HYDERABAD: Hydroponic farming has made it much easier to farm greens like lettuce, spinach, Swiss chard, and kale, herbs like basil, parsley, oregano, cilantro, and tomatoes. These are organic and natural, don’t need soil and grow fast. They are not prone to diseases much, are affordable and yield very well.
Growing hydroponic gardens has become a new trend in the past few months. Hydroponics, the practice of growing plants without the use of soil, uses specific water delivery processes to deliver nutrients directly to the roots.
Traditional agriculture farming uses around 80 per cent of surface and groundwater compared to hydroponics, which uses only 10 per cent of that under controlled conditions. Water keeps circulating within the system allowing plants to absorb the necessary water for active metabolism, while surplus water moves to the reservoir or storage tank to be cycled. There is no leaching, harmful runoff and there is little evaporation of water.
This type of system can be installed at a place where the source water is not fit for growing agriculture crops or there is limited supply of water for general farming. An added benefit is the enhanced production capacity of the hydroponic indoor garden system with limited resources.
“For people who look for nontoxic, chemical free organic vegetables, greens and fruits, this one is the best ways of achieving a healthier lifestyle,” says Mr Dinesh Madaram, a bonsai designer.
Retired IPS officer Reddanna, who has nearly 300 plants in his house at Masab Tank, told Deccan Chronicle that this sort of plantation ensures easy growing of vegetables, green leafy and other medical purposes plants. He also grows plants like insulin plant, which is regularly used to control diabetes, karpora tulsi and lemon grass, which keeps off mosquito.
Mr Paparao, another resident of Masab Tank, says the city lacks greenery and hydroponic farming process is needed for a healthier tomorrow.
