Vol. 9, Special Issue 9, Part Q (2025)

Hydroponics, a modern approach to soilless cultivation, offers an efficient and sustainable alternative to traditional farming by directly supplying plants with nutrient-enriched water solutions. This system supports year-round cultivation, higher yields and faster growth cycles while conserving up to 90% more water than conventional methods. Hydroponics employs diverse growing systems such as nutrient film technique (NFT), deep water culture (DWC), ebb and flow, drip irrigation, wick systems, floating rafts and aeroponics, each suited for specific crops and scales of production. Substrate culture, using inert or organic media like cocopeat, perlite, or rockwool, further enhances root aeration and nutrient uptake while minimizing soil-borne pathogens. Integration with vertical farming and energy-efficient LED lighting enables intensive urban food production and reduces dependence on arable land. Aeroponics has shown exceptional promise in seed potato production, yielding significantly more disease-free minitubers compared to soil-based methods. By combining precision resource management, space optimization and climate resilience, hydroponics emerges as a key innovation for ensuring sustainable and secure food systems for growing populations worldwide.