Aeroponic Methods

History

• Hydroponic systems were first developed in the United States between 1925 and 1935 to try to avoid the soil problems associated with greenhouse crop production. These systems were tried on and off for a number of years, but were not used widely until the development of plastics. Aeroponics, which is a refinement of hydroponics, is much newer. It was first developed by Dr. Franco Massantini, a professor at the University of Pia in Italy in the 1980s. This system continues to gain popularity as more universities and other researchers discover its benefits.

Description

• An aeroponic system uses a frame to suspend plants in such a way that their roots can be directly sprayed with nutrients. A pump periodically forces the nutrient solution from a reservoir through nozzles that break the liquid into a fine mist so it reaches all of the roots. The underside of the frame is enclosed so the spray is not wasted, and as the excess drips off of the plants, it lands in a tray and is channeled back into the reservoir so the system can use it again.

Significance

• Aeroponics is a system that is very clean, since it does not use any soil. It is an ideal system for growing herbs and root crops, because the plants never encounter dirt, ground-dwelling insects or pathogens that lurk in the soil. This method also uses much less water than conventional growing methods, because the water used in aeroponics is continually recirculated in the system. There is very little waste since there is almost no evaporation or runoff.

Applications

• Almost any kind of plant can be grown in an aeroponic system, but due to the relatively high cost to get started, this type of system has some practical limitations. Plants that are in constant demand do well in commercial aeroponic setups. Families can use small home systems to have fresh foods all year, at a reasonable cost. NASA has done testing of aeroponic systems for use in space. Areas where water is at a premium as well as places where the soil is unfit for plants are also ideal places for using aeroponic systems. Aeroponic herbs provide clean, pesticide-free plants for medicinal use and for cooking.