed directly in bed.

In addition to the plant support system, tanks, pumps, and controls are required. The tanks are made of concrete, plastic, or fiberglass. The controls can be simple time clocks and manual switches, or a computer that automatically monitors the flow of water. Using specified mixtures of nutrients, indoor farmers can grow larger and more frequent crops. The labor work, ploughing, weeding does not exist in the hydroponics culture.

The consideration of Hydroponics may result in a drastic change in terms of our cultivation.

Farming and Farmers is our majorly focused area. Barren lands, Soil infertility, Lack of water, Inability to clear loans, Seed Crisis are the problems facing by our farmers to date. Though there are other farming techniques, farmers are not adopting them. This may because of a lack of awareness or fear of leaving ‘conventional farming’. When we were successful, we decided to make the farmers aware of Hydroponics as there is no Technology involved.

 HOW DID WE WORK?

Hydroponics uses Liquid, Sand, Gravel, Clay pellets, Vermiculite, Coco Coir to grow. We assembled a PVC pipe of 4inch diameter and 10feet in length. Ten equally spaced holes have been made to fit plastic glasses within a hole at their bottom, which inclines to drain off any excess solution of nutrients. The glasses were filled with a well-blend ‘COCOPEAT’ and ‘VERMICOMPOST’ in the equal proportion used as substrate. To ensure distribution and feed of water to each glass, a levelling pipe with holes drilled and positioned on each glass was run overhead. A bottle of water ensured constant supply through the pipe.

FARMERS GET THEIR YIELD WITH MINIMUM INPUTS WHICH RESULTS MAXIMUM OUTPUT. 

*We can use the auto watering system in Hydroponics.

Now –a –days it is a big challenge to meet the needs of people globally as the population is growing. And the question of sustainability arises especially in the time of crisis. Hydroponics provides an opportunity for farming, which can also be adopted in Barren Lands, as the only work is to arrange the vertical frames. Not only farmers, but also persons who are interested in indoor gardening, who have the fear of pesticides can grow plants at their homes easily, as the usage of water, space is less. Hydroponics provides an opportunity for people to cultivate food at home.

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The project was executed by a team of six members, under the guidance of our head of Freshman Engineering Department Dr. NeerajaRani,at GEETHANJALI COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (AUTONOMOUS) - TELANGANA. 

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Now –a –days it is a big challenge to meet the needs of people globally as the population is growing. And the question of sustainability arises especially in the time of crisis. Hydroponics provides an opportunity for farming, which can also be adopted in Barren Lands, as the only work is to arrange the vertical frames. Not only farmers, but also persons who are interested in indoor gardening, who have the fear of pesticides can grow plants at their homes easily, as the usage of water, space is less. Hydroponics provides an opportunity for people to cultivate food at home.

 HOW DID WE WORK?

Hydroponics uses Liquid, Sand, Gravel, Clay pellets, Vermiculite, Coco Coir to grow. We assembled a PVC pipe of 4inch diameter and 10feet in length. Ten equally spaced holes have been made to fit plastic glasses within a hole at their bottom, which inclines to drain off any excess solution of nutrients. The glasses were filled with a well-blend ‘COCOPEAT’ and ‘VERMICOMPOST’ in the equal proportion used as substrate. To ensure distribution and feed of water to each glass, a levelling pipe with holes drilled and positioned on each glass was run overhead. A bottle of water ensured constant supply through the pipe.

FARMERS GET THEIR YIELD WITH MINIMUM INPUTS WHICH RESULTS MAXIMUM OUTPUT. 

*We can use the auto watering system in Hydroponics.

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