soil vs hydroponics

Soil is the most prevalent growing medium for plants that not only provides support, nutrients, oxygen, but also delivers water and other beneficial microorganisms to the roots. This conventional form of cultivation is still dominating major parts of the world. However, sometimes this same soil poses serious threat to your plant due to issues like pest infestation, salinity, poor drainage or wearing due to soil erosion. Poor soil fertility owing to continuous cultivation results in poor yield and reduces the quality of produce. In such circumstances, hydroponic growing is a feasible alternative for many growers.

Before you opt for hydroponics, it is important to understand as to why hydroponic growing is better and, in some cases, the only option for farming. Hydroponics means ‘water-working’ i.e. growing plants in nutrient solution, without soil. This soilless gardening technique offers plant roots the required nutrients through a nutrient solution, and roots are supported by porous material like coco peat, expanded clay, perlite etc. The environment for soil cultivation is completely different from the environment needed for hydroponic growing. Hydroponics allows the grower to cultivate plants more efficiently and productively with less labor and time even in areas where soil and climate are unfit for farming.

You can grow almost any crop of your choice during any season using hydroponics, which is not possible in soil gardening. This is because you can carry out hydroponic gardening indoors in your controlled environment of grow room supplying proper nutrients at the right growth phase, proper temperature, light, and pH. Oxygen is delivered to roots by air pumps or airstones. In hydroponics growing, you can put either liquid organic nutrients or chemical fertilizers to grow plants but they are already present in soil. Contrary to soil gardening, as the whole system is almost sterile in hydroponics, you don’t have worry constantly about pests and weeds.

Unlike traditional modes of farming, in hydroponics the initial set up for any good hydroponic system whether it is wick system, water culture, ebb and flow, drip systems, nutrient film techniques or aeroponics, is capital intensive. Yet, considering the manifold benefits of hydroponic growing, it is worth investing. You need less water compared to soil irrigation, as water is mostly recycled in hydroponics. Unlike in soil, plants grow faster, healthier, and larger in hydroponics as they do not have to spread their roots for nutrients, hence they utilize this energy for their growth. Both the methods have their own sets of pros and cons, and based on your requirement you can choose the technique which suits your requirements.

Nutrients for plants work the same as they do for people and animals, allowing them to grow, reproduce and remain healthy. While each kind of plant has specific nutrient needs, influenced by its age and stage of development, the nutrient requirements are the same, whether they're grown hydroponically or in soil. The difference between the two is how the nutrients are made available to the plants and how much energy the plant expend to find and absorb the nutrients it needs.

Macronutrients are those elements that plants require in relatively large amounts. The macronutrients are magnesium, sulfur, oxygen, phosphorous, carbon, hydrogen, potassium, calcium and nitrogen. Each supplies an important part of the plant’s overall needs, and each must be considered individually in terms of how it acts when applied to the soil or dissolved in water. Nitrogen, for example, is easily washed off of the soil during a heavy rain, especially if applied as a surface dressing to sloped yards. Phosphorous, on the other hand, binds to the soil and remains where it is put, but unless it is mixed into the soil, plants can’t access it to use it. Both are fully accessible to plants when dissolved in a hydroponic solution.

Micronutrients

Micronutrients are the essential elements that plants need only in very small quantities. These elements are cobalt, iron, chlorine, zinc, molybdenum, manganese, boron and copper. Micronutrients support plant growth and development, and when they're lacking, plants will show different symptoms, such as poor development, yellow leaves, dropping leaves or stunted growth. These elements must be present in the soil or hydroponic solutions in sufficient quantities for the plants to get enough to support their growth and survival, but usually that means in very small or trace amounts.

Soil

Identifying nutrients in the soil can be very difficult for the average person and generally requires a professional soil analysis. Typically, this identifies which elements are present and which are lacking, and the lab makes a fertilizer recommendation based on the results. Soil lacking in copper and calcium, for instance, must have those added for plants to grow well. Once soil amendments are added, however, it is impossible to tell if the balance is correct without getting another soil analysis. The gardener must either continually run tests or hope for the best. In most cases, soil testing takes place only if the plants aren't doing well. The problem may not be a lack of any element, but instead might be a buildup of salts or a pH that is very high or very low. Growers can correct such problems by various means depending on the specific issue, but corrections may involve tilling the soil to add the necessary amendments.

Hydroponics

The nutrient balance in a hydroponic system is under the control of the hydroponic gardener, who typically monitors various aspects of the system on a regular basis. Since the plants receive all of their nutrition from the hydroponic solution that flows directly over their roots, this system can be fixed by replacing all of the nutrient solution and starting over with freshly balanced formula. This also corrects problems with the pH balance and with the levels of salts present in the system. Difficulties can occur when nonsoluble nutrients are used or the liquid is not properly balanced. Since the plants absorb some of the nutrients from the water every day, the balance changes constantly and must be monitored frequently to be sure it still contains the essentials for the plants. Plants not receiving the correct balance of nutrients will sicken and may die quickly if balance isn’t restored.