Smart irrigation using hydroponics in AIKTC

Abstract

Many of us think that all veggie gardens have to look alike, with rows and mounds of dirt, but vegetable gardening isn't limited to this anymore. In fact, many of the fresh fruits and vegetables you buy in the store are grown hydroponically, especially during the winter months or in colder climates. Hydroponics is a method of growing crops without soil. Plants are grown in rows or on trellises, just like in a traditional garden, but they have their roots in water rather than in dirt. Most of us confuse soil with nutrients. In fact, soil provides structure, not the actual food itself, for plant roots. The food comes from other materials mixed in the soil, such as compost, broken-down plant waste or fertilizers. Plants grown hydroponically can actually grow faster and healthier than plants in soil because they don't have to fight soil borne diseases; in addition, all the food and water they need are given directly to their roots around the clock. The objectives of our present study are to explain the meaning of hydroponics and describe some of its advantages, to describe how hydroponic system differs from traditional system, to identify advantages of hydroponics over soil based system, to identify basic requirements of hydroponically grown plants and to suggest optimum dosage of stabilizer for soil improvement levels. Keywords: hydroponics, smart irrigation, soil less irrigation.