IMPORTANT POINTS

• Hydroponics is the technique of growing plants in a defined nutrient solution in complete absence of soil.
• Hydroponics is also called Soil-less culture.
• First demonstrated by German Botanist Julius von Sachs in 1860s.

SETUP

• A defined nutrient solution containing all the essential elements in the concentration required by the plant.
• Sterile equipments to prevent contamination
• An opening for adding fresh nutrient media
• An opening for aeration
• A dark covering to prevent algal growth

APPLICATIONS

• Helped to identify the mineral nutrients essential for plants by performing a series of experiments by providing a mineral solution in which an element was added/ substituted/ removed or given in varied concentration.
• Hydroponics also helped to identify the deficiency symptoms associated with essential elements.
• Hydroponics is used as technique for commercial production of plants like tomato, seedless cucumber and lettuce.
• Can be used to grow plants in areas having low soil fertility, abnormal soil pH or soil containing pathogens.