Research paper

A detailed researched based analysis outlining the different options for growing hydroponically and the benefits of replacing soil with a nutrient based water.


I began to think after taking a trip to the grocery store with my mom, how expensive the cost of food was. I realized some things, like bread or butter, we may just be better off buying rather than producing ourselves. I also realized that some things, such as fruit and vegetables or most kinds of produce, I would be better off producing myself. Now since the inception of my project I have kept a few things in mind, which would guide me through my research. One of them being to what extent could I maximize my ability to produce quality produce and fruit at home without breaking the bank, and is it easy enough for anyone to do? My solution resides in the nature of hydroponics.

Hydroponics is the process of cultivating organically grown plants without the use of soil. The lack of soil provides many beneficial aspects which make hydroponics seem like the only way to go. Instead of using soil, a nutrient solutions replaces it which allows for higher yields, an ergonomic design, a noticeably lower duration of time required for turnover, and much more. What makes hydroponics so great is through the process of growing plants in water and without soil, you have the ability to lower costs and effort, and raise your farm's efficiency. And if you do it the right way, it can be cheap too. My focal question remains: How can I grow food in a productive, inexpensive, easy manner, and how can provide the means for others to emulate what I have done? My research provides a detailed outline of how I might go about achieving this, and why hydroponics is the irrefutable solution.

In order to demonstrate to the reader why hydroponics is a more viable candidate for cultivation as opposed to a soil based grow operation, first let me familiarize you with three different types of hydroponics systems. Then I will describe to you what makes growing hydroponically the better option, both environmentally and pecuniarily, and conveniently.


Deep Root System-

The deep root system provides a tranquil environment where the roots of the plant are situated in a net cup which allows the plant to remain without interference. My system is a deep root hydroponics system that uses five gallon buckets to store the nutrients solution and house the roots. The tops of these buckets can be drilled out and if measured properly, are able to comfortably hold up to three to four net cups. The net cups suspend the plant just a few centimeters out of the water, which allows the roots the ability to reach out and search for water. Once the water and the roots are in contact with one another, the water begins to feed the plants through the roots. Oxygen is supplied through air stones that receive oxidized air from an external pump. The oxygen and nutrient rich water is a high stable and reliable source of life for your plants. Unless you have a greenhouse, high wattage, preferably UV light bulbs are required in order to supply your plants with the necessary artificial sunlight that helps feed the plant too. The deep root system does require the grower to replace water up to everyone 1-2 weeks.



Ebb and Flow-

An ebb and flow system is nearly as simple as the deep root system. Also called a flood and drain system, this version of hydroponics is just as ergonomic as any other system. Like the deep root system and almost any hydroponics farm, your roots and plants are housed in a net cup also filled with grow media such as clay balls. Your system is fit with a tray like area with raised sides up to ten inches, and a reservoir to house the nutrient and oxygen rich water inside. Two holes that are necessary to your system need to be drilled into your housing tray, where the plants sit in net cups filled with your prefered grow media (rockwool/ clay balls are highly efficient). One hole is for water to be pumped in, in order to flush the roots with water. The other hole is for draining, because you do not just let your plant remain situation inside the water the entire time. This system is one I have yet to test, but hopefully this summer I can construct one and put it on my roof, housing tomatoes and other large plants. The coolest thing about this system though, is you can even grow crops such as carrots which normally grow underneath the soil, not above them. The benefit to flooding your system and then emptying water back into the reservoir is once flooder, it flushes the stale oxygen from your plants roots, and once drained, it replenished it with fresh oxygen which is highly beneficial to a plant's root system.


Nutrient Film Technique (N.F.T.) System-

N.F.T. systems are alike the other hydroponics systems I outline, in the sense that they are simple in design yet efficient in production. Using gravity, water slowly runs down the bottom of pvc pipes that have your net cups situated in holes previously drilled. A thin film of water is all that is necessary for your plants to thrive, the cups must be touching the bottom of the pvc pipe, and as the water runs smoothly along the bottom surface, the roots of the plant take in the nutrients. If designed properly, you can pump water from a nutrient treated reservoir to the top of your system and gravity takes the water down through the system and back into the reservoir. This design is highly efficient when it comes to saves space since it is a vertical garden, which can house tens of plants. If constructed in rows of multiple systems, it can utilize the amount of space an entire horizontal system (table system which uses the same N.F.T. to grow but on a table like system not using gravity) to grow up to five times as many plants. A ten foot by 30 foot space could house up to one table, of five gravity N.F.T systems.

Now you are beginning to understand why I keep reiterating how ergonomic and productive these systems can get. It all depends on the way you design your hydroponics system that affects your growing capabilities. On the other hand, your ability to produce large quantities of food, which stay viable for longer durations of time, completely depends on how you manage your system.

Like I have told you before, the process of growing hydroponically, which produces food at a higher rate for a lower cost in less time, is quite easy. But like me, you are probably wondering why?

The reason why is that by eliminating the need for soil, it allows for the introduction of many beneficial aspects to a farm. Immediately by choosing hydroponics, you have eliminated the need to use herbicides, or the gargantuan amount of water used in conventional outdoor agriculture, there are no weeds, few pests, you can grow almost anywhere you want, and the turnover is unbelievable.

The environmental aspects to consider are that growing conventionally produces a lot of downfalls. You will use an enormous amount of water, and great number of pesticides too. According to research presented by Penn State University, who studied the extent to which farms in Pennsylvania farms consume water, research shows that sprinklers alone account for 4,000 gallons per acre per day. That has an estimated flow rate of about 28 GPM. Four thousand gallons each day is ridiculous amount of water to be used just to grow food. I have (2) five gallon buckets capable of producing 8 heads of lettuce within three weeks, conservatively. If I can produce 8 heads of lettuce using roughly 20 gallons in approximately three weeks, how much lettuce could you produce using 4,000 gallons? This is what I mean when I say the benefits associated with hydroponics outweigh those relating to conventional agriculture. If my math is correct, which I believe it is, 4,000 gallons per day equates to 84,000 gallons in 21 days (for one acre). Now if I only need 20 gallons for eight plants, 4,000 gallons produces roughly 1,600 heads of lettuce because 20 gallons divided by eight plants equals 2.5 gallons per plant. Then 4,000 divided by 2.5 gallons per plant comes out to be 1,600 plants per 4,000 gallons. Now if you a farm consumes 84,000 gallons in three weeks, that means with that amount of water, in three weeks an effective hydroponics system could yield up to 33,600 plants. I do not know how much product conventional agriculture actually produces using 84,000 gallons of water, but I know that water is not going to be recycled in the way that hydroponics does so. All the water you use and be replenished with oxygen and nutrients in order for it to be utilized again. Since the plant is taking the nutrients out of the water and not the water out of the soil, not only does this save you money and require less energy, the environment is not being plagued by the normal agricultural practices that waste so many of our precious resources. Did you know, soil is one of our most precious resources on the plant? It includes water too, so now doesn’t it seem like we have been wasting them all along.

During the course of my senior project, I was able to grow mint, strawberries, and basil in my basement using a hydroponics system I designed myself. I got help from Alex and Keith from Thimble farm, who helped me decided which hydroponics system would work for best what I intended to produce. With the help of them, I successfully grew one mint plant that was super consistent and offered my more mint than I could ask for. I am planning on expanding my hydroponics system to my Dad's restaurant, where I can grow fresh produce for the kitchen and plenty of mint for mojitos. I found difficulty with growing the strawberries. Each time I replaced the water and treated the new water with nutrients, it seemed that the result in yield each time would differ. Sometimes I would get a few nice strawberries, other times I would not be as successful. What I learned is consistency is paramount when it comes to producing produce that bloods some type of fruit or berry. When it comes to the mint and basil, I had no difficulty growing either of them in the hydroponics system. Keith and Alex told me they had never use a deep root hydro setup for growing strawberries, so it will be interesting to hear what they think of my results. They also informed me that plants like basil, lettuce, and mint all love the deep root systems because it allows them to grow massive roots which result in healthier plants and higher yields. I am excited to be sharing this information because I hope it will inspire and guide others to go along and try out hydroponics for themselves and allow them to replace things they normally spend money on at the grocery store, with a more viable option in the comfort of their own homes. By following my directions and watching my video, it should definitely enable others to grow in the comfort of their own homes.