ARKA Educational & cultural Trust (Regd)

JAIN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Davanagere 577-003

Technical Seminar Presentation

On

“ HYDROPONICS ”

Present By:- Under the Guidance of

Mr. Shivaraj P Mr. Ramesha M
USN: 4JD20CV451 Assistant Professor
Civil Engineering Department Department of Civil Engineering

1
Contents
1. Introduction
2. Literature Review
3. Methodology
4. Case-Study
5. Merits and Demerits
6. Conclusion
7. References
1. Introduction
a) General
Conventional agricultural practices can cause a wide range
of negative impacts on the environment. “Conventional
agriculture” has been historically defined as the practice of
growing crops in soil with proper irrigation technique is used.
The most available growing media for plants is soil, which
provides nutrients, water, air and importantly it provides
anchorage for successful growth of plants.
Some of the negative impacts of conventional agriculture
include
• The high and inefficient use of water, large land
requirements, high concentrations of nutrients and pesticides
in runoff and soil degradation accompanied by erosion.
Conventional agricultural systems use large quantity of
irrigation fresh water and fertilizers with relatively marginal
returns. Fig:1.1 Plants Nutrients
• Soil-based agriculture is facing some major challenges with
the advent of civilization all over the world.
1. Introduction
b) History
• The Hydroponic was first used in 1937, coined by Dr. William Frederick
Gericke (a physiologist of the University of the California at Berkeley),
aptly known as the “Father of Hydroponic” (he made news when he was
able to grow tomato vines more than 7.6-meters long just using mineral-
nutrients solutions, right in his back yard). After leaving his university
position, Gericke wrote and published ‘Complete Guide to Soil-Less
Gardening’ in 1940.
• There are accounts of the US Army using hydroponics to grow fresh
food for the troops stationed in the infertile pacific island, during World
War Ⅱ.
• In Fig1.2 Dr. William Frederick Gericke, standing on a ladder, harvested
on of his tall tomato plants in hydroponics. Mrs. Gericke stands blow
with some of the harvest. In one report, in the Baltimire Sun newspaper,
it was claimed that h had 25-foot-tall tomatoes growing in a space of
five foot by five foot. The total amount grown of tomatoes in this space
was over 300 pounds.
• Today it is common for a commercial tomato plant in hydroponics to
grow 40 feet long and produce 32 pounds of tomato. A tomato grown in
soil usually produces only 7 pounds of tomato. Fig:1.2 Tomato Plants Grown by Hydroponically
2. Literature
Review
2.1 General Theory-Foley et al. 2011, Avgoustaki & Xydis 2020, Treftz & Omaye 2016b, Salas et
al. 2012; Sardare & Admane 2013.
Conventional agriculture or modern industrial agriculture has many issues, from inefficient water use to soil
degradation.
To cease the expansion of agriculture as this spread threatens biodiversity and carbon-storing forests. To narrow
the yield gap (the difference between observed yields and potential yields) and enhance production acquired
from currently cultivated land. To use resources such as scarce water and land efficiently. To change diets and
lower wastes during the whole food chain.

The possible solution to inadequacies of conventional agriculture, i.e., hydroponics, principally deals
with proposals as mentioned above throughout the current thesis. As consumers’ knowledge about
environmental impacts of in-soil agriculture and limitations of natural resources increases, the tendency to
explore hydroponics and its advantages or disadvantages increases (Treftz & Omaye 2016b).
 2. Literature Review
2.2 Land and Water - Limits and Conflicts-FAO 2.3 Urban Agriculture- Chagomoka et al. 2015, UN
2011; Fischer et al. 2014, Rosegrant et al. 2002. 2019b P.4, Treftz & Omaye 2016b.
• Like limited land, water which is essential for food 2007, for the first time, the number of residents in urban
production, food security, drinking, industry, areas became greater than those living in rural areas
sanitation, and so many other purposes, faces (UN, 2019b). This trend has continued consistently in
scarcity, and this threat is accelerated by water the following years. According to FAO (2017), the
contamination, degradation of water ecosystems, and difference in numbers of residents in urban areas and
careless use of current water resources (Rosegrant et rural areas is growing as the population increases (the
al. 2002). Another serious concern is the use of
population of cities and towns enhances, and a
polluted water for irrigation, which directly
threatens health via food consumption since the noticeable number of rural inhabitants move to urban
demand for water increases not only by agriculture areas). They also mentioned that this trend influences
but also by industrial and domestic water use (ibid.). dietary preferences and food systems.
An essential step toward improving water usage
habits is to save water from agricultural, industrial,
and household use with the same outputs, i.e.,
efficient water use.
3. Methodology
a) Definition
Any method in which plants are grown without using soil as a rooting media and essential nutrients can
be supplied through irrigation water” is said to be soilless culture. Hydroponics is one of the soilless culture
systems. The word “hydroponics” is derived from Greek words, “hydro” which means water and “ponos” which
means labor (water work).

Fig:3.1 Hydroponics
 3. Methodology
b) Types of Hydroponics with setup System

Hydroponic

Passive System Active System

Water Ebb and Nutrient

Wick Drip Airoponic
Culture Flow Film

Fig:3.2 Classification of Hydroponic System

3. Methodology
c) Types of Crops Can grow using hydroponic method
Name of crop
Type of crop
(Common name)

Cereals Rice, Maize, Wheat, Oat, Soybean, Peas

Potato, Tomato, Chilli, Green bean, Bell pepper, Beet, Cauliflower,

Vegetables
Cucumber, Onion, Radish, Lettuce

Fruits Strawberry

Fodder crops Sorghum, Barley, Bermuda grass, Carpet grass

Flower Marigold, Roses, Carnation, Chrysanthemum

Condiments Parsley, Mints, Sweet basil, Oregano

Medicinal crops Aloe

Table:3.1 Some Other List of Crops Grown Using Hydroponics System (Khan et.al.,2018)
3. Methodology
d) Procedure to grow vegetables by using hydroponic method
3. Methodology
 3. Methodology
d) Equipment required for hydroponic forming
1. Plastic trays for the medium, nutrient solution. 9. Seeds or plants cuts

2. A table or elevated stand to hold the trays 10. Nutrient solution

3. A container to hold the nutrient mixture 11. pH meter

4. A pumping cable or pipe can pump 500 liters per hour 12. Induction lights

5. Small pots with hols to hold the plants 13. LED grow light

6. Growing medium if necessary 14. Beneficial insects

7. Drainage tube 15. Sprayers

8. Timer, thermometer, and other sensors

4. Case-Study Country Date
Area
Main system Major crops Grown
(ha)
Tomato, Cucumber,
d) Global Hydroponics 1987 3500 Rockwell and other media Capsicum, Eggplants, cut

Industry - Characteristics The

flower, beans, lettuce
Tomato, cucumber,
and Trends Netherland Capsicum, eggplants,

• In the 1940’s, commercial hydroponic (Holland)

2001 10000 Rockwool
strawberry, lettuce, radish,

production accounted for around 10 ha roses, gerbera,

globally. By the 1970’s this had chrysanthemum, freesia,

expanded to around 300 ha, and to carnation.
6,000 ha by the 1980s (Donnan, 1998). Spain
1996 1000
Perlite, Sand, Rockwool
Lettuce, cucumber, capsicum,
In the year 2001 it is estimated that 2001 4000 tomatoes
commercial hydroponics accounts for Canada
1987 100 Rockwool, sawdust & NFT Tomato, cucumber, lettuce
somewhere between 20,000 and 2001 2000 Rockwool & perlite. Tomato, cucumber, capsicum
25,000 ha of production worldwide Honewort, tomato, leaf onion,
1984 293 Water, rockwool, NFT lettuce, musk melon,
cucumber
Japan
Tomato, onion, strawberry,
DFT, NFT, gravel culture and
1999 1000 lettuce, cucumber, roses,
rockwool.
carnation, chrysanthemum.
4. Case-Study
e) Hydroponic Entrepreneurs
• 1. FarmingV2, set up in 2018
• Founder: Rohit Nagdewani
• Indoor and outdoor hydroponic farms.
a) Setting it up
• He started experimenting with small imported setups but couldn’t scale due to the lack of information
and equipment. With their help he set up his first commercial farm. The challenge for hydroponic Fig:4.1 Rohith Nagdewani
farmers like him is the fact that the technology is at a very nascent stage, so getting access to the right
people, equipment and process is not easy. No government permissions were needed.
b) Investment
• He started with a small 300 sqft indoor farm that cost him Rs 4 lakh. Now he have expanded to a 6,600
sqft indoor farm and one 6,000 sqft outdoor farm. All this cost to him is Rs 45 lakh.
c) The challenges
• Both the capex and the opex of a hydroponic farm is higher than soil grown produce, which results in a
higher selling price. In the case of commodity crops like wheat and rice, the price will be four times
more that soil-grown crops
• He saw the opportunity in the greens business. Last year India grew 15 crores tonnes of greens. There
is a market for it and producing greens costs marginally more than traditional crops, about 2-3%. With
the nutritional benefits there are people who will pay more. I have 500 customers who are subscribers
and a few restaurants who buy regularly.
4. Case-Study
f) Salad Growers, set up June 2019
• Founder: Yash Patel
• Grows variety of greens and herbs; sells by monthly subscription

a) Investment
Fig:4.2 Yash Patel
• He invested Rs 15 lakh to set up a 500 sqft farm and that changed the
game for him. Today, his farm can churn our 1,500 plates of salad per week. He
also planning to set up another farm of 4000 sqft.
b) The challenges
• His primary challenge is to educate their potential customers on the
benefits of their product. This topic is gaining momentum on social media and
more people are aware of the benefits of eating hydroponic food.
4. Case-Study
g) Best Plants To Grow In The Hydroponic System
Fastest Growing Plant in Hydroponic System
Mustard greens Lettuce
Swiss chard Kale
Spinach Watercress
Bell Pepper Strawberries
Hot Peppers Green beans
Tomatoes Cucumbers
Most Profitable Plants To Grow in Hydroponic System
Basil Cilantro
Dill Mint
Chives Bay leaves
Ginseng Cannabis
4. Case-Study
h) Why Grow without soil. i) What i experienced
• Grow anywhere
• Higher yield
• Easy Troubleshooting
• Fewer resources
5. Merits and Demerits
A) Merits A) Demerits
1. An extended growing season 1. Expensive to set up
2. Improved growth and yield 2. Vulnerable to power outages
3. Higher plant density 3. Requires constant monitoring and
4. Plants can grow anywhere maintenance
5. Less water consumption 4. Waterborne diseases
6. Fewer pest problems 5. Problems affect plants quicker
7. Easier to harvest mature plants
6. Conclusion
• Agriculture is the developing industry of our country which
is expected to grow rapidly in future as well.
• From the above study we can conclude that hydroponics is
the alternative farming method which does not require soil
or wide space.
• Hydroponic cultivation of plants is better than traditional
methods of cultivation.
• It can play a great role in cultivating plants especially in
urban areas where very limited space is available.
• In future, training should be provided to farmers for growing
plants using Hydroponics system. Agriculture universities
and research institution should be given funds to perform
survey and try to develop new techniques which is cost
effective.
7. References
• [1] International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 9 Number 8
(2020)- Hydroponics – A Review Seerat Jan, Zahida Rashid, Tanveer Ahmad Ahngar1, Sadaf Iqbal, M. Abbass Naikoo,
Shabina Majeed, Tauseef Ahmad Bhat, Razia Gul1 and Insha Nazir.
• [2] International Journal of Recent Scientific Research Vol. 11, Issue, 01(F), pp. 37122-37127, January, 2020-Review
on Soilless Method of Cultivation: hydroponics Jemima Macwan, Dhruv Pandya, Dr. Himanshu Pandya and Dr. Archana
Mankad.
•
• [3] Rouzbeh Taghizadeh and the Department of Earth Sciences, Uppsala University. Published at Department of
Earth Sciences, Uppsala University (www.geo.uu.se), Uppsala, 2021-Assessing the Potential of Hydroponic Farming to
Reduce Food Imports: The Case of Lettuce Production in Sweden.
•
• [4] Proceedings of the 2nd Indian International Conference on Industrial Engineering and Operations Management
Warangal, Telangana, India, August 16-18, 2022© IEOM Society International-A Study on Hydroponic Farming in
Indian Agriculture.
•
• [5] International Journal of Research and Review Vol. 9; Issue: 9; September 2022-A Study on Hydroponic Farming in
Indian Agriculture.